Coronado's Most Read Newspaper & Community Website

TRUTH UNCOVERED: Do Coronado Residents Discriminate on Halloween?

Having not experienced a Halloween in Coronado as of yet, this article is entirely based on what has been heard through the Coronado grapevine and speaking to Coronado residents that have shared their experiences with me.

Background: Apparently, buses of children from 'over the bridge' including Mexico, are brought to Coronado to trick or treat for Halloween. They walk the streets from home to home filling their bags with sweet joy (aka candy).

Hearsay: To handle the large volume of kids during Halloween, some Coronado residents hand out two different types of candy: cost-effective candy to the out of town kids, and nicer candy to Coronado kids.

Deconstruction:
Here's my attempt to understand this specific behavior: I invite your thoughts on ALL of these points:

(1) Candy isn't cheap. Just the other day, we bought a couple of boxes of candy and spent $40 easily without much thought. $40. On candy. While selecting our candy, we went through some decisions: How many kids will we expect to get at our door? Should we get all of the same type of candy, or vary it so kids can find their favorites? Are there mini-versions of large candy bars so we can share our favorite candy bars with lots of kids? Of course, if we underestimated the number of kids coming to our door, then we'd just lock up and take our OWN pillow cases to our neighbors' doors. Either way, our decisions were based on how to get the candy to the kids. I understand being cost-conscious during this time, but that should not depend on WHO comes to my door.

(2) Given that Coronado is a small community, perhaps some folks worry what their neighbors may say about what candy their kids brought home. Coronado residents see each other all around town and of course know their neighbors' kids well. If the kids come over and see that I've given them candy corn, when I usually keep Snickers in large supply throughout the year, it may instigate a lodged complaint. So would I give better candy to the people I know? In general, do people give more or better pieces to the people they know or to strangers?

(3) Can Halloween be for everyone? I know there are some 'rules' that apply to trick or treating. For example, if you're not dressed up in a costume, you may not get candy. Or, if you're 'too old', then you may not get candy. Are there other rules? Some kids may not be able to afford a costume - should they be punished by not receiving candy? I ask you to challenge your own 'rules'.

Halloween is for the kids. It's about the excitement and joy that kids get from walking around in their costumes with their family and friends and of course receiving candy.

Mmmmm. I know which box I'd want...doesn't the packaging look better too?!!

Now it's YOUR turn: Do you think this type of candy distribution is justified? Why?

If you have any ideas for stories, please contact Akshay at akshaysateesh@gmail.com

Tags: Coronado, Halloween, community

3 members like this

Comments are closed for this blog post

Comment by dot harms on October 24, 2011 at 11:32am: I am so glad to see this post! I struggle every year with this very ugly attitude that poisons our otherwise admirable town. Years ago a very good friend told me their family turns out the light rather then give candy to kids from “over the bridge“, however they sent their kids out (and he recommended Margarita) to trick or treat. My offer to buy and distribute candy at their house was declined.

We lived on the third street corridor for about 5 years and I would watch the children flood off of the buses on that magical night! My family was prepared with pumpkins lit and as many bags of candy as I thought would enable us to keep our light on until 8:00 or longer. My children, too old to trick or treat, got such a kick out of giving out the candy through the evening.. If I was not blessed to raise my kids in Coronado where they have enjoyed so many Halloweens, would I let them go out in the dark in national City or Tijuana? Would I make the effort to create a costume with what we had available and then ride a bus to a safe neighborhood? I have always witnessed nothing but gratitude by those who honor Coronado by trusting our community with their children for this wonderful American tradition. I won't even get into the message given to OUR children by the example set on occasions such as Halloween.... My family lived in a foreign country for many years and our host neighborhood always went out of their way to include my children in their traditions and celebrations, even though they didn't have the right costumes, or know the expected responses. When I think how easily I spend $15.00 on lunch several times a week, or $100.00 on dinner out.... can I really not afford to give kids a treat one night a year? Regardless of your personal faith, the following passages along with the golden rule give us the guidance we should look to.

God does not show favoritism. (Romans 2:11)

God does not judge by external appearance. (Galatians 2:6)
Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.

(John 7:24)

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15:7)

Come on Coronado, let’s be worthy as a destination for all children…

Comment by Erin Grady Brown on October 24, 2011 at 11:40am: I can understand having something special for the children you actually know or having hard candy set aside for the teenagers, but beyond that, what criteria do you use to decide whether someone is from "over the bridge"? You don't know every child in Coronado, and I am not aware of a secret handshake or password that indicates you're part of the club. I find it disgusting that anyone would discriminate against a child.

Comment by MIKE GAPP on October 24, 2011 at 11:51am: You can tell a lot about people by how they treat children.

Any children.

Mike Gapp

Comment by Jimmy on October 24, 2011 at 11:54am: Let's drop the euphemisms. "Over the bridge" and "non-locals" means Mexican/Hispanic. I mean, how can can you tell who is "local" and who is "non-local" unless you are going by skin color? I know this is going to sound harsh, but if you're deciding what type of candy to give out based on skin color, that sounds like racism to me. If you want to get something special for family and friends, I don't see anything wrong with that. But if you're giving good candy to "locals" and not-so-good candy to "non-locals," I'm just not sure how you justify that.

Comment by Sharon Lapid on October 24, 2011 at 12:11pm: Sharon Lapid

I am with the majority of responders.. Kids are kids...Candy, a small token of generosity, should be distributed equally and with love. Most of the children who are bused over have more difficult lives than our Coronado kids. Be sweet, give from your heart.

Comment by cindyred60 on October 24, 2011 at 12:17pm: Here's two scary observations:

!) Heard a couple of Coronado moms talking about how their kids had been considered the out of town type and were even refused candy.

2) While walking back home with my kids one Halloween evening, I saw some kids in a van changing into different costumes and saying, 'but I'm tired," wearily to the parents who were about to take them around again.

Comment by Carmen on October 24, 2011 at 12:52pm: Oh good grief! We've lived here for sixteen years and never heard about candy rationing on Halloween. But then, we live a great area of the neighborhood with an eclectic citizenship from every place on the income scale. We all adore the Halloween migration from across the bridge and take it as a compliment that parents would bring their children here to celebrate. Candy is cheap - even good candy - but I've noticed that many children six years-old and younger don't really like chocolate and prefer real fruit gummies from the health food store. Enjoy the holidays!

Comment by Tom DeSanto on October 24, 2011 at 12:58pm: Everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy Halloween in a safe place, here or wherever. It's a great time for Coronado to show that we are a community that is open and inclusive, instead of the closed and exclusive stereotype that some people believe.I have been out on Coronado's streets on Halloween, as well as at home dispensing candy. I have seen the "over the bridge" families (AKA Hispanic) out with their kids. The children's costumes are usually great; the kids are cute and grateful; the groups are very nice, orderly and so very appreciative. I think it's wonderful. Why not welcome everyone?

Comment by Carmen on October 24, 2011 at 12:59pm: These candies are bit expensive at a dollar each, but it's nice for those special little ones who don like chocolate: 'thttp://www.fruitsfoodsreviews.info/annies-homegrown-organic-vegan-fruit-snacks-variety-pack-24-pouches-reviews.html

Comment by Sherry Resh on October 24, 2011 at 1:16pm: I agree that all children should be given the same type of candy. There is no reason to discriminate. Halloween should be a fun evening for all children. Not everyone gives candy either. A lot of people give out pencils, toothbrushes, erasers and all sorts of other things. It is fun to be creative too.