Wholesome. I have many questions though. What religion is this kid? Jehovas can’t celebrate Halloween. Some evangelical Christians.... Muslims are mixed. Some say it is Haram- others say it is ok. But that’s just curiosity making me wonder what religion he is as, near as I am aware- those would be the only religions with prohibitions against Halloween. But let’s assume he is one of those faiths. Next we must wonder... does he normally wear a button shirt and tie? Because if he doesn’t... that would be a costumer wouldn’t it? Dressing up in specific clothes to pretend to be the president? And that begs the question- if he can wear a button up shirt and a tie, why couldn’t he add a jacket to it and be a secret service agent or all be FBI agents or some million other things?
I then wonder.... if he can’t wear a costume because it is the tradition of another group and to act as them he would be like them- one
Possible religious prohibition- then isn’t he acting like them and being like them by dressing that way? Literally- they are dressing alike, and that style of clothing isn’t traditional for eastern cultures or religions. It’s the customary dress of another culture/religion from an eastern view. If he can’t wear a costume because Halloween is associated with the devil and evil or occult (the other common religious prohibition)... then participating in Halloween festivities at all- even wear ing just a shirt and tie still is participating in an “evil” holiday isn’t it?
Look around him, he's clearly in a foreign country and not in east. A formal dress is not some kind of a special outfit to wear.
I live in India and I wear formal clothes to work and t-shirts at home. I don't roam around in a Kurta, lungi, pathani, etc.
At best, this is a loophole. Like how Troy and Abed find one with Christmas in that glee episode. And who's to say that he would be acting like president, the people around him can act like secret service and that would put out the same vibe. The president when surrounded by secret service isn't always delivering speeches.
Could easily be a school uniform. Even in the west we have schools that require this sort of dress.
As far as back story, having a kid this age makes me think that the “president’s” *parents* have religious beliefs that preclude the costume. But the kid clearly wants to participate.
Or it could be that they are just sticklers for the letter of the law.
Like I said- it COULD be a lot of things. But most of them don’t really survive logical scrutiny. If you can wear a school uniform for purposes other than... going to school or a school function- why can’t you wear a pilots uniform when you aren’t flying a plane? You could argue you aren’t a pilot- but you don’t have to be a pilot. Likewise, that logic would make it ok to wear a military camouflage uniform. It isn’t a “soldier costume.” Plenty of people wear military surplus for outdoors or even everyday wear. The fact you aren’t hunting or anything doesn’t matter in that case no?
And regardless of what he is wearing- he is still participating in the activity. If your religion forbids acting in a film, and you are an extra on the set who stands in the background and talks to someone- can you say you aren’t acting in a film? You’re in a film. You’re being portrayed as someone who isn’t yourself, wether you are internally pretending to be you or not. The other people around you are acting. You are aware of this.... so did you find a loop hole, or are you merely finding a way to justify a behavior against a prohibition that is either arbitrary, or you don’t actually intend to follow but are following by appearances only?
@spookykink58- that’s my point. Cultures around the world have their own fashions and customs, but it is generally uncommon in cultures connected to a global community and commerce- or post colonial cultures, that traditional ceremonial or cultural garb is worn by the majority of people regularly. I’m in America. When I wear a suit- that is not an American garment. It was invented overseas. Native American dress is very different from the clothes worn today. Outside of certain cultural contexts and for things like “show” to outsiders- most indigenous Americans wear western clothes based on European styles with influences from other cultures and places. My father to my knowledge has never worn traditional native dress- not even when he lived on the reservation.
So then- what is a costume? That was my point. For you- like myself- wearing the clothing of your native cultural heritage might be more a “costume” than wearing jeans and a tshirt. But jeans and a tshirt can be a costume even when you wear them every day right? If a person wants to dress as James Dean or Fonzy or any number of characters or actors- what is that costume? Jeans, T-shirt, maybe a leather jacket? Perhaps greased back hair?
But what if I just felt like wearing jeans, a white tee shirt, and slicking my hair back- and that just happened to coincide with Halloween? Am I wearing a costume? Most people will likely guess at the least I’m dressed as a “50’s cool guy” or “tough” even if they don’t guess James Dean. But then again- what about a guy who’s never seen and isn’t aware of that style and just happens to dress that way? Ever seen (even in tv or YouTube) someone comment on someone’s costume or cosplay to be met with confusion or hostility and be told “I’m not wearing a costume!” It just happened, by chance, they look and or dress like a character.
So there is certainly a question of intent there isn’t there? For a special occasion or tradition, you, me, whoever- might wear the traditional garb of our culture. I wouldn’t call that a costume. That’s our peoples way, those are the clothes of our culture. But if you saw a person you knew wasn’t from your culture and had no ties to it, wearing the garb of your people, especially for an occasion that is known for it- they would be wearing a costume wouldn’t they?
I think intent is sort of the key there. What is your intent? If you happen to pick an outfit that is exactly what the character in a show or movie you’ve never seen wears, you aren’t wearing a costume. You had no intent to dress in a manner other than what you chose for yourself. You are dressed as you. You are portraying yourself as you. You are walking around using your own identity.
Now if you wanted to try and get in to the local theater for half price, so you chose clothing from your own closet, but specifically put an outfit together to evoke the image of a younger person to get the discount, and you act the part, “go along with it...” you’re in character. You’re in disguise- a costume.
And by definition- many things we wear every day ARE costumes. A costume for example is a style of dress associated with a particular group. This can include class. People commonly wear things like 3 piece suits because that clothing is most associated with a certain social class and segment. The 3 piece suit is associated with business and wealth (even if it is also sometimes worn by busboys and such.) But often our work garb is to match the image we want to create at work. Most people don’t wear their street clothes to work and dress as they do in their Daly lives. That is an example of a costume.
But is the issue the costumes, or is the issue the participation in the holiday or...? Regardless- a person and their beliefs are their own business. It doesn’t necessarily have to be logical. Many Christians say that homosexuality is a sin- already a reach.... but then they often say that it has to do with families and procreation. But many of these same people are alright with birth control... which prevents people from procreating and having families..... so I mean.... it makes no damn sense. This is common. Because people are illogical. We can find ways to justify anything. Certain sects of Judaism have all sorts of convoluted work arounds to claim compliance with ancient prohibitions, and well.... Islam isn’t immune either- with many examples of even fundamentalists making exceptions to prohibitions which they WANT to make exception to while standing firmly against things they don’t. It’s all faiths and all people that just basically justify whatever we want however we want-
Even when the whole thing can be dissected on logic. So this kid and his family can do whatever they want. I’m not their god or natural order or whatever their deal is. I don’t decide who’s following the rules or breaking them, so they don’t have to meet my judgment of what does or doesn’t count as “following the rules.” That doesn’t mean I’m not curious though. I want to know the details. I want to know what the culture and religion at work are, and what their logic is. I’ve looked at it- and based on what I can imagine- I can’t see too many scenarios that both create the problem, and make the solution a logical one from the perspective of the problem.
But that doesn’t mean I think they are being irrational. I don’t know if they are. Perhaps, if I knew the details, for the circumstances and conditions of the issue at hand, this silly tin would be internally logically consistent. Perhaps I lack the ability to see a superior logic at work- which is not helped by the fact that I lack details. Just from the details provided, my intuition is that either the person telling the story got the details wrong, or that there is some sort of logical failing and the details are right. I’d like to know, and also learn more while at it.
Possible religious prohibition- then isn’t he acting like them and being like them by dressing that way? Literally- they are dressing alike, and that style of clothing isn’t traditional for eastern cultures or religions. It’s the customary dress of another culture/religion from an eastern view. If he can’t wear a costume because Halloween is associated with the devil and evil or occult (the other common religious prohibition)... then participating in Halloween festivities at all- even wear ing just a shirt and tie still is participating in an “evil” holiday isn’t it?
I live in India and I wear formal clothes to work and t-shirts at home. I don't roam around in a Kurta, lungi, pathani, etc.
At best, this is a loophole. Like how Troy and Abed find one with Christmas in that glee episode. And who's to say that he would be acting like president, the people around him can act like secret service and that would put out the same vibe. The president when surrounded by secret service isn't always delivering speeches.
As far as back story, having a kid this age makes me think that the “president’s” *parents* have religious beliefs that preclude the costume. But the kid clearly wants to participate.
Or it could be that they are just sticklers for the letter of the law.