History of All Hallows Eve

Where to begin? 
Though I am not an expert on Halloween, 
I have studied its history in sociology class in college. 
the fact is that it is a Pagan Holiday, just like the roots of Easter and Christmas. 

Some Historical facts: 

•1. Known as All Hallows Eve

•2. Comes from the Pagan Holiday as a day to honor their loved ones who have died

•3. In ancient Britain and Ireland, the Celtic Festival of Samhain was observed on October 31

•4. Ireland is the only place in the world where Halloween is actually a national holiday and it is celebrated with fireworks where children are given the week off from school. 

Trick or Treating: 

1. In Ohio, Iowa, and Massachusetts the night referred to as Trick or Treating, 
is often referred to as Begger's Night.

2. Trick or Treating resembles the late mid-evil practice known as "souling"
where poor folk would go door to door on Hallowmas (November 1st)
receiving food in exchange for prayers to honor the dead on All Souls Day (November 2nd). 

Samhain Festival: 

The ancient Celtic Festival of Samhain was celebrated in Gaelic Ireland 
to mark the beginning of winter and a animal sacrifice was made for a good harvest. 
They would dance around a bonfire and costumes and masks were worn 
to ward off evil spirits. 

Jack O Lantern: 

The history of the Jack O Lantern is long, and I am keeping this blog short. 
Basically it is about a guy named  Stingy Jack who made a deal with the devil...
He was to walk on earth for 10 years...
He needed a lantern to light his way, so he cut a gourd and made a lantern,
from a coal he stole from Hell. 
Today we make Jack O Lanterns from pumpkins, not gourds. 

You can get the complete history on History.com/Halloween/jack_o_lantern

 Some Halloween Quotes: 

"Sleep those lowly slices of death, how I loath thee." 
Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849)

"Ghost were created when the first man awoke in the night." 
J.M. Barrie (1860-1937)

 "Do you know the terror of who falls asleep?
To the very toes he is terrified. 
Because the ground gives way under him, 
and the dream begins." 
Friedrich Nietzche (1844-1900)

"In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake."
Job 4:13-14 KJV (1611)  

Wronged!

How I have been

wronged, bullied, and cheated

throughout my life:

Timothy L. Kerofsky, MA

How many times have you been bullied, mistreated, and wronged in your life?

The other night I was depressed and angry.

I had thoughts of how many times I was wronged in my life.

I was bullied in school and many of those who bullied me,

We are good friends now. This is why I do not believe in the anti-bullying laws. They do not work. Just like the war on terrorism does not work. One has to settle their differences, first by talking, and then by compromising, then fighting is the last resort. One cannot make laws that go against the nature of man. Men, by their very nature, are just like animals. The strong overcome the weak. However, men can also compromise and get along. Like when I was a kid and got in a school yard fight, the next day we were friends and shaking hands. We do not need corrupt cops in school, making the weak weaker; making kids afraid to stand up for themselves in fear of going to jail. I would not have survived if I had cops in school and anti-bullying laws back when I was a kid. Back then we learned how to deal with our problems. We were not criers or wimps. Like kids today are becoming. This is a sad shame. One cannot arrest every bully or every terrorist; which is why the war on terror does not work. One has to get to the root of the problem, like bullying, much of it begins from the home and upbringing. And terrorism much of it is from our own doing. The United States is always getting involved in other countries business in which we do not belong. If we can get to the root of the problem, instead of passing laws that do not work, we can start to fix the problem. 

I am not alone on my views of these two issues I mentioned. There are many truth sayers on you-tube and the internet.

There are many articles written that back my views as well.

Research it yourself. The fact is, one has to get to the root of something, instead of ignoring it or covering it up or passing bogus laws…

It is better to forgive those who have done us wrong,

because it takes away a burden from our heart.

There were many times, however, that I was wronged and many who I, myself, have yet to forgive. Forgiving those who do us wrong, can be hard to do and some wrongs are easier to forgive than others. These wrongs I have yet to forgive:

1.     Those that stole from me and broke in my locker while I was in the Navy on the Battleship New Jersey BB-62. Some I forgave, some I did not.

2.     Those who got my awards for the job that I did. Like when I was the Stateroom Supervisor on the USS John C. Stennis CVN-74, and the person who relieved me got my Accommodation Medal at an awards ceremony a week later. He also lied and said that he was the supervisor when all the Staterooms were being refurbished. He was dishonorable. He could have denied the award. He could have been truthful. This is unforgivable to me. 

3.     Those of the “Filipino Mafia” that mistreated me on the USS Belleauwood LHA-3. I will never forgive them! They had me do all the dirty work, seamen jobs as a second and a first class combat veteran, stuff dogs would not even do. Prisoners in the brig were treated better than me. And they gave me low evaluation marks, just to keep me from being promoted. I put in several complaints to the Captain and several requests to transfer divisions. I was happy to get out of the galley a couple times. Once when I worked for Combat Cargo, once when I worked as a guard for a day during humanitarian operations in Africa when there was an orphanage being built, and finally permanently when I became a Master at Arms at the end of tour. That was a joyful day! I never received an end of tour award, nor was I ever given an apology by my mistreatment. The only way I stayed sane on that ship was my friends that kept me from going insane; Kira, B, CPL Snow,  Old Dan Tucker and my students of my karate class…  

4.     The way I was initially injured moving a Captains Bed that was too big for the Captains at Sea Cabin. And then not getting the proper rehab or physical therapy at the time. Because I never healed properly I have permanent damage today; Cervical Stenosis, nerve damage in neck, tendon damage in right shoulder, that is spread to the left now, tingling in fingers, and right knee damage. Then getting re-injured and finally going to rehab at Great Lakes.

5.     The way I was beat up by those corrupt cops! I got off of a double watch at Great Lakes Illinois and fell asleep in the lounge. There is no way that the corrupt cops should have been called to a Naval Base anyway. They said that they were looking for a drunk homeless man in the barracks and I supposedly matched the description. Are cops really that stupid? And even so, they had no right to beat me up. I was sound asleep and was awoken by being slammed on the deck and then kicked in the stomach and hit with a night stick to my bad shoulder. I had lacerations on my arms. All that happened is that they got letters of reprimand. No suspensions or anything. I swear pigs get away with everything. Like the pigs getting away with murder; which you see all over you-tube! Now you know why I hate cops! Screw those donut eating, no good for nothing jerks!!! There were several other times that I was harassed by corrupt cops! I hate ‘em!

 
6.   Lastly I will never forgive being done wrong by the TLC – The Literacy Connection. I was a tutor for the TLC helping a child, a girl, named Aman with reading comprehension, math, and science. We also did art projects. Colorings, drawings, and made a Turkey hand for Thanksgiving. For Christmas we made cards. And I bought her a nice Kitty Cat Hat for Christmas. I was fired by text message before January while out shopping with my son, Ken. While I was tutoring her brother wanted to take pics of me and her. It was a pic of me tutoring. I got tagged in it on Facebook and used it as my cover photo. I got several people to join the TLC. But then when the supervisor saw my Facebook page, I got fired. She did not even ask any questions or anything. She accused me of taking unauthorized photos and posting photos. This made no sense. There was no conference held, the brother took the pics, I was tagged in them, and I even told the dad to check out my Facebook page. But I was given no chance to plead my case. I was called by the principle of the school and she said I was not in trouble, but never got the job back. I was done wrong. Now if there was a paper to sign that said no posting on Facebook and written rules that is one thing, but when there were no rules to sign, like with my case, that is another. At least I should have had a conference and should have been able to get my job back. I was completely done wrong by a power hungry beep!