Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Is it OK to be a Pirate?


With Halloween only a few days away and news today that a British couple may be the latest victims of Somali pirates, an important question may be on your mind.

Is it insensitive to dress up like a pirate for Halloween?

Let’s face it, with two years since the last (and until the next) Pirates of the Caribbean movie, the notorious villains of the sea are not currently being glamorized by Disney as they so often are. Besides, Disney is facing other PR battles.

So with machine-gun-toting Somali pirates in the news, taking real ships and risking real lives, is it politically correct to be a pirate for Halloween? If you do it, wouldn’t it be more realistic (and scarier!) to toss aside the hook-hand and eye patch and simply wear a dirty t-shirt and carry a machine gun? Trick or treat!

###

4 comments:

  1. Little kids running around the neighborhood dressed like Johnny Depp ... well, that's pretty cute. But the numerous boats in every US harbor flying the Skull and Bones.... well, that's just stupid. There have always been pirates and they have always been outlaws.

    I think we can reasonably "take" boats that identify themselves as pirate, though what we'd do with them has not been resolved.

    Don't get me started on the smiley face flags.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Earlier today, I attended a Fall Festival/Halloween party for approx 40, 4 & 5 year olds. Quite a few of the children (boys and girls) were dressed as pirates. Last Sunday evening there were more than 3,000 people at SPOOKTACULAR with lots of people dressed as pirates. Reference: Pirates Cove at SPOOKTACULAR http://www.jaxzoo.org/spooktacular/

    I'd type this comment in Pirate talk, however, I am concerned I may offend someone. Happy Halloween.

    I hope the British Couple is well.

    Pillage Idiot Pirate, Fernandina Pirates Club
    http://www.fernandinapirates.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love it - sounds like a fun event. I wouldn't change a thing about it, Matey. Arrgh.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Arrrr! Belay that!

    Real pirates probably never were as much fun as our fabulous folkloric versions anyways.

    Same legend-building process as King Arthur & Robin Hood. If a kid dresses up as Robin Hood for Halloween, do mugging victims get upset? Naaaah.

    ReplyDelete