Robert Mickle, Investor, Bellevue

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"The idea that Halloween pays homage to the Devil and witchcraft and all that is rubbish... In Mexico, it's All Souls' Day -- a celebration in honor of the dead. It's perhaps only our American interpretation that links it to witchcraft... I'm not really into Halloween, but my kids are."

Berniece Oberson, Bookkeeper, Juanita

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"I don't believe there is anything to the witch theory. Halloween is the 'Hallowed Evening' of Nov. 1, All Saints' Day. All my relatives who came over from Scotland and settled here celebrated Halloween."

Jennifer Hall, Sales associate, Redmond

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"I guess some people could see it that way but, in my opinion, it's kind of a fun tradition ‹ to get trick-or-treat candy, to dress up. My house is totally decorated! I even have pumpkin lights in the windows, and last weekend, I had a pumpkin-carving party... Too many people forget about holidays."

Jennifer Pawlak, Sales associate, Bellevue

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"Some people think it's a Devil thing that goes way back to Salem and the witches. For me, it's fun, it's for kids. And it's one of the best times of the year! We have pumpkin lights that make a sound when you clap, and cobwebs with spiders, and my roommate put a cauldron on an antique desk -- it's almost like an altar. And we have stickers and posters in all of the windows. We might even have a party!"

David Wilson, Educator, Bellevue

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"They are entitled to their own misguided opinions. Let us hope that they will continue to allow other people to have their own opinions. Without the right of diversity of opinion, our society would plunge head-long into fascism. I also believe that most of what we refer to as our religious holidays are most closely tied to pagan holidays. For example, the Winter Solstice, which just happens to fall on Dec. 25."

Matthew Collard, Bookseller, Kent

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I believe that the Satanic infuence is really a non-issue. But I think there are public safety issues regarding children being out and about at night and dealing with a high number of strangers... I've carved a pumpkin even though I don't get many trick-or-treaters."

Copyright © 1995 by the Bellevue, WA-based Journal American newspaper.

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