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BRANCO © 2016
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As Halloween quickly approaches, my thoughts often turn to the quaint days of my youth. A hobo costume was always popular, and candy was plentiful. My favorite was always the popcorn balls that were made by Mrs. Motes. I would go to her house more than once, and I would trade candy for popcorn balls from other children. Although adults did not dress in costumes much in those days, one neighbor would dress as a witch and served candy with apple cider. Unfortunately, times have changed; popcorn balls and apple cider would now be considered suspicious, and a hobo costume – well – it just wouldn’t be very popular.
Halloween costumes have become a big business, not only for children, but for adults as well. Sure there are the usual ghost, ghouls and goblins, but through the years, movie themed costumes have greatly impacted the market. Star Wars costumes are particularly popular this Halloween season, as they have been in the recent past. Horror movies still have a great influence, and the Jason character is readily available for those wanting a darker character. Also, politicians have become popular Halloween characters. I am not sure why. It could be that they are often horrible, scary people, or on the other hand, they are ridiculous to the point of being funny. Either way, you can be Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, or Donald Trump. Obama has fallen out of favor, and some say that it is because of his big ears. I do not think it is because of his ears myself. I believe after nearly eight years of his policies, he is just too scary. (Nobel Peace Prize winner, my arse.)
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One surprising political costume this year is the Chairman Mao suit. Mao has been out of favor for many years. You may recall the Beatles famous refrain, “If you go carrying picture of Chairman Mao, you’re not gonna’ make it with anyone anyhow.” Even so, he is back this Halloween. I guess some people have forgotten the 15 to 45 million people he killed, mostly through famine with his Great Leap Forward, while leading the Chinese Communist Party. At any rate, he is once again center stage as a fashion icon. Hillary Clinton is sporting the new Mao costume, and I have it on good authority that she secretly admired Chairman Mao and not only for his fashionable taste.
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I do not think the Mao look will greatly disguise Hillary or her ambition, but perhaps it is like Zig Ziglar said, “You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure.”
Until next time…