The Ray Rice children’s Halloween costume you won’t believe
By Kelly Wallace, CNN
updated 4:02 PM EDT, Mon October 27, 2014
(CNN) — There aren’t too many times when I’m speechless about what I consider an outrageous example of parenting. This is one of those times.
An Instagram photo surfaced over the weekend of a child wearing a Ray Rice costume and dragging a doll ostensibly meant to symbolize the wife of the embattled former NFL star, Janay Rice. (The person who posted the photo with the caption “Greatest costume ever” appears to have since taken down their Instagram account.)
As most of us sadly know by now from the surveillance video that has been seen around the world, Rice dragged his then-fiancee out of an elevator after knocking her out in February. And so a kids’ costume of Rice dragging his wife?
Are you kidding me?
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Is this Halloween costume offensive?
Thankfully, some parents across the country have the words I can’t seem to find.
Halloween costumes to avoid this year
“Utterly disgusting!” is what Mike Heenan, a father of two young daughters and organizer of the SF Dads Group, called “the seemingly celebratory suggestion of domestic violence in dragging around a Janay Rice doll.”
“Not just insensitive. Idiotic! Dangerous! Disgraceful!” said Heenan, who is also the founder of the blog At-Home Dad Matters.
On Facebook, Alison Bucalo, a mom of two boys in Ridgewood, New Jersey, said she would never let her little guys wear something “so tasteless.”
“What’s the purpose? To be funny? To shock? To show zero class? What is the lesson here?” she asked.
This Ray Rice costume for kids is just the latest example of what seems to be a trend in wildly inappropriate children’s Halloween costumes, with selections ranging from meth dealers Walter White and Jesse Pinkman from TV’s “Breaking Bad” to a baby cigarette to serial killer Hannibal Lecter.
https://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/living/ray-rice-childrens-halloween-costume-inappropriate-kids/
Oh stop with the sanctimonious BS.
What is wrong with these examples? Are they worse than all those roll models like witches, pirates, zombies and vampires. It is Halloween. The idea is to let go of some inhibitions and have some fun. maybe poke fun of the taboos and things we as a society are afraid of.
I always give credit to people who create costumes from the news. The satire provides an interesting commentary.
Would I put my kid in a Ray Rice costume? No, but people really need to lighten up.
Brian,
“maybe poke fun of the taboos and things that we as society are afraid of”?
Really?
Domestic abuse isn’t a “taboo”, it’s a cancer on society.
The Victims
1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime.
Women experience more than 4 million physical assaults and rapes because of their partners, and men are victims of nearly 3 million physical assaults.
Women are more likely to be killed by an intimate partner than men
Women ages 20 to 24 are at greatest risk of becoming victims of domestic violence.
Every year, 1 in 3 women who is a victim of homicide is murdered by her current or former partner.
The Families
Every year, more than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes.
Children who live in homes where there is domestic violence also suffer abuse or neglect at high rates (30% to 60%).
A 2005 Michigan study found that children exposed to domestic violence at home are more likely to have health problems, including becoming sick more often, having frequent headaches or stomachaches, and being more tired and lethargic.
A 2003 study found that children are more likely to intervene when they witness severe violence against a parent – which can place a child at great risk for injury or even death.The Circumstances
Domestic violence is most likely to occur between 6 pm and 6 am.
More than 60% of domestic violence incidents happen at home.
The Consequences
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families.
In New York City, 25% of homeless heads of household became homeless due to domestic violence.
Survivors of domestic violence face high rates of depression, sleep disturbances, anxiety, flashbacks, and other emotional distress.
Domestic violence contributes to poor health for many survivors. For example, chronic conditions like heart disease or gastrointestinal disorders can become more serious due to domestic violence.
Among women brought to emergency rooms due to domestic violence, most were socially isolated and had fewer social and financial resources than other women not injured because of domestic violence.
Without help, girls who witness domestic violence are more vulnerable to abuse as teens and adults.
Without help, boys who witness domestic violence are far more likely to become abusers of their partners and/or children as adults, thus continuing the cycle of violence in the next generation.
Domestic violence costs more than $37 billion a year in law enforcement involvement, legal work, medical and mental health treatment, and lost productivity at companies.
#1 FACT:
Most domestic violence incidents are never reported.
You want to talk about domestic violence? Why are calls/arrests for domestic violence not reported in the police blotter in Ridgewood? (I am not sure I even think they should be reported) But if you want to talk about domestic violence, lets talk about the issue not Halloween costumes.
People wearing or not wearing a Ray Rice costume are not going to in any way impact the problem of domestic abuse.
Brian buy law Domestic Violence can not be report in the police blotter but I do agree with your other points.
Ok Brian,
3 million children in the US witness domestic violence each year. I know for a fact that some of these children live in Ridgewood. What message does it send to the child whose mom was beaten up by her dad when other kids make fun of these tragic occurances by wearing a Ray Rice costume? And if some adult like you wears one… your utter lack of empathy and ignorance speak volumes.
BTW-In terms of man hours, domestic violence issues take up a large percentage of police department time right here in Ridgewood.
I am aware of the Ridgewood stats on domestic violence and agree this is a real problem we should be dealing with. ( I would argue ahead of statistically non-existent “threats” like stranger abduction and school shootings)
I think showing the video of Ray Rice constantly on every news and sports channel would effect that kid more than a Halloween costume.
Look, the costume is completely tasteless but so are many of the most creative and interesting costumes. Is a Charles Manson costume ok? Bin Ladin? Or can we only go as witches, devils and cats?