The "R" Word

     There are many words in every language that are used in ways to offend certain people. The word "retarded" is one of those words. Teens use this word as a synonym for stupid when they see their friends doing something that they believe wasn't very smart. I have been in a Catholic School for my entire life and I cannot remember a single day where I didn't hear someone use this term. I find this odd, because Catholic teachings say to treat others as you want to be treated. In this case, unless you want to end up with people calling you names, stop the use of this harsh language.

     St. Mark Elementary School in Cleveland, Ohio began a movement to "Spread the Word to End the Word". Over four hundred people gathered to take the pledge to end the word. This school emphasized that a catholic education is not just for "typical kids, but for all children who are willing to learn. A young girl named Brianna attends this school. She is a kindergartener with Down Syndrome and an absolute joy for her teacher. This little girl has changed this schools "R" word to respect.

Another account explains that the original use of the word was to only describe specific conditions in the brain. Our ever-changing speech however has made it a term to describe any particular annoyance in our everyday lives. Obviously this is a grossly inappropriate use of the word and it needs to be taken care of. The writer explains that it has become human nature to judge anything that we may not understand. I believe that one will encounter this mostly within high school. 

Another school, located in Rhode Island, took up the movement to Spread the Word to End the Word. The school held an assembly in which everyone learned about the cause of this movement. When all the kids where asked if they had ever heard the "R" word before, a young girl and her friend rose their hands ashamed because they knew that they had used it before, even though they had regretted it. She realized the hurtfulness of this word and has now vowed to never use it again.

In another account, a mother explains how she has to hear the use of the R word in work. This woman is the mother of a special needs child and is therefore, as she explained, "very sensitive to the word". She expects to hear it from ignorant teenagers who probably were never taught better, but she cannot even go to work without having to sit through others conversations which include this foul word.

Racism In America Today

     "Throughout American history black males have been seen as a threat even when they are unarmed and even when wearing attire that was professional. Still, Tragic events such as the death of 14-year old Emmett Till because white men assumed he whistled at a white woman. Causing these citizens to feel that they had the “right” to brutally torture and kill Emmett Till. Still in 2012 you have young black men seen as guilty criminals first. A stereotype that should have died but has been with held to this day. These young black men are not threats but simply just minding their own business, living their own life till a stranger assumes differently and takes matters into their own hands."

- Kelly J Newson

 

     In the past year, America viewed, through media coverage, the deaths of two innocent 17 year old teenagers named Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis. These are just two of the countless examples of racist murders in the United States. One of the most tragic and recent is the murder of 14 year old Emmett Till. Each has their own unique story and each is a life wastefully thrown away because of needless hate. We will never know what they could have done in the world because of the reckless actions of a few. These boys could have changed the world, solved world hunger, found a cure for some disease, any number of things. All they will be known for now, saddly, is their tragic deaths.

 

Emmett Till

 

     Emmett Loius Till was only 14 years old when his life was cut tragically short for "whistling at a white woman". Before moving on, take a minute to think about that. This young boy was kidnapped from his own relatives home, brutally tortured, and murdered because he whistled once at a white woman. Just the thought of someone possibly going to that extent because of a little innocent flirting makes me sick to my stomach. Even more so for the murderers to have the nerve to deny any involvement and nonchalantly go on with their lives. His remains were found in the Tallahatchie River. Justice was never found for this case. To this day, no one has been convicted for anything in terms of his murder.

 

Trayvon Martin

 

     Trayvon Martin was unjustly shot and killed on February 26th, 2012. This young man was minding his own business having just bought himself a few snacks from 7/11 while his killer George Zimmerman decided for himself that Trayvon Martin looked suspicious and was going to or already committed some crime. Zimmerman called the police and reported Trayvon's suspicious activity, but then after being told not to follow the young man, Zimmerman for some unknown reason decided that it was HIS responsibility to deal with the situation the way he saw fit and took matters into his own hands. He fatally shot Trayvon in the chest at point blank range. George Zimmerman awaits his trial which takes place on June 10th, 2013.

Jordan Davis

 

     Jordan Davis, a young man who only lived to be 17 years of age, was shot and killed at a public gas station for playing his music to loudly. The murderer Michael David Dunn tried to convince that the killing was an act of self defense. It's laughable at how he thought that would ever hold up because it was discovered that Jordan and his friends had no gun in their possession and there were a total of 9 shots fired by Mr. Dunn. 9 shots seems like a bit much to be in self defense. 9 shots on innocent teenagers is overkill and clearly there was full intent to kill, not defend. It's disturbing to think that African American teenagers can't even play loud music without being threatened or assulted by others. What is this country coming to?

 



A Terrible Reminder That Evil Exists In Our World

     As we all know, there was recently a shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. This event left the town, the state of Connecticut, the rest of the United States, and many places around the world hurt, broken, and shocked. Unlike many would expect, the gunman didn't go in expecting to take revenge on any one specific person. Eighteen innocent children and ten adults (one being the shooter Adam Lanza) were left dead as a result of this tragedy.

 

Keep the familes and the souls of the victims in your prayers. They will all be dearly missed. <3

 

 

 

 

     Out of all this, another issue has been brought up for discussion. What should the United States do about gun control? In my opinion, adopting the gun control used in Japan would be the best way to go in order to ensure the safety of our citizens. In Japan, you cannot buy a handgun, much less an assault rifle. In fact, even off-duty police officers are banned from carrying guns.

You can buy a shotgun or an air rifle, but it is not easy:

• First, you have to take a class and a written exam.
• Then there's a skill test at a shooting range
• Next is a drug test
• Then a mental evaluation.
• Assuming you pass all those tests, you file with the police, who then run a background check.

What is the proof that this system works however? It is made clear with one simple statistic. In 2008, the U.S. had 12,000 gun-related murders. Japan had 11. More than double that number were killed in the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. STOP GIVING PEOPLE THE TOOLS TO COMMIT THESE TERRIBLE CRIMES. SAVE THE CHILDREN OF THE FUTURE.

Democratic/Republican National Platforms

     In November, The United States will have another Presidential election. The Democratic candidate is current President Barack Obama, and the Republican candidate is Senator Mitt Romney. As for me, I dont have a preference of which political party ends up in charge in the end. All I care about is who will do more for the country and get more positive things done. My dad on the other hand is a conservative Republican, so I was raised to understand that most of the things that the Republicans believed was "right". I've had to look at many political points for my AP US History class and realized that actually I agree and disagree with points from both parties. Five of these points are the preservation and protection of traditional marriage (Republican - disagree), Repealing Obamacare (Republican - agree), Improving Prescription Quality/Lowering Cost (Republican - agree) Pro-Abortion (Democrat - disagree), and Obama's Tax Cuts (Democrat - disagree).

1. Republicans believe that marriage must be kept between a man and a woman. I believe that marriage should be allowed between any two people that truly love eachother.
2. Republicans are strongly against Obamacare. From the start, it was more about power and expanding government control over the economy then it was about United States citizen's healthcare. If Romney does win in November, I will be looking forward to seeing Obamacare repealed.
3. Republicans plan to improve the quality of prescriptions and still lower their costs. Their goal is to encourage the development of a healthcare system that provides higher quality care at a lower cost to all Americans while protecting the patient-physician relationship based on mutual trust, informed consent, and privileged patient confidentiality. I believe that if this plan works, healthcare will be greatly improved.
4. Democrats believe in Pro-Abortion. They believe that, because it's the womans body, it's her choice whether or not she wants to keep the child. Now am I saying that the woman carrying a baby should have absolutly NO say in the matter? No, but I am saying that ending that child's life before it even has a chance is wrong. I understand that with a pregnancy comes imense pressure and worry, but killing the baby is NOT the answer. At the very least, if you for certain do not want the child or cannot afford to pay for it, put the child up for adoption so someone else can.
5. Obama wants to cut taxes for the middle class in order to give money to "those who need it most." The simple fact is that EVERYONE needs money right now, and if you are going to cut taxes for one group of people, taxes should be cut for everyone else as well.

High School Bullying

     Bullying,  we've all seen it. In our schools, on the streets, just about anywhere you can think really. Somone is always picking on someone who can't defend themselves. Have you ever asked yourself, "Gosh, I wonder how that person feels after I do things like that?" I'm guessing the answer to that is a big NO. Bullying hurts, and not just the person being bullied, those around that person may be affected as well. There was a shooting at Perry Hall High School this past week. The alleged shooter, named Robert Wayne Gladden, "was bullied for three years straight. He tried to commit suicide in the seventh grade and they sent him to a Catholic school after he did that." (Tyler P., an eighth grader at Stemmer's Run). Seeing as his suicide attempt failed, his plan was to force a police officer to kill him for his actions. In the process, he ended up wounding another child, and now feels deep remorse.

     Physical bullying is not the only problem, there exists a way to be bullied without even meeting the person. This is called cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is when someone sends you a message via text, email, or instant message that contains hateful language (usually). For the most part, cyberbulling exists between young people who are brought up with all the new technology that is being invented. It is being made easier and easier for young people to get their thoughts across to someone else without actually having to have a face to face conversation with them. Some schools have taken it upon themselves to try to stop cyberbullying. Allen Park High School has prepared assemblies for the soul purpose of teaching the student body about how to use computer tools like chat, email, etc. properly and kindly. They are also taught about the harmful effects of cyberbullying.

In this world, are those who stand up for what is right and those who don't. Jamey Rodemeyer is one of the people who stangs up for what he believes was right. He was a known activist against homophobia through his videos on youtube. He understood what it was like to be bullyied because of homophobia and on September 18, 2011, committed suicide because of it. He will forever be remembered. Jamey's death caused outrage throughout the country, not just by everyday people, but also by celebrities. Lady GaGa, in response to Jamey's death, started the Born This Way Foundation to deal with issues related to bullying.

Classmate Quotes about Bullying

"Bullying has to stop, its gone on too long." (Nick G.)

"Golden Rule, follow it." (Lakota G.)

"I've bullied before, after my research I'll never do it again." (Tom O.)