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| Opinion-Editorial April 2003, Volume 6, No. 5 |
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Questions? Comments?
Tell us what you think!
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NOT a given
By Laura B.
Columnist
Demanding respect is mindless, shallow and moronic. The best way to be passionately hated in the three seconds is to say, "I demand your respect!"
Many people think that respect should just be there for an adult from a child. I disagree. If any adult chooses to treat a child with a lack of respect, or decides to insult you, you should have the equal right to do the same back, whether it be a teacher, parent, or even a stranger.
Being an adult does not make you more special and especially not any more intelligent. You still hear adults in their 40s saying "That ain't gonna happen," and "That went good."
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It’s as if adults aren’t “grown up” enough to be told the truth by a child. |
"Respect is earned not given," is a sign often seen in classrooms. I find it extremely ironic that a teacher can freely display that sign, and yet, literally demand respect from you.
Knowing that people are pretending to show respect should not make the people who demand it feel any more secure.
The argument that "because I'm older, I should be shown respect" is childish. It's as if adults aren't "grown up" enough to be told the truth by a child.
Respect should rightfully be shown to the respectful, whether it be a child or an adult. Adults who act like the supreme beings to children are in my eyes are frauds.
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Turning against the flag
It's more patriotic than we all thought
By Carly L., op-ed editor
A few nights ago in the midst of poring over piles of homework, my attention was distracted by the voice on the newscast in the background noise of my room.
"College basketball player turns against the flag, and some people aren't very happy about this stance. More after the break." This little message was followed by a car commercial, but I was still thinking about the news clip. "Why would she turn her back against the flag?"
I waited patiently for the newscast to continue, wanting to understand what was going on.
It turned out that this student was protesting against war with Iraq by turning her back on the flag when the national anthem was sung. But the next video clip showed a local Vietnam Veteran running out on the court and shoving an American flag into the girl's face, screaming at her, as she tried to hold back tears.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing. A veteran of this country was humiliating a girl who was standing up for what she believed in. How was that veteran being patriotic?
This is America, a place where we are encouraged to express our feelings, where we can stand up for what we believe in, and where we won't be persecuted, no matter which way we are facing.
That man had absolutely no right to go and shove that flag in her face.
What gave him a right to try to make her believe something she was against? Because he was a veteran?
No. Nothing gives him the right to attack her for her beliefs. We are a country built for the rights of the people, and what is one of the most important American rights? Freedom of speech, our freedom to say what we believe in.
This is why people are dying in Iraq. If you are not with Saddam, you are against him. Are we really going to sink to that level when we don't agree? If we let this go on, where is it going to stop?
As an American, I have the right to write this article, to agree with some girl on the TV. Not because of her stance against war, but for her right to say what she believes, even if no one will stand with her.
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Is the broadcast studio a breakthrough or bust?
By Shannon P. and Susie S.
A few Fridays ago, the students and staff viewed Peacock's first newscast. It took a lot of planning and hard work, but was it worth it? Was it a breakthrough or a BUST?
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"It's very expensive, but it's well worth it." |
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"It was boring because they didn't talk about the school a lot or very exciting things." |
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"It's good for the people in our school who might want to become an anchor in the future. And it seems like it's a lot of fun." |
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"It was pretty good, the anchors were really good at it." |
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"I thought it was a good presentation, and the anchors did a good job." |
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"I thought it was good, but the presentation needed a little work. Especially with eye contact." |
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"It was ok. The anchors can't be afraid of the camera though." |
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"It was a great idea. The students seemed very interested while watching it. I look forward to seeing it again." |
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"It was put together well and the segments were good, but the presentation needs work." |
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What it takes too be cool
By Evin S.
Really think about it, what do you do just to be "cool" or "fit-in"?
Do you think your parents would like to see or hear what you are doing and/or saying around your buddies?
Think about what you do and say. Are your friends going to be there to stand up for you when you're getting yelled at by your parent or even getting arrested by the police?
Will they go to jail with you or spend their money to bail you out? You have to make the right decisions about who you're hanging around with and what you're saying.
Let's say you decide to drive some friends, or even people you hardly know because you want to look good, to a place and one of them is drinking and you get pulled over.
Even though you were not drinking, you will get in the same trouble as everyone else in the car.
You get to choose your friends. Make the right choices. Only you have the power to control what road you take, the easy road to failure or the difficult road to success.
Think about it.
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Where's a kid to go?
By Monica M.
After reading an article, "Municipal complex to displace part of arboretum" written by Steven G. in the last Charger, I started thinking about the new police station Itasca is getting.
Do we really need it? Think about it. Is there that much crime going on in Itasca that we absolutely need a new police station?
The worst thing that happens each week is not a rape, a murder, or a shooting. It's a theft; not a car theft, a power tool theft! Isn't that just the biggest crime ever? We are just letting money fly right out of our hands! The money isn't even flying away to homeless people's hands, it's just flying away!
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It’s no wonder kids go looking for trouble, there is nothing here to do for excitement! |
It's no wonder kids go looking for trouble, there is nothing here to do for excitement! Outside of school, some hangouts are 7-Eleven, areas by the railroads tracks and parking lots. That's about it. It's sad, I know.
You might be saying, well, if they, as in we the kids, were involved in extracurricular activities, they might have places to go. But what if we don't have enough talent to be on teams? What if we just can't handle the thought of doing the same activity everyday or almost everyday? What if we just don't want an after school obligation? You get my point.
Instead of building something we might not even need, maybe we should spend the money on something we actually do need, which is a place for kids to go. Somewhere with no charge to get into. Let's face it, kids aren't made out of money.
We need a place big enough that we could run and scream in, and a place that no one can yell at us for doing what we do best, having fun.
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