All I Want For Christmas Is A Holiday Tree!

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 12:29:11 -0500

All I want for Christmas is a Holiday tree!
By Chantal Berube
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! If you celebrate the Winter Solstice Happy Solstice! Every religion has their own beliefs and holiday traditions, from the Menorah to spinning dreidels and putting up a Christmas tree. However, this holiday season children will be playing with dreidels if they wish, lighting candles on a menorah, but not putting up a Christmas tree. Is this fair? Should they be allowed to tell us how to celebrate a holiday formed many moons ago?
1802. In 1802 Separation of Church and State was declared. This was to insure the allowance of everyone’s individual rights. Anyone at anytime can look this simple fact up on the internet or in their local library. However, one cannot look up when the separation of church and state was revoked. This is because to this day the separation of church and state still exists. If so then why is it that the State of Rhode Island can decide to re-name a tree used for religious reasons on a religious holiday? They shouldn’t be able to do such a thing.
A Christmas tree is no harm to any. Many don’t take offence to others peacefully celebrating their holiday. During the month of December I, a very religious Christian, do not along with others push one and their family to celebrate Christmas if they don’t already. It is everyone’s right to celebrate a holiday in which they choose if any. However, it is also everyone’s right to celebrate in how they wish to. This can include decorating and lighting a Christmas tree if they wish to do so.
Lastly, changing a name of an already well known decoration for Christmas from a Christmas tree to a Holiday tree doesn’t change what it is. Christmas tree, an evergreen or artificial tree decorated, as with lights and ornaments, during the Christmas season. That is the definition of a Christmas tree. Does that simple sentence harm one? Does changing the name of the tree one decorates with lights and ornaments change the meaning of it? No, it doesn’t. So what is the point? Why go through the controversy? Underneath it all it is still the same thing. A Christmas tree is a Christmas tree, not a holiday tree. If it was a holiday tree; Fir tree, Tannenbaum, Yolka or Yule tree can refer to any one of the following http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Winter+holiday+season winter holiday evergreens. If you notice it says winter holiday evergreens. However, I would never get and/or decorate on Fir, Tannenbaum, Yolka, or Yule tree for Groundhog’s Day, New Year’s, and/or Mummer’s day. However, they are still winter holidays, why isn’t a tree put up and decorated for these winter holidays? Isn’t it a holiday tree?

Christmas Tree Vs. Holiday Tree

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 12:16:36 -0500

Christmas Tree vs. Holiday Tree
By Laura Sullivan
Recently, numerous states throughout the US have broken into an outrage over the controversy of the Christmas tree versus the Holiday tree debate. In a time of community and gratitude, this holiday season seems to be tainted by the debate of whether a Christmas tree can, in fact, be called a Christmas tree. The problem arose in Rhode Island when Governor Lincoln Chaffee proclaimed that the 17-foot tree displayed in the State House will be called a Holiday Tree. It is a touchy subject for many that can be argued from various angles and for elongated periods of time. Traditionalists argue that the tree is and always has been a Christmas tree, while the rebuttal is that there is separation of church and state.

It is important to note that Christmas/the holiday season means something different to everyone; it can be advent (the preparation for Jesus’ birth) or just a special time of year to appreciate family and friends, regardless the season is almost unanimously known as the Christmas season. The Catholic and traditionalists argue that the tree has always been a Christmas tree, that the tree was donated by a “Christmas Tree Farm”. A Rhode Island lawmaker went as far as to rename Governor Chaffee, “Governor Grinch.” Many people, whether they are Catholic, atheist, or hold any other number of beliefs, celebrate Christmas: the spreading of joy, exchanging gifts, togetherness and so much more that comes with the holiday season.

December 25 is a date that is recognized by almost all children as the day they will wake up to generous gifts from Santa Claus. Some holiday displays exhibit a Menorah, but they are not called holiday candelabrums. Each religion is respected, so why, if non-religious families celebrate Christmas, can’t there be a tree representative of the holiday joy. Irony envelops the state of Rhode Island, as residents and state representatives argue over the very symbol of the season of community and joy. A Christmas tree has been the staple of each home and business for years, so is it necessary now to spoil the holidays with this unnecessary argument?

Are We Progressing or Regressing?

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 10:30:14 -0500

Are We Progressing or Regressing?
By Sarah King
A vote to ban interracial couples from a church in eastern Kentucky has been a source of constant harassment for the last couple of weeks. Members of Gulnare Freewill Baptist Church backed their former pastor, with very few opposed, in Sunday's vote to ban the couples from church membership, weddings, and any associated church activities, funerals, however were excluded.
The vote was taken after most of the congregation who attended Sunday services had left the church. These members justified their exit by saying, they wouldn’t stop the vote, but did not approve either. Most members of the church "didn't want anything to do with this," said Dean Harville, whose caucasian daughter and black fiance had frequently helped pastor Melvin Thompson in daily activities around the church’s grounds.
At many masses earlier this year, Stella Harville, age 24, a masters student in optical engineering, sang "I Surrender All" with her fiance, Ticha Chikuni, a Zimbabwe native, as stated by her father. Chikuni, who works at Georgetown College in Kentucky, was one of the church’s pianists. "There didn't appear to be any problem," Dean Harville said on Wednesday. "None whatsoever." The couple was told that never again would they be allowed to sing at the church. Thompson resigned in August but would let this issue fall into the shadow.
Thompson told a local Kentucky radio show that quote, "I do not believe in interracial marriages, and I do not believe this ban will give our church a black eye at all." The move has drawn criticism from the higher officials of the Freewill Baptist Church, according to Harville "This kind of thing brands all of us so easily," said Randy Johnson, president of the Pike County Ministerial Association. "That's not who we are. From all the churches I've talked to so far, it's really not anger so much as it is shock." The Parish is trying to distance themselves from this issue for simple reasons. If it is believed all members of the church feel this way, Baptist Churches across the country will feel the burn. This happens not only with churches, but in all scenarios. Many times people can not decipher the individual from the group.
It is these types of newscasts and stories that beg the question, has the United States of America progressed? Or, are we simply falling back into our own dark shadows? Same sex marriage has been legal in America since 1967, as a result of the Loving v. Virginia trial. This case presented a constitutional question never considered by the Supreme Court in a prior situation, whether a legally adopted ruling by the State of Virginia to halt marriages between people based solely on racial distinctions violates the Equal Protection aspect of the Fourteenth Amendment. If in 1967 the Supreme Court was able to decide that states could not decide marital rights based on race. Then how is it that churches are still accepting this dated discrimination?
Ignorance to the human condition halts all progression in a given society. Until all people can come to the same conclusion, that all human beings have the same simple civil rights, our country as a whole will never be free.

Hunger in America

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 10:24:28 -0500

Hunger
By Lyn Hanson

Hunger is becoming a major epidemic in America now. It has been a
problem around the world from the beginning of time, but now that it
is in our own homes, hopefully things will change for everyone. Too
many children are come to school hungry and are not able to function
or focus on their school work due to their grumbling stomachs.
Children are becoming severely ill, which causes them to miss school
and not be able to do their work. Not enough people understand just
how important food is for our survival, we don’t only need it to live,
we need it to be able to take part in everything that we do. Nearly
Thirteen million children live in households that experience hunger or
the risk of hunger, with parents who make too much money for their
children to qualify for free or reduced lunches at school, but who do
not have enough money to feed their families.

In 2003 around 89% of households in America were food secure, however
in that year 11.2% but not all of them were hungry. Thankfully, 7.7%
were not hungry, but 4% were starving. Back in 1995, the government
tried to fix the problem of reducing the prevalence for food
insecurity from 12% to 6% by 2010, halfway through the period, there
is far to go.

There are a great many families who receive food stamps in America,
but the money is not always enough. A family of five many only $500 a
month which seems like a good amount, but when the numbers are
calculated it is only $100 per person per week. For an entire week,
100 dollars will not do very much; people have different eating habits
and special diets and the food can get very expensive. I know of a 97
year old lady who receives only $50 a month to pay for her groceries.
This woman has a gluten allergy, GERD, she is lactose intolerant, and
unable to chew food easily. How could she possible survive on that
little amount of money when her food is so very expensive.

Things must be done to help the hungry, not only in America but
everywhere. If things do not change the future will experience a
great deal of difficulty. Hungry children and babies will not have the
correct and right amount of nutrients for their brains to develop,
leading to more problems with developing creative ideas to help
humanity.

Emma Sticks It To The Man

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 09:42:29 -0500

Freedom of Speech, Just Watch What You Say
By Zach Coyne
Kansas – Emma Sullivan, an 18-year-old high school senior in Kansas, found herself in the middle of twitter controversy last week. Sullivan went on a school trip to the Kansas Sate House with her classmates. After the trip, she tweeted to her 65 followers “Just made mean comments at Gov. Brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot.”
Normally, tweeting bad things about public officials usually go unnoticed, that is unless they happen to be about the governor of Kansas. Gov. Brownback’s secretary of communication, Sherriene Jones-Sontag, is also paid to monitor negative comments about the governor on social media. Jones-Sontag, finding this tweet by a high school senior as a direct threat to the image of the governor’s good name (He has a 52% disapproval rating) instantly got on the phone and contacted Sullivan’s principal.
Sullivan soon found herself in the principal’s office, and was reprimanded for almost an hour. She now has to write a letter of apology to the governor. Sullivan plans on not writing the letter. Good.
This is an outrage, how can a school, which teaches students about American history, ignore the First Amendment like this. Sullivan, like the millions of people who enjoy twitter, has the right as an American citizen to tweet whatever she wants, and not face punishment for it.
It’s one thing for the government to monitor social media to help protect us, in an attempt to remain one step ahead of crime, but to monitor tweets that voice the majority opinion about an elected official? What a disgrace. If I was ever asked to apologize about a tweet that mocked the government, I’d laugh, and present them with a copy of the Bill of Rights. This principal needs to be fired and forced to write a letter of apology to the Sullivan family. And good for Sullivan, for sticking it to the man!

Penn State Insanity

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:30:08 -0500

Penn State Insanity
By Zach Coyne

Unless they live under a log, the average American has some sort of knowledge on the recent events that have rocked Penn State. They have fired their legendary head coach, Joe Paterno, after a stellar 50 year run as the head coach of the football team. “Joe Pa” as he is referred to on campus, failed to report sexual abuse to minors that he witnessed, on victims as young as ten years old.

If you witness such a heinous crime and fail to report to the proper authorities, you should be considered just as guilty. When Joe Paterno saw the child being molested and sexually assaulted and failed to report it, he was condoning the act to happen on campus.
Joe Paterno deserved to be fired. He should face criminal charges for failing to report a crime, and I liked “Joe Pa” too. But the only thing more absurd then this scandal, is the student body’s reaction to the firing.
The students have begun to demonstrate, waving signs and chanting how they want their famous coach back. They have started “mass planking” and have begun to flip over cars (and a news van.) You can’t make stuff like this up. The pictures are repulsive and all over the internet.
The students are effectively demonstrating the amount of knowledge it takes to go to Penn State by protesting his firing. The school’s image is permanently being damaged the longer these riots go on. The school has to shut these brats down and send back to class.
The dean should consider contacting the Oakland Police or even Blackwater Security to send in some armed muscle and show the students that this will not be tolerated. The protest offends the people who have been sexually assaulted and may even prevent victims of this scandal from coming forward. It’s safe to say I can cross Penn State off of the list of colleges ill be thinking of attending.

The Thin Blue Line Protects the Protesters

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 08:48:15 -0500

The Thin Blue Line and The Protests
By Zach Coyne
Are police officers considered part of the “99%”? Or are they simply the tools of the “1%”? Across the nation people are asking this question. It’s really been the good, the bad and the ugly with these protests. The good being in Providence, where police simply observe the protesters “occupying” Burnside Park. The bad being in New York, where police go from peace keepers to baton wielding forces of hate and discontent on a day by day basis. The Ugly being in Oakland (why would anybody want to “occupy” Oakland?) where police resemble storm troopers in their riot gear and fire tear gas canisters blindly into crowds of unarmed protestors.
Protesters are quite split on the issue. Some believe that the police are designed to keep the working class in order and protect the “1%”. Others realize that fighting the police only results in injuries and bad press, since the protesters are armed with their ideas and cardboard signs, and the Police are armed with automatic weapons and tear gas.
The fact is that the police are in fact members of the “99%”, but are protectors of the 100%. Starting pay (before taxes) for a New York City police officer (the city employs nearly 35,000 officers) is less than 25,000 a year. (Minimum wage pays around 14,000 a year.) The bonus side of being a police officer is the pension, which has been under attack during the recession. So the Police in fact should be protesting themselves, as the “1%” is attacking their pensions.
Police officers however can’t simply protest and leave their posts. As opposed to soldiers who don’t follow orders, soldiers are typically only in service for 4-5 years. Police officers make 25-30 year careers out of being a cop. Insubordination could have serious repercussions for a police officer. Police officers don’t feel like dealing with these protestors who are protesting a cause that affects Police. Police are simply doing their jobs. Law enforcement is like any other profession, there are good cops, and there are bad cops. They are simply protecting their communities, risking their lives and keeping the peace, not for themselves, but for the 100%.

The Horror of Animal Abuse

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 11:39:02 -0500

The Horror of Animal Abuse
By Caley D’Ambra
Throughout the past few years, news of abuse towards circus elephants and other animals leaked to citizens around the world. Many people did not know of these situations and were unsure how to act. Many of these animals are treated like they would be as if they were in jail. Being chained up in a cage, not being able to see daylight, being beaten and harassed, there are unacceptable ways to treat innocent, defenseless animals. The trainers say that the elephants train better by being abused. However, abusing these animals can be a threat to the public. There have been several cases where elephants have retaliated against the trainers and killed many people. The blame is focused on the animal for acting in such a crude way; however, no one looks at the big picture. No one understands why these animals appear to be harmful. These animals have been taken out of their natural habitat so they don’t know how to act “normally”. All they know is what to do when they are beaten, poked, stabbed, kicked and hit until they bleed. These animals only know how to hurt, not how to act around humans or how to treat the other animals. Unfortunately, there are not many organizations that help these defenseless animals. Animals are living creatures and killing them is just like killing a human being.
Unfortunately, these circus animals are not the only target. Cows, chicken, turkey, and pigs are the main animals used for food. Although this is a common sense statement, many people are unaware of the living conditions these animals are kept in. Cows are left in crowded, disgusting cages before arriving at a slaughter house. BY law, once ready, cows are to be “stunned” by getting hit in the head or having an electric shock to the body in order to not feel the pain once killed. However, these procedures are not always followed and many cows suffer the pain before finally dying of loss of blood. Similar to the cattle, pigs are kept in crowded cages with low hygiene. Once they reach the age of six months, pigs are considered the “slaughter age”. However, many pigs die before reaching that age from poor hygiene, starvation and/or disease. Chickens and turkeys are kept in dark areas since the discovery of vitamins A and D allowing the animals to survive without exercise or sunlight. These birds are kept in these areas without proper disposal of their waste. These birds basically live in their own feces without even knowing. The farmers must wear masks in order to enter the area because the air is filled with unsafe particles.
If a human cannot enter the area without a mask for them to breath, what makes it ok for an animal to live in those conditions? Questions like these need to be answered on a daily basis. Thankfully, there are organizations such as FARM, Farm Animal Rights Movement. This organization has been working to put an end to using animals for food. Just recently, there was a day known as World Farm Animals Day, a.k.a. WFAD. This day was dedicated to exposing and mourning the 65 billion innocent cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys and other animals suffered and died each year in slaughterhouses around the world. There are ways to help these animals and to stop this abuse, but many individuals are unaware of how to participate. There are other ways to help as well. Coming up in just a few months there is a day knows as Meatout. Meatout encourages thousands of Americans all over the country to help educate children, families, neighbors, what have you, to explore a vegan diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The campaign helps to stop the production of meat and poultry for consumption. This is another way that Americans can help fight against the abuse and mistreatment of these animals in the slaughterhouses. Just remember these are not the only animals suffering from animal abuse and there are plenty of ways to contribute to the communities and organizations.

Occupy: Of, By, and For the People

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 10:16:42 -0500

OCCUPY: Developing a Society That is Truly Of, By and For the People
by Taylor Camara
The Occupy movement now aired across the nation on national news channels spin the act as ridiculous, full of homeless people, anarchists, communists, radicals, and hippies. At times like these, i don't believe that people's beliefs or images should be questioned. The Occupy Wall Street or Occupy anything at all- more local perhaps; Occupy Burnside (aka Providence) is a movement that's been expanded globally. With numerous threats to evict and use tear-gas, rubber bullets, sound-bombs and intense police force, have they moved? No. Did Occupy Wall Street move? No. Did Occupy Boston move? No.Occupy Oakland is back fighting with new numbers.

This cultural-political phenomenon, once a peaceful protest, has turned violent by police and radical anarchists in camps such as Wall Street, Boston, Oakland, and Chicago. NYPD and other police departments of the U.S. barged through and swept many occupiers off their feet, injuring and unfortunately beating the citizens of our nation. What the Occupiers are fighting for is simply this: "We occupy to demonstrate an alternative to the fundamental inequality and injustice of a system which places profit over people and oppression over liberation. We seek to give voice to the 99% — the majority of Americans, who have not been adequately represented in our flawed political process — by means of a truly democratic General Assembly.

We believe in developing a society that is truly of, by and for the people." (official statement of purpose, 2011) These occupiers are fighting for an American revolution in the government, they want to be represented as a group. The 99% demands to be represented within our 1% ruling economy. Behold, the Occupiers. The group of occupiers range from young teens to war veterans to businessmen. Not all people involved with Occupy are radicals, communists, homeless people, hippies and confused teenagers, some are even prestigious businessmen who some are actually working for the companies that the 99% are fighting against.

In the midst of all this, the Occupy movement has been getting stronger although PD have been trying to eliminate the protests all together in all areas. Occupy areas have been expanding rapidly and globally. How long will these protests stay with winter quickly approaching? Especially with New York, Boston and other states where the winters are brutal? If occupy is as strong and powerful as they have shown to be, they will tough it out. 99% will pull through.

Unhealthy Advertisement

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 09:07:53 -0500

Unhealthy Advertisement
By Lyn Hanson
We are all familiar with the clothing company Abercrombie & Fitch. But does everyone realize what it is doing to the minds of children and teens who shop there? CEO of Abercrombie &Fitch, Mike Jeffries, states that he will not allow the hiring of people whom are not cute, hot or sexy, along with people who do not have “good looking” bodies. An insider who is also and employee told me that he has seen people who do not fit the description leave the store crying because they are being ridiculed for their looks. Many problems arise due to this, who is to say that one person is more beautiful than another.
Along with the ridiculous standards the company has, they are beginning to hire shirtless models. These new employees will walk around the store showing the customers how they “should” look. This ludicrous idea will destroy the little self-esteem that people have. Men may feel that they have to have a certain body type, which is very muscular, in order to look good. Women may start believing that they have to dress sexy or sexier than they do, and may even develop eating disorders, in order to look good for these men. Unfortunately the madness does not end here.
One would think that with everything this company focuses on, it would try to make up for it with by evening out the keel with other forms of advertisement that promotes self-worth. No! The employee discount and other gift-cards for family and friends say directly on them “friends with benefits,” Which is just another form of advertising sex to young people. Children are growing up seeing this happen, being brainwashed into thinking this is right. Jeffries (CEO) calls the company” special” because he only wants beautiful people with money to wear his clothing. Also, that other companies are insignificant and or worthless because they make clothing that everyone can wear. The Abercrombie & Fitch company which also owns Hollister Co. focuses too much on sex. Children are being ripped of their innocence and not enough people care. It is time to change this, it must be stopped.

If Not For A Horse

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 09:01:06 -0500

If Not A Horse ...
By Jenn James
Twenty one year old Jasha Lottin and boyfriend John Frost recently had to put down their thirty two year old horse. Lottin and Frost used one single shot from a caliber rifle to kill their ill pet. The couple didn’t just stop at shooting the horse they also carved out its insides and climbed inside it completely nude. Lottin then asked her boyfriend to take pictures of her inside the mutilated horse. The couple posted the pictures on the internet for the public eye to see. At such a young age it’s expected of Lottin to want to experiment but stripping completely and climbing inside the carcass of your dead horse is bordering animal cruelty.
As soon as the pictures were posted the couple received a massive amount of complaints and very emotional reactions. Many people were completely disgusted with the couple and could only question as to why someone would climb inside their pet horse’s dead body. The couple is quoted as saying they did this to “feel one with the horse and nature.” A considerable amount of people are completely confused and find the situation both bizarre and utterly repulsive. Lottin’s mother has said that since the incident the couple has received multiple death threats and other very threatening messages. Some people are even taking it as far as to say that Lottin is a devil worshiper, and accusing her of perversion.
The couple did kill the horse because it was in declining health, and not just for the purpose of taking pictures inside its body. This means they cannot be charged with any amount of animal cruelty. Even though their actions were completely sick there are unfortunately no laws against it. The consumption of the horse is also not forbidden in any way. Both Lottin and Frost have temporarily left the state due to all the threatening messages and death threats. There are regulations forbidding desecration of human bodies but there are none that say anything about animal bodies, which let Lottin and Frost of the hook. What this couple did is highly disturbing and has many people livid, and demanding some type of punishment for them.

Putin and the EuroAsian Union

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:02:56 -0400

The EuroAsian Union
By Tim Onufriev
Russia's Prime Minister ( previous president, and soon to be president again) Vladimir Putin made plans for having a "Euroasian Union" and agreed to sign the agreement for the "free-trade" in the CIS(Commonwealth of Independent States). This effect is hoped to go into effect as early as January of 2012. This Union is created to help ex-soviet countries struggling economically. These countries were once part of the Soviet Union and after the Soviet Union broke up they became independent and suffered dramatically because of instability and because they weren't under Russia's arm anymore. Countries from Europe include Belarus and Ukraine, which are doing fairly well economically. The countries that the Eurasian union actually aims to help is in Asia(middle east) are Kazakstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. These countries once thrived during the soviet times but now they are in economic turmoil.
The problem with the free-trade union could be very large. Since Russia opened its borders in the 1990s, many immigrants from the ex soviet countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan have been flowing in legally and illegally in search of a better life. Since borders are vast, it is quite easy to get into Russia illegally. Many of these Muslims come to Russia's capital, Moscow, looking for cheap jobs. They take dirty jobs such as garbage men and street sweepers. They work illigally and for very cheap. These muslims live in very bad conditions and usually with crammed with many others. The issues that arise from these immigrants are many. Some,but not all bring drugs ( from the poppy seeds back home) which makes heroin. Russia is now the number 1# user of heroin and thus has a large HIV population that was once unseen. The Muslim workers will work very cheap and small time business will hire them over their russians. Example: A muslim will work for 2 dollars an hour( 60 rubles) whereas a Russian will only work for 10 dollars an hour( 300 rubles). The muslims take the Russians job in their own countries. This causes racism and xenophobia around Russia. Russians are enraged with this large flow of immigrants and take violent measures to stop them, including killing them. The possible problem with this "free-trade" union is that it might encourage more Muslims to come do work in Russia. Since trade is now much easier, Muslims from the countries would basically be invited to do business in Russia, and not just specifically Moscow but other cities.
 On the other hand, since this is still a new proposal, who knows what may happen. This free trade union might actually benefit the Ex-Soviet Muslim countries. If their countries GDP rises and everything becomes more stable maybe that will convince many Muslims in Russia to return to their own countries. Hopefully there will be more jobs in the countries. This plan could help both the ex-soviet Union and Russia.

Violence at Occupy Wall Street

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:45:46 -0400

Revolutionary or Incidiary? Occupy Movement Grows
By Alexander Lamoureaux

Early on September 17, protesters flooded lower Manhattan to protest about the economic crisis. They set up camp on the streets with beds and sleeping bags, ready to chant their message to Wall street. People are saying that the protesters are mad at the way the U.S. political and Finance worlds are being controlled. The Occupy Wall street campaign originally started in early July over the internet, and some 74 cities around the world are participating in protesting. By the 27 of September nearly 100 people had been arrested for disobeying the police and resisting arrest.

Things turned violent this past saturday when police started to corral protesters with orange fencing. Following this protesters were being sprayed in the eyes with pepper spray, and being beaten by the police. These actions were caught on camera by people who quickly spread it around the internet. These videos showed what was really happening, unlike the news channels covering the story. What had been a peaceful scenario just a week ago, turned into a violent event.

"The world is stirring, and with it revolution is brewing" a quote said by an anonymous protester which seemed to completely describe what is and still going on. The head of finance for General Electric Co. who in 2008 needed financial assistance stated that if he were unemployed at this time he would also be very angry. There are few celebrities who are actually with the protest, who have announced that there needs to be a change, but none of them have taken any actions towards the resolution. I expect further problems to occur with the protesting on Wall street, I am just very unsure about what else may happen.

Daddy’s Not So Little Girls

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:30:05 -0400

Daddy’s Not So Little Girls: The Huntsman Daughters Take the Campaign Trail by Storm
By Andrea Paligi
Charlie’s Angels, the Kardashian sisters, the Jonas Brothers, and the Huntsman daughters—what do these famous female trios have in common besides being smoking hot? Here’s a hint—only one of these triads is currently being exploited by their father to gain political attention from the American people, or at least to obtain a miniscule shred of recognition. Here’s another hint—it’s not the Jonas Brothers.
Liddy, Abbey, and Mary Anne Huntsman are the three, lovely, leggy and luscious daughters of GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman. Huntsman, a wholesome, backwoods Mormon born in Palo Alto, CA has his eyes on the ultimate American prize: becoming the next president of the United States. Being the president is a rather pleasing dream for many, yet it is also a rather difficult one to obtain for a no name Republican moderate living in Utah.
It seems, however, that Huntsman is well aware that his celebrity status in the political sphere is wholly D-list, and it also seems as if he has an answer to that problem—three answers to be exact. Since setting out on the campaign trail, Huntsman has been receiving an interesting form of support from his daughters. The girls have gone above and beyond supporting their father from their Utah home, and have appeared in Vogue Magazine, spoken out in public and, created a Twitter on his behalf.
In their Vogue spread, the American population was first introduced to the Huntsman’s strikingly beautiful daughters. In looking at pictures of the family one cannot help but to let his or her eyes linger on the bodacious bodies of Liddy, Abbey and Marry Anne Huntsman. When readers are able to rip their eyes away from the girls, they will notice the other children, two more girls, one adopted from India and the other from China. So now in addition to playing the hot daughter card, Huntsman can now also play the cultural diversity card.
It seems, even to those who want to view this situation with the utmost objectivity, that Huntsman and his wife have synthetically assembled the perfect American family. This family dynamic could possibly separate the Huntsman’s from other political families in the presidential race—how convenient.
Even before their debut in Vogue, the Huntsman daughters have been cattily tweeting about their father’s political opponents on their twitter, @Jon2012girls. In response to a conversation with Mitt Romney about a Chinese trade war, the girls tweeted:
"How does (Mitt) Romney know anything about China? He's only been there once, and that was for the Olympics. Panda Express doesn't count."
—@Jon2012girls
Thus, not only has Huntsman put his little girls to work as seductive symbols for his political campaign, he has also sent them on a high school, Mean Girls frenzy to verbally slander fellow candidates. Why doesn’t someone remind Huntsman, children are to be seen, not heard?

The ultimate question still remains: is this raunchy political innuendo working in Huntsman’s favor? Has this caused him to move to the forefront of the presidential race? Well, we won’t know for sure until 2010, but we do know that he has found support in Fox News’s Greg Gutfeld who made a comment about the sexy situation earlier this month:
“Can I just tell you? I've been so confused about who I want to support in the election and then I was on Twitter and I saw a picture of Jon Huntsman's family. I am -- because these are his daughters -- I am now a Jon Huntsman supporter.” [Fox News, 8/19/11]
This statement is not a huge surprise coming from a Fox News figure, yet it is still a prime example of the effect that the Huntsman girls have on the American people.
We now wonder, not whether or not Huntsman will be replacing Obama in the White House within the next year, but rather, how many men will the Huntsman girls have to seduce before someone finally recognizes their father’s name? Or even more so, how long before MTV airs a series titled “Huntsman Girls Gone Wild”?
Jon Huntsman—do we know exactly what he stands for? No. But would we perhaps be more open to finding that out if it were to come from 3 slender young women in tight strapless dresses and high heels? Well, duh—after all, this is America.

Immigration: Fenced In or Fenced Out?

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:20:47 -0400

The Perennial Issue of Illegal Immigration
By Lerana Carle

In the Los Angeles G.O.P Debate last night, the topic of immigration was brought up. During the weekend, Cain was mentioned in many headlines for the the "joke" he said. A moderator at the debate last night brought it back up and asked him if he would prefer that the fence be electric. As a smart Republican, Cain dodged the question like it was never asked. What would America be like if this Republican frontrunner's idea was taken into action? How does this statement make others feel about our country and the people at its head?

I, for one, feel that it is one of the worst ideas I have ever heard in my life. If there was an electric fence at the border of Mexico, do you honestly think it would convince illegal immigrants to not hop over the fence? I don't think it will stop them. It will just motivate them to find a different way into our country. Why should we care if there are immigrants in our country anyway. I mean, technically aren't we all illegal immigrants? Most of our ancestors just took over this land from Native Americans and they didn't make them undergo all of the things we are making immigrants go through now even when they were being killed.
The fact I am trying to get at is that we shouldn't stop people from coming into our country and vice versa. It is understandable that we try to keep our country safe in the process, but at what cost? Should we really try to keep someone out who may be trying to better their life? It just seems idiotic to me.

Is Sevenly Really a Heavenly Idea?

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:05:56 -0400

Is Sevenly Really a Heavenly Idea?
By Chantal Berube
Would one rather buy a t-shirt or help a non-profit charity? Many would rather benefit themselves and buy the t-shirt. However, Sevenly.org can now give one both. For just twenty-two dollars one donates seven dollars to the week’s chosen charity. Then they receive the limited edition t-shirt of the week.
Each week is a different charity with a specialized t-shirt originally made just for retail of that week to raise money to donate to the cause. Once the seven day period is over the shirt is gone forever. However, one can always be relieved to know that a new t-shirt for another charity will be out at ten o’clock Monday morning.
Many may wonder where the other money goes to for the twenty-two dollar t-shirt. Why do they only donate seven dollars to the charity? Just like every other shirt that one buys it costs money to produce the shirt. However, Sevenly has lowered the costs as much as possible keeping exemplary quality using all organic materials.
Sevenly was founded by some who have a strong desire to change the world. Selling t-shirts advertizing a charity does two things. One it gives an admirable t-shirt to love and wear and two advertize the charity hopefully gaining new followers of said charity. Sevenly believes this may give some the realization that some are not as privileged as others.
Sevenly. One week. One shirt. One charity!

How To Minimize School Dance Drinking Incidents

Fri, 3 Jun 2011 08:10:44 -0400

How to Minimize School Dance Drinking Incidents

By Conor Simao

Following the calamitous Senior Reception of 2010 and the subsequent
controversy, CHS officials have expressed increased concern over
alcohol consumption before and during school dances. This alert has
led to disciplinary innovation of unprecedented brilliance, including
number generation and “randomly” selected breathalyzer evaluations at
the Winterball this past year. While it is unanimously agreed upon
that underage drinking is a concern worthy of our collective address,
I take issue with the ineffective nature of these measures and suggest
much more pragmatic, albeit judgmental and morally repugnant,
replacements:

1. If any group of people (or lonesome individual) is sporting bright
pink, yellow, or otherwise unnecessary sunglass eyewear (despite it
being a February and/or June evening,) they are most likely very loud,
offensive, and/or intoxicated. This is not made evident by their
attempt to conceal their eyes, but rather their unapologetic
pretention and use of neon in a non-ironic manner.

2. The first four people to occupy the dance floor—regardless of who
they are—should be promptly removed from the venue. This is in the
interest of not only sobriety (anyone that eager to dance certainly
lacks it) but also to spare the other patrons that “out-done” feeling.
It’s not a race people, and the best way to drive home this point is
to make an example of those who think it is…whoever they are, and
whenever they strike.

3. Any individual donning a baseball cap—however fashionably
rebellious, is likely keeping their inexpensive liquor within. It’s
been done before, the good old
“pour-the-contents-of-your-iced-Smirnoff®-in-the-baseball-cap-and-wear-it-in”
technique. Practitioners of this hopeful scheme are usually easy to
identify, though, as they are typically drenched in the product of
gravitational physics.

4. I’d also put forth the notion that we, as a money strapped school
system, purchase giant full body scanners that identify the presence
of alcoholic containers taped to the bodies of all students. In
addition to halting in-dance consumption, it will also weird everybody
out enough to make Winterball and Prom go the way of dinosaurs and
Homecoming. That is to say, virtually extinct. My point being that you
can’t have any dance related alcohol consumption if there isn’t any
dance in the first place.

5. My fifth and final suggestion is a tad unconventional—tongue in
cheek, even. I think as a school, our administration should clearly
define expectations, regulation, and disciplinary actions that they
execute with precision and consistency. This would create precedent
that would ideally render the rest of my more expensive and
challenging measures unnecessary. For example, when a group of dance
participants (be one of them a person of staff, perhaps) are found to
have consumed seemingly implausible quantities of inexpensive alcohol
during and before a school event, the administration could (if they so
pleased to be hypothetical) implement fair and unbiased punishment
that address the actions with fitting consequence and unmoving
conviction. Of course, I think the full-body scanners would be a
better option—from an industrial-consumption perspective.

Well that’s my short list. I suppose the moral here is to stay
bitterly judgmental, cynical, and to embrace the wisdom of “if they
would be drunk, they most likely are.” I know you might be thinking,
“Wait, why should we adopt a logical fallacy as the foundation of our
disciplinary philosophy?” and to that I respond, “Well, why stop now?”