Class of '06 says goodbye - My High School Journalism

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ON GUARD
On Guard Staff
Editor-In-Chief: Kayla Whitehead
Editors: Richard Allen
Chelsea Barker
Corbin Constantineau
Robert Dunham
Kailee Harper
Pamela Kouassi
Courtnie Martin
Jerry Shirk
Becky Stoll
Staff Advisor: Todd Keister
Op-Ed
I dont want to be a stupid girl
By: Courtnie Martin
Feature Editor
The world’s new female role model
consists of the all around stupid girl.
Every time the public hears a celebrity
making comments that not only make
them sound dumb, but also causes us
to belittle their intelligence, we soak it
up. Why exactly does society settle for
young, dumb, and blonde? Why do we
completely blow off the sophisticated,
intelligent, and over-achieving women
of America?
I mean really, Chicken of the Sea?
Hello it is tuna, not chicken! I wonder
how much Jessica Simpson got paid
to say that. Or buffalo wings? They
actually came from a buffalo that fl ies.
Is she serious?
On American Idol, singer Kellie
Pickler said that “salmon” should not
be pronounced with a silent L. So would
she be okay with me pronouncing
her name without an L? She also said
that she did not know what calamari
was. It is okay to not know but to act
stupid like you are supposed to know is
another thing. Is this how citizens want
the next generation to be represented?
When it comes time to pick the next
President of the United Stated and you
fi nd out that the First Lady is none
other then Jessica Simpson herself,
what will you think when she is afraid
to give the homeless Chicken of the Sea
because she is not sure whether it is
chicken or tuna? This is ridiculous.
My role model is not going to be
a beautiful, young, and dumb lady. I
would much rather prefer someone
like Pink, who thinks you should
succeed in life and give yourself goals
and values. Pink is exactly right: “What
a paparazzi girl, I don’t wanna be a
stupid girl.” And neither do I. This
country should be ashamed of how
much publicity the act of dumbness
gets. If I knew I could be paid to be
dumb, why would I go to school? We
should value our education and our
uniqueness. Being a little behind on a
joke is one thing, but no exposure to
Immigration causes a riot...literally
By: Corbin Constantineau
Sports Editor
On May 1, the immigrants and
their supporters set out into the
streets of Seattle and put on a huge
demonstration. This huge rally of an
estimated 20,000-25,000 people was
the largest demonstration Seattle has
ever seen. The whole purpose was for
one reason: So all the people who have
migrated to the United States would
be allowed to stay legally.
I have talked to many of my friends,
family members, and teachers to hear
all sides of this argument which has
risen from this issue. I have found that
my views are not very different from
many other people. One of my main
concerns is the rising population of our
country. Many of the demonstrators
told reporters that America is suppose
to be the land of opportunity and the
land of the free. As more and more
people are entering the country our
population is fl ying higher and higher.
Is this freedom?
CNN reported that there are some
illegal immigrants who are on welfare
and other government aided
securities. Many of these people
are also not working. It was then
brought up that they are not paying
taxes, but are getting free money
and food. There are thousands of
hungry and homelss American
citizens. In my opinion if our
government is going to put nonworking,
non-tax paying people on
welfare, it should be the American
citizens.
But the sad truth is that this
does not apply to all immigrated
the real world is another. Ladies, do
not let this ‘new’ dumb role model be
our example for success. And men, if
you want to live your life under the
love and care of a female who does not
know the difference between chicken
or tuna, then good luck in life. Give
yourself more respect then thinking
the only way to get rich quick is by
acting stupid. Because really, that is
far from it. Settling for making your
self appear to be stupid when you
really are not is out right ludicrous
and I frown upon stupidity.
families. Many people come to this
country and work very hard, making a
better life for themselves. They pay all
their dues, but the few that do not follow
the rules make a bad name for everyone.
While I was at work there was a man
from Mexico talking. He brought up the
issue about immigration and he seemed
very angry. I asked him what his view
on it was. He responded to me saying “ I
am from Mexico. I am here to work hard
and make a better life for my children. It
is the lazy and disrespectful immigrants
who are going to ruin it for all of us.”
What he said stuck with me and after
that I realized that it was not all of the
people who are immigrants that are
causing problems, but a select few.
At the rally many of the people were
talking about how America will crumble
without them. They are too much part
of our lives to live without. I think that
there may be an issue with cheap labor,
and there will be jobs that Americans
will not want to do. However, overall we
will overcome this problem and work
through it all. I personally do not care
who comes in or out of this country, but
the people who are in here should have
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A little kindness
goes a long way
By: Chelsea Barker
As I sat in the gym on May 10
watching and listening to the story of
Rachel Scott, I could not help but feel
bad about the way I have lived my life. I
was never a kind person. I never stopped
to help someone out and I never helped
someone who was getting made fun of.
In fact, I was the person making fun
of someone else. As much as I would
tell myself that I want to be that kind
of person, I found myself feeling bad
again because I knew it probably would
not happen.
I know that some people think that
the assembly was just about some girl
who was nice. But to me, it was more
than that. It gave me a chance to really
sit back and take a look at the way I
have acted.
While the presentation was going
on, I could hear many others, including
myself, start to cry. The message of
the assembly hit everyone hard, and
afterwards, I was stuck with a feeling of
guilt and awe.
I felt guilty because I knew I should be
the type of person Rachel was. I was in
awe of the way she cherished everything
and was so kind. Honestly, I could never
see myself being completely like her.
However, I could start being kind to
others, and possibly make a difference
in some person’s life.
I also got the chance that night to go
to the presentation at Spanaway Junior
High. It was a little different than
the version we saw, but yet again that
feeling of guilt and awe came rushing
back to me. I could not help but feel bad
for all people I have been rude to in my
life.
I do not know what it is like to lose
someone close to you and I hope I never
have to go through that. I can only
imagine how hard it must have been
on their family. However, I admire the
way they are taking a
tragedy and turning
into something
inspirational. I
signed the banner
and accepted
Rachel’s Challenge.
I hope you did the
same, and maybe
together we can start
a chain reaction in
our school.
Op-Ed Editor