Class of '06 says goodbye - My High School Journalism
Class of '06 says goodbye - My High School Journalism
Class of '06 says goodbye - My High School Journalism
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2<br />
ON GUARD<br />
On Guard Staff<br />
Editor-In-Chief: Kayla Whitehead<br />
Editors: Richard Allen<br />
Chelsea Barker<br />
Corbin Constantineau<br />
Robert Dunham<br />
Kailee Harper<br />
Pamela Kouassi<br />
Courtnie Martin<br />
Jerry Shirk<br />
Becky Stoll<br />
Staff Advisor: Todd Keister<br />
Op-Ed<br />
I dont want to be a stupid girl<br />
By: Courtnie Martin<br />
Feature Editor<br />
The world’s new female role model<br />
consists <strong>of</strong> the all around stupid girl.<br />
Every time the public hears a celebrity<br />
making comments that not only make<br />
them sound dumb, but also causes us<br />
to belittle their intelligence, we soak it<br />
up. Why exactly does society settle for<br />
young, dumb, and blonde? Why do we<br />
completely blow <strong>of</strong>f the sophisticated,<br />
intelligent, and over-achieving women<br />
<strong>of</strong> America?<br />
I mean really, Chicken <strong>of</strong> the Sea?<br />
Hello it is tuna, not chicken! I wonder<br />
how much Jessica Simpson got paid<br />
to say that. Or buffalo wings? They<br />
actually came from a buffalo that fl ies.<br />
Is she serious?<br />
On American Idol, singer Kellie<br />
Pickler said that “salmon” should not<br />
be pronounced with a silent L. So would<br />
she be okay with me pronouncing<br />
her name without an L? She also said<br />
that she did not know what calamari<br />
was. It is okay to not know but to act<br />
stupid like you are supposed to know is<br />
another thing. Is this how citizens want<br />
the next generation to be represented?<br />
When it comes time to pick the next<br />
President <strong>of</strong> the United Stated and you<br />
fi nd out that the First Lady is none<br />
other then Jessica Simpson herself,<br />
what will you think when she is afraid<br />
to give the homeless Chicken <strong>of</strong> the Sea<br />
because she is not sure whether it is<br />
chicken or tuna? This is ridiculous.<br />
<strong>My</strong> role model is not going to be<br />
a beautiful, young, and dumb lady. I<br />
would much rather prefer someone<br />
like Pink, who thinks you should<br />
succeed in life and give yourself goals<br />
and values. Pink is exactly right: “What<br />
a paparazzi girl, I don’t wanna be a<br />
stupid girl.” And neither do I. This<br />
country should be ashamed <strong>of</strong> how<br />
much publicity the act <strong>of</strong> dumbness<br />
gets. If I knew I could be paid to be<br />
dumb, why would I go to school? We<br />
should value our education and our<br />
uniqueness. Being a little behind on a<br />
joke is one thing, but no exposure to<br />
Immigration causes a riot...literally<br />
By: Corbin Constantineau<br />
Sports Editor<br />
On May 1, the immigrants and<br />
their supporters set out into the<br />
streets <strong>of</strong> Seattle and put on a huge<br />
demonstration. This huge rally <strong>of</strong> an<br />
estimated 20,000-25,000 people was<br />
the largest demonstration Seattle has<br />
ever seen. The whole purpose was for<br />
one reason: So all the people who have<br />
migrated to the United States would<br />
be allowed to stay legally.<br />
I have talked to many <strong>of</strong> my friends,<br />
family members, and teachers to hear<br />
all sides <strong>of</strong> this argument which has<br />
risen from this issue. I have found that<br />
my views are not very different from<br />
many other people. One <strong>of</strong> my main<br />
concerns is the rising population <strong>of</strong> our<br />
country. Many <strong>of</strong> the demonstrators<br />
told reporters that America is suppose<br />
to be the land <strong>of</strong> opportunity and the<br />
land <strong>of</strong> the free. As more and more<br />
people are entering the country our<br />
population is fl ying higher and higher.<br />
Is this freedom?<br />
CNN reported that there are some<br />
illegal immigrants who are on welfare<br />
and other government aided<br />
securities. Many <strong>of</strong> these people<br />
are also not working. It was then<br />
brought up that they are not paying<br />
taxes, but are getting free money<br />
and food. There are thousands <strong>of</strong><br />
hungry and homelss American<br />
citizens. In my opinion if our<br />
government is going to put nonworking,<br />
non-tax paying people on<br />
welfare, it should be the American<br />
citizens.<br />
But the sad truth is that this<br />
does not apply to all immigrated<br />
the real world is another. Ladies, do<br />
not let this ‘new’ dumb role model be<br />
our example for success. And men, if<br />
you want to live your life under the<br />
love and care <strong>of</strong> a female who does not<br />
know the difference between chicken<br />
or tuna, then good luck in life. Give<br />
yourself more respect then thinking<br />
the only way to get rich quick is by<br />
acting stupid. Because really, that is<br />
far from it. Settling for making your<br />
self appear to be stupid when you<br />
really are not is out right ludicrous<br />
and I frown upon stupidity.<br />
families. Many people come to this<br />
country and work very hard, making a<br />
better life for themselves. They pay all<br />
their dues, but the few that do not follow<br />
the rules make a bad name for everyone.<br />
While I was at work there was a man<br />
from Mexico talking. He brought up the<br />
issue about immigration and he seemed<br />
very angry. I asked him what his view<br />
on it was. He responded to me saying “ I<br />
am from Mexico. I am here to work hard<br />
and make a better life for my children. It<br />
is the lazy and disrespectful immigrants<br />
who are going to ruin it for all <strong>of</strong> us.”<br />
What he said stuck with me and after<br />
that I realized that it was not all <strong>of</strong> the<br />
people who are immigrants that are<br />
causing problems, but a select few.<br />
At the rally many <strong>of</strong> the people were<br />
talking about how America will crumble<br />
without them. They are too much part<br />
<strong>of</strong> our lives to live without. I think that<br />
there may be an issue with cheap labor,<br />
and there will be jobs that Americans<br />
will not want to do. However, overall we<br />
will overcome this problem and work<br />
through it all. I personally do not care<br />
who comes in or out <strong>of</strong> this country, but<br />
the people who are in here should have<br />
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JUNE 2006<br />
A little kindness<br />
goes a long way<br />
By: Chelsea Barker<br />
As I sat in the gym on May 10<br />
watching and listening to the story <strong>of</strong><br />
Rachel Scott, I could not help but feel<br />
bad about the way I have lived my life. I<br />
was never a kind person. I never stopped<br />
to help someone out and I never helped<br />
someone who was getting made fun <strong>of</strong>.<br />
In fact, I was the person making fun<br />
<strong>of</strong> someone else. As much as I would<br />
tell myself that I want to be that kind<br />
<strong>of</strong> person, I found myself feeling bad<br />
again because I knew it probably would<br />
not happen.<br />
I know that some people think that<br />
the assembly was just about some girl<br />
who was nice. But to me, it was more<br />
than that. It gave me a chance to really<br />
sit back and take a look at the way I<br />
have acted.<br />
While the presentation was going<br />
on, I could hear many others, including<br />
myself, start to cry. The message <strong>of</strong><br />
the assembly hit everyone hard, and<br />
afterwards, I was stuck with a feeling <strong>of</strong><br />
guilt and awe.<br />
I felt guilty because I knew I should be<br />
the type <strong>of</strong> person Rachel was. I was in<br />
awe <strong>of</strong> the way she cherished everything<br />
and was so kind. Honestly, I could never<br />
see myself being completely like her.<br />
However, I could start being kind to<br />
others, and possibly make a difference<br />
in some person’s life.<br />
I also got the chance that night to go<br />
to the presentation at Spanaway Junior<br />
<strong>High</strong>. It was a little different than<br />
the version we saw, but yet again that<br />
feeling <strong>of</strong> guilt and awe came rushing<br />
back to me. I could not help but feel bad<br />
for all people I have been rude to in my<br />
life.<br />
I do not know what it is like to lose<br />
someone close to you and I hope I never<br />
have to go through that. I can only<br />
imagine how hard it must have been<br />
on their family. However, I admire the<br />
way they are taking a<br />
tragedy and turning<br />
into something<br />
inspirational. I<br />
signed the banner<br />
and accepted<br />
Rachel’s Challenge.<br />
I hope you did the<br />
same, and maybe<br />
together we can start<br />
a chain reaction in<br />
our school.<br />
Op-Ed Editor