Panther Prints | Issue 2 | December 2019
16 • Opinion PESHPRINTS.COMChristmas fever leaves America sickDiversification of winter holidays possible through pop cultureby Juliette Robertshe question, “What’s your favoriteTChristmas movie?” prompts a varietyof answers. “The Grinch” (no, not the JimCarrey version), “It’s a Wonderful Life,”“Die Hard” or dozens more might cometo mind. The question, “What’s your favoriteHanukkah movie?” could leavemost students stumped. Or,worse, yet, “Can you name oneKwanzaa movie?”This problem is reminiscentof the anger surrounding thepolitically correct enforcementof “Happy holidays” to replace“Merry Christmas.” Supportersof this change believe dismantlingthe Christmas hegemonywill make room for other winterholidays, but this isn’t necessary.Other holidays can coexist alongsideChristmas when they have a presence inpopular culture.Holidays other than Christmas havebeen recognized by politicians such asTexas Sen. Ted Cruz who wished Hanukkahcelebrants a warm greeting via socialmedia in 2017. Although this is progress towarddiversification, politics doesn’t set thestandard for day-to-day life — pop cultureHANUKKAHDec. 22-Dec. 30OTHER WINTER HOLIDAYSWINTERSOLSTICEDec. 21does. Every day, school hallways are clamoringwith discussions of the latest showsand musical artists. If a holiday is invisible inpop culture, its participants remain alienatedfrom society.This necessity for a variety of winterholidays is especially applicable to students.According to Pew Research Center,Gen Z is the most ethnically diverse generationyet, but looking at the wintertimeChristmas craze, nobody would know it. Itis crucial for students who will soon inheritbusinesses and institutions currently run byadults to let their diversity shine in the holidaysrepresented in pop culture. Anythingless would be untrue to their identity.Some Americans disagree with the in-KWANZAADec. 26-Jan. 1clusion of other holidays because the majorityof people celebrate Christmas. Whilethis is true, minorities should still hold apresence in the public conscious. For example,Kwanzaa originated in the civilrights movement of the 60s as a culturalcelebration of African American communityand heritage. Meanwhile,the majority of Americans aretrading meaning for material.Households spent an averageof $1,536 during the Christmasseason in 2018 according toFortunly, while only 46% seeChristmas as a primarily religiousholiday. So-called “minor”holidays could provide the callbackto sincere religious andcultural roots the country desperatelyneeds.Making room for other holidays doesn’tmean shaming anyone for loving Christmas.The solution is not to ban “MerryChristmas,” but to make it just as acceptableto say “Happy Hanukkah” or “HappyKwanzaa.” Supporting creative projectsdesigned to assimilate other holidays intopopular culture is the path to properly representingthe country’s diversity.Policy predicamentby Fatima Malikhe current early release policies allowTseniors to take fewer than six classesif their schedule consists of at least fourAdvanced Placement (AP) courses or acareer prep class, which requires a joboutside of school. These students shouldnot be the only ones allowed to have aminimum of five classes. PISD campusadministrators should take this policyinto reconsideration to allow all seniorsto take a minimum of five classes.Having to stay in school for a longerperiod of the day can mean lower attendancerates from seniors who realizethey don’t care for extra classes. Accordingto a Panther Prints poll, 53% of448 students feel they’re unnecessarilyrequired to take extra classes despitehaving completed their required credits.However, Spending 49 minutes longer atschool to take an additional class mightmean an opportunity to gain knowledgeon subjects a student might realizethey enjoy.Senior year itself can be exhaustingwith the stress of schoolwork and theimpending pressure of life beyond highschool. An extra four hours per weekwould allot for time to work on collegeapplications during this final year. Instead,however, this time is placed intoan additional class that may not necessarilybe a benefit for all students.The financial stress that comes withcollege — or working to support family— can be daunting, and having moretime to work can make the cost of collegeless distressing. Furthermore, havingwork experience as a high schoolstudent can bolster a student’s collegeapplications and work resumes. Whilecareer prep is an option for all studentsto gain additional time to work, the classis limited in availability since there areonly five classes with 25 seats per class.AP level classes are not the onlystressors that should be considered forallowing shorter schedules. Some classes— such as dual credit or fine artscredits — can be just as rigorous as APclasses. Other factors that may play intostress are familial problems or extracurricularactivities.Seniors should have the choice totake a minimum of five classes no matterthe type of classes they take as longas they are on track to completing theircredits by the end of the school year.Any additional classes should be optional,because some seniors may needmore time to focus on applications andwork as they transition to college.56%48%53%11%of studentshave no earlyrelease from schoolof studentstake seven classesthis semesterof studentsfeel they areunnecessarilyrequired to takeextra classesof studentshave double seniorrelease withAP classesout of 448 students polled
@PESHPRINTS Opinion • 17Political participationProposed bill should pass to expand voting populationStaff Editorialexas state lawmakers filed HouseTBill 512 that, if passed, will allow17-year-olds turning 18 before generalelections to vote in state primaryelections. A division lies between lawmakerswho supportthe passage of thisbill — four Democraticand two Republicanrepresentatives —and lawmakers whobelieve the bill wouldcause confusion. Thebill should be passed,as it is beneficial inmany ways to citizenswho will soon beadults with full votingrights.Lowering the votingage expands thevoting populationand encourages participationin politics.Twenty other statesalready allow someform of voting at17-years-old — forinstance, New Mexicoallows 17-year-olds tovote in primary electionsgiven they willbe 18 by the time ofthe general election.If 40% of the UnitedStates already allowsvoter participationof 17-year-olds, thenother states shouldfollow. In the midtermelections forNovember 2018, earlyvoter turnout for votersunder 30 in Texaswas up by 375%from 2014 according to the analyticsfirm TargetSmart. If young Texans areparticipating more in elections, thenopening up state primaries to 17-yearoldswill likelyincrease politicalinvolvement ofvoters under 30.The primaryelection determinesthe57% candidate whorepresents thepolitical partiesin the generalelection. Many17-year-oldswill be 18 by the time of general elections,so it follows that they shouldhave the right to vote for their stateoptions. If the proposed bill doesn’tpass, then 18-year-olds who choose tovote in the state general election willbe choosing between candidates whowere decided for them by other votersin the state primary election.In some ways, state policy is arguablymore influential for teenagers thanfederal policy. The federal and stategovernments share some powers andreserve others; for example, decisionson public health and safety are left tothe states. These include decisionsof studentsthink 17 year oldsshould be able to votein primary electionsout of 448 students polled82%about the drug industry, food industryand cases of domestic abuse. Since17-year-olds on the verge of adulthoodwill be affected by such policies,the ability to vote for candidates whorepresent their viewpoints gives themthe power to shape the state they livein.A concern about the passage ofthese bills is that many younger U.S.citizens aren’t aware of the importanceof their civic duty. As a result, HarrisCounty clerk DianeTrautman proposedthat 17-year-old votersbe required tocomplete civics andgovernment classes,as it ensures theyunderstand their responsibilityas U.S.citizens. Another argumentagainst theproposed bill is that17-year-olds wouldfeel confused ratherthan empowered ifthe bill passes, sinceit allows participationin local and state electionsbut not federalCartoon by Sevval Erenkolelections. However,due to widespreadinternet access — asof 2019, 90% of U.S.adults use the internetaccording to thePew Research Center— information aboutstate-level electionsis quick and easyto look up. Doubtsover most 17-yearolds’lack of politicalknowledge areunfounded since, ifgiven a reason to beinformed about stateand local politics,teenagers can easilyeducate themselvesby using the internet.The passage of a bill to open upprimary elections for state and countyoffices to 17-year-olds would increasevoter participation, ensure theyhave the abilityto vote for thecandidates theywill choose betweenin theof studentsthink it’s veryimportant to votegeneral election,and givethem the abilityto contribute tothe type of statethey want to livein as adults. Forthese reasons,the proposed bill for 17-year-olds tovote in state primaries should pass.17 staff members in favor1 staff member against
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@PESHPRINTS Opinion • 17
Political participation
Proposed bill should pass to expand voting population
Staff Editorial
exas state lawmakers filed House
TBill 512 that, if passed, will allow
17-year-olds turning 18 before general
elections to vote in state primary
elections. A division lies between lawmakers
who support
the passage of this
bill — four Democratic
and two Republican
representatives —
and lawmakers who
believe the bill would
cause confusion. The
bill should be passed,
as it is beneficial in
many ways to citizens
who will soon be
adults with full voting
rights.
Lowering the voting
age expands the
voting population
and encourages participation
in politics.
Twenty other states
already allow some
form of voting at
17-years-old — for
instance, New Mexico
allows 17-year-olds to
vote in primary elections
given they will
be 18 by the time of
the general election.
If 40% of the United
States already allows
voter participation
of 17-year-olds, then
other states should
follow. In the midterm
elections for
November 2018, early
voter turnout for voters
under 30 in Texas
was up by 375%
from 2014 according to the analytics
firm TargetSmart. If young Texans are
participating more in elections, then
opening up state primaries to 17-yearolds
will likely
increase political
involvement of
voters under 30.
The primary
election determines
the
57% candidate who
represents the
political parties
in the general
election. Many
17-year-olds
will be 18 by the time of general elections,
so it follows that they should
have the right to vote for their state
options. If the proposed bill doesn’t
pass, then 18-year-olds who choose to
vote in the state general election will
be choosing between candidates who
were decided for them by other voters
in the state primary election.
In some ways, state policy is arguably
more influential for teenagers than
federal policy. The federal and state
governments share some powers and
reserve others; for example, decisions
on public health and safety are left to
the states. These include decisions
of students
think 17 year olds
should be able to vote
in primary elections
out of 448 students polled
82%
about the drug industry, food industry
and cases of domestic abuse. Since
17-year-olds on the verge of adulthood
will be affected by such policies,
the ability to vote for candidates who
represent their viewpoints gives them
the power to shape the state they live
in.
A concern about the passage of
these bills is that many younger U.S.
citizens aren’t aware of the importance
of their civic duty. As a result, Harris
County clerk Diane
Trautman proposed
that 17-year-old voters
be required to
complete civics and
government classes,
as it ensures they
understand their responsibility
as U.S.
citizens. Another argument
against the
proposed bill is that
17-year-olds would
feel confused rather
than empowered if
the bill passes, since
it allows participation
in local and state elections
but not federal
Cartoon by Sevval Erenkol
elections. However,
due to widespread
internet access — as
of 2019, 90% of U.S.
adults use the internet
according to the
Pew Research Center
— information about
state-level elections
is quick and easy
to look up. Doubts
over most 17-yearolds’
lack of political
knowledge are
unfounded since, if
given a reason to be
informed about state
and local politics,
teenagers can easily
educate themselves
by using the internet.
The passage of a bill to open up
primary elections for state and county
offices to 17-year-olds would increase
voter participation, ensure they
have the ability
to vote for the
candidates they
will choose between
in the
of students
think it’s very
important to vote
general election,
and give
them the ability
to contribute to
the type of state
they want to live
in as adults. For
these reasons,
the proposed bill for 17-year-olds to
vote in state primaries should pass.
17 staff members in favor
1 staff member against
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