Windsock

Respecting ALL Our Sports

We have many sports at our school; some succeed better than others in terms of wins and losses.  Some sports are more popular than others, and some appear more exciting than others.  Many poke fun at friends for playing this or that sport, but it seems that baseball receives the brunt of the jokes.  In recent years the baseball program has not been as successful, and people have chosen to focus their attention and comments on that. 

            Friends are a big part of our lives.  When they start insulting a hobby or interest of ours, it hurts.  This is what happens to many baseball players, especially after a bad loss.  It almost seems that people want us to lose just so they can have their fun.  When we do win, they say it's because of luck or other silly reasons. Occasionally, we have an article written about us in the newspaper.  The articles have rarely been very positive, which definitely affects our morale as a team and as individuals.  But to have the article also used to poke fun at us is hurtful and discouraging.  I personally know how that feels, having been mentioned in a recent article in a not so positive light. Players have been told not to pay attention to the media coverage of our team, and we try; but it is especially difficult when others read those comments and use them against us. 

I believe that there are several ways in which the baseball team can be better supported.  The first way would be not being made fun of for playing the game of baseball.  Also, it would mean a lot if we had better attendance from the school community instead of only from our parents and the softball girls (Don't get me wrong, we love having you there!).  When I attend a soccer or basketball game, there are usually numerous teachers and many more students in attendance. Maybe people don't realize that baseball offers the same thrilling and exciting moments as any other sport.  Being the last batter and driving in the winning run, throwing the winning pitch, hitting an over-the-fence home run, or making a diving catch are all great adrenaline-pumping situations which we have experienced as a team this season.  One example of such a moment occurred in our home game against Virginia Episcopal.  In the bottom of the sixth inning we had a runner on third, there was one out, and the game was tied at zero.  A pitch got past the VES catcher, and the runner stealing home slid under the tag to give us the lead and the momentum to win the game four to zero.  Thirdly, it would also be appreciated if we were encouraged rather than ridiculed the next day at school after a loss.       

            All sports have value in terms of team building, self-control, sportsmanship, mental discipline, physical activity, and perseverance.  One sport isn't really better than another; each one just has different ways of being played and different rules.  One of the main purposes of any athletic competition is to build the character traits mentioned; but a more important goal should be to bring honor and glory to God as we use the skills and abilities which He has given us.    We are also called to honor Him in the way that we interact with each other--on and off the field.

I hope that this article will make someone think twice before making a negative comment about baseball or any other sport. Let's strive as a school community to support and respect all the sports offered at EMHS.  Go Flames!!!

- Special Correspondent Chandler Hardy

Don't Accept "Junky" History

Several weeks ago, after the Kennel-Charles lecture annually hosted by EMHS, Mrs. Roth invited James Juhnke, a former professor of history at Bethel College, to speak about the United States and the nation’s equilibrium of war and peace. Juhnke noted America’s lack of hesitation when committing to war with its enemies and elaborated on the different ways American culture values war. Throughout his discourse on war and peace, he provided the government class with several examples of wars that should have been avoided entirely and conflicts that could have been resolved before violence erupted. Juhnke frequently stressed the American Civil War as one conflict that qualified as a ridiculous war fought with unsubstantial motives. He held the Civil War leaders in poor regards, stating that they “couldn’t end slavery without a war.”

By that point I wanted to start pounding my forehead on the surface of my desk. What was this man saying?!?! Juhnke had just portrayed the American Civil War as a war fought solely over the issue of slavery.

Framing the Civil War as a struggle to abolish slavery or condemning the South for trying to preserve slavery isn’t an intelligent or respectable way to interpret U.S.history. While slavery served as a major factor in the War Between the States that hardly encompasses the numerous causes for the Civil War.

The North and South, separated by the famous Mason-Dixon Line, fell under the authority of the same federal government and national leaders, but were distinguished by cultural, economic, and political differences. Economically, the South sustained its population with the plantation system while the North maintained their economy with smaller farms, industry, and mining. The cultural differentiation between the North and the South originated from many sources. The North hosted thousands and thousands of new immigrants from Europe, but few immigrants ever settled in the Southern states. Therefore, the North possessed a rapidly expanding population and a people of notable diversity. The North and South struggled with conflicting views over states’ rights and the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. As the North and the South developed two separate identities, the South discovered that the North’s growing population would achieve complete control of the federal government. The South sought a strict constructionist interpretation of the Constitution, hoping that would prevent the federal government from abusing the states’ rights. However, after Lincoln, a Northern candidate who failed obtain a single electoral vote from below the Mason Dixon Line and received the endorsements of many Northern politicians, won the election of 1860, the South pursued secession.

When a historian commits himself to sweeping statements such as Juhnke’s inaccurate example, he begins dealing in absolutes. Juhnke’s implications of the Civil War fought solely over the rights of slavery forced all the Southern fighters into the same corner, a place marked by racism, greed, and immorality. Of course some individuals fought to preserve slavery in the South, but not every man marched to war against his fellow countryman to deny the slaves their rights. Over two-thirds of Southerners never owned slaves or participated in the slave trade. My ancestor, a cavalryman in General Stuart’s 6^th Virginia Calvary Regiment never owned a slave, but fought to prevent an invasion of the Northern armies. The revered General Robert E. Lee, a native Virginian, rejected an offer from Lincoln to lead the Northern army against the South. Although he had discouraged Virginia’s secession from the
Union, Lee sided with his home state and swore his allegiance to protecting his home and people. General Lee, along with the majority of Southerners suffered great hardships to prevent atrocities like Sherman’s March to the Sea and the devastation of Southern properties, a vital source of livelihood. I highly doubt the Southerners were concerned with slaves’ rights when their homes, traditions, and family were faced with devastation.

The subject of the American Civil War’s origins is a topic worthy of a doctorial thesis, and I truly cannot give the issue justice in such a brief editorial. I encourage you to research the Civil War, but don’t foolishly accept the “slave war” parallels that unprofessional historians promote. The Civil War is the perfect conflict to study and research, as most of the fighting happened only a few miles from our homes here in the Shenandoah Valley.

-Kyle Smith, Co-Editor

Shorts at EMHS: A Questionable Moral/Dress Code?

It’s official – EMHS has altered its dress code. For as long as I can remember (and presumably for as long as the school has been around) shorts of all types have been banned from the halls of the high school and middle school. Modesty and school appearance are generally the reasons I heard for the shorts dress code, and for years shorts have only been allowed on special days. As of January, this prohibition has been lifted  - on account of the amount of money the students raised during Fund-Drive.

I could scarcely believe it when I heard that this “earn money and we’ll change the rules” offer was being made again. In the 2003 Fund Drive, the school gave the kids the same option – but only lifting the school ban for a week if the students met the monetary goal. As I recall, there was a lot of disagreement among some of the teachers, parents and administration about this offer – a lot of people saw it to be in bad taste.

I’m afraid I’d have to agree with them. It seems to me that the message the school is sending here by altering the dress code is “we’ll lower our standards if you raise enough money.” Maybe the school had been planning to change this part of the dress code for a while, and was just looking for another way to spur the kids come Fund-Drive time. Maybe, as I’ve heard, it had more to do with current fashion than money, and the administration is just hoping that Bermuda shorts won’t be replaced by short-shorts anytime soon.

Don’t get me wrong – I don’t have a problem with shorts, and I’m not saying I was too in favor of the dress code to begin with. I suppose it’s good that students now have increased opportunities to express themselves through their clothes (not to mention, most of us will be glad to have something other than jeans to wear once the days start getting warmer).  I’ve also notice that once spring comes, a number of kids develop the habit of changing out of pants and into shorts the instant that 2:55 arrives, making me wonder about the purpose of the rule to begin with.

So, it’s not so much that I’m anti-shorts or anti-administration. It’s more that I wonder about the moral basis of the change. If you’re going to change the dress code, why not do it at the beginning of the year, separate from Fund Drive, instead of sending such a confusing, “earn more money” type of message? Perhaps the administration now regrets their choice, so I’ll try not to make anyone feel too bad. Next time, however, I’d prefer to see rule changes and fund raisers remain as far away from each other as possible.

- Whitney Showalter

When the World Ends: An Editorial

Johnny Cash once wrote “And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts, And I looked and behold: a pale horse. And his name, that sat on him, was Death. And Hell followed with him,” which later became the final verse for his song The Man Comes Around, a song rife with allusions to the battle of Armageddon and the end of the world. Robert Frost seemed to believe that the earth would be extinguished by humans’ own anger and hatred, characterized by the elements of fire and ice. In her novel The Last Man, Mary Shelly foresaw a world without humans, after nature swept the land with a devastating plague, killing everyone save one man. The Bible itself contains numerous passages beyond the book of Revelation that proclaim a time of great turbulence and chaos that will consume the world.

Visions of the apocalypse seem to surround human thoughts, expressing itself especially through literature and song, but are by no means limited to written texts. Recent films reflect society’s deep seated feelings about apocalyptic times and the end of mortal life. I Am Legend tells the harrowing account of the one man immune to a virus that turns humans into vampire/zombies instead of curing cancer as intended. Cloverfield introduces a monster that annihilates New York city, throwing its inhabitants into disarray and panic. The fear and uncertainty of those characters has strange parallels to similar emotions felt on that fateful September morning nearly seven years ago. The entertaining Terminator and Matrix storylines haunt our dreams with the possibility of mechanical creations revolting against their human creators, a theme common to humans and particularly Christians.

The end of the world has infiltrated the gaming generation as well, inspiring countless dystopian plots. Cortana, the artificial intelligence from the Halo trilogy, quotes T.S. Eliot’s The Hollow Men with the simple yet profound words “This is the way the world ends.” In Halo, the Master Chief and the remnants of humanity struggle to save earth from an approaching alien horde. In another science fiction saga titled Half Life, the aliens have defeated the residents of earth and occupy the planet with an iron fist.

Although modern humans might be expressing their thoughts on the end more than ancient peoples, no one should believe they were without apocalyptic nightmares. Whether the legend is true or not, the Greek philosopher described how the continent of Atlantis suffered destruction by fire and water then descended into the sea forever. In the Norse culture, the peoples’ mythology described a time when horrifying predictions would be fulfilled, referring to this coming disaster as Ragnarok. According to the myths, the fallen heroes resting in Valhalla will adorn themselves for war against the wicked giants, the old gods will lose their lives in the epic battle, and the earth will be engulfed in a mighty fire. Lastly, who could forget the terrible images of beasts and horned creatures, heralds of the end times, revealed to Daniel and Saint John the Divine in the scriptures?

It doesn’t matter when or where people search, elements of the apocalypse have penetrated society entirely. Perhaps our obsession with the end is sustained by an innate sense of guilt, driving humans to believe punishment and judgment from a greater force is justified. After witnessing the purge of humanity in a movie or reading an account of a few resilient survivors fighting against overwhelming odds to preserve their race, humans begin to experience a unique calming emotion referred to as a catharsis. The calming effects from a catharsis come from the release of tension and pressure that burdens the human conscience.

Human weakness and failure eventually lead to destruction, but what follows that? Surviving the climatic destruction fulfills a desire for redemption and allows for the rejuvenation of life. The apocalypse shows us that redemption is attainable for humans, but only at a tremendous cost. However, while humans might believe themselves deserving of a coming judgment, they find themselves worthy of survival. In nearly all of the apocalyptic trials, a remnant remains, having redeemed themselves of their misdeeds and hope to promote goodness. At the end of I Am Legend, several enclaves of humans manage to survive and find a cure to defeat the plague. During the climax of the Halo trilogy, the Master Chief and his allies defeat the alien armada and avert his peoples’ destruction, but only after the blood of billions soaks the earth. In Christian tradition after the old world has passed away, a new earth appears accompanied by a new Jerusalem, shining in the glory of God.

Ultimately, we want to believe in an end to all this deception, pride, and death that we humans perpetuate. The world without the human corruption seems highly appealing sometimes, but at least we have the gift to recognize that. It’s the same gift that makes humans worthy of survival, worthy of redemption.

-Kyle Smith, Co-Editor

Facebook "Censorship" Justified?

Do students have the right to say whatever they want about the school outside of it? This very question became a topic of debate recently, as a result of some controversial Facebook behavior. (I personally don’t have a Facebook account, so whether or not I even have a right to talk about it is at the discretion of the reader). As I understand it, some EMHS students created a few Facebook groups, some attacking teachers and some attacking the entire school. Once the administration found out, those who created the groups were told, by the school, to remove them, only to have a “We Have Opinions” group started in the aftermath.

I feel that the school was entirely justified in requesting the removal of the offending groups. Before you go pulling the First Amendment card, think for a second about what’s at stake. In a few years, when students are applying to colleges and getting jobs, the people looking over their resumes will, I promise you, Google their names. The price of all their offending comments back in their Facebooking days will become immediately obvious. I don’t think that the school should be so harshly criticized for making students remove something that will probably become a bane for them in the future.

For another, I personally don’t think that “freedom of speech” vindicates overtly publishing something that is offensive or hurtful, especially when the publishers are high school students. (As I pointed out already, just because we have the right to do something, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea or that we should be allowed to do it – in the same way that a parent should stop a little child about to stick his finger in a light socket, even if the child knows what he’s doing). The school hasn’t stopped any students from forming or joining “Just War” groups or any other groups which may disagree with the school’s policy, so they can hardly be accused of infringing free speech or beating down those with differing opinions. Rather, the school stepped in when insensitive and immature things were being said.

Some of you may also scream “Public relations!” and accuse the school of only wanting the offending groups removed because they could hurt the school’s reputation. That’s one point I’ll give you – and “I Hate EMHS” group started by the students doesn’t say a lot in favor of our school. However, EMHS, more so than maybe most public schools, relies on its reputation to get funding, students, and a lot of what it needs to stay open. While requesting the removal of the Facebook groups for the sake of reputation might not have been the “right” thing to do, I doubt that it was the school’s only reason, and I’m willing to let it go.

In short, I’m not about to blame the school for its censoring. If the removal of an offensive Facebook group could indeed be considered a First Amendment violation, then perhaps I am a poor patriot. I certainly wouldn’t support the school if it decided to edit the Windsock before it was published or control what went into Eclectia. However, in the case of an “I Hate EMHS” Facebook group, I’m willing to give the administration some grace. –Whitney Showalter, Co-Editor

His Dark Deceptions

In recent months, the book trilogy known as His Dark Materials, written by Philip Pullman between 1995 and 2000, has attracted harsh critics and loyal supporters from everywhere. The trilogy targets younger audiences with its detailed accounts of fantasy and realms of the imagination, but includes elements of physics, philosophy, and theology suitable for more mature readers. Pullman’s opinions and perspectives on the third concept have emerged as a notably controversial issue, especially when New Line Cinema released a movie adaptation of the first installment several days ago.

Before continuing my critique of Pullman’s opinions, I should inform you that Philip Pullman represents the British Humanist Society and is often recognized as one of Britain’s most outspoken atheist. Pullman’s trilogy, His Dark Materials, introduces a provocative challenge to Christianity that increasingly undermines the faith as the trilogy progresses. Whether he publishes these narratives with the intent of arguing his aesthetic perspective or simply for hopes of a more significant profit gain appears unclear, as he has stated both as motives. However, I would hazard to say that Pullman harbors an agenda that intends to debase the values of Christianity. “Meanwhile, I’ve been flying under the radar, saying things that are far more subversive than anything poor old Harry has said. My books are about killing God,” Pullman states proudly, regarding his book compared to the Harry Potter series

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Philip Pullman starts his saga in a parallel world with his female protagonist named Lyra spying on a meeting of scholars hosted by Lord Asrael (who oddly enough decides to hide in a wardrobe. Sound familiar?). Early in The Golden Compass, a worried scholar gives Lyra an alethiometer, a device which divulges the truth if she has the experience to interpret it. As the plot unfolds, Lyra ventures from her home at Oxford University to search for her missing friend but then lives with mysterious and wealthy Mrs. Coulter, who turns out to be her mother. While unknowingly living with her mother, Lyra is caught up in a conspiracy involving the kidnapping of children and the identification of a strange substance known simply as “Dust.” A menacing group of scientists and militants have found a connection between children and their growing attraction to Dust as they mature. Apparently, the Dust represents the physical manifestation of Original Sin, which most Christians believe has plagued every individual since the Garden of Eden. The story closes with Lyra, her daemon, and alethiometer passing into another parallel world that her father, Lord Asriel bridged through his hideous experiments with the Dust.

The second novel titled The Subtle Knife introduces several new characters that encounter Lyra as she continues to investigate the mystery behind Dust. One such significant character, Will Parry, coincidentally stumbles into the same world Lyra entered. Will made the transition between worlds when authorities from his world came searching for information about his late, arctic explorer father, but meets Lyra and their destinies merge into a single quest. Lyra and Will leave the strange world of Ci’gazza, venturing back through Will’s world to search for evidence about Dust and Will’s father. While searching for answers the deceptive Lord Boreal steals the alethiometer from Lyra, but, when the two children attempt to retrieve the device, Boreal demands that Will and Lyra steal special knife known to have extraordinary powers, locked away at a tower in Ci’gazza. The children retrieve the knife, learning that the blade can open portals to different worlds and slice through any known matter. They return to Boreal, and manage to reclaim the alethiometer along with the knife, escaping both Boreal and Lyra’s mother, who had allied with the man. During the children’s flight, Mrs. Coulter captures a witch friendly to her daughter and determines Lyra’s ultimate destiny: Lyra will serve as the new Eve. The final chapter ends with Lyra in the captivity of her mother and Will confronted by two angels (that supposedly possess homosexual tendencies) who want the boy to follow them and relinquish the knife to their master, Lord Asriel. Wielding the knife as his own, Lord Asriel intends to muster his interdemensional army and slay God with the weapon.
The Amber Spyglass concludes Pullman’s trilogy with the events and characters of the previous two stories converging into one epic conflict. Will denies the request of the two angels, Baruch and Balthamos, and insists that they help him recover Lyra from her mother. The angels agree to help Will, and they divulge that their “bodies” are composed of Dust and that God is only an extremely ancient angel who claims to have created the universe. However, God no longer rules over the universe; Metatron, another powerful angel keeps God trapped in a glass case and rules in his stead. Will seeks out Lyra, who Mrs. Coulter keeps imprisoned and drugged in the Himalayan Mountains of Lyra’s world. With the help of several allies, Will manages to free Lyra and open a portal to another world, while Lord Asrael’s army clashes with the forces of the

Consistorial Court (an arm of the Church) under the command of Mrs. Coulter. Meanwhile, a minor character from the previous story, Mary Malone, travels into a strange world occupied by elephant like creatures known as the mulefa that can see the Dust, discovering that the Dust is departing from this world at an alarming rate. Lyra and Will decide to visit the land of the dead and consult with two lost loved ones, and, aided by a host of harpies, choose to free the dead with the powers of the knife. Mary Malone constructs a spyglass out of sap from the trees of the mulefa that allows her to see the Dust as the mulefa have for thousands of years. She discovers that the Dust allows the trees to flourish and grow and without the trees the mulefa will lose their consciousness and capacity for knowledge. After freeing the dead, Lyra and Will travel to the world where Lord Asriel has begun to establish his Republic of Heaven which will replace the Kingdom of Heaven currently ruled by Metatron. Lord Asriel’s fortress, the Adamant Tower, is under siege by Metatron, but, when both Metatron and Asriel realize that Lyra and Will have entered the world, each factions attempts to capture them. Asriel comes across a bottomless pit, which the Church meant to kill Lyra with. Mrs. Coulter, having escaped Lord Asriel, leads Metatron to the endless pit to bring the two enemies face to face. Mrs. Coulter, Lord Asriel, and Metatron all begin fighting, and the two humans cast the angel into the pit while throwing themselves in to ensure he never rises again. The children come across decrepit and demented form of God and release him from his chamber. The form of God dissipates with the wind and becomes one with all of nature. In the aftermath of the battle, Will and Lyra once again travel to another world, this time entering the same world as Mary Malone and the mulefa. After speaking with the children, Mary suddenly remembers that the eldest mulefa told her the trees began to sicken nearly three hundred years ago, when the alchemists first created the knife. Having heard about Lyra’s destiny, Mary intends to play the role of the serpent and force the new Eve into temptation. Lyra and Will listen to how Mary surrendered her life as a nun for a man who brought her happiness, and as a result, Lyra expresses her love for Will and they kiss passionately after she gifts him with a piece of fruit. After accomplishing her task, Mary convinces Lyra and Will that they must prevent the destruction of the mulefa by never using the knife again. However, this agreement comes at a steep cost, as Will and Lyra must return to their original worlds or suffer an incredibly short life. The two lovers separate, preventing the Dust from escaping through the rifts between worlds, and the story ends with Lyra aspiring to create the Republic of Heaven.

THE END!!!

Where do I begin? I hope most readers will be able to grasp the basic plot and central themes behind Pullman’s trilogy through my extremely abridged version. Before I start spearing Pullman’s ideology, I should give a brief history lesson.

During the 1920s, the famous science fiction writer H.G. Wells published his book titled The Outline of History, sparking a conflict between advocates for scientism (primarily atheists) and Christian apologists. The Outline of History was countered by The Everlasting Man, a work piece by G.K. Chesterton, a prominent Catholic theologian. The argument continued for years, until C.S. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia and his space trilogy based on the travels of the fictional character Elwin Ransom. After the release of these novels, primed with the message of Christianity, few notable scholars pursued the argument initiated by Wells. However, in the 1990’s, Philip Pullman felt obliged to rekindle the fires of debate, and, in rebuttal to Lewis’ beloved stories, he published His Dark Materials, deriving the name from a passage in Paradise Lost. When asked about his opinions of Lewis and his writings, Pullman answered “I think Lewis was a remarkable man. But when it came to the Narnia books, I think he was actually dangerous because those books celebrate death. As an end-of-term treat the children are killed: that to me is disgusting.”
Personally, I find Pullman’s falsification and mockery of Narnia immature and deserving of the ardent controversy swallowing the trilogy. But, I’ll set that aside and focus on what the atheist has spoken through the words of his novels. The whole trilogy is seeping with problems, but I selected a few that grasped my attention.
The first problem I encountered came when reading the portion about the alethiometer and the manner in which the device is operated. Only the alethiometer will reveal the truth, and only Lyra has the capacity to find truth, which generally resonates Pullman’s idea of truth. Truth is only acquired through observation and human perception, negating from the concept of mystery and faith. Later in Pullman’s trilogy, I detected his attempt to explain sin through scientific observation and felt the presence of scientism. Proceeding to The Subtle Knife, my reading uncovered more about the central characters of evil, Mary Malone and Lord Asriel. Mary comes to term that she must serve as the serpent and tempt Lyra to fall from grace and Lord Asriel symbolizes the figure of Satan, both of which organize a rebellion against God. During Lyra’s quest to unveil the mystery of the Dust, she confers with the alethiometer and discovers that humans have existed for over 30,000 years but only obtained a consciousness in recent history, indicating the emphasis on macro evolution. On another note, the angels introduced at the end of The Subtle Knife divulge an account that Pullman has derived from truth but is the farthest thing from it. The Amber Spyglass grows more explicit in opposition to Christianity than the previous two stories. Perhaps the most stunning decision comes when Lyra recognizes that she must sin, in order to save conscience beings by preserving the Dust, otherwise known as sin. Lyra’s character serves as the antithesis for Lewis’ Eve in Perelandra, when one overcomes temptation and the other embraces it. In the ending, Lyra maintains the idea of Lord Asriel, the representation of Satan, of forming of Republic of Heaven, where all people are equal, but there is no God.

Although Pullman recently states that his series are “not promoting anything of that sort (atheism),” Pullman obviously wrote to refute the beliefs of Christians long dead. As he chose to associate with the legendary line of atheists and Christians, His Dark Materials represents Pullman’s intent and aspirations to undermine Christianity. The most despicable portion of Pullman’s trilogy isn’t even his argument against Christianity; he curses readers with his perversion of the truth and justification of sin. I fear for the younger audiences reading the trilogy, which Pullman has brought under his dark influence. Any fool can replace the truth with lies, but blending lies with truth requires a cunning serpent capable of unfathomable subversion.

- Kyle Smith, Co-Editor

"Affluenza" in Schools

Ironically, in a country where education is free and the citizens of the United States of America are provided with the opportunity to make use of their literary advantages, doing well in school has become something "uncool" for American youth. Steps such as the "No Child Left Behind" law have been taken to improve the American school system, but they ignore the role of students' attitude toward academic excellence. If students don't want to learn the maximum, they won't. The media, especially advertisements, are a subtle, but important, contributing factor to this anti-intellectual trend.

Most Hollywood movies portray schools in which the pursuit of excellence is left to the "nerds." The popular students are the handsome athletes, girls with phenomenal physical features, and the comedians. This is not to say that attractive athletes, girls who are pretty, and people who have the ability to make others laugh are always bad students - nor are they always portrayed this way - but 90 percent of the time this is the way these groups of students are seen in the popular movies for teenagers that are coming out regularly in theaters. To name a few: Accepted, a comedy about a high school burnout who fabricates his own college when he finds out he has been rejected from all of the schools he applied to; The Perfect Score, a movie about six high school students who steal the answers to the SAT so they can get into the school they want; Mean Girls, a movie about a girl who moved back to the U.S. after growing up in Africa and who tries to fit in by doing whatever it takes, even if it means failing calculus on purpose so she can get the guy she thinks is cute to tutor her. Doing well academically in school is not part of theme of these movies, if the subject of class work comes up at all among scenes of high school students skipping class and engaging in harmful behaviors such as drinking, partaking in casual sex and disrespecting their parents and teachers.   

America is falling prey to a disease called "Affluenza" in a 2001 book. It is a disease where people, in particular children, are brainwashed by constant advertising on the TV, in their schools and even on the sides of their buses. Cuts in funding for public schools force the administration to turn to agencies outside of the government for much needed money. As a result, places like the hallways of Colorado Springs high school boast posters proclaiming "satisfy your hunger for higher education with Snickers" and "M&Ms are better than straight A's." The irony is that the very snacks that are promoted through commercial advertising are the ones that health classes warn against.

As a result of "affluenza," school is no longer a place to learn, to increase knowledge, but a place that serves as a springboard for later positions of power and success in the affluenza-dominated world. The belittleing of learning begins with our President, who was recently quoted as saying "I delegate to good people. I always tell Condi Rice, "I want to remind you, Madam Secretary, who has the Ph.D. and who was a C student. And I want to remind you who the adviser is and who the president is." A man who should be a role model for America's youth and inspire them to take interest in schooling will allow them to become "the future leaders of America" is in fact displaying his own ignorance the entire nation. Between negative messages thrown at teenagers by the media and poor role models from the leaders of our country, it is no wonder that schools have trouble enticing their students into learning for learning's sake. There is no point in excelling and getting an A if they run  the risk of being labeled a "nerd" for trying and have the potential to rise to President on merely a C.

- Kara Lofton (This article was originally published in the Daily News Record)

Heritage, not Hate?

You might have heard the phrase a few times in your life. It is one of the most commonly used phrases in defense of the Confederate flag. Many people, especially here in the South, seem to the believe that the Confederacy is a part of our heritage that should be venerated in numerous ways, from flying the flag from rooftops to Confederate bumper stickers.
 
As I travel around the Shenandoah Valley there are many people "honoring their heritage" with the Confederate flag. I see a sign of racism that has endured since the Civil War era. People claim that it is a symbol of a way of life that has disappeared with Northern influences, but that way of life was only possible through the oppression of thousands of people.

It seems almost illogical that anyone would really believe that the Confederacy was a glorious part of our heritage. The Confederacy was a failure in every sense of the word. They broke away from the Union, created their own money and started a war. None of those things worked out in their favor. They lost the war and were accepted back into the Union. During the war they lost valuable history in their foolish attempt to create their own government.

Once the war was finally over the South's economy was in pieces and their money was worthless. Gee, what a great thing to celebrate. It's taken the better part of century for the South to recover at all. The South still has the highest poverty rates and unemployment rates.

In Germany the Swastika is unacceptable and illegal in many places, yet the Nazi era was part of their heritage. I don't see people flying the Nazi flag over their homes proudly and saying witty phrases like "it's heritage not hate," or "hate the deed not the breed." That would be a terrible choice and would have serious consequences. People should not be able to honor oppressive systems or times in history without some kind of repercussions.

For me it seems like an issue of decency and consideration. People should understand that it is a symbol of racism and a poor way to represent their heritage. In the end people need to think about others before they show their "Southern Pride."

- Freeman Bendfeldt

These Brothers of Mine

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me….whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
-Matthew 25: 35-36, 40

Listening to Anna Gant, Emily Anderson and Becca Crist in chapel a few weeks ago, I was filled with admiration for the passion that took these girls to Washington D.C. to join the AIDS Walk. I often feel compassion and a desire to help alleviate the pain that overwhelms the world, but I have rarely acted on my convictions.

I have no end of excuses for myself. I am too busy. I don’t have time. I don’t have enough money to make a significant contribution. I haven’t found the right opportunity to help. But these excuses did not keep Anna, Emily and Becca from acting. They found the time, they found the opportunity, and they made a significant contribution. How could this story fail to inspire?

The thought of anyone finding offense in what these girls said had never crossed my mind. But, while talking to people after chapel, I realized that I had assumed far too much. Some people were outspoken in their objection to the AIDS walk.

Why? Because the AIDS walk was “for gays.” Though there are many “innocent” AIDS victims, a walk specifically to benefit gay AIDS victims is an insult. Gay AIDS victims deserve what they are getting because it is the logical outcome of their immoral behavior. Why should we support them?

At first, I was at a loss as to what to say in response to this. I had thought that I was relatively “on the same page” as these people, but I was not even in their book. I couldn’t begin to say anything that would help them understand me, because we were operating under such different assumptions. I felt that I was speaking a foreign language, and the words that I heard were no more coherent.

The question I was not able to answer has not left me.What is the justification for helping gay victims? This is where I ask myself: why should we help anybody? Why should we love anyone or act on that love?
The answer is simple. Because He first loved us, and died in an act of love we will never be able to fathom. Do we imagine that because we are rich enough, because we have “good” parents who made us go to Sunday school and who now pay for our Christian education, we are in any way better than people who have not been so blessed? Can we claim our morality, our “good behavior,” for ourselves, and say with a smile that we would be the people we are today without the advantages had from birth? Can we look on any people, whom the Lord Himself has looked on with unbearable love, and say that they do not deserve our time, our money, and all our hearts?

This is not a matter of Gay’s Rights. It’s not a question of whether being gay is "okay." This is a matter of helping the sick.

Christ claims as His brothers the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, and the sick. He tells us that anything we do for these, we have done for Him. Does Christ claim as His brother the gay AIDS victim? I believe that He does. I believe that when Anna, Emily and Becca joined the AIDS walk, they walked side by side with Christ.

- Hannah Cranston

Living the Balanced Life

            It’s a Thursday night and you are at home pulling an all nighter to finish what’s left of your homework. The stress of the week is beginning to pile up on you like a truckload of elephants. You anxiously look at the clock as it sleepily chimes 2 am. Exhausted you wonder, will there ever be an end to the craziness?!?

The fact of the matter is the average EMHS student’s school day is filled with classes meant to stretch them intellectually. We as a student body are presented a challenging curriculum that in the long run will help us to succeed. However, in the mean time, the academics we pursue can be a strenuous journey. The stress of homework and extracurricular activities could cripple the unique joy our high school years. Is there any way that we can control the amount of stress we are under?

Believe it or not, I think there is! I believe that we are capable of balancing our lives in a way to eliminate the stress, get the schoolwork done and still have time for the activities we enjoy. At the beginning of this year, I had committed myself to too many activities, making my life a constant circus act. I hardly had any time at home, and the time I did have I found occupied with all my commitments. I could not continue this lifestyle or I would indeed come to a crashing halt.

If you feel this way about the year, here are a few tips that could help you on your journey. First of all, prioritize your life activities. Having an idea of which activities in your life hold the greatest value helps to prioritize what truly matters. Secondly, have a support group of friends and family who will keep you accountable to staying on the track to success. As stated by Desmond Tutu, “When you are in a crowd and you stand out, it is only because you are being carried on the shoulders of others.” Finally, remember to keep God’s word in your daily life. Take time to read the life lessons God has given us through His word. Having a deeper understanding of how God wants us to prioritize our life can help guide us in balancing our lives.

- Rose Jantzi