Windsock

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

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

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

State Champions!

The game started similar to any normal soccer match. The silver and white varnished ball, a spark of light over the green surface, rested in the center of the field. The score board erased the statistics from the last game and displayed a count down of 40 minutes along with the opposing zeros on either side, carrying the pressure of all the competitions prior to the championship night. The referee sounded his piercing whistle and Norfolk’s forwards seized the ball with a fearsome determination. The colossal first half had begun.

For twenty minutes the ball sailed and darted from one side of the field to the other, the teams rapidly changing possession. Norfolk’s offense seemed to maintain an advantage during the first quarter of the game, continually assaulting Eastern Mennonite’s defensive line. Just as EMHS appeared to capture the ball and drive toward the opponent’s goal, the rains began to fall. Only a slight drizzle at first, then morphing into a heavier shower, the rain soaked the entire stadium. The fans in the stadium remained unflinching, only lifting a few articles of clothing over their heads, and the players continued their struggle, unshaken by the elements. Yet, people wondered if the rain’s appearance would prove an ill omen or only an annoyance.

With five minutes left in the first half, Mitchell Leap raced up the sideline with the ball, hoping to break the stalemate that had dominated the entire game thus far. Closing in on the goal, Mitchell and one of Norfolk’s defenders collided, leaving the EMHS senior lying on the field. Daude Teel, a sophomore, replaced Mitchell on the forward line for the rest of the half, while the time diminished to the ten minute half time break.

EMHS earned possession of the ball while initiating the second half, and the clash of cleats seemed more aggressive, both teams knowing they must break the cursed zero. The rains had ceased during half time, but the grass retained a great deal of moisture, keeping the ball and the bottom of cleats uncontrollably wet. Ten minutes into the second half, Norfolk charged through goalie Dillion Brunk’s defensive allies on the right. Five players, including Dillion, merged into a confusing mess around Eastern Mennonite’s goal, battling for control of the potent ball. A cry erupted from the opposite side of the stadium’s bleachers; Norfolk had scored.

While EMHS tried to push aside the sudden, shocking event, the mob of fans and parents stood silent and bleak, having lost the comfortable security of faith. For the next ten minutes the Flames wielded the soccer ball like a dire art, knowing they must penetrate Norfolk’s defenses and repay the deed. During the hard fought ten minutes, one of Norfolk’s defensive players earned a yellow card, and he left his fellow players for the sideline.

The crowd rallied with cheers and shouts as senior Kevin Chico and the forwards set up the perfect conditions for a goal, a single point. Mitchell Leap passed the ball to Kevin, blazing past Norfolk’s defense and placing the ball deep in Norfolk’s goal box. In unison, both players and fans lifted their arms to the heavens and screamed jubilantly. Now, the stakes felt just as high as the entire first half, except the menacing zero had morphed into a one.

Feeding off the adrenaline and morale from the recent goal, EMHS pressed hard on Norfolk’s defenses. As though the tables had turned completely since the beginning of the game, the Flames appeared stronger and resilient while the Bulldogs seemed to suffer from fatigue and weariness. At last, while challenging Norfolk for the ball around their own goal box, the Bulldog's goalkeeper fouled Bryce Shank, providing the Flames with a penalty kick and the opportunity to claim victory. The audience stood silent, hushed by the implications of the penalty kick, while Leap motioned for the ball boy to throw him a fresh, dry ball. The referee signaled for Mitchell to take the shot, and the Flame sped toward the ball, sending it past the goalie’s protection and into the netting. With only a total of four minutes remaining in the game, EMHS claimed the supremacy that Norfolk had held for twenty harsh minutes. For the little time left, the Flames shielded their side from Norfolk until the time reached zero. Broken voices from yelling excessively resounded though the stadium, and fans jumped the fencing around the bleachers and charged onto the field to congratulate the boys on their extraordinary success.

The Flames obtained their first soccer championship title ever on the evening of Friday, November 10, 2007, forever forging themselves into the history of EMHS. The boys managed to reach the championship game one other time, during the 2005 season, and played in four out of the five past Final Four matches. On a whole, EMHS only holds six other championship titles in sports: three consecutive years in girls’ cross country (84, 85, 86), two consecutive years in boys’ cross country (71, 72), and once in softball (2003). With this victory, the soccer boys undoubtedly established a legacy for future generations to strive for. The excitement seems to have overwhelmed the players and coaches, but there’s no doubt that they will never forget the success of the 2007 season. “I’m going to tell my children about this,” claims senior Lucas Shrock-Hurst.

But the saga of the 2007 Boy’s Varsity Soccer Championship is more than simply a story of trials and victories; it’s the enduring message of fulfillment and hope. During a hasty interview after the obtaining the championship trophy, senior Kevin Chico and Head Coach Kendal Bauman recounted a dialogue from four years ago. Kevin and his fellow seniors, only eighth graders at the time, were preparing to perform in the Final Four against none other than Norfolk Academy.

“For me and Kevin, it’s really come full circle,” notes head coach Kendal Bauman. “When we took Kevin in eighth grade, he asked me, ‘Coach, have you ever won a championship?’ and I told him, ‘no, I haven’t,’ and Kevin replied, ‘I’m going to get you a championship by the time I graduate.”

When asking Kevin about the struggle to reach the championship game and the triumph there, he replied with a broad smile, “This is good. This was something my brothers and I were unable to overcome for years, but God is good.”

For Kendal Bauman, he has more to watch than just his players mature and prosper. The 2007 season hosts the 10^th anniversary of the VISAA State Soccer Tournament, which would not have formed without his initiative. The tournament started in 1998, with the collective effort of 20 schools and Kendal’s coordination. In 2002, the tournament expanded and formed two separate divisions, which now include a total of 50 schools. Coach Bauman has served as the president for ten years since its founding and put tireless effort into the success of the tournament. Friday evening, prior to the Division II Championship between North Cross and Denbigh Baptist, Kendal Bauman received a plaque recognizing him for his invaluable leadership as president of the VISAA State Soccer Tournament, along with the EMHS 2007 Championship Trophy.

- Kyle Smith
 

A Mere Interpretation on the Pursuit of Knowledge

What is humanity’s purpose in life, why does humanity exist, or more importantly, why is the race of Adam and Eve special compared to the rest of the living world? For thousands of years, the ancients dreamed of deities and demigods and sought to explain existence through the mysterious and unattainable. Later, intellectuals attempted to answer such profound questions with reason and observation; thus, philosophy was conceived.

            The fledging philosophy society at EMHS stimulated a few thoughts along the lines of those unfathomable questions. Most seniors recently discussed human nature and mankind’s part in the universe during the Kingdom Living classes. Other than the occasional source of theological study and the single philosophical query at EMHS, little is devoted to furthering the ideas that truly matter. The dilemma exceeds the parameters of Eastern Mennonite High School and plagues the American culture on a whole. Questions that weigh ultimate reality and existence humiliate the studies that society wishes its drones to perform with such excellence. Yet, society has taught individuals that the importance of dividing the square root of x by the function k times the cubed root of the cosine of 23.4 deserves priority over the capacity to articulate such fundamental thoughts of life and self-awareness. Obviously other studies bear importance and necessity, but the proportions have entered a state of disarray and inequality, with philosophy courses introduced in colleges, if at all, and students in high school attending advanced math and science courses. Philosophy resembles a seed, one that must flourish with time and experience; young individuals need a basic understanding of their race’s greatest and most enduring questions.

            However, philosophy appears not to be the only one receiving the ax, but the arts as well. Although different than philosophy, the arts struggle for survival against the same type of plague, reflecting the American culture's silent purge of certain pursuits. Creative writing and experimenting with sculpture, paint, and the infinite variety of mediums have suffered a sentence of apathy and faded appreciation. Music seems to have faired better than the alternative forms of expression, but has only excelled with the promises of wealth and fortune. Long forgotten are the days when willing patrons supported skilled individuals whose works could stir the emotions of the human soul. This day in history, one might have to pull a shift at the local burger joint to pursue life’s great concepts or follow his or her calling to write or form artwork.

            Hypothetically, when some advanced race stumbles on earth and discovers its residents extinct, what will they find? A translated sequence known as the human genome, computers boasting processing capabilities greater than living organisms, perhaps a monument on Mars. Let humanity forget not why they traveled into space and sought to conquer that ominous frontier or what inspires them decode the complexity of the human body. Sometimes the greatest calling is simply finding out who is behind the message and why humans received it.

  -Kyle Smith, Co-Editor

Which He Bought With His Own Blood: An Editorial

Eastern Mennonite High School prides itself on its well developed diversity in cultures, nationalities, and beliefs. One key testimony of this rich diversity expresses itself through the chapels that EMHS hosts four times a week. Speakers, musicians, travelers and individuals of exceptionally experienced backgrounds share their stories with the student body, and sometimes their theological opinions. The influence each speaker has over the dimmed chamber, dense with hundreds of listening ears, varies between the individual, but undoubtedly, the one with the message wields the power of words. And words can prove quite influential.

For that very reason, questions have emerged in the Chapel Planning Committee and throughout other student organizations affiliated with the school. Comments pertaining to the chapel of September 5^th sparked intrigue and debate in numerous classes and circles of discussion. The clamor started after chapel speaker, Jackie Milam, reflected on a story of her missions trip to a closed East Asian country. When her account revealed a decision where a young Asian woman, who seemed close to converting to Christianity, struggled between leaving behind Buddhism and her family of Buddhists or accepting Christ and suffering negative ramifications from her family, people suddenly straightened in their seats.

If anyone in the auditorium hadn’t given Jackie their attention before that sentence, they were certainly devoted listeners now. The proclamation that one couldn’t follow the teachings of Christ and Buddha simultaneously had certainly struck a sensitive nerve in a noteworthy populace of students. Immediately after chapel, conversations erupted in the hallways and second period classes. The fervor behind most of the discussions showed that preexisting tensions of subscribing to two religions had plagued the students prior to that day. The chapel had only served as a catalyst for the surge in controversy over the subject; many have pondered the unstable matter for years.

Meeting only hours after the chapel, the Chapel Planning Committee noted the disagreements within the student body and weighed whether or not Buddhism is considered another religion, or only a philosophy or lifestyle. Inevitably, the conversation quickly shifted to a related topic. The members began to call into question what denominations and religions represent appropriate beliefs for EMHS chapels.

Some students voiced their opinions by advocating for a greater diversity of chapel speakers, ones representing Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, while others in the meeting sat with uncertain expressions on their faces and retorted shortly after. When vocalizing resistance to such a different variety of beliefs, the opposition countered by stating that the students need to learn more about other religions and remove any preconceptions. Before the meeting could reach a heated intensity, the tone sounded, and everyone scattered to their fifth period classes.

Yet, the dilemma still remains; it doesn’t dissipate with a passing meeting: Who is appropriate in a Christian chapel?

“Christian” might just be the word that will guide the administration and Chapel Planning Committee in their wise decisions, or, if ignored, will permit the organizations to wander astray. Eastern Mennonite High School, although diverse in many aspects, is Christian and has always had a Christian foundation in their mission. Should individuals come to chapel, representing the name of a foreign god or fundamentally different spiritual leader, and share their ways and beliefs, the school will begin to erode its Christian identity.

If the school intends to invite other religions like Islam or Buddhism, why include only the white of Christianity and the gray of those beliefs and values? While we’re sending out invitations, let’s not forget the atheists, with their arguments of the superiority of science and reason over faith. The black component of atheism would provide an interesting perspective to add to the institution’s ever expanding spectrum of beliefs. God would certainly approve of a speaker who would deny His very presence and miraculous impact on the lives of both students and faculty. If the line won’t include only Christianity, then where will it be drawn?

The morning chapels of EMHS should remain Christian, bearing the Christian message to provide a clear and supportive direction for young individuals, who may even stand in the midst of trials that weaken their faith. A seminar or formal session outside of school hours would prove the most appropriate place for a speaker originating from another religion. People who have interests in the speaker’s message or beliefs could attend, and those who found the differences too controversial wouldn’t have to listen to the speaker. Even a world religions class or history course could provide an opportunity to learn more about religions outside of Christianity. Understanding the alternative religions is important, but integrating their words into a time, place, and element sacred to Christianity appears unwise.

- Kyle Smith, Co-Editor

Storm Rocks Park View

The forecast managed to successfully prepare residents and business owners for a thunderstorm throughout several regions of the valley on Saturday afternoon. However, people weren’t expecting to see chunks of hail the size of golf balls descend from the sky or hear the roar of numerous lightning bolts strike the earth in rapid harmony. After the calamity had ended and the rattled people had emerged from their shelters, many noticed how erratic the storm seemed to have moved. The tempest that cruised through the northwestern part of the city left a trail of destruction in its wake that had many land owners grumbling over fallen trees, scattered furniture, or broken possessions. Apparently, the storm penetrated the valley in a narrow pattern and remained in a similar shape, only passing over a small portion of land compared to a normal thunderstorm the valley sees. One individual in Park View at the time of the storm noted how the winds and precipitation only struck one half of the EMU campus and left the rest virtually untouched. According to a valley wide comparison, the regions the storm passed through received anywhere from an inch to four inches of rain. For a summer that has failed to offer many memorable thunderstorms, this windy entity will reside in the minds of those who recall its ferocity for quite some time. 

Kyle Smith, Co-Editor

The Revolutionized Windsock

Ever made an attempt to conserve paper by eliminating the amount you print? Do you try your hardest to remain tech savvy in an age where the developers strive to produce new items and services that revolutionize the world around you? Wouldn’t you enjoy having a news source that receives updates and replenishes its articles frequently? The Eastern Mennonite High School Windsock team hopes to provide a satisfactory answer to those questions, while still maintaining the passion and fervent appreciation for reporting on the news.

In past years, the Windsock found its way into the hands of its readers through the traditional paper and ink medium. While this seemingly antiquated method remains tangible and ‘more permanent,’ the Windsock team has decided to provide subscribers with a newly constructed website instead of the paper-and-ink format. Besides saving time on the labors of publishing and editing the periodical, the Windsock writers of EMHS will not have such a ‘permanent’ impact on the environment or the literary department’s minute budget.

Another catalyst that prompted the Windsock management to convert to an internet service was simply the growing influences of the digital age. Fewer and fewer people were pausing at the box outside Eastern Mennonite’s office to pick up a copy of the paper-and-ink predecessor of the Windsock. With an efficient and easily accessible website, the majority of people already online can read the latest articles without visiting the school to grab one. The Windsock team believes that this online service will nourish the school’s newspaper back to a healthy amount of readers. One must adapt if one is to survive, that even includes newspapers.

Many people will recall that the former Windsock issues always seemed a bit...outdated or irrelevant. By the time an issue had gone through the processes of editing and publishing, most people knew what had happened from alternative sources. The periodical website and its vast arsenal of writers promises to change that fault of the past by releasing articles separated by only a day or two, not a month or more. The news will be relevant, fresh, and most importantly, accurate.

At the cusp of a new year, the Windsock team will need a couple of weeks before operating at full capacity, but the newspaper looks promising and the changes, even more so.

Kyle Smith, Co-Editor