“First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.” – Mohandas Gandhi
Right-wing, and left- wing; conservative and liberal. These are the concepts that dominate our current political system. You’re either Democrat or Republican to be taken seriously. The two far ends of the political spectrum, and their zealot supporters have placed a blanket ban on one now ugly word: Independent.
Mainstream politicians fear Independents because they are different. Many other politicians are swept under the rug for the same reasons; Libertarian, Green, Constitutionalist, and Centrist alike are all disowned because they are independent. But what is so truly wrong about being different?
I advocate the Independent parties because they fight the tide of conformity. They walk the path not many dare to tread. Because of them I choose to turn neither left nor right, but form my own identity right down the middle.
Shane Roerk – Sophomore
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American ears have only heard empty words and broken promises thus far into the 2008 presidential election. The words "hope" and "change" hold little meaning when trying to whisper them to a country over the commotion of its collapsing economy and corrupt priorities. Faith in the government is scarce in our country today. Much of it, though, is being instilled in the future and placed in the hands of who will be our next president.
Over the course this election, Americans have given all they can to ensure that the best man will be in office next year. We are once again placing our faith in the hands of the government in hopes that "change for the future" is not just a political slogan and that it can be achieved.
Savannah Hoover – Junior
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This election, it seems that too many voters’ decisions are being persuaded by superficial factors such as skin color, age, and celebrity endorsements and less by the candidates’ plans or views. Almost everyone has chosen who they will be voting for by now, but when I ask why, I’m taken aback by their reasoning. All I can do is roll my eyes when I hear someone say that he is going for Obama “because he is black” or because “Oprah said so.” It’s is equally frustrating to hear someone pulling for McCain because he has a female running mate or because he put down Paris Hilton in a campaign ad. It’s situations like these that make me think that the candidates are not being taken seriously. Something is obviously wrong when more people know the results from “Dancing with the Stars” better than those from the presidential debate. When the candidates joke around, throw insults and act unprofessionally, the public can’t help but to treat politics similarly to a substandard reality television show.
Amanda Powers – Junior
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The names of John McCain, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, and Joe Biden have become common household words, and it is not atypical to see them in newspaper headlines everyday. The publicity they receive from the media is colossal, and in the midst of all the propaganda, I cannot help but wonder where the names of the other presidential candidates and their vice-presidents are mentioned. The constitution ensures every citizen with unalienable rights designed to protect the minority from the majority. In this case, candidates outside the Republican and Democrat parties are the minority. According to the First Amendment, we have freedom of press, but the press is not covering the minority: third party candidates. In turn, seldom do we hear people arguing about the standpoints of candidates other than McCain or Obama. The members of other parties deserve as much publicity because it is their right as mandated by the constitution.
Irina Miralda – Junior
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While many of my peers would choose to watch the latest SpongeBob rerun on television rather than the insipid presidential debates, I would choose the exact opposite, as the importance of being clued in to who exactly our candidates are is becoming increasingly known to me over these past few months.
It is important for us to keep up with the election news and give our thoughts about it. The opinions of our peers do influence our mindset; if you are constantly around people who are knowledgeable about the candidates, chances are you will become knowledgeable too. Unlike most elections in the past, today’s youth are having more of an impact on the vote. In other words, pay attention. SpongeBob doesn’t care who is running our country.
Rebekah Furey – Senior
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Importance of Scholastic Journalism
We watch you, we write for you, we want to know you. But the nice thing about us is that we are also a part of you.
As student journalists, we can observe and inform the student body while still playing our other roles within it. At FC, we take part in theatre, foreign language, art, band, choir, cheerleading, athletics, clubs… everything. (If we had a Karaoke Wednesday, I'm sure we'd do that, too.) We plant roots into all parts of this school, doing things we love and enjoy as much as everyone else.
However, even while we're merrily participating in all these classes and activities, we have our ulterior motives. In everything we do, we are striving to know you better and learn what it is that you would like to know. If we cannot successfully do that, then all our work would be in vain, none of our words would matter and our purpose would be diminished.
We watch you, we learn from you, we write for you. We never cease to want to know you because, without you, we would cease to know ourselves and what it is we aim for.
Savannah Hoover - Junior
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Student journalism is a magnifying glass to an otherwise unobserved place in the community. Professional papers will cover the big stories, granted, but the school is a micro-community in itself and therefore needs a publication to serve its very unique needs. Students need to know about issues relevant to their school or their way of life, and it is our job as their paper to delve deep into the school’s student population and unearth stories that no one else can. Stories about controversial student issues can be handled with much more grace by a reporter who is already part of the institution than by an outside reporter who tries to muscle his way in, if he even cares to try at all. In a time when news is all about money and entertainment, student journalism goes back to what journalism should be: a service that informs the people and changes the way they see things, all while upholding integrity and striving ceaselessly for the truth.
Jake Christian – Senior
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In 1898 an armored US ship exploded. No one knew the reason why, but everyone had their own opinion, including the media. The Hearst newspaper blamed the destruction on Spain, and many trusted him. Because of his story, the opinions of an entire country were changed. Thus began the Spanish-American war.
Not every article published in a newspaper will influence this drastic of a change, but every story, every sentence, and every word have their own purpose. The words printed in a school newspaper affect the reader that reads them, and they change the writer who wrote them.
Without a student newspaper, where does one find the courage that is found behind every controversial story? Where is the passion, the intrigue, the desire to change? If no such publication exists, then a major element of our lives is missing.
Newspapers exist to inform the people, to investigate the people, and most of all, to change the people. Without a school newspaper, how blasé and ignorant will we become?
Rebekah Furey - Senior
__________________________________________________________
A school newspaper can mean a variety of different things for different people. For some, it could be “just that pile of paper they hand us every few weeks.” For others, it could mean a feeling of unity and knowledge that ties them to their school. But for me, the Bagpiper is freedom. It’s freedom to express my thoughts, knowledge, and insights maturely in a way that not only connects to my peers, but all of my surrounding community. At many high schools, newspaper staffs aren’t always given the same publishing freedom that we get here at F.C. They’re restricted on what they write, who they speak to, and what they say. The trust our faculty and administration gives us to find the greater good not only strengthens the paper itself, but also the journalists who take care of it. Independence is a key to the success of the Bagpiper, and I’m honored to be entrusted to keep our journalistic liberty alive.
Amanda Powers – Junior
__________________________________________________________
Every student in this country has something to say, whether it is views on their chosen presidential candidate or their favorite brand of vitamin water. Without an outlet, these opinions and ideas will go to waste, and that is the case for many high schools in America. A lack of a strong journalism department leaves the student population without a way to express what they think, and prior review often censors these thoughts.
FC's paper is unlike most high school publications in that its staff is given free rein to decide its content. The decisions as to what goes on its pages lie with the staff. It is a student-run paper, and because of this, we are able to give a real voice to the student. I feel that a publication like ours is vital to any place of secondary education because it gives our peers information that we feel is relevant and important, as well as a place for voicing their own thoughts and ideas.
Tricia Hussung - Senior
As student journalists, we can observe and inform the student body while still playing our other roles within it. At FC, we take part in theatre, foreign language, art, band, choir, cheerleading, athletics, clubs… everything. (If we had a Karaoke Wednesday, I'm sure we'd do that, too.) We plant roots into all parts of this school, doing things we love and enjoy as much as everyone else.
However, even while we're merrily participating in all these classes and activities, we have our ulterior motives. In everything we do, we are striving to know you better and learn what it is that you would like to know. If we cannot successfully do that, then all our work would be in vain, none of our words would matter and our purpose would be diminished.
We watch you, we learn from you, we write for you. We never cease to want to know you because, without you, we would cease to know ourselves and what it is we aim for.
Savannah Hoover - Junior
__________________________________________________________
Student journalism is a magnifying glass to an otherwise unobserved place in the community. Professional papers will cover the big stories, granted, but the school is a micro-community in itself and therefore needs a publication to serve its very unique needs. Students need to know about issues relevant to their school or their way of life, and it is our job as their paper to delve deep into the school’s student population and unearth stories that no one else can. Stories about controversial student issues can be handled with much more grace by a reporter who is already part of the institution than by an outside reporter who tries to muscle his way in, if he even cares to try at all. In a time when news is all about money and entertainment, student journalism goes back to what journalism should be: a service that informs the people and changes the way they see things, all while upholding integrity and striving ceaselessly for the truth.
Jake Christian – Senior
__________________________________________________________
In 1898 an armored US ship exploded. No one knew the reason why, but everyone had their own opinion, including the media. The Hearst newspaper blamed the destruction on Spain, and many trusted him. Because of his story, the opinions of an entire country were changed. Thus began the Spanish-American war.
Not every article published in a newspaper will influence this drastic of a change, but every story, every sentence, and every word have their own purpose. The words printed in a school newspaper affect the reader that reads them, and they change the writer who wrote them.
Without a student newspaper, where does one find the courage that is found behind every controversial story? Where is the passion, the intrigue, the desire to change? If no such publication exists, then a major element of our lives is missing.
Newspapers exist to inform the people, to investigate the people, and most of all, to change the people. Without a school newspaper, how blasé and ignorant will we become?
Rebekah Furey - Senior
__________________________________________________________
A school newspaper can mean a variety of different things for different people. For some, it could be “just that pile of paper they hand us every few weeks.” For others, it could mean a feeling of unity and knowledge that ties them to their school. But for me, the Bagpiper is freedom. It’s freedom to express my thoughts, knowledge, and insights maturely in a way that not only connects to my peers, but all of my surrounding community. At many high schools, newspaper staffs aren’t always given the same publishing freedom that we get here at F.C. They’re restricted on what they write, who they speak to, and what they say. The trust our faculty and administration gives us to find the greater good not only strengthens the paper itself, but also the journalists who take care of it. Independence is a key to the success of the Bagpiper, and I’m honored to be entrusted to keep our journalistic liberty alive.
Amanda Powers – Junior
__________________________________________________________
Every student in this country has something to say, whether it is views on their chosen presidential candidate or their favorite brand of vitamin water. Without an outlet, these opinions and ideas will go to waste, and that is the case for many high schools in America. A lack of a strong journalism department leaves the student population without a way to express what they think, and prior review often censors these thoughts.
FC's paper is unlike most high school publications in that its staff is given free rein to decide its content. The decisions as to what goes on its pages lie with the staff. It is a student-run paper, and because of this, we are able to give a real voice to the student. I feel that a publication like ours is vital to any place of secondary education because it gives our peers information that we feel is relevant and important, as well as a place for voicing their own thoughts and ideas.
Tricia Hussung - Senior
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