Obama Delivers Strong State of the Union Address
- Zac Bears
On Tuesday, the President gave the State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress as mandated by Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution. The State of the Union is given every year by the sitting President of the United States, usually during January, but sometimes in late February. The tradition of a spoken address to Congress was begun by President George Washington, but stopped for over 100 years from the Jefferson administration to the Wilson administration, when the address was written and sent as a letter.
This year, President Obama delivered a somber, reserved address after the mass shooting in Tucson, in which Representative Gabrielle Giffords was shot through the head. Luckily, she has made an excitingly quick recovery and her mental capacities seem to be fully intact.
“The state of the Union is strong,” ended the official remarks from the President, and this statement rings true throughout the land, now more than ever. Economic policies instituted after the financial meltdown two years ago have kept the economy relatively safe, and currently growing. After the Democrat’s self-labelled “shellac-ing” in the November elections, there is a renewed sense of vigor and mandate gleaming from the Oval Office. Immediately following the November elections the President set forth on an ambitious plan to complete major objectives during the lame duck session of Congress, and he was, to say the least, successful. Initiatives sponsored by the White House were pushed through the Congress in staggering numbers for a Congress that had been, essentially, voted out of office. From the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to the Economic Growth compromise bill, the White House was successful in every task, the only exception being the DREAM Act.
President Obama, against all odds, had an approval rating over 50% in the days preceding the State of the Union address. During his address, he used this mandate to propose new ideas for economic growth, deficit reduction, and invigorating the American spirit. The President spoke about education’s imperative role in American society and the need to make sure that students are performing to the best of their abilities. The President proudly proclaimed, “We do big things,” in reference to the major American achievements of history. The President sees it as his responsibility to continue the American tradition of innovation and to promote “big things” that the United States must do right now. Job creation and economic growth are necessary for the continued health of the American economy, and the President and his economic team are continuing to monitor the economy and support it when necessary.
Finally, we arrive at the involuntary focus – brought on by the Tea Party – of the State of the Union, deficit reduction. Deficit reduction was a small but major focus of the speech. The President talked about the need to streamline government and cut the red tape of unnecessary regulation. The President also hinted at the possibility of merging one or more major government agencies to make government communicate better, and to make it easier for citizens to know how to use government.
Obama’s rhetorical skills on the podium are unmatched in today’s political environment, and that was obvious for his 2011 State of the Union. Although the speech was not as raucous as normal, it was the right speech for the right time. A renewed sense of civility and compromise were represented by the President’s speech. The tone of the speech and its content seemed to have moved competition out of the news room and onto the global arena. The problems of America can be fixed by out-innovating and out-competing the world, and although we are not there yet, one thing can be certain – the state of our Union is strong.
Pros and Cons to Dream Act
- Amira Soltani
Personally, I am split in the middle on the decision to repeal the Dream Act, an act which would allow illegal immigrants of good standing to earn conditional permanent residency by going to college or joining the military. All of the kids which the Dream Act would affect were brought here by their parents and had no say in coming here. You can’t blame a child for what their parents did to them; that’s like blaming a kid because their parents killed someone. You wouldn’t blame the kid in that situation so why would you blame them in this one? Secondly, I thought we were trying to get rid of illegal immigrants who cause crime in the U.S., not people who want to contribute to it and see it flourish.
On the other hand however, I do understand that to educate the illegal immigrants our tax money would have to be used. The illegal immigrants would be getting a free education while citizens would have to pay. It would also be harder for citizens to get into colleges because the immigrants would take their spaces in the colleges. Thus, even though there are some pros to the Dream Act, there are some cons.
Pleased to See Repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”
- Brian Burgess
In a recent decision, our Congress has repealed the restrictive and demoralizing “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy. The policy began in 1993 and basically banned gays from serving openly in the military. With DADT government is not supposed to ask whether an individual is a homosexual or bisexual, but must simply assume that the uniformed officer is straight. Openly admitting to being either a homosexual or bisexual would result in an immediate expulsion from the armed services, no questions asked. The oppressive and discriminatory policy kept nearly 66,000 homosexual or bisexual men and women from being treated equally despite bravely serving our country side by side with others in the military.
Although we are starting to open doors for gays and lesbians now, we cannot forget the past restrictions that our society has placed on them and the lack of respect for who they are. Who you love should not restrict whether you can serve your country or whether you can get the job over a different applicant. We are starting a clean slate in our military and society. For gays, lesbians, and bisexuals alike we are opening the doors for better treatment and better respect, which is something that we must have to be a country that truly values and guarantees freedom for all of its citizens.
Governor Patrick’s Visit at MHS Leaves Questions Unanswered
- Trent Sullivan
Indeed, the Governor’s monarchical introduction to Medford High was more like a worship ceremony for the “Sun-king” Louis XIV. Governor Deval Patrick “graced” the halls of MHS and the Caron Theatre with his magnificence and elegance and pure majesty. Students were practically blinded by “His Excellency” with his charm and wit and all the hype, constantly prodded about the sensational triumphs of the Patrick administration and his success at winning a second term. I was nearly brought to my knees in the presence of my liege… that is, to pray to God for a change in direction for the state of Massachusetts.
In actuality, his presentation was essentially vague motivational rhetoric about Massachusetts education, without articulating any specific plans about how to address his “concerns.” He vowed to continue educational pursuits in Massachusetts schools, citing MHS as a prime example of our academic superiority in America. Obviously, I was pleased with the Governor’s recognition of our accomplishments at Medford High, but I wondered where he would find the funds for such educational pursuits. His latest proposal is to grant illegal immigrants the right to reap the benefits of in-state tuition from state colleges of the Commonwealth. This bewilders me, considering the Governor vows to take an oath upholding this state and nation’s laws, yet he continues to encourage breaking the law and raiding the taxpayer’s pockets for these latest exploits and previous ones concerning illegal aliens.
A politician, lying? Really!?
Seriously, can the term illegal be any clearer? Certainly there are reforms to be made regarding immigration policies, but at the very least the Governor should not be so daft in providing an even GREATER incentive for illegal immigrants to leech from the state’s coffers. The Governor cited increased revenues for state colleges as justification for his new proposal, but tell me, Mr. Patrick, where will they be able to work after receiving this education with their illegal status and how will they pay off the state’s investment?
According to a report released by the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office, in healthcare costs alone, taxpayers cough up an increasing $35.7 MILLION for 52,000 illegal aliens in Massachusetts every year, overburdening hospitals and adding to the 3 BILLION DOLLAR Massachusetts budget shortfall! This doesn’t include other welfare benefits and extra costs that are courtesy of the Massachusetts taxpayer. Yet the Governor found no shame in raising taxes for the LEGAL citizens of the Commonwealth eight times in the last four years and setting an automatic 5.5% annual pay hike for the state’s government employees at the taxpayers’ expense. With this pathetic fiscal year, it seems that increased taxes will be the only option to pay down the state’s massive budget deficit, especially if the Governor “cannot find” spending cuts in obvious areas such as funding for illegal aliens.
Although I was disappointed that the Governor could not answer any questions after his presentation at MHS, I cannot be completely critical of him. He did give a motivating speech about changing his life through hard work and determination, from sleeping on an apartment floor to winning the Governorship. He expressed that any American can achieve the American Dream. Then tell me, Mr. Patrick, why are you so vehement in creating barriers to my generation’s possibility of reaching the American Dream? Why are you so fervent on generating more punishing taxes for everyday citizens of the Commonwealth when there are many common sense government expenses available to cut? No accurate polls have been released yet, but I await the rising outrage regarding this new proposal once Massachusetts taxpayers learn more about how much they continue to waste on programs for illegal aliens, such as this.
What a remarkable start, Governor Patrick, please come again to speak with us at MHS; next time we’ll bring our parents, and you can demand for more of their hard-earned money up front and explain EXACTLY what you need it for…
Ratemyteachers.com Helpful for Students
- Amira Soltani
RateMyTeachers.com is a website where teachers are rated on a scale from 1-5 in different categories. Visitors can make a terse comment about their experience with a teacher. There are four categories to rate the teacher and they are: clarity, helpfulness, popularity, and easiness.
I really recommend visiting the website. No harm is meant in rating the teachers. It is just a funny review website for students to evaluate their teachers. It is also helpful with giving advice to students who are going to have the teachers.
There is a Medford High School section on the website. The Medford High School section has short profile on Medford High. It allows you to follow the school on Twitter and like it on Facebook. I really recommend checking out the Medford High School section because it is humorous but at the same time helpful. It includes a list on all of the teachers with their ratings and comments.
Here are just a few comments from the Medford High School section:
4/29/10
Mr. Milne is the best teacher I have ever had. He assigns a ton of work, but it is all very helpful and necessary to pass the AP test. Mr. Milne’s class can be difficult, but he teaches you everything you need to know, for life and history. Mr. Milne is my favorite teacher ever.
11/11/08
TAKE JOURNALISM.
12/22/08
Heinegg is the BOMB, kid. He is my favorite teacher and definitely the best English teacher I’ve ever had. He is helpful and he is really intelligent. He is also extremely good at using intuitive ways to teach difficult subjects. He is really awesome.
7/13/10
Let me tell you, I knew Mr. Bowen-Flynn was a good teacher in high school, but it wasn’t until my first year of college that I realized he was an excellent teacher. I learned so much in his class and it will stick with me forever.
9/10/09
I had Mr. Contrada in 1981 and used his notes to get an A in my college chemistry class. I went on to law school and then taught at a college using his format and even though I did not love it at the time- I know he was great. He is truly a great teacher.
8/03/10
BEST SUB EVAAA<33
5/27/10
mint
North Medford Bus Does Not Accommodate Students
- Amira Soltani
It is 6:40 am and a cold November morning. Some Medford High School students rush out of the house to catch the North Medford bus. The bus comes much earlier than last year. Last year the bus came around 7:30 not 6:50. This problem causes many students to be late to school. It is a hard adjustment and some students say they still aren’t used to it. The school should really look into that problem.
Many students’ parents work in the morning and can’t drop them off. The late bus also comes way too early to be considered a late bus. The late bus comes approximately 3 minutes after the first bus. Sometimes it comes a little later. Sometimes the late bus never comes at all. There really should be a fixed time because many people actually rely on the bus. Students have complained but there has not been much change.
A frustrated MHS Junior Soumia Soltani stated, “Both my parents work early in the morning and can’t drop me off. I also don’t have a license. I run out of the house at 6:40 and barely make the bus sometimes. Sometimes I’m at the bus stop at 6:40 and realize I missed it. I then have to call one of parents to come from work, pick me up and drop me off at school. This causes me to be late to school and it causes my parents the hassle of having to leave work. I would really prefer that the bus at least came at 7:00 instead. Maybe then I would be tardy less often and not arrive to math late.”
Many MHS students have to stay after for school for things such as to make up tests or for general help. The students who live in North Medford need a bus home because it is too far a walk and the MBTA bus makes about fifty stops before reaching their destination. It takes about two hours to get home because of all the stops it makes. Two MBTA buses are required to get to North Medford. It is quite a hassle and many students’ parents work and can’t pick them up.
The same MHS student from earlier stated, “The supposed late bus comes like 3 minutes after the first bus. Therefore, I always miss it when I stay after for extra or help or to make up tests and my parents work. When I miss it, it means I have to walk for an hour and I end up with blisters on my feet. I also get too tired to do my homework when I get home. I could take the MBTA bus but it takes longer than walking because I would have to take 2 buses and the buses make like 50 stops before getting to North Medford. I get dizzy from all the stops. I really wish this school had a late bus that came at least 30 minutes after the first bus.”
Leggings are NOT Pants!
- Amira Soltani
Many people wear leggings with shirts and think it’s fashionable. It honestly doesn’t work. Pants are NOT skintight and therefore can not be replaced by leggings. It’s okay to wear leggings with something long; for example a long shirt perhaps but leggings with a short shirt just doesn’t cut it. Nobody wants to see people’s fat hanging out of their leggings. Leggings do a great job exposing people’s fat.
The fashion world might say the opposite but that’s only because when they refer to people wearing leggings they refer to models. Models have petite (and sometimes anorexic-looking) figures so they can actually pull off the look, even though they look like a bunch of Photoshopped twigs. Wearing leggings as pants requires the right figure, and even then it is still weird because of how skintight it is.
In the 80’s leggings were worn as pants but that’s only because they wore baggy Forenza sweaters on top. Leggings are also not even as comfortable as people seem to think. Sweat pants, on the other hand, actually are comfortable and are not skin tight. The point being, wearing leggings as pants requires a modest shirt of the right length. Otherwise the outfit may come off as trashy.
Cesar Millan and his beloved pit bull, Daddy. Courtesy photo.
Pit Bulls: Not the Killers They’re Said to Be
- Kaylah Smith
Everyone seems to think that pit bulls are vicious, mean, snappy, bull headed dogs that will attack a human in a heartbeat. This is as untrue as it can get. In an interview with an anonymous pit bull owner and dog trainer, I found out the truth about this breed.
Pit bulls tend to be far more loyal than any other breed of dog, and have an innate love for their human companions. They have a tendency to go after other dogs if they are not socialized as puppies, but when properly trained and cared for they are wonderful pets that take care of the humans who raise them.
Maya, the trainer’s female pit, age four, has snapped at other dogs and pulls at the leash. She requires a double lead with a harness and a choke collar and still strains on the leash. She was not trained from puppy hood with other dogs, however, which explains her aggressive behavior. Maya’s puppy, and one of the woman’s other dogs, Tank, a six-month-old red-nose pit, is gentle and affectionate. He welcomed my brother’s two-month-old blue nose pit bull into the neighborhood with a wagging tail and a friendly round of wrestling, no teeth and all bounding paws.
The most common misconception about pit bulls is that they tend to attack more aggressively and are feared more than many other dogs. Pit bulls do not attack unprovoked if they have been trained properly. When one abandons a dog during the day for hours at a time, does not allow it the exercise it needs, and only gives it the bare minimum of their attention, any breed will likely end up aggressive in such circumstances. Also, in many situations where a child has been attacked, the child should not have been around the pit bull because dogs generally do not enjoy being poked, prodded, or having their tails pulled. I certainly would not. In the majority of stories of pit bull attacks, the dog was either provoked, mistreated, or untrained, and the attack would not have occurred if the dog had been under normal or proper circumstances.
People fear a dog of a specific breed because they are thinking about the breed as opposed to the dog, when in fact the dog itself could be gentle and easy going. With a seven-year-old sister, my older brother brings his now six-month-old pit bull, Frankie, to visit with him every time he comes to visit. Frankie loves her and plays as gently as he knows how, and will even curl up and take a nap when he is worn out. Noah has owned Frankie since he was five weeks old and the dog has been an adoring, well-trained, and loving part of the family. The worst that Frankie might do? Lick you to death.
Zamboni-Racing Should be an Olympic Event
- Sam Coit
With the Winter Olympics coming up, I’ve got just one question to ask: when will there be Zamboni racing?
As so wisely put by Charlie Brown in one of his many comic strips: “There are three things in life people like to stare at: A flowing stream, a crackling fire and a Zamboni clearing the ice.” Charles Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts, even owned a Zamboni.
Throughout world history, racing random vehicles like cars, unicycles, and emus, has been a major source of entertainment. However, in more recent years, race car driving has been considered a sport. That’s right, sitting on your butt in a car and going around in a giant oval is considered competitive physical exertion. Take for instance, Jimmie Johnson, who won AP’s Best Male Athlete of 2009 for racing cars. It’s not so much using your muscles to go fast, but using your brain to think fast.
So why can’t there be Zamboni racing? Imagine it: two giant, steaming machines on a cold, Olympic rink, thundering against the boards as they streak across the ice at an amazing speed of 15 miles per hour. The rink will be smoothed out for any events taking place afterward. Countries could easily customize their Zamboni. The sport would have no physical requirements or age limits (in fact, you don’t need a driver’s license to drive one). Therefore, it would become the “common man’s” sport.
Scott Brown may bring down Democratic Reign in Massachusetts
- Andrew Terrano
On January 19, 2010, Scott Brown defeated Democrat Martha Coakley 52% to 47% in the special election to fill the remaining three years of the U.S. Senate term vacated by the death of the Liberal Lion, Ted Kennedy. For the first time in 30 years, the traditionally blue state has elected a Republican Senator and has left many people wondering if Massachusetts has gone conservative, and if the people of Massachusetts are so disenchanted with Obama’s health care plan that we will vote a Republican into office?
These questions were asked around the country, as this election has been heavily publicized based on the fact that the Democrats are no longer filibuster-proof in the Senate. This election was not however as much based on party lines, as it was about the individuals running for the seat. The simple facts are that Martha Coakley ran a bad campaign, and Scott Brown ran a very effective campaign. Coakley’s detached demeanor was supplemented with a series of mistakes, and it all came together to present her as just another out-of-touch Washington elitist. Simple mistakes such as calling Curt Schilling a Yankees fan, and spelling Massachusetts wrong in a TV commercial added to this feeling of being out-of-touch. Similarly, she was criticized for being somewhat snobbish and of having a feeling that she had already won months before the election occurred.
Scott Brown, on the other hand, ran a TV campaign that coupled well with a personal campaign. His commercials accused Coakley of spending her time attacking him, and not worrying about the issues, which turned many off many prospective Coakley voters. At the same time he was a self-proclaimed independent, even though his stances are to the far right, and this made it easier for some traditionally Democratic voters to vote for him. One of the strongest factors for Scott Brown was his now famous “truck commercial,” which depicted him as a common man driving his “old truck” to meet the people of Massachusetts and to learn about what they think. In the end, Scott Brown was the candidate that people would rather sit down and have a beer with. We’ve seen this type of situation in the past, and most would agree that it did not work out well for the country, but only time will tell what Scott Brown will do for Massachusetts.
Swine Flu- J
ust a Public Paranoia?
- Heidi Walsh
June 12th, 2009 was the fateful day that swine flu (H1N1) was declared a national epidemic. Many in the nation were paralyzed with fear of the simple pig virus that originated in Mexico and that was circulating this way.
The National Department of Health and Human Services along with local governments around the Greater Boston area warned the public of the fearful costs and expected death toll that this flu season would bring.
Unexpectedly, this flu has been more hype than actually deadly this winter season. According to the National Department of Health and Human Services, there have been approximately sixty-four deaths around the world from the H1N1 virus. While this is significant to the families who lost someone, the low death toll numbers beg the question: is the epidemic over?
Last August the vaccine expected to treat this virus was produced and slowly it has manifested itself in almost every convenient drugstore from CVS to Brooks in Medford. Research shows that the drug is being rapidly sold and is preventing swine flu from becoming more deadly.
Despite being a more potent strain than the seasonal flu, swine flu’s sixty-four deaths this year really doesn’t begin to compare to the thousands of deaths caused by seasonal flu. In addition, another type of flu, bird flu, is actually more of a threat, but swine flu has caused more panic since it has spread rapidly from Mexico to America through travel and trade.
However, it is obvious that because the swine flu vaccine has responded to the public’s demand, there is little doubt that this paranoia about the flu is coming to a close. Perhaps this latest flu virus paranoia is reminiscent of past flu epidemics such as the 1919 scare, which killed an alarming 40 million people.
I’m sure that though none of us were alive to survive that pandemic, the paranoia has transformed the way we view public hygiene and has reinforced the importance of staying away from possible flu-infested areas. Perhaps the reason why this “epidemic” is becoming such a huge deal in the media is simply because it’s a reason to get the fast moving public to keep clean with hygiene.
Growing Up too Fast?
- Heidi Walsh
In a fast paced society, one can agree that the paramount importance of childhood has deteriorated due to society’s constant urging for the younger generation to grow up sooner claiming that’s “where the real excitement of life is” but, parents and even younger adults have become concerned with how kids are dressing and watching television programs that are not suitable for their age group. The question is should we push the younger generation to learn adult ways sooner or is missing childhood something we should be worried about?
“The 12- to 14-year-olds of yesterday are the 10- to 12-’s of today,” says Bruce Friend, a vice president of the kids’ cable channel Nickelodeon. The Nickelodeon-Yankelovicht Youth Monitor found that by the time kids are 12, children describe themselves as “flirtatious, sexy, trendy, athletic, and cool.” Remember some of the shows that played on Nickelodeon when you were a kid? Now take those programs and match them up with the adjectives listed above. The truth of the matter is kids are defining themselves as “cooler” because of the number of Coach bags they own or by who they’re dating just because it makes them appear “grown up”. The tween years used to be a middle route before the high school years. The ages of ten to twelve used to be the time that you could enjoy the last few years of childhood before facing all the pressure and new experiences that high school brings.
One of the main problems to this situation is that kids are too eager to get to high school too quickly therefore, they’re making mistakes before they’re even ready to face the problem. The Wall Street Journal has reported that between 1988 and 1995, the proportion of boys saying they had alcohol before 15 rose to 19% from 11%. (Girls remained stable at 21%.)
“We’re even beginning to see a few pregnant sixth-graders,” says Christy Hogan, a recently retired middle-school counselor in Louisville, Ky.
The fact of the matter is that children are meant to grow at a normal pace and while the ideal child says “when I grow up I want to be a princess,” they should not cast their childhood aside. Kids would want to stay kids longer if we did not put so much pressure on them in the first place.
The best way to stop your eleven year old girl from wearing a belly shirt because “everyone is doing it” is to spend time with your child and share your moral way of thinking as well as setting limits to what the child can or cannot do. Help them understand that yes the life of an adult will be great but, being a kid only happens once and once you throw it away you’ll never have the same sense of magic or innocence again.
WANTED: A New Pool!
As the MHS Swim Team prepares for a new swim season, they are once again reminded of their lack of a home swimming pool
- Sarah Mason
The Medford High Swim Team is once again preparing for the winter season. The Mustangs have always been able to brag about our huge eight lane pool that few schools in this area have. However, last year, we had to deal with the loss of this pool – a great upset to not only the MHS Swim Team, but also the swim teams of nearby communities, not to mention the various swim lessons, the swim camps, lifeguard training sessions, and the Magnus USA Team that held important meets there. It is hard to imagine how a pool that was used so much was left to deteriorate. Most likely it happened due to a combination of many different factors, but it is scary to think that if the pool had not been shut down, our high school would have been flooded. This begs the question, “How could a pool just get so bad? Wasn’t it being taken care of?” Regardless of who or what was responsible for this, one thing is certain: we want our pool back!
Many Medford residents, young and old, feel very passionate about the fate of the pool, and wish that something could be done.
Last year, all swim team members faced the difficult task of waking up at 4:30 in the morning in order to make practice at 5:00 AM. Although teenagers are known for enjoying getting up this early, it was quite difficult for us and for those who had to wake up early to drive us to practice. Where have we been practicing? The Tufts Pool has become our new “home” thought it is half the size of the Medford High pool, and we do not have the same attachment to it as we did to our original pool. Though it was hard for us, it had one benefit: the early-morning practices made us closer as a team and allowed us to bond. We know that we were lucky to have the home pool and that many schools in this area have very small pools, if one at all. Our team spirit was perhaps best exemplified at the GBL’s during which we all worked together and cheered each other on, especially during some intense relay races.
Though we will have morning practices again this year, I believe we will still have a successful swim season. Many people have expressed an interest in joining, especially some Medford eighth graders, who are allowed to swim on the high school team. Under the dedicated coaching of Mary Judge and Mary Hoarty (or “The Marys,” as we call them), we are sure to have a successful year.
The rebuilding of the pool would no doubt be a costly task, especially in today’s economy, even if the funds were gathered quickly, it would still take a while to fix the damages and construct a new pool. So while the current swim team members would not be able to reap the benefits of having a new pool, future generations should be able to.
The loss of our pool really is a shame to Medford because it was an aspect of our town and high school that we could be proud of.
Do you want to help in our efforts to rebuild the pool? Contact your local representative or School Committee member, and tell them how you feel! We need as many voices as possible.