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“He told me to look at my hand, for a part of it came from a star that exploded too long ago to imagine. This part of me was formed Stardust from a tongue of fire that screamed through the heavens until there was our sun. And this small part of me was then a whisper of the earth. When there was life, perhaps this part got lost in a fern that was crushed and covered until it was coal. And then it was a diamond millions We are all of years later, as beautiful as the star from which it miracles, had first come.” wrought from Paul Zindel the dust of stars. -The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds-
The editorial staff of Stardust assumes that all creative submissions are works of fiction. Therefore, any resemblances to real people, settings, and events are either coincidental or the responsibility of the student authors, who upon submission to the Stardust staff give the school the right to edit their work and to publish their work for non-profit purposes either through the district website or in print via other student publications. Stardust is the Annual Literary Magazine of Tyrone Area High School Produced by Tyrone High Students
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Page Title Author 3 More Dating, Less Hating Madalynn Cherry 5 GMO-Free? Really? Taylor Black 8 Can You Spare Some Change? Alyssa Luciano 11 Let’s Leave the Left Wade Hendrickson 14 The Death of Creativity Aden McCracken 17 Our Town Lucia Isenberg 20 Anti-Vax is Anti-Kid Hollie Keller 23 Trophy, Anyone? Madison Coleman 26 Human Abnormalities Hollie Keller 31 The Pillow-Talk of Politics Anna-Lynn Fryer 34 Disconnected Miranda Goodman 44 Does the U.S. Military Get the Anna-Lynn Fryer Respect it Deserves? 48 Sky Demon Miranda Goodman 51 The Curse McKayla Warner 63 How to Kill a Book Kylin Hoover 67 The Meadow Skye Kropp 68 Blue and Green Kayla Michenfelder 69 Empty Reflections Laura Kohler 71 Touched Aden McCracken 72 The Fog Aden McCracken 73 The Wind Aden McCracken 74 Nobody Kendall Markley 76 Thank You, Buddy Sarah Jackson 77 Fried Chicken and Death Haydn Loudenslager 79 Superheroes are not Immortal Traquan Fields 80 As Time Travelled Alyssa Luciano 81 My Strange Addiction Krimsin Manis 82 When Light Shines Cam Vincent
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going to prom, but I guess all the “More Dating, Less Snapchat selfies and sleepovers were Hating” a hoax (I mean, you had me fooled). And let’s be real here. The underclassmen didn’t “steal” your fantasized prom date; juniors and adalynn seniors can go to prom with or Cherry without a date. Also, it's not like the sophomores asked the seniors: It's the M complete 180! isten, some people are just liked more than others. Maybe if you L would have spent more time on your personality rather than your makeup, your mascara wouldn’t be running down your face. That’s right. Cry over the fact that the senior boy from your physics class asked a sophomore to prom over you. Wake up and smell the roses, people! It’s 2019! It’s prime time for equality and justice for all! And you know where I think the next social justice reform needs to take place? Right here, in the halls of Tyrone Area High School because sophomores shouldn’t be hated for being asked to prom! Honestly, why does it matter that sophomores are going? The last time I checked, peaceful harmony existed between the upperclassmen and the sophomores - that is until the day they were asked to prom. Then, they were violently backstabbed as hate rumors milled throughout the school, courtesy of your “bff” and “best friend”. If you were truly friends with them, you would be excited they were
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I get it. Everyone wants someone to take them to prom, but at least without a date you still have the opportunity to go to prom unlike the underclassmen. Sorry sensitive high school senior, but the last time I checked saying, “Yes, I’d love to go” didn’t make someone a criminal. Put yourselves in a sophomore's shoes and let’s take a trip back in time to the magical world of 10th grade. If you would have been asked to prom as a sophomore, you too would have said “OMG yes, Brian!!!!!” At no point would you have considered turning someone down because it's not “your” prom. It is unfair to hate people for making the same choices you would have made at their age. In the end, it's really a done deal. The sophomores already said yes. Dresses have been bought, dinners have been organized, and there's no backing out now. It's time for everyone to simply accept the fact that the sophomores will indeed be at prom and move on. Before you know it you’ll be having the time of your life dancing the night away, probably beside a sophomore, and come to realize, hey, maybe they’re not so bad! Oh, and by the way, don’t forget your mascara is still running.
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genetically modified foods have “GMO-Free: Really?” received negative attention and criticism because of perceived and speculated negative health effects. aylor This has been completely disproven as false. Foods that use genetically Black modified organisms (GMO’s) have many more benefits than their organic T competitors. When producing organic foods any people are into the if takes twice as many resources to organic foods craze. People produce the same amount of food. By M say that organic foods are using GMOs, scientists are able to healthier, that they are much create more food at a cheaper cost. better for you when in reality, they are Farmers are able to produce more not. Organic foods come at a much food using less land and pesticides. higher price and can put a strain on a GMOs can overcome certain diseases families budget. Do these organic and pests that can impact how much foods outweigh the benefits of regular and the quality of products produced. foods? Over the past few years, The population is growing rapidly,
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and by using GMOs there will be twenty plus years that GMOs have enough food for everyone in the years been used in farming, not a single to come. person has had a disease that was Of course, many people are caused by GMOs. Over 900 studies afraid that be using GMOs, we are have been done within the last 20 harming the environment. The truth is years to prove that genetically the exact opposite. By using GMOs modified organisms have no impacts farmers do not have to use harmful on a person’s health and well-being. sprays to keep the pests and diseases (GMO Myth vs. Fact). away from their fields. Clearly, the By using GMOs, the quality of farmers that use the GMOs are our food can increase as well. protecting the environment. In Scientists, with the help of addition, consumers are afraid that researchers, are able to create seeds GMOs are harmful to many animals. to grow plants that are able to add While tests for this are still going on, more vitamins into your food to keep there is very strong research to prove you healthier, and even help your that the use of GMOs does not harm immune system to fight diseases. The animals. GMOs can add protein into your food. For over 20 years, people and Organic foods have none of these animals have been consuming GMOs things. Organic foods are even less and they have had no harm to their nutritious than foods that use GMOs. health (Thompson). Many people are So why do people go crazy looking for afraid to eat foods that have been the GMO-free label? produced using GMOs. The GMOs are GMO-free labels can be found not actually in the food that you eat, it everywhere in a grocery store in items is just a different way to control the from pickles to tomatoes. These factors that limit production such as products do not even contain any weeds and diseases. Before any GMO GMO crops. There are only 10 GMO products are approved they go crops that have been approved for use through numerous tests to make sure in the United States: corn, soybeans, that they are safe for consumers to cotton, canola, alfalfa, sugar beets, eat. There is no need to be afraid to papaya, squash, potatoes, and apples. eat something just because it uses Anything else you see that has the GMOs. Clearly, everything that lines GMO-free label on it is just overpriced. the shelves of your local grocery store So, next time you are at the grocery has been approved by the Food and store, do yourself a favor and go for Drug Administration as safe to eat. the GMO because now you are in the Many people are afraid to eat GMOs know. because they are afraid they can cause life-threatening diseases. In the
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Works Cited “Genetically Engineered Foods: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/00243 2.htm.“GMO Myths Vs. Facts.” GMO Answers, gmoanswers.com/gmo- myths-vs-facts.
Thompson, Stuart. “How GM Crops Can Help Us to Feed a Fast-Growing World.” TheConversation, 19 Sept. 2018, Thecon versation.com/how-gm- crops-can-help-us-to-feed-a-fast- growing-world-71112.
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teens and the sounds of squealing as “Can you Spare Some clingy girls jumping in the arms of Change?” their best friend who they haven’t seen since yesterday. Another year of high school has arrived: A place full of lyssa laughter, endless headaches, and severely broke students. Luciano That’s right people, I am broke. Guess what? Most of the student body A is broke. School supplies aren’t cheap, and by the time school rolls around I dread having to go spend money on ew year, new clothes, and new clothes I’m going to wear for the first you. Time to buy pencils, pens, week of school. Many of those N notebooks, and those new, controlled by their egos in high school ridiculously overpriced sneakers you today believe that they have to have just have to sport and be the envy of the most expensive things to feel your friends. The smell of sweaty superior to their peers.
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Many teens are lazy and won’t to raise you, put food in your belly, even leave the darkness and dirtiness and buy you clothes, but when you of their rooms to go find a job and buy things for yourself it makes you a make their own money. Over half of responsible individual who teens will graduate, never get a degree understand the importance of or enter trade school, and live off of decision making. mommy and daddy’s money for the We need to be shown money rest of their precious lives. According management! From the time we know to newsok.com, only 1 in 4 high what bills are, what money it worth, schoolers 16 and older work, this and the responsibilities of being a leaves the remaining percentage young adult, we need to be taught lollygagging and wasting precious money management. Whether it be at time to make money. You are broke work, home, or school. We need to be because you decide to be; if you really taught how to sign checks, and how to wanted those new Nike shoes, you make car payments.. How are we would buy them yourself. expected to learn how to spend money Many teens in the United States wisely if nobody is teaching us. As are over privileged and don’t teens, we do not have the appreciate things handed to them responsibility of paying bills and because they never had the things of that nature, but it is better to responsibility of earning for learn than to enter the adult world themselves. Money truly burns a hole without knowing anything. in the pockets of American teenagers. Foxbusiness.com once stated that Give them a hundred dollars and they 83% of American teens do not know will come home with a seventy-five how to manage money. A lot of this dollar pair of jeans, a twenty-eight fault can be placed on the parents, and dollar Under Armour shirt, and a on the people that influence teens. We sixty-dollar copy of Grand Theft Auto are still young, and we need to learn. Five: Premium Edition from Game Over-privileged Tyrone Stop. students: Get a job, learn money I value my money. I pay my management, and quit relying on your own phone bill. I give my parents parents to take care of you and do money for gas. I buy my own clothes. I everything for you. Time to grow up. am extremely thankful this Time to put on your big boy/girl responsibility. Those that are given pants, hike them up, and fill your money to blow complain that they are pockets with well-earned money. broke, but they would never Wait, just one more thing, can you understand because they are not spare some change? making the money; it is handed to them. Yeah, sure it’s your parents job
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Works Cited Coppernoll, Carrie. “1 In 4 High School Students Work, U.S. Census Finds, Including Many in Oklahoma to Support Families.” NewsOK.com, NewsOK, 25 Jan. 2013, newsok.com/article/ 3748886/1-in- 4-high-school-students-work-us- census-finds-including-many-in- oklahoma-to-support-families.
Tuggle, Kathryn. “Teaching Gap: 83% of Teens Don't Know How to Manage Money.” Fox Business, Fox Business, 11 Jan. 2016, www.foxbusiness.com/ features/teaching-gap-83-of-teens- dont-know-how-to-manage-money.
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immigrants including deadly MS-13 “Let’s Leave the Left” gang members. The left-wing political agenda is trying to destroy America. ade Liberals have allowed and even embraced the slaughter of hundreds Hendrickson of thousands of babies. Planned Parenthood alone kills 310,000 W unborn babies every year. According to The New American, the total is much et us review what the left-wing more astounding as approximately 42 political ideologies have given us million abortions took place last year, Lin recent years. The left has worldwide; thereby, making it the supported infanticide. The left leading cause of death in 2018. Rather has created false racism. The left has than accepting it as murder, the left allowed the intake of drugs and illegal has called it a woman's right to choose
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whether she has a child or not. I am a purpose and of pride.” Does this sound firm believer that your actions have like the “racist Nazi” the left-wing consequences, and I think it is simple media tries to make Trump appear to as this: The choice is made when two be? Obviously, not. individuals choose to have a Does the liberal movement relationship resulting in a child. This have any idea to the number of illegal may bring some tough consequences drugs and narcotic smuggled into the in some cases, but that does not give United States each year? you the right to kill this unplanned, Approximately, 1,555,552 pounds of pre-born baby. The fifth amendment drugs crossed the United States- of our constitution says, “No person Mexico border in 2015. Heroin, shall be deprived of life, liberty, or fentanyl, marijuana, and many other property without due process of law.” drugs are just pouring endlessly into Clearly, abortion doesn’t allow due America. These drugs kill hundreds of process of law, but allows the parents Americans every single day. In to decide if they are “ready for kids.” addition, there are 56,000 illegal That is not the only thing immigrants populating our federal leftists have done either. All too often prison system with even more we hear the left refer to anyone who residing in state and local prisons. The disagrees with them “racist” or “white left, however, doesn’t seem to care. supremacists” as they often do to Just this year, the left shut down a President Trump. This is far from spending bill that put less than one true!. President Trump has done a lot percent of the federal budget towards to help the minorities in our country building a wall along the southern during the first two years of his term. border to help border patrol agents According to the government facts control, monitor, and inhibit the flow sheet, Trump has raised black of illegal drugs and undocumented employment by 976,000 jobs, this immigrants. Liberals argue that walls puts the black unemployment rate at are immoral or ineffective, but in the lowest it has ever been, 5.9%. reality, this is bogus. If you build walls Trump also passed “The First Step to keep people in that’s tyranny, but if Act.” The goal of this act is to keep you build walls to keep people out, African Americans out of life-long that’s an expression of sovereignty prison sentences for non-violent drug and love for the people on the inside. crimes and allow our taxpayer dollars Trump has also received a lot of to go towards something else. In a criticism for calling MS-13 gang speech, President Trump says, “We’re members who cross the border fighting to give every American — all “animals.” The truth is, however, that over the country, every single is exactly what they are. "Kill, rape and American — a future of dignity and control.” This is the actual motto of
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the MS-13 gang that the left is “Opioid Overdose.” Centers for choosing to defend, but yet, they still Disease Control and Prevention, refuse to defend law-abiding Centers for Disease Control and American citizens from the drugs, Prevention, 19 Dec. 2018, gangs, and corruption of Mexico. www.cdc.gov/drugo Now more than any time in the verdose/epidemic/index.html. past, we are getting ideas like free healthcare, free college, welfare for all, “President Donald J. Trump's Policies and many other socialist policies. For Are Delivering Record-Breaking 243 years our country has thrived and Economic Results for African prospered as a free market, capitalist Americans.” The White House, The country, so why would we change? We United States Government, have allowed capitalism to bring us to www.whitehouse.gov/briefings- the top and personally I want to stay statements/president-donald-j- there. The 70% tax rate and free trumps-policies-delivering-record- everything these democratic socialists breaking-economic-results-african- are suggesting is not the way to stay americans/. there. We have watched Venezuela be destroyed by this same issue over the last few years. Venezuela was trapped in the promises of fairness and economic equality after it was adopted they found out that it doesn’t make everyone equally rich, but rather equally poor. We have seen leftist ideology destroy other countries and if something isn’t done we will be next on the hit list.
Works Cited
“Abortion Leading Cause of Death Globally in 2018.” The New American, www.thenewamerican.com/culture /faith-and-morals/item/31142- abortion-leading-cause-of-death- globally-in-2018.
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Kyung Hee Kim, Professor of “The Death of Education at the College of William Creativity” and Mary, found “that children have become less emotionally expressive, less energetic, less talkative and den verbally expressive, less humorous, less imaginative, less unconventional, McCracken less lively and passionate, less perceptive, less apt to connect A seemingly irrelevant things, less synthesizing, and less likely to see ducation: the birth mother of things from a different angle” (Chao). civilized society, the creator of We don’t grow into creativity, we E true democracy, and the grow out of it. Or rather, we get doorway to the future. But, what educated out of it. Education creates exactly lies on the other side of that students who are afraid to express door? A future where the human race themselves, afraid to go against the prevails and advances beyond our norm, and afraid to make mistakes, wildest expectations? A future where the bases of creativity and originality. world hunger, global warming, and Every education system around war are problems of the past? No, the globe maintains the same today’s education creates a future hierarchy of subjects. Languages and where creativity and individuality mathematics are placed at the top, cease to exist. humanities lie in the middle, and the Based on scores from the arts fall at the bottom. But, what Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking,
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makes music any more important than have the chance to embrace their math? Music is more prominent in creativity. most people’s lives than math will On top of this, education ever be. According to studies defines intelligence as academic conducted by the National Center for ability. Students who can memorize Education Statistics, more than 1.3 sets of terms in minutes. Students who million elementary students do not follow directions without thinking have access to music classes along twice. Students who fret about with 800,000 secondary school missing half of a point on a test. students. Furthermore, nearly four Students like me. Students who have million elementary students receive always believed they were smarter no visual arts instruction at school than the rest because they’re good at (Walker). Many schools are willing to school. According to Howard Gardner, cut music and art programs above Professor of Cognition and Education anything else even when they hold so at the Harvard Graduate School of much value within our society and Education, intelligence can occur in lives. Failing to give music and art various forms including “linguistic, education to students is downright logical-mathematical, musical, spatial, wrong and destroys the opportunity bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, for many students to discover talents intrapersonal, naturalist, existential, and abilities in these subjects. and pedagogical” (Gardner). Education sprouted during the Intelligence occurs in various forms, Industrial Revolution in order to teach yet schools fail to recognize them. children how to work in factories. The When education ignores the diversity idea behind the hierarchy of subjects among intelligence, students lose the was that the most useful subjects for opportunity to discover and develop work are at the top. Students were their form of intellect. discouraged from the arts because Also, public schooling is built receiving employment in art-related around higher forms of education. field was not attainable due to their High school is practically a protracted societal hierarchy. Today, jobs process of university entrance. Most involving the arts and humanities hold schools are so willing to drop art and just as much worth as those involving music programs because they care so math and science. Even though society much about test scores. Students miss has drastically changed, schools out on taking classes they actually continue to value mathematics and enjoy because schools care more languages above everything else. about how well students do on their Clearly, without focus on the arts in SAT or ACT. Along with this, many schools, many students may never highly talented, brilliant, creative people believe they won’t be valued in
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the real world because schools care more about test scores than embracing the talents of their students. Education is failing us. Education is holding so many talented students back. Education is killing creativity. Schools need to be changed to ensure a future where individuality lives before the door to creativity slams permanently only to become extinct.
Works Cited
Chao, Raul. “How America's Education Model Kills Creativity and Entrepreneurship.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 19 Mar. 2015, www.forbes.com/sites/darden/2 015/03/19/how-americas- education-model-kills-creativity- and-entrepreneurship- 2/#46bb4903e49d.
Gardner, Howard. “The Theory of Multiple Intelligences: As Psychology, As Education, As Social Science.” 22 Oct. 2011, howardgardner01.files.wordpress .com/2012/06/473-madrid-oct- 22-2011.pdf.
Walker, Tim. “How America's Education Model Kills Creativity and Entrepreneurship.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 19 Mar. 2015,
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Tyrone used to be the heart of “Our Town” the railroad and a haven for small businesses. Houses stretched to the hills where I-99 now stands. However, ucia over time, the town began to slip. The community halved in size and was Isenberg often dubbed “a ghost town”. For years, the storefronts downtown L remained empty or rotated business can't wait to graduate and get to business. Now, Tyrone has begun to out of this town.” Sound make a comeback. “I familiar? If you haven't heard For some reason, it has become it, then you just haven't been shameful to stay in Tyrone after listening. It echoes through the halls of graduating. You hear people say, “Oh, Tyrone High every day. Freshman, they’ll never make it out of this old sophomores, juniors, and seniors alike town”. But why is that such a negative express their disgust with not only the feeling? Small businesses are moving school but also the town. But our town into our town at a rapid rate and our is far from the way most high school school is one of the best, in not only students would perceive.
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the area, but the state. The tight traditional American high school community is a perfect place to call experience. The cafe, Spring Fling, home. The idea that people who don't Golden Revolution’s Kickoff, Pennies leave when they graduate are for Panzi, and so many more underachievers is preposterous. opportunities for fun and alternative Although the town cannot present learning set Tyrone apart from other some opportunities, it is far from schools. “settling” if you stay. Adults have said time after Alums such as Jeffrey Long, Dr. time that high school is one of the best Mathew Newlin, and so many more times of life and not to wish it away. have created a successful life within Sometimes you don't realize how good our town. In order to become as something is until it is gone, but why driven and educated as these alums, can't we? And why can't we try to be you must have good teaching. Tyrone even better? Area School District has raised so Other schools and students many successful individuals and has within our own district have fostered done nothing but improved over the a stigma that Tyrone is nothing but a years. farming town full of hicks and In the past ten years, a lot of thugs...which, yes, Tyrone does have low-income housing developments these types, but it also has the most have made their way to Tyrone. With diversity one could imagine in a this increase, some would expect Central Pennsylvania town. Artists, crime and poverty. In spite of the athletes, instrumentalists, academics, recent spike of students living in less farmers, singers, and just about fortunate circumstances, Tyrone Area everything else roam the halls of High School received national Tyrone each and every day. recognition as Blue Ribbon Award No one can say that their town winner. New clubs and new mottos offers everything for everyone. Of have arisen within the school and course Tyrone can't cater to careers or have made it a better place to be. This interests in certain fields due to its year, the sophomore class scored landlocked location, but for a small higher on the PSAT exam since it has town of about 5,000 people, it been taken at TAHS. Just last year, the presents about as much as possible, junior class scored the highest ever on and what it can't do, it makes up for in the Biology and Literature Keystone location. Tyrone is nestled in the Exams. perfect location between State College While TAHS has stellar and Altoona. If you crave more of a academics, it also presents many bustling lifestyle, commuting to either unique assets that enhance the school city takes up no more than a half or an without taking away from the hour. Even larger cities such as
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Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh are no further than a day trip away. Next time you are up late doing homework and longing for it all to be over, think about how lucky you have been to grow up in the town of Tyrone. The town that cares.
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the middle of an anti-vax rally. “Anti-Vax is Anti-Kid” Ahh yes, the infamous anti-vax moms who believe that their kid will become magically healthy by not ollie getting vaccines that prevents certain diseases. Supporting anti-vax is
Keller harmful to your kids, other kids, to the entire population, and the entire H movement is based on a lie. magine this. You’re walking down Andrew Wakefield was a the street with a group of middle British doctor who first made the I aged soccer moms all named claims on the MMR(measles, mumps, Karen who are pulling their kids and rubella)vaccine causing autism. by the arm or shoving them in a After his research paper was stroller with five other toddlers. Some published, several other doctors failed of the Karens are holding posters that to find the same link between autism looks like a kindergarten school and the MMR vaccine as he did. As his project. There's not a doctor in sight. claims begun to spread across Where are you? You are smack-dab in England, conspirators and other
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doctors became more suspicious. The before they even get a chance to grow British Medical General Council up. Their deaths are on your hands, started an investigation on whether or Karen. not his claims were accurate. They Not only are said Karens, pronounced his claims as false and in flaunting around their anti-vax return Andrew Wakefield lost his propaganda like it’s something worthy medical license. He was also charged of honor, they are hurting on 12 counts involving the abuse of immunocompromised individuals. developmentally delayed children. Individuals who have contracted AIDS The entire movement is based on a lie, and the various strands of hepatitis so therefore, it is a lie. If you love your are not able to receive vaccines kids so much, then why do you because it’s a death sentence. Their support a movement that was started immune system lacks the required by a man who abused kids? Kind of strength to ward off deadly diseases. hypocritical, don't you think? They also rely on Herd Immunity to Young infants rely on Herd keep them alive and if a number of Immunity, also known as Community people in a population refuse the Immunity, to safeguard them from vaccine then these people will die. getting various strands of diseases. These immunocompromised Herd Immunity is when ninety-two to individuals are already struggling to ninety-four percent of the population stay healthy, and they don't need to gets a vaccine. Infants are unable to fear being around your unvaccinated receive most vaccines until they are kids. twelve to fifteen months old because Following the measles they are still too fragile. If that epidemic in New York, the mayor from number dips below ninety-two, babies Rockland County proposed a ban for are no longer protected from diseases. unvaccinated children. They are not Not only are these anti-vax hurting allowed in public places, including their own kids, they are hurting other schools. How did the Karens respond? people's kids too. By claiming to sue. Quite frankly, it's a Need more evidence? On April predictable Karen move. Instead of 15th, 2019 New York City’s health being level-headed and taking their officials declared a public health kids to a local pediatrician where they emergency as the number of new can receive the MMR vaccine, they measles cases skyrocket. The total continue to claim that their kids are number of measles cases 285 and victims of god knows what. They are forty-six percent were children four to compromising their children's eighteen. And another thirty-nine education and preventing them from percent were younger than three. learning, which is a crime. These kids are dying and suffering
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It’s important to listen to the www.cdc.gov/features/ advice of sound medical reasoning adultvaccinations/index.html and not the opinions of some stay-at- home soccer moms who watch way too much of The View. Don’t fall into the pitfalls and teachings of the anti- vax movement. Just let the Karen's rally against vaccinations while they swap brownie recipes.
Works Cited
“Andrew Wakefield.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Apr. 2019, en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Andrew_Wakefield.
Bever, Lindsey. “Unvaccinated Children Banned from Public Spaces amid Measles Outbreak in New York Suburb.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 27 Mar. 2019, www.washingtonpost.com/health/ 2019/03/26/unvaccinated- children-banned-public-spaces- amid-measles-outbreak-new-york- suburb/?utm_term= .559abc156337.
“Immunization-Related News | CDC.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/vaccines/news/ related.html.
“Protect Yourself with Vaccination | Features | CDC.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
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Nobody gave us a trophy for just “Trophy, Anyone?” showin’ up!” No, this isn’t Doc Brown scolding Marty McFly about not receiving an award for his guitar adison playing at the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance (although he did deserve a Coleman one). I’m sure you have heard your parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles M say this before. You probably just shooed it off, not really thinking much f you know anyone born in the about it; however, have you ever time period between the noticed, teams that lose still receive I show Happy Days through Back to participation trophies? Some adults the Future, you’ve heard these these days feel the need to always words: “Back in my day, we had to have to give a kid a trophy, even if work hard for what we earned.
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they didn’t do anything but sit their Winning comes through discipline not butts on the bench during practice and expectation, and sometimes failure complain about how hot it is outside. can be our best teacher. Or they resort to the ole’ stand-by Sports and competitions excuses: “I’m too tired” or “My belly provide valuable lessons to be learned really hurts!” Are the adults scared as we go through our years of school that the kids would get hurt by losing? sports. Although we may not realize it, Obviously, it’s a ego-booster to as we play the game to win, the game earn a shiny metal or trophy and hang is teaching us some things about life. it up on your wall. But did you really Former NFL linebacker, James earn and work hard for it? As I grew Harrison, of the Pittsburgh Steelers up, I was taught to work hard for my took his children's participation awards. If I lost, I had to learn to trophies away from them. Harrison accept it knowing I gave it my all while said, “Everything in life should be be proud of what I accomplished. Sure, earned and I’m not about to raise two we might have lost but there is an boys to be men by making them important lesson to be gained, believe that they are entitled to especially for this current generation: something just because they tried losing builds character. Some kids that their best…cause sometimes your best are playing sports or any other is not enough, and that should drive activity “freak out” if they lose. They you to want to do better…not cry and show disrespect towards their whine until somebody gives you coaches, teammates and even something to shut you up and keep themselves just because they want to you happy.” win and grab that shiny, gold trophy. If everyone gets a trophy for And they wonder why they are called participating, there would be no sore losers? difference in winning and losing. If Do we really want our future they are taught that they are always generation to throw hissy fits when winning, what happens when they something doesn’t go their way? lose and do not know how to deal with Clearly, not all kids act this way, but a disappointment? This is dangerous large portion of kids do. Even some ground. Head basketball coach of adults! If we gave people a trophy for Louisville, Jeff Waltz, voiced his everything, what is that teaching opinion. “Right now, the generation of them? We all have to learn to fail or kids that are coming through, lose so we can learn how to accept life everybody gets a damn trophy, okay? when things don’t always go our way. You finish last, you come home with a Everyone getting a trophy or a medal, trophy. You kidding me? What’s that win or lose, degrades the value of the teaching kids? It’s okay to lose!” hard work needed to achieve success.
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Overall, I’m not saying that participation trophies are the worst thing in the world, but losing and not getting a trophy every time in a competition or sporting event can build character. This can help you learn how to deal with disappointment. Not getting a trophy every time can help push you and set goals for yourself to improve and get better. Sports and athletics sole purpose is to teach you about yourself. The lessons you learn can and should be applied throughout the course of your adult life. The last time I checked, there was no trophy given for mowing the lawn.
Works Cited
Tsuji, Alysha. “Bryce Harper Told a Bunch of Little Leaguers That Participation Trophies Don't Count.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 31 May 2017, ftw.usatoday.com/2017/05/bryce- harper-participation-trophies-little- league-kids-first-place-only- winners.
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were curses from God. The negative “Human opinions cast on these individuals, to Abnormalities” some, appear to be validation to place them in freak shows. These freaks of nature are as normal as anyone else and deserve to be treated with ollie respect. Three cases of “freakish” Keller medical conditions are Craniofacial Duplication, Ectrodactyly, and Proteus syndrome. HRussian novelist Vladmir The following cases are instances of Novbokov once said, “Let us bless the rare medical conditions that spark the freak; for in the natural evolution of following questions: how does the things, the ape would perhaps never condition affect the individuals, how have become man had not a freak do their peers view them, how do the appeared in the family” (Vladmir). conditions appears within the human Human abnormalities are genome, and what are the found everywhere within the evolutionary benefits to living with population. They can be as these conditions? insignificant as an extra digit that can easily be removed at birth, leaving behind a minor bump--or they can completely change the way one must learn basic human abilities. Such differences do not change the perspective of the individuals viewing them, but what about the ones that do? A lobster boy? A man with a second face on the back of his head? Identical twins conjoined at the waist? An elephant man? How and why are moral and social judgement towards these individuals so severe? Many people believed that these differences
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An extremely rare medical condition called Craniofacial Duplication , or Diprosopus, affects one out of every fifteen million and there are only 35 known cases. The deformity is caused by an incomplete separation of twin embryos. This results in a two -faced infant sharing the rest of the body and neck. Most infants are stillborn and very few live past 6 months. Because of such low survival rates, authentic cases of Diprosopus are hard to find. An infamous urban legend cites the story of Edward Mordrake; the man with two faces. Edward Mordrake’s second face was that of a female with the physical characteristic of being breathtakingly beautiful. The female face did not share Edward Mordrake’s brain, but was merely a shell of a face. Although the second face was merely a mask, it perform such surgery because of less exhibited signs of intelligence of the medical advances. His second face had malignant sort. At times, the face was completely taken over his life and led said to sneer while Mordrake was him to a state of depression. This weeping and the eyes would follow double life led Edward Mordrake to the commit suicide, by hanging, at the age movements of the spectators. The lips of twenty three. Diprosopus had an were even said to gibber without unhealthy affect on Mordrake’s life. It ceasing. When questioned about the had controlled him completely. The second face, he often said that the face generation that Mordrake was born would speak of things only the devil into did not allow for drastic physical could. He was a musician and an differences. An extremely wrong outstanding scholar. Mordrake lived in stigma was placed onto Mordrake. complete seclusion even refusing the This, possibly, is the reason why visitation of family members. Edward Mordrake refused visitation and Mordrake often sought surgery to sought surgery so often. A benefit to remove the face but all doctors his condition is that the trait cannot be refused. The doctors were unable to
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passed on, meaning, his children proved to Stiles that he was different. would not obtain the condition. Stiles was not allowed to talk back to Ectrodactyly, or Spilt customers yelling crude names at him. Hand/Split Foot malformation is the Constant name-calling and ridicule of absence of one or more digits and is his hands caused him to develop a bad combined with cleft hands and feet. temper. Eventually, he married a Often, it results in a lobster claw woman named Mary. The two of them appearance. This is caused by the had several children together. Stiles, duplication of the gene 10q24. Many and his children, were the opening act times, the individual is not able to for the Venice Beach freakshow. His fully grasp onto objects which family was called The Lobster Family. prevents certain motor skills to Stiles was abusive towards his family. develop. In the case of Grady Stiles, his Failing to control his temper, he deformity would lead him to murder. turned towards alcohol. Unable to Grady Stiles’ family had a long history walk due to Ectrodactyly, he used his of Ectrodactyly. His father toured in arms for movement. His upper body freakshows as The Lobster Man. He strength paired with his alcoholism was introduced into the freakshow made him a danger to others. One business by his father at the age of 7. night in 1973, Stiles, losing his temper This early introduction to freakshows with Mary, tore her IUD from her with his bare hands. Distraught by his actions, Mary left Stiles. His bad temper led him to kill his daughters fiance simply because Stiles didn't like him. Grady Stiles was found guilty, but was not able to be sentenced to a federal prison because no prison was equipped for his deformity. Therefore, his sentence was revoked. Stiles ruined the relationship between himself and his wife/daughter. The chaos that his actions ensued caused his other children to develop a negative opinion of him. While his deformity was the bane of his life, it allowed for incredible upper body strength.
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Another example of human abnormalities is the rare condition of Proteus syndrome. This genetic mutation is characterized by the overgrowth of the body’s skin, bones and other tissues. The disease can’t be inherited; It arises randomly in one cell. The gene responsible is AK11. AK11 regulates cellular growth, death, and division. Often, the right or left side of the body is affected more severely. The life expectancy ranges from 9 months to 29 years. It affects less than 1 in 1 million people globally with only a few hundred ever reported. Some people with Proteus syndrome have neurological abnormalities, including seizures and vision loss. Physical characteristics of the condition are a long face, the outer aspect of the eye tilting downwards, workhouse used a class system to low nasal bridge, and wide nostrils. determine how much food you would Joseph Merrick, the elephant man, had receive. After 4 years, Merrick left the Proteus syndrome. His deformities left workhouse to begin his new career, a him ostracized by everyone, including freak show performer. Showman Tom his dad. Merrick was very close with Norman fearfully hired him. He was his mother. She was the only one who scared his appearance might be too didn't gawk at his physical horrific to be a successful novelty. appearance. Like a true mother, she Norman introduced Merrick as The loved him endlessly. It wasn't until she Elephant Man. As the audience stared died that Merrick’s upbringing would in awe at Merrick, Norman would take a turn for the worst. His dad and describe the accidents that led up to stepmother showed no affection his deformity, including his mother’s towards him. Merrick’s father would alleged accident with an elephant. verbally and physically abuse him. The Fredrick Treves, a young surgeon, extent of his father’s severe beatings took a particular interest in Merrick. prompted him to leave. Now He even said that Merrick was "the homeless, he looked for any work most disgusting specimen of humanity available. He found work at Leicester that I had ever seen ... at no time had I Union Workhouse. The horrid met with such a degraded or
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perverted version of a human being as Elephant Man (3rd ed.), London: this lone figure displayed” (Howell). Penguin Books, ISBN 0-14-016515-0. Some of Treves’s coworkers were surprised that he was intelligent and Nabokov, Vladimir. “Nabokov Quotes sensitive. Joseph Merrick had spent (Author of Lolita).” Goodreads , his entire life as someone to be Goodreads,www.goodreads.com/auth gawked at. Instead of being viewed as or/quotes/5152.Vladimir_Nabokov. an individual, he was looked at as a medical mystery. In fact, the sadistic Royal London Hospital has Merrick’s skeleton on display for the medical students. A man, who had spent the entirety of his life on display, is still being gawked at. Although this condition does not inhibit intelligence, Treves’s coworkers assumed that he was illiterate. Differences are what make us individuals. The medical conditions of Edward Mordrake, Grady Stiles, and Joseph Merrick didn’t prevent them from living a happy life. It was humanity who took that happiness away from them. Mistreated, labeled as curses from God, and publicly humiliated, the individuals behind the disease had a horrible life. The public’s opinion shouldn’t have caused them the trauma that it did. *But, it did. These freaks are the reason why humans exist. *No truer words could have been spoken than those of Vladmir Novbokov. The ape would not have become a man, had not a freak appeared in the family.
Works Cited Howell, Michael; Ford, Peter (1992) [1980], The True History of the
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enemies, for they tell you your faults” “The Pillow Talk of (Franklin 1). Franklin’s alternative to Politics” traditional political thinking is as far- sweeping as his resume’. From the pen of an inventor, publisher, ambassador, and scholar, Franklin’s aphorism nna-Lynn Fryer evokes the type of quaint counsel readers might find embroidered on a grandmother’s pillow. The period during which A Franklin penned these words, like The 2020 Pennsylvania Society today, was one of political discord. 2nd Place Statewide Essay Contest Winner Power brokers and thinkers like very four years, Americans Jefferson and Hamilton were weaving navigate the snares of political disparate threads of philosophy, action. Slogging through the theology, politics, and economics into E a constitutional framework. Imagine primaries toward November, too often the politically active assume that the the suspicion, each man harboring a surest gambits in America’s We- divergent opinion on how this bold Versus-Them climate are distrust and experiment in governance should be dissension. In other words, honor and conducted. Make no mistake, rivalry embrace those who think like us; vilify warmed the seats that brought the and alienate those who do not. As a country together. How could counterpoint to such popular ideological rivals establish the divisiveness, Franklin posited a foundations of government amid such refreshing alternative: “Love your vast differences?
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Ironically, their differences of government tasked with keeping its opinion as much as their shared vision citizenry safe requires more than a helped form consensus. During the modicum of surveillance. What Constitutional Convention, debates happens when enhanced surveillance simmered over whether congressional goes unchecked? representation should be based on Voices like Edward Snowden’s population or equal representation. are born. Relentless bickering and crumbling On June 6, 2013, the American alliances almost destroyed any chance public learned of a government of compromise. However, when both surveillance program that tracked its sides realized the pitfalls of their own calls, texts, emails, and photos through beliefs, friend and foe united and popular social media platforms like established equal representation in Facebook and YouTube. After leaking the Senate and one representative per this information, Snowden asked only 30,000 citizens in the House of that American citizens learn about the Representatives. By considering the overreach of their government’s viewpoints of their adversaries and security program. While political admitting how their partisan plans for rivals from both sides of the aisle government were flawed, opposing clamored for Snowden’s immediate factions were able to overcome their arrest for treason, President Obama differences and synthesize their adopted Franklin’s wisdom by talking points into the document that embracing the “enemy” and ordering a governs America today (Constitution politically treacherous investigation of 2). the nation’s surveillance policy. It is easy to forget that the Unblinded by his own Founding Fathers were political administration’s policy, Obama radicals in their day; centuries hence, recognized its inherent flaws. not much has changed. Those who Subsequently, Congress enacted oppose the status quo invariably legislation that limited the amount of brook accusations of treason and data that could be collected, curtailed sedition, as did Edward Snowden. In how long it could be held, and ensured the fallout of 9-11, Washington that foreign countries could not abuse demanded tighter national security. intercepted data (Edward 4). In response, American citizens Stomaching the criticisms of demanded fundamental protections to one’s enemy can be humbling, but the their privacy. The political clash consequences of ignoring an enemy encapsulated the age-old conundrum can be humiliating if not deadly. Iran, that Ben Franklin once expressed: that for example, massacres its civilians at anyone who trades freedom for the slightest signs of protest. Its security deserves neither. A oppressive theocratic regime abhors
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democracy and adopts a closed- www.archives.gov/founding- minded stance antithetical to docs/constitution/how-did-it- Franklin’s suggestion that we heed happen. our enemy’s arguments and “Edward Snowden Discloses U.S. indictments. While their protests have Government Operations.” recurred over the decades, in the past History.com, A&E Television few years Iranians have clamored for Networks, 26 June 2018, basic human rights, more www.history.com/this-day-in- representative government, and the history/edward-snowden- eradication of oppressive retaliation. discloses-u-s-government- Franklin would urge the Iranian operations. leadership to heed the critics rather Franklin, Benjamin. “Poor Richard than smother the protests. Such a Improved.” 1756. stance would foster trust between its www.franklinpapers.org. citizens and the parliament. “Iran's Protests and the Threat to Unfortunately, there is little room for Domestic Stability.” Iran's Protests trust between an executioner’s sword and the Threat to Domestic Stability and an AK-47. Governed by dogmatic | Center for Strategic and ayatollahs and fear-mongering International Studies, 16 Jan. 2020, theocrats, Iran needs a leader www.csis.org/analysis/irans- receptive to criticism and unchained protests-and-threat-domestic- by ideology—one who will liberate stability. people engaged in warfare against their own government (Iran's 1). Love your enemies. It is as trite as a cliché on a grandmother’s pillow, but Franklin’s adage promotes the kind of intellectual “pillow talk” that can shape nations as well as marriages, heal policies as well as hearts, and expand ideologies as well as souls.
Works Cited
“The Constitution: How Did It Happen?” National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration,
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million people were killed due to “Disconnected” motor vehicle crashes. Over eighty percent of those crashes were due to How Driver Reaction Time is distracted drivers using cell phones” (2). Cell Phones are viewed as an Affected by Talking on Cell effective and necessary tool in the Phones lives of many people, but is there a risk of using them while driving? Researchers have been asking this iranda question for years, but many studies come up with conflicting results. What Goodman is the mystery behind the hand-held devices? Are they safe to use in the car? If so, to what extent? Despite the M conflicting results, the safety of using ccording to Susan Henneberg, a cellular phone while driving is, an expert when it comes to without a doubt, a significant public A mobile devices and their health concern. Talking on a cell harmful impact on society, “1.6 phone while driving will significantly
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slow a driver’s reaction time when these new systems may have just talking on both a hand-held device solved the distracted driving problem and a hands-free device. by keeping driver’s eyes on the road Talking on a cell phone can and their hands on the steering wheel. slow a driver’s reaction time. In However, talking on a hands- America today, individuals are free device is just as substandard as constantly bombarded with talking on a hand-held device. Many distractions and cell phones serve as a people claim that fumbling with the primary culprit. When driving on a cell phone itself is the more dangerous highway, it is not uncommon to see a activity than the actual conversation. car swerve across the median simply As it turns out, that conversation due to the fact the driver was on a involves quite large chunks of thought, cellular device. “A controlled study in which according to study simulations, 2000 found that the average driver takes the life out of driving reaction brake time was two point concentration, especially the ability to three seconds. A clear debilitation of react when seconds count. One of the driving while talking on a cell phone; earliest, most meticulous studies on the brain functions that controlled the impact of mobile devices on driving decreased by 37 percent” driving was conducted in 1997 by (Sawicki 2). If a car is traveling sixty- researchers Donald Redelmeier and five miles per hour then that Robert Tibshirani. Analyzing 699 translates to approximately needing drivers with cell phones who had forty-seven feet for response time. crashed their cars, they found that the Previous research is beginning to shed risk of driving while talking on cell light on the dangers of driving and phones was four times higher than talking on a cell phone. However, without the phone—the same risk as there are still many unanswered with driving impaired by alcohol questions. (Edwards 3). Would driver’s In recent years, more states knowingly drive while drunk, have been addressing the issue of endangering their own lives as well as distracted driving caused by the use of countless other lives? Apparently, mobile devices. Research, studies, and they are! Oklahoma City Police Sgt. evidence from law enforcement Matthew Downing says, “I see agencies, in the past decade, oblivious drivers on their phones convinced many state legislatures to running red lights and weaving across pass laws against talking on a cell lanes the same way a drunk driver phone using handheld devices while would” (Essex 2). In other words, by driving. Drivers responded by talking on a cell phone, vision can be switching their mobile device to obscured! Obviously, talking on a cell hands-free mode. Many people think phone while driving is unsafe and
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could mean the difference between What qualifies as a hands-free life and death. Device? A hands-free talking device Hands-free mode is just as can come in many forms including a dangerous as holding a phone. Some speaker phone, headphones, believe that having a handheld device earpieces, personal phone assistants, is the real culprit at hand, but in fact, and dashboard phone systems. Any of the distraction lies in the these methods of talking on the phone conversation. According to a Harvard while driving is considered dangerous Study, “Hands-free can be equally and could result in an accident. distracting because conversations People such as lawyers or cause the driver to visually imagine businessmen say that they always what they are talking about. This must be available to answer the phone visual imagery competes for to keep their business running. processing resources with what the However, because of their habits, they driver sees in front of them on the can create dangerous and hazardous road” (Sawicki 2). Clearly, driving situations like a collision, or an while talking on a phone is a risk no accident. Business discussions and driver should take and can be ascribed issues can be stressful and dangerous with the death of millions of people. while driving because it can cause Many researchers have emotional reactions that, in most discovered that the brain prevents cases, lead to tragedy. Because of the people from doing two activities at the heated conversation, they might get same time. René Marois, an associate upset and this can lower their ability professor of psychology at The to focus on the road. Lowering one’s University of Pennsylvania, explains: driving ability can potentially lead to “While driving, one gets bombarded losing control over the car. So if with visual information. One might drivers do not make a decision to put also be talking on a cell phone. New away their cell phones, their routine research offers neurological evidence can harm innocent people. There is a that the brain cannot effectively do growing body of evidence, including two things at once. People think if they methodologically sound studies of are using a headset with their cell crash risk, that cell phone use by phone while driving they are safe, but drivers substantially increases the risk they are not because they are still of a crash. According to a study doing two cognitively demanding performed at Stanford University, tasks at once” (Henneberg 2). “Cell phone use is associated with Clearly, talking on a cell phone both a four-fold increase in crashes while driving can be a deadly mistake serious enough to injure the driver and an arduous task. and a four-fold increase in property- damage” (Pursell 1). One study used a
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high-fidelity driving simulator and hands-free mobile devices while concluded that the impairments driving, some researchers focus on associated with using a cell phone fatalities due to distracted driving. while driving can be as profound as These statistics further complicate the those associated with driving while debate. While the number of traffic drunk. They found that participants fatalities has gone down in the past using a cell phone had delayed two decades, the rates of fatalities braking reactions and were involved from distracted driving appear to be in more traffic accidents than when rising causing the roads to be a little they were not conversing on a cell chaotic. A 2010 study by researchers phone (Pursell 1). at the University of North Texas By using a cell phone, one is Health Science Center compared the affecting his peripheral vision. This increase in distracted driving fatalities can be a major issue when a driver is to the increase in cell phone use and coming up to pass someone on the texting volume. The researchers highway. If they cannot see a vehicle obtained Fatality Analysis Reporting then that person is ten times more System records on all crash fatalities likely to hit them. Another study says on public roads in the United States that cell phone use can affect from 1999 to 2008. They found that peripheral vision. Using a cell phone fatalities from distracted driving causes impairment to a person’s increased 28 percent after 2005, peripheral vision, similar to horse almost the same rate as the growth of blinkers, rendering one blind to smartphones, text messaging, and the objects we would normally have no use of mobile devices for e-mailing trouble seeing. A team of researchers and accessing social media (Edwards by the name of Maples and colleagues 2). Despite the large drop in car crash measured visual fields of study fatalities in the past four decades, the participants when they were having a debate still rages over whether using cell phone conversation and when handsfree mobile devices while they were not. They found greater driving is safe. However, even the overall constriction between the smallest increase in odds can be the visual field isopters plotted during cell difference between life, or death. Is phone use compared with no cell that one phone call, worth a life? phone use. (Pursell 2). Fans of hands-free calls may Think about how much safer argue that such conversations with a the roads would be if people would cell phone are no different to those just save their conversation for a later held with a passenger in the car. The time. instead of looking at the overall evidence, however, begs to differ. car crash fatality rate to make an According to another study done, one argument about the safety of using big difference between in-car and
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mobile phone conversations is that countries. “Outside the United States, the passenger can see what the driver 48 countries -- including all European sees. If the driver is trying to enter a Union countries except Sweden -- fast-flowing motorway from a slip limit cell phone use by drivers, a road, the passenger might stop talking United Press International review for a minute until the maneuver is indicated” (NTSB 1). Even in the complete. The remote United States, some drivers have conversationalist, however, has no restrictions on cell phone use while access to this shared visual space and driving. Novice drivers, for instance, may continue talking throughout. are banned from using cellphones Indeed, evidence suggests that if the while driving in 30 states and the driver becomes quiet at times of high District of Columbia. School bus demand, the remote partner may drivers are not permitted to use cell increase their level of communication phones in 19 states and the District of to fill the silent, social void. (Edward Columbia when they have passengers 1). Thus, a mobile conversation can on board (Essex 5). Clearly, talking on demand even more attention, at the a cell phone while driving is deemed worst possible time. unsafe in many places around the Think about all of the innocent world. However, these laws give the people who could die by just talking false impression that using a hands- on a cell phone while driving. So many free phone is safe. If the United States people are putting their lives at risk bans driving under the influence, why for one conversation that they could should they not ban driving while have ten minutes later when they pull talking on a cell phone? The statistics over. “During daylight hours, speak for themselves, driving while approximately 660,000 drivers are talking on a hand-held and a hands- using cell phones while driving” free device is unsafe. (Essex 2). With all those people Hands-free devices often are driving and talking on a cell phone, seen as a solution to the risks of driver think of the increase in death rates distraction because they help and other life-affecting injuries. eliminate two obvious risks. Two of Cell phone driving has become the major risks when it comes to being a serious public health threat. A few distracted is visual and manual. It is states have passed legislation making no new information that looking away it illegal to use a handheld cell phone from the road and removing one's while driving. In many countries, hands off of the steering wheel is just driving while talking on a cell phone is tempting death. However, a third type illegal and for good reason. So far the of distraction can occur when using risk of talking on a cell phone while cell phones while driving, a cognitive driving has been noticed by many distraction. Taking one’s mind off the
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road can cause an accident just as processed by the brain. For example, quickly as the other two risks. Hands- drivers may be focused on a free devices do not eliminate this conversation and end up not seeing a third, prime distraction. Beyond that, red light. The real issue is not so much the amount of exposure to each risk is the distraction, but rather that drivers key. Crashes are a function of the are not aware of the distraction at severity of each risk and how often the hand. Because this is a process people risk occurs. Most drivers can are not aware of, it is virtually recognize when they are visually or impossible for people to realize they manually distracted and seek to are mentally taking on too much. disengage from these activities as According to a Amanda Essex a quickly as possible. However, drivers psychology expert from Harvard typically do not realize when they are University claims, It makes sense that cognitively distracted. For example, driver reactions may be slower when taking part in a phone conversation is using cell phones. For every a cognitive distraction and can information input, the brain must therefore cause the risk last much, make many decisions: whether to act much longer. This likely explains why on information processed, how to act, researchers have not been able to find execute the action and stop the action. a safety benefit to hands-free phone While this process may take only a conversations. fraction of a second, all these steps do So why can we not just take time. When driving, fractions of multitask and talk while we drive? seconds can be the time between a Well the answer to that lies in fact that crash or no crash. The difference human brains do not perform two between injury or no injury. The tasks at the same time. Instead, the difference between life or death. (3) brain handles tasks sequentially, Distracted drivers experience switching between one task and inattention blindness. They are another. Brains can juggle tasks very looking out the windshield, but do not rapidly, which leads us to erroneously process everything in the roadway believe we are doing two tasks at the environment necessary to effectively same time. In reality, the brain is monitor their surroundings, identify switching attention between tasks. potential hazards, and respond to This results in performing only one unexpected situations. In similar task at a time. In addition to attention terms, their field of view narrows. switching, the brain engages in a Drivers talking on hands-free cell constant process to deal with the phones are more likely to not see both information it receives. As the brain high and low relevant objects, juggles its focus and attention key showing a lack of ability to allocate information is lost and is not attention to the most important
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information. They miss visual cues every level possible. Coupled with critical to safety and navigation. They high-visibility enforcement and strict tend to miss exits, go through red consequences the roads can be safer lights and stop signs, and miss than ever. To provide safety benefits important navigational signage. and provide a positive influence on Drivers on cell phones are less likely reducing crashes, causing injuries, and to remember the content of objects resulting in deaths, these prevention they looked at, such as billboards. efforts must address the prevention of Where on the other hand, rivers not both handheld and hands-free cell using cell phones were more likely to phone use by drivers. There is a remember content. The danger of shared responsibility in the safety and inattention blindness is that when a lives of all drivers. Drivers put down driver fails to notice events in the the phones, callers do not make calls driving environment, either at all or to those who are driving, and too late. With inattentive blindness it legislation pass laws that will enforce is impossible to execute a safe safety on the roads. response such as a steering maneuver Statistically, teens are the or braking to avoid a crash largest age group to be distracted at (Henneberg 3). the time of a fatal crash. This likely has Even when drivers are aware something to do with how much of an of the risks, many tend to think they influence electronics and cell phones are more skilled than other drivers. In have on the lives of younger members doing so, many drivers engage in in our community. As the older driving behaviors that are potentially generations die out, the newer dangerous and can result in death. generations coming up are getting Thus, something needs to be done to easily distracted and making the roads ensure safer roads. Prevention dangerous for other members in the strategies must take into community. According to the United consideration how drivers behave in States Department of Transportation, reality, not only how they should “Engaging in a conversation on a behave. Technology solutions can cellular device takes your mind off the work on preventing calls and road for at least 5 seconds. At 55 mph, messages from being sent or received that's like driving the length of an by drivers in moving vehicles. entire football field with your eyes Consistent enforcement of laws is the closed” (NTSB 2). Someone cannot most important and effective strategy drive safely unless the task of driving in changing behavior. Therefore, has their full attention. Any non- prevention strategies that show the driving activity engaged in is a most promising results are laws potential distraction and increases the passed by legislation and enforced at risk of crashing. According to the
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Center for Disease Control and created an option to prevent Prevention, “Drivers notifications from going through to under the age of 20 have the highest one’s phone while driving. When the proportion of distraction-related fatal phone detects driving, it receives crashes” (Motor Vehicle Safety 2). messages without alerting the driver. Worse yet, is that students who Naturally, a teen will feel compelled to reported frequently talking on a Cell answer a close friend, or a parent's Phone while driving are less likely to call at all times, including while wear a seatbelt, more likely to ride driving. Parents need to avoid calling with a driver who had been drinking, their teen when they are driving, or and more likely to drink and drive. change their child’s phone default Drivers need to be settings. continuously attentive and focused. Not all people believe that Because technology will increase and using mobile devices while driving is a newer, worse distractions will be safety risk. Some believe that while introduced, parents need to make sure handheld devices can cause driver teens understand the importance of distraction, hands-free device use is driving safe. Make a family pack to safe. These people are just asking for avoid making phone calls while an accident. Dr. Richard Young from driving. According to research Wayne State University pored over conducted at Children’s Hospital of the General Motors Onstar hands-free Philadelphia, teens who do not communication database looking for frequently use a phone while driving airbag deployments occurring at the believe the benefits of putting away same time as a phone call. For their their phones while driving outweigh 2009 study, Dr. Young and his any drawbacks. For these teens, the colleagues found interesting results. benefits associated with not using a “In 2013, 424,000 people were cell phone while driving include being seriously injured, or killed in accidents able to pay better attention, being less involving distracted drivers” likely to have a crash, and following (Henneberg 3). Worst of all, the usage the law. Parents need to provide teens of cell phones while driving is known with safe alternatives to cell phone to be underreported due to potential use while driving. Completing calls legal issues. This means that the actual before starting the car and making numbers might be even higher. Using phone calls after arriving to one’s a mobile phone while driving is desired destination can be key reckless behavior, and every single strategies for driving safer (NTSB 3). crash that happens due to it can be It's a good idea to set the default mode prevented. It is imperative to note that to do not disturb on cell phones before over the years this number has been driving. With recent upgrades, Apple rising dramatically, as have the
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number of calls made through car www.businessinsider.com/talking-on- systems. In fact, many researchers a-hands-free-cellphone-is-as-bad-as- have found a direct correlation driving drunk-20. between the number of calls made and the number of crashes due to driver’s Essex, Amanda. “Cellular Phone Use using a cellular device. These views and The Safety While Driving.” Cellular are why researchers have struggled to Phone Use and Texting While Driving come up with a definitive conclusion Laws, www.ncsl.org/research/transp to answer the question: Is talking on a ortation/cellular-phone-use-and- cell phone safe while driving? texting-while-driviG-l ws.apx. We need to carefully examine the harmful impacts of talking on a Henneberg, Susan. Issues in Society: cellphone while driving. Talking on a Are Mobile Devices Harmful? Issues in cell phone while driving will Society: Are Mobile Devices Harmful?, significantly slow a driver’s reaction 2017, SIRS Issues Researcher,https:// time when talking on both a hand-held sks.sirs.com./national/health- device and a hands free device. Even if science/talking-on-a-cellphone-while- a driver is using a hands-free device, driving-is-risky-ut-simpler- reaction time is still negatively distractions-can-also-cause- affected. This can be the difference harm/2014/02/07. between life or death. The safest way for drivers to be on the road is “Motor Vehicle Safety.” Centers for without talking on a cell phone at all. Disease Control and Prevention, Drivers should not let the use of a cell Centers for DiseaseControl and phone interfere with their ability to Prevention, 9 June 2017, drive safely. They need to always www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/dist remember to take into consideration racted_driving/index.html. the risk to their own lives and to the lives of others. So, drivers, put the NTSB. "U.S. drivers ignore risk of cell phone away and drive safely. phones." World Geography and Culture Online. Facts On File, Inc. 19 July 2009. Works Cited Web. 21 Nov. 2017.
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Medical Journal, 58. Council on Health Promotion, Mar. 2009,www.bcmj.org/ council-health-promotion/dangers- driving-and-talking-cellphone.
Sawicki, Donald S. “Driver Reaction Time.” Braking Factors, copradar.com/redlight/factors/.
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he was in Vietnam. Exasperatingly, her “Does the U.S. Military response was always the same: “The Get the Respect it man is an enigma” A couple of years ago, my sister Deserves? and I stayed a week at my grandparents’ house. We were gathered at the kitchen table with a nna-Lynn Fryer coffee-stained checkered cloth, our grandfather showing us pictures of his visit to Paris. Then we saw it, a yellowed snapshot: my grandfather in A uniform. “What happened when you American Legion Essay Contest Winner were in the war?” I asked. To my surprise, the floodgates ince I was little, my parents opened. The next two hours were taught me what it meant to be an spent sifting through older S American: patriotic, freedom- photographs, listening to incredible loving, proud, and soldierly. stories, but, most importantly, Consequently, I considered my learning the truth behind my grandfather a hero and looked up to grandfather’s avoidance. He held up a him with proud eyes. Nevertheless, he photograph featuring him and a never mentioned his service, and I Vietnamese-looking man. never asked. I asked my mother when “This was my best friend,” he I was younger what happened when said. “When Saigon was evacuated, he
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couldn’t go home to America. He had respect for its men and women of the family in Nam and didn’t want to leave military. them. But he knew as soon as the At the same time, America’s North Vietnamese figured out that he consideration for its veterans is worked for the United States, his disturbingly superficial. I sometimes family would be killed--so the feel that the military fly-overs and government did the only thing it could coaches-in-camo at NFL games are to keep his family safe. They shot more public relations than genuine him.” gratitude. My mother told me that I stared into his eyes. They did after my grandfather came home from not waver. My eyes, on the other hand, Vietnam, he confronted many who watered. My grandfather shook his despised him for his service. Some of head and collected the pictures. his best friend were called baby- “It happens. No one would killers and murderers. Seeking help,” he grimaced. “There’s no use support, he decided to join his local crying over it.” American Legion in the Midwest. Those two hours at the kitchen Regrettably, they too denied him. table brimmed with cathartic and As in Vietnam, those who serve existential revelations. My first in the military will always be “middle- revelation was that every veteran has men”: motivated by personal virtue a memory that he wishes he could but subject to orders imposed by an wash away—a festering wound that imperfect and sometimes misguided cannot be cauterized. My second government. Sadly, the same revelation was that it is our job as government that venerates military Americans to respect all that our service often neglects the needs of its wounded warriors have stood for and most loyal champions, especially after endured. But what is true respect? Do the bomb-dust settles. we even know it when we see it? How well are we meeting the Merriam-Webster calls it “an act of needs of veterans? Since so many of giving particular attention: their needs are spiritual and consideration” (Respect). Do emotional as well as physical and American citizens “give consideration” economic, perhaps we could look to to their veterans? modern psychology for an answer. To some extent, yes. Veterans Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a receive funding for college. They enjoy standard for assessing the discounts on meals at select preconditions of a fulfilling life. We restaurants. They draw pensions cannot expect a person whose most based on years of service and income. basic needs are not met to feel So, sure--there are numerous tangible emotionally and spiritually fulfilled benefits that convey the nation’s and respected. The first level of
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Maslow’s hierarchy considers to divorce their partners than are physiological needs such as food and others (Veteran’s View). What is more, shelter (Mcleod). Perhaps we should the counterculture of baby-killer consider that, according to the criers and flag burners now shares the National Coalition for the Homeless, a stage with anthem-kneelers, not to quarter to half of all homeless mention those who cast soldiers as Americans are veterans. Additionally, conscienceless firing-machines. of all homeless veterans, the VA meets Public schools skirt the “Pledge of only 25% of veterans’ most basic Allegiance”, spawning a generation needs, leaving 300,000 veterans to insensitive to the ethos and needs of seek assistance from other programs our soldiers. In the face of global and (Homeless Veterans). Where is our cyber terrorism, increasing numbers respect at this most basic level? of young, ignorant Americans spurn The second level of Maslow’s military service. Sadly, ours is a hierarchy encompasses elements of culture where “thank you for service” safety, like employment and mental is more platitude than gratitude, health (Mcleod). It is easy to diagnose where silent heroes like my and treat physiological wounds with grandfather walk disrespected and clear medical solutions. However, ignored, where flawed government there are so many closeted mental institutions offer few hands to help illnesses that veterans endure but that with the things they carry. go untreated-- illnesses that emanate I am grateful that my directly from the stresses of combat. grandfather finally emerged from the Consider that an estimated twenty darkness. It might not have happened veterans commit suicide every day. had I not respected him enough to Consider also that of the 30% of venture there. Too many of our veterans who suffer from mental veterans still live in that darkness. It illnesses, less than half receive clinical is our duty as Americans to help them treatment (Veterans and Military). find their way out. Such illnesses make many veterans unemployable. In today’s cutthroat Works Cited economy, is it any wonder that some veterans feel no more secure in office Veteran's View - Combat Vets Much cubicles than in war zones? More Likely to Divorce, Separate, Lamentably, there is also a veteransview.com.www. eterans dearth of respect at Maslow’s higher view.com/news /combat-vets- levels of need: love, belonging, much-more-likely-to-divorce- friendship, intimacy, connection, and separate. esteem (Mcleod). Studies reveal that “Homeless Veterans.” National combat veterans are 62% more likely Coalition for the Homeless,
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www.nationalhomeless.org/facts heets/ veterans.html. Mcleod, Saul. “Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.” Simply Psychology, Simply Psychology, 21 May 2018, www.simplypsychology.org/mas low.html. “Respect.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam- Webster, www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/respect. “Veterans and Military.” Mental Health First Aid, 21 Mar. 2014, www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ve terans-military/.
“Sky Demon”
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upon its face. One glance at the wrong time could mean eternal blindness. iranda This dark dragon would sweep across our country. From coast to coast, this Goodman ruthless creature would blanket everything in its path. Yes, we could run and hide, but like sirens calling M sailors to their peril, this monster “In the light, we read the inventions of called to me. others; in the darkness we invent our own stories.” Like townspeople preparing --Alberto Manguel, The Library at Night for an invasion, we assembled our defenses. Once known as Black Death or years we heard it would in the sky, ancient warriors used to return, an evil sky demon. Like shoot flaming arrows at its black F the mythological Gorgon heart, but this giant was too far away
Medusa, one could not directly gaze and enormous to be pierced. Some
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believed it was a dark spell meant to Like a crew lost at sea with snuff out the lives of everyone. nothing but hope guiding us, my Historically, how many people were mother finally spoke, “I see a small sacrificed to appease this evil entity? I State Park on the map.” Suddenly, fate had never seen such a creature, but had intervened. It was here where we for thirty-eight years my father would meet our fate, and I was warned of its return. Experts relieved. No more planning, no more predicted its emergence. The ignorant wondering, and no more driving. Safe would disregard it, the brave would for the moment, we gave in to a night’s face it, and the foolish would try to slumber. profit from it. Few had ever seen this By morning a few grew into aberration in the sky, but now the many. At least a thousand or more clock was ticking. Slowly the highways came to face this foe. Fate has brought filled, towns crowded, and time was me in the company of strangers-- running out. Where would I be when people I had never met and probably this plague descended upon the would never meet again, but we all world? shared the same calling and would A week ago, my family and I make this last stand together. How thought it would show its wretched ironic that this place was called face in Nebraska. Then reports said Fairview--for it was no longer just a Missouri had better odds, but that dot on the map but a sacred vantage changed too. We peregrinated to point that would forever be etched Illinois, but it just didn’t feel right. into my memory. Finally, we decided a large town in Finally, the cataclysm that once Kentucky named Hopkinsville was the seemed so far in the future had now best place, but this would not last. The arrived. The sun rose, music played, maddening crowds were and people gathered. By most overwhelming, and we were accounts, it seemed like a typical suffocating. With thirteen hours to go, summer day. There was no sign of we escaped this peril and drove on, impending doom, but everyone there leaving the bloated streets miles realized this would be a last dance on behind. When Hopkinsville was the Titanic. It was the calm before the reduced to a small glow on the storm, but the storm was brewing all horizon and mist began licking at our the same. As for my family and I, we car, we started to doubt our decision. knew this storm had already arrived This desolate country road seemed and we knew it was looming just over endless. Hungry, tired, and starved for the horizon. Ploddingly, the emerging a final resting place, we were at our entity began to devour light from the breaking point. sky. The war had begun and yet the battle was just beginning. It called to
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us. This belligerent creature begged— stare back. It had one eye, black as no! —demanded a glance, yet one coal, with eyelashes of fire. I was a peek would blind us. Gradually, the helpless victim, unable to look away. world we knew phased into a shadow My eyes burned in wonder. I was of its former self. The known became mesmerized like a moth to an open unknown, the familiar became flame. I could not look away from the unfamiliar, and I began shiver. ghastly entity. The world grew colder. With five minutes to go, My fingers were icicles hanging from anticipation and fear formed dance the limp branches of a tree. Death was partners with our souls. The darkness upon me, as the soft day turned to an grew and the horizon dimmed. Three untimely night. All seemed lost as minutes to go. It approached. My crickets serenaded me into a trance. I armor was ready— a mask with blanched at the new world around me. special lenses, so I could see the beast For two minutes and forty emerging without blinding me. seconds, the world I knew became Anxiety clawed at my insides as if it anesthetized. Then, abruptly, it was were a wild beast aching to be over. Light returned, and the beast released from its cage. faded back into sunlight. The darkness One minute to go. was gone. I was alive, I could breathe, Darkness proliferated, and yet the world grew warmer, and all there was nothing to do except wait. seemed normal. I was safe, my family Nowhere to run. Nowhere to was safe, and Fairview had earned its hide. Nowhere to go. All we can do is name. It was no dream. Nor was it the wait.In the darkness we invent our nightmare of which the ancients own stories, Mangual once wrote. spoke. We would meet again. In seven Five. Four. Three. Two. One. And years. then— There. It. Is. Yes, the eclipse would return in At first just a wisp of blackness. seven years. A small cancer on the edge of Helios appeared and grew. Like a sinking ship, it was a matter of time. The Black Panther consumed its prey. The consumption was masked by the perishing sunlight. The fuse had been lit and time had run out. Deception receded and the facade crumbled. Uncertainty spread. Alas, it was there. My mask was now useless. A celestial Cyclops stared down at me, and all I could do was
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You never stop to think about how “The Curse” much time you have left. You really aren’t focused on that. You’re focused on when you can run. When you can cKayla leave. When you can finally get people to listen to you, but when that time Warner comes, it’s too late. The spell is too deep. You’re trapped in its evil. M Fall is supposed to be a time when you could just relax and eat ou never expect to be with candy corn on the couch. A time for someone when you’re alone, or families to dress up and go trick or Y when you think you’re alone. treating with one another on
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Halloween. But something else had a our direction. Split boards lay out plan for us. We never got that far; we amongst the sides of the lane along could already sense the power. Our with shattered glass. Everything was time was limited and our lives were absolutely terrifying in my eyes, but to done. everyone else, it was fine. Fine. I looked around, including over October. 1988 Jacie and Derek’s heads. There was nothing but weeds. “Grow up, Derek!” Jacie Lynn “Are you sure it’s up here? Did screamed as she pushed her boyfriend we make a wrong turn back there?” to the side of the lane. “It’s up here, don’t worry,” Jacie “What?” He asked. “All I’m replied to me. saying is that this is dangerous. “How much farther?” I asked. Breaking and entering someone else’s “Vee, get a grip! It’s just a home?” house! A few more feet and we will be Jacie sighed and turned to her standing in front of it.” boyfriend. “Weren’t you listening? I I nodded. told you it’s abandoned! No one lives After a few minutes, Jacie there. Besides,” Jacie put her arm paused, holding back Derek with her around him. “Don’t you want to see arm. She looked straight ahead, her where the Manchester’s died?” eyes wide in excitement. “Not really. Not to be rude, but “There it is, guys!” Jacie you’re kind of creeping me out if I’m pointed. being honest.” I walked up beside her. Over a “I’m with Derek on this one,” I small hill was a cabin in the woods. said to my friend, Sydney Miller. The stairs have detached from the “Yeah, me too,” she replied. porch, same with the railing. Mold “I just don’t get what the big grew up the side of the cabin in a deal is with houses that once had spiral case. One of the windows had living people in it and is supposedly been busted out and two were painted ‘haunted’.” I told her. over with black paint. It really was “No,” Sydney stopped me. “I abandoned. find it interesting! I’m with Derek on “Come on! Let’s go!” Jacie this for breaking and entering. Jacie waved us on as she ran toward the said no one lives there anymore, so I porch. guess it’s fine.” They all ran except for me. I I sighed. I looked ahead to the decided to walk. When I reached the field that surrounded the lane. porch, Jacie hopped onto it and went Creeping, brown weeds stuck up from to the wooden door. The rest followed. the dirt while the wind blew them in
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“What are you doing?” I asked I knew the three passings were them. not my fault. I knew I would get “What does it look like?” blamed, but who would know if you Sydney responded. stayed in hiding? What can be said? “It looks like you guys are How would they know? going to start trouble,” I told her. My brain flickered at every “You are no fun,” Jacie said. She passing thought that was opened the unlocked door and remembered. My fingers though, entered. She made everyone follow traced the year marks on the behind. tombstone. Bits and pieces fluttered “Guys!” I whispered, loudly. off like dead skin. That’s all she was “You’re going to get us in trouble!” now: Sydney. That’s all they were. The There was silence, no answer three of them, forever gone. That’s all I to be heard. Before long, a lengthy could remember. shriek interrupted my ears. More Footsteps crunched the leaves accompanied. They all ran out in a behind me as my friend approached hurry. my side. He knelt down beside me and “Wha- what’s wrong?” I asked, wrapped his arm around my back, panic in my voice. pulling me close to him. Sydney looked at me, white in “You will be okay,” he told me. her eyes. “We let out the evil!” “I know,” I said, facing him. “I have accepted it every day.” September. 2001 “That’s all you can do. You’re strong. Don’t even bother being The wind blew violently as the weak.” evening approached Maine. Leaves fell I smiled, but I dropped it. from the trees of green and the petals “You know it wasn’t my fault, of old roses flew from the gravestone right?” of Miller. Everything was ghostly “I know that,” he replied. He when it was supposed to be grey. rubbed my back with two fingers. Friends were dead when they were “I know you probably get sick supposed to be alive. and tired of me telling you this, but I The news reporters were all know you don’t believe me. I know about this case back in the years, something killed them.” interviewing everyone in town. They “I tell you all the time that I stop once a year to check on the death believe you, Vee. What more do you stones to make sure the evil hasn’t want me to say?” erupted again. I stand here, begging “I don’t know, Luke,” I hung my for it all to be over; for my life to be head. “I don’t know. over.
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Luke stood up, picking me up older brother, asked this in his with his hands. “This happens every country filled accent. year. I believe you. You were just a “It’s now or never,” I told him. I small child then. It’s only a story.” stood up and faced the house. “This is it,” Johnny started. There is a story believed to be in its “This is the last we’ll be face to face present evil. It haunts a small town with the front door. Next, we’ll be near Maine, but it’s just a scary story. standing face to face with a deserted That’s what I though; that’s what brick.” others thought. I know what “I don’t want to leave,” I told happened when I walked up the road him, still facing the opposite direction. that evening. I want to forget it, but it “I want to stay.” isn’t a possibility. “Then why don’t you-” Thirteen years later, the “Because mom thinks it’s very screams still awaken me. Twenty six, unhealthy for a-” I’m still acting like a child. A crazed “Let’s get a move on!” Ryan maniac. yelled. This wasn’t some typical joking around yell; it was a yell to get our The couch was tossed onto the truck, heads out of our asses and do what he slamming down onto a lampshade. says. Johnny and I looked at each The bulb shattered as it was still other, rolling our eyes. This was it. Our attached. Springs of an old worn out new life. trampoline sat perfectly on the cushions. What were they even good The chevy door slammed shut behind for? me. The white house left the driveway Missy howled as she chased as the tires turned in their tracks. her tail around in the bed of Johnny’s Soon the trees were the only thing beat up Chevy. She paid no attention that surrounded us. to the loose rope that hung from the My mother and Ryan followed side. It was very unusual. behind in a dark blue station wagon. I “That was the last of them!” was glad that they were in a separate I took the last puff of the fiery vehicle. I would’ve not been able to tobacco and stomped it into the dirt. I stand Ryan for long. watched as the smoke slowly rose up There was something about from the dead grass. Just one more hit. Ryan that my brother and I didn’t like. Whether it was the attitude or the “You ready to go?” Big, black rude comments he would make to cowboy boots stood in front of me, each, he wasn’t our favorite character. waiting until I looked up. Johnny, my Stress was all he contributed when we were around. There was never a
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positive day; the clouds were always “Ah,” Ryan sighed as he placed dark. Smiles faded into the black as his arm on the top of the truck. “Home the white eyes turned red. No wonder sweet home.” I want to hide. “It’s ugly.” “Just needs a little work,” Ryan The sun began to set as the mile marks replied. were passed. Each road sign flew by “And when will that start?” like birds to the south. Yellow lines on Johnny asked as he opened the truck a sharp road flipped over each other door and slammed it shut behind him. at every movement. Everything I rolled my eyes. seemed different now, nothing I got out of the truck, pushing seemed real. Ryan with the passenger door. I Glass bottles were tipped over unhooked the hatch and let down the on the side of the road. Visions of the bed, setting Missy free from the small dead entered my memory to where all space. She took off running towards I could think about was them. The the tall grass in the back, wagging her house; that damned house. The tail as if she had found something images were stuck. I took a pill. interesting. “Isn’t it beautiful?” My mother The tires screeched as they said as she got out of the car. She entered a gravel road. Grass was piled looked up, covering her forehead so high in splotches of green along both the sun could not capture her eyes. sides of the lane. An addition of I looked up at the broken flowers had been taken, almost as if it window at the front of the mansion. It hasn’t been abandoned for some time. was bland. In the background, a beautiful sunset “Why don’t you go take a look stretched its way across the sky. A around,” she suggested. “See what you house was in the distance, a tall and like, see what you don’t.” distraught one. It was not at its best. I respectfully nodded to my The house was considered a mother and did what she told. mansion, I suppose. The tiles of the I placed my sneakers on the roof had broken off and was now tailgate, letting my feet touch the dangling from the front. Five windows grass. That is one thing I miss most; were smashed in, the other two, running around barefoot. cracked. There was a small porch, one I walked behind the house, that you could barely sit on. It was feeling the slithering of worms painted white, matching the house. between my toes. It had been raining We parked up near the small the night before, I could tell. porch, mom and Ryan pulling up behind us. My face sat in disgust.
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There was something about My mother ignored my this place that seemed familiar. A comment, or so I thought. familiar scent; a familiar scene. I stood outside on the porch, A few more inches and I stood watching as my mother and Ryan before a tree. A tire swing was placed walked around the mansion. Just from at the end of one branch and a shirt the door hanging open, I could smell hung from the other. I smiled. A sign and feel the evil in our presence. of childhood. “It’s lovely,” my mother said as I looked to my right. A cabin she looked at the wallpaper. She stood out in the backwoods. I squinted turned around and looked at me. my eyes to get a closer look. My eyes “How could you not want to stay widened as strong, violent signals here?” interrupted my brains. “There is something wrong A flashback hit me hard in the with it,” I told her as I shivered in my face. My eyes blurred, soon becoming shell. clear. Sydney stood on the front of its She again ignored my strange porch, smiling at me. She started to comment. She continued to smile as change. She took her eyes away from she around the bottom floor of the me and looked at her arm. She mansion. touched it, grabbed it, and tore it off. “Didn’t you hear me?” I asked She waved it at me. Her eyes were her. pearly white and her body was bloody She dropped her smile and and bruised. looked at me. “I did hear you, Vee.” I fell back, crawling towards “Apparently you didn’t. You’re the house. Footsteps were now still in this house. There’s something chasing me. really wrong with this house, mom!” I I stood up, holding on to the told her, almost shouting. side of the house. I looked back as she My mother walked toward me still stood on the porch smiling. Her with her finger pointed at my face. “Do teeth were now missing and so were not raise your voice at me, little girl! I her eyes. am the parent!” My lungs stopped the pumping “But mom, there-” of oxygen. I struggled to catch my “No, Vee. No buts! Bring your breath in a panic. I could no longer bags in and go get the rest of the stand. belongings from the car.” I ran to the front of the door, I sighed and turned around, looking straight at my mother, whom heading towards the truck. I walked now was inside the house. on pebbles as I did. I grabbed a “We can’t stay here,” I said, suitcase and a plastic bag filled with catching my breath. dog toys and set them on the porch. I
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was not stepping in that house. I “That’s because I didn’t walk turned back around for the second the lane.” time and went to the car. I opened the “Then where-” truck, which had already been “I came from the woods. There unlocked. I reached in, bending over is a small cabin down there yay big, the end of the car, and placed my hand well decent sized.” on another suitcase. When I did this, I I gulped. felt breathing on the back of my neck. I “What?” He asked me. “I ain’t turned back, almost throwing a punch, scared.” when I saw someone standing there. That was the first creepy time I saw him, well the second after he “Hello.” walked back to the cabin in the woods. The voice was coming from a blonde haired, green-eyed boy. He was On this thrilling night, I walked up the a bit taller than me, but seemed as stairs; the first time I have ever though he had been broken and was stepped forth on the second floor of looking for someone to meet. the mansion. My eyes wandered to the “Hello?” wall, it was the only thing left not He smiled. “Where are my destroyed. It was painted white with manners? I’m Konner.” He reached for yellow splotches that had looked like my hand. it was from cigar smoke. “Vee,” I gave him my hand. I stood standing in the hallway. “What a pretty name. It’s very Light flashed on me from under the nice to meet you,” he said, thrilled. door on the left. It was a bright red I turned my back on him, light, the kind you see when you enter trusting him way too much. I the bowels of Hell. Dead rose petals continued to grab the clothes and lay beside the door, almost covering other belongings that my mother and the outer edges of the hall. Ryan might want. I stared at the door. I could “Do you need some help with now tell that it was a candle flame those bags, Miss?” flickering by the smoke coming “I think I got it,” I assured him. through. I reached for the knob. My heart pounded in my chest “No problem,” he said. as I opened the door. I looked inside, I stopped rummaging through the first time I ever was brave. the bags and looked at him. “Where In the corner sat a wooden did you come from?” chair, a blanket covering it. I stepped He laughed. “What?” inside, leaving the door wide open. “I didn’t hear you come up the The blanket and chair was still, but the lane. You weren’t even standing here-”
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candle flickered as if there was Tears streamed down my face movement. as I listened to him scream at me. My I laughed and walked over to heart never skipped once. I ran out of blow out the candle. When I reached the house. the candle, the bedroom door I wiped a tear from my eye and slammed shut. I quickly turned grabbed the water from my coat around and ran to the door. I looked at pocket. I grabbed the small packet of the chair. Hands stuck out of the pills from the other, my hands corners of the blanket on the arms. A desperately shaking. I took a seat on body was under it. the steps before another spell could I rattled the doorknob as I tried happen. to be set free. My eyes were focused After a few minutes, sneakers on the chair. I looked away once only appeared in front of me. I looked up to see that the blanket was now and added a small smile, but dropped standing. It dropped. it. I had awoken him with the screams. A woman stood with her long “Come take a walk with me.” black hair in her face. Her body was I stood up and took a walk with horribly beaten. She walked towards him. We said nothing for twenty me in a crooked way. minutes until he broke the silence. “Somebody get me out of here!” “Is everything alright?” Konner I screamed, rattling the doorknob. asked me. Closer. I didn’t answer. Rattle continues. “You look upset.” Closer. “I am fine,” I assured him. “Help! Help!” “Are you sure?” He asked me. Door busts open. “yes , I am fine. We only met a I fell out into the hallway, couple hours ago. Even if there was hitting my head off the corner of the something wrong, I wouldn’t tell you.” wall. He looked up at me then back My mother's door opens in a down again without saying a word. flash. Ryan stands there, angrily “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-” staring at me. He put his hand up. “It’s okay.” “What is a matter with you?!” “I’m just stressed right now. I “There-there was-” really didn’t mean to do that. I just “Spit it out!” He yelled. really need someone to talk to.” “There was a girl and she-she- “Then talk to me,” he replied. she stood up. The lights-” “You can tell me. There is very little “You need help!” Ryan that surprises me in this town. I-” screamed. “I can’t take you anymore! Your- You’re crazy!”
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“I think there is something in “No, it isn’t. My mother wants my house,” I told him. “It doesn’t want me to stay. She doesn’t see what I see,” me here.” I told him. “She doesn’t believe me.” “The evil,” he said with his “I believe you. Who couldn’t? I head down. “I know evil all too well.” don’t want anything to happen to you. “What do you mean?” If your mom doesn’t see it, she can Konnor looked up at looked up witness it for herself. You just need to at me. “What I mean is I know about get out of there before that pretty face the evil in that mansion.” of yours gets wrecked.” I stared at him not saying a I stopped in my tracks. My eyes word. Maybe a story a neighbor told sparkled for him. I leaned in and him? kissed him, of what I thought could “Her name was Lavinia Willow. have been accidental. My eyes then She used to practice witchcraft in the widened, realizing what I had done. basement of Manchester Mansion. “I’m so sorry,” I said while Some people found out about it. They feeling anxious. turned her into an asylum in I moved my hair away from the Delaware. That’s when everything got side of my face. I covered my eyes for worse. She broke out of her cell, a hole a couple seconds then uncovered left in the wall. She went crazy, them, hoping Konner was still beside starting killing people left and right. It me. was out of hand. They burned her “Damn,” I mumbled. when they found her.” “Damn?” Konner questioned as I looked into his eyes without a he got closer. “Damn is right.” smile. “How do you know all this?” I “Listen Konner, I am so sorry. I asked. didn’t mean to do that. I don’t know He laughed a small laugh. “It’s what got into me. I guess I was just-” just a story my friends and I used to “Shut up,” Konner said as he discuss. It got stuck in my brain, I leaned in and planted a kiss on my guess.” pink lips. I looked down to the ground, Both of our eyes closed. His my eyes focusing on a piece of glass arms wrapped around my waist as stuck to my shoelace. mine wrapped around his neck in a “Her spirit is still in that romantic motion. A soft kiss was being house,” he said. “It’s not safe for you to held captive in between us, force was be there.” in no need. A tear dropped from my right Our kiss lasted for about five eye. “I just don’t know what to do.” minutes, leaving us both embarrassed. “It’s okay,” he wrapped his arm To me, it was perfect. Especially in the around me in a friendly gesture. moonlight.
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“Can I be honest with you As I stood there, something about something?” He asked me. dripped from the upper edge of the I looked at him. porch roof. I wiped my cheek of where “I’m not who you think I am,” the substance was and looked up. It he told me. was dark. I pulled out my phone and “What do you mean?” I shined a light on it. I gasped. chuckled. Ryan and Johnny were pinned He blinked. When he opened together, stitches sewing their bodies. his eyes, they were red. Blood dripped from the claw marks in I jumped back, continuously their stomachs. Their eyes were staring. colorless. “I’m sorry, Vee,” he walked I sobbed as I ran off the porch over to me, his arms outward. and into the woods looking for my “Stay away from me,” I said, mother and Konner. I stopped once tears falling from my eyes. again as I saw the cabin in the midst of “Please, Vee! I’m sorry. I’m so the woods. I knew I had to face it. sorry.” I stood there. Everything was I opened the door of the cabin, no longer perfect. It was a perfect screeching of the floorboards were the disaster. only thing I heard. I shone my light He looked at me. Tears started everywhere looking for a dream or a to form and drop to his cheeks. nightmare. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why-” Night clothes were left on a “I did. You were just so easy to stand next to the Old Testament. A talk to. I-” cross was there too. Jesus was “So you leave me here-” attached to it, hoping this would work. “I couldn’t scare you away from I turned around only to look into the me! You’re perfect. Even if this means abyss of a nightmare. my death, I promise to keep you safe.” The rotted flesh of a forty year “Your death?” old woman lay on her back, a red- He sighed. “I work for the tailed axe sticking out of her head. witch.” Blood dripped from the side of her That was the last I saw him in forehead. It was fresh. the moonlight before he disappeared. I stepped closer five steps.. Five more before I could tell this was not I ran back to the front door of something I wanted to witness. the mansion, scared and alone. I A bad feeling corrupted my rattled the doorknob realizing that it stomach as I saw the pearly white of was locked. We never locked doors. my mother’s open eyes. The witch had My heart pounded. gotten her.
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I covered my mouth and began held very tightly. In her right hand, to sob beside her decomposed body. she held Konnor’s decapitated head. “Mom.” My only mother, my hero, my My eyes widened and my rock. She is dead. mouth started to cry. Anger filled my soul as a hard “No!” I shouted, going down decision was made. I grabbed the until my bare knees touched the bible and the cross and headed out the ground. “No!” door. I laid upon the ground, pounding my fists on the hard surface It was a dull night, surrounded by the like a two-year old. Tears rolled down screams of Konner in the fog. The feet my cheeks, fully realizing Konnor was of an anxious twenty-six year-old was gone. the last to make the leaves crunch “This can’t be happening! He’s along the ground. Running was alive! He was alive! He was right in another sound. front of my face!” I reached the weeds where A cold breeze approached missy was set free and looked at the behind me. It was a calming sort of mansion. Konner’s figure was being breeze, but a very suspicious one. It held up in the lighted window. Her felt as though a hand placed itself hand grasping the neck of his shirt. upon the center of my back. “Don’t touch him!” I shouted I turned from the ground and while standing outside the mansion. looked back to see if there was The witch never looked at me, evidence of the suspicion. There was. but I knew she heard. Konnor’s spirit floated there, I picked up the cross and the now in front of me. His smile was bible. I flipped to the page of the snow white and his eyes were Garden of Eden and began to read of gorgeous blue diamonds that lingered Adam and Eve. in the sky. He was beautiful. “From the power of Jesus No words were said. He was Christ, Adam and Eve, I condemn you glowing. He stayed there until it was back to hell!” time for him to be called home. He has Nothing changed. disappeared in front of my eyes, The witch looked at me with a leaving a scent of something behind. I zombified look on her face. She now no longer saw him, for I saw the smiled. Her teeth stuck out like sharp glowing of car headlights. It was quiet, edges on a piece of glass. They looked only a slight sound of music played in yellow and decayed, like a tree whom the thick, oxygenated air. Words were had grown moss on its wood. She held being said in a loud voice above the out a bony hand with something she cover, but I could not make out what was being said. Memories flew back
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like centuries in my mind, leaving the negative moments away. My body was still, cold, hungry. The numbness and pain of bones becoming nonexistent were killing the cells slowly. My dress was flat upon my legs, along with a thin blanket to cover my shell. With two eyes uncolored and closed, clutching my hand with the other, I lay dead in my own coffin.
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story is completed. Several banned “How to Kill a Book” books are about the past or a specific historical event and may include some topics making students feel ylin uncomfortable. Numerous individuals believe banning a book for the content Hoover is beneficial for the students involved, but it has the opposite effect. The K censorship of books is detrimental to ast year, 483 books were student’s educational development challenged. The Constitution’s concerning societal issues while first amendment states the right violating rights granted by the L Constitution. to freedom of speech. Therefore, they cannot outright choose to ban a book, In books such as To Kill a so they must first take it to the courts Mockingbird, there is the theme of and have it decided there. Books are racial injustice, a major societal issue. among the most effective educational To Kill a Mockingbird is told through tools which discuss and dissect the perspective of six-year-old Scout. important societal issues concerning Her father, Atticus, is a respected and race. The goal of a novel or story is to successful lawyer. He was given the convey a specific topic and infuse the case of Tom Robinson, an African- text with opinions and insights, American accused of rape. Numerous possibly concerning specific social townspeople were against Atticus issues and problems. Various books defending a black man, but he include historical references while disagreed. Despite the obvious incorporating themes that will innocence, he was convicted. The resonate with the reader long after the main antagonist, Bob Ewell, retaliates against Atticus and his family for his
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attempts. In chapter eleven of the understand it is much more than the book, Scout questions her father by use of vulgar language. It is a story asking, “ ‘You aren’t really a n*****- about a dad who stands up for lover, then, are you?’ ” Atticus confides somebody when nobody else will and to her, “ ‘I certainly am. I do my best to teaches his daughter that all people love everybody... I'm hard put, were created to be equal. sometimes—baby, it's never an insult Another more recent instance to be called what somebody thinks is a can be found in the number one bad name. It just shows you how poor banned book in 2017, 13 Reasons Why that person is, it doesn't hurt you’ ” by Jay Asher. The book continued to (Lee 107-109). These two quotes make the list in 2018, ranking at show that books using vulgar words number six. The story is based on a are used to show lessons. Students teenage girl’s suicide and shows how should be able to read the book within her friends work through the loss. No, the school because then the students the idea of teen suicide is in no way and teacher would be able to have a glorious, but the topic should not be deep and productive discussion about turned unto taboo and hidden from what they were reading. A dad is the public eye. Dealing with a friend’s subtly telling his daughter to treat suicide, or thoughts of their own, is a everybody equally. Children should be major concern for countless teens taught at a young age to not care what throughout the United States yearly, others think about them and their so why should a book about it be actions, if not, they will become banned? The book itself was never consumed about it as they grow. seen as an issue, but once the Netflix Insecure teenagers will be introverts show was released in late March 2017, who do not participate in school it raised several concerns. The show activities because they are too scared used numerous scenes that concerned about messing up and their peers parents and school employees, most of thinking poorly toward them. Parents which had never read a word of the are in charge of teaching their book, so they expected it to be as children how to treat others, so it is tragic, if not worse (Gomez). important for conversations to Banning any books in schools transpire with curious kids. Teachers violates rights granted by the should take charge and teach topics Constitution. The 1st amendment like these at a reasonable age where states, “Congress shall make no law students are mature enough to respecting an establishment of understand the deeper meanings religion, or prohibiting the free behind the actions, and more exercise thereof; or abridging the importantly, words. If the parents freedom of speech, or of the press; or were to read the book, they would the right of the people peaceably to
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assemble, and to petition the reading a specific book due to its government for a redress of contents, that is their judgment call to grievances” (LII Staff). In simpler make. Censorship is never okay. terms, the first amendment protects During an interview by PBS several of the American people’s Newshour's author, Jay Asher firmly freedoms including religion, speech, stated, No, because every reader is press, to assemble, and to petition the different. There’s no book that’s government. While this may seem inappropriate for every person, but random, the first amendment does there are people who cannot handle apply to the issue of banning books in everything. Last week I was speaking schools. Banning books is a form of in Alaska and this one girl said she got censorship, one that has taken over in to the eighth chapter in “Thirteen the past few years. Reasons Why” and it became too much Book banning is the most for her — she self-censored. But she widespread form of censorship in the said there would be a day when she’s United States, with children’s able to finish my book, when she’ll be literature being the primary target. ready. (Strum) Children are smarter Advocates for banning a book or than most believe and they know their certain books fear that children will be limits. If they do not feel comfortable swayed by its contents, which they reading about a specific topic, then regard as potentially dangerous. They nobody is pushing them to. If children commonly fear that these publications are too immature to handle a book will present ideas, raise questions, and such as these, then the school should incite critical inquiry among children teach them to an older grade. The that parents, political groups, or importance of these books outweighs religious organizations are not ready the uncomfortableness of their topics. to address or that they find They are in the curriculum for a inappropriate. (Webb) purpose, and they are an excellent Children should be able to read way to illustrate a challenging topic. any material because it is important Finally, a fairly older, yet close for them to ask questions. They grow to home example is that of the and excel by learning new things. Just incident here in Tyrone. Many years because a book is written about a ago parents wanted to ban books in touchy topic does not give the right for the Tyrone School District because people to hide their children from it. they felt they were inappropriate for Children deserve the ability to learn their children. In a book written by Dr. about every uncomfortable topic out Miller following his retirement from there. Individuals have the right to the superintendent positions, he choose what to read, or not to read. If wrote, “If students cannot experience a student were to feel uncomfortable books that contain obscenities or
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questionable language, then they LII Staff. “First Amendment.” Legal would not be able to read Geoffrey Information Institute, Legal Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, John Information Institute, 10 Oct. 2017, Steinbeck’s The Grapes Of Wrath, www.law.cornell.edu/con Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, stitution/first_amendment. Richard Wright’s Native Son...Even Miller, William N. POLITICS OF Shakespeare’s sonnets could be PREVAILING: Lessons in Public considered inappropriate. Should School Superintendence 1971- students never experience great 2013. SUNBURY Press, INC, 2015. works of literature because isolated Strum, Lora. “Banning Books like '13 parts of them contain uncouth Reasons Why' Makes It Harder for language or references to sexual Teens to Open up to Adults, Author situations? (Miller). Says.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Books encourage social and Service, 28 Sept. 2017, emotional development along with www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/bann understanding the value of empathy. ing-books-like-13-reasons-makes- Books are based on the fact that there harder-teens-open-adults-author- is a problem and by the end, there is says. hopefully a resolution. These books Webb, Susan L. “Book Banning.” , teach children that it is alright to have www.mtsu.edu/first- imperfections. It gives a view of amendment/article/986/book- somebody else’s life where there are banning. problems, sometimes tragic life events, but the characters work through it. The censorship of books is detrimental to student’s educational development concerning societal issues while violating rights granted by the Constitution.
Works Cited
Gomez, Betsy. “Banned Spotlight: Thirteen Reasons Why.” Banned Books Week, 2018,www.banned booksweek.org/banned-spotlight- thirteen-reasons-why/. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York :Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006. Print.
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I’d go back to a moment when the “The Meadow” sun still did shine. Impossible, I know, the past is in the past. kye Now I stand here, more fragile than glass.
Kropp Moment to moment, it’s possible S I’ll break. After all the risks, what’s another n the surface you only see to take? beauty . O Gaze longer, you’ll see it like me. The wind rips the meadow, disturbing its peace, Silence broken by thoughts that don’t cease.
My face is hot with the glorious sun-- A shiver courses through what’s been done. The days are lived in a haze of sorrow, Never knowing what to expect from tomorrow.
The dark clouds roll in, showcasing the pain. Mother Nature and I know it’s going to rain-- The Meadow and I, both trapped in a game, The Meadow and I, we are the same.
If only it were possible to turn back time,
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The howling winds cry like the “Blue & Green” voices within. The air brushes lightly over my skin. ayla From afar you keep my unstable Michenfelder world serene And restore a calm balance to the blue and the green. K
waying all directions, wondering why. S I hear a roar from above and look up at the sky. The dark clouds are rolling, consuming the blue. I wish the one from above could be with me, too.
The setting sun dips so low to the ground, It reminds me of how you kept me earth-bound-- A feeling of serenity, contained in my palm-- Solid yet fragile, like a consoling psalm.
The grass blades fret as the drops start to fall That they’ll no longer be green and able to stand tall. If the one whom I need could weather this storm, If the one whom I need could restore the norm.
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My dream could come true with a “Empty Reflection” straightforward cut. My dream could come true with a hurl. aura Kohler
L Students’ Choice Best Poem Class of 2021
taring blankly into the mirror again, S I do not see my reflection. My focus fades to the back of my brain, And self-hatred floods my inspection.
Exposing my skin, I just wanna hide As the pudges hang over my waistband. Pain eats away at my fat from inside, Pain so deep that it’s tough to withstand.
I think I glimpse God in the background. I cry out to Him, beg him for answers. Isn’t there beauty in me to be found? Insecurities spread faster than cancers.
My eyes drift to my hand as it rises. Now tears stream down like strong My fingers form scissors and shake. rivers, I can already hear future praises: Never ceasing and never retreating. “You’ve never looked in better shape!” I take a deep breath--my throat
shivers. I’ve not dreamt of being a surgeon, but My brain says, “Girl, just stop eating.” I’ve dreamt of a skinnier girl.
But deep down I know it’s not easy.
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No amount of starvation and chopping Can solve problems that leave me uneasy. My heart’s on the verge of just stopping.
If God loves me I should love myself too. It’s disappointing but surely I don’t. I’ve heard God has Someone for all, but Who? If I don’t love me Someone sure as hell won’t.
Love isn’t dead, but until I can find it, I hope God’s love gives protection-- Because a teenage girl should not want to quit, Nor seek a quick end to rejection.
It’s time I walk past this mirror, today- - Far beyond its empty reflection.
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“Touched”
den McCracken Seeing you like this, agony lingers. If I could only fix it with the snap of my finger. A ddicted to Xanax. Addicted to My silent cries shout out your name. meth. Where will you go? When will I see A Watch the slow rise and fall you again? Of your chest. Maybe you’ll have a better mom and We’re separated by a window marked dad. with stains, Maybe you won’t grow up broken and Blocked out by a mind soaked with sad. pain. You have my wide nose and my deep Monitors and machines encase your blue eyes. body. My voice hits the glass, which drowns Tubes and wires straddle your skin. out my goodbyes.
I wish I could hold you. I’m the brother you’ll never know. I wish I could come in. The faint memory you’ll outgrow.
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Remember when you’d sing me “The Fog” lullabies and hold me while I cried? Dad, don’t you remember?
den McCracken Memories flowed out of my eyes and splashed onto your desolate face. Your hollow eyes mocked me. You were an empty sailboat. A With no purpose. heavy fog danced in your deep With no sense of direction. brown eyes. The fog surrounded you. A Euphoria coated the two black And you were sinking. abysses glaring at me. I wasn’t strong enough to lift you out They were staring out at a different of the crashing seas. world. So I sank with you, straddling myself A world without me perhaps. in your arms. A world with no pain. A world with no responsibilities. The morning sun pierced my eyes. I lifted my head from your chest. While you were lost in nirvana, I was Whimpers escaped your lips. trapped in reality. The fog left your eyes. Crying out your name. Never again, you whispered to me. Shaking your limp body. Never again. Why wouldn’t you wake up? Why wouldn’t you come back to me? Did I fail you again? Was I not a good enough son?
I hated when you did this. I hated every drug that took you away from me. The methadone. The xannies. The k-pinz. The oxys. The addys. They made you so happy. But, didn’t I make you happy? Remember when you’d hang me upside down and spin me around?
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To know what scares you. “The Wind” To know what pleases you. To trace the roots that keep you in the past. den McCracken To uproot the pain. But, I can’t. Because you’re just a blade of grass lost in the wind. A never wanted flowers; I wanted grass. I wanted you. I I know your jagged edges. I know your rigid skin. But, do I really know you? I’ve watched men cut you down to nothing. I’ve watched men rip away at your delicate layers. I’ve cut you down to nothing. I’ve hurt you. You’re just grass, yet you’ll always be more than flowers. I want to mend your rough edges. I want to caress your coarse skin. But, the wind takes you from me. The wind whistles at me mockingly as I watch you drift away. I’ve spent my whole life trying to catch you, but you’re so lost. Lost in the winds of life. Always running. Running from me. Are you scared? Scared to feel again? Scared to love again? I want to love you. I want you to love me. I want to be your son. I want to try again. Mom, I want to know you.
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“Nobody” Had her friend not replied, that would’ve been her, She sobbed once again, her visions a endall Markley blur.
She hid this for years, not telling a single soul, K Until she knew it was time to tell them she had lost total control. ey guys I’m not coming to school today, I’m not well,” They sat down together, the three “H That strong, beautiful closest friends, woman she was just fell. this was her time, a much-needed cleanse. As she stood on that chair with tears on her face, They settled there for hours bawling Her chest beating harder, her heart together, began to race. She knew she could trust in these friends for forever. Alone in the basement she stood as her emotions overtook her like a knife, They hugged her and hugged her like Nobody knew she needed help, best friends should do, or was trying to take her life. The chains broke from her, now that someone else knew. She had always been the bright, smiling girl She still sees that young girl lonely Nobody knew she wanted out of this and afraid, of this dark, dreadful world. Sitting on the floor of the basement feeling strayed. Nobody would even notice if I died. Her phone lit up on the table nearby: But she knows that those moments “hope u feel better, we’ll miss you” had changed her for life, Those three last words pulled her Those three tiny words had saved her together like glue. from a long afterlife.
She crawled from the chair down to the floor, Where she looked at the ground, and there laid her corpse.
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woozy. “Thank You, Buddy” Your brown eyes shimmer with hope
While I can’t help but choke arah How do I tell you this without Jackson sounding dreadful I want you to know you were gentle. S You protected me from danger Now go meet the man from the ears fall onto my cheeks manger. Like raindrops drip into creeks. TThe cold air blows in reality Thirteen years wasn’t enough Oh, how I wish this wasn’t your I wish this wasn’t so rough. fatality. You were my best friend I wish this wasn’t the bitter end. My hands shake, I promise I’ll try not to break. Thank you, Buddy, In bright lights your hair glistens. Our time together was so lovely. I have a lot to say so please listen. It’s time to say goodbye, Please don't watch me cry. The room is sterile and gloomy I inhale chemicals that make me
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unfried. “Fried Chicken & That is why I was petrified, Death” But I could not dwell on any of this as the aliens from Space Invaders were trying to kill me. Why were they? I don’t know. aydn What were they? I don’t care. Loudenslager They were soaring down from the heavens. Well, not really soaring, H As they went down as the Space
he Kentucky Fried Chicken sat Invaders did in the arcade cabinets. in my lap. The engine of the Hearse I was riding It flapped its wings once in a passenger roared with power. T The driver was Death. while, as I wondered what this unholy creation He was my dad’s old friend from was on my lap. school. It looked like a deep-fried chicken, Don’t tell him, but I don’t think he is I mean, it looked like an intact deep- cool. fried chicken. He is the stupid and the big dumb. Its head was unfried, and its eyes were He also fainted because he is a wimp, unfried. and because he has alektorophobia. From the middle of the neck, it was The sky was soon engulfed in flames.
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The Air Force came to save the day. Why the Air Force was in the middle of Pennsylvania, I dunno. I abandoned the car with the chicken, Evacuated the area with the cat. (I forgot to mention there was a cat.) It was scarred after the battle against the goat. I got home and started drinking some hot chocolate With one question on my mind:
Why the hell did I write this?
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“Superheroes are Not You meant a lot to people, mostly Immortal” Philly. You and Shaq--you guys were silly.
Lebron looked up to you-- raquan Oh yeah, D'wade, too. Fields Kobe, you loved the game, Not for the money nor the fame. T
Rest easy, Kobe, you had more. obe, what was he-- a hero? a All your heart for ball it poured. mentor? Or was he someone we just Basketball--it was your first love. K Now you’re flying high, like a dove. adored?
Coming in with the number 8. We all miss you, Kobe, but it's too late.
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streaming. “As Time Travelled” I prayed for running water, I prayed for burning light. I wished sobriety for my father. lyssa I wished they wouldn’t fight. I balanced on a growing weed Luciano Sprouting in a garden of poisoned soil. A loving father was all I’d need, A Thinking of him made my blood boil. But as time travelled through life, y memory is of a skeleton- As my father found himself, sunken city, I severed the wire with a dull knife. MA place wherein I could not I placed my childhood on a dusty shelf. divulge most of my childhood. As time travelled through me, A place wherein I formed, at most, I forgave, but never forgot. self- pity, I opened my eyes wider than they And wherein drugs could do far more could see. damage than money could. I dreamt I’d find the sky, a place where My father’s fault, it was not. time didn’t exist. I yearned for nights without screaming. Oh, the wonderful silence I missed. Many rainfall nights my tears steady
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“My Strange Addiction”
That will never change the way I feel. To me, it’s no big deal. rimsin Manis You abandoned me there, dead inside, But my feelings did not die. It might have been your sea-blue eyes, K or
aybe it’s the way I feel when Maybe just the trail of lies. you’re around. It might be how you make me It could be the way you held me tight, M Or perhaps being alone just gives me feelm, safe and sound. fright. It is no game with you: You took my heart and made it two. I may be your fiery red hair -- It may not mend, for And the way it forces me to stare-- My feelings don’t bend. Or perhaps in the end, it was all A ferocious voice inside pretend. Has signed me up to die. It’s captivated by all your lies
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tried to think of what to say. “When Light Shines” ¨Why us?¨ he asked. He did not really expect her to have the answer. ¨What am I doing wrong?¨ am Maria placed a fresh-brewed tea on the coffee table and took his Vincent hand, guiding him to the couch. She sat down beside him, nestling her hair C into his neck. He glided her hair Class of 2021 Best Fiction Award through his hands. ¨I see how hard you try, honey,¨ hris stomped his boots before she calmed. he entered the cabin. Stubborn She did this often as of late C chunks of snow covered the after Chris returned from a hunt. Any front porch as they loosened from the pride that he had felt after they had bottom of the soles. Maria read the made the big decision drained from despair on his face. He placed his rifle his chest. on the live-edge countertop and “Trying doesn’t put meat in the undressed layer by layer. He paced freezer.¨ around the fire, lost, stoking the dying He stared into her forgiving embers for warmth. A carousel of eyes. He knew she loved him no thoughts and second-guesses swirled matter what, but he also knew he was in his head as he thawed. Maria sat on not accomplishing enough. It was a the rocking chair adjacent him and matter of time before they were out of
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meat. They were not completely off- violence at that moment were his four grid, and most of the money they had years of military discipline. left was dedicated to fuel for the “Clean up your own trash,” generators. Chris said. It had not always been like this. The man limped away in a They had grown up in the same small cloud of white hair that floated logging town near the Canadian halfway down his back. border. From the day Chris met her, After much discussion, they he knew she was the one. After many took out a loan on a partially off-grid heartbreaks, he had somehow cabin. Within a month, Chris started convinced her to give him the chance his small lumber business from the that he felt he did not deserve. property, and the rest was history. After a four-year tour in the Chris sat with his wife by the military, Chris decided it was time to fire and held her tight until she dozed make his high school sweetheart his off. Guiding her to the bedroom, Chris wife. Their first homestead was tucked Maria in and then himself. He modest but very much on the grid. The knew that tomorrow he would harvest events of the last year, however, had game meat. The thought of it induced given them the nudge to strike out in a dreams that kept him tossing and new direction. There was that dark turning through the night. He sweat news at the local school, with the child profusely, to the point where solid molester grooming young wrestlers in sleep was out of the picture. a dark room set aside for special He rose an hour before lessons. Then there was Maria’s daybreak and began to prepare for the supervisor at the mill, firing her for hunt. Careful not to wake Maria, he recommending a cost-saving measure buttoned his flannel and stepped into that he felt had made him appear a pair of wool-lined sweatpants. negligent to his higher-ups. Then Before leaving the room, he kissed her there were the neighbors. The welfare on the forehead and said a silent rats, as Maria called them, whose kids prayer. She opened her eyes and they knew were peddling meth along smiled at Chris, who was unaware that the border. When he caught the old she was awake as the floor creaked man lugging his garbage bags to the down the hallway. curb in front of his home so he Cracking the front door, he saw wouldn’t have to pay the hauling fees, that the snow from yesterday had Chris knew it was the last straw. He turned to mush. Sleet fell from the sky. stood face-to-face with the pony-tailed It was barely above freezing, and the mooch with the lazy eye. Chris felt wind gusts sent shards of sleet that the only thing keeping him from through the air that sliced at the stubble of Chris’s face. Only meters
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from the porch, he knew it was going obligations and took pride in fulfilling to be a long day. His spot was about a them, he despised leaving his wife's mile from the cabin, which was quite side on these expeditions. He knew the hike with all his gear. He was that he had to hunt if they were to careful to stop for frequent breaks, as survive on their own terms in this sweating was a fatal mistake once the new-found lifestyle. body stops moving. He scoured the The sun had trekked midway path along the way, searching for up the sky when the crunching of animal signs left on the slushy snow. brush sent a shock wave through He also kept his eyes trained for game Chris´s body. A hundred yards in front, that might be hunkered down in brush a set of horns emerged from the thick or creeping along the ridgelines. laurel that coated the terrain. Chris Upon his arrival at the spot, he raised his rifle to the shooting bar of took huge gulps of air from the chilling his stand and rested his cheek on the mountain breeze. The last bit of the walnut stock. It brought a chill across trek was all uphill, and the steep slope his face. The horns materialized into a had him winded as he maneuvered mature buck coming off the heat of through thick shrubs. Nonetheless, he rut. The buck had given Chris a perfect managed to reach the spot where he sightline to his vitals, and he was not would test his luck. He labored up the going to let the opportunity pass. As rails of his tree stand. Each rung was he lowered the crosshairs behind the more chilling than the last. He made animal´s front shoulder, he could feel sure his movements in the stand were the sweat coat his skin. His heart slow and quiet. The sun had started to pounded out of his chest. To prevent creep up over the horizon and created shaking, he took a deep breath, eased a gleaming pink sky. Chris could not on the trigger, and fired. have been more relieved. The sleet The crack of the rifle had moved through, and the sky thundered through the woods and looked promising. Sunrise meant that along the ridges. After the shot, the he could finally see more than a few only thing he could hear was the deer yards in front of him. He surveyed the crashing through brush about forty familiar sight of the landscape all meters from where it initially stood. around him. Before the property was He was ecstatic that he had executed his, he had known the man who the perfect shot. He would have owned it, and Chris had hunted this plenty of meat after a few hours of spot back then. He imagined a lot of skinning and dressing the animal. The hunters would have considered these animal was finally serene after woods a mystical escape from reality minutes of violently wrestling with and the provocations of society, but the arms of the dense laurel bush not Chris. Though he knew his where it took its last breath. When
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the noise stopped, Chris rushed out of surrounded by the same light. When the stand, forgetting how slippery the he shook off the pain, the long-haired rungs of the ladder might be from the man receded, reminding Chris, from morning sleet. He made it down one the rear, more of his ponytailed set before his boots gave way. His neighbor than of a paranormal visitor. right foot surrendered first, and when Then a different light shone, one that he failed to regather, his second foot comforted, one that gleamed on Maria. followed in slow motion as he At first, he could not move dropped from the sky. It was enough toward her and his pulse quickened. of a fall that he could see the dew “Off-grid?” a voice chuckled sparkling from the tops of the trees as beyond the curtain that separated his he descended. His back struck first, bed from the next. “The poor guy can’t but then the back of his skull slushed get more on-grid than he is now.” against an outcrop of granite Maria slumped in a plastic protruding from the ground. chair that she had pulled near his bed. Everything went dark. She wore no makeup. The sallow skin Though uncompromising under her eyes was wrinkled like brushes with death in the military had burlap. She wore sweatpants and one made Chris scoff at the prospect of of his Army shirts. She cupped her outer body experiences, he woke up hand firmly around his, and her head bathed in a captivating light. He was rested on his chest. His head and neck surrounded by a glow that was whiter were supported by a brace. He than white. He puzzled over this and mustered the strength to twitch his laughed at the intrusion of cliché. He hand. As soon as Maria felt the could not deny, however, that he felt gesture, she looked Chris in the eyes afloat on a beam of light. Beyond the and hugged him. As she loosened her light he made sense of a hazy grip, she noticed that Chris was silhouette. It was a man he did not struggling to speak above the beeps know, but he knew that he had seen and whirs of the monitors and him before. Ripples of white hair machinery to which he was attached. draped over his shoulders. The man She put her ear to Chris´s lips, which drew closer until he and Chris were formed a primal sound that was face to face. He smiled at Chris. barely audible. ¨Take my hand,” he said, and ¨When I get out of this bed,¨ he without hesitation, he took a step said, ¨we´re moving to the city.” toward the man and raised a hand. When their hands met, Chris felt a shrapnel-like jolt sear through his body. Although he had only closed his eyes for a second, he was no longer
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