debatechick's blog

Several days ago a teenage girl from Osawatomie, Kansas reported that a man of about fifty had attempted to abduct her but that she had escaped. The story was widely publicized, in some instances at the national level. For me, this specific kidnapping story hits home. I live in Osawatomie. It is a small town where 'everybody knows everybody' and the majority of the town leaves their doors unlocked. I have never had any fears of gangs, rape, or drugs. In fact, I have led a pretty sheltered life when it comes to violence. There are never any fights in my school. But after reading about what happened to this young woman, I will never feel entirely 'safe,' even in small towns, ever again.  Read More »

For anyone who is interested, my journalism teacher, who was fired for no reason, got his job back. The journalism editors and staff rallied together and appraoched the school's administrators about it. They claimed they could not divulge their reasons, but we pushed hard. They never told us, but we left a pretty big impression with our drive and will and the fact that they could not/would not answer our legitimate questions. Unsurprisingly, for a few days afterwards we had to be on our guard. The administration was just looking for reasons to discipline us just because we supported our journalism teacher.  Read More »

Although 'Team America' has been on video for over a year, students in my school seem to still be obsessed with it. Why? What is so funny about it? Personally I think it represents everything that high school students and even adults do not need to be watching or supporting. It is obscene, rude, crude, and politically incorrect. Sure some jokes in it are fairly funny, but over all it is not a movie I want to ever see again, nor would I want my children to watch.  Read More »

This is kind of long, but I believe to be very interesting. It was the oration i did this year. I could not put it into print until after the state compitition. It covers why dacning is good phyiscally, can spark romance, and a whole bunch of other things. I did fairly well with it, so I promise it is interesting. Many people have told me that it makes them want to go out and dance!  Read More »

Last night was 'scholarship night' at my school. In a nutshell, about a month before 'SN' the district sends a letter to your home if you will be receiving an award. The school does not tell you how much money you received or how many scholarships. I  was invited, and was thoroughly excited I might add. However my excitement quickly ended. I live in a somewhat small community which is generally VERY political. However I expected that on scholarship night differences could be put aside, and the people who really needed/deserved scholarships would be rewarded for their hard work. WRONG!  Read More »

I have read in several newspapers today that the UN security council, led by the US is proposing to place oil sanctions on Iran in hopes that Iran will discontinue its nuclear enrichment program. However I believe that placing oil sanctions on the country is not the way to solve the problem. Iran is not home to the most oil reserves in the world, however it does play a significant part in oil exports. With the cost of oil, or gas-as it applies to normal citizens, skyrocketing, placing oil sanctions on Iran is the last action we want to take. Even to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power.  Read More »

In a recent ABC News report, Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., called for the separation of Iraq into three separate secions, Kurdish, Shiite, and Sunni, with a central government in Baghdad- as if that is the answer to all of Iraq's problems. Sure, this policy of appeasement might work for some time, and give the United States a quick escape, but what about five years down the line? Whether for or against the war in Iraq, republican or democrat, the point is not to get out of Iraq as quickly as possible, its to create a stable government for Iraq's peoples. Do congressmen really think that segregation is going to solve Iraq's problems? Last time I checked it has never really worked for us before; IE the segregation of blacks and whites.  Read More »

I keep saying I am going to update soon, but I never get around to it. Well here is the reason why I have not been on PU as of my last post. Currently I am fighting an age discrimination/ disparate impact claim for my journalism advisor. He was recently fired by my high school's principle, super, and school board. The district has no basis on which to fire him; he has done nothing wrong. Our paper does not print vulgar or highly controversial material, however the school is firing him on the grounds that our journalism program is not up to par with area schools'. Graduation is a little over two weeks away and I am a class officer and graduation speaker. Because of my involvement in the situation I risk having my speech taken away; however that is a small price to pay for a teacher who has taught me everything I know, the reason why my books and tuition have been paid by a semi-well known college, and the person who first gave me confidence in my writing.  Read More »