Category Archives: Forum

Claire DeFrancisci, Columns, Forum

Stereotypes lead to poor judge of character

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By Claire DeFrancisci

Let's Be Honest

Whether anyone knows it or not, every day when they walk into school they are being stereotyped. In other student’s minds they may just be “that goth girl” or “the kid who thinks that he is funny but he really isn’t.”

Characteristics such as how people dress, the people they are friends with, and the way that they act in public reflect on how other people see them. In reality, one should look past the stereotypes.

The fact is when we see another person whom we are not familiar with, our brains automatically file them away under a category.

Just one glance can provide enough information for people to make quick and often incorrect assumptions.

Seeing a student surrounded by friends all the time, does not mean that they do not feel alone or depressed.

According to the World English Dictionary, a stereotype is defined as: a set of inaccurate, simplistic generalizations about a group that allows others to categorize them and treat them accordingly.

This means that when someone is calling a group of students “preps” for wearing Hollister brand clothing, or “emo” because they wear mostly dark colors and listen to a certain style of music, they are treating them by what they see at just a simple glimpse of their life.

Even if stereotyping people is bad, every so often these premature assumptions could very much be true. Not everyone is a nice person; occasionally people will come across someone who is exactly how they predicted. Don’t let an experience like this change your point of view though, confirming your prediction always will be beneficial.

From personal experience I am aware that someone that appears to be really weird or too cool to talk to, can truly be nice and someone that could be a great friend.

Having a different variety of people as friends are what make life interesting. Judging people before you get a chance to know them is a missed opportunity.


Columns, Danielle Rehor

Need for patriotism grows

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By Danielle Rehor

Acoustic Thoughts

What is patriotism? If you are anything like me, you cannot even spell patriotism. Sad, but true. Perhaps patriotism, to you, means pride in your country, maybe devotion in a cause. In my opinion, patriotism is the act of supporting your homeland. It’s a part of you, and should make you want to change it for the better.

I do not know if you remember how old you were or even what year it occurred, but I know you remember where you were when you heard the towers had been hit. I was in my first- grade class. I didn’t even know where the twin towers were at the time. I remember wondering why my teacher suddenly left the class and gave us busy work. Then later on in the day we watched the news channel, and had a moment of silence.

This event causing great patriotism was Sept. 11. When a disaster this momentous occurs, it brings a nation closer together. We mourned together, prayed together, rebuilt together and got stronger together.

So why is that not the case now? Don’t give poor excuses like the economy or our government. It does not bother me if you do not particularly care for something about our country. Believe me, I am the same way at times. But, I do believe as a whole our country’s patriotism is greatly lacking.

We live in a country that has been blessed beyond belief. Whenever I think of Sept. 11, it makes me reconsider all I have. This country is safer than a lot of places, we have a trustworthy government and a place I can sleep without worries. It’s going to be our generation’s nation soon. Our generation is the future of America. It’s our responsibility to see what is coming down the pike and do something.

We are in an economic crisis. Yeah? There was one in the 30s. Are we going to all starve and die? Nope, I am not planning on it anyway. We are going to struggle through, make it, survive, and then prosper.

Our nation needs to be restored back to a humble, hardworking yet proud country, just like in the 50s. We had just been on the winning side of WWII. We were in some economic trouble, yes. But we were proud of the soldiers that had fought and died fighting for our country. We were ready to start fresh and be better than ever.

We are not in the best of times economically and socially speaking, but we need to stand up for our government, back them up even if you do not always support their ways. It is a matter of pure respect.

We should respect our leaders, even if we cannot stand them. Probably a hard pill for most of us to swallow. I know you are thinking, ‘Well if I don’t like them I’m not going to give them the time of day.’ But we have to play the hand of cards we are given, even if that means shooting for the moon.

There are always going to be good guys and bad guys. Leaders are always going to make some bad decisions. This doesn’t mean we give up and scorn our country. We strive to be proud Americans with pride for our country.

Here are a few songs to get your patriotic blood flowing and inspire you to become more loyal today.

  • “Made in America” by Toby Keith
  • “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” by Alan Jackson
  • “American Soldier” by Toby Keith
  • “God Bless the U.S.A” by Lee Greenwood
  • “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” by Lee Greenwood
  • “Where the Stars and Stripes And the Eagle Fly” by Aaron Tippin
Editorials, Forum

Never forgotten?

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Graphic by Chase Palmer

After the Sept. 11 attacks, one phrase could be seen everywhere. It was plastered on bumper stickers, printed on patriotic t-shirts, and could be found at memorials across the country. That phrase was a promise: we will never forget.

On Sunday it will have been 10 years since we made that promise, but can America really say we never forgot?

Yes, television specials that analyze every aspect of the event will be everywhere, terrorism is sure to be a hot topic on all news channels, and President Obama is bound to make a speech addressing the attacks, but what will everyone else do?

At FC there will not be an assembly in remembrance of the 366 servicemen who lost their lives saving others or the nearly 3,000 victims of the attacks. The only attention the day will receive will be a moment of silence before the announcements.

In a survey done by Rasmussen Reports in September 2009, 49 percent of Americans said their fellow statesmen had already forgotten about the attacks.

Obviously, the day has not been forgotten in the manner that someone forgets where they put their keys, but many would rather forget about that day than remember it or discuss it.

For many, Sept. 11 is a reminder of just how vulnerable our country really is, and is therefore more convenient to forget than to keep fresh in our minds.

To remember that day means to remember the chaos and the lack of control we had over the events taking place on our own doorstep.

Although the topic may be difficult for some to discuss, it is a necessity. It is the responsibility of all who experienced Sept. 11 first hand to share their stories and memories of that tragic day with the next generation.

Sept. 11 should not be pushed to the side. It is a crucial event in our nation’s history and culture, and its effects can be seen anywhere from the New York skyline to airport security.

Instead of labeling it as a painful memory, Sept. 11 should be remembered not just to honor those who died, but to honor what makes our country what it is today.

We all know what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, but what will you do on Sept. 11, 2011?


Columns, Forum

Bucket list provides goal

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By Meghan Poff

I'm Just Saying

reck·less [rek-lis]  –adjective -utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action; without caution; careless; how the cool kids roll (usually followed by of ): to be reckless of danger.

I am not reckless.

I am boring. Annoying. Irritating. Some might even say platitudinous.

I’m the person who won’t even answer your text during class because I know I’ll get caught.

That is seriously lame. At the rate I’m going, I better start buying cats to prepare myself for a pathetic lonely life.

But then I realized, hey maybe if I start now, I might actually have friends. Who my mom doesn’t have to pay to hang out with me; a radical concept. Because for now, these are my “friends.”

Friend 1: “So anyway, I was telling Meghan that…”

Friend 2: “Omg Meghan Poff?  She is so monotonous, have you ever noticed that?”

Friend 1: I know, I honestly just hate myself every time I have to talk to her. But her mom pays good money so I struggle through it.”

Me: “Hey, umm guys. I’m standing right here.”

And so the bucket list was born. But not the usual cliché, “Give money to charity, see a national monument, bike across the country.” I already did all that stuff. And besides, something tells me that the lady at Yellowstone National Park wearing the neon fanny pack is not very reckless.

So I thought of every cool thing I have always wanted to do and made it into a list of about 100. Then I took out everything too embarrassing or inappropriate and it left me with about 15.

If all goes according to plan, maybe someone might actually text me back on the weekends. I have it all planned out in my head.

Friend: “Ugh, okay, I replied what do you want?”

Me: (A few hours later) “Oh sorry I couldn’t text you back right away. I was busy.”

Friend: “Doing what?”

Me: “Stuff. Crazy stuff.”

I worked out the times, and I’ll put that text conversation at about three hours total. That is a new record for me by about two hours and forty-five minutes.

I feel like this bucket list thing is really going to open some big doors for me.

So now, if I go off to college and still end up socially awkward and weird, at least I can say I tried. I’m going to have to make up some stories though. I don’t want all the cool kids  think I’m weird.

I think it’s going to be a good year.


The Bucket List
1.  Drive a Barbie Jeep through a drive-through
2. Mud wrestling
3. Cover myself in glue then roll in colored glitter
4. Free hug day
5. Hit on every guy I see at Wal-Mart at 3 a.m.
6. Not get on Facebook for three weeks
7. Fail something
8. Go up to the hottest guy in the school and ask him to marry me
9. Write a message in a bottle, leave it on the shelf at Target, and see who replies
10. Write a complaint letter to a place I’ve never bought something from to see if I’ll get some free stuff
11. Follow a stranger around for an hour
12. Make 50 grilled cheese sandwiches
13. Go mudding on a skateboard
14. Walk up to someone at a party and kiss them
15. Be nice to everyone I talk to for an entire day
16. Give up sarcasm for a week
17. Prank call 100 people
18. Jaywalk in front of a police station. Oh yes.
19. Glue money to the street, hide behind a bush, and when someone tries to pick it up, jump out and yell PSYCH!
20. Laugh at everything anyone says for a whole day
21. Not be a friendless loser

Columns, Forum

Just a number

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By Kimberly Humphries

It is not uncommon.  Every weekend junior and senior guys arrive at freshmen girls’ houses to take them out on a dinner and movie date while the junior and senior girls opt for a more relaxed night in with their college guys.

I am one of those girls.  I have never dated anyone less than two years older than me.  It is not a rule I have; that is just the way it has always seemed to work out.  I honestly could not tell you why.  Part of me thinks maybe it is the maturity level guys gain as they grow older, but then another part of me thinks maybe it is because I have grown up with most of the guys my own age, so that makes it difficult for me to think of them as anything more than friends.

Whatever the reason, clearly I am not the only one that feels this way.  Every other day I am being overwhelmed by information of new couples.  Some couples have an age difference of barely a year, while other couples may have a five year age gap.  Everyone always has something to say about other people’s relationships and about how someone is too old or too young for their significant other, but where exactly is the line drawn that states what age difference is acceptable and what age difference is creepy?

I believe there is no line, no limit, and no rule that couples should be forced to follow in order to be considered socially acceptable.  If you are mature enough to drive a car, have a job, and maintain your school work, you are mature enough to decide who you date.  Often people will say, “Older guys only want one thing,” and sometimes, they’re right.  But often, that is not the case.

In any relationship, whether there is an age difference or not, both people should be aware of what the other’s intentions may be.  The outcome of any relationship will always be dictated by communication and maturity.  If you are mature enough to deal with an age difference, and if you are well aware of the other person’s past and can accept their flaws and mistakes, then you are mature enough to decide for yourself if you want to get involved with that person or not.

There are some exceptions to my age difference rules, of course.  And I turn to my favorite social network, Twitter, to help me fully get my point across.  While scrolling through my Twitter trends, I see that #shestooyoungforyoubro is making its way to the top, and I must admit that many of them make valid points. If you take her on a date to a restaurant and the waiter gives her a kid’s menu #shestooyoungforyoubro.  If her age can still be found on a clock #shestooyoungforyoubro.  And if she does not know what MySpace is then #shesDEFINITELYtooyoungforyoubro.

Other than those few exceptions, most to all relationships with age differences are acceptable.  That is not to say they will work out, because let’s be honest, the person we date in high school probably is not going to be the person we will spend the rest of our lives with, whether there is an extreme age difference or not.

All we can do is enjoy our high school experience with the people that make us happy, and try not worry what anyone else thinks.