Guns with Laws

The truth is out and our eyes are pried opened. Focusing on the very serious subject of guns, Michael Moore is able to put a humorous spin on his documentary type of film, “Bowling for Columbine”. He explores Americans views on gun laws and whether the ordinary citizen should be able to easily attain firearms and ammunition. It soon becomes obvious that although he is a bias film maker, Moore is not afraid to get out and do the dirty work of a thriving journalist. Short capturing clips give the viewers a dynamic view on guns. While using various techniques this film contains something for everyone. Contrasting his views on Americans and Canadians, he discovers that Canadians feel a lot safer in their communities than Americans. Hence they don’t feel the need to carry guns for protection like many of the Americans admit they did. Also based mostly in Colorado, Moore couldn’t miss the opportunity to include the infamous Columbine school shooting in his favour. Nearing the end Moore also gets together with two boys who have Kmart bullets imbedded into their bodies from the school shooting. Using the boys scarring he tries to convince Kmart to stop selling ammunition. 

Although most of the subjects he addresses are true, there were some aspects that seemed fictional. Moore crosses the border to interview multiple Canadians and he questions them about how safe they feel in their neighbourhood. He discovered that multiple people don't even feel the need to lock their doors. In the film there were clips of him opening random doors, and every single one opened. Thats not very realistic because there were probably multiple doors that didn't open which he didn't include in the film. But something Moore points are that make people start to wonder is that if Canadians also have millions of guns in Canada why are there still less shootings there compared to America? Canada is known to be a lot more peaceful than America and Moore wants explore the idea of why. He indicates that in the mean time Americans should start following the Canadians lead.

We have all heard of the devastating school shooting at Columbine. One day two male students decide to go into their school armed and shoot down the staff and students. Killing 12 students and one teacher they finish the massacre by taking their own lives. Interviewing the people closely associated with the two young men it still remains a mystery on why they committed such a horrible crime. But it was also very concerning how easily the two boys were able to buy fire arms and ammunition in America. Moore presses that it should be a lot harder so that something like that never happened again. Unfortunately it is noticeable that the trend is only growing. One would think that young innocent kids being murdered would be enough for the government to make these gun laws a lot stricter. 

Continuing with the school shooting, Moore meets two young boys who were shot at Columbine that day. They are forced to live their life everyday with those haunting bullets firmly embedded into their skin. The two who were shooting bought the bullets from Kmart. To try and make a change Moore travels to Kmart headquarters with the two boys. He wanted to talk with someone to stop Kmart from selling the types of bullets inside the students. At first he struggled to get anyones cooperation, but when he showed up with the media that all changed. Moore used to the two boys as models to almost guilt the workers of Kmart. At last Kmart agreed to immediately stop selling ammunition. 

Moore makes a very good point about how the gun laws are not strict enough in America. Maybe if ordinary citizens weren't able to obtain guns so easily, they wouldn't need their own guns to protect themselves from others with similar guns. Moore did a good job on deceiving the audience and pointing his fingers at Charlton Heston, the president of the NRA. Soon after the Columbine shooting the NRA, National Rifle Association, held their annual event in Colorado. The speeches shown in the film were portrayed to seem as if Heston was being very insensitive about the shootings, really the speeches were very unrelated. Also not mentioned in the film was the fact that Heston couldn't move the event so quickly by law. Although some clips are twisted to go in Moore’s favour, he still brings light to a growing matter in American society. 

The Dangerous New Paparazzi

You are what you share on the internet. This was not a problem a few years ago, but with the way social media has exploded recently it has become a very serious one. Emma Teitel explores the dangers of social media in her article “The New Paparazzi”. With our generation “obsessed with documenting its social life” it's no surprise that it's starting to become uncontrollable. She addresses her multiple concerns about this increasing problem. Teitel mentions that most of the pictures put up of an individual are put up by other people, and rarely with consent. Another subject she points out is that there are multiple people who “can keep track of someone’s life without them” being aware. Overall Teitel doesn't believe that this new paparazzi is a good influence. 

One of Teitel’s biggest scares of this new paparazzi is the amount of photos people put up of others. Although its untrue that “digital cameras have become house-party staples” most people do have phones with camera in them. So if you go out to any parties which most high school kids do, there is a very high chance of a photo of everyone going online. But it's the individual choice on whether the photo is going to be bad or good, or how bad it's going to be. Sometimes there are situations where the pictures are put up “without the [persons] consent.” This is a lot more dangerous now because of prospective schools and employers looking on these websites to check if these candidates are appropriate for the opportunity they are giving. High school kids are definitely the group of people most affected with this problem. But in this day and age it is very rare to meet someone who hasn't been to a party at least once. We are a social generation. We just have to be careful on what kind of social image is portrayed of us. 

But what happens when those pictures are put up online? There are millions of people who can view them. The scary part is that we don't know who is viewing them and what their intentions are. Some students refer to this as “creeping and stalking.” They may think it’s just done to temporarily admire the person but unfortunately there are definitely people who do it for very wrong reasons. Out of all the people on the internet more than not leave their profiles open for anyone to view. Although these social networks were made to connect people easier, they aren't “used to socialize, but to survey” people instead. The fact that one picture posted years ago can be viewed by a stranger half way across the world isn't right. And because of the easy access news about a person portraying a fake personality to gain the trust of an innocent social network user is heard way too often. Creeping someone on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter has now become the new dangerous trend. 

These issues that Tietel has pointed out are without a doubt problems with the new popularity of social networks. The new paparazzi are everywhere but are ordinary high school kids really this lethal? Some of the arguments in the article were exaggerated. Kids are now more aware of the dangers of social media, and with that information they are a lot more careful with what they put up. For an example if they want to post a picture and someone has a cup of alcohol in their hand they would crop it out. They are aware that absolutely anyone can view what they post. Privacy setting help somewhat but Teitel believes that kids only care about “privacy once its has been violated.” But even with all the privacy settings on if someones really determined to get onto another profile they will find a way. Another growing problem that is without a solution is the predators lurking on the internet for an unsuspecting victim. It’s a scary to think that someone can view our pictures, posts and thoughts without the person ever knowing that they exist. This new paparazzi are just kids being social who rarely have bad intentions. Maybe the picture they posted of the passed out kid was horrible but it was most likely done just to be funny, not to hurt anyone. Everyday more and more people are becoming aware of the dangers of social media, so hopefully soon no one will have to fear this new paparazzi. 

A Different Type of Poetry

When your English teacher starts droning on about doing the poetry unit, most of you expect the next couple weeks to be some of the most boring. Who wants to sit there and read about a 50 year old poem? Not me. But the worst is when they give you a really confusing poem, using words you haven't ever heard before and then ask you what it means. But did you ever think that its possible for poetry not to be boring? Poetry that is entertaining. Poetry that is making a point in society. Poetry that is just outright funny. You didn't think that was possible right? But thats right folks there is such a thing. Sara Kay, Phil Kaye, Denice Frohman, and Suli Breaks are all spoken word poets that prove this with numerous witty poems.

Origin Story by Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye is a hilarious "explanation about whats going on" between the two friends. Having way too many coincidences they both were very bewildered when they met. This poem is a short story outlining the similarities between the two but how they are also so different. Both with Japanese and Jewish backgrounds, and both sets of parents had kids named Sarah and Phil. They actually both also went to the same camp without noticing each other. Not related and never have dated the two were just best friends. They express how they will always be there to support each other, be "woman enough to be the best man" and to "let [him] borrow [her] cousin" when he remains dateless. They vow that they “won’t let go” of each other ever and be the best friend they can. 

School, lets be honest we all dread it most of the time. But what if someone told you that you could be educated and successful without school. We have been mislead to believe that “to get a good job, you need a good degree” which you can only get after numerous, draining years of school. Suli Breaks explains in his poem “I Will Not Let An Exam Result Decide My Fate” how school is extremely unfair and that it is ridiculous that your future is based on a couple of assignments and one jam packed exam. Agreeably “we all have different abilities, thought processes, experiences and genes.” Breaks criticizes the society “that tells you abortion is wrong” and then “looks down on teenage parents.” This is the same society who determines what makes a person successful. And the government promotes the “importance of higher education” and then “[increases] tuition fees every…year.” This poem expresses the passionate opinion of Breaks, he believes in the “‘failures’ and ‘dropouts’” and how they don't need school to “[follow] their dreams.” 

This ridiculous topic has been so controversial over the past few years and there is absolutely no point. Who someone chooses to be with isn't anybody’s business unless your one of the two in the relationship. Denice Frohman addresses “all the straight people” in her poem “Dear Straight People”. But seriously consider this, why are these people concerned abut something that doesn't affect them in the slightest, other than occasionally viewing a little bit of PDA. People say “that [gay people] make [others] uncomfortable” but Denise points out that in that situation she or the other people become uncomfortable as well. It is unfair to assume that they gays and lesbians are the ones who are wrong. Why is it so bad to be different? Straight people show affection to their significant others freely but that is a “luxury [gay people] do not have yet.” It is truly unfortunate that this is still an issue today, but people like Denice are standing up to make the change. 

I Have a Dream

        One day I will find courage. One day I will pick up the phone and do it. One day I will make the plan final. The thought scares me very much, almost to the point where I put the phone back down. 

It’s alway been the same but changing it seems so exciting. But what if it takes a turn for the worse? What if everyone else disagrees with me? But what if this is what my heart desires the most?

Eventually, with a deep breath I will take the plunge. That day might be tomorrow, that day might be in many years, but one day I will. Closing my eyes I try my hardest to imagine what it would be like. Everyday I ask people about their opinions on the subject. I wonder if it’s the right time, maybe waiting for a while is better. 

I hope that I will make the right choice. I hope that I and everybody around me agrees with the decision that I make, although they already show some doubt. I hope that there are multiple things that I can do once I achieve it. But I fear that it will be the wrong decision. 

Last year it was just a vague idea. Last month I started to do some research. Last week I spent endless hours trying to make a final decision. I have a dream. I have a dream to change the way things are currently. I dream about drastically cutting my hair.

Cold Dread

My fatigued eyes slowly focused on the line of words that I’ve read over several times during these last few minutes. Trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible, I read it over one last time. All the other students and I were dreading to hear the forbidding words, “You may now enter.” We quickly unfolded our sore bodies after hunching over our books like mother bears protecting their cubs. Collecting my belongings, I felt nauseous as acid created a burning path up my esophagus. I swallowed it down in a gulp along with any confidence I had. My bloodshot eyes burned with tears as I realized the horrible mistake I had made. I should have been studying last night instead of procrastinating. The icy fingers of AC wrapped around my exhausted body while I walked into the gym. The intimidating rows of desks with multiple teachers milling around filled me to the brim with fear. My pounding heart started stomping out of my chest as I approached the desk that would hold me captive for the next several hours. I saw the thick white booklet patiently waiting on the corner. It was my final assessment. Simran Toor was officially stamped on it to verify that this was the piece of paper that would affect my life forever. A cold sweat broke out over my entire body and my clammy hands were barley able to hold my shaking pencil. Through this pencil I had to display the intelligence that I had learned in these past 4 months. Suddenly, I could not remember anything. My mind was blank. The freezing metal met my stiff back as I hesitantly took a seat. Closing my tired eyes, I slowly collected a deep, refreshing breath. A last observation flitted across my thoughts before I started the exam: I am really cold.

The Routine

The alarm clock’s unappealing sound blares in their ears, ripping away the summer sunshine, to replace it with harsh florescent lights. The gleaming red and white floors reflect the hopeful faces of students. This is it. It's their final year, new goals are established, and they are motivated to make the results different from last year. The wide hallway floor is polished and prepared for the onslaught of students scurrying to their classes. But day after day the repetitive early mornings and late nights finishing the homework wear the students down. Very similar to the floor that is trampled on everyday by the students. And instead of filling their cars to the brim with students to go grab food during breaks, they sit shivering in Killick and Hogg’s freezing classrooms, doing everything they can to pass the class. As the year continues to pass, the motivation that was alive the first day has slowly disintegrated, and is no longer visible in the now dull floors. Now the only thing getting them through the year is that it will be finished soon. They can go back to late nights of unmentionable adventures, and relaxing on the scorching sand of the beach. But after summer break, there isn’t a high school to go back to for them; the students aren’t in the repetitive cycle anymore, unlike the floor. Come September the floors are being polished again like every year. The routine starts again. 

Who Defines Me?

"I've always liked the time before dawn,” said by Brain Andreas, “because there is no one around to remind me who I'm supposed to be so it's easier to remember who I am.” It’s hard to capture the whole essence of a person with only a few short sentences. But a couple characters seem to relate to Simran better than others. Her quiet and shy personality greatly reflects Piglet’s from Winnie the Pooh. He is a character full of fear and anxiety, but with his large group of friends to support him, he is able to overcome most of them. Someone similar yet completely different is Glenda from the show One Tree Hill. Although a minor character she impacted Simran greatly with her words. She regretfully admits that she is going to miss high school and unfortunately it was entirely her own fault. She wished that she would have tried harder and not let the fear of looking like an idiot stop her from taking all opportunities presented to her. Simran is also very empathetic towards Anna, the energetic and a lot less than graceful younger sister from the movie Frozen. Although Simran is not as fearless as the character they both are hopeless romantics but stupidly naive. And no matter the situation they are put into, they try their best to be optimistic . Another similarity is that fact that they both are younger sisters. Always trying to impress or at least live up to their older sister who seems perfect no matter what she does. Though cartoons and characters are very relatable almost every girl understands Jennifer Lawrence including Simran. Tripping, falling, and occasionally forgetting to put on deodorant, the star in the popular movie series, The Hunger Games, repeatedly reveals how ordinary she really is. They both have times where they don't think through everything before going ahead with it. Sometimes this leads to some of the best experiences, but occasionally it also comes with big consequences. She is very clumsy, very dorky and very comparable to Simran. Some see her as the timid girl, others see her as a loud free-spirited, and a select few have seen her as both. Though these characters relate very well to her, she will always be a little different because no one else is exactly like Simran Toor.