The James Logan Courier

By Mark Anthony Rolo
(MCT)

Every year, I usually try to keep a low profile when Thanksgiving comes around. As an American Indian, one has to be careful about admitting to the guilty pleasures of enjoying a turkey feast.

White liberals are shocked to learn that an Indian could celebrate a holiday that is essentially a funeral for them — "You're commemorating your own cultural death?" White conservatives like to use the holiday to make mention that "Indians are the ones who should be thankful for all we've done to civilize them."

Yes, considering that I spend most of the year thinking and writing about the plight of my Indian people, Thanksgiving is my day of rest. And considering what a lousy cook I am, imagine my delight last year when I discovered "turkey in a bag" for under 20 bucks. It's loaded with seasoning and does its own basting right inside the bag. Just pop it in the oven and in a few hours, juicy turkey is served.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service (MCT)

The following editorial appeared in Newsday on Wednesday, Nov. 14:
The papal style of Pope Benedict XVI is more low-key than his predecessor's, but he has the same moral authority: the power to lead and to speak for more than 1 billion Catholics. That makes his trip to New York and Washington next April something to be anticipated eagerly.

Pope John Paul II was a unique amalgam of actor, playwright, scholar and canny player of the geopolitical game. Benedict is a highly accomplished and thoroughly orthodox theologian, a talented pianist and, like John Paul, a prolific writer. Now, with a few powerful, well-crafted words, he can make a major contribution to international affairs.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service (MCT)

The following editorial appeared in the San Jose Mercury News on Sunday, Nov. 11:

Al Gore won well-deserved glory with the Nobel Peace Prize for raising awareness of the threat of climate change — a threat that President Bush largely chooses to ignore. Now it's up to Congress to be the architect of U.S. strategy for dealing with this planetary peril.

Congress finally is advancing global warming legislation this fall. The package needs to be both strong and broad, at last moving the United States toward a position of world leadership.

By Krystal Henderson, Courier News Editor

Where are the bright minds that our parents sacrificed their youth for? Many students at Logan know what it's like to grow up in a single parent home, or in a economically disadvantaged family. When we were told as children that we could do anything. When did we decide that we just want to hang out at the mall and watch Paris Hilton on TMZ?

I am furious with my generation.

By David Collins, Opinion Editor

I must say, before I begin, that this column is not intended to slander or disrespect any religion or belief, or those without them.

I have found in my observance of humanity that people hold certain beliefs by which they live. Whether these beliefs are results of culture, religion or personal growth, they are held in high esteem by their adherants. In this I find only one issue: When some are a part of a religious group or system of beliefs, they tend to follow said group blindly.

This, of course, is not an issue I find in all believers, but in many.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service (MCT)

The following editorial appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Tuesday, Nov. 6:

When "CSI: Miami's" Lt. Horatio Caine cocks his head, removes his sunglasses for the nth time in the episode and utters some hyper-cheesy line like, "Evidence ... as always ... will speak for itself," it's hard not to scream at the television: "Who writes this stuff?"

Members of the Writers Guild of America do. But the television and film writers won't be crafting any new one-liners for Caine or any Hollywood or New York character — fictional or otherwise — in the short term.

By Krystal Henderson, Courier Staff Writer

A few things at Logan bore me: the lunch lines, the hallways during passing period, and the gross Public Displays of Affection (PDA) by couples.

It's time to draw the line between puppy love and soft porn. Now, don't get me wrong; I understand that love is in the air and some people can only see their "boo" at school, but that isn't any reason for the obscene groping that goes on in the 500's during break.

For clarification purposes, here are some things that cross the line of PDA:

By Gabriel Hinojoza, Courier Correspondent

Recently I’ve begun to notice how easy the truth is to find, if you have the desire to look for it. I believe that this desire is something that many people lack, unfortunately. There are so many problems with the world right now that it is staggering, but most people seem content to simply ignore them or admit that are terrible and do nothing.

This ignorance and foolishness brings a feeling of comfort and safety and makes it much easier to get through the day, but it breeds even more problems. The “I’ll fix it later” mentality has caused countless problems, both historically and presently. I am writing to encourage students and others to get out and learn the truth for yourself and, because sooner or later you will be forced to step out of your protective shell and look at the world and by then it may be too late.

By Christine Surna Khayat, Courier Staff Writer

It’s 3:30 and Logan’s dismissal bell rings, releasing a rush of students out of their classrooms. Many of the students will head home, and others will attend a club or participate in another after school activity. Many, of the students, however, will end their school day only to begin their workday.

So how do students with jobs get all of their schoolwork done and work at their job, all without sacrificing any part of their education? It’s simple, actually--they just can’t.

By David Collins, Opinion Editor

If you are a frequent reader of the Collins Comment here on the Courier, you’ve read of my opinions of school and the various issues that I either disagree with or accept without complaint, but for this particular entry, I would like to take you “deeper into the rabbit hole”, if I may.

I’ve found in my years here at James Logan High, that these four years of adolescence are extremely difficult for many. It comes to a point for us to find ourselves for who we are, rather than who we pretended to be in middle school. For most students, they lose their identity in intermediate schooling because of the entry into adolescence. Their desire to fit in and find a place over-power’s their will of self-identification. When we come into high school, most begin to shed the image that was posted before, to become adults; parts of society.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service (MCT)

The following editorial appeared in the Kansas City Star on Wednesday, Oct. 24:

High tuition costs are forcing college students to work full-time jobs while taking classes, mortgage their futures with excessive loans, and defer their educations.

The College Board, which tracks financial trends in colleges and universities, has provided numbers to confirm what students and families already understood: The cost of college is handily outpacing inflation.

Much less clear to consumers and public officials is why education costs are continuing to climb so rapidly. Schools need to do a much better job of providing students, parents and the public with detailed accountings of how the institutions operate, and how tuition and tax dollars are spent.