Opinion

Award shows are not important
Marina Gephart

And the Grammy goes to… Adele. Again. Honestly, how many award shows are out there that, rather than choosing the most deserving artist, seem to salute the same person or group again and again? Too many.

While I have no reservations about recognizing a job well done—everybody loves praise—I have a serious issue with a monopoly, and that’s exactly what a select group of singers and actors have over Hollywood and consequentially, the nation.

Over the past three years, Robert Pattinson has won nine MTV Movie Awards. Despite the unwavering hold the Twilight Saga has over the world, MTV had to shove more Edward Cullen down our throats. Pattinson’s underwhelming acting didn’t deserve one award, let alone nine. And we rewarded this notion by collectively sharing the moment and tuning in to MTV to watch it all go down.

While I enjoy a romantic vampire movie as much as the next guy, it seems unethical to award the most popular actor with award after award (especially with a guy like Pattinson, whose fan base relies massively on his looks and British accent).

This sheer unoriginality plays out at every awards show. I’ve created a fool-proof method to predicting the winners: look at those nominated in each category, choose the most popular nominee, and proceed to revel in psychic glory when they all win.

There are exceptions to the rule; Meryl Streep, with 26 Golden Globe nominations and 17 Academy Award nominations, wins an award at almost every award show she attends due to her vast record of successful movies and moving performances. Overall, though, young, popular actors and singers have increasingly drawn awards.

Such coveted awards should remain exclusive and special and not be exploited by such stars as Lady Gaga, a one-trick, pop music pony who, in the few years she has been famous, has reeled in nine American Music Award nominations and hundreds of other awards worldwide.

Why would we, as viewers, the fuel to the fire, want to feed into this madness by watching these shows? They’re always the same, regenerated programs of lackluster performances, embarrassing clothes, undeserved awards and notoriously bad presenters. Not to forget, these awards are going to mostly rich, spoiled and sometimes drug-abusing individuals who don’t deserve the public’s support. These awards aren’t for us, they’re for celebrities, and I don’t understand why we think we connect to them so much.
So my proposal is this: stop this award show insanity. These shows may remain, but please, let’s stop airing them. Give the deserving celebrities their awards and let us move on with our lives.

Award shows are important
By: Sarah Johanson

Award shows were originally created to recognize all the hard work different artist put into their careers. From the Academy Awards to the Grammy’s, award shows are a time to show the public how hard people in the entertainment industry work. The public only sees the glamour and end product; they don’t see the work that goes into making a song, album, or movie. Award shows inform the public of that hard work.

Publicity is always good for an artist. At the Grammy’s, there have been several occasions where a random band or artist beat out huge musicians. At the 2012 Grammy’s, the winner for “Best New Artist” was a band called Bon Iver. A lot of people had never heard this band but because it beat out Nicki Minaj, The Band Perry, Skrillex, and J. Cole, the public was interested. Certain award shows are not fan voted, which is great for artists that sometimes go unnoticed.

It’s hard to think, “Oh wow! The set design in this movie is great!” while you’re watching a movie. These shows point those details out to the public and show what went into making a movie. The actors and actresses are always being recognized for a great film because it’s not hard to miss them while watching. The people behind the scenes, such as the directors, producers, set designers, and make-up artists, are the ones who make all the magic happen. These artists don’t get as much credit as they should, which is why these award shows are so great…the people in the background are noticed.

My favorite part about loving music and loving bands is seeing them succeed. In middle school I really liked a band that I saw play at a local fair. I even got the chance to meet them a few times. A few years after I met them, they were performing at the Grammy’s with Stevie Wonder. For a lot of bands and artists, performing at the Grammy’s or winning a Grammy is the pinnacle of success. It’s reassurance that they’re doing something right.

It was really inspiring for me to see a band go from playing a fair to playing at the Grammy’s. It shows the world that hard work and dedication pays off.

The humor and controversies that come along with watching award shows are always a plus. Although controversies may not be a good thing for an artist, they’re always interesting and sometimes funny to see happen. Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMA’s made headlines for weeks.

Opening monologues from hosts are ones for the books. A lot of the time they make fun of celebrities in attendance and sometimes throw in a song and dance. Picking a host for an awards show can make or break the night.

Not only is it fun seeing who’s considered the best of the best, but these shows have tributes to important people who have changed the industry. Michael Jackson, legend. Whitney Houston, legend. The tributes aren’t always for people who passed away but for people who inspire others. The tribute to Britney Spears at the 2011 Video Music Awards had other musicians raving about her. Lady Gaga even said that Spears was her inspiration while she was trying to break out into the music industry.

Whether you like awards shows or not, you’re not required to watch them. For a lot of people it’s fun to see the fashion and the performances. Other people respect artists

Ashley Davis
Opinion Editor

A video recently went viral made by an organization known as Invisible Children, called KONY 2012. In 2006, a documentary film was made by three college students that formed an organization called Invisible Children. The video attempted to shed light on the human rights abuse by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) also known as the ‘rebels’ in Uganda. Children are abducted by the LRA, forced to become soldiers and kill. The documentary depicts the abduction of children who are used as child soldiers by Joseph Kony and the LRA, which he leads.

Now, the Invisible Children Organization has produced a short 30-minute documentary called KONY 2012 that sends a message of urgency. It asks all people to take action against Joseph Kony, by ‘making him famous’.

Joseph Kony is the leader of the LRA and is responsible for the deaths of over 30,000 people. He is also wanted by an international court for crimes against humanity. The documentary informs the public about who Kony is, and what exactly people can do to help in capturing, and arresting him for his crimes. Their website says, “We are advocating for the arrest of Joseph Kony so that he can be tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a precedent for future war criminals. The goal of KONY 2012 is for the world to unite to see Kony arrested and prosecuted for his crimes against humanity.”

People are urged to share the video through social networks, and it has had millions of views in just a short period of time. With all of this publicity, controversy has arisen. Many people are questioning the organization and its motives and practicality but the status of its final success is yet to be determined.
The organization is also hosting a night called ‘Cover the night’ which is set to happen on April 20, 2012, on all surfaces in every city. During Cover the Night from 9 o’clock – 12 o’clock at night, people will fill the streets and cover every public building with posters and stickers of Kony’s face, in order to ‘make him famous’.

On the Invisible Children website www.kony2012.com people can pledge their support, buy kits with posters and stickers, and write letters to famous celebrities and politicians in power, asking them to help raise awareness. This is all in hopes of getting the government to take further action against Kony, capture him and make him serve his time for the crimes he has committed. This is considered the first step towards a big change for Uganda and for the world in its entirety.

To learn more about KONY 2012 visit their website:
www.kony2012.com

They ask for participation by doing these five things:
1. Watch the video titled Kony 2012
2. Pledge your support on their website
3. Write letters to famous celebrities and politicians asking them to help raise awareness
4. Spread the word (through Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr…etc).
5. Participate in your local ‘Cover The Night’

Sources:
www.invisiblechildren.com
www.kony2012.com

Ashley Davis
Opinion Editor

Many of us at Heritage are eighteen or about to turn eighteen. Conveniently for these people, the elections are coming up. Any U.S. citizen eighteen years or older can vote for local representatives and the president of the United States. For standard registration deadlines, applications or updates must be postmarked or submitted no later than the Monday four weeks before Election Day. Election Day is on November 6, 2012.

Though we are given the opportunity to choose who we want to see in office, many of our youth choose not to vote. The importance of voting, however, is tremendous. Every person eighteen years or older should register to vote and let their voice be heard.

It is up to the people of our generation to make decisions that will better the future of all citizens. By choosing to disregard our opportunities to vote, we are essentially disregarding our freedom. Exercising our rights is what allows us to keep our rights. Voting is one of the most important and direct ways we can affect the government, and express our opinions. It’s an extension of our beloved Freedom of speech.

Ms. Haberl, the CWI and AP Government teacher says, “It’s important for everyone to be civically engaged. Voting forces us to look at what’s happening and what’s going on in the world. You need to learn about the government if you’re going to be in it and take some control; if you don’t vote you have no right to complain. We need to be educated in order to have a better government and move towards a more perfect union.”

If you want to continue to live in a world full of opportunities and freedoms, it is important to actively participate and educate yourself in what is going on in the government offices. Exercise your right to vote, and make the change you wish to see happen in our government.

To register to vote in Washington, or to learn more about it, visit:
wei.secstate.wa.gov/olvrsite

For more information on registration and voting deadlines visit:
http://www.sos.ga.gov/elections/election_dates.htm

Marisa Love
Online Editor

Our school has become a prison, like we are all criminals with nowhere to go, like we are hopelessly trapped with no escape. It seems as if students’ opinions don’t matter to the staff; they teach us democracy but they don’t abide by it. Well whether my opinion matters to them or not, I am giving it.

School is supposed to be a place to receive an education, but there should be an element of fun while we’re here. “Tutorial was better when it was with lunch, now it feels like we can’t go anywhere,” says Sophomore Haley Williams. We shouldn’t feel imprisoned like many Heritage students admit to feeling. The new tutorial schedule is a prime example. Now, with two separate lunches there is also a separate tutorial time. Students who already had tutorial are indifferent, but to the other 900 students, this time is tedious. Students are confined to the Den, with the option of escaping to the computer lab or the library. Wandering the hallways is strictly off limits, which is understandable, except how are we supposed to travel from one area to the other? Were we supposed to receive magical powers and I just never got the memo?

More than a few students have had the complaint that while trying to set out to the library, security has stopped them and instructed them to go back to the Den. In the security guards’ defense, how dare these students try to walk from the Den to the library? This is preposterous; students must be trying to start a revolution.

Security says we only have the first couple minutes of tutorial to get where we want to go and we must remain there the rest of the time. A majority of students going to the library just want to check out a book, usually taking 10 or 15 minutes. They don’t want to be stuck there the whole thirty minutes; Students who aren’t officially in tutorial have earned the time to spend with their friends, so why should they be forced to stay in one place? Apparently it’s unreasonable to desire time to check out a book and hang out with friends (even though the free time is well-deserved).

The students trying to go to the computer lab are also in a similar situation. Their only opportunity to use the computer lab is at the beginning of tutorial. Staff claims the St. Helens labs are opened for business, but many students who go there during tutorial without a tutorial pass are being turned away. So students who get grades can’t study too? This leaves an overcrowded den, an overcrowded library, and unhappy students.
The school got rid of one lunch because of overcrowding, but have now recreated the problem by limiting the places we can go. Tutorial isn’t supposed to seem like a punishment, but the way the new schedule is, those of us who don’t have mandatory tutorial are punished. They have made our school like a prison. It doesn’t appear that many issues are being solved with our new schedule. In fact, it has seemed to create more problems and unhappiness among many students.

Tyler Holbert
WebMaster

Occupy Wall Street protestors are now being listed as Domestic Terrorists as of December 5, 2011. The groups that are also placed on this list include Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. Well we all know that Al-Qaeda is a terrorist organization but now protesters are being considered Terrorist? It’s
true that protesters can get rowdy, but being considered terrorist it is just pointless.

There’s a difference between the protesters and the terrorist. Al-Qaeda is a terrorist group that causes violence and kills innocent people. The protesters are holding signs, camping out and doing what they can to prove a point and show the society what they stand for, without really using violence. I question why they are now on a list with terrorist organizations. I think this is crazy, and a little extreme.

When you are placed on the list for terrorism and known as terrorist it mean you have caused trouble and made violence and have hurt/injured innocent people. It’s true that the protesters have caused trouble by blocking off ports, but how can the government call that terrorism? I do agree why the government is taking action but to list a group of civilians as terrorist is outrageous.

The United States has begun a deployment of 20,000 troops in the United States to deal with the civil unrest terror attacks and economic collapse. That has been occurring over the past month such as the terminals being blacked in Portland causing $400-10,000$ dollars in losses to companies such as Nike and Columbia Sportswear because of their shipments not coming in. Steps should be taken to prevent the protesters from causing trouble, but they are far from terrorist, and it is unfair to call them such.

Marisa Love
Online Editor
It’s always nice to have someone to call yours, someone that makes you feel special and that makes your heart race. Some students have become desperate for this feeling and try to meet people on Facebook. This is an outrage, not only is it desperate but it’s dangerous.

When people date someone over Facebook, often it is long distance and they never meet. Some people can handle long distant relationships but, dating someone you have never met is risky. They could be some old pervert or a serial killer; they could even steal your identity. It’s not as if they are going to tell you if they are old and a pervert. They are going to say that they are your age and probably some cheesy pick up lines to draw you in. Most people that choose to date someone they don’t know are desperate and will fall for practically anything.

Other than the dangers in dating someone you haven’t met, it’s simply unrealistic. The feelings that people are so desperate to feel, aren’t usually there. It seems as if when dating people you haven’t met, most people try to rush it. They say I love you after just days, before they truly know the other person. Which they might never know; you can never really know someone if you never get the opportunity to meet them.

When you meet someone it’s different then over text message or over Facebook, their true colors shine. You get a feeling of their personality, if they are funny, nice, mean, outgoing, sweet etc. These are things you might not otherwise be able to tell just through messaging.

A great thing about being in a relationship is the feeling you get when you see the other person, and when you hold their hand and hug them. It’s an irreplaceable feeling that you will never get from some stranger you meet on Facebook. You will never be able to trust someone you meet on Facebook; they could have 10 other face book relationships. They could have a real life girlfriend and just want some extra attention from you, and you will never know.

So the next time some stranger tries to add you or talk to you on Facebook, delete them, or ignore them. You never know who they could be, even if they are decent, Facebook relationships are never good. They never work and they are dangerous.

By Ashley Davis
Opinion Editor
Earth hour is the annual event that is happening this year on March 31. It is considered the world’s largest single campaign for the planet. On this day everyone is asked to turn off their lights for one hour, at 8:30 pm. The point of earth hour is to unite everyone in taking steps toward change and towards a better planet.

Across the world we are running out of resources. We are depleting the world of animals, forests, energy and water. Because of this, the climate is changing and things are heading into a dark path. Earth hour is one way anyone can be a part of a collective step towards preserving what we still have left.

Everyone should participate in Earth hour. It is one day, for one hour, and will make a huge difference. Some people may argue that turning off all of their lights for one hour, is not going to make any difference. That’s like saying your vote doesn’t count. One individual cannot make the changes we need to see on their own, but several individuals working together, is what we need to see in order to see a change. If one person doesn’t participate, that’s one less link in our chain to help save the only thing that is keeping us alive. As the WWF website says, “It’s about giving people a voice and working together to create a better future for our planet.”

To be a part of this movement you can visit www.worldwildlife.org and pledge your support by signing up to participate. If you do not sign up, of course you can still participate by turning off all of your non essential lights at 8:30 pm, on March 31st.
Be a part of this movement, and show the world you care.

By Ashley Davis
Opinion Editor
Earth hour is the annual event that is happening this year on March 31. It is considered the world’s largest single campaign for the planet. On this day everyone is asked to turn off their lights for one hour, at 8:30 pm. The point of earth hour is to unite everyone in taking steps toward change and towards a better planet.

Across the world we are running out of resources. We are depleting the world of animals, forests, energy and water. Because of this, the climate is changing and things are heading into a dark path. Earth hour is one way anyone can be a part of a collective step towards preserving what we still have left.

Everyone should participate in Earth hour. It is one day, for one hour, and will make a huge difference. Some people may argue that turning off all of their lights for one hour, is not going to make any difference. That’s like saying your vote doesn’t count. One individual cannot make the changes we need to see on their own, but several individuals working together, is what we need to see in order to see a change. If one person doesn’t participate, that’s one less link in our chain to help save the only thing that is keeping us alive. As the WWF website says, “It’s about giving people a voice and working together to create a better future for our planet.”

To be a part of this movement you can visit www.worldwildlife.org and pledge your support by signing up to participate. If you do not sign up, of course you can still participate by turning off all of your non essential lights at 8:30 pm, on March 31st.
Be a part of this movement, and show the world you care.