Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown, NJ
January 18, 2017
A Look at Past Protested
PROTESTS Women’s March
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This President-elect is one of the most protested in history. We have the details on the big events. Schedule
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Even though Inauguration Day is the main event, there are plenty of events happening before and after. We’ll inform you about when things are happening from Washington, D.C. to MFS
EDITORIALS Students of the MFS Upper School wrote their opinions about the inauguration of Presidentelect Donald J. Trump in our editorials section. Page 4-5, 8
CARTOONS A picture is worth a thousand words. Cartoonists from the MFS Upper School sent in their political cartoons. Page 6-7
VP MIKE PENCE We know a lot about Trump, but how about his Vice Presidential pick? Learn about the man in the shadows, Mike Pence. Page 8
MORE CONTENT
via Donald J. Trump on Facebook
More news articles, editorals, cartoons, follow-up to protests, and inauguration coverage on our website: MFSWordsWorth.com
The number of protests surrounding this upcoming inauguration might make it seem like this is an election like never before. However, with a little bit of digging into past presidential elections, one can find evidence as to whether or not these protests are truly an unprecedented event. In 1969, the inauguration of president Nixon saw the capital filled to the brim with protesters. People from all over the country gathered to declare their disapproval of America’s continued role in the Vietnam War, on the very day that one of its outward supporters was to be sworn in as President. There were of course signs, leaflets, and plenty of shouting. However, things soon started to go sour. Sticks, bottles, and firecrackers flew through the air, causing several police horses to panic and rear. The resulting expulsion of fresh steaming
Other strators a slightly bizarre apfor their Activists the Youth tional Party or decided to nomi-
2016-2017, Issue #2
POTUSs demonchose more proach protest. from InternaYippies
By Esha Nittoor ‘20, Staff Writer
by the Yippies. Her escape once on site was yet another incident that turned the press towards the event as she was pursued by no less than six police officers on horseback, in cars, and on foot. More recently, the inauguration of President George W. Bush in 2001 also sparked protest in the nation. Bush hadn’t won the popular vote, but he still gained a majority in the electoral vote, earning him the White House. This outcome shocked, outraged, and pleased many, much like the outcome of this most recent election. Plenty protested this outcome during the president’s inauguration, even some who inadvertently created this outcome in the first place. Some of the population in Florida, which had been the
Photo by Gage Skidmore (under Creative Commons)
Donald Trump speaking with supporters at a campaign rally at the South Point Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. manure was promptly collected by protesters and thrown at guests arriving in all their finery at the inauguration. Events soon escalated to beatings both on the part of the protestors and the police. These events were later accompanied by a series of rocks and smoke bombs thrown at the president’s car.
nate a pig for president. Mr. Pigasus had made his debut much earlier for his nomination in Chicago. Some of the Yippies were arrested, sadly, the fate of Mr. Pigasus is unknown. Luckily, his wife Ms. Pigasus was scheduled make it to the counter-inauguration, or In-Hog-Uration as it was known
deciding battle ground state in this election, had decided to vote for Ralph Nader, effectively costing Al Gore votes that would have otherwise been his. Nevertheless people gathered and protested much like today.
Beat The Press
A look at Trump’s daily interaction with the media By Andrew Rowan ‘19, Multimedia Editor The 2016 election has overturned all conventional wisdom about the relationship between the President-elect and the press that covers him. Trump typically refers to them as the “very dishonest” media. A new Gallup poll, published in September 2016, reveals that only 32 percent of the American public has a “great deal” or “a fair amount” of trust in the American media. That’s down 13 points from 2009. Notably, only 14 percent of Republicans in the same survey said they have trust in the media, compared to 51 percent of Democrats. At press time, President-elect Trump has only fielded questions once since the election, doing away with the traditional timing of a President-elect’s press conferences. Obama took questions 18 different times during his time as a President-elect from the White House press corps, a group of journalists stationed in Washington D.C. who are assigned to cover the daily operations of the White House, while President-elect Bush (who notably had a shorter duration as President-elect due to the recount) took questions 11 times. There was a long, 168 day gap between the press conference Trump held on July 27 from his golf course in Doral, FL and the one in New York’s Trump Tower last Wednesday. While Trump hasn’t been sitting down for interviews in the media, he sent over a thousand tweets between the two press conferences. The phenomena that is @realDonaldTrump is not just an ordinary Twitter account. It combines Trump’s brash, quick-to-judge language with the megaphone that is social media. Back in November 2015 on the campaign trail, Trump stated that somebody said he was the “Ernest Hemingway of 140 characters,” referring to Twitter’s 140 character limit in each tweet.
The Washington Post last week took a closer look at that statement, saying he boasts about “the quality of his writing — pointed, pungent and memorable.” Many Americans enjoy Trump’s brutal honesty on the social media platform, but business executives and investors could find it stressful. Last December, Trump tweeted out: “Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of
control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!” While that tweet is partially correct, the expensive requirements are for the security of the president and dictated by the federal government. However, because of those 137 characters sent by the President-elect, Boeing’s stock fell almost $2 per share before the markets opened later that day (it did rebound). Trump uses social media to have direct access to the American people, without the need to have it be released to the press and then the public. At last Wednesday’s press conference Trump said, “I have great respect for the news, great respect for freedom of the press and all that,” however that respect only went so far. Later in the press conference, the Presidentelect bashed CNN and Buzzfeed over their stories published the evening before the conference. Trump seemingly lumped the two, in a way that allowed him to avoid answering legitimate questions. To be clear, these are
two very different actions. CNN was a sourced report while Buzzfeed was a document dump, allowing the American people to make up their own minds. The President-elect still bashed
“I have great respect for the freedom of the press.”
both news organizations, calling Buzzfeed “a failing pile of garbage” and CNN “fake news.” Trump told CNN’s Jim Acosta, who was trying to ask a question, “your organization is terrible.” “You’re attacking us, can you give us a question?” Acosta followed up. “Don’t be rude. No, I’m not going to give you a question. You are fake news,” Trump responded before calling on another reporter. Following the press conference, incoming press secretary Sean Spice threatened to throw Acosta out of the press conference if he acted like that again. Whether or not the berating of the media strategy works for the Trump campaign remains to be seen, but a free press is essential to a working democracy.
2 Inauguration 2017
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
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Trump’s Inauguration Schedule January 17th-21st By Andrew Shah ’08, Staff Reporter On Friday, January 20th, President-elect Donald Trump will officially become list celebrities, as Trump said in a recent tweet, “The so-called “A” list celebrities are all President of the United States. He will be sworn into office on the same day that wanting tixs to the inauguration, but look what they did for Hillary, NOTHING. I want the previous presidents have, but the events leading up to his inauguration will commence PEOPLE!” The acts are headlined by the Radio City Rockettes, 2010 America’s Got Talent on January 17th. Politico reports that there will be several balls and dinners that will be Contestant, Jackie Evancho, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir among others. This held in honor of Trump. Although many of them will be taking place in Washington D.C., comes as no surprise, as Trump trotted out very few celebrities on the campaign trail. it is speculated that Trump will only attend two balls in his honor, and a ball honoring our However, there have been conflicting reports on whether or not Trump’s Inauguration armed forces and first responders. team asked Elton John to perform, but a spokeswoman for John told CNN that he would On the morning of the 19th, President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Pence will not be performing at the inauguration. attend the traditional Wreath Laying Ceremony at Arlington After Donald Trump and Mike Pence are sworn National Cemetery to honor in and take their respective oaths of office, the our fallen soldiers. traditional parade that goes from the Capitol to Later on Thursday the the White House down Pennsylvania Avenue will 19th, there will be a “Make take place. Over 8000 people from all over the America Great Again! Welcome country are expected to take part in the Inaugural Ceremony” that will take place Parade. Many of these people will be from Police at the Lincoln Memorial in Departments, Bands, and the Military. Washington D.C. The event will have a pre-concert, that The events will conclude on January 21st when includes an array of American Donald Trump and Mike Pence attend a National voices, and a concert that will Prayer Service at Washington National Cathedral. feature speeches from Trump and Pence, according to NBC Washington. As of two weeks For immediate updates on ago, it has been reported that the events leading up to the the performers for this event are still unknown to the public. Inauguration, you can follow Special tickets are available @TrumpInaugural on Twitter or for purchase online, but most viewing areas are free to get @trumpinaugural on Instagram. Picture Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons into. On January 20th, Donald President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Pence speaking with Congressional leader Trump and Mike Pence will be inaugurated as President and and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. Vice President of the United States. Unlike recent inaugurations, this one will not include performances from “A”
The Inauguration The Inauguration at MFS in Philadelphia
By Alex Horn ’17, Editor-In-Chief The inauguration of Presidentelect Donald Trump is scheduled for Friday January 20th, a school day, but it remains to be seen whether or not MFS students will have the opportunity to watch the historic event. While the proceedings are lengthy, beginning at 9:30 A.M., the most important moment will occur between 11:30 A.M. and 12:30 P.M., when Trump is sworn in as President by Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. As the 20th is a B Day, during that time the Upper School is scheduled to be in an assembly; currently, that assembly is planned to be Meeting for Business. WordsWorth reached out to the Upper School Director Justin Brandon who said that plans for the inauguration are still in flux. Brandon explained: “We are in talks now about this topic. I hope to share our plan of action next week.” The administration explained that the decision had not yet been made of whether to postpone Meeting for Business in
deference to the inauguration, or whether to proceed with the schedule as planned. “If it was up to me, I would allow the whole Upper School to watch it live,” said senior Brad Geyer when asked his opinion on the issue. “Meeting for Business can always be rescheduled, but presidential inaugurations only come once every four years.” WordsWorth has confirmed that in 2009, the Upper School watched President Obama’s historic inauguration. However, while this year’s inauguration is just as historic, it is also mired in deeper controversy; with the polarizing nature of the President-elect adding onto a bitter election season that led to deep splits of opinion within the MFS community, either decision is bound to ruffle some feathers. Still, whether or not the students are given the option to watch the inauguration, one thing is sure: after January 20th, the whole world—MFS included—will never be the same.
By Ewan Larkin ‘17, Staff Writer The National Constitution Center, will be the place to be on Inauguration Day in the City of Brotherly Love. The museum, which specializes in American history and politics, is hosting a number of community events to celebrate the historic day. A popular morning choice there on the 20th will be the “Hail to the Chief Quiz Game,” held at the Story of We the People exhibit. Here, citizens will put their knowledge to the test in a series of questions about the history of presidency and the many, many candidates. The questions will apparently be split into three individual categories; “Before They Were Presidents,” “Elections and Inaugurations,” and even a quite random category consisting of “Presidential Pets.” If you want to attend, the event will be going on from 9:30 A.M. - 5 P.M. For those looking for an interactive show, the Grand Hall Overlook will be
hosting a game to put a smile on visitors faces. The event, “Constitution 101: The Presidency and Article II,” is an option for those seeking lighthearted fun before the inauguration; contestants will delve into the ins and outs of the executive branch of government, all while trying on every president’s favorite hat. This event, taking place from 11 A.M. to 1 P.M. in which even unaware people can come further their knowledge and understanding of that which keeps America intact. The Grand Hall, will at the same time be covering all the news and events as Donald Trump takes his oath of office, and becomes the next President of the United States of America. Inauguration Day is certain to be hectic and emotional, but as the day approaches, do not forget that the city of Philadelphia has you covered.
Courtesy of the National Constituion Center Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
President Obama taking his first Oath of Office in 2009, administered by Chief Justice Roberts.
The National Constitution Center, where many community events celebrating the inauguration will take place on January 20th.
News
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
3 MFSWordsWorth.com | @MFSWordsWorth | journalism@mfriends.org
Alice’s March For Equality By Chloe Jones ‘18, Blog Editor
Women’s Marches By Julia Holliday ‘20, Staff Writer
aren’t constitutionally equal, and a lot of people On January 20th, 100,000 people, both On January 19th, 2017, Junior Anna Holemans don’t understand that,” she said. While laws can 2017, Donald Trump women and men. This is from Friends Select will lead Alice’s March for be overturned, amendments to the Constitution will be sworn into office not the only march taking Equality through the streets of Philadelphia in are more permanent solutions. And marching the as the 45th president place on that day. In fact, order to raise awareness of day before Trump’s inauguration, of the United States of there are over one hunthe Equal Rights Amendment. the ERA has special significance; dred and fifty Writter by Alice Paul in 1923, “We don’t know what the Trump marches taking the ERA has still not been administration is going to do,” place in the passed over 90 years later. The said Holeman. Over Trump’s U.S on January legacy of Paul, who graduated term as president, Holeman has 21st, and even Moorestown Friends School at her own predictions. “I think more throughthe top of her class, is clearly it’ll change the scope of social out the few days still felt deeply in the struggle for justice...women’s rights will be surrounding the women’s rights. brought a lot more to the front,” inauguration. As a Girl Scout, Holemans Holeman told WordsWorth. In In Philacame up with the idea for a addition, she thinks that this delphia, local march when brainstorming presidency will bring Democrats woman Emily ideas for her Gold Award Project. together in a more focused Morse has orga“I am really passionate about manner. nized a “Womwomen’s rights,” said Holeman. The ERA has also been en’s March on Involved with both the Girls a focus in the MFS community; Philadelphia” Advisory Council and the Alice in the mock-primary election for people who Paul Institute, a march seemed last year, Gender Equality Forum America. But while the want to join in but cannot Photo courtesy of Anna Holemans like the perfect idea; “My dad proposed a ballot question, and election is over, the namake it to Washington. mentioned a march sarcastically, students voted on whether to pass tion clearly still remains Ten thousand people A promotional poster advertising Alice’s March for Equality. and then I was like oh yeah, I the ERA. While the ballot passed divided: on January 21st, are expected to attend should,” said Holeman. at MFS, the U.S. Constitution the Women’s March on the march in Philly. The As a Junior in high school, has not followed suit. Although Washington is being held. march is planned to start Holeman faced challenges when planning such the Equal Rights Amendment passed Congress The participants mainat 10 a.m. on January a large-scale event. “It’s hard to plan something in 1972, the number of states necessary for its tain that the purpose of 21st at Logan Square, as big as this because of my age, a lot of people ratification was not met by the deadline. Now, the these marches are not with the marchers then don’t take me seriously at first,” Holeman said. ERA remains in limbo, not passed, but still very to protest against Trump, heading to Eakins Oval She worked to build up credibility for the march, much present in the minds of its supporters and but instead to make the for a rally starting at noon starting her networking with her connections in the legacy of its author. nation more aware of that is planned to last Girl Scouts and the Alice Paul Institute. “Yeah women’s rights issues. until 3 P.M. I am a highschool student, but I’m passionate This march includes over and I know what I’m doing. It’s hard for people to understand that.” she said. Holeman’s main focus for the march is Do you plan on attending these educating the public about the ERA. “Women
#WhyIMarch
or any other political rallies, protests, or events in the upcoming weeks? Share your experience with the student body live by sending out pictures, video, and even commentary to @MFSWordsWorth on Twitter.
By Ali Chesnick ‘19, Staff Writer The organizers of the Womthings.’”. Another, @DinaHonour, en’s March on Washington have says strongly, “I march because created a huge movement worldYou Should’ve Kept Your Legs Shut wide, but their biggest impact may is NOT a reproductive policy.” come from Though the their popular “We are all humans. trending hashtag hashtag, was started by There is a bigger picture #Whythe Women’s than just you. I choose IMarch. March moveto march for those who Hundreds of ment, not all people have responses relate are marginalized by ractaken to ism, bigotry, sexism, and specifically to Twitter, Inswomen’s rights. homophobia.” tagram, and Some responders Facebook made posts voicto share why they march. Many ing concerns about the state of the spread messages of women’s government once Trump is sworn rights, sometimes posted along in. Actress on FOX’s American Grit, with a shot of a daughter or niece. Tee Marie Hanible, tweeted, “Are Twitter user @dwcordova writes, you “WOKE” now… ? A government “I march for my nieces who fear with no checks and balances is a @realDonaldTrump is ‘going to Gvt I want no parts of!” Minorities make laws that say girls can’t do are also making their voices heard.
One Women’s March Teen Ambassador says that she will march “so that other minorities like myself can feel like their voice is being heard.” There are dozens of Women’s Marches worldwide, and even non-Americans are chiming in with why they are marching. Australian Instagram user @condog108 says that it doesn’t matter where you live: “We are all humans. There is a bigger picture than just you. I choose to march for those who are marginalized by racism, bigotry, sexism, and homophobia.” One of the most poignant messages shared comes from MFS’s very own Eliza McFeely. She plans on attending the Women’s March on Washington on January 21. Ms. McFeely says, “There are many people, some in this school, who
have every reason to fear that they will come to harm in our country. . . These people will be on the front lines of whatever confrontations come because they don’t have any other option, and they are in a great deal more danger than I am. If I can put my old, white, straight, privileged body between these people and the people who would do them harm, I have a responsibility to do so.” All of these powerful and inspiring statements show us why individuals march, yet the purpose of all protests around the world can be summed up in one tweet from @girlsreallyrule: “Now is the time for courage. I believe in my country and I believe in myself.”
Editorials
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5
The 2016 Presidential Election was, if nothing else, the sort of spectacle out of which high school memories are made. This election season had the interminable length of your daily third period, the bitterness of being rejected by a prom date, and the bizarre denouement of unexpectedly passing—or unexpectedly failing, depending on your perspective—that particularly tough class, all wrapped up into one. For many of us, this was the election on which we cut our political teeth; some lucky seniors even voted. Yet unfortunately, the grown-up world of politics that we are inheriting seems to be somewhat less mature than many of us had expected. Friendships are broken; stereotypes are assumed; and everywhere we look, people seem more interested in vilifying the other side than in listening to them. But for all that, one thing remains true: just as high school ends, so does election season. With the inauguration on January 20th, it is time for all of us to look towards the future, to start solving problems instead of merely assigning blame. We asked members of the MFS Upper School, some WordsWorth staffers and some not, to answer a specific question, seen below, which we believe will help us all to achieve that goal. Their answers, as diverse as they are constructive, from all sides of the political spectrum, give us great hope that our generation is going to take this country in a positive direction. We hope you agree, and that all of you too will let your voices be heard in the future. —The Staff of MFS WordsWorth
“What do the American people need most over the next four years?”
Compassion
By Jose Leo Rivera ‘17, Guest Contributor
When WordsWorth gave me the task of writing about what the American people most need, I spent a long time trying to wrap my head around the question: there are many things that we as a nation must strive for. But after much thought, I realized that the answer is a simple one: above all else, we need compassion. Compassion is a great gift in each and every human being: to recognize another’s suffering, to understand, and to empathize with others. Through compassion we are able to realize how to ease other’s suffering and to assist those in need whether it be in a person to person basis or in a legal way which affects a wide variety of people. These coming four years will be quite difficult for many people, mainly minorities, and as a whole we must show compassion for them. We must listen to their grievances and try to help them in any way we can. It will be a rough and uncertain road we ride these next four years, which is terrifying. Personally, I am incredibly wor-
ried for my friends and family, especially with how little I am able to help them. The reason this prompt is difficult to answer however, is the fact that not everyone wants their fellow American to do well. Not everyone is concerned with the safety of minorities or those in pain. This country has shown that not everyone deserves your understanding, specifically to the increase in overt Nazism or as the media has taken to calling them, the alt-right. Now we may exalt compassion and revel that we understand other’s suffering but we must also see the reason behind their suffering and try to relieve that. We must not extend our understanding or compassion to Nazis nor those who belittle and deny people their very right to live. We as Americans must fight for those values we hold dear such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not just for ourselves but for everyone including people of color, LGBTQ+ folk, and those whose sufferings go unrecognized.
Forgiveness
By Rachael Whitley ‘17, Guest Contributor
Of all the many opinions I possess, while a fair number are indeed political, there is only one that I refuse, under any circumstances, to relinquish: if, at this point, you have not heard of, or did not enjoy Hamilton: An American Musical, you either A) live under a rock, B) are painfully naive and uncultured, or C) both. I do recognize the bias and political leaning inherent in such a statement, but as the show boasts incredible music and manages to be funny, touching, and original, exceeding almost every critic’s expectations, those who choose to ignore it leave themselves dangerously uninformed of a new American cultural icon and likely trapped in a carefully constructed conservative echo chamber. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is of Puerto Rican descent and grew up in the Latino neighborhoods of Washington Heights and Inwood in upper Manhattan, the show’s cast is made up almost entirely of people of color. Its current lead, Javier Muñoz, is not only Puerto Rican, but openly gay and HIV-positive. While the storytelling is masterful and enticing, it is also strongly liberal, with the New Yorker’s Adam Gopnick explaining that Hamilton is presented not only as a hero written by and for liberal audiences, but “as the godfather of the idea that America should be a place of speculative enterprise backed up by big money.” He even goes so far as to describe Hamilton as the “Obamaera musical.” In light of Vice-President Elect Mike Pence’s recent visit and receival at the
musical, it would seem disingenuous not to acknowledge such political leanings, but such facts make the musical more important and enjoyable than ever. In the weeks following such a contentious and divisive election, it seems everyone and their mother, both conservative and liberal alike, has made it their place to spew a thick shower of vitriol from their mouths, keyboards, and front yards. It is imperative not to let such political saturation overwhelm us, to remember that all sides are worth listening to and considering, and that judgement should always come after. My personal favorite song of the show comes as Hamilton and his wife reconcile, after their eldest son dies in a duel and Hamilton’s career-ruining affair is uncovered; “It’s Quiet Uptown” ends with the chorus singing hauntingly “Forgiveness. Can you imagine….They are going through the unimaginable.” Just as Eliza and Alexander were going through the pain of losing a son, America is going through the pain of a dramatic and unprecedented political transition. It will be trying, and it will hurt enormously. It will be easy to point fingers and assign blame, and it will be even easier to harm each other. So, in the spirit of the new year, the best gift you can give someone will also probably be the most costly: forgiveness. However, a pair of Hamilton tickets might be a good place to start—although, be forewarned, they’re expensive too.
Open Minds
By Nick Tursi ‘17, Guest Contributor
By Alex Horn ‘17, Editor-In-Chief
To paraphrase the great social critic George Carlin, the most important thing to do in life is to question everything. Increasingly, we—and I paint with a broad brush here only because this problem affects all sorts of people—simply don’t do that. We question our opponents, sure. But one thing the American people need to learn—or rather, to remember—is how to question ourselves. We live in a country that is increasingly, harmfully divided. This can be seen perhaps most visibly in the partisan mess that is Congress, where elected officials of both parties would rather bluster and play than compromise and govern. But partisanship is eternal, and the stalemate in Congress is only a symptom of the larger stalemate that happens around dinner tables, on social media, and even in classrooms; we were the ones who elected those partisan do-nothings, after all. Everywhere, the problem is the same: we, as a society, have no idea, not only how to respect, but even how to understand, those who do not think like we do. To coin a phrase: the other has never before been so other’d. While the surprise results of the last election have highlighted this failure on behalf of the left, in reality this issue knows no ideology. A factory worker in Wisconsin is at as much of a loss to understand why anyone voted for Clinton as a school teacher in California is at why anyone voted for Trump. A vote no longer defines merely which policies you support, or which ideology you believe in; now, it determines who you are. And if you believe the wrong thing—if you are the wrong thing—to many people, that makes you the enemy. But how can liberals fail to empathize with a coal miner who lost his job and now can’t feed his kids due to new environmental policies, or with a white employee who has seen affirmative action poli-
cies pass him over, or with a Christian mother who genuinely believes that every tax dollar sent to Planned Parenthood goes towards killing a baby? And how can conservatives fail to understand the concerns of a grieving father who lost his son to a gun purchased through the gun show loophole, or of African-Americans who have watched the War on Drugs disproportionally ravage their communities, or of a same-sex couple who simply want equal protection under the law? It is very easy to villainize the other when you live in an echo chamber of the likeminded, only associating with people of “your side,” and only ever considering the “other side” as a monolith that is deluded at best and malevolent at worst. But when you consider people not as obstacles, but instead as, well, people—people who all want essentially the same things out of life—the bitterness of ideology seems to fade away. Personally, I have two older sisters, one of whom voted for Hillary Clinton, and one of whom voted for Donald Trump. I myself voted for Gary Johnson. Three people, raised in the same household, educated at the same high school, built from the same genes: and yet, miracle upon miracles, we all made different decisions on Election Day. Clearly, it is possible for well-educated, well-informed, well-meaning adults to have differing opinions on how the country should be run. If I could grant the American people one gift, it would be this: the ability to greet opposing opinions, not as threats, but as opportunities to gain a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of the problems that we face. It is one thing to hold the strength of one’s convictions; it is quite another to deny your countrymen the strength of theirs. More than ever, we need each other: and if we are ever going to stand together, we all need to learn to open our minds to others.
Understanding By Henry Powell ‘20, Staff Writer
The most important thing that the American people need going forward is understanding. As a Real Red Republican living in the Big Bad Blue state of New Jersey, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to see how both sides interact with the other, and it ain’t pretty. It’s as if the moment that one candidate is mentioned, half the people go ballistic. People seem to enjoy simply making up falsehoods in order to drag down the opposition—and that goes for both sides. It has gotten to the point where having a civilized conversation with anyone on the other side is nearly impossible. I myself was banished from the Thanksgiving table for starting a fight with my grandmother over the recent election. And that is but a small example of what is happening in this country; some people are even being threatened bodily harm for their differing views. Simply put, things are bad right now, and unless we start learning to understand one another, they have the potential to get much worse. That is why understanding is so vital to the success of our nation. I want you all to understand the other side. Take a moment, and think about why those of different political beliefs chose the side they are one. Instead of calling all Republicans racists or sexists, or claiming that all Democrats are criminal-supporting establishment shills, or telling all third-party voters that they wasted their vote, take a moment and put yourself in the shoes of others. Try, truly try, to understand why the other side thinks the way they
do . I myself took a moment to do this, and while I still believe in the same views as before, I have a better understanding as to why someone would support Clinton. And I write this for everyone who refuses to engage with anyone who supported Trump . I say to you: Am I an Islamophobe, simply because I support that man, and agree with his views? Does that make me racist? Sexist? Homophobic? If you think so, you are stereotyping, the same thing you likely vowed to fight when you voted for your candidate. People are not the candidates they voted for; and often as not, the candidates themselves are not what the biased media makes them out to be. Reality is too complex for the types of headlines that smear all Trump supporters. My final point here is this: if we try to understand the situation that we are in, take a look at the other side, and understand their decisions, we will be a lot further along on the road towards healing our nation. While neither candidate was perfect, the simple fact is that one candidate won. People should not riot just because their side lost, or brag just because their side won. Instead of hoping Trump fails miserably, perhaps hope he does well for the country. And instead of praying Clinton ends up in jail, believe that she can still help America through other means, despite not winning the election. After all, we’re all stuck on the same hunk of rock hurtling through space together. We might as well get used to each other.
Tolerance
By Kayleigh Schweiker ‘18, Staff Writer
Do you have a different idea of what the American people need most over the next four years? Any other political opinion you wish to share with the public? If so, contribute to the conversation by writing a Letter To The Editor and sending it to journalism@mfriends.org.
Elections are always tense - but perhaps the intensity and tension between parties during this election has been amplified due to the questionable remarks made by the President-Elect. Though these comments were perceived as offensive and were seemingly more harsh than intended, they’re out of our grasp. Whether Trump truly embodies the misogynist, racist façade he put on during the election remains a matter of debate—but what is undebatable is that American citizens should spurn his campaign strategy. What the American people need now more than ever is the ability to be tolerant. Tolerance, regardless of race, sexuality, religion,
Patriotism
or anything else, is part of what makes our nation great, and we cannot afford to lose it. Without willingness to accept one another, the American people will continue to divide, prohibiting any progression as a nation. Through unification, equal rights can be achieved regardless of who the President is— but we can’t unify if we don’t tolerate each other. But how should the people of America maintain this sense of tolerance while the President-Elect’s campaign included remarks expressing his intolerance? We will just have to stay stronger together, and resist any attempts by politicians to divide us.
Patriotism. Love and pride for your country. An attribute that has waned and become pseudo-taboo in recent years. However, possession of patriotism is paramount for a healthy, functioning American society. The most recent political cycle has brought out the worst from our nation and our candidates, and divisiveness can be felt within our everyday lives. Of late, the issues that divide us are increasingly complex, and tend to be attributed to differences in political affiliation. However, blanket assumptions are dangerous; in reality, we are all more alike than we are different. To assume that any one group is a monolith, all possessing any given attribute, is to do just that: to assume, and thus to prejudge unfairly. Too often, we tend to divide ourselves instead of building each other up. In the end, we are all American. That sentiment may be simple, even trite, but that does not diminish its power. The quality of being American brings us all together, and ignores any labels that can be used to divide us. The opportunities that are afforded to us by merely being an American are endless. While I was over-
seas, representing our country in China, I met people from all over the world. Most of the individuals I met were fascinated with my country, and made me realize how lucky I was to live in The United States. It became clear to me that American ideals and American culture have had a profound impact on the world at large, and I am incredibly proud to bear that legacy. We should be proud of the fact that our country has made a name for itself. We should be proud of the fact that we are all Americans. Rather than use labels to divide us, we should use the most important label of all to unify us: American. We’re allowed to disagree, voice our opinions, and share different aspects of our culture; that is what makes this land the Land of the Free, that we have freedoms which enable us to create our lives for ourselves and make our own decisions. Discourse, especially within this political climate, is incredibly important. However, within this conversation, let’s not forget who we are at our core: patriots, countrymen, and citizens of the United States of America.
A Bridge
By Calvin Bell ‘20, Guest Contributor
It is very important to focus on the future of America and where it’s going, looking at it from the perspective of a political shift that has stirred up so much conflict throughout the country. The most important question the American people should be asking themselves is, “What progress can be made over the next four years of a Trump presidency?” I personally have an answer to that question. My answer is informed by all facets of my identity: a student, an African-American male, and a middle-to-upper class citizen of New Jersey. I believe that above all else, a bridge is what we need: not a physical bridge of infrastructure, but a mental bridge connecting between science and politics, technology and communications, and the government and the people. I believe that this bridge is important because the state
of our country and our world itself is changing very rapidly and the people have no idea how to respond. The problems that the bridge would hopefully mend would include global warming,, the separation between scientists and politicians, and the isolation of marginalized communities . This is no ordinary bridge where you would have to pay a fee to go over; it is an inclusive bridge for all people, no matter their race, ethnicity, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, family structure or age. This will be a bridge that will allow Americans to come together and neighboring countries to unite in order to make a difference for all people. As a self-described realestate mogul, our new President Trump has claimed to be capable of building anything: if he is able to build a bridge that can mend not just political rifts and social differences but also technological and environmental problems, then I will be truly impressed.
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Editorial Cartoons Wednesday, January 18, 2017
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Inaugural Edition Wednesday, JANUARY 18, 2017
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A Man in the Shadows
A closer look at Vice President-elect Mike Pence By Andrew Shah ‘19, Staff Writer Most Americans know a lot of what there is to know about Donald Trump. His big personality combined with his prior fame and exposure to the National Media makes it easy for Americans to know a lot of information about him and his past. On the other hand, there is the Vice President-elect Mike Pence. For a man that is one heartbeat away from being President of the United States, most of the country knows very little about him. Pence, former governor of Indiana, was a surprise pick for Trump, as he was little-known on the national stage and also because his background as a long-time politician went against Trump’s campaign theme of “Drain the Swamp.” When accepting Trump’s nomination for Vice President on July 20th, Pence describes himself as a “Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order.” In 2000, Pence won a seat in the US Congress representing his home state of Indiana and held the seat for 11 years. Pence ceded the seat when he ran for governor of Indiana in 2011-2012 and won a tight race against
Democrat John Gregg. In Congress, it didn’t take Pence long to oppose the “No Child Left Behind Act,” which required drastic changes in classrooms all over the country. At the beginning of his tenure, Pence’s positions bothered more traditional Republicans, but eventually he became known as a man that would live up to his word. As Governor, Pence passed the largest tax cut in the history of Indiana, which both helped and hurt the state’s economy. It helped in that Indiana developed a two billion dollar state surplus, but state wages remained below the national average. Pence also was against the “Needle Exchange Program” that would help to stop a breakout of HIV in the town of Austin, Indiana. According to the IndyStar, after the outbreak worsened, Pence declared a Public Health Emergency that allowed for a Needle Exchange Program. Pence was believed to be Trump’s pick for VP because of his ties in Congress and his strong base in the Republican Party. Even though Trump ran on the basis of being a
political outsider, he knew he would need some support from Republican leaders. At a July 16, 2016 press conference, Trump told the media that Pence was, “a man of honor, character, and honesty.” Trump also stated that he picked Pence to help unify the Republican Party. Some of Pence’s views, however, have caused fear and worry among many people. Pence led the fight to defund Planned Parenthood, and closed down many of its locations in Indiana. Perhaps Pence’s most restrictive views come in the area of rights for the LGBT Community. According to the Huffington Post, Pence passed the most restrictive laws on the LGBT Community in the entire country. Businesses could even opt not to serve an LGBT person if they were to cite a religious reason. One of the biggest fear from Americans regarding Pence on the LGBT Community stems from a point stated on a website his campaign put up when he ran for Congress in 2000: “Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change
Photo by Gage Skidmore (under Creative Commons)
their sexual behavior.” Many have taken this to mean that Pence supports the practice of Conversion Therapy. For those who don’t know, Conversion Therapy is a means of attempting to change a person’s sexual orientation by repeated psychological and sometimes physical abuse. A Pence spokesperson has since denied the accusations, saying the quote was intended to promote the practice of safe sex. Additionally, like Trump, Pence has a staunch anti-immigration view. Per the LA Times, Pence is on board with building the proposed wall between the US and Mexico. For a man that is one heartbeat away from being President of the United States, most of the country knows very little about him. His past suggests that is a man of strong conviction, but it is easy to see why his views caused concern for millions of Americans. Even though we may not know much about him now, we will certainly figure out a lot more in the coming years.
Editorials, Continued From Pages 4-5
It’s Called A Spectrum
By Rebecca McGrath ‘17, Guest Contributor My decision of who I was going to vote for was a hard one to make. I had to wait eighteen years, my entire life, in order to vote, but when I thought about the prospect as a child, I always assumed the decision itself would be easy to make. However, this election changed that. As it turns out, things are not always so easy. After the bitter primary season, I felt like there was no possible way I could support either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. I knew when I would come out of the voting booth I would not feel good either way, so I made the choice that I thought would make me feel the best. At first I was furious because, having finally turned eighteen, my first election was one worse than any in recent memory--except perhaps 2000. Just my luck. Like many people my age, I do not consider myself a Democrat or Republican, but some weird mix of both. This has led to many frustrations when listening to people talk about the election. It seems as though, most people see the election in “black” or “white,” meaning you are on one side or the other. Either you are “good” or “bad” based on who you voted for. But that’s not true, it’s more complicated than that. There is a reason it is called a political spectrum. There is a grey area in this election, but since the political system in the United States is a de facto two
party system, the reasoning behind people’s votes gets lost since they are forced to choose between the opposing sides. And in the end, only which side they chose is visible. I know that third party candidates exist, and can provide a “grey area” choice. The only issue is: in the grand scheme of our political system, third parties are overlooked, because of the way our voting system works. Perhaps there is nothing wrong with a two-party system inherently, but when both parties present terrible options, well, then we are left with a situation like 2016. People need to realize that a person’s vote does not entirely define that person. How could it possibly? There are more than two types of people: indeed, even if one includes third parties and write-in candidates, there are more than five or ten or twenty types of people. Just because some voted for Hillary, it does not make them a good or better person in the same way that just because someone voted for Trump does not make them a bad person, and vise versa. It is not right to judge someone’s character based on one small aspect of them. Learn the reason behind their vote before you judge them. Remember beliefs are on a spectrum, and remember that, when offered limited choices, people’s decisions do not encapsulate who they are.
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Let Politics Be Politics By Mark Johnson ‘20, Guest Contributor Ah, politics. . . One man’s trash is another man’s controversial, convoluted treasure. Many forms of feedback, both positive and negative, have come since Donald J. Trump’s underdog victory in the presidential election. From passionate marches to opinionated tweets, people have voiced their thoughts both in protest and in joy. But another form of election tension that has arisen is the association of certain political views with a person’s character. I personally have experienced several admired relatives and friends supporting different and diverse causes and goals within our country. Many of these individuals do not choose to advertise their own standpoints openly, and separate their politics from their everyday routines. With this being said, I believe it is important to remember that influential people in one’s life—family, friends, even teachers—can prove to be a positive influence even if they are also advocates for particular political and social movements that one disagrees with. Whether
these opinions are privately held or publicly announced, they need not drive a wedge between people. One’s political views are not necessarily a determiner of one’s character! When politics are the primary topic of conversation, it is unsurprising that people on opposite sides of the aisle come into conflict. In order to achieve harmony and even peace within the United States, perhaps politics should be removed from our day-to-day interactions with others, thus forming a barrier of sorts between each other and our views. Because this topic does at times make its way into discussion and is considered important by many to exercise our rights and duties as citizens, it is best to practice respect and appreciation in order to avoid confrontation. We should save political talk for serious debates and discussions, and otherwise not let it divide us: let politics be politics, and friendships be friendship.