BAITLINE
INSIDE: CHRISTCHURCH AND HUMANITY + THE UYGHUR CRISIS IN CHINA
COLUMBINE: 20 YEARS LATER
Publication Policy The Baitline Newspaper is the official student news publication of Coral Reef Senior High School, and is written, designed, and published entirely by its staff members. Baitline is an established public forum, and welcomes a wide variety of pieces with the ultimate goal of informing students about news, events, and happenings both inside and outside the Coral Reef campus. Through its articles and issues, Baitline hopes to create a more educated student population that is more overtly open to discussing current events and analyzing a variety of points of view. As the producer of a scholastic publication, Baitline abides by the guidelines presented by the National Scholastic Press Association Code of Ethics for scholastic journalists and advisers. According to the policies of the Miami-Dade County Public School System, media produced by students is not subject to mandatory review by school administrators or district personnel. Thus, all Baitline content is the product of views and opinions held by student staff members only, and is in no way a reflection of overall school views or beliefs. The student editorial board and corresponding student staff members assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication. Baitline gladly welcomes reader questions, comments, or feedback. Letters to the editor may be submitted to Ms. Woolley-Larrea’s mailbox, delivered personally to room 226, or emailed to baitline@coralreefhigh.org with the subject line "Letter to the Editor." Letters to editor should not exceed 300 words, must be signed, and must include writer's address and phone number for verification. Baitline reserves the right to publish any letter sent.
Baitline
Coral Reef Senior High School Student News
CONTENTS 5 Columbine: 20 Years Later Ana Brito
23 What Christchurch Teaches Us About Being Human Aisha Chebbi
4 Editor's Note 7 Cheating: A Plague in the World of Academics Isabella Delgado
21 A Silent Response to the Muslim Detention Camps Linda Cao
Jessica Wilde shares how to overcome writer's block. Story on p. 20
9 On the Wrong Side Of the Road Luis García-Sarabia 10 Music: an Art and Reprieve Orlando Garcia 11 Standardization: Individuality’s Greatest Opponent Isabella Delgado 13 Casual Misogyny Rachelys Jorrin 14 Strike or Sink Ibtesam Dames 15 Amazon in Ashes Jianna Martinez 17 Best-selling Authors Create Music in Addition to Books for Miami Book Fair Daniel Coppola 19 Agree to Disagree Lina Oliveira Ulrich 20 Kashmir: Terrorized by Two Countries Sana Motorwala
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Baitline Editors-in-Chief Ana Aguilar Mariana Bravo
Copy Editor Creative Writing Editors Politics and Opinion Editors Cuda Corner Editor Staff Writers
Sofia Ventura Nathalie Acosta Isabel Yip Samantha Perez Sarah Bautista Dahlia Fabregat Oriana Bellucci Ana Brito Linda Cao Aisha Chebbi Ibtesam Dames Isabella Delgado John Dotson Genesis Fajardo Luis Garcia-Sarabia Orlando Garcia Rachelys Jorrin Kiran Komanduri Isabella LaPlant Jianna Martinez Sana Motorwala Lina Oliveira Isabella Saldarriaga Daniel Salup Veronoca Sanjurjo
CORAL REEF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 10101 SW 152nd CT +1-305-232-2044 | baitline@coralreefhigh.org
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EDITORS' NOTE It's a brand new year... Welcome back, Cudas. Baitline is excited to welcome you all into the new decade! As always, it is with great pleasure and excitement that we present to you the hard work of our authors in this month's issue. We genuinely could not be more excited to jump into the new year with a fresh beginning for Baitline, proudly announcing the introduction of redesigned issues to our newspaper. It is with your continual support that we are springing into the new year, infusing our passion with exciting new ideas, pieces, and content for you all. 2020 is a year of new beginnings, but also the end to our amazing Class of 2020. Let's make every word count.
Ana Aguilar
- Ana Aguilar & Mariana Bravo Editors-in-Chief Mariana Bravo
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COLUMBINE: 20 YEARS LATER.
Above Students protest for stricter gun legislation Win McNamee
ANA BRITO
The whimpers of frightened teenagers filled the air. Despair spread throughout the empty hallways of the school, as students desperately attempted to discreetly hide from the perpetrators, and more importantly, survive. Thousands tuned into their televisions, watching live broadcasts and updates of the grim national tragedy unfolding right before their very eyes. The day, forever etched into the wretched American history, April 20th, 1999. That morning, two high school students opened fire upon the unsuspecting staff and student body of Columbine High School.
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Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, both seniors at the school, planted homemade bombs throughout the school, from the cafeteria to the parking lot, with the intention of causing mass devastation and havoc. When the bombs failed to detonate, the pair entered the school and began shooting at fellow students, eventually reaching the library, where they managed to kill ten individuals. At the same time, teacher Dave Sanders was bleeding out in a science classroom across the school, having been shot while evacuating others, with only the help of young students to stem the blood flow.
Ultimately, he, along with eleven other individuals, did not survive the fateful day. At the time, Columbine was proclaimed the deadliest school shooting in the history of the United States. Smallerscale shootings had occurred before, but never one of such magnitude. By the time the two shooters had finished their killing spree, news of the unprecedented attack had spread like wildfire, leaving in its wake deep fear and sorrow. Both local and national papers published stories about the event for months on end, with the shock never seeming to wear off.
Theories of the motives behind the shooting began emerging rapidly, but none could be proven completely true. With no conclusive explanation to the tragedy, many residents of the town turned to religion, filling up the altars of local churches and seeking solace in prayer and meditation. Soon, calls for more stringent gun control began to arise. Police adopted new, more comprehensive procedures for school shootings. America as a whole seemed determined to ensure that such a calamity would never enter the halls of its children’s schools again However, change is a slow process, and one that must continuously be encouraged. In 2018, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School suffered the loss of 17 lives after a former pupil opened fire on campus. After Stoneman Douglas, other shootings have occurred which failed to enrapture the nation’s attention and criticism on the same level. Smallerscale shootings seemed to gain the attention of the public briefly on social media platforms, provoking short-lived outrage, but then quickly faded into the background, filed into an expanding list of American tragedies. In order to weave together the broken pieces of the school system and end this decades-long suffering, America must decide that enough is enough.
No longer can we stand for minute-long anger and grief, only to cease caring and trying once a few days have passed. No longer can we stand by and watch our children enter their schools afraid, unsure of their safety in a place where the only thing they should worry about is education. No longer can America place the need for a gun above the need for life. Only when we no longer do will such tragedies cease to plague the despairing nation. BAITLINE NEWSPAPER |
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CHEATING: A PLAGUE IN THE WORLD OF ACADEMICS ISABELLA DELGADO According
to
the
Oxford
English
Dictionary, to cheat means to “act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage.” By its nature, the action of
cheating
immoral
entails
means.
In
unethical
and
essentially
all
spheres of life, one can observe the presence
of
cheating.
One
place
particularly affected by cheating is the grand
world
Unfortunately,
of when
academics. looking
at
academics and the behavior of students, cheating is not far from the norm.
Cheating
completely
compromises
the
integrity and fairness of an academic school environment,
The idea that cheating is something very
yet
it
is
something
we
acknowledge, and we view as inevitable.
common in students is not by any means a piece of groundbreaking or astonishing
It is clear that cheating is quite common in
news. As any student can likely attest to,
the academic sphere; however, there are
cheating is quite prominent in a school
discrepancies in regards to the degree of
environment.
cheating, and the weight that different acts
According
to
a
poll
conducted by CollegeHumor, 60.8% of the
classified as “cheating” truly carry.
30,000 college students polled admitted to cheating. This number alone already makes
Consider a student asking a friend for the
up the majority of students, but what
answer to a couple of homework problems,
about those cheaters who simply did not
versus a student writing down all the
admit to cheating? Unfortunately, as a
answers to a test worth 50 percent of their
result
has
final grade prior to taking it. Although one
become in schools, students and others
of these actions carries more weight and
have
will have bigger repercussions, both are
of
how
attached
occurrence.
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common a
cheating
normality
to
its
classified as “cheating.”
7
In light of this information, one can
Additionally, a poll conducted at Fordham
ponder the true root of the problem: why
University noted a significant gap between
do students cheat in the first place? There
the GPAs of students who cheated and
is not a simple black and white answer to
their non-cheater counterparts, and found
this question; there are various factors at
a clear trend: cheaters had the higher GPA.
play here. So in this sense, it can be said that Students are subject to an overwhelming
cheaters are indeed more successful, but
amount of pressure to perform and meet
only as long as they do not get caught. If
expectations
academics.
these individuals are caught, then they do
However, the source of these pressures for
not reap the positive academic outcomes
cheaters vary from individual to individual.
of their academic dishonesty and instead
For some students, the source of this
are forced to face a variety of serious
pressure may be external, such as their
repercussions.
parents
becomes: is cheating really worth it?And
in
terms
pressuring
of
them
to
achieve
certain grades.
So
then
the
question
at what point do the risks of cheating outweigh its benefits? Although it seems
On the flip side, for others the source of
cheating
this pressure may be internal or self-
schools, this is not the case when looking
imposed. Regardless of where it comes
at the bigger picture. What happens when
from,
defined
a cheater is put in a situation where they
expectation creates a sense of obligation
cannot cheat? What will they do then?
in students to perform in a particular way
This answer, is not as nuanced as the last.
they, or someone else in their life, deem as
The simple answer is that there is not
desirable. When students feel that this
much an individual can do at this point.
academic success is unattainable through
The point where cheating can no longer
fair means, they resort to cheating and
serve
forms
to
advancing in life is the point where an
compensate for the capacities they feel
individual has exhausted all the success
they lack to achieve a coveted goal.
they can attain from cheating. Cheaters
pressure
of
to
meet
academic
a
dishonesty
as
has
an
immediate
individual’s
benefits
means
in
of
are thus left with a harsh and complicated Considering
the
heavy
prevalence
of
cheating in schools, there must exist significant
ramifications.
really more successful?
Are
reality that they cannot simply cheat their way out of.
cheaters
According to a
survey in the World Report, 80 percent of “high-achieving”
high
school
students
admitted to cheating.
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Paul Howard via Shutterstock
ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD Luis García-Sarabia For
the
majority
of
people,
the
words
If
they
left
the
country,
any
country
with
The only response that has been provided
send
by the Secretary of State is that the US
“diplomatic immunity” are confined to the
extradition
would
realms of James Bond-esque movies and
them
to
books of political intrigue, yet recently a
nation
UK
two
even if that civilian had escaped to their
to
of
home country. In contrast, if the family of
home country of the diplomat, and if the
evade
Harry Dunn wish to charge the diplomat’s
decisions
wife,
organization can overrule the decision.
family
words
has
have
running
watched
let
over
the
their
how
those
woman
guilty
19-year-old
justice.
back
where
they
be
be
tried
the
have
obligated in
a
court
accusation
to
travel
to
to
of
the
originated,
the
US
and
fears
setting
a
precedent,
but
what
precedent? No one can make the decision waive
diplomatic
seem
immunity
except
arbitrary,
no
the
other
have the trial in a US court, under US law,
Diplomatic immunity was created in 1961
The behavior of the US government after
even though Harry Dunn died in the UK.
under the Vienna Convention, in order to prevent
hostile
nations
from
holding
foreign diplomats hostage on trumped-up charges. As time has gone by, however, its
uses,
or
more
accurately,
its
abuses,
have increased in prevalence. In 2016 the UK
Parliament
surrounding
11
published cases
information
where
diplomatic
immunity was used by foreign officials to escape (Driving abuse
to
serious Under
charges, the
human
from
Influence)
trafficking
to
and
DUIs child
slavery.
the death of Harry Dunn goes against the
waived
norms within the international community,
before. The US government can agree to
like driving on the wrong side of the road.
have
The
Diplomatic
her
immunity
tried
in
has
the
been
UK.
In
fact,
any
condemned not only by the UK but many
diplomatic immunity if accused of a crime
other nations, and even by officials within
as
the
serious
as
be
able
manslaughter.
to
Family
granted
diplomatic
immunity
and
fled the UK after driving on the opposite side of the road, eventually colliding with Harry
Dunn.
Had
any
average
civilian,
including a tourist, or a guest worker, or the
richest
accused
of
man these
in
the
world,
crimes,
it
been
would
mandatory for them to appear in court.
be
9
government.
Harry
The
US
Dunn
was
refuses
to
members of consulate staff are not even
help even its staunchest of allies, yet asks
given
other
diplomatic
immunity.
However,
countries
to
cover
for
them.
The
embassy staff and family are awarded this
most concerning aspect of this abuse of
protection.
diplomatic additional
Regardless
of
the
reasoning
behind
this
immunity abuses
in
is
that
the
it
promotes
future.
The
should reverse its decision to waive
US
Anne
exemption, there is no way to explain why
Sacoolas’ diplomatic immunity in order to
the US aided the diplomat’s wife’s escape
protect
and
is
suffering
the
suffered.
refuses
particularly
to
waive
surprising
her
immunity.
since,
in
1997,
It
US asked the country of Georgia to waive the
immunity
of
its
deputy
ambassador
after he ran over a 16-year-old girl n North Carolina.
BAITLINE NEWSPAPER |
US
over
diplomat’s
wife
even
ran
the
use
not
she
protect
lower
would
after
to
diplomat working at the consulate level or
Most recently, the wife of a US diplomat was
decision
more like
people the
in
the
Dunn
future
from
family
has
MUSIC: AN ART AND A REPRIEVE Orlando Garcia As the world seemed to melt away, with blending colors and shifting lights, the only thing that the boy could feel was the beat of the music and his heart melding together, entwining themselves in this exotic and enchanting dance of rhythm and passion. Everything that had been torturing him disappeared, replaced with the beautiful, entrancing sounds of his favorite music. Around him, the world continued to move along, uninterested in this moment of respite that the boy had managed to discover amongst the chaos of life. Even though the troubles around him still existed, for one moment, he could be at peace.
Music serves as one of the purest forms of expression, not only allowing anyone to present their feelings and ideas to the world, but also providing a platform to advocate for different values and important issues. For those who don’t make music, but rather listen to it, there exist many different feelings associated with the art. For many, music acts as a release, creating a small window in their lives where everything is at peace and they can retreat into themselves for a sliver of calm. This can be achieved no matter what genre of music they listen to: classical, rock, pop, metal, or anything else. What has always been important is that those who listen to music connect with it. The message that music sends to the listener is important. For instance, the popular musical duo Twenty One Pilots largely writes lyrics dealing with mental health, allowing them to connect with
Twenty One Pilots press photo Brad Heaton
their fans and let them know that their difficulties can be overcome. In turn, “the Clique,” as their fanbase is known, shows respect and admiration for the musicians, as well as a sense of care towards other fans that is not commonly seen in fanbases. This music style may not suit everyone, but it is one example of a connecting factor between different types of people and a way to help ease the burdens of the mind that come with life.Through people’s problems, both big and small, music has always been there to soothe and provide a reprieve from the stresses and struggles of everyday life. For some, even through the worst of times, their favorite song or album may give them the boost that allows them to keep pushing through in the face of adversity. For that, music is extremely special, no matter what the genre or artist, because in the end, all music is the same: an art that should be shared and celebrated by all.
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STANDARDIZATION: INDIVIDUALITY’S GREATEST OPPONENT
Article: Isabella Delgado Photography: Copyright 2006 Uyen Le
Diversity is a fundamental principle upon which the United States of America is based; it is unique and distinctive individuals that make up the fabric of our society. Every being is born with a teeming imagination and innate sense of curiosity. When these precious gifts are nurtured and left untamed, human beings truly have the capacity to accomplish incredible feats. The chief goal of the American education system is to mold children into functioning members of society, but at what costs? Standardization is a phenomenon that plagues the education system today. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, standardization refers to “the process of making objects or activities the same or the same type have the same features or qualities.” Standardization is a box that confines students, leaving them without an outlet for creativity and a means of expressing themselves. Students work for grades and this image that the school system perpetuates of who they are supposed to be, often at the cost of their own aspirations and passions. Oftentimes, kids will do things in school, such as participating in a certain club, out of a desire to fit the model imposed by this education system of a “good student.” Sadly, the endorsement of this ideal of the “good student” results in many kids feeling that being themselves and following their true passions is simply not good enough. This same idea can be seen in many other aspects of education curriculums. For instance, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is an international program for high-achieving students primarily aged 16 to 19 years old. One of the required components of this program is a form of community service called Community Activity Service (CAS). CAS is implemented through an online website in which students must log and reflect on their activities; it is a quite tedious process as students must log hours every month and categorize all of these hours.
“I think the idea of CAS is very good and it holds a lot of us accountable to our community, but I think that making us have to write reflections and almost essays makes kids resent CAS and in turn they might resent community service.”
- Coral Reef Senior High IB Student BAITLINE NEWSPAPER | 11
Community service is supposed to be a fulfilling and selfless experience, but placing so many limitations and requirements on it turns it into something students merely see as a tedious chore. In this way, the system attaches a negative connotation to something that is supposed to be good. Students thus perform community service simply out of obligation, which is in contradiction with the fundamental aspect of community service that is giving back to the community out of selflessness and a genuine desire to make it better. Additionally, the standardization present in the means of assessing students’ intellectual capacity utterly fails as a means of measuring an individual’s true ability. The standardized grading system that measures a students’ academic performance on a scale from A to F is a fundamental part of the standardized education system. This system has been ingrained in the minds of individuals as the most important gauge of a student’s intelligence. Furthermore, standardized testing, such as the SAT and ACT, serves the same purpose. These exams test individuals on different areas such as reading, grammar, math, and science. There is a great emphasis placed on doing well on these exams due to the fact that students’ scores on these tests can be the determining factors of many important outcomes, such as where a student goes to college. In reality, standardized grading systems and tests. do not serve their purpose; the truth is that a human being’s aptitude cannot be measured by a mere number or letter of the alphabet. These systems of grading have essentially attached numbers to society’s definition of a student who is “smart.” If an individual does not perform well on these exams, society casts blame on the student’s work ethic. The result of the imposition of such measures of intelligence is that many individuals with potential for other things are simply perceived as failures or not good enough in this environment. The sad truth is that students let these numbers and letters define them and can feel bad when they see others doing better. Students can come to think that their ability to succeed is determined and limited by a number on a scale from 400-1600 or a letter from A-F. Consequently, students feel an immense amount of pressure to get good grades and exceed on these exams. Instead of chasing their passions, students divert their valuable time and energy into attaining a certain score/grade in accordance with society’s perceived notion of a smart student. Moreover, achieving these desired grades and test scores at the expense of other things is not uncommon for students. For instance, stress from school can result in various mental health issues in students such as anxiety and depression. The physical health of students is not immune to these negative effects. According to a study conducted by the Huffpost, “about 87 percent of American high school students are chronically sleep deprived.” Sleep deprivation, along with other factors, has become a norm for many of today’s students, and its implications for future health problems must be considered. In a child’s chase to fit in the mold of what society and the standardized education system deems a “good student,” many students sacrifice their own individuality and passions. Is getting straight As really worth it if you feel you have lost yourself and your sense of purpose along the way? Instead of capitalizing on the unique abilities and differences among students, the standardized education system squashes individuality, overlooking the true ability of each and every child in the classroom.
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CASUAL MISOGYNY RACHELYS JORRIN And I oop...
three
Society hates VSCO girls. From flappers in the 20th century to VSCO girls in the 21st century, society has a way of finding things young women are interested in and deeming them cringe-worthy or unnecessary. VSCO, an application used to edit and share pictures, has received an immense amount of attention as a result of a new trend: VSCO girls. Although some consider the term “VSCO girl” as a way of simply labeling the girls that use this application, the term has become an insult describing white, young girls who post their trendy pictures on the app. Hair scrunchies and Hydro Flasks should not cause this much commotion. In the world of social media, it’s terrifyingly easy to be the subject of ridicule, yet it’s only really seen through young women. Memes and videos posted on Twitter and Instagram that serve to mock these girls are more often than not created by teenage boys as a way to bash on this newfound trend. By ridding these young girls of their individuality and grouping them under this one stereotype, society is essentially destroying their ability to embrace themselves. This can be seen in research done by the Pew Research Center published on July 12, 2019, where they found that American girls between the ages of 12 to 17 are
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13
times
more
likely
to
experience
issues with mental health than boys of the same
age,
pressures
and on
the
this
effect
data
of
social
shouldn’t
go
unnoticed. Society wonders why this is so, yet we turn to insulting these girls without even which
considering it
could
why,
or
the
negatively
ways
affect
in
their
mental health. By having a say in every trend, every item of clothing, and every decision, we’re slowly stripping teens of what makes them unique. When asking teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 what they thought about the trend, the younger girls considered it a means of inspiration, while the older ones simply said they had “mixed feelings.” On the other hand, there was also a common trend amongst the teenage boys… utter disgust. “Oh my — I don’t even want to talk about
that,”
they’d
say
in
between
chuckles. This negative outlook on this new trend is even seen in new memes and youtube videos that openly mock these girls. With over four million views, the shaming
of
this
trend
has
become
a
normality. There is no doubt that it is difficult for young girls to grow up free from ridicule and societal expectations. We should acknowledge the mocking of VSCO girls as a form of casual misogyny, making it increasingly difficult for girls to dress and behave in any way they desire.
SS TT R R II K K EE O OR R SS II N NK K IBTESAM DAMES
Temperatures are rising and so are Miami students. Due to human activities that cause the excessive emission of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels, deforestation, and more, global temperatures are rising at a rapid pace. According to the United Nations, from 1880-2012, the average global temperature has increased by 0.85°C (about 33.4°F). Located on the Florida Peninsula, Miami is especially vulnerable to climate change. There has already been a 5.9 inch sea level rise in Miami since 1996, which is especially dangerous considering Miami is only 16 inches above flood stage. Students recognize this danger and are increasingly participating in strikes and demonstrations. Miami-Dade Public County Schools student Nicole Gazo is frequently seen at these strikes. “I strike for a just transition to 100% renewable energy, so that I can live in Miami forever, with perhaps a family, free of any anxiety or fear of sea level rise and intense heat.” Climate strikes primarily began in September of 2019 by Greta Thunberg, a Swedish teenager who actively campaigns for a more sustainable future. Typically, a strike consists of large groups of people joining together to march or participate in a sit-in. There is chanting and powerful speeches given. Gazo emphasizes the importance of these strikes, pointing out that “people…will probably go back home proud of their civic engagement; at least I know I feel proud after them.”
In Florida, strikes have been shown to give results. After constant striking and speaking out, the city of Miami, the city of Miami Beach, and the city of Surfside have declared a climate emergency. A declaration of a climate emergency means that the government will work on building public awareness on the prevailing issue of climate change and work to create a plan to phase out fossil fuels and instead become a more sustainable society. Unfortunately, sometimes these strikes have unintended consequences. On Black Friday of 2019, a man named Nick Vasquez was arrested after illegally sitting in the middle of a street in protest. However, Gazo insists that protests are still safe, as long as one does not “engage in anything other than chanting and cooperate whenever a cop reasonably asks you to do something if you do not wish to go to jail.” Moreover, if one would rather not participate in strikes for their own personal reasons, they can turn to other methods of advocation. For example, students could join local organizations that fight for climate control. In Miami, an organization called The Cleo Institute keeps students up-to-date with any climate action occuring and are currently fighting for strike participation to constitute an excused absence in Miami- Dade Public County schools, one reason why students are deterred from participating in strikes.
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AMAZON IN ASHES JIANNA MARTINEZ
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Mario Tama via Getty
Ueslei Marcelino via Reuters
The flames of the earth have yet to ignite a passion to act—to act before the entire world becomes enwrapped in its flames. The Amazon has yet to stop burning. Other places around the world are burning too: California, Alaska, Greenland, Indonesia. The list goes on. A seeming infinite list of places all around the world engorged in flames, and nothing. Nothing but countless people posting on how unfortunate it is to see the Amazon burning. We raise awareness as it is easiest, but where is the action? The lack of action is the reason why we are failing to help our planet, and the reason that destruction is bound to happen. We see images of the Amazon in flames and suddenly it causes great concern, but why? Why is the Amazon burning? Who is being hurt by its destruction? Who’s doing this?
Yes, what you put in your mouth can have such widespread consequences, and it is with this knowledge that we can spread awareness on the benefits of sustainable eating, not only simply because of one’s health, but because of the impact it can have on our environment.
Although it is true that the overall rising temperatures of the planet are setting up the conditions for several fires to happen, the story of the Amazon is a bit different. Unregulated and unsustainable practices specifically of cattle-ranching have allowed deforestation to become an immense issue in the Amazon simply because of profit. Profit and a disregard of its consequences on the Earth. Profit all because of the need to supply the grass-fed beef that is constantly advertised to be a better option than grain-fed beef. What may pertain to one’s own health certainly does not cover the costs that it’s taking on that of the Earth’s. The demand for more beef might come as a shock to the fact that is unknowingly contributing to the slaying of one of the Earth’s largest carbon and oxygen sinks. If the fact that 76,000 fires, according to Brazil’s Institute of Space Research, are currently burning in the Amazon due to deforestation isn’t concerning enough for several, the Amazon’s deforestation has been unrighteously displacing many indigenous tribes from the area.
Although this definitely can serve as a facilitator for what is happening, the only way to make a change is to be aware of the potential of what all of us can do, even through small-scale changes back at home. It is with such inability to care that will lead to the destruction of the planet, a destruction that so many people seem to want to revert yet fail to take action accordingly. With an economy that works on a system of supply and demand, if the demand for such a disastrous factor like meat isn’t there, neither will the supply. To some, it seems like changing eating habits as an individual doesn’t seem to do as much as it’s only you, but with tens of thousands of people, the dairy industry has lost billions of dollars of revenue, more and more water has been conserved, and lands are being reforested. Is the burning of not only one of the most vital sources of evapotranspiration, but the homes of thousands of indigenous tribes let alone countless wild species, really worth the purchase of grass-fed beef? Yes, but either way, it is important to stop and become aware of the consequences of one’s actions, especially before time is up.
Oh, what a corrupt Brazilian government, such evil cattle-ranching capitalists.
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Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Best-selling Authors Create Music in Addition to Books for Miami Book Fair Daniel Coppola
Miami, FL: Among them, these three authors have published over 100 books that have been translated into over 25 languages. Many of their books have been New York Times bestsellers, and they have a Pulitzer Prize, a Newberry Medal, and an Edgar nomination among their awards. In addition to their writing, they are part of a rock band, The Rock Bottom Remainders, that performs at book fairs all over the country. I had a chance to speak with Dave Barry, Carl Hiaasen, and Ridley Pearson at the Miami Book Fair in November as they rehearsed for their band performance. All of the authors talked about how they got their start in writing and how the material they write about has changed over the course of their careers. Dave Barry started out as general assignment reporter, covering typical events such as meetings and fires.
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“I always wanted to write humor but at the beginning of my career, no one would pay me to do that,” he explained. In 1983, he started writing a syndicated humor column for the Miami Herald that ran until 2005. Along the way, he wrote over 30 books of humor and satire. He finds a great deal of material that inspires his writing from living in Miami. While there are other places that have comical elements to them, there aren’t other places that are as weird and funny as Miami. “We own weird-funny,” he says. Carl Hiaasen also discussed how living in Florida shaped the themes he writes about. If you grew up in Florida in the late 1950s and 1960s, he said, when it was changing so fast, you grew up angry. He grew up on the edge of the Everglades and learned early on that one of the best weapons when you felt angry was humor and satire. “Florida was disappearing under concrete,” he said. “I cared about the place and the Florida I knew was vanishing before my eyes; I’ve been pissed off since I was 6 years old.” He was glad to see his novel Hoot turned into a film because he felt that the beauty of South Florida clearly came
through, introducing more people to the unspoiled natural part of the region. When asked about the impact he thinks writers can have on addressing environmental issues, he said that for him, writing about the environment has a therapeutic element, so he feels like he is raising awareness about issues confronting the region. He says that from letters he gets, especially from kids, he sees that “they are connected, at a very early age, to the environment, to wildlife, to the rivers and ocean.” At some point through their education, though, they become more removed. He knows that one column or book doesn’t have the power to transform conditions, but if it motivates one person enough to go to a commission meeting or zoning hearing, that can have an impact. Ridley Pearson has also focused on environmental issues in his recent writing, especially in his middlegrade work. Pearson is known for writing suspense novels, having written over 25 of them. While he still enjoys writing thrillers, he decided to write middlegrade books after having kids. When they were young, he read numerous stories to his daughters, including Peter Pan. They had many questions about the story’s origins, including about how Peter met Captain Hook, and what made Peter able to fly. Pearson thought he should write a prequel to Peter Pan, but he was used to writing thrillers. He contacted his friend Dave Barry, since he thought Dave could relate to young readers. He told Dave, “You write booger jokes,” so he thought Dave would be a perfect collaborator. After the success of Peter and the Starcatchers, Pearson turned to writing graphic novels. He takes seriously the role these series can play in getting kids interested in reading. “You’re not just entertaining them; you’re teaching them to read.” Pearson admits that it can be hard to write for middle-grade readers because they can be fierce critics. “They read the novels 6 or 8 times each. . . You need enough action to keep them interested.” Climate change is one example of a topic he’s addressed in his graphic novels. In the Super Sons series for DC Comics, he looks at the issue of climate migration and people who are forced to move around because of sea level rise. In the series, he calls them “flood runners,” and addresses the discrimination they face as a result of that status.
Pearson explains that he has received the coolest emails from his student readers and their parents. In one, a parent said, “Billy never liked to read but now we can’t keep him out of the library. The minute he finished the book we had a two-hour discussion about climate change and name calling.” All the authors agree that being part of the Rock Bottom Remainders has been one of the most enjoyable things they have done. Dave Barry helped start the Rock Bottom Remainders because he missed playing with a band, and when someone approached him about creating an author band, he jumped at the chance. It was supposed to be a one-time gig that has lasted for over two decades. He said they had so much fun they just kept on doing it. They’ve tried to stop, Barry said, but “we’re so bad as a band we can’t even stop correctly.” He says he continues to do it because he gets to hang out with people he loves. Being an author can be lonely and solitary, he explained, but playing in a band brings the authors comradery and fun. Pearson became part of the Rock Bottom Remainders after getting a call from the band organizer. They needed a bass player, and he had been a musician for over 30 years. When he asked who else would be in the band, he was told, “Dave Barry, Stephen King, Barbara Kingsolver, and Amy Tan,” some of the most talented and best-selling authors in America. He didn’t know any of them at the time, but as a result of being in the band they developed close friendships. The band also led Dave and Ridley to pursue writing projects together, including Peter and the Starcatchers. Hiaasen joined the Rock Bottom Remainders after Barry encouraged him, and Hiaasen even got rock legend friends Warren Zevon and Roger McGuin of The Birds to join for a while. Like Barry and Pearson, Hiaasen enjoys the time he spends with the other band members and the way connect through music. Through performances at book fairs across the country, The Rock Bottom Remainders have raised over $3.5 million for non-profit organizations.
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A
E E R G A S I D O T E E R G
A fundamental part of human interaction is disagreement. Not everyone will have the same beliefs and values, which often leads to arguments. Likewise, some people are more prone to voicing their opinion and standing their ground than others. An issue today is that the idea of being respectful of others' views is becoming extinct. Those who start arguments want to be right all the time, and if someone does not agree, then they are automatically wrong. The concept of agreeing to disagree is no longer prevalent, and the consequences are direct Opinions have escalated from representing one's beliefs or values to everything that defines who a person is. Being a Democrat becomes associated with the furthest part of the liberal spectrum; being a Republican, by the same token, is equivalent to being as conservative as it gets. The political spectrum, made of degrees of liberalism to conservatism, has been split. It no longer includes an accurate description of political ideologies. With the current political climate, for example, the Trump administration has inspired an unjustified, general hatred of Republicans from the rest of the world. Republican ideals are not specific to Trump’s beliefs. Unfortunately, most people associate Trump’s beliefs with the entire Republican party. A Coral Reef High School junior says he is Republican because he believes "in free-market capitalism, free enterprise, and traditional Christian beliefs." Still, he disagrees with how President Trump expresses himself. Republicans, such as this Coral Reef student, are now forced to be defined by the leader of their political party. Those who fail to recognize the existence of "agreeing to disagree" perpetuate this dilemma. Instead of allowing these right-wing citizens to hold their own differing opinions on their party and its representative, they are unfairly villainized and silenced, stressing the idea that there is no room for disagreement, only right or wrong.
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The world, as we can see, is not binary. There are hundreds of different sides to each story. As well as with political parties, associating with a particular religion can put someone into a box, and breaking out is extremely difficult. Almost exclusively, when mentioning a religious affiliation, it is immediately associated with the most extreme version of that religion. The treatment of Muslims throughout the world is the most obvious example. A woman in a hijab is directly associated with the atrocities committed by fundamentalist and extremist Muslims. Radical, terrorist-like actions are just a part of the ideology of one faction of Islam. Even so, white, American-born individuals are usually the individuals who orchestrate the school shootings and other terrorist attacks that plague our society today. Due to the attention given to Islamic extremists, though, the remaining Muslim community throughout the world must deal with the consequences. All Muslims are put in this box labeled "wrong." There is no room to argue a different side because once the decision is made that being a part of the Islamic religion connects you to a small percentage of bad people, you are forever deemed to be in the wrong. And it doesn't end there. Unfairly judging others is not something that will ever be controlled, but the effects of those judgments can. While not everyone agrees on what "Muslim" means, the notion of "agreeing to disagree" on that meaning and move on does not exist. Disagreeing puts you at odds, and often, this leads to unnecessary conflict. Thus, the concept that one belief system is either right or wrong adds to the stigma around that ideology. It creates the hostile atmosphere that we live in today. If the "agree to disagree" philosophy becomes more popularized, more individuals will be able to coexist peacefully. Understanding that respect and agreement are not mutually exclusive is the first step in the right direction.
ICH R L U A EIR V I L O LINA
KASHMIR: TERRORIZED BY TWO COUNTRIES The region of Kashmir, located in between the Himalayan mountain range, is home to many beautiful rivers. Such rivers flow from the mountains and pave their way into the region, the cyan blue of their water and the gentle noise generated by their flow creates a peaceful ambiance over the region. Yet, in this same region, blood flows just as potent as do the rivers, the crimson red liquid joining in with the flow of rivers to create a haunting combination of red and blue. The pungent scent of death permeates the air and the deafening sound of gunshots disrupt what would have been a beautifully
This promise was never fulfilled. Instead, both the Indian and Pakistani governments pushed their agendas onto the India-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan sent their Islamic extremists, while India sent their militia; both sides committing horrible crimes towards the civilians to gain control of this area. As one Kashmiri Muslim said tearfully via a video interview: “I’ve been born in this conflict. And I have to die within this conflict.” Kashmiris have been stuck in a conflict between two nuclear countries, their voices being suppressed as both countries attempt to fully take over the area.
scenic area. When the British
that colors the valleys of Kashmir pulled out of India in 1947, they left India in a state of princely states, each of which had their monarch. The monarch of each state
decide whether they wanted to be part of India or not, completely annexing the territory into India. Just through the heartless stroke of a pen, the entire area of India-
could declare if they wanted to be part of the newly-
controlled Kashmir lost their freedom, forced into a
formed, predominantly Hindu India, or if they wanted to join the bordering Muslim-majority nation of Pakistan.
country without their consent. Now, being part of a Hindu-dominated country, Muslims in Kashmir fear for
Kashmir, at this time, contained a Muslim majority but
their safety and independence more than ever. On top of
was ruled by a Hindu king. In fear that the Hindu monarch would choose to join India, the Muslim majority
that, India has forced a complete media blackout on to Kashmir, meaning that there is no real information on the
in Kashmir rallied together in the form of militancy to
current status of affairs in Kashmir as of right now.
ensure that the Hindu monarch would not join India, and this conflict would eventually lead to the first IndoPakistan War. The conflict eventually ended through a
As the rivers of Kashmir quickly become overtaken by blood and terror from two heavily armed countries raging
United Nations mediated ceasefire, where the Kashmiri
on, the most important question is: what do the citizens
region was messily partitioned, one area of the region going to Pakistan, while the other region was given to India. As part of the post-war negotiations, India promised to give the India-controlled part Kashmir a vote on whether they wanted to be part of India or not.
of Kashmir want?
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Written by Sana Motorwala
ーwhose flag has the same red and blue ー
Just recently, India has completely revoked any idea that their controlled area of Kashmir would get any attempt to
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A Silent Response to the Muslim Detention Camps HAS THE U.S. TURNED ITS BACK ON FREEDOM?
By Linda Cao Photo by Thomas Peter
From physical appearances to gender to ethnicity, everyone is organized into certain categories in order to simplify this complex organism we call “society.” Because of this classification system, we can fortunately distinguish those who are similar from those who are different. To society, “different” equates to dangerous. To the Chinese government, the Muslim Uighurs are considered an example of that danger, different from the reigning majority of the Chinese population. To further address the complex relationship between the Chinese and the Uighurs, a thorough analysis based on the ethics involved and America’s response to this humanitarian issue must be conducted. The ten million Uighur population is concentrated predominantly in
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Xinjiang, located in Northwestern China. The territory of Xinjiang has been controlled by the Chinese government since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Although the Uighurs are severely controlled by the Chinese, the two ethnicities - Han Chinese and Muslim Uighurs - participate in separate cultures with their own distinct languages and religions. Despite the cultural disparity, the Chinese government has continuously insisted on the Uighurs’ assimilation to the traditional Chinese Han culture. To accelerate the assimilation, President Xi Jinping instituted a series of detention camps that claim to re-educate the Uighurs in “proper Chinese culture” and extinguish “religious extremism.” Without authorized warrants or proper court trials, millions of Uighurs have been compelled to survive under the scrutiny of the Chinese government within these camps.
Initially, the Chinese authorities denied the existence of these detention centers and denounced such accusations as baseless rumors; however, they soon confessed the existence of detention camps but assured the world audience that they served as purely vocational training. But these “reeducation” camps are far from honorable, with their memorable intentions glossing over their true horrors. From leaked documents and personal testimonies of detention camp survivors, the whole world has been exposed to the monstrosity taking place beyond the barbed wires. Guards within the walls have threatened the detainees with spiked clubs, tear gas, and stun guns to coerce them into submission. Movement was severely restricted and contact with the outside society was prohibited. Those who had the strength to resist were shackled with handcuffs and ankle cuffs for twelve excruciating hours as punishment. More importantly, this submission is not simply physical but cultural as well. Daily prayers to Allah, their worshipped God, were replaced with the forced reciting of Chinese communist political doctrines and phrases such as “Long live Xi Jinping.” Essentially, these “training camps” serve to eradicate any remaining traces of the Uighur Muslim cultural life and impose another culture upon them. According to the United Nations’ “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” the Muslim detention camps have violated a multitude of human rights such as recognition as a person before the law , freedom of movement , freedom to participate in a chosen cultural life. An overwhelming majority of news sources fervently assert that this issue is an evident violation to human ethics, defined as “a set of moral principles.” However, this set of moral principles is heavily related to an individual’s perspective. What an individual distinguishes as morally correct and incorrect depends on their culture, norms and values.
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Consequently, distinct sets of ethics are derived from varying perspectives. If all the scattered beams of light are not collected and concentrated to focus on the issue, then how can a solution be found in the dark? What will be used as a baseline for comparison? Thus, although it is a restless struggle to establish a common ground for a proper set of ethics, it is imperative to establish a universal set of accepted ethics.
Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Elie Wiesel once said, “wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the center of the universe.” However, only a handful of countries have taken a stand against China over this issue. Since the Declaration of Independence in 1776, America’s fundamental ethics consisted of freedom and natural rights. Therefore, why is America, the land of the free, hesitant to interfere with this inhumane repulsiveness? What is America, the home of the brave, afraid of? Money. Specifically, the loss of money. America’s silence on this issue could relate to protecting its political and economic interests with regards to China. According to the United States Trade representatives, commerce between the United States and China roughly estimates to $710.4 billion in 2017 . Considering the tremendous amount of profit the United States gains from trading with China, publicly challenging China’s derogatory abuse could impair their international relations and consequently, undermining their successful business. Subsequently, this conclusion indicates that America’s ethics value their capitalistic profits over the lives of millions. In other words, ethics can be compromised if necessary. Among the lines of Elie Wiesel’s declaration, Xinjiang, the place of persecution, must become the center of our universe. However, there is an exception to Wiesel’s statement. That place, where men and women are being persecuted, will become the center of the universe unless it affects a country’s best interest. Recently, in October, President Trump imposed financial restrictions on eight select technology surveillance companies for their involvement in enabling the Chinese inhumane assimilation of the Uighurs. This was the U.S.’ first attack on this issue, which started in 2014. Of course, the U.S.’ decision could have been considered admirable, that is, until The Wall Street Journal’s reports confirmed that China has “exported $19 billion less to the U.S. in the third quarter of 2019 than a year earlier.” With their economic relationship severely damaged, the United States has all motive to condemn the Chinese concentration camps. In fact, these sanctions are not only an attack on the concentration camps, but on China’s economy as well. Although America may claim that these sanctions are to uphold the morality of freedoms and liberty, even now, everything revolves around money. If said trade relationship recovers, it would be expected that the United States would suddenly chose to lift the sanctions. Ultimately, has America turned its back on democracy? On its people? Perhaps. However, there’s one thing for sure: America has set its heart on the dollar bill.
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WHAT CHRISTCHURCH TEACHES US ABOUT BEING HUMAN WRITTEN BY AISHA CHEBBI It has been more than half a year since the attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. March 15th, 2019: On that Friday, the Muslim holy day, a 28 year-old shooter began firing at a local place of worship. Fifty people were left dead and fifty more injured. The main attack happened at Masjid Al Noor in central Christchurch, the largest city on the country’s southern island. A second shooting took place at Linwood Masjid, in an eastern suburb of Christchurch, where seven people were killed and another passed away en route to the emergency room. Horrific, to say the least. Yet, in many articles covering the BAITLINE NEWSPAPER |
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story, “terrorist attack” is written in quotation marks. The shooter: white, young, and male, could not have possibly held “extremist views,” according to many news and other media outlets. The consequences of the attack were felt around the world, however. Within 24 hours, police cars were stationed outside of entrances to mosques all over the U.S. and Europe. Within 24 hours, numerous threats were made to local congregations, discouraging Muslims from going to their mosques. Within 24 hours, videos from the shooter’s live stream were reshared and posted on the Internet.
Over the past decade, houses of worship around the world, places of reflection and peace, have been targeted for attack by extremists. The violence has affected everyone: Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Sikh communities. These religious communities never get a true opportunity to mourn and take the time to grieve their losses. Instead of honoring the lives of those that they lost and grieving, these communities are expected to apologize and minimize the tragic nature of these attacks. The attacks are not isolated geographically either; rather, they take place all over the globe; there is no single safe space, as these attacks occur even in places with religious pluralism. Even in a country like the United States, which protects freedom of religion, many Americans are bigoted and fail to defend others when the time comes to do so.
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Aisha Chebbi Cont.
Many of us have forgotten these tragic events, dismissing each one as another attack we scroll through on our news feed or tap away on Instagram stories. To many, each incident is just another hashtag, another like, another retweet. How do we keep these tragic events in our memory? How do we honor and aid the communities suffering and recovering from these tragedies? When an attack on any community whether religious, racial, ethnic, or otherwise occurs, reach out. Reach out to friends or people you know of that group and let them know you are thinking of them. Your love means so much to communities facing their darkest hours.
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Aisha Chebbi Cont.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE MUSLIM TO BE HEARTBROKEN OVER THE SHOOTINGS IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE JEWISH TO BE ANGRY ABOUT THE PITTSBURGH SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE CHRISTIAN TO MOURN THE CHURCH BOMBINGS IN SRI LANKA.
YOU JUST HAVE TO BE HUMAN. BAITLINE NEWSPAPER |
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