Ed. 51 - Taboo by The Talon

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SUBMISSIONS

The Talon strives to be an innovative student magazine that is entertaining, intellectually provocative, and visually engaging. We are conscious of the responsibility of writing and publishing, and we seek to create a dynamic magazine that is worthy of its readers. We show respect for our readers by exposing them to a variety of perspectives. Ultimately, the Talon seeks to bring Graded to the world and bring the world to Graded.

The Talon wants to hear from you! We encourage submissions from all members of the Graded community as well as the general public. We publish in English, Portuguese, French, and Spanish. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length and clarity. The opinions expressed in the articles are those of the writers and not necessarily of the Talon. For this reason, we do not accept anonymous submissions. Send submissions to: talon@graded.br

TALON STAFF 2007-2008

THE COVER

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Sofia Geld and Andressa Osta MANAGING EDITOR: Pum Sang Cho EDITORS: News: Pum Sang Cho Entertainment: Gabriela Paschoal Features: Veronica Wieland Sports: Thomas Graham Photography: Elena Fajardo ASSISTANT EDITORS: News: Yumi Park Entertainment: Alex Byun Features: Eugenio Lee Sports: Minjae Park LANGUAGE EDITORS: English: Luciana Barretto LAYOUT EDITOR: Patrick Peixoto COVER EDITOR: Alejandro Arana TEACHER ADVISORS: Mary Pfeiffer and Josh Berg FOREIGN LANGUAGE ADVISORS: French: Mme Matheus Spanish: Guillermo Loyola Portuguese: Mario Spanghero and Maggie Moraes ▪▪▪ E-mail: talon@graded.br Editors-in-Chief: 2008381@graded.br (Sofia) 2008324@graded.br (Andressa) Advisors: mpfeiffer@graded.br jberg@graded.br

“I trust you,” our Superindendent Mr.Detwiler said with a smile as our Photography Editor snapped shots for the cover. Of course, he represents authority, and the idea of power overturned is intriguing, but covering his mouth represents the broad idea of suppression of voice, of opinion, of expression. On the back cover, we show an example of literal censorship: the CIA’s inking out of words and information considered improper or unacceptable or illegal.

WE APOLOGIZE... to Luciana Barretto for leaving out her name in last edition’s article “Duck Duck Goose.”

LOOK FORWARD TO... the next theme, Identity. Articles due October 22.

AN INVITATION The Talon would like to invite our readers to submit suggestions for this year’s themes. Send ideas to: talon@graded.br

ED CO ITO RN RS ER ’

Turbulent Taboos What’s in a theme?

“H

ave any ideas for the next theme ,Taboo?” The word slipped off my tongue and filled the silence perfectly. The idea of an edition about the socially forbidden felt at once chique, and in a sense, slightly sinister. To be quite honest, although I said the word with confidence, it was difficult to fully convey my thoughts on the subject into words. A generic definition, describes taboo as actions or statements proscribed by society as improper or unacceptable. The statement is perfect in its ambiguity, indeed what is one to consider proper or unacceptable? Should a foreigner conform to the “proscribed” rules of a new society or remain faithful to her own culture’s rules? Questions bogged me down, and as I thought in splendid wonder about social guidelines, a recent confrontation came to mind. After watching Hairspray at Jardim Sul, I hopped off the escalator still doing a horrific impression of swing dancing, when a lady stopped me. Her kind face immediately put a smile on mine, and it wasn’t until halfway through our brief conversation that I comprehended her underlying critical tone. Apparently my friends and I had been making an awful racket in the theatre, by laughing up a storm. I understood this much; perhaps we had been too loud. An apology was most definitely in order. Yet the word “sorry” had barely escaped my lips when she began to rant about nationality. Hearing us speak English she drew the conclusion that we were American, and decided to blame our apparent “obnoxiousness” on our perceived culture. She walked down the steps ostentatiously, turned back to us and finished “And you Americans talk about Brazilian education.” Her comment left me utterly dumbfounded. The transaction was dripping in taboos. We were socially incorrect to laugh freely, openly and raucously; the anonymous woman was wrong to approach us in such a manner, offending our “supposed” nationality. Accusations and

Sofia Geld

insults were based entirely on assumptions: we had assumed that our presence within the theatre existed in a bubble; she had assumed that we looked down on Brazilian mannerisms and customs. Assumptions, the root of the problem. We would not step into each other’s lives again, and yet in the triviality of the confrontation I learned much about social taboos. The idea of correct and incorrect decorum lies within one’s engrained social values. How then does one apply the concept of taboos to Graded? Being a multicultural student body, it must be near impossible to pick community reads that are entirely accepted, or a school play that will please all in its content. Equilibrium of voice and acceptance is vital. For a healthy community, one in which taboos are but isolated blips, none can be repressed and a voice must be given to each. My perception of an issue about taboos remain relatively unchanged. If most followed my trajectory in terms of understanding the concept, this 51st Talon edition does promise to be both sinister and chique. My journey with this issue of the magazine has been slightly turbulent, yet in its twists and turns it has opened my mind. I hope, dear reader, that this issue, if not this article, shall broaden your own views on taboos. Lock up the streets and houses Because there’s something in the air We’ve got to get together sooner or later Because the revolution’s here, and you know it’s right And you know that it’s right We have got to get it together We have got to get it together now - Something in the Air , Thunderclap Newman.

’ S R O T I NER D E OR C

Big B is Watching You A satire on the pace of our school Andressa Osta

lipping through the Talon’s first ever edition, I stumbled upon an article entitled “Big J is Watching You.” Intrigued, I read about the students’ revolt when the tardy policy changed. Ironically, it is the same tardy policy we have today: If a student is late to class more than two times, there is a 1% deduction in her final grade. As phrases of indignation sprung out from the page, I realized that Graded students today face much more in silence. I’ve decided to speak up. Herded like cows down the hall we shuffle into the classrooms under the constant watch of a dark-suited figure reminding us, “You’re going to be late to class.” This is how

Graded students unanimously begin their day. First block, 80 minutes long. Those who are lucky enough might gain those last 20 expendable minutes of class to get some homework done. Those of us who aren’t must wait until the clock turns 9:30 (not 9:27) to indulge in a break of a merciful 15 minutes. But be careful, if the clock turns 9:45 and you are not in class, you’re late. Patiently, we sit through another 80 minutes, watching the red numbers blink until they reach the expected 11:05. Then, another 10 minutes of bliss. Or is it? Crowded hallways, loud chatter, barely enough time to log onto the Course Web, hurriedly print off that English essay, and, if you’re lucky, make it to the Snack Bar line. Unfortunately, the line’s as far as you will get because you look up to find the clock turning 11:14. Crap, one minute to get to class. Sprint down the hallway, up the traffic-jammed stairs, and barely

make it into class as the clock turns 11:15 and you sit in your seat preparing yourself for another 80 minutes. Finally, as the clock strikes 12:35, you’re allowed to indulge yourself in one of the seven deadly sins: gluttony. Walk through the double-doors that lead into the overpopulated cafeteria, pick between the symmetricallylong lines, and wait for about ten more minutes. Plate in hand, you are served by the lunch staff, then find a place to squeeze yourself into. Make sure to keep your arms tucked closely by your body as you eat. Fret not, if you feel like you are lacking air, stand up and fight your way towards the juice machine—assuming there are any cups or juice left. Once you’re done, put away your plate and enjoy the last 20 minutes of your lunch. Then, at 13:13, join the clambering line into the Auditorium for a tightlypacked 30 minute Flex. Don’t forget, Flex starts at 13:15, which means you must be in your seats no later than 13:14. Then, since you were smart enough to take your materials with you to Flex, off you go to your class. (If you hadn’t thought of taking your materials to Flex, consider it now, for there’s only a five minute passing time-- assuming Flex hasn’t run late-- and the halls are so crowded that chances are you’ll be late to your class if you have to stop at your locker.) The last agonizing 80 minutes of the day and you’re free-- but not until the clock turns 15:10 sharp. What happened to the time you used for your homework in between classes? Well, luckily we have Mondays and Thursdays for Study Halls. Sometimes. As a Senior, I have The Privilege to be in the computer labs during those periods… however, I wonder: does a student at Graded really have much homework that they can do without the use of a computer? How do the other levels, especially juniors who are recently joining us in the IB Diploma, get their work done? What about all the activities (which now have to find a new meeting time, because 15 minutes surely isn’t enough) that take up Graded students’ lives? Why is it we have Big B patrolling hallways and students being ushered around? What is the next step, hall monitors?

From The Deep Sea

Maria del Mar Jauregui

The Perks (and Unperks) of Being a Senior

ust when a long-awaited event arrives, the reality of it comes crashing down, disfiguring the utopian view that preceded it. A bit dramatic, perhaps, but to some extent, it is how the arrival of my senior year feels. Graduation year is something so romanticized, something to “look forward to,” and once you get there, the inevitability of the future attacks you. Maybe by noticing such small, and big, nuances, I’m learning to savor my last year at Graded. Maybe I’m just trying to hold on to what I’ve known for the past six years. Let’s start with the quotidian, and move to the general: The Senior Lawn – I vote we rechristen it the Senior Cement, not only because of the sibilance attained (the side effects of IB English are endless), but because the current name is a blatant lie. A patch of grass is not, by any means, a lawn. I realize The Lawn has not been a lawn for some years now, so my complaints are somewhat late. Yet not having a Senior Lawn as a senior student takes a little bit of joy from me. The “Senior Privileges” – Such as cutting in line. The administration assured us that having the entire high school in the cafeteria at the same time would not be a problem. “What about the Senior Privileges that existed four years ago when the whole school had lunch together?” we asked. Ah! there will be four serving stations, came the reply. Fair enough, now there is no necessity to cut in line, right? Wrong. If I don’t cut in line I get my food in an average of 9 minutes. If it doesn’t sound like a lot, think back to the class you have at three o’clock. How long do those 10 minutes take? I started wondering why the line took so long to move forward, and a simple glance to the side of the line told me the answer: when you line up there may be five people in front of you, but by the time you take one step that number has doubled. “Senior” privilege? No, Survival of the Friendliest.

Homework – It’s been often said that junior year is the most difficult high school year, and having just gone through it, I will not disagree. If something is the hardest, though, everything else by default must be easier. This gave me the erroneous impression that the next months of my life would see an ebbing of work and stress. Hmm. I will make a small adjustment to that first statement: senior year is less than or equal to junior year in terms of work, stress, and difficulty. “Equal to” being the operative clause. This, again, takes a little joy out of my life. College Applications – Whenever we used to talk about college, we would do so in a fantastic way, pretending to know more than we actually did, seemingly informed about the acceptance rates and letters of recommendations. We knew what we needed on our SATs to get into a decent school, and we bragged about how well we would do in the TOEFL. Now, anyone who seems sure about anything is instantly put in doubt. Are you sure we need three SAT subject tests? Can I still register for the ACT? How do I enter my phone number in the Common App? Have you written your essay yet? Conversations usually conclude: Have you asked Ms. Clemensen about that?

Friends – Whether we want to face it or not, the relationships we have with our friends now will never be the same. I’m not saying your best friend will become a stranger, and I do believe in the strength and eternity of a good friendship. What I mean is that, once this year is over, we will never again be able to sit in a circle during Study Hall and feel completely comfortable with someone’s melt down about a math test, while another person tells a story about last weekend. We will never again be high school seniors, we won’t ever again have high The Senior Privilege – Free study hall. This, I must admit, is one school senior friends. This bittersweet realization makes every of the best parts of the week. Study hall for all underclassmen, moment we spend together much more valuable especially and even for juniors, means a room of ten to fifteen students, the ones in which we do absolutely nothing. one teacher, and half an hour of silent work. For all seniors, this means a lack of any and all productive work, half an hour of complete procrastination on the Senior Cement. Interestingly enough, the rule “seniors are not allowed in the hallways,” which I understood as a prohibition of loitering or excessive noise, is taken to such a literal extreme we cannot sit on the bench outside of A6. Fair enough, we’ll sit somewhere else.

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On A Tangent Stephanie Paquin Jim Crow Revisited

t’s been 40 years since the Jim Crow laws were abolished, but old habits die hard in Louisiana. Last fall, the day after two black students, Bryant and Kenneth Purvis, asked to sit under the ‘white tree’ at Jena High School, three nooses were hanging from the tree. The three white students who the principal recommended be expelled, received short suspensions from the primarily white school board. Tensions ran high, and there were multiple incidents over the next months at the school, including multiple fights, and part of the school was set on fire.

The next day, a white student pulled a gun on Bailey and his friends at a convenience store. In December, tensions reached an apex. A white man reportedly broke a bottle over the head of a black student, Robert Bailey, who was trying to enter a ‘white party’ on the 1st day of the month. The next day, a white student pulled a gun on Bailey and his friends at a convenience store. After wrestling it away from him, Bailey was charged with firearm theft, second degree robbery and disturbing the peace. The white student wasn’t charged with anything. In December, when six black students fought a white one after supposedly overhearing him boast about assaulting a black student, they were charged with attempted second degree murder. The attacked student, Justin Barker, went to the

high school ring ceremony later that night. I first heard about this when I was reading a story about preparations for a massive rally in Jena, and went back in time from there. I wasn’t sure at first what I thought about it, because while it seems unfair that the authorities charged the black students with second degree murder, and the nooses gave me goosebumps, six students did attack one, and this happened a couple months after the noose incident. Then I started finding more details from that incident, as well as the previous ones. I almost couldn’t believe it; the more I read, the more the situation sounded like something from out of the past. During the rallies, for example, there are members of the KKK driving past with nooses hanging from their trucks (as in the case of Jeremiah Munsen in Alexandria). There is also a neo-Nazi website posting the addresses of the Jena 6, urging people to “get in touch, and let them know justice is coming.” Though the Jim Crow legacy lives on, the opposing side is still strong. There’s been massive outcry from students, and rallies are being led by Martin Luther King III. As a result, the charges have been lowered for most of the ‘Jena 6.’ It’s as if in matter of race the U.S. still can’t really move forward, but is just going to go in circles forever, slowly making progress, but sometimes having to go backwards in order to do it.

The Destruction of Social Constructions

Eric Kleppe An Introduction to Thinking for Yourself

ow many times have you felt the urge to do something, but then prevented yourself from doing so in fear of what others would think? How many times have you decided what to wear based on a subculture you want to be associated with, or how “feminine” or “masculine” you wanted to be? Have you ever kept your mouth shut, when you should be screaming, because you thought your opinion would be too controversial? If you have answered “Yes” to any of the above, then you are the victim of a social construct. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Saying you are the victim of social forces is pretty much just re-acknowledging the fact that you’re human. We all deal with forces that we didn’t create, yet they control various aspects of our lives, sometimes making decisions for us. One example of a social force that has a strong grasp over our lives is the idea of gender. You may be saying, “But you are born with your gender, you are either a boy or a girl!” but something that very few people realize is that to some degree gender is a made-up concept. That’s right, gender is not a concrete thing; it’s only relative. I guarantee our current concept of gender is radically different from what it was 100 years ago. You were not born with a gender; you were born with a sex. Encyclopedia Britannica says gender is “an individual’s self-conception as being male or female, as distinguished from actual biological sex.” Taking this in mind, that means that gender (just like all social constructs) is a force that categorizes who you are. It changes your actions so that you fit into external concepts of “male” and “female”. It makes you think that it is wrong for a male to wear makeup, and weird for a female not to do so. When you were a baby, your parents might have bought you a baseball mitt if you were a boy, or painted your walls pink if you were a girl. Then as you grew up, you thought that this was just the way things were. You expected boys to play football and girls to play with dolls; and when a girl wanted to play football too, she was called a “tom-boy.” She’s different from everyone else, so she must be weird, right? The irony of gender is that not only does it eliminate individuality, but it makes people believe in a fantasy world. In reality, boys also cry and girls like to play sports too. But gender is not the only social construct; there

are hundreds more. Some consider race to be a social construct, forcing people with common genetic stems to conform to cultural standards, or be seen as odd. I believe that any force that you did not create, yet dictates your actions, can be seen as a social construct. As teenagers, the biggest social construct we face is the idea of “normal,” which sacrifices the individual in the name of an external standard. Everybody is so unique and beautiful in their own different ways that the concept of one specific lifestyle being “normal” makes no sense. Normality means that if you are not the majority, something must be wrong with you. Normality turns counter-culture into commodity. Normality sells a lot of cosmetics products. Normality prevents us from progressing as a society. Normality can turn the word “gay” into an insult. Since when has it been wrong to be yourself? But let’s think about this on a larger scale. Though called Social Constructs, they aren’t building anything. In fact, they do little more than constrict us. But what is their function? Do they help society survive, or do they make everybody the same? Without concepts like race and gender, how do we know who we should be? After we destroy these concepts, what’s next? How to dress, how to talk, who to love, what music to listen to, are all our own decisions. You get to be the most beautiful person in the world: yourself. But how do we go about destroying these forces that seem so much larger than ourselves? It’s really simple, folks: just stop caring about what anyone thinks about you, and do exactly what you want (as long as it is not harmful to others, of course). Social constructs aren’t actual physical things, so we can’t burn them down. All we have to do is act like they don’t exist, turn off the TV, dance like nobody is watching, kiss in public, come to school in clown suits, and someday we will all forget that somebody else even thought about telling us who we should be. But I’m not telling you what to think, I’m just telling you how I feel. If you disagree with me, or want to talk, I’d love to hear what you say. Just email me at 2008302@graded.br or stop me in the hallway. But don’t just tell me what you think, tell everybody! Submit an article to the Talon!

E’S R H TO IEDNIT WNSER ER CNO

Workload Gone Bad Some possibilities for lessening the impact of bad work weeks Pum Sang Cho

s the rhythmic clatter of the keyboard keys accompanies me on a lonely night of typing up my lab report, I realize… Taboo has garnered a whole new definition in the lexicon of IB students. It is not religious or political views that we avoid, but the laundry list of homework. We fear not the intricacies of the argument between Intelligent Design and Evolutionary theories, but the uncertainties of the lab report that will account for the majority of our grade. Over the years, innumerable ideas have been postulated regarding the source of this intriguing phenomenon: What causes students to fight a losing battle with this merciless charge of paper, only to be engulfed in the tidal wave of a caffeinated mental breakdown? The most obvious answer is provided by the simple “procrastination” theory, along with the “law of senioritis.” These time-proven concepts are grounded in the idea that all students possess a natural ability to push aside work in favor of a later date, usually five minutes before the assignment is due. There is much incontrovertible data to corroborate this, and numerous testimonies by members of the student body have revealed that they themselves recognize and acknowledge this evolutionary (or innate) flaw. The answer is obvious: the only solution is for us to do is stop procrastinating and take the initiative in our academic lives, right? I believe the answer to be a resounding “no.” There is reason to believe that there are other factors aside from simple laziness; it is undeniable that there are many students who do indeed suffer from weeks with an excess of homework, interspersed with days with inexplicable moments of blissful peace. What could contribute to such an irregular distribution pattern? One possible reason is a lack of communication between differing departments, especially near the end of a quarter. As IB Math students would put it, the

workload vs. time graph is negatively skewed; the majority of assignments concentrated near the end of quarter. The common argument is either that they are usually long-term homework assignments or that a particular class is short on grades. As valid as these arguments may be, it puts the student body under unwarranted pressure within such a compressed period. Whatever the reason, I believe that some very simple steps could be taken to resolve, or at least minimize, this issue without having to unfairly demand the immediate withdrawal of homework. As the largest problem stems from the unequal distribution of workload due to teachers not coordinating assignments, a simple communal calendar in which teachers all contribute information about their long term assignments and large projects would greatly facilitate communication. Teachers from varyous departments would be able to judge whether assigning a major project, no matter how long-term, for the same week as four other tests, is reasonable. Students would be able to consult this communal calendar and further discuss their concerns with their respective teachers if too many minor assignments accumulate within a short period. Another possibility would be to work in conjunction with the “student ambassador” system, which seems to have lost steam since its inception late last year. The idea of students representing their peers, seriously presenting major student concerns to the faculty, is promising in that it would shield the teachers from the incessant whining of dozens of individual students while conveying the same message, perhaps even with more impact. For all this to actually take effect, however, one prerequisite must be satisfied; we, the students, must stop procrastinating. As hypocritical as I may sound, I must admit that procrastination is, unfortunately, a major factor in the load of stress in the long run that cannot be simply overlooked.

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Taboos around the World Does avoiding taboos make us better people? Yumi Park

he word “taboo” comes from the Tongan word tabu, meaning “under prohibition” or “not allowed.” In today’s world, taboos are social prohibitions that, if not followed, would lead to undesirable consequences. Social taboos and pressures are effective instruments of behavior modification and even a method of terrorization. It seems that people are brainwashed to follow rules set for us by our religios, ethnic traditions, or social rules we follow without questioning. Partaking in a taboo also leads to social exclusion and is actually more powerful than the most skillful argument. But the question inevitably rises: If we avoid breaking taboos, does that make us better people? There are numerous taboos centerd on religious beliefs and traditional customs. Almost all types of non-piscine seafood, such as shellfish, lobster, shrimp or crawfish, are forbidden under Judaism. Consumption of pigs are forbidden among Muslims, Jews, Seventhday Adventists, among various others. In certain versions of Buddhism and Hinduism, onions, garlic, and chives are taboo. Other than food taboos, in China, a “naming taboo” once existed, in which people could not use the names of their ancestors or any respectable person. In modern society, however, people avoid taboos based on the social pressure rather than on their own rational beliefs. Taboos restrict activities, and relationships. They are powerful instruments that silence people and also lead

to some serious consequences. They create prejudice, contributing to the exclusion of certain stereotypical groups of people. Some victims of social exclusion are single mothers, gays and lesbians, and other marginalized people. Jonathon Haidt, assistant professor of psychology at University of Virginia, asks, “Why do we all care what other people do when it doesn’t affect us?” We tend to judge people by stereotypes and social taboos. But, Haidt questions, what do these taboos have to do with people’s decency? In our fast-driven society, the more people evolve, the more social boundaries are created to limit people’s minds. There are even punishments against behaving that way, having that belief, or holding that desire. People keep restricting the boundaries that qualify someone as “normal.” Instinctively, when they encounter someone with unusual ideas or personality, they try to “cure” that person, or marginalize that person. With the repetition of this pattern from generation to generation, various people are deemed less worthy of human respect for often banal reasons. Some of the taboos around the world are based on people’s faith. Other taboos result from social pressure and stereotypes. People tend to avoid taboos, believing that it makes them better people. In this growing society, people seem to be just following the popular beliefs without questioning, oblivious to the lasting consequences they lead to. It seems to be time to critically reflect and question: Does avoiding taboos really make us virtuous?

HE T IN WS NE

History in the Making A StuCo update Andrew Shim

“I

t’s amazing! StuCo is actually doing something!” This is what an average Graded student would think after StuCo’s ‘debut’ for the month arrives. Presenting…the Graded Mug…err…um….Water Bottles! At “only” R$10 per bottle, you can both drink from it and show off your school pride! Although this might seem like some dimwitted propaganda, the true intention of this project is to emphasize the importance of recycling in our school and consequently, the benefit to the world. Although slightly expensive, the bottles such an act of conserving plastic cups and help to “green” our beloved Graded. Students can now carry these bottle-mugs to represent our school, carry out the virtues of recycling and at the same time, drink water! Now tell me, isn’t that worth 10 reais? Fur thermore, StuCo has planned events for the upcoming Teacher Appreciation Week. One idea proposed was to have an Oscar-type parody involving teachers receiving wacky awards. Graded students will be able to nominate teachers for titles like Teacher That Puts Up With The Most @#$%, or having the best laugh. Our hope for this project is to bring joy to both the students and faculty, which would enhance our school spirit. And who knows, maybe this event might become a tradition, repeated for years to come? What else? Grade-specific activities have also been planned , such as the Sophomore Lockdown on the Senior Prom. As you may recall, your In Loco rooms were also organized by the StuCo of each grade level through the arduous process of (we hope) satisfying everyone’s wants. However, one of the main focuses of the year centers not only on the idea of unity among each grade-level, but of the high school as a whole. Therefore while students have been asking for benches, coffee,

and whatnot, one must keep in mind that these accomplishments must benefit a majority of the school, not just a minority. Suggestionshave also been raised concerning the support for the athletic community. While the basketball and soccer games have been packed at various occassions, many people feel there’s not enough school spirit or support at some other events, like the volleyball tournament, or other athletic events. StuCo has also taken this into consideration and has contemplated a school-wide pep rally of some sort. While occupying the afternoon of a whole school day, this (still theoretical) pep rally should get both players and students excited for the league games of the year; Big Four and Big Eight. Players could warm up while playing a game against teachers, and cheerleaders could, um, cheer! What could be better than to rally support and excitement for such a worthy cause? Of course, I have to admit, while these plans are awesome, everything would be ineffectual without of student support. After all, there’s only fourteen people in StuCo, and we definitely do represent all the unique and diverse thinking of the high school students. The least anyone can do to support this cause is to simply buy a Graded bottle-mug, or maybe even give a pat on the back to our members.

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The Double-Edged, Racial Sword Have we progressed or retreated?

Alejandro Arana

efore of “political correctness,” taboos were subjects subjects that nobody talked about because they were thought inappropriate, or simply impolite. Over time, though, issues concerning what we should and should not talk about have shifted from social knowledge to international debate, increasing discussion not only of topics considered taboo, but why they are prohibited and what we can do about them. Somehow, we have shifted from a society where it was nonconformist to rebel and be unique, standing out from the masses with individuality, to a society that conforms. In Theory of Knowledge class, we challenge the validity of the information given to us, as well as the reliability of the knowledge we attain in our everyday lives through our senses: discussions about whether Darwin’s theory of evolution or the Christian theory of creationism should be taught in schools, or whether women should have an equal role in society as men, or if it is inevitable that that roles are different as opposed to inferior versus superior. Conversations such as these would have been unthinkable or considered radical centuries ago, but now, it has become “taboo” NOT to talk about “taboo” issues. It’s quite ironic, although the subject matters themselves remain sensitive, it has become more and more common to try to resolve them or at least ease the resulting conflicts. From the days of exploration into the times of colonization, racism was rampant because of physical and cultural differences. In the United States, and other colonized countries, racism was influential in the history of the country since the day explorers met natives. Through the abolishment of slavery and the progression into mod-

ern society, racial segregation remains obvious despite the ideal of the “melting pot.” Even today, it exists in every town and city and school and workplace even though we are socially and racially “aware.” In fact, we have merely succeeded in creating a new kind of racism. When one thinks of racism in general, one thinks of prejudice, heckling, and oppression of a minority. However, racism goes beyond the negative implications because racism stretches from the slightest generalization about a race to the most irrational and insulting comment to a distinct group of people. Today large organizations and governments perpetuate tracism, just less obviously. College applications, for example, ask you about your ethnicity. But what is this for? Will it increase your chances of getting in if you are African-American as opposed to Korean, or Caucasian as opposed to Latin-American? In administering affirmitive action, they are creating another type of segregation, because within a student body, each ethnicity is dealt with separately and in different ways. How do we resolve this conundrum? What can we do against this new plight of racism? What is there, besides accepting the matter of the racial status quo and working “with” the system? In the near future, there will be a turn in the course of everyday racism, for the better or for the worse. All we can do is do our part for a more integrated, accepting, and respectful world where we won’t need to create special cases and policies.

IN A S ’ RRT R O E TT ENDI RUNSE CO

What’s Happening in São Paulo Amazing restaurants and shows

Shows Akon October 16 Via Funchal www.viafunchal.com.br The Senegalese-American hiphop and R&B singer rose to fame in 2004 after releasing sudden hits such as “Locked Up” and “Smack That.” He even ended up receiving a Grammy Award nomination for the latter. Those who like hip-hop and R&B must not miss Akon’s first performance in Brazil this October. Marisa Monte October 12 – 21 Via Funchal www.viafunchal. com.br The internationally-known Brazilian singer is on tour promoting her new album. She has been regarded as the “most remarkable phenomenon in Brazilian music in the last couple of years”; therefore, this is a great opportunity for those who have yet to see her perform live, or want to see her again. Djavan October 25 – 28 Citibank Hall www.citibankhall.com.br The Brazilian musician Djavan has been at the top of the charts for a long time now. Like Marisa Monte, Djavan also has an international reputation as one of

Gabriela Paschoal the best Brazilian singers. Some of his greatest successes are “Flor de Lis” and “Se…”. Many of his songs are well-known.

Restaurants Original Shundi Rua Doutor Mario Ferraz, 490 Itaim Bibi – Zona Sul – 3079-0736 Not even a year old, this exotic and innovative Japanese restaurant has challenged all its rivals with its success. The food is fabulous, however the prices are astronomical and it is better to be accompanied by someone who doesn’t mind spending more than usual on Japanese cuisine. After midnight, the restaurant opens a space for dancing after enjoying your food. Z-Deli Alameda Gabriel Monteiro da Silva, 1350 Jardim Paulistano – Zona Sul – 3064-3058 One of the few well-known delicatessens in São Paulo, Z-Deli is small and has a warm atmosphere. One may not think much of this small restaurant from the outside. However, everything on the menu is full of flavor. The spinach cream and the key lime pie are a must.

RT US AI

A Graded Life Comparing one teacher and one student Ylenia Lemos

ame: David Sweetman Occupation: A1 English HL Graded teacher How many hours of work do you perform per day on average, outside of class? “5 hours.” What is your average bed time during the week? “12:30 am.” What is your average ‘waking up’ time? “6:30 am.” What is your record of essays ever corrected in one day? “20 essays.” What are your hobbies? “Reading, cinema, writing, rugby, dining out.”

Name: Andressa Osta Occupation: Full-IB student How many hours of work do you do a day on average, outside of class? “4 to 5 hours.” What is your average bed time during the week? “1 to 2 am.” What is your average “waking up” time? “7:15 am.” What is your record of hours working non-stop doing homework? “5 to 6 hours.” What are your hobbies? “Varsity basketball, Talon. No major hobbies outside of school.” On average, how many hours do you spend at Graded per day? “9 to 10 hours.” When is the last time you went to the cinema? “Last weekend.” What do you most like about studying at Graded? “The opportunities Graded provides, even with the stress and frustration that comes with it.”

On average, how many hours do you spend at Graded per day? “8 to 10 hours.” When was the last time you went to the cinema? “Two weeks ago.” What do you most like about teaching English? “English is about life. It’s dealing with issues that relate to our actual lives.”

IN A RT E T EN US

Arts: No Limit!

Why arts are fundamental to living

he arts, visual and performing, make up so much of our daily lives. Arts are the key to the progress of mankind and of the world. Perhaps these assertions are taboo, or at least shocking to those used to associating intellectual and social development exclusively with technology, science, or business. The arts compete with other subjects in school curricula. This traditional view places arts as a complement to the core school subjects. They’re stigmatized merely as hobbies meant for fun and entertainment, and hence not essential, and enhancement to the development of mankind. On the contrary! Arts education has constantly demonstrated its ability to develop essential life skills. The arts not only gives the opportunity to think for one’s self and communicate, t hey help develop feelings, imagination and well-being. They help define forms of self-expression and social participation, while aiding in the healing of the mind and soul. Recently I attended a workshop with Dr. Jennifer Hartley, who visited our school from England. Founder of “Theatre Versus Oppression,” she works with subjugated people, especially abused women and children in therapy, through theatre. She demonstrated the many approaches of using theatre as therapy. By expressing and acting out the problem and finding the “oppressor,” Hautley has been able to heal many devastated people. The arts are crucial to personal identity, community and global cultures. Through arts, people acquire skills and exercise the creativity necessary for success. Composing a song, writing a play, painting a picture, or writing a poem forces us to think in different ways, to hold diverse assumptions and to entertain alternative and often more instructive ways of making

Ylenia Lemos connections and ways of looking at things. This creative process aids mathematicians, scientists, and economists in finding other ways to model new hypotheses and solutions and to share them with different audiences. This weekend, I watched a play set in the future, 1000 years from now, on how the environment, pollution, and other alarming conditions will quickly devastate the planet. The performance was a very effective way to communicate what actions should be taken to prevent the complete destruction of the Earth. This play proved to me that theatre, for example, is an excellent way to transmit important social messages. Arts are fundamental in the education of people, whether it is drawing, painting, photography, theatre, dance, or music. Schools such as Graded have understood this. Moreover, institutions such as churches have started to make frequent use of visual and performing arts to spread their message, which has become a powerful tool for them. We are visual beings. We live in a world driven by images and sounds. Our perceptions of the world, the information we absorb, and the signals we send, are to a great extent artistic. We think and dream in images reflecting our five senses. We recreate life in our heads. Even as we read, we convert the words into mental pictures. Therefore, the limiting of the arts in school programs needs rethinking, so our worlds can be recolored and brought to life with some molding, some new coloring, rhythm, and acting.

A Literary Perspective on Taboo

RT US AI

Surprising reads

Ms. Hillary M. Marshall

Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems by Paul B. Janeczko & illustrations by Chris Raschka Concrete poems break the boundaries of conventional writing through the placement of words and use of symbols on a page to allow the reader an opportunity to see, hear, taste, and feel the poem. This fun collection can be read in minutes and shows the playful side of the English language. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi Professor Azar Nafisi secretly met a group of her most dedicated students in her home in Tehran, Iran to discuss classic literature. Although this sounds harmless, the book discussions challenged the foundations that are upheld and preserved in a tyrannical society such as Iran. Each chapter introduces us to a member of the book club and intriguing discussions arise from some of the most memorable stories in classical literature. While reading this book you feel like a fly on a wall in one of the most exciting English classes youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever attended.

Second Chance by Jane Green After an unexpected death of a friend from college, four friends reconnect after many years of being apart. Saffron, now a famous actress, seems to lead a glamorous life but has to keep her romantic relationship concealed. Paul and Anna continue through the emotionally painful and financial burden of in-vitro fertilization treatments. Holly shares that her marriage is a huge disappointment and begins to fall for a forbidden love. At the end of the novel, the friends travel to a remote country home and battle through their problems to find comforting solutions. Women of the Afghan War by Deborah Ellis Author Deborah Ellis brilliantly captures various voices of women displaced, tortured, and lives changed forever by governments who demand change through the use of war. Donating all royalties of this venture to the Help the Afghan Children fund, Ellis weaves primary source accounts of how war affected each of these womensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lives. This book reveals brave, resilient female heroes who found the strength to move on with their lives despite their horrid circumstances.

IN A RT E T EN US

Little-discussed Taboos Are you ready to feel uncomfortable?

Alex Byun

would like to take advantage of our theme for this edition and talk about issues that might make some people uncomfortable. These are usually issues people hear about, and possibly think about, but do not really talk about. Although breaking taboos are usually consciously avoided, I know that our Graded community, as open-minded as we are, can handle them.

means “yours” as in “I am yours, O Lord.” Number 6 is also considered an unlucky number because it is associated with the devil. I do know that in Asian cultures, the number 4 is associated with death because the sound of its pronunciation is the word for death, and thus frequently avoided.

Atheism

Incest is sexual relations between family members. For example, in societies of the ancient Egypt and Persia, brother– sister, father–daughter and mother–son relations were practiced. But of course, many of us are appalled by such an idea. In most places, incest is a cultural taboo with legal penalties; marriages, for example, between direct family members are usually prohibited by law. Shockingly, however, a study by Floyd Martinson showed that 10-15% of college students had childhood sexual experiences with a brother or sister. Marriages with first cousins are slightly more acceptable though. Within the United States, first-cousin marriage is permitted in nineteen states, illegal in twenty-four, and permitted under special circumstances in seven. I think such “special circumstances” are ridiculous. In Utah, first cousins are allowed to marry only if both spouses are over age 65, or at least 55 yeras old with evidence of sterility. Society probably has good reasons for restraining such unions from happening; the results of historical teachings, scientific research, and empirical proof. But I’m wondering, along with the idea of gay marriage (which I chose to not discuss since it is less of a taboo these days, but which I think should be universally legalized), does society have the right to tell people whether they are allowed to marry the person they love or not? Sweden, for instance, allows marriage between siblings who share one parent.

Okay, atheism is not really taboo. However, as an atheist, I try to avoid talking about religion with somebody religious because I feel like I might be offending them, and in many cases, I actually have. Whether a transcendent god exists or not, I believe it cannot be proven. I am just one of those people who think that God does not exist, a follower of a rather popular theory. The reason is that I never liked the idea of patriarchal control though fear, especially on life after death, and how people always had to be dependent on another force.

The Numbers 13, 6, and 4 It’s the number that should be skipped the number 13. There are many theories of why 13 is considered a taboo number. In tarot decks, the thirteenth card represents the Death. Although Death is rarely interpreted literally, people might have developed the notion that 13 is an unlucky number from tarot readings. Another hypothesis is that it comes from Friday the 13th, when the Knights Templar were slaughtered in a collaboration between the king of France and the Pope, made famous by a horror movie. Because of this, some airplanes don’t have a thirteenth aisle and some tall buildings don’t have the thirteenth floor. Interestingly, however, 13 is actually considered a special number in Sikhism, since in Punjabi, it also

Incest

Forgive me, readers, if I have made you uncomfortable for pulling off the cloack of taboo. Yet there is value in sharing the too often unshared topics we suppress.

Taboos about the Dead

FE ED COATUITO RN RINRS ER G’

A review of world culture views Veronica Wieland

hat to do and not to do. What is proper and lowed to leave at times when few people are around, because if anywhat is improper. What is politically correct and what is one sees her, they will suffer sudden death. To warn people of her proximity, she not. Being politically correct though, is only one thing hits nearby trees that can be considered taboo: in our culture, and our with a wooden country. Yet there peg, which, the are other commubelieve, makes nitites that have the trees she often forbidden knocks on die. things, such as The chief of the taboos about the Guaycurus of dead. According Paraguay would to Wikipedia the change the name taboo about the of everyone in dead is against the tribe when a touching the death occurred. dead. People then T h e would use this Māori, the indigname as if they enous Polynesian had been born people of New with it. Zealand, believed The Tuaregs of that anyone who the Sahara do held a corpse or the most they took any part in can to avoid the its burial was extremely unclean and had to be isolated, spirit of the deand not interact with others. The person was so highly ceased coming contagious that he or she wasn’t allowed to walk into peoples houses or come into contact with others. The hands of back; they move their camp after a death, never say the name of the someone who thought the dead became useless due to the deceased, and avoid anything that can be used to recall the soul. They believe that the commudegree of their uncleanness. nity must disguise themselves Mourners, too, would have to smash the dishes they used The hands of someone who thought the dead became by moving and changing something about themselves and get rid of their clothes useless due to the degree of their uncleanness that they believe will make worn during the mourning the soul not recognize them. period. They have different names so The Shuswaps of British Columbia believe that that the name does not live on with their son/daughter if they were widows and widowers may not touch their bodies or their heads. Anything used to cook or drink may only be used to die. Different groups have different ways of defining this taboo by the mourner. In order to keep the spirit of the deceased of the dead. Some of the groups mentioned above similar beliefs, away, they put thorn-bushes on their bed, to use as a pillow, but they act upon them differently, making our world so much as well as around their bed. The Agutainos, who live in one of the Philippine more intersting. islands, require that a widow stay in her hut for around a week after the death of her spouse. After that, she is only al-

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The Real Hundred Years Throwing in my two cents. Christopher Thomas Zambelli

rugs are one of the most controversial topics in the Graded community. No drug comes without risks. Considering that most of students are minors, any and all kinds of drugs, excluding medicine and caffeine, are illegal to consume. Many of these substances also carry psychological and physical health risks; for example, too much alcohol can cause you to go into a coma, or even die. Tobacco can cause various forms of cancer, and cocaine and heroin are extremely addictive and harmful to the mind. The question is; why do people do it? What drives them to impair their health, or even take their lives, with the substances? While there are many answers, I will focus on the ones that could possibly affect people in our own community, curiosity, depression, or some other anguish or emptiness in a person’s life. Often, teens experiment with drugs because they are curious about them and want to know what they’re like. This curiosity can be sparked by, simply having an opportunity, to the more complex desire of actually wanting to do it. At other times, curiosity is sparked by wanting to “fit in” or the fact that since their friends are doing drugs, it must be okay to join in. Considering the emotional reasons for using drugs, there is much to be discussed. Since teens are more prone to rapid behavioral changes, like depression or sadness, they may use drugs to escape those challenges, whether big or small. This can also be caused by, for example, an unpleasant family situation or another conflict. So how do we treat this problem? Nowadays, most countries treat it as a criminal offense, something you can go to jail for and something that can stain your permanent record. Currently, some are fighting for the legalization of drugs. Their main reason is that people should have the right to do what they want to do with their lives as long

as it does not harm another person. This is a very solid point, as it ties in with “free will” and the freedom to act as long as it does not infringe on another person’s rights. People who are against drugs will tell you that drugs ruin the lives of the users and the people around them. This is certainly true. Another point is the health risk, as drugs destroy the health of the user. While this is true for most drugs, not all have such devastating effects. So what do I think? Taking a calmer approach to the problem would be the best solution. First, I think that all drugs should be treated as a health problem, not a criminal one, and therefore no legal penalties would ensue from possession of these substances, as long as the user is not underage or selling them. Secondly, drugs should be sold by governments, or at least at government-approved facilities. “Wait a minute, I know what you’re thinking”. While most of you may now be tearing my article out of this magazine, let me state my case. If governments stopped spending the millions of dollars they do on catching drug dealers and conducting drug busts, but instead focused on making sure that the drugs are regulated, they could actually MAKE money instead of SPENDING it. Not only that, but if drugs were regulated, we would eliminate the risks of other, more harmful chemicals existing in the drug. They would be clearly labeled, and we would reduce risks of overdose, blood disease, HIV, and other disases associated with drug use. This may help to eliminate the number of suicides or homicides related to drugs. The next step would be to educate people about drugs because nowadays, misinformation is so common that some people don’t know what to believe anymore. Rehabilitation would be the final step in reducing, and ultimately eliminating, the drug problem. Or at least these changes would make drugs safer and consequentially save lives. What would be more importnat than that?

AT U

Lethal Text

When annotation is the least of your worries Patrick Lund Peixoto

ost taboo things are censored. To get taboo topicsout to the public or to particular individuals, cryptic. What if the cryptography used were composed of paradoxes? (After all, our spoken language is full of paradoxes and ambiguities such as idiomatic expressions. Someone learning English as a second language would not even begin to understand the direct translations.) Paradoxes would litter the encryptic written work, and if a computer tried to decode them, it would fry itself. And anyone smart enough to understand the text and comprehend the content would either have a seizure and die instantly, become a vegetable, or become permanently mad. This is a lofty science-fiction-philosophical thought experiment, but ideas like this have been studied in the highest echelons of scientific research. One such idea was that of something called a “nullomer,” from a paper published for the Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing in 2007: “Absent Sequences: Nullomers and Primes” by Greg Hampikian and Tim Andersen. A nullomer is a theoretical sequence of DNA-base pairs that could encode a protein that would make life impossible. Obviously, no organism alive today would contain such nullomers; evolution would have eliminated them. To find the nullomer, the scientists created all the possible permutations of a set number of base pairs and proceeceded to compare that list with the genomes of other organisms. Then, by the process of elimination, they would find the nullomers. So far, they haven’t found the one nullomer common to all life, but they have found numerous sequences of DNA that aren’t found anywhere in the human genome. This is potently lucrative because then the DNA sequences could be spliced into the genome of a genetically modified organism as a safeguard if those GMOs were to shut down. Like that of the nullomer, another idea, is the minimum number of genes required for life to function and what are those genes. J. Craig Venter, a leader in synthetic biology, is trying to do just that by creating an artificial bacterium that only

has the genes required to live and reproduce. A mycoplasma laboratorium is his latest attempt of doing just that. He is currently trying to copyright the artificial organism that he and his team created. Venter has done many other things at his institute, like successfully swapping the DNA of two single celled organisms. Lethal texts have been portrayed in popular culture as well. An example is the book Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. It both a computer virus capable of infecting the brains of unwary hackers and a mind-altering biological virus. In this light, the Snow Crash can be seen as an extremely aggressive meme. A meme, a concept created by Richard Dawkins, is a mental “virus” that infects the minds of people, like a biological virus. Examples would be Barney, the macarena, and other annoying songs that are freakishly catchy. In his book, Stephenson takes the reader on a tour of a myth that deals with a lethal text, as well as the mythology of

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litterature also contains examples of lethal text, like the Sirens’ song in Homer’s The Odyssey. Have any truly mortal texts been produced? To know the answer would, in effect, mean that reader-person would have to die. Logically, any paradox should put a person in a mental loop, but the human brain has built defenses against paradoxes that get too confusing and frustrating. The person gives up and finds something else to do. Recall those times that your math homework is so enraging that you have to scream out loud and punch something; this is the defense mechanism at work. Without that mechanism we would not be able to stop “running the program” set up by a paradox or whatever problem is at hand. Yet a lethal text is special, because it somehow penetrates this defense mechanism, presenting a paradox the mind cannot stop trying to resolve. Just as some people are good at math, some people like to think about paradoxes and might find them pleasing to pursue. The closest anyone has come to articulating a le-

thal text is the French philosopher Jacques Derrida (1930-2004) the founder of deconstructism. His texts use language to describe language’s limitations, a paradox in itself. Derrida cannot truly complete the paradox, he can only use circumlocution to indirectly point it out. Similarly, the basilisk in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling had the ability to kill anyone who looked into its eyes, but those students who were petrified but not killed, looked into its eyes indirectly like in a mirror’s reflection. Another work that examines the limitations of language is the book Thinking Without Words (Philosophy of Mind Series) by Jose Luis Bermudez. It’s a work defending the worthiness of thinking without words, such as the thoughts of animals and young children. Derrida’s technique for indirectly writing borrows Heidegger’s technique of writing under erasure. Writing under erasure is to write a word and cross it out, but both the word and the deletion have meaning; the deletion essential becomes a word. Heidegger’s work criticizes the word “being” because the word assumes that anything can be. He wanted to investigate why anything can be and where that presumption came about in language. To do this without using the word “being,” and thus negating his argument by using an assumption to analyze the assumption, he hast to argue in a circle, a big no-no in philosophy. Therefore, he Heidegger used [.] to indirectly and metaphorically reference the word “being,” or a textual loophole. Derrida’s works thus examines the concept of language itself being a contradiction by arguing that all language is written “under erasure,” because a paradox exists at the very place where language comes into being. It is in my view that if there was a lethal text in existence, it would be taboo to talk about it. Even the right to free speech would not have authority over lethal texts. It would be an efficient weapon in warfare, weeding out the enemy’s smart people and thus robbing them of a valuable resource. So far it has been said that the notion that someone smart enough to understand a lethal text would be killed, but what if a smarter person read a lethal text? They would have to think in another from of thought, different than the language-based thought most humans have. They would have to have a superhuman IQ, above 500, let’s say. Their abilities would be too great to be mentioned in a simple article such as this. Another view on the lethal text is that the people exposed to the lethal text aren’t dead but rose to a higher level of existence, reaching enlightment or nirvana. In this way, heaven’s logic is man’s insanity.

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Has Society Condemned Us All? Shh! Alyssa Shand-Perreault we talk about it? Society has a way of limiting us from talking about everything from committing adultery to burping at the table, and for some odd reason, we allow it. Apparently, it’s respectful to keep your opinions on politics or money to yourself, and not cause any controversy. Marital problems stay problematic because it’s not acceptable to talk about how your husband or wife is cheating on, or beating, you. Humans have dug themselves into a hole and don’t know how to get out of it, so they keep on digging hoping that they’ll end up in some alternate universe where everything is okay again. We can dig forever but we’re not going to get anywhere but further down into darkness. If we keep stopping ourselves from mentioning certain things, we’re going to end up speechless, because nothing will be acceptable to talk about anymore. Society needs to climb back up slowly and stick its head out into the sunlight to realize that we need to talk about these things in order to resolve ave you ever been to a dinner party and sat in silence problems. For exbecause there is nothing to talk about? That may be beample, being able cause society has put this pressure on itself to avoid certain to talk about birth topics relating to religion, sexuality, money, family, race, control, without gender, love, pregnancy, drugs, or Satanism. We all know raising any religious furor, should be allowed, to stop adoptions and abortions and keep families together. Talking about sexuality in different groups of people Society needs to climb back up slowly and stick its would spread awareness of the fact that homosexuals are people head out into the sunlight to realize that we need to just like us who happen to have a different preference. Putting Satanists and Christians in a room together to distalk about these things in order to resolve problems. cuss different religious views would allow them to understand the other person’s point of view and possibly respect it a little more. If we could just talk about anything we wanted and put that these topics exist, or else they wouldn’t be in the dicquick judgments aside, life would become more interesting and tionary. There are people out there who worship the Devil satisfying. Society would become more progressive and in the end, or some other God, there are homosexuals and bisexuals, there are different colors of people, there are people who that’s all we want, though some of us just don’t know it yet.

believe in adoption, abortion, natural child labor and pain killers. Everybody in the world has a different opinion on something that another human can protest, but why can’t

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ViVa Voice

Speech to the People R

Veronica Wieland

estrained by the words we cannot say; No swear words, no harsh words, No show of anger; We are told to be quiet But at the same time we are encouraged to speak. O, the irony of it all. Living under the lights, Watched every second of our lives, Under circumstances Where we are expected to stand up for what we believe, But at the same time punished when we do. O, the irony of it all. Being robbed of our places, Things taken from us, torn from our own hands, Or subtly trading spaces; We find that we can no longer fight back, But at the same time don’t want to give into temptation. O, the irony of it all. Encouraged to move on by friends, Although we did not predict to meet; Loved them with all we had to give; Friends that would one day cease to return our bond, But at the same time will never leave our side. O, the irony of it all. Betrayed by all the truths, The lies from those that pretended That they would love with all they could; Partners that gave us their world to keep, But at the same time never had one of their own. O, the irony of it all.

Lack of Color L

Luciana Barretto

ife moves quickly here. Grip those who mean much to you Or they might slip Slip far far away. Life goes by quickly. Too quickly sometimes. Friends seem like a passing occurrence. It’s saddening. Who are they? Am I in their lives? Watch them cry. Because they love you. Watch. In the bottle of the body A crack. They drip away. Taste their salty sobbings. Can you feel the watery blood dripping faster? Don’t cry too fast. The air strains. Don’t let your last breath be here Be alone. (…) Your heart is breathing. Is it mine? My body stopped beating So long ago for you.

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Work Ethic For my mother

came across that sepia picture of you and him, the only father-daughter photo rescued from the flood of ’44, his eyes still scaring me across the decades and hemisphere, eyes black as his work boots. How is it, though, that his arm drapes so easily over your thin shoulders? There was a story once told of a seven-year-old you. You would run home those September afternoons, throwing your canvas satchel down on the hay inside the barn, and plop down in the only vacant stall. The cat has had five kittens, fur varied like her lovers. They climb on your bare legs, falling down the steep slope of your thigh. You don’t mind the scratches or their needle teeth. Your mother, exasperated, has to call for supper too many times; your father whistles, glances down as he walks by to wash up. You would chose the kittens over food if they let you, but of course they don’t. The days at school, too, are torture, as the kittens bound around the yard, see their first butterfly, and nap under the red maple tree out front, while you sharpen your pencil, stare absently at long division, thinking about what you will name each kitten. That Thursday the air was heavy, maybe it would rain. You came home a little later because the school bus got behind a tractor on the coulee road— patience is a virtue in those parts. Was the air holding its breath with you as you slipped into the dark barn and heard no sound? The empty stall was more empty, and you only heard the cows complain outside, waiting to be milked. Knowing he was in the middle of chores, you ran to the house, dropping your thin book bag on the way. Up the back steps, painted a forlorn brown,

Ms. Mary Pfeiffer you run to your mother’s wide, sturdy back. She turns, tentatively lifting a flour sack from a bowl of dough, and before she could ask why you were late, you asked where they were. She turned back to her dinner rolls, lips pressed. He was finishing up in the milking room, putting everything in its place. The hired hand had already left, you were alone to ask. He paused, went to the bleached sink, then wiped his solid hands. Walking to you with steady eyes, he put a clean hand on your blond head, smiled not unkindly, his hand weighing more than usual. “Now, Gweneth, we can’t be having all those cats around, you know that, they’d get underfoot.” You stepped back, his hand fell. You turned, walked straight out, no words. The sun was hiding behind Larson’s hill, the air thick in the gloaming. His whistling resumed, he clicked off the milking room light, catching up to you with his long sure stride. You looked down at his work boots, covered with dried mud. You didn’t ask and he didn’t say. You Joneses were farmers, after all. Later, alone, you imagine how: Without saying anything to anyone, your father, my grandfather, a man I only know through stories like this one, took an old burlap sack and while the barn cat protested futilely, put in the kittens without names, gathered the top in his experienced hands, and tied it with twine then lay the lumpy sack beside him in the Ford pickup. Out by Blue Earth Creek he parked, found a shard of sandstone, opened the bag and gently placed it inside, the kittens making room. He closed the sack, lifting it with a grace that belied his work. At the water’s edge he slow-pitched it into the deep part, its splash quieted the field sparrows for a moment, then a pine warbler sang from the nearby woods. Your father chose for the kittens’ grave the curve of the river where you used to play with Aunt Janet, where even now the linden trees lean over in grief.

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Thoughts... A story of consciousness

have been having these weird thoughts lately. Like, is any of this real? If our life is a movie, then doesn’t everything happen because it was meant to be? Is there another way of living or another life? Are we just being controlled by something bigger, something we can’t even imagine? “Kim, pay attention! You don’t come to class to draw pictures and have your head in the clouds. Back to earth, feet on the floor. Now where was I…yes, Shakespeare…” You see what I mean? What if this wasn’t exactly the most important thing? Maybe Shakespeare isn’t essential for life. I like to read his work, but right now my thoughts are scattered abroad. Isn’t thinking something we should appreciate? Maybe that is the reason why I write down all these moments of thought. Ah, he looked at me angrily again... Guess I will continue writing another time... (...) I just had a moment to write about. Sometimes, I find my mind dwelling on subjects and questions that have not been answered, or don’t even have answers. Some can even be seen as things we shouldn’t dwell on. Why busy our brain chasing something? Why search for something if we are not sure what we are searching for? The people around me are all talking, smiling, and enjoying each other’s presence. I find myself thinking that I’m completely alone... These people always stay together, but somehow, I am always alone... Once, I did something that moved me into another door, so to speak. An empty one, where I wear a mask and pretend I am someone else. I have dreamt so far that I have lost sight of who I am. I guess I have become scared of revealing myself. It is just something I try to hide so I won’t get hurt. Time passed so fast and I didn’t have time to notice. Things

Anna Doro change when you become older; they get more complicated and you feel like all this time you haven’t done anything. Now I have a year to catch up to the rest of my life. Wait, I can’t continue, the bell… (...) I wondered if I would ever find the other side of me; if there is another side. Great... the sound of a person drilling through a wall, just what I need right now... I can’t even hear my own thoughts. Could this be a sign? Maybe I am not meant to find that someone else…maybe that is what the drilling means. Maybe I am over-thinking. But if that’s the case, it scares me to know that I am not in control of what is going to happen. There is just so much to think about. The more we look towards the surface of the water, the more we see what is under it. Maybe I am just babbling but I know what I saw. As I walked up the stairs, I could see a building half way up. Now, usually when we go up the stairs we can reach into the light, or maybe even see the truth... But today when I walked up, I kept seeing the bottom of the building. At the top I could no longer see its top, but halfway to the bottom. What if reality isn’t really what we think it is? We can get to a point where we can undress the world and doubt the meaning of words... In the end what will it be? What can it be? What will it become? Will it all be over...with nothing? “Go to bed dodo-head.” “I’ll go in a minute!”

Brazil’s Soccer Success

SEPDI RECO OTRO PORN TRSS RTER ’ S

A history of the world’s best team Thomas Graham

here is much more to the Brazilian national soccer team than the star players, Ronaldinho and Kaká, and the coach, Dunga. Sadly, relateively few Brazilians know much about the history of the team. Initially, the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol, CBF, was not successful. There were disputes between the Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo soccer confederations. Therefore, the team rarely contained members from both confederations. This made the team weak, as shown in the first two World Cups, where Brazil was eliminated in the preliminaries. However, in 1938, the tides suddenly began to change, and Brazil won third place. Leonidas da Silva was the competition’s top scorer and became a football hero. He was the first player to score four goals in a World Cup match, leading to a 6-5 victory over Poland. The 1950 championship was special because it was the first time Brazil hosted the event. Brazil and Uruguay ended up facing each other in the finals. Sadly, Brazil lost at Maracanã, in front of 199,854 people. The match, known as “Maracanazo,” is perhaps the most infamous in Brazilian soccer history. The 1954 World Cup had an almost completely different team. Even with stars, such as Nilton Santos, Djalma Santos, and Didi, the team did not make it past the quarterfinals. Brazil fell at Hungary’s feet, 4-2, in one of the ugliest matches in football, the Battle of Berne. Pelé’s participation in the World Cup was pivotal in Brazil’s first world championship. He scored the only goal in the quarter-final against Wales, and was an essential element in the the final against Sweden. This era of Brazilian soccer is sometimes referred to as the Golden Era, with players such as Bellini, Nílton Santos, Didi, Zito, Garrincha, and Pelé. Four years later, Brazil got its second title. Brazil did not live up to expectations in the 1966 World Cup. Fights between clubs, each wanting their players to have more fame, didn’t allow CBF to work with the best team possible. Pelé became a marked man. He was brutally fouled on many occasions, suffering multiple injuries. If 1958 marked the start of the Golden Era, then the 1970 World Cup victory was its apex. Many consider this competition’s team the best national team ever. The

squad was full of stars: Pelé (in his last World Cup), Carlos Alberto, Jairzinho, Tostão, Gérson, and Rivelino. In 1974 and 1978, Brazil stopped shining. Brazil finished in 4th in 1974. In 1978, Brazil was at the top of their first stage group, undefeated. However, Argentina beat Peru 6-0, and thus passed Brazil not in points, but in goals scored. Brazil lost out despite being the only undefeated team. The team played well in 1982, under the famous Couch Telê Santana. However, a 3-2 defeat to Italy resulted in their early departure. Although the team changed little in 1986, the brilliant players of the past had grown old, and were unable to repeat their magic. The 1990 World Cup squad lacked the creativity of the Golden Era, and their overly defensive tactics did not pay off as they lost to Argentina in the second round. Brazil claimed another title 24 years after winning in Mexico. The 1994 competition was hosted in the USA. The final was between Brazil and Italy, and the game was decided on penalties for the first time ever. Brazil beat Italy after Roberto Baggio missed the final penalty. After a surprisingly strong campaign, Brazil lost to France in the 1998 World Cup. Brazil’s defense played badly, and allowed Zidane to score twice from corner-kicks. Ronaldo had had a breakdown hours before the game. The ghosts of 1998 were vanquished in 2002. Brazil’s “Three R’s” (Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho) played beautifully, and helped win the fifth title. The final against Germany was won 2-0, both goals scored by Ronaldo. The Brazilian national team is much more then the 2006 World Cup Squad, or the current team. It is a team of tradition, and while it has had its ups and downs, it is still the most successful team in football history. All Brazilians hope that South Africa in 2010 will bring that 6th World Cup trophy. I have faith that someday we will have our next Golden Era. I hope it comes soon, but I am sure that if 2010 isn’t Brazil’s year, then 2014, 2018, or 2022 will bring abundant success and glory to the most successful team in the world.

TS S R O T SP POR RE

Fighting Taboos What you should know about mixed martial arts Westin Wilson

lot of people when hearing the words “fight- fight because it is a way to test themselves. In a fight these men ing” or “mixed martial can see who they really are; will arts” (MMA) think they back down when all looks of men who live for grave, or stand up and take the violence and a sport punches knowing that they just that is a wild and might be knocked out? It takes grotesque spectacle. mental toughness to be put in Many people consider an arm bar and feel as if your fighting a taboo sport arm will break at any moment for people who have yet still take the pain. These nothing better to do men know that if they can get in their lives or are just out they still have a chance to common criminals. win. The adrenaline rush they The ones who parmust experience while fighting is ticipate in this “specunimaginable. to most of us tacle,” they assume, The sport in itself isn’t just are society’s outcasts. two guys going in there to beat However, each other up; it involves a lot fighting in itself has of strategy. Fighters spend time many rules that make during their training coming it a legitimate and civup with game plans to win their ilized sport. For starters, all fights have to be sanctioned fights. Every fighter knows his opponent and usually knows what by an athletic commission and in order for these events to the opponent likes to do in a fight. These men study what will take place there are strict rules that have to be followed. work best against each other and then go out there and try it out. Every fight has a The fighters train for up to four referee that has all months and for over 20 hours a the power to stop However, fighting in itself has many rules week, just to fight anywhere from a fight whenever it 10 seconds to 15 minutes. When that make it a legitimate and civilized sport. someone puts that much work gets out of hand. Each fighter has a into something, it’s not just for strict set of rules the sake of violence. that must be folThe sport has so much to offer that most people just don’t see. lowed at all times, such as no biting, hits below the belt, What makes this sport so great is that it is always evolving; in eye gouging, or punches to the back of the head. There every bout anything can happen. So why not just give this sport are many other rules that ensure safety for all fighters. and these men a chance? Society has made the sport taboo just because it doesn’t understand it. It has been proven that mixed martial arts is less dangerous than boxing, because in boxing all the punches are focused to the head where as in MMA all the strikes are delivered to the whole body. Plus, the fight can be taken to the ground in MMA, but not in boxing. Most of the fighters are well respected people and a lot of them have college degrees. The reasons these men fight isn’t because they want to hurt people; they