Iranian-Americans conflicted

BY MAREESA ISLAM mislam.gazette@gmail.com P olitical tensions between the United States and Iran have generated controversy for many years. But even brighter sparks have begun to fly after the recent U.S. assasination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, leaving many questioning the future of this international relationship. The current tensions between the two countries can trace itself at leas back to 1953, when Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossaddegh was overthrown in a coup sponsored by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. “From that point on,” said Michael Valentine, the Granite Bay High Advanced Placement European History teacher, “... the relationship between the U.S. and Iran was toast.” In response to the killing of Soleimani, the Iranian government seems to be taking measures to ensure that its voice is heard. In addition, the escalated tensions have given rise to numerous protests and anti-American demonstrations in Iran. Although political conflicts have occurred numerous times throughout America’s history, this contention seems to be different. “After we’ve had issues with other countries, somehow we’ve made amends, (but) not with Iran,” Valentine said. Apart from the international divisions caused by these tensions, the current relationship between the US and Iran is also affecting students of GBHS. For example, junior Sahar Alaei has a personal connection to Iran.

Gazette illustration /HEBA BOUNAR Iranian-American students worry over the relationship between the U.S. and Iran, fearing possible impacts on their families.

Alaei spent the early years of her life living in Iran and feels quite connected to the political situation there. “I came (to America) when I was 3,” Alaei said. “So, although I am not as politically invested in Iran, ... what happens there affects me.” Like Alaei, Iran plays an important role in junior Raha Elahi’s life as well. “My grandmother, cousins (and) uncles on my dad’s side are living in Iran,” Elahi said. She is troubled by the current political state in Iran. “Now with the tension, I really worry for (my family’s) safety because there’s a lot of unrest,” Elahi said. The newly heated complications in Iran also seem to place more pressure on religious minorities. Elahi added that her family belongs to the Bahá’í faith, a religious minority of Iran. “Because of (this conflict), the government and people are more likely to take out their anger on a minority,” Elahi said. The current actions by the U.S. “... just make the situation worse and, at the end of the day, it’s the Iranian people who are suffering,” Elahi said. Many hope that with time will come healing and a new prospect of peace between the two nations. “Although I know that world peace is an idea that seems impossible to achieve,” Alaei said, “I hope that the two countries come to an agreement and think about the effect that their decisions have on the people (of) each country.”

BY ALI JUELL ajuell.gazette@gmail.com W ill impeachment backfire on Democrats? The answer is potentially yes. Last month, the articles of impeachment – abuse of power and obstruction of Congress – moved from the U.S. House of Representatives to the Senate despite cries of a “witch hunt” from Pres. Trump. Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, has referred to impeachment as “necessary” and that the president “gave (them) no choice” but to move forward with impeachment. “It appears to me to be a dangerous precedent to allow any president to (...) claim executive privilege (...because it causes) in a sense there to be no oversight by Congress,” said Brandon Dell’Orto, the AP United States History teacher at Granite Bay High. “To me it just completely erodes the idea of checks and balances (...but) the Democrats are (also) doing this to destroy and bring down (Trump’s) power and influence in the 2020 election.” Some are unsure of how exactly impeachment could shake up the election, considering the fact that an incredibly minute number of Republicans have broken support for Pres. Trump both in Washington, D.C., and around America. A USA Today/Suffolk University poll last spring found that 39% of voters were planning to vote for Pres. Trump at the time the poll was conducted (March 13-17) and 36% of voters were in favor of a Democratic nominee. While these numbers would project President Trump as the winner of the 2020 presidential election, 14% of voters were undecided on who they hoped to vote for. It’s certain impeachment won’t result in many Republicans turning their backs on Trump, but the Democrats are hoping the results will bring some undecided voters to their side. Many people have begun to worry that impeachment might instead cause undecided voters to fall on the side of the President. “I feel like the results (of) impeachment (will only harm) the Democrats instead of helping them,” said Matthew Wilson, a senior who is planning to vote as a Democrat. “While I’m still a Democrat, it wouldn’t be surprising if some people who registered as Democrats (vote) Republican in the 2020 election.” For many, the reaction that impeachment is cultivating isn’t perfectly apparent. Interpretation is varying from person to person. “The electoral college (usually acts) similarly to Congress,” said Mark Agustin, a senior who will register as a Republican voter. “Last election some Democrats voted for Trump, (but) I believe that won’t happen this time.” As Nov. 3 gets closer and closer, it will surely become more clear whether impeachment was a good decision on the Democrats’ part. “We’ve gotten so polarized now that it’s coming down to that (group of people) that say they really haven’t made a decision,” said Dell’Orto. “They will probably for the foreseeable future be the group that’s going to swing (elections).”

Gazette photo illustration /HEBA BOUNAR  Democrats may have been too eager for the impeachment trial, for in reality, the results potentially may not be worth all the excitement.

BY ALI JUELL ajuell.gazette@gmail.com D evastating wildfires aren’t just a phenomenon found in California. The Australian fires began burning last October and have destroyed 200 million acres of land. “What we’re being told … is that they’ve never experienced fires on this level,” Granite Bay High biology teacher Scott Braly said. “(The Australian fires) are another piece of evidence that indicates that the climate is changing. There’s a lot of scientific evidence that ... these events are becoming more severe.” Unlike other wildfires, the fires in Australia have affected urban areas in addition to rural areas, which has for the most part only been witnessed in California.

Gazette illustration/SOPHIE CRISCIONE

Despite the tragedy, the fire has also demonstrated a wave of financial support and conservation efforts coming through the internet. Actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge sold her Golden Globes suit for $40,000 on Ebay, with all the funds going toward relief efforts for the Australian fires. “Typically celebrities ... will state their opinion after a natural disaster, but they don’t always focus a lot of attention on climate change,” said junior Rachel Low, the co-president of the GBHS environmental club. “As celebrities speak out to donate … we are starting to see a shift in public concern for ... climate change.”

Waller-Bridge wasn’t the only celebrity using the internet to bring awareness and funds to the Australian fires. Kaylen Ward, a nude model residing in Los Angeles, caused a massive amount of donations to Australian conservation charities. Ward inspired over a million dollars of donations, according to her unverified estimates, by promising a free nude photo of herself to those that showed proof of a $10 donation to an Australian conservation charity. Other nude models followed suit and were also able to raise substantial amounts of money to prevent Australian land destruction. “Kaylen Ward ... should be

recognized as (having developed) a genius way to raise money,” sophomore Chloe Docto said. “She ... found a way to draw greater attention (to

the Australian fires by) presenting an intriguing way to (raise) money.” Despite their good intentions, some charities are choosing to decline donations raised by people using tactics similar to Ward’s. “I think conservation groups shouldn’t reject money raised by controversial sources,” Docto said. “(Ward’s) efforts may seem dubious ... but the intentions behind her actions stand out.” Some wonder if these people are trying to use the tragedy of the Australian fires to gain publicity and build their personal brands. Still, many believe their efforts should still be commended for bringing awareness and motivation to others regarding climate change and the natural disasters connected to it. As more instances of celebrities working to combat the effects of climate change appear, others will surely follow suit. “We need to inspire everyone to do their part in combating climate change,” Low said, “so that events like the Australian fires don’t continue to destroy the environment, homes and lives.”