Democracy rises in shaky Palestine

Certainly this raises the question of whether or not democracy is the best option for a country like Palestine or Iraq.

living beats bringing peanut butter for snack time.

Joey is so severely allergic to peanuts, that while we were vacationing together, someone ate peanut butter crackers in a chair one day. The next day, Joey sat in the chair and instantaneously he developed a rash. At his school, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Morton, Pa., letters were sent home to the parents of his classmates at the beginning of every school year that says that no peanut butter snacks are permitted in the classroom. There has never been any resistance from any parents. About six years ago, Joey was given a bag oftreats for a Christmas party in school. By accident, the teacher included some candy with peanut butter in it. Joey ate it and was rushed to the hospital. The fact is hecould die if he comes in con- tact with peanut butter.

Last November, a 15-year-old Canadian girl died from kissing her boyfriend at 2 a.m., when her boyfriend ate peanut butter on toast nine hours before.

So why is this woman from Boothwyn, Pa. making such a fuss about her child bringing peanut butter to school? Is it a necessity? Is her child going to die if she doesn’t eat it everyday? Because kids like my cousin can die from someone who has consumed peanut butter merely breathing on him. Is it really worth it? I don’t think so and neither did my aunt. She decided to write back to Sound Off.

Myaunt wrote, “You tell me what would be more traumatic to your child, not having his Kandycake at snack time or having my son go into anaphylactic shock and die right next to him?

Would your child be psychologically damaged by not having his peanut butter and jelly or watching my son swell with hives on the outside, as well on the inside, until he could not breathe? This is just because your child breathed on my son or touched him while playing after he ate, not from actually ingesting the peanut butter. Oh, how your tune would change if this was your child!”

Idon’t think that parents of kids with peanut allergies should have to worry about whether or not their child is going to come home from school or not. I think parents that think it is dire for their child to eat peanut butter in school when kids have peanut allergies need to sit back and think what is more important. Should they give their child what they want or let another kid live?

Lead To Poor Eating Habits

ing a lot more because they know dinner is a long way off. The biggest sellers typically include pizza, burgers, cookies and pastries.

These students will be distracted by an empty stomach later in the day. It seems that any way you look at it, early lunches aren’t helping anyone.

AMANDAPOPOVITCH STAFFWRITER

AVP722@CABRINI EDU

Democracy! It is the constant cry of the American government with regards to Iraq. However, Iraq is not the first experiment in creating democracies in the Middle East.

Palestine now stands as both a testament to the institution of democracy and its often unpredictable consequences.

Scholars have struggled for years to predict both the benefits and pitfalls of implementing democracy in a country and Palestine has shown just how democracy can produce results that may not be favorable in the eyes of America.

The recent free elections held in Palestine left the controversial terrorist group Hamas in power in the Palestinian Authority, the nations governing body.

Although the political wing of Hamas often tries to distance itself from its more violent wing, it still embraces the principles of fundamental Islam, and that puts it fundamentally at odds with Western democracies.

Next door to the chaos of Iraq, a democracy has risen with unintended consequences; a regime in power that makes the American government more than a little uneasy.

As Americans, we naturally value the freedom of democratic elections, but can we promote democracy at a risk to our own national security, and that of Israel, a nation we have a history of supporting and protecting?

With Palestine we have passed the point of no return. There were rumors floating around that the results were inaccurate and the Palestinian government would try and hold the elections again, however

Ithink both the Palestinian and American governments know this would only cause violence and unrest.

It would be hypocritical in the worst way for America to demand the elections be held again after its constant crusades for democracy in the Middle East.

The best possible position for America is to be cautious, but still maintain open channels of communication with Palestine and Hamas.

We cannot reverse the democratic process we so vehemently championed in Palestine, and now in Iraq, but we can keep a watchful eye on things through healthy diplomacy.

Arecent article suggested that the Bush administration has been reluctant to engage in talks with the Hamas members of the Plaestinian Authority, however this is the worst possible route to take with this group. More dangerous than disagreeing with some of their policies is shutting them out completely.

BRADDIAMOND STAFFWRITER BRD722@CABRINI EDU

I’m sure we all were stuck with a lunch period that was way too early during our younger days in school. We now have the freedom to eat whenever we please, but lunch wasn’talways such a democratic process. Researchers at Pennsylvania State University fear that early lunches may be contributing to bad eating habits. In a survey of schools, they found that those with lunch periods starting at 10:30 a.m. or earlier have higher sales at those times. Kids are eat-

The Penn State researchers surveyed 228 high schools in Pennsylvania and found 55 had lunch periods that started at 10:30 a.m. or earlier. Some students are deciding not to eat breakfast because they know that lunch is only two hours into the start of their day. We have all heard a million times about how breakfast is the most important meal we eat. Obviously you won’tbe as attentive in early classes if you don’t eat something before them. Students who skip breakfast will only cut back on their learning.

For those students who are eating breakfast, some may not eat an early lunch because they simply aren’thungry yet. This poses another set of problems.

Atmy high school we were on something called block scheduling. Our classes were 85 minutes long, but you took only four classes per semester. This meant that we only had four lunch periods, none of which were before 11 a.m. This form of scheduling not only allowed us to concentrate on fewer subjects, but it also held lunch at much more reasonable times.

I think that if more high schools considered block scheduling, we wouldn’t have so many students with poor eating habits. Those same high schools might even see boosts in student grades as well, being that kids will no longer overwhelmed with seven classes.

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Bada Bing: Tony is back in business! It has been a long 22 month stretch since we last sat down to Sunday dinner with the Soprano family. Put on a pot of gravy and wax the Cadillac, the much anticipated sixth season premier episode will air this Sunday, March 12 at 9 p.m. Millions of loyal mafia-loving viewers have been waiting for the new season, as they were left on the edge of their seat at the close of season five when Tony expressed just how lonesome the life of a mob boss can be.

Tony’s words still echo, “All due respect, you got no idea what it’s like to be number one. Every decision you make affects every facet of every other thing. It’s too much to deal with almost. And in the end you’re completely alone with it.”

Madon’! It’s enough to make anyone want to see a shrink and more than enough to keep fans coming back, even after nearly two years apart from the Soprano family Jenna Dowd, a sophomore biology and secondary education major, said, “I have been a huge fan of the show since season