April 13, 2017
OPINIONS
Blueprint 3
Down and dirty with Earth Day: why it has earned our respect By Kim Nothdurft, Social Media Director Most people’s favorite holidays are birthdays, Christmas, Halloween or Thanksgiving, and I’m not going to lie, I love all of those days as much as the next person. However, there is one more holiday that deserves world wide recognition and respect that it often lacks. April 22, also known as Earth Day, is the acknowledgement of the planet and is often celebrated with a tribute to your local forest preserve, but not much past that. Although the Instagram pictures of trees and oceans are touching and thoughtful, it’s not enough. People argue that Earth Day is everyday, and I don’t disagree; however, having a whole day dedicated to, the celebration and awareness of our planet and environment is important. We should be thankful everyday, but we still have a holiday to celebrate and say “thank you”. With the growing concern for climate change and damage to our environment, science has proven to us that we aren’t doing our jobs. There is an overwhelming amount of problems that we as a human population have created for our planet that will become irreversible if we don’t act quickly, efficiently and together. With new legislation that would
like to cut funding for science, EPA and other areas of government programs and education that
the dark. Despite what people believe to be true about global warming, science will al-
keep ways us be the informed facts. about the Earth, According to more people need to the basic information Illustration by Marisa Kasher on the EPA website, understand what’s really happening. temperatures have It’s unfit to keep risen 1.5 degrees what we are doing to the Earth in Fahrenheit in the past century and
are rising exponentially. With this we have seen changes in season and weather patterns that draw to conclusion the effects of on our current consumption of Earth’s resources. Some people may not even care what happens to the Earth or are under the impression that it’s just Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest and it’s what’s supposed to happen. However, if we don’t take care of the Earth, we may no longer be the fittest. On a dead planet, there are no jobs, there is no money, or things people want for and even need for. On a dead planet all people of all races, orientations, shapes and sizes will be wiped out. The more we use and use nonrenewable resources, the quicker we run out of the things we want and eventually will need. The more we consume at extensive rates, the less we will have. Even if you just reduce your waste, consume less, become vegetarian, educate yourself on how to improve your impact, etc. you can begin to make an actual change in the problems our planet is suffering from. Earth day is important to celebrate but also a time to educate yourself on the truth of what our lifestyle does to the planet. Do something more for your planet than an Instagram picture, your home deserves more than that.
Painful prom phenomenon: why prom isn’t all it’s hyped up to be By Claire Pikul, Print Photo Editor Before you take out the big guns and attack me for not going to prom, take a second to hear me out. All my life I have wanted to go to prom. The movies made it seem like it was so much fun. From buying a dress to getting all pampered. You walk down a flight of stairs, and everyone turns to look at you. The music stops, and everything moves in
slow motion. Reality check, that obviously doesn’t happen. Everyone thinks prom is a big deal, but it really is just like any other dance. There are a few key differences. For one the dresses are just longer. The guys put on a tux jacket, and you struggle to pin some flowers onto a guy’s shirt flap thing. I guess that’s kind of different. But in retrospect the dance just means the same thing as all the other ones. A place where cliques take over the social scene, the drama becomes inescapable, blah blah blah. Everyone starts comparing each other; their dates, the dresses, the after parties. The joy gets taken out of the dance. Also the dancing makes me want to take cleaner to my eyes. I could ask anyone why they are going to prom or why they attended and the answers would all Photo by Claire Pikul be the same.
“Well, because I don’t know, I just wanted to.” “I, mean all my friends are going.” “It’s PRAHM!!” Believe me, I was set on the dress, the flowers, pictures, the dance everything. Then, I took a step back and tried to figure out why I thought I wanted to go. Personally, most of my closest friends all go to other schools or are in college. So prom lost even more “value” for me. I would much rather have a movie night or go out to eat with my friends from other schools. Maybe I’m just a humanitarian at heart, but does going to prom really do anything for anyone? Besides seniors getting a last “kick” before the school year ends. I’m sure the last thing you want to say to me is, “Well, what’s wrong with having fun?” Usually nothing is, but sometimes doing whatever is “fun” is actually kind of dumb. That’s why prom isn’t really for me.
Photo by Claire Pikul
It lost its appeal ages ago when my sisters went to the one-night event, and I saw everything that was wrong with prom. Prom isn’t your whole life, it’s just one page in the chapter of high school. In the end, you probably aren’t going to remember it much.