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viking Loudoun Valley High School / Purcellville, VA / December 2015
K HOMEWOR SLEEP
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Tipping Point For teens struggling under constant pressure and hectic schedules, finding a healthy balance seems impossible.
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Above / Senior Alyssa Lopez stands for the national anthem with the gymnastics team at their first meet of the season. (photo / Olivia de Stanley) Cover / In a representation of students’ chaotic schedules, the puzzle pieces began to tumble. (cover photo / Sacha Gragg)
Newsmagazine Staff 2015-2016
Editors-in-Chief Managing Editor Advertising Photo Editor Multimedia Claire Deaver Emma Rodriguez Manager Editor Sacha Gragg McKenna Holtz Carina Bucci Sacha Gragg Helen Sternberg
Online Editors Emily Baer Chris Cerne
Online Managing Editor Sean Webster
Writers, Photographers, Business and Promotional Staff Emily Baer, Carina Bucci, Christopher Cerne, Nicholas Cerne, Olivia de Stanley, Cassandra Good, Griffin Hunt, Alexandra Krens, Benjamin Manning, Christopher Morgan, Carleigh Rahn, Helen Sternberg, Zachary Stevenson, Madison Stiles, Tyler Valentine, Sean Webster, Rachel Weinstein Adviser Paige Cox
Letter from the Editors
thevikingnews.com | Twitter: @lvhsviking | Instagram: lvhsviking Finally, the Viking is Dear Vikings, Our goal is to serve the lucky enough to have a The Viking is a completely student body by covering faculty and student body student-run and studenta variety of topics, ranging overwhelmingly supportive funded newsmagazine, from serious political meaning that our staff is controversies to pop culture of our newsmagazine. Thank you for your responsible for everything events. readership and your you see printed, unless If you are unhappy with feedback. otherwise credited. All this edition, please stop Your editors, interviews will be fairly by room 135 or comment Claire Deaver, McKenna Holtz represented, and we keep on our social media. We and Helen Sternberg audio files for reference. welcome all responses.
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CONTENTS December 2015
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Health Wanted
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Q&A with Marissa Stark
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Thinking Inside the Box
Teenagers are turning towards the growing industry of physical therapy for help.
Junior Marissa Stark discusses her dedication to dance.
Comedy Cult sets new milestones in its fifth year.
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Tipping Point
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Black (and Blue) Friday
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Back to Back
Students are finding they have no time for themselves, when burdened with hours of homework and extracurriculars.
Despite backlash, Black Friday remains an important day.
Seniors Drew Hunter and Brandon Weaver earn prestigious new titles.
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The Shot
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Editorial: Teaching Tolerance
Sophomore Jalen Williams charges down the court.
In light of recent events, tensions build as the national discussion turns to Islamophobia and how it is best combatted.
Sophomore participates in the annual INOVA bloodrive, hosted by the NHS. Over 70 students and teachers participated in this lifesaving event. (photo / Sacha Gragg)
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Health Wanted For Senior TJ Holdredge an unfortunate injury helped him find his calling. By Carleigh Rahn
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hen Senior TJ Holdredge first went to physical therapy, he didn’t only recover from his knee injury, he also found a passion. Whether it’s taking a hard hit in football or overworking a muscle in Holdredge stands infront of the Purcellville Orthopeedic Physical Therapy office. This is where gymnastics, these injuries hamper student athletes physically with a he was not only rehabilitated, but also discovered his love for physical therapy. long, hard recovery time. Student athletes can face injuries, that without treatment can be “It taught me patience and the importance of getting your injuries season or even career-ending. Physical therapy is becoming an taken care of before you go back into fully practicing,” Stowe essential part of athletes’ lives. It provides them with a time and said. place to heal correctly. When sophomore Taylor Stowe injured her hip flexor at gymnastics When someone injures their body it is important to give it the proper attention it needs in order to prevent long term damage. practice, she realized that physical therapy was going to be her best, Playing while injured could be just as detrimental as not taking if not only route towards recovery. care of injuries. Athletic trainer Andy Gordon tries to keep the “It started at a pretty bad level of pain, and I kind of figured athletes as healthy as possible, even if it means sitting out for a few physical therapy would be the best option, games. because you can’t really put your hip flexor in “[Physical therapy] taught “I assure them that, if they give me three to four days a cast,” Stowe said. of rest and rehabilitation now, they won’t have to give The strength and flexibility of Stowe’s me patience and the me three to four weeks of rehabilitation later when they gymnastics background meant a quicker importance of getting have re-injured themselves because they returned too recovery time. Other sports, however, don’t require flexibility so injuries are more your injuries taken care of quickly,” Gordon said. As high school sports become more competitive, common. Holdredge injured his knee three before you go back into students become more prone to injuries. When they years ago, and went through four weeks of participate year round, students often overwork their fully practicing.” therapy. bodies. Going to physical therapy gives athletes the “I did a series of stretches, but I also had to -Taylor Stowe opportunity to focus on recovering. regain my strength,” Holdredge said. “A lot of kids don’t have the time or energy to When he first went to physical therapy for his knee he got the feel strengthen on their own, so you don’t always help yourself out.” of the office. After working with the therapists, Holdredge realized Holdredge said. “At physical therapy, the therapists push you to that physical therapy might be the place for him. make sure you get the best out of every session, and that’s what “I wanted to look at jobs I might want in the future, and I like helps you get better.” physical therapy because [I get to] work with people, and I wanted to work with people!” Holdredge said. He fell in love with the relaxed and fun atmosphere of the office and now works at Purcellville Orthopedic Physical Therapy. layout / McKenna Holtz and Carleigh Rahn Students get more out of physical therapy than just recovery. photo / Sacha Gragg 4 THEVIKINGNEWS.COM DECEMBER 2015
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Q&A Marissa Stark
Junior Marissa Stark discusses how years of dedication have allowed her to excell to the top of the dance world. By Zach Stevenson
How did you get started dancing?
scholarship to a college of my choice. That was very, very exciting. Now that’s not where I want to go, I want to go into company dance right outside of high school and do college later on for fashion or something else I’m interested in, but that was still a very important thing for me. Money aside and all of that, it was validation, which was really important for me. [It was telling] me you’re on the right path, you’re doing the right things to get where you want to go, so I’d say that’s the most important one.
I started when I was three, and it started out [when] we had the Barbie Nutcracker movie and at the end there was a clip of a professional ballerina dancing, and apparently I would dance around with her and my parents got the idea that from there they would try to put me into a dance class and see what happened. And I loved it.
What do you enjoy about dancing? It’s how I express myself, it’s like how an artist will paint to express themselves or people write. It’s my art form... It sounds like such a cliché, but it’s my life. That’s what I want to do, that’s what I’ve been doing now for thirteen years. I love performing and I love the feeling of getting offstage and knowing I’ve affected my audience. When an audience member can come up to me say, wow, that was touching…I live for moments like that.
How often do you dance a week? I dance every day, including Sundays. The rigor at which I dance changes as the year goes on. Sundays aren’t a permanent thing, but I would say every day.
Could you describe specifically what kind of dance you do?
I do all styles but ballet is definitely my favorite. It’s what I want to pursue as a career. Ballet contemporary, which is a mix of modern and ballet. Tap, hiphop, musical theater, you name
You don’t plan to attend college immediately after high school; does this change your senior year?
Stark poses underneath the Williamsburg Bridge in New York City.
it, I’ve done it. But definitely the thing that I’m looking to go into a career with ballet, that’s [contemporary ballet] where my main focus is at.
Characterize contemporary ballet.
Contemporary ballet sort of mixes modern and ballet together. You have your pointe shoes on your feet like any other ballerina would, it’s fluid movements, you have elegance in your movements, but with contemporary ballet you have much more power than just watching classical ballet because I acknowledge watching a classical ballet is very boring. Watching girls dance around in tutus, it’s very boring. What I
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love about contemporary ballet is the energy and power that’s part of it. It’s a totally different take on ballet, and it’s so much more exciting for the dancer and the audience.
What is the biggest dancing event you’ve participated in?
This past year has been awesome. I’ve been the closing event for the Fred Astaire Awards, which is the Oscar’s for Broadway dance. That was really exciting. Earlier this year I competed in the New York City Dance Alliance College Scholarship Foundations for dance. It was a series of auditions and I was awarded a sixteen-thousand dollar
For my parents, no. My parents want to keep all options open, like any other parent would, because they weren’t dancers, this path is foreign to them. For me, yes it will change it drastically. I’m already looking into doing a ballet school next year, so doing senior year online... But at this point, at the age I’m at, I need to do whatever I can to make it in the dance world because it’s very competitive. They look at what [you’ve] been doing with your life. So getting in a full year of intense ballet training - ‘cause dancing at ballet school would be 9-5 like a job, and then I’d do school in the evening online there’s a possibility that could be my senior year. layout / Claire Deaver photo / courtesy of Catoctin Photography
Back to Back With repeated victories, it is no suprise that Seniors Drew Hunter and Brandon Weaver have earned the respect of every athlete in their sport and have unofficially claimed the title as the best.
By McKenna Holtz
Leading The Way Cross Country and Track As a sophomore, Senior Drew Hunter’s 3000m victory at the prestigious Penn Relays as a sophomore put him on the national radar and he hasn’t slowed down since. Through his multitude of victories, Hunter has proven himself to be a major force in an elite group of runners, all of whom are vying for state and national titles. Hunter is also one of the top prospects in the nation for both cross country and track. Hunter endures rigorous training every day, as well as following a strict diet. On weekdays he runs twenty minutes in the morning and anywhere from fifty to sixty minutes at night. On weekends he runs sixty to ninety minutes each day. This year alone, Hunter successfully defended both his individual title and the team title at the 4A State Finals on November 13. He then went on to win the Footlocker Regionals, and is now considered the number one runner in the country. This places him as the favorite to win nationals. Although Hunter is exceptional at running cross country, his true passion is track because of the shorter distance, allowing him to run faster. Hunter earned the fastest two mile time in the country with a 8:42. Hunter will be following in his father’s footsteps and continuing his running career at the Division one level at University of Oregon under Coach Powell. Although he has excelled throughout his high school career, Hunter recalls his passion for running beginning at a younger age. “I started racing because of my eighth grade bulldog mile race,” Hunter said. “That was the first time I began to really consider running as more than a hobby and started pursuing it.”
Weaver prepares to put at the home match against Woodgrove on August 27. The team continued their winning streak and defeated Woodgrove.
Clean Sweep Golf Senior Brandon Weaver clenched the individual golf state champion title for the second time in his high school career. Last year, Weaver won the state tournament as a junior, following in graduate Ian Hildebrand’s footsteps. This year he was determined to accept nothing but first again. Weaver not only wanted to win for himself, but he wanted to win as a team as well. In fact, Weaver was more interested in capturing the team title. With his victory this year, Weaver has now won a 3A and 4A state championship. He recently committed to Longwood University to continue his golfing career at the Division one level. Weaver received the LoCo Sports athlete of the month award for his accomplishments and dedication to his sport. “It’s a pretty cool feeling to win individually back to back and it's really neat that I can say I won a 3A and 4A individual championship,” Weaver said. “It meant more to win as a team though, since we haven't done that since 1997.”
layout / McKenna Holtz photo / courtesy of Leah Coles and Natalie Zeuske
DECEMBER 2015
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Tipping Point Infinite obligations and finite hours in the day make it difficult for teens to live a healthy, balanced lifestyle By Jules Simpson
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or some, it’s the grades: how quickly the daylight fades to darkness, hours lost to calculus practice or world history review. For others, it’s sports: long, physically draining afternoons that compress all of life’s remaining obligations into the short hours of the night. A part-time job, volunteer work, clubs, familial responsibilities more often than not, the reason is an intricate combination of all of these and more: a schedule constructed as tightly and balanced as delicately as a Jenga game. It is hardly a secret that teens in general do not get enough sleep. Scientific studies aside, this much is evident after spending just minutes within a high school’s halls. Many students cloak their weariness well, even from themselves; it is not always immediately evident which person stayed awake until three in the morning buried in books, or rose as early as four in the morning for sports training. Listen for any length of time, however, and one honest comment is repeated like a song that gets stuck in the mind: “I’m tired.” The National Sleep Foundation reports bluntly that “teens need compounding circumstances can affect study time. about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night to function best.” The “Well, gymnastics goes until 6:30, and then usually Harris Teeter directness of the statement, however, in no way makes it a more schedules me until 10:30,” Pfeifer said. The least amount of sleep attainable objective; for innumerable students, including sophomore she has come to school with is between two and three hours, with McKenna Magoffin, it is simply not a feasible ideal. her average nightly rest totaling between just five and six. Frankly, “I get home normally at seven on gymnastics days, and on days she discusses the amount of time it takes after a shift at the grocery that I have the library [volunteering] I get home at eight, eightstore to complete her homework. thirty-ish,” Magoffin said. “I do not have enough time to efficiently “Around three hours or more...Until it gets done, so until early - and well - do my homework. Normally on weekdays there isn’t in the morning,” Pfeifer said. “It makes much free time, if I want to shower it a lot more difficult, because it’s not like and eat.” I can just leave my job, so… they’re both “I’d like to think that [my priorities Magoffin functions regularly responsibilities. It’s just hard to get done.” are] family, health, athletics, then on just seven hours of sleep, over Given these airtight schedules, it is an two hours under the suggested unfortunate truth that fitting in time for school, but the reality is, it’s more like average of nine hours for young basic necessities like sleep, showers, and even adults. Her level of commitment to family, school, athletics, then health, meals is often a difficult task to undertake. sports and extracurriculars adheres because you just don’t have time to This much is clear as Pfeifer expresses to a standard that seems to have her priorities, which are closely parallel to think about yourself ” become not just something to Magoffin’s. strive towards, but something to be “School, probably, is supposed to come -McKenna Magoffin expected of students. Furthermore, first, so I’m trying to get that done. And then Magoffin speaks earnestly about the ranking of her priorities. gymnastics and work. I’d like to make family and friends first, but “I’d like to think that it’s family, health, athletics, then school, right now I’m just not able to do that,” Pfeifer said. but the reality is, it’s more like family, school, athletics, then health, The Nationwide Children’s Hospital lists several specific side because you just don’t have time to think about yourself,” Magoffin effects of getting too little sleep. Moods are directly affected; said. regular attempts to function on low sleep causes irritability, short Be it by parents genuinely encouraging their children to pursue attention spans, and low control over emotions. This can make a interests, coaches helping teens to achieve fitness goals, or by teen more likely to engage in reckless behavior; it also prevents students themselves looking for their niche, there is a steady push cognitive ability, to the degree that it is physically impossible to for teens to engage. While these activities may yield incalculable function at maximum potential without the proper rest. The cycle benefits to an individual’s life, there is also no question that they perpetuates with unyielding resilience; in devotion to education, detract focus from what most consider to be the central aspect of a adolescents deprive themselves of the very thing essential to best juvenile’s life: school. aid in their success. Senior Addy Pfeiffer deals firsthand with how these And yet, students plow forward, ever tackling new challenges 10 THEVIKINGNEWS.COM DECEMBER 2015
and redefining their own versions of success. Long school days and fretful nights fade into each other without pause. The clock is king, and his watch never wavers. A solution to the cycle, then, presents itself: time management. As a volleyball player, Senior Hannah Ortmann agrees that time management is essential to staying on top of the factors in her life. “I have to manage my time really well,” Ortmann said. “We had practice for two hours, and then we had games, two to three a week. That would take up at least four hours of my afternoon after school.” In addition to volleyball, Ortmann must daily manage the academic challenges that are endemic to her school schedule, which includes four AP courses. “Some of [the classes] require more work than others,” Ortmann said. “So the most is like three to four hours a day. If it’s something big, like writing an essay or studying for a test then… I mean, if you manage your time well then it’s not too hard.” Ortmann is not currently employed, but she expresses interest in obtaining a part-time job. Balancing time is not an infallible option; it does not automatically seal each aspect of a busy life into clean, convenient sections, because there will always be circumstances that cannot be accounted for. Compartmentalization is an acquired skill, and when exercised regularly and often, time management is like a muscle; it will become stronger with frequent and dedicated practice. It is an invaluable technique for all aspects of life, and when executed well, can be incredibly effective in lessening stress and improving general health. Senior Ben Stapleton is adamant about the relevance of time management to his life. “It’s very important. If I didn’t figure out exactly what I had to do every day, there’s no way I could get any sleep,” Stapleton said. While regulating everyday life’s infinite culvert of complexities may seem a daunting challenge in itself, Stapleton does approaches the challenge rationally and methodically. “First you figure out everything you have to do. You sit down, you list all your activities, all the things that are due... then you work backwards,” Stapleton said. I get things done in an orderly fashion and also ahead of time, so I don’t have to stress out. And when I’m not stressed, I get to sleep.” The pressures of modern societal expectations directly impact teenagers’ well-being. Unforgiving is a world in which one more textbook chapter, one last vocabulary practice, one final math problem before lights-out takes priority over such basic necessities as rest, nourishment, and hygiene. A nightmarish cycle, a groove ground so deeply into a path of aspirations that it pockmarks the pavement in pursuit of dreams. There is no easy answer that will make the road smooth for everyone. Time management, however, when exercised effectively, can provide a way to help compartmentalize and handle the multitude of obligations that teenagers must balance, and perhaps put basic functions like personal health back at the top of the priority list. The rest time is as important as the run time in the race - teens need time to recharge in order to put their all into life. Sleep on it. layout / Helen Sternberg and Claire Deaver illustration / Helen Sternberg photo / Sacha Gragg
A Day in the Life of a Student
Through the graphs, you can see how much time a student spends on a given activity, and just how little time they have to take care of themselves
Key
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4.5 7
1.5 Sophomore
2.5
McKenna Magoffin 1.5 7
1
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6 Senior
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Addy Pfeiffer
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B L A C K (and Blue) FRIDAY Black Friday Casualties 7 Deaths & 98 Injuries Deaths and injuries on Black Friday from 2006 to 2014.
Despite backlash, Black Friday remains an important day for consumers and retailers alike. By Ben Manning “When I go to Black Friday I start planning a few weeks before... whichever sources I can find I look through those with my dad and my brother and we make our plan” -Henry Baime
Holiday Sales (in billions)
Holiday Sales Black Friday and Thanksgiving
Cyber Monday
$12.1 Billion
$3 Billion
Important Dates
Cyber Monday
18% The increase in Cyber Monday sales from 2014 to 2015.
Shopping While Impaired
12%
The amount of shoppers who will be drunk on Black Friday, according to the coupon site RetailMeNot. 12 THEVIKINGNEWS.COM DECEMBER 2015
How Many Americans Shop
39%
61%
Do go shopping on Black Friday Don’t go shopping on Black Friday
layout / Ben Manning
Thinking Inside the Box Comedy Cult sets new milestones as it continues to humor its audience and expand its horizons in its fifth year.
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psychopath enjoying the sound “My pulse is, like, off the charts.” of a snapping neck generally Despite pre-show nerves and jitters, the isn’t met with laughter or cult delivers a strong performance. The applause, but Valley’s own skits leave the crowd howling with laughter. improv troupe, Comedy Cult, can turn even For instance, new recruit Wagner, playing the darkest of psychopaths into an expert a psychopath, teaches the crowd “how to in the art of making peanut butter and jelly make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich” sandwiches through pure comedic skill. as a suggestion from the audience from a On Friday, October 30th, the Comedy Comedy Cult improv game dubbed Advice Cult performed their first show of the year. from an Expert. The witty games came With four new members, Senior Brenden from Collins’ experiences while learning By Christopher Cerne Wagner; Sophomore Taylor Bostock and improv at Leesburg’s Talley Ho Theater. Zach Goolsby; and Freshman Henry His experience at the Talley Ho Theater Trochill, the comedy cult is stronger than in 2011 inspired him to create his own ever with twelve members. Each show they comedy group. With Collins’ passion perform requires hours of unorthodox for comedy and teaching, he talked to preparation every Friday. In keeping improv, Ike Stoneberger, Valley’s previous drama each show is unpredictable, which leaves director, and landed a spot as the leader one burning question: how of the soon-to-be comedy do they do it? troupe. Collins has already “I am becoming “Basically all we can do is accomplished a great deal more comfortable keep playing the games over for the cult, including a around really crazy and over and over because performance on November it’s improv,” 22nd at the Franklin Park people, instead of Bostock, said. Arts Center, where a being introverted.” “You can’t really professional Loudoun-based -Taylor Bostock prep.” improv group, Last Ham Comedy Cult’s Standing, performs monthly. only preparation is a Friday “It’s very cool that we’re branching rehearsal of the improv games out from Loudoun Valley,” Collins said. selected to be performed in the “It’s going to be the first time we’re doing coming show. Nothing is scripted. something like that.” “You could be a wonderful Ultimately, the twelve members of the actor, but be awful at improv,” comedy cult are a passionate group of advisor of the Comedy Cult, Zach teenagers, which Bostock describes as Collins, said. “weird, crazy people”. They are not in it to Freshman Henry Trochill, Senior Brendan Wagner and Sophomore Mariel Clark practice improv games for their show on November 22nd. Without knowledge of how the win awards, but to make people laugh. shows will play out, many members, “I’m not here to create an artsy masterful including experienced members, are show,” Collins said. “If we’ve made you nervous before the show. laugh, then we’ve accomplished our goal.” “One hundred percent improv equals one hundred percent nervous,” second year cult layout / Christopher Cerne member, Sophomore Blake Carlson said. photo / Sacha Gragg DECEMBER 2015
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The Shot Sophomore Jalen Williams charges down the court in the home opening game agianst Briar Woods High School. The boys solidly defeated the team 80-71. layout / McKenna Holtz photo / Rachel Weinstein
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EDITORIAL
Teach Tolerance
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ith the wave of Islamophobia rapidly becoming a tsunami, we can no longer pretend that this issue is too complicated to take a moral stand. All one has to do is slide open their lock screen and log into any number of social media accounts to see the growing debate play out. In these forums, anyone can chime in and voice their opinions however, most don’t educate themselves on the facts before writing their opinion in 140 characters. Most understand America’s founding principles as the freedoms enumerated in either the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence or the Preamble to the Constitution. Life, liberty, justice, domestic tranquility - such are the tenets of America as taught to her youngest generations. The most unique feature of America’s new democratic experiment, however, was her promise of religious equality for all. American Muslims are not enjoying these freedoms. Whether it’s death threats, burning of mosques or hate speech on Twitter, too many Muslims are experiencing an unwarranted attack on their deeply held beliefs. American Muslims feel unsafe in their daily routine. It is no longer safe for them to walk down the street in a country where religious freedom is supposed to be held as one of the founding principals.
The growing discrimination against Muslims is not only visible on social media, but in our nation’s capital as well. During the presidential debates, candidates spoke of banning all Muslims from entering the United States. Governors of 31 states have said they are planning on denying Syrian refugees entry into their borders. Etched onto the Statue of Liberty are the words of Emma Lazarus’s poem, “The New Colossus”; in part they read, “Give me your tired, your poor/ Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” This idea of helping others and being open to and accepting of diversity is a philosophy which our country was founded. However, because of fear of radical Islamic extremists, our country is willing to abandon its founding principles.Donald Trump’s slogan is “Make America Great Again!” However, how great can a nation truly be if it isolates a large portion of its population? America did not breed its own greatest minds or characters at first, it only valued what other countries did not. Therefore, the persecution of any immigrant population, Muslim or otherwise, is a surefire way to kill America’s future, not reinvent it. Deeming the entire Islamic faith our enemy is not only incorrect, but plays right into the hands of our true adversaries. Radical Islamic extremists want Americans to fear Muslims and hold prejudices to
prove that we are not a great nation. Radical terrorist groups like ISIS use American statements as propaganda to recruit their members. With what seems to be more frequent terrorist attacks, such as the one in Paris or in San Bernardino, it is understandable that Americans are afraid. However, these fears are misdirected. People fear the Islamic religion, but in reality there are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and the vast majority neither condone nor partake in acts of terrorism. In fact, many Muslims have spoken out and condemned these attacks. Focusing exclusively on the radical Islamic extremist threat also marginalizes the threat posed by white supremacists. According to the New York Times, since the 9/11 attacks, “nearly twice as many people have been killed by white supremacists, anti government fanatics and other non-Muslim extremists than by radical Muslims.” We must stand together against those who would take the easy road of blame, and unite to defeat the enemy that seeks to drive us apart. It is our generation that will soon soon be making the decisions that determine the tenor of our relationship with the Islamic world. It is our duty to work with people of all faiths to combat terrorism. layout / McKenna Holtz
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