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Class of 2010 Autobiography Assignment

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1. on August 11, 2009 at 10:57 am Ryan Hervey Said:
   

   Part I: Who Are You?
   Hi! I’m not exactly sure what I’m supposed to be doing with this, so I guess I’ll just jump right into the requirements. I’m Ryan Hervey, I was born in Dallas, Texas on October 8, 1991. Since then, I’ve moved around the entire globe with my parents, following my dad’s work. I’ve lived in Texas, Utah, California, Thailand, New York, Mississippi, and Seattle, but Spokane is by far the best place I’ve ever had to call home! I’ve lived in Mead for about 5 years now, and I have some amazing friends that I constantly thank God for introducing to me. Outside of school I do a lot of sports like tennis, racquetball (poorly), soccer, and pole-vaulting, but my real passion is in books.

   Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
   Like pretty much all of us, I’ve spent a too-large portion of my summer searching and applying for different colleges. My number one collegiate choice is Stanford University in California, but I’m also applying for UW and Embry-Riddle in Arizona. My plan is to get either a generic engineering degree, or a more specialized aerospace engineering degree, but a career in engineering is only a fallback in case I cannot get into the field I’m really striving for.
   What I really want to be is an author. I’ve written stories by myself before, some even long enough to pass for real novels, and I’ve found that writing is where my heart truly lies. Fantasy in particular holds a special meaning for me, for I have always found it hard to resist the pages of a novel that might take you to worlds you only ever imagined were real, but I also find pride in writing plays and movie scripts. Hopefully, in 10 years, or even just 5, I will have a good job to bring in money, while I write on the side, trying to score a bestseller that would bring in enough income for me to quit my job and become a full time writer.

   Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
   I am taking AP Government and Politics as, hopefully, a way to wave social studies classes in college. However, I’m honestly looking forward to a year in what is said to be one of the most interesting classes that MSHS offers. Truthfully, I’m not very involved in politics. It grinds my nerves when people go on self-righteous rants about how their political party is so superior to the other. I have my own set of beliefs that are NOT influenced by some external body, and it just so happens that my beliefs overlap with both republican and democratic ideals. However, over the year I am hoping to really understand just how much my beliefs do overlap, since I know very little about each of the political party’s stances on different subjects.
   I would like to have an interesting year, but I am a bit worried about the academic caliber of this class. I know I can handle the topics we will go over, but I am nervous about how homework from all my classes combined may overwhelm me, especially since I hope to keep a part-time job throughout the school year. Ideally, AP GoPo would provide me with a stimulating course, without the hours of nightly homework that I’ve come to dread.

   Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
   As I mentioned before, I am not a political warrior. I consider myself a novice when it comes to matters of the state; I am not extremely well informed, but I still know enough to take stances on most subjects.
   Unfortunately, the war on terrorism is not a subject that I know much about. I’ve never wanted to go into the military, and regrettably I have never had the attention span to follow the ever changing movements and actions of our men overseas. However, I believe that regardless of what someone believes about the war, we as Americans must support our troops, for who else do they have to pray for them?
   My family, although we have seen the effects of the recession, has been minimally affected by the economy’s downturn, so I am always tempted to pass it off or ignore it as unimportant. I do though, see how it has affected many Americans, and I realize that it may be worse for other people in other circumstances and other places than it has been for me. Without a much wiser view, I cannot say if the economy is really as bad as people believe, for I know that the media does have a strong tendency to feed on fear and agitation, inflaming many problems until they are burning out of control. I know that the economy is supposed to swell and deflate, and since it has seemed to recently level out, I would like to hope that we have seen the last of our recession for quite some time.
   In my opinion, abortion is wrong, simple as that. While I feel horribly for mothers that are carrying unwanted children because of circumstances out of their control, I believe that there are many other paths to take besides abortion. The baby, no matter how it is conceived, deserves a chance at the life that God has granted it, and to kill it before it even breathes a breath of air is against everything in my being. The path of the world can be changed by one tiny action, and by snuffing out a life so prematurely, you are snuffing out an entire lifetime of world-changing actions. Obviously, others have a much more insightful view on this topic as me, but I find it hard to believe that anything is so bad that an unborn child must fall responsible for someone else’s wrongs.
   I don’t have a strong stance on the death penalty. I think that murder is wrong, and that giving the death penalty is nigh short of murder, but I also believe that the people who receive it are often the scum of the earth and don’t deserve a second chance at life. Life imprisonment, is it really that much different than death? I am torn.
   I am a strong Christian, and I think that God deserves more of a place in school, but I also strongly believe in the separation of church and state. When I say that God deserves more of a place in school, I merely mean that I think that students should have the right to practice their religion at school as long as it doesn’t hurt others. For example, I went to a state run camp a few weeks ago, and they provided delegates with a moment of silence before each meal where we could pray, or think about home, or just rest for a moment before eating. I don’t think that something like that violates a separation of church and state, but it also provides students true freedom in their beliefs.
   The environment is something that I really don’t have an opinion on. I don’t like it when forests are shorn for frivolous reasons, but I also understand the need we have for recourses and land.
   The next two topics hold little meaning for me. I think that the United States is walking a fine line in their involvement in world affairs, and that sometimes they overstep that line, but I think that we have a responsibility to hold peace in many parts of the world as well. As far as President Obama, I figure that as long as he is doing a good job, I need not worry. As the president, he has much more experience than me, although I know that in the past, presidents have abused that experience.

   Part V: What Have You
   Hahaha, I think I’ve talked too much already! I look forward to a great year with all of you, and I will see you on the all too close date of September 9th.

2. on August 11, 2009 at 1:47 pm Jeremy Urann Said:
   

   Jeremy Urann
   Summer Project
   AP GO PO

   Part I – Who Am I?

   Defining oneself through words is quite possibly the most challenging task I’ve faced in the course of my comparably short existence of 17 years on this planet we call home. I could simply throw at you labels I’ve been given and/or common misconceptions. I could also tell you that I act, I go to school, and I hang out with friends. But these things are actions rather than the definite makeup that is the essence of my being. These all, however, were benefactors in creating the person who strokes these keys this very minute, attempting to impart to you what makes me, me.
   For instance, my family has been central in life since before I can remember. I have five siblings and care for each of them more than I can say. Though we may not always get along perfectly, at the end of the day, I learn from them and I love them for their differences. From my father, a good work ethic was instilled in me; from my mother, I’ve learned to love and live with compassion; from my eldest sister, Sherri, I’ve learned to lead and to inspire; from my sister, Angel, I’ve learned that kicking back is vital for a peaceful soul; from my youngest sister, Maria, I’ve learned that change is good and healthy; from my older brother, Tommy, I’ve learned to go with the flow while staying strong to my beliefs; and from my younger brother, Sean, I’ve come to find that laughter is the best medicine for any ailment. I’ve gained so much through my family. Without their influence, there is no way I would be the person I am today. My appreciation for them is endless yet still not enough to represent the gratitude that I feel and that they deserve.
   Obviously, my character and integrity has been fused with aid from both my friends and experiences in life. I surround myself with some of the most positive people you’ve ever met. I am a very socially dependent person, meaning that I feed off the energy of others. In any given situation, if the vibe I get is one of a negative type, my mood and perspective will gradually decline to pessimism and a lack of action. On the contrary, a positive feeling contributes to my optimism and wanting to improve others as well. Such is the reason for my picking the best people I can to learn from them, to fully understand them, and to love them. That’s what I’m all about. I’ve become very comfortable with who I am as a result of one particular life-altering experience: Mt. Adam’s Leadership Camp. It changed me. It changed the way I think about myself and the world. Mt. Adam aided me in resolving my fear of insufficiency to one simple yet powerful phrase: I am who I am, and who I am is enough all the time. My life now is about excelling at being myself, and any actions from this point on are a result of this conclusion. Its simple in its complexity and complex in its simplicity. This is who I am. And you know what? I’m happy about it.

   Part II – What Do I want to be when I “Grow Up”?

   Hmm…the future. That’s a confusing thought. Some of it comes in clear about half of the time. There are few things that look semi-definite as of this minute, and in these somewhat concrete ideas, I revel. My majors are looking pretty good right now. I definitely see myself pursuing acting in college and on a professional level, whether it be through theatre or film. The arts have become such an important part of what I do and ultimately who I’ve become; I have the fever. Thus, a major in Theatre and Film and then also in English look to be the most prominent paths to take as of yet. English because, first of all, I’m enthralled by storytelling and the written word, but also due to its leading me down an alternate path of acting: screenwriting. Being the one to create the characters and plot and twists and turns you see in movies intrigues me to no end. Having the ability to evoke emotion through a story and then through its portrayal. That is magic.
   To answer the two sub questions, I have to say that my future apart from the immediate is changing with the wind. I think it’s safe to say that five years from now I should be graduated from college and on my way in building a career in the arts. Whether this be through actually acting or teaching acting, I honestly am befuddled. How am I to know that I’ll be feeling the same as I do now in 1,825 days from now. Even more disconcerting is the idea of predicting my place in this world ten years from now. All I know is that by then, I’ll have made a place. Let’s let the rest of the rug unravel as it goes.

   Part III – What do you hope to get out of the class?

   Why am I taking this class? That’s a loaded question. Well, let’s start with the obvious: because it looks good on a college application. Simply put, that sounds shallow. Also, I know I am capable of a challenging course and that it would be unfair for me not to put to use my abilities. I’m ready for an intellectual challenge. A third benefactor: many of my close friends are taking the course and I’m hoping for a friendly and inviting atmosphere. The larger question here is what am I hoping to get out of this course. A lot. I honestly am politically and socially ignorant. In fact, I wrote a paper entitled: “Ignorance- Is it Really Bliss?”. I can tell you right now, it isn’t. Whenever I’m confronted with the topic, I proclaim stupidity and escape without injury. Put like that, it sounds humorous. But I’m ready to be in the know, especially because I plan on making a impact in this country and in this world, but I don’t know all the rules. How does it work? Why does or why doesn’t it work? Who makes these decisions? That’s why I’m enrolled in AP PO GO. Plus, it has a cool name when you say it like that. Just a bonus.

   Part IV – What do you know or think?

   I am going to be blunt. Bottom line, I don’t know (expletive deleted). I am ignorant. I plead the fifth. It’s sad, my situation, but not entirely hopeless. Hey, from a state of complete ignorance, I can only get better, right? Anyways, I guess I’ll take this topic by topic and tell you what I don’t know. Here we go. The war on terrorism. Okay, well the first thing that comes to mind is why? I remember hearing some stuff about Bush and he didn’t have the right to go to war there and then another little something about oil and that the US of A is a cheapskate country. Bits and pieces of nothing, really. As far as the economy and taxation goes, I’m under the impression that our economy has done better and that taxes are too high. I’m always upset when I see my paycheck and realize how much was taken out. Abortion. Finally, I subject I understand. Personally, I’m against abortion because I don’t condone murder. A person is a person, no matter what shape or size or stage of the development process. I am, however, in favor of pregnancy prevention and believe that those precautionary steps should be taken before the labor results in fruit, if you catch my drift.
   Next subject to ponder: The Death Penalty. This one really gets me. As I stated earlier, I don’t condone murder but it’s a paradox, because I don’t support murderers either. I do realize the jail system is overpopulated and, in my opinion, not entirely effective. But is death the answer? I’m not sure. Religion and School Prayer are very controversial subjects, but I think its simple: if you don’t want to pray or pledge allegiance to any denomination, don’t. Simply hold back from uttering the short phrase: “under god”. Just say “under earth”. It’s whatever. Something I feel strongly about is the Environment. Regardless of whether or not you put truth and global warming in the same sentence, you can’t argue the fact that what we do has an effect on our planet. Hello, you cut down a tree, a tree is cut down. It’s basic. Now, eventually our little actions today are catalysts for the future of earth; let’s make it a good future people. I’m pro-environment, if you didn’t gather that.
   Alright, let’s converse a bit about the US of A’s role in world affairs. As far as I understand, we’ve been the central figure in world politics for a while now. But things are changing and authority is shifting. We are in a detrimental position with our economy and general morale being where it is, and this will not go undetected. We need to continue our humanitarian efforts while still focusing on our own issues and finding solutions. Obama time. Honestly, I just like the way he talks. He also had really enticing advertisement that was both artistic and effective. I like the guy. I couldn’t tell you what he stands for, but I like him. Point made.

   Part V – What Have you?

   What have I? Hmmm…little tid-bitties I didn’t add before. As a precursor, I’m big on laughter and funny phrases. Holla back, Hakuna Matata, whatever ma’. It’s all good. If you want to laugh, hit me up. Aight?

3. on August 12, 2009 at 12:45 pm Katie Bates Said:
   

   Part I: Who Are You?
   Heeeey! I am Katie Bates. Outside of school I play tennis, and I usually spend time doing anything with my friends. Mainly I’m with my best friend, Nicole. This is my first year living with just my parents at my house because my other siblings are off to college. Kellee left in the beginning of August, and she was enrolled in AP GO PO last school year as well. I lived at my cabin this summer, and I worked full time at the camp store in Priest Lake State Park through the end of July. My oldest sister is getting married this month, so I’ve been busy with that. I’m hoping to be prepared for my last year of high school!

   Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
   I know one hundred percent I am going to a four-year college. I will most likely go to Portland or Seattle. I’ll apply for Gonzaga also but only because my parents would be thrilled if I stayed in Spokane with them. I’ve always thought about being an elementary school teacher, but I am still keeping my options open because there are so many choices. I would love to be able to travel for my job, but I’m not sure what I’ll be doing. Five years from now seems like forever, but I’m hoping I’ll be done with University by then. Ten years from now I’m thinking I’ll be settled down and living my life.

   Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
   I’m taking this class to challenge me and because I think history and government is very interesting. I took AP US last year, and it was by far my favorite class. I hope the year is fun and enjoyable, but I am still there to learn. I hate busy work, but I do think homework is important. I like the occasional lecture, but only if the teacher can make them interesting enough to pay attention.

   Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
   My political knowledge is somewhere between novice and average. The War on Terrorism I do not agree with. It may be because I do not understand the reasoning for it, but I think it has hurt our nation, and we can’t win a war with the direction we’re going. I wish I understood our economy more. I know everyone’s credit is bad, and it’s a spiral once we start going down. I want to know how to fix it, which I’m sure everyone else does too. Abortion is illegal because of some big case in the 1970’s or 1980’s. It’s hard to agree with this or not, but I think it’s a very fine line of where a life starts and what can be considered murder. I’m not too informed on the death penalty, but if someone is sentenced to the death penalty it should be a painless and humane death. Religion and prayer in school rules makes sense to me, but I think they can be over the top sometimes. Our nation was built “under God”, and free country or not, we should stick to that. I know the environment needs our help and isn’t in good shape, but in no way am I pro-environment. I won’t use a grocery bag if I don’t need it, and I get annoyed with gas hog cars, but that’s about it. I hope America is a big part in world affairs in the future, but I don’t know much about that subject. The messy war we’re stuck in is bound to hurt us in that area. I hope we have not already reached our peak. All I really know about Obama and Congress after the election is that it’s mostly Democrat and they’re suppose to be helping our economy and “change”.

   Part V: What Have You
   I hope this school year is the best, and I’m looking forward to it the most I can!

4. on August 12, 2009 at 11:54 pm Larae Stotts Said:
   

   Part I: Who are you?
   Fun fact: I share my name, Larae, with a type of putrid, striped fabric. My house contains five goofy people; my father, Tom; my mother, Debby; my brother, Carter (seven years my junior); and my sister, Jorie (11 years my junior). I consider myself to be particularly eclectic. In addition, I tend to just go with the flow of things. I am a big believer in karma and not stressing the minute details in life. Devon Marie Preedy, Kelli Ann Davin, and Jeremy Paul Urann are three people I spend night after night laughing with. I am employed at Pattison’s North, and can be spotted once in awhile groovin’ on my quads, racing around the rink Various other habits of mine include strumming on my guitar, shopping at thrifty hot spots, and sipping a nice, steaming peppermint mocha (hold the whipped cream). I am passionate about theatre, especially musicals. I possess a small vinyl record collection, with my favorite finds so far being Fleetwood Mac: Live and The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine. I am thoroughly intrigued by strangers, as well as serendipitous occasions and epiphanies. So far, I have spent my summer preparing for a show at Old Orchard Theatre and enjoying time off with my friends. I also took a ramble on the Amtrak train to Iowa to visit some family. Overall, I am very laid back, and am looking forward to a bright n’ shiny future!

   Part II: What do you want to be when you “grow up”?
   People say, “You’ll never work a day if you love your job.” As I look ahead, I can see myself enjoying a career in law, or something that deals with theatre. The details are wish-washy, but I am confident they will fall into place. After graduation, I plan on attending either UW or Whitworth. However, I may decide to go to community college for a year or two first, for finance’s sake. In five years, I hope that going into the Peace Corps will fit into my plans. In ten years, I have no idea where I’ll be, and I’m okay with that! I hope to visit Jamaica and Paris, go skydiving, and possibly adopt a child.

   Part III:
   I am enrolled in AP GOPO because I think it is important to know what is going on in our government. It’s far too easy to ignore the issues all together, and I’m hoping this year will keep me focused on what’s up. I would hope that the year is laid back, yet productive. Personally, I prefer assignments that allow some creativity. I am also enrolled in the class because I am looking for a challenge, and I am certain that this is the place to find a fast pace.

   Part IV:
   My level of political knowledge would likely be average. I often find myself listening to political talk shows and understanding only some of what is being said. It frustrates me that half of the time the things being said aren’t even true. Even if I did understand them, it wouldn’t be the truth I was comprehending.
   -I don’t have a set opinion on the war yet. I believe that problems could be solved in other ways, but only with those who are willing. However, many of our enemies aren’t quite so civil, and sometimes war isn’t such a drastic measure.
   -As far as the economy goes, I don’t understand how it all works. I certainly believe that looking at it pessimistically isn’t going to help anything. I do hope that someday I can invest money and understand what my money is doing once I hand it to my investor.
   -Unless the mother’s or child’s life is threatened by the pregnancy, abortion is inhumane. Adoption should definitely be considered if a mother does not feel she is in an adequate position to raise and love a child. Forgive me for quoting Juno, but, “all babies want to get borned!”
   -I don’t think it is acceptable to pray in public schools. However, the phrase, “one nation under God,” should be spoken in the pledge of allegiance. Students who don’t feel comfortable doing so may remain silent.
   -The environment is a legitimate concern; however, there are higher priorities which need to be straightened out.
   -I don’t have any predictions as to where the U.S. will play out in future world affairs.
   -President Obama… he is a strong figure and has a hopeful voice which is excellent in an economic hardship like the one we have on our plate. However, I do not approve of his recent thoughts of universalizing healthcare. I feel that the government applies paper clips and wads of gum to many problems, and that is definitely not going to cure cancer.

   That’s all, folks!

5. on August 13, 2009 at 12:29 am Ryan Hervey Said:
   

   In response to Jeremy Urann’s post:

   Holla for Mt. Adam’s Leadership Camp! Actually, I was really taken aback by your elegant writing style, it’s inspiring to see someone else who views language with the same passion that I do. It is an art, for words themselves can paint a deeper, more colorful picture than any paintbrush. Language can bring to light every nuance of both physical and emotional settings, creating a bond between the reader and the work unseen in any other field.

   It’s odd that we work in ASB together, and yet these areas of conversation rarely come up. I’ve never before known how many siblings you have, or what you want to do after high school. I mean, acting! That’s amazing! You have a god given gift on stage, and I’m glad that you’re pursuing your dream.

   I also thought it was intriguing to see how closely our opinions on certain topics overlapped. Take abortion for example, I think that you actually managed to state my stance on abortion better than I did!

   Frankly, I really look forward to getting to know you better over the school year in both AP GoPo and ASB, and I wish you the best of luck in everything you do.

   Ryan

6. on August 13, 2009 at 4:21 pm Alysa Draper-Dehart Said:
   

   Part I: Who Are You?
   I am Alysa Sue Draper- DeHart. My father gave me the name ‘Alysa’ my mom however wanted to call me Dru. Sue was short for the name Susan, who was my Godmother. She was a friend of my mother. Draper is my dad’s last name, Dehart is my mom’s. My mom is a professional women, who felt strongly that women should not need to change their last names. From typing that, my mom is really…strong willed… and I get some of that myself. But mainly, I’m a nerd, my room is part library, part movie rental (friends tend to borrow all my movies) and part bedroom. I read science fiction and manga’s. Manga’s are Japanese comic books, and because I can’t read Japanese there all in English.
   Right after school let out for the summer, I went to Washington D.C. for 10 days, as part of a leadership/medicine camp through the ‘Lead America’ program. Those were full days, from 6 in the morning to 10 at night. It was held at Georgetown University. The content of the course covered lectures on different aspects of leadership and medicine labs; we did a robotic simulation of a collapsed diabetic patent, a cadaver lab and many others. We also took field trips to the National Library of Medicine, Walter Reed, and the monuments. The coolest part was on the 4th, we got to go to the reflecting pools in front of the Lincoln memorial to watch the fireworks. I also earned one college credit in taking the course. The reason I went to this conference was to see if medicine was right for me. I am still not certain, but believe I want to go another direction in my studies.
   Upon returning to Spokane, I had a few days off, before the National Veteran Wheelchair games started in Spokane. My mother was the event coordinator for the games, so I had to volunteer for the games, and help her out. I worked doing Air guns and Archery, and helping with misc. projects. As for the rest of the summer World of Warcraft has become my summer forte.
   Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
   As for the future, I’ll be taking it one step at a time. First finish High School, and then move onto college. I’m still checking schools, but at the moment WSU is where I want to attend. Due to it being in-state, close yet far, it’s considered to be a good school and they have all the starter classes so if I become a teacher, doctor or lawyer, the door is still open.
   Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
   In truth I know little to nothing of government or politics. Both are in the unknown for me, and that has to change. Beyond that, I wish to learn current issues to their full extent, not just the basic top layer that everyone notices and talks about, I wish to find out about the under lying issues. As for learning strategies, group discussions tend to work the best for me.
   Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
   • The War on Terrorism
   -Currently the United States can’t pull out because not only would everything have been a waste but the situation might just get worse. There are many groups around the world, who hate the US or just want to cause havoc. They usually have a cause, and thrive on killing and causing chaos. This then throws them in the limelight, and brings attention to their cause.
   • The Economy/Taxation
   -The economy sucks, but it’s not another Great Depression. Lots of companies are having financial troubles, and people are also losing their jobs. Just as other people are being hired, with no benefits, so that the companies save money.
   • Abortion
   I believe it is a women’s choice. I do not agree that other people should interfere with the decision a women makes.
   • The Death Penalty
   -An eye for an eye. However if someone killed, say in self defense or a military situation then ‘an eye for an eye’ shouldn’t apply. But for criminal reasons such as a serial killer or whatnot then the death penalty should be applied.
   • Religion/School Prayer
   -In truth I’m somewhat of an atheist, but ‘prayer’ doesn’t hurt me nor do I care about someone else’s beliefs. One religion is no better or worse then another, unless a religion becomes a cult which harms others, then I have a problem. A perfect example being Sciencetology, I say “GO ANONYMOUS!”, sciencetology is just a cult.
   • The Environment
   -I care about the environment, and the effects mistreating it will have on our lives. For example clean water, and not polluting the air. I do believe in Global warming, I believe that over the course of time there are environmental changes, and we are in one of those changes now however the changes are in the extreme due to the added effects of gas and chemicals. I hate littering, and am a freak about that.
   • The Future Role of the United States in world affairs
   -No idea beyond the basic; ’stop’ terrorism, create allies politically and economically with China and other Eastern countries.
   • President Obama and/or Congress
   -Obama’s young that’s why the younger population like’s him along with his so called promise of change…I’m republican I wanted McCain as president so that the country could remain safe. He is a really good speaker, and the press likes him. My family watches a lot of Fox news, and get another side of the picture. Our country is in a scary situation with him at the helm, and the democrats in charge.
   Part V: What Have You
   I hope to become friends with my class, because as I understand it, we will be spending all senor year together, the last year of high school and the start of our lives in the future. And I hope that the class goes beyond my expectations, as I’m sure it will.

7. on August 14, 2009 at 4:08 pm Megan Erickson Said:
   

   Part I: Who Are You?

   Well, I’m Megan Erickson and I have lived in Spokane my ENTIRE life. I guess it is not too bad though. My interests outside of school pretty much consist of activities that I do with my family. Some of those interests include water skiing, scuba diving, and snow skiing.
   My sister Alexa just graduated from Mt. Spokane and is heading to UW, so naturally a good part of my summer was dedicated to assisting her get situated and ready for college; dorm shopping, orientations- “fun” stuff like that. Other than helping Alexa, my family and I traveled quite a bit. We went to Hawaii and California and Priest Lake. We never spent more than a week at our house this summer. In the middle of summer, by friend Taylor Gordon (who used to live in Spokane until sophomore year) and my cousin Sammi Lusher visited from California and we spent a while at my family’s cabin at Priest Lake. To relax and unwind, we just lazed around- eating, reading books, eating, swimming, eating.
   Ultimately, I did not really prepare at all for senior year or college, which I probably should have.

   Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?

   My plans for the future definitely include college. For me, the issue of attending college was never a question; I have never even considered NOT pursuing a higher education. I believe that college, for me, is the most intelligent plan for a secure future. Plus, I know I would enjoy the atmosphere, freedom, and learning what I choose to. Though, for lack of better reasoning, I feel that I did not work my butt off in high school just to let all the time and work invested in my education slide.
   On the other hand, I have absolutely no clue what I wish to pursue in college or even what school I want to attend. Yes, I understand that I better have an idea soon though (which my parents have reminded me multiple times). Consequently, I do not know where I see myself in ten years, though I expect in five I will still be in school. But who knows where I will end up? I wish I did.

   Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?

   Yes, like most people I am sure, I signed up for AP GO PO because an AP class would look exceptional for college applications. And honestly, I am sure the class will be interesting too. Plus, I understand that the work would pay off. I push myself academically and I could not see myself taking an easier class. Of course, I want the year to go moderately easy (I mean, it is senior year after all) but I understand that hard work is necessary. However, I now want to take the course in hopes of keeping up with all the happenings in the world. I probably should have a clue of what is going on. It would be nice to have a steady grip of what I believe and how those beliefs would influence people and the world. It is slightly frustrating when I open my mouth in hopes of stating some innovative, reflective, scholarly, political concept but instead stupid just gushes out.

   Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?

   I would label my political knowledge as merely novice. But I guess that is the whole point of taking this course: to up our knowledge on political matters.
   The War on Terrorism is an issue that I am not too familiar with. Of course, who likes war? Though, whether you believe in the cause of the war or not, we should all support the troops because they ultimately are fighting to keep America safe. The war, I guess, is justified to a point. For the safety of the citizens and the security of US, extreme measures do have to be taken. I am sure we will never know exactly how many terrorist plots have been exposed and avoided because of the war.
   The method to handle the economy is controversial. I think that the fluctuation of the economy is unavoidable, as we have seen in history numerous times. But I feel that if we wait it out, (hopefully) everything would get solved. It is only inevitable for there to be a downturn every now and then. It only sucks that it had to happen in our generation.
   Though it does not seem fair that a huge chunk of an individual’s monetary supply is taken, it is certainly understandable that taxes are necessary. On the other hand, taxes seem to be going too far. For those who are “wealthy”, or those who earn more than $250,000, Obama’s administration wants to tax them considerably more than an “average middle class” citizen. The essence of being wealthy is because those individuals EARNED the money (of course, there are the exceptions like celebrities or inheritance, but for the most part those who have the $250,000 have seemed to work for it). By excessively taxing those considered wealthy, the resulted incomes for all citizens would essentially be equal. What would be the incentive to work then? Though all occupations are beneficial to everyone in certain ways, I feel that those who work extensively or relentlessly earn the right to be taxed fairly.
   The death penalty and abortion are two topics that are difficult to wrap my head around. I feel that the death penalty is justified. Judges and lawyers do not go distributing death penalties to just any criminal. Those who receive such a harsh punishment certainly deserve it. Abortion, I feel, is again justified to a certain degree. If the mother is in danger the child harming her or if the mother was raped, I think that abortion is justified. On the other hand, for those who merely want to get rid of the kid, abortion should not be an option for them. But who is to judge these different instances? Anyone could say “I was raped!” In the end, I am still on the fence when it comes to abortion.
   The environment is not as idiot-proof as we wish it to be, I feel. We should do all we can to protect it, of course, but when we need its resources we should use them. Moderation and balance and careful planning is the way to go until we find effective methods to protect it.
   As for religion, I think that people could worship whatever the hell they want. Yes, I know that the US was founded under the freedom of religion, which was at the time God and not really much else, but we should still follow similar ideals. On the other hand, when various religions start getting too radical to a point of disturbing the worship of others and forcing their beliefs in places they do not belong, that is the time when something should be done to keep them under control. In addition, school prayer is too over-analyzed in my opinion. I do not believe that school prayer should be allowed in public schools, but people should understand that because the US was founded under God, the phrase “under God” in the pledge is acceptable. If you don’t want to say it, don’t. If you don’t agree with it, tough.
   The United States in world affairs. I do not really know what to say for this. The US does indeed have a place in the world. I mean, “superpower”. But we cannot overextend ourselves, especially at a time such as this when we have enough issues on our plate.
   Ah, Obama. Though he does speak quite excellently, we should look beyond all his pretty words and hear what he really says. I am kind of skeptical with how the country might turn out. But I guess we can only hope that whatever the outcome may be, everyone is somewhat satisfied.

   Part V – What have you?

   Ummm…. no, I think that’s it.

8. on August 14, 2009 at 4:54 pm Katie Preston Said:
   

   Part 1: “Who Am I?”
   Hola! My name is Katie Preston. I am the oldest child and I have a younger brother name Joe, he is 13 years old and he is already way taller than I am! I’ve lived in the same house on Stevens Street for my whole life. My parents are Jim and Molly. My mom works at Incyte Pathology and well, everyone knows where my dad works. ☺ I play volleyball and I also was on the track and field team this year, which was exciting and new. This summer I trained and conditioned for volleyball through a program at West Valley High School and it was probably the most tiring experiences of my life, but it will help me a lot this coming volleyball season! This summer I also attended Evergreen Girls State at Central Washington University. I learned a lot on what makes a government works and the different branches of government. My time there was amazingly rewarding and I made friendships that will last a lifetime. I also went to Oregon with my entire family this summer. It was fun to see all my family members I had not seen in a long time. Oregon suits me, the relaxed style and earthy environment is perfect for me. I love to run, bike, swim and go kayaking, and I did a lot of that this summer!

   Part 2: “What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?”
   As the summer comes to an end my search for my dream college continues. I still am not entirely sure where I want to go, but UW, University of Portland, and Santa Clara are my top choices. All three schools are unique, exciting, and truthfully, a little terrifying!
   As for what I want to be when I grow up I know I would like to go into the medical field. Nursing, physical therapy or becoming a doctor are the career fields I am looking into the most. I really enjoy helping others and meeting new people, and through the medical field I can do that. Honestly, I don’t know where I will be five or ten years from now. Hopefully, I won’t be living on the streets as a bum, but truly I hope that I will be happy and content with my life, in whatever I do.

   Part 3: “What Do You Hope To Get Out Of This Class?”
   I am taking this class to learn more about politics and the world outside of the US of A. I wanted to take an academically challenging class that will help me grow as a person. I want to learn more about how decisions the government makes, and how these decisions are made. We cannot ignore the government and its choices, no matter how easy that may be. I hope this class will help me become more informed on the events of the world.

   Part 4: “What Do You Know Or Think?”
   I am probably between average and novice when it comes to issues in the world. I get the most of my political news from The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, not the most reputable sources, but at least it makes me laugh.
   I really do not understand the War on Terrorism, but I don’t agree with the things that have happened in Iraq. I don’t understand why we are over there either. I know that the troops are supposed to leave Iraq by 2010, but we are still leaving 55,000 over there after that. I think we have imposed on the Iraq government too much. I know the economy is failing, but I don’t understand why. I wish I knew more about our nation’s economic state and how to fix it. When it comes to the issue of abortion I am torn. Everyone deserves to live, but everyone has the right to make choices for themselves. Adoption instead of abortion seems like a good idea to me. The death penalty is another controversial topic. I know that jails are over-crowded, but the idea of putting people to death just does not seem right to me. I went to a Catholic school from kindergarten to eighth grade and we said prays in the morning, at lunch, at the end of the day, and when we went to church on Fridays, but we have to be respectful of other religions an other peoples beliefs. I know the environment is bad, but I think American is struggling with the idea of becoming more environmentally friendly. Solar powered homes and businesses not using plastic and paper bags at grocery stores and buying electric cars seem like a good idea to become environmentally friendly, but I don’t know if American are up for that drastic of a change in their lifestyle. I don’t know that much about America in terms of world affairs. I know we are usually a central player in world affairs, but with the economy failing, it seems like our role is changing. I like Obama, but don’t know that much about him. I believe he is a United States citizen and I don’t believe in what people who are “birthers” say about him. He is a citizen of the United States! He is a smart person and an excellent speaker, and I believe he is doing the best he can. I know that congress is made up of largely of democrats and that’s pretty much all I know about that.

   Part 5: “What Have You”
   I am really looking forward to my senior year! I hope that it is exciting and awesome! ☺

9. on August 15, 2009 at 4:30 pm follenic000 Said:
   

   Part I: Who Are You?
   I’m Nicole Follett and I have one brother; Bryce and my parents names are Shannon and Bret. I love to travel to different places; the best places I have traveled to would be Washington D.C. and Peru! I hang out with my friends and I can really be myself around them. My best friend Bree and I go to hockey games all the time; hockey is my favorite sport. To relax this summer I went camping a lot and went to a couple different concerts including The Fray!
   Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
   When I “Grow Up” I want to work with kids, I love being around kids and working with them. As of now I am planning on going to Eastern Washington. I like that college because it isn’t too big and it isn’t too small and they have a lot of different classes that deal with kids. In 5 years I want to be in college and have a job. In 10 years I want to have a family and be out of college with a steady job.
   Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
   I am taking AP GO PO because I heard that it was a fun class to take and that you learn a lot in it. I would just like to learn more about the government that we live in. I hope that the year goes smoothly and that I stay caught up with the work.
   Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
   I know a little bit about politics but not a whole lot! I am not a huge fan of The War on Terrorism but I don’t think that we can just withdraw all of our troops because if we do than everyone who we are attacking will probably just come after us. I think that right now the economy is getting better but there are still a lot of people out there that don’t have jobs and can’t support their family anymore and the economy definitely hurt them. I don’t think that abortion is neither right nor wrong. I think it is ok to abort your baby if you were raped or if you find out your baby has a certain medical condition and you can’t afford to pay all of the medical bills. If your baby has a medical condition I think it would be better to abort the baby then to let it suffer without the proper medical care that it needs. I don’t think abortion is right if you got pregnant by having unprotected sex because it is your fault.
   I think that the death penalty is ok because the people who are getting the death penalty committed a serious crime and they knew what they were getting themselves into by doing whatever they were doing. I don’t think that any specific religion should be forced upon students in school; everybody has a right to practice their own religion. Prayer should not be forced on students in school either because if you don’t believe in it you shouldn’t have to do it. The environment isn’t at its best to me. I think that in some places there is way too much litter and those places are not sanitary to be around. Also, I think that in some states such as California, the pollution is really bad and they are not healthy environments to live in. I do not know really anything about the future role of the United State in World Affairs. To me, President Obama is doing a good job as President; he is trying to fix things! People complain about what he is doing but no matter who the president is people are going to find something to complain about and at least he is trying to help the way things are and make them better!

10. on August 16, 2009 at 9:42 am Alix Bold Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    My full name is Alix Kathleen Bold and I’m currently 17 years of age. I’m assuming most people in this class are as well so that’s slightly irrelevant. I will turn eighteen on April 27 though I doubt that matters but why not let everyone know! My parents are divorced and have been since I was 6. My dad is remarried and just had his 8th wedding anniversary. I have one brother who is 15 and a sophomore at Mt. Spokane. I have 3 dogs, Kaya at my mom’s and Sophie and Bella at my dad’s. I don’t do much outside of school except for read. Don’t be surprised if you find me with a book in my hand throughout the school year at any given time of day. I often lose sleep to reading though my parents aren’t very happy about that! But oh well, that’s just what I do. And as far as relaxing this summer in preparation for senior year, I read of course!

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    When I grow up I want to be an environmental engineer. So yes, to answer your question I am a tree hugger. I plan on going to Montana State because they have a really good program for that but this all depends on my acceptance, obviously undetermined at this point. Cross your fingers! It’s also a safe distance from Spokane where I can have a sense of freedom yet be close enough to come back whenever the situation calls for it. Five years from now is the unknown. I believe I’d still be in college working on my degree since it’s a 5-year program. Ten years from now I haven’t a clue. I’m assuming I’ll have a steady job, whereabouts unknown, and work on buying a house or whatever I see necessary at the time.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I’m taking AP GO PO because, surprisingly enough, I am extremely interested in politics. I tend to be quite stubborn and am very set on my point and defend it so politics is obviously a very strong factor into my personality for that reason. I would love to learn all the ins and outs of how the government operates and become more educated on current events, as I do not do so well with that now. As far as learning technique, I do fine with most things. Book assignments, projects, debates, and tests all work for me so I don’t expect to be hindered in any way as far as that goes.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I would probably rate my level of political knowledge as average. I know of the topics and basics to both sides of the argument. However, I’m sure there’s a lot more to learn about each situation as there is in most things in life.
    The War on Terrorism: The War on Terrorism is a difficult situation for me to figure out. I’m all for getting rid of threats to our national security though to what point I do not know yet. But I definitely do not agree with the war in Iraq. I understand there are a lot of things being done over there and I support our troops fully but I strongly disagree with the reason we went in to Iraq and it seems ridiculous that we are still there.
    The Economy/Taxation: The Economy and Taxation I’m not fully educated on so I don’t have an opinion on that other than I don’t like the recession we’re in like most people.
    Abortion: I disagree with abortion, however I do believe a woman should be able to choose. That’s what America was founded on, the freedom of choices and speaking opinions and what have you.
    The Death Penalty: The death penalty doesn’t seem like a bad thing to me. A life for a life seems pretty fair to me although that should be kept in the hands of the government. And I think the only form of execution should be lethal injections. It seems the least cruel to me out of all of them.
    Religion/School Prayer: I’m not a very religious person but I am very open-minded so I think school prayer isn’t such a bad thing. If somebody doesn’t want to pray than they can sit there quietly and give respect to the rest of their peers.
    The Environment: The environment is very important to me and I think it should be preserved well but that doesn’t mean we can’t use its resources, we just need to be careful with them. Global warming seems to me to be some propaganda by the government. I think the earth’s weather patterns are changing but I also think that’s just a part of the natural cycle earth goes on.
    The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs: The role of the United States in World Affairs is a very tricky subject. I haven’t really gained enough knowledge to know what I would like us to do so right now I have no opinion of that matter.
    President Obama and/or Congress: I like President Obama and if I was able to vote I would have voted for him. Do I think he’s the greatest president? No, but we could do worse and were surely in worse hands before. Obama’s policies may not have the effect everyone is looking for but at least he’s trying and doing something. He reminds of FDR and I’m sure many people have heard or thought that as well. I don’t know much about Congress, which is a large part of why I’m taking this class. I want to learn a lot about that.

    Part V: What Have You
    I don’t exactly know of anything else you could benefit from me saying so for now I suppose I am finished. I am an open-minded person and if I ever offend anybody I am sorry in advance. That is never my intention. I look forward to working with all of you this year in class! See you then.

11. on August 17, 2009 at 9:18 pm Christy Houk Said:
    

    Part I: Who are you?
    Hello! My name is Christy Houk. My family consists of TJ, 21 and a senior at Gonzaga studying finance and economics; Andy, 20 and a junior transferring to SFCC studying communications; Lori, a stay-at-home-mom yet so much more; and Dan, the CEO of a fourth generation precast concrete company, Wilbert Precast. This summer has been filled with camping, traveling to Montana to visit family, enjoying lake time with friends, and dance. Pretty much every aspect of my life somehow involves dance. This fall I will be entering my fifteenth season at Dance Emporium where I have taken a wide range of class, but for the time being my passion is contemporary. I have been on the Dance team for three years and this year I will be a captain. Along with dance, a huge part of my life is music. My family constantly has music playing and loves to share old records over a few games of Pinocle. Everyone has grown up through band programs and all four years of high school I have been a flutist and the Drum Major. When dance or band does not dominate my life, I enjoy reading, riding 4-wheelers, and seeing as much of my family and friends as I can.
    Part II: What do you want to be when you “grow up”?
    For the time being, I am looking at being a physical therapist focused on dance or sports medicine. Dance, health, sports, and nutrition have always been a huge part of my life and I would love to show others the potential they have with their own bodies. I plan to go to college to get my undergraduate degree and then perhaps continue on with narrowed study. I am not sure where I would like to go for the first jump but I keep looking.
    Part III: What do you hope to get out of the class?
    I am very excited about this class. I have grown up in a house where politics is a common topic for conversation perhaps more than what one would consider normal. I have strong opinions but I do not understand everything that I hear others discussing. Hopefully this class will explain to me more of what is going on in the government and why we are in our current decline. Also, as politics have come up among my peers, I feel that we never have a suitable venue for discussion. I am looking forward to being able to discuss and argue with my fellow classmates various points that have troubled me.
    Part IV: What do you know or think?
    I feel fairly competent in politics but I suppose we shall see as the year goes on.
    The War on Terrorism has become something through the media and other sources of information that it should not be. We are, and have been, a superpower in the world with a military that has the ability to stand up for countries under unethical regimes and to protect ourselves from outside threat. If funding and troops are decreased in the fight for the freedoms that we have built our country on, there will be no more sense of freedom to protect.
    The economy is in trouble. Everyone knows that. However, having our government pay off and buy out more companies that have destroyed themselves will do nothing besides skyrocket our national debt. Raising taxes will not help the economy because that money is coming straight from the consumers and businesses that allow our economy to thrive. Stop allowing big business and the government to get themselves in trouble and then dig themselves out with the labor of hard-working, average Americans.
    Abortion is murder. If individuals wish to be grown up and have sex, they must be willing to handle the grown up responsibilities that come along with it. Not every person can handle the financial end of raising a child when they choose to make that step; however, adoption is a much better option than killing a child. Many argue that the lacking care often found in adoption and foster homes create a worse environment. That is a valid point that must be addressed yet it is an entirely different argument.
    There are individuals who commit unmentionable crimes that make others cringe at the thought of. If one man has the ability to take multiple lives with no inkling of remorse, why shouldn’t the law be able to keep that man from repeating his actions indefinitely? Life sentences serve a similar purpose, yet that uses tax payers’ money to keep alive a man that will never be a useful member of society. How is that justice?
    The government has no place telling citizens what kinds of religion they can or cannot follow unless it causes random or specific individuals harm. However, our country was founded with Christian beliefs and during a time in which those beliefs were widely followed. School prayer should be left up to the schools and families have a choice regarding their involvement in the prayer and what school their children attend. Too many people try to blot out Christianity from everything. Saying “under God” in the pledge of allegiance should not be changed for the fact that that has been part of our country from the beginning for a reason. The original founders were some of the most brilliant men of their time, it’s about time we trust them again.
    This is the only world we have to work with and we must respect it. Recycling as much as possible and limiting traffic and chemical emissions are all good things. But when “saving the environment” becomes more than “doing your share” there are problems. Knowledge and awareness are good; persistent, superior prodding is unnecessary.
    Much like our place in the War on Terror, we are a powerful, influential country. As long as we keep that place with dignity and respect, we should use our power and influence in world affairs.
    With the last election people would ask, “Why would you vote for McCain?” I answered them truthfully with “Because I am less scared of him than I am of Obama.” With the first seven months of his term I see that my initial fears are correct. President Obama has flown in with break-neck speed to pass as many laws and bills as possible. Some have gone unnoticed, but he is finally finding some resistance to his health care reform. Many of his ideas, including a standardized health care and redistribution of wealth, show aspects of socialism that never would have made their way into our country seventy years ago. The United States is the first country of its kind and we have been successful for the most part so far. Socialism and Communism have already shown that they are weak, unreliable forms of government. Reinstate checks and balances. Take power from the central government with its corrupt leaders and give it back to the state and the people. “We the people.” It has worked for 200 years. Let’s keep it going.

12. on August 18, 2009 at 8:08 pm Jaclyn Brim Said:
    

    Part 1: Who are you?

    My full name is Jaclyn Marie Brim. Most people call me Jac, unless they want to be annoying; then they call me Jackie. I’m a monkey in the Chinese Lunar calendar and an Aries in the Zodiac, so I was born on April 8th, 1992. I’m one of three girls in my family. My two sisters, Julia and Jinna, are going into ninth grade and sixth grade respectively. My mom stays home with us and my dad works as a podiatrist (foot doctor).
    I love to play volleyball and my club went to Miami for Nationals at the end of June. We didn’t do so great considering most of the teams had a majority of girls that were as tall as or taller than me, but I got some cool souvenirs.
    Most of my summer has been spent up at the lake. While up there I read a lot. I just read A Clock Work Orange and once I worked out the slang Burgess used it was a decent and thought provoking book.
    I also took a visit to a Catholic boarding school even though I didn’t know that’s where I was headed at the time. My friend and I decided that it was time to go check out this huge stone building that we could see way atop a hill from Market St. We figured it was a convent and we could go up there and snap pictures while dodging nuns. But no, it was a Catholic boarding school called Mt. St. Michaels. There were nuns but instead of dodging them we got a guided tour. Not as exciting as we thought. We did learn that the huge five story school was heated by an old fashioned boiler so there basically was no heat and literally no air conditioning. We ended the tour sweaty and without any cool pictures.
    That little adventure made me appreciate Mt. Spokane a bit more, but regardless I’m so happy it’s my senior year.

    Part 2: What do you want to be when you “grow up”?

    I’d like to attend college after my senior year, preferably far away, but I’ll have to decide if it’s worth the extra coast, especially for undergrad.
    I always figured I would be a surgeon but I’ve realized that while I could do that I don’t really want to. I’m more language oriented whether it’s English literature or teaching English as a second language. This makes my path a little cloudier than that of a med student but I’m sure I’ll figure it out. That’s why I want to go to college, to get more experience so I can figure out what I want to do.
    Five years from now I see myself either finishing up my first four years at a university, or studying abroad. Spain or Italy are my top picks. Ten years I see myself teaching English in a foreign country or getting situated as an English professor.

    Part 3: What do you hope to get out of the class?

    I want to learn about…government and politics. This class is going to cover material that I’ve never learned in school, or have gone out of my way to learn on my own. Consequently I know virtually nothing. I would like to pass the AP test, so I want to really buckle down until May and then chill the rest of the year. I’m kinesthetic so projects would be fun and reading assignments are fine. I don’t like to talk in front of people although I fear that will happen anyway.

    Part 4: What do you know or think?

    Level of political knowledge: newby/novice
    The War on Terrorism- The defensive measures such as increased security were much needed and I think that offensive action was needed after the 9/11 attack. I think that the war, Operation Desert Storm, has been longer and more expensive than most expected and that has changed the attitude of the general public. I’m glad that the anger has been directed at the government rather than the soldiers, and that it hasn’t turned into another Vietnam for them. I think that the reasons Bush gave for being in the Middle East were good ones, to liberate the people, to search out nukes, but I’m also skeptical whether those were the only reasons. The unspoken reason that comes to mind is crude oil.
    The Economy/Taxation- I feel that the bear market is America’s fault. Over spending, debt, excessiveness, and laziness can be attributed as the main causes. GM declaring bankruptcy is a prime example. People aren’t being good stewards of their money and it’s sickening that with the Obama administration the wealthy, who have worked for their money, who went without the newest and best when they couldn’t afford it, are having to pay.
    Abortion- It’s wrong. There has been debate whether or not it’s murder. I think it is and should be treated as such. It’s selfish. Choosing abortion is greedy and irresponsible. A place can be found for the child who deserves a shot at life. I think this topic is extremely controversial because much if it is opinion based. If a person doesn’t see it as murder then it is easy to find abortion acceptable.
    The Death Penalty- If the death penalty is a supposed deterrent fur murder I don’t consider it a very good one. If a person is crazed, furious, or depressed enough to commit murder they aren’t going to be logically thinking through the repercussions. The penalty has minimal effect. Besides, it isn’t up to us to determine who lives and who dies. The accused can go to prison for life and go when his time comes.
    Religion/ School Prayer- For heaven’s sake let’s keep the Pledge of Allegiance in schools. Of course students can choose to say it if they want to but it should still be recited every day. I think evolution should be taught in science classes and if students choose to believe that God created the earth than that’s up to them. Evolution is just a theory, it’s not being shoved down the student’s throats as doctrine, or at least it shouldn’t be. As far as school prayer, it shouldn’t be required but students should be able to pray whenever they want as long as it isn’t disruptive.
    The Environment- It’s good to be environmentally conscious and as always our resources should be used in moderation, something Americans need to learn, but if you’re going to try and protect the environment don’t just see it as a temporary fad. It’s great that it’s popular now, but people should be doing it because they want to protect the earth, not because the organic label makes them look cool.
    The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs- I think our spot is secured as a super power for the time being, but unless we take a good look at ourselves we could take a nose dive. Because we are in a position of power the world sees it as our duty to protect them. We shouldn’t get in over our heads, but solve problems at home first so we can remain strong. (This entry is really vague; I’m not quite up to speed on this issue.)
    President Obama and/or Congress- They’re both democratic so let’s hope they know what they’re doing. Obama is the first black president and this shows that as a country we are making strides but regardless of whether he’s black, white, or blue some of his policies seem borderline socialist. Because he wants to take away money from the wealthy tax payers I think he will find that he is zapping the country of initiative as well.

    Part 5: What have you?

    I wish it was election year but this class seems like it’ll be exciting and enlightening anyways.

13. on August 18, 2009 at 11:12 pm Kesslan Hall Said:
    

    Kesslan Hall
    AP GO PO

    Who am I?
    -Well to start here are some basics: my full name is Kesslan Nichole Hall; I’m 17; my birthday is June 1st; my favorite color is orange, but yellow is growing on me; favorite food is pineapple with cucumbers in a close second; I love hugs and smiling; taking pictures is one of my hobbies; favorite movie is The Princess Bride; favorite band is probably The Beatles, but I love all types of music; favorite book, The Velveteen Rabbit; I have 3 siblings. Ooh and favorite word, either jello or stellar. Anyway, I have a 24 year old brother, Brandon, a 21 year old sister, Ashley, and a 10 year old sister, Chyrsten. My mom’s a teacher and my dad works for the city in waste management an owns his own car detailing business. Also, I have two dogs who are a part of my family. Buddy’s a blonde lab and Suzy (Tzu Zannah Lihn) is a shih-tzu, clever name, right? Friends are a huge part of my life, too. I couldn’t live without them and would not be the same person that I am. I’d be… shy. How crazy. Hanging out with all of them occupied most of my summer. Whether it’s at Silverwood, eating ice cream, playing tennis and racquetball, giggling, swimming, or just chilling, one of my friends are almost always there! Other than everything previously mentioned, this summer I have gone to Seattle twice and crammed something in every second. Then on the 17th Band Camp started for two weeks, but no, I’m not in band, I am in colorguard for my 3rd year. Colorguard is my life and passion for a few weeks in the summer and during fall. That is one of the major parts of high school that I will miss the most. As for unwinding during summer, playing tennis, racquetball, or ultimate frisbee help; as well as watching movies or talking to people. I love reading, but have not had much time to read this summer. So that would be me in a nutshell {}!

    What do I want to be when I “grow up”?
    -Right when I get out of high school I’m taking a Senior road trip and then going to California with my Nana and Papa, then when fall comes around, I’m going to SCC for a few years to get prerequisites done and to save up money. Then I’m contemplating on where to go for a 4 year college. Probably UW or University of San Diego, but I still have research to do. I want to be an oceanographer and then a photographer on the side. Then maybe someday have a good job in photography. In 5 years I’ll most likely be a sophomore at one of the Universities mentioned. 10 years from now, I think I’ll be at the ocean doing my career, and then maybe take some pictures of sharks outside of the cage I’d be in.

    What do I hope to get out of this class?
    -I am taking AP GO PO because personally I think that politics are intriguing and I usually follow politics. I also enjoy discussing/debating on my opinions on what’s going on in the government. Although I understand basics, I would like to have a deeper knowledge everything to do with government and politics, hence taking AP government and politics, so I would like to learn more than I know. I would like the year to go… spectacular! I want it to be slightly challenging and an extremely knowledgeable while having fun and have the whole class not necessarily agree, but get along and respect each other. For class “structure” I like working in groups and doing projects.

    What do I know or think?
    -I’d say my political knowledge is probably average.
    -War on Terrorism
    I believe that the original motivation behind the war was good but then instead of fixing the initial problem we began to expand to other things over in the middle east. As for war in general, I believe that we should mind our own business, but if someone or some country is threatening the safety of America, or possibly one of our close allies, then the US needs to go in and kick some butt. Morally, however, some things need to be taken care of after a period of time. Once we have tried to help what- or who-ever needs help without getting involved in a war, and there is no way to succeed, then the US may need to get involved.
    -The Economy/Taxation
    The economy is not as bad as it has been previously, and we will live. The “bad” economy has mostly effected the already poor in large cities, but even then it has not been horrible. Even stocks have been pretty decent and some, such as Ford, has improved immensely. Soon Boeing will also join with Ford and have a huge rise in stocks once their new fuel-efficient plane flies. The only problem I have seen has been in wavering gas prices which have been more or less stable. People just like to overreact I think. Remember when gas prices were said to go up to $6 a gallon THIS summer? Well we hit half that and then prices went down. Taxation is something that we just have to hope doesn’t increase too much for reasons that shouldn’t be tax-worthy.
    -Abortion
    Abortion is killing a potential human being. If you are pregnant then that is YOUR fault unless it was r.a.p.e. *Sorry for the inconvenience, but the blog won’t let me submit this paper with that word in it* That is one of 2 situations where I believe abortion is “okay”, no, acceptable. Victims of r.a.p.e. should have a choice to have and abortion or not, but they should be strongly encouraged to go through with the birth and then give the baby up for adoption to a loving family. The other is if the potential mother’s life is at risk.
    -The death penalty
    If a person has purposely killed someone, then the death penalty is absolutely fit. End of story.
    -Religion/School Prayer
    Seeing as I am Christian, I am completely content with a school’s desicion to pray; however this is a free country, which includes freedom of religion. Separation of church and state is major and I do agree with it. Basically, Christian, Catholic, and 7th day Adventist schools can be attended if one would like to have the school pray together or believe in exactly the same religion (even though that does not always happen…), but normal schools without a religion label should have the separation of church and state in act. Students can organize prayer groups in their school anyway or take “Bible as Lit” as an alternative of getting upset or riled up about their religion.
    -The Environment
    Keep it clean=] Do whatever you can to help the earth out for our generation and future generations. Even carrying the case of pudding or new pair of shoes instead of using a plastic bag. Or use paper, a renewable resource! Natural resources are awesome, but be responsible. As you can probably tell, I’m “into” the whole “going green” thing because I care. I was before it became a “fad” and everyone started wearing shirts the say “Go Green! It’s the new Black!” and such even though that morning they had their usual [plastic] water bottle then couldn’t find a garbage, so instead of leaving it in their car (which happens to be an old car that hasn’t had it’s emissions checked in years and is blowing thick black smoke in the air), or holding it until they found one, they toss it on the ground. No big deal, right? Pshh, yeah it’s a big deal! It’s lame. Hypocrites. So, once again, keep it clean!
    -The future role of the US in World Affairs
    Probably just as the “global police” that we have been and as a strong force to be reckoned with… hopefully.
    -President Obama and/or Congress
    Sadly I don’t know much about congress of all things. As for Obama, I believe that any President that would be elected during this time would have a situation on their hands, having to deal with the war, the economy, debt and other pressing issues. That’s tough on anyone. Personally, I would have voted McCain if I could have voted since he was more experienced with issues such as war (hence him being in the military before) and I just overall prefered him, but I’m not going to get into all the specifics. Back to Obama, he seems to like socalized medicine, and such. The United States of America is not socialist, we are a democratic society. Go to Canada if you really want socialism with hospitals. I don’t. Also, his plan for teachers is to pay them according to their class scores. I can’t remember what it’s called, but it’s not okay. *Caution: Long section on my strong opinion on this topic* My mom is a 4th grade teacher who went to SCC for 2 years and then Eastern for 4 years and graduated top of her class. Yeah, she owned at life; however she works at a lower-class school with severly autistic kids in her class and have even had a kid who had to leave for a week at a time sometimes because he had to go work on an orchard. Plus, most are already behind in reading, writing, math, everything, and then only a few are ahead, but sadly she has to work on the kids that are behind more than anyone. She works so hard to teach the students that are ahead higher-level material, but she has certain guidelines she has to meet and has to teach so much that it’s difficult to try and pull the students that are behind up to pace, while wanting to also focus on the others. That’s just one of several things.
    -What Have I?
    Life is Good. Live life to the fullest. No regrets.
    The End=] *That was fun*

14. on August 19, 2009 at 6:35 pm Jenna Alaskar Said:
    

    Part 1: Who Are You?
    Hello my name is Jenna Alaskar. I was born in Saudi Arabia on March 25, 1992. My dad’s work has had us moving non-stop since I was a baby and the reason I am in Spokane is because my mother was born here. The last time I moved was in eighth grade to Singapore and after next year I will have lived in Spokane for four consecutive years, which is the longest amount of time I have ever been in one place without traveling. My dad currently lives in Houston, Texas which is a happy coincidence for us, seeing that he is in the U.S. and not overseas. My mother lives with me and my little sister Hannah (who is a sophomore) and I have an older sister Shetha who is a junior at Columbia University in NYC.
    This summer was most enlightening to me because I made some excellent discoveries. One: Facebook kind of sucks. I mean I’m young, but I will never understand how to upload a video or what the use of “poking” someone is. Sorry Facebook lovers. Two: Applying for colleges feels like the biggest responsibility I have ever had, and it is an all around pain in the ass. No one tells you that it is all up to you to select your new home out of thousands of colleges and cities across the nation and possibly in different continents. You are essentially choosing a new life for yourself so all I can think about is, “Don’t screw this one up.” Three: On a lighter note, who knew that a backwards robe could be so amazing? If you do not own a Snuggie, get one now! (But in a store because the infomercial suppliers are selling credit card numbers hehe…still worth it.) Four: I am not as clumsy as I was last year; I suppose poise comes with age. I only fell six times this summer and no broken ankles! Five: And finally, see G-force. If you don’t know what that is, Google it because it is life-changing.
    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    Wow, uhh I don’t know. Well, taking this one step at a time: Next year: SENIOR!!! Then college in a major city, but not NYC, remember Shetha lives there and that’s really her thing. I have applied or am planning on applying to UW and then a couple places in San Francisco and then Minneapolis-St. Paul and a few other metropolitan areas in the U.S. I am possibly applying to a couple schools in London because I used to live there, I have friends there, and honestly I really want to see the final two Harry Potter movies there. As far as majors go, no idea, but everyone keeps telling me I have time so I guess I’ll use it. For my career in later life I’m planning on getting wealthy. I know everyone hates the money grubber but really I have no passions and no real talent besides a good work ethic so I might as well use it and become a CEO of something. A trend that I’ve noticed in these blogs is that most people want to be settled five years from now but we will only be twenty two or twenty three so why slow down? I’m planning on saving throughout college and then traveling somewhere that I haven’t been and doing things that a thirty or forty year old wouldn’t. Basically, while I’m still young I’m going to take full advantage of it. And ten years from now is a complete mystery and I prefer to keep it that way.
    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    At first when I enrolled in the class last year it was because it was the only AP social studies course (at least according to Renner…) that was available for seniors and it seemed like the norm for seniors who are heading to four-year colleges. After I got this assignment, however, I got excited. I love learning about, talking about, reading about, and most prominently arguing about current issues. I think that the best things that you can learn, before math or science or English, is what is happening in the present. What will inevitably affect you and change your life. Honestly, when the election was happening and I overheard my fellow classmates, some of whom were of voting age saying that they didn’t care who won the presidency I was shocked and scared for what our country was and was going to become. In this class I want to learn the nitty gritty details of timeless and reoccurring political issues and explore and share opinions on small happenings that pertain to the current administration. I want to go from why Obama was elected to what my classmates think about Hillary Clinton’s “outburst” last week. From legislation to scandal; from political hotshots to the fleeting political trends. I want to hear and learn all of it. I want this class to be the one that I feel excited to go into everyday because I know I will plop down in my seat and say what I feel and hear how others feel in a relaxed and totally impromptu environment. Because most of us are piling on the AP classes this year and will be feeling the pressure I want to be confident that while I will be learning in this class I will also be happy. I want the education (and the five on the AP test) without the stressful and sometimes devastating work overloads and I want the discussions and the lectures to cover the information so I do not have to spend one more night before the AP test sifting through books at one of Taylor’s “study parties” until two in the morning.
    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I would consider myself average to proficient in political knowledge; I mean I have a subscription to The Economist and enjoy watching CNN but I am no fiend. I enjoy politics but I am not a genius when it comes to ‘why did this happen?’ and more confusingly, ‘how did this happen?’ I hear the stories and sort them out as best I can but I admit to occasionally walking away from an article or turning off Anderson Cooper completely lost.
    The War on Terrorism: God, that name first of all. It is truly terrifying but more than that confusing. The media and our past administration (ahem, Bush) have made this issue overly simplified for our nation. Middle East bad. Arabs bad. Muslims bad. It’s like because of the way the nation has responded to 9/11 by over generalizing, other nations have done the same. We, no, he, Mr. Bush that is, chose our fate. He chose for us to be in this hell and to have people hate us and for us to hate people, to hate entire nations! Oh jeez, time to be frank. Bush is an idiot and Cheney is Satan. Sigh, okay it’s good to let that out. Now that I have established that unfortunate fact, that terribly unfortunate fact that we had to deal with for the last eight years, I can move on. I am not at all objective when it comes to this war, this subject makes me so angry mainly because it’s like because of eight years of morons thousands of Americans were murdered and because of eight years of incompetence this nation murdered thousands of people; we have become that country that is allowed to be hated because we are stupid, because Bush made us stupid. I hate talking about it because we had to sit for eight years and watch our country unravel and now that Obama is in the White House it almost seems like there has been so much ruin that it’s a hopeless cause to even try and undo it. The devastation can not only be measured by bodies but by how close minded the people in the United States have become. As a Muslim in this country I cannot count how many times I’ve been called a terrorist, or how often people are afraid to meet my dad. The war on terrorism should never have been a war at all.
    The Economy: Everyone knows that the economy is in bad shape whether it has affected them personally or not. I believe that sitting here and let it get progressively worse will not fix it and “change we need.” Any change and any new policies are worth trying.
    Abortion: Ah this is a touchy subject no matter what political party you belong to but ultimately I am pro-choice. However, as easily as I can write that here I know that I would never want to actually have to make that choice in real life. I know that this subject is strongly linked to religious beliefs but when separating church and state (which should be automatically considered anyway) I think that people should be able to dictate what happens to their own bodies. The legalization of certain drugs and prostitution often come up when speaking under this philosophy, but as far as abortion goes, we should have the option.
    The Death Penalty: Completely against. People rave about how unfair it is that the government is growing and how it will eventually take over every aspect of our lives, and oooo how scary it is that the government could possibly have the power to interfere with our health insurance but when it comes to deciding if someone will live or die it’s just like “Oh kill that dude.”
    Religion/School Prayer: When I was about five I went to an Islamic school and it was required that we pray at least three times throughout each school day and then when I moved to Texas, well let’s just say they weren’t as understanding. People should be free. Free and equal and allowed to follow their passions and beliefs and say what they want and live how they choose to live; when it comes to education it should be the same way. The only place that religious beliefs do not belong is in the government where choices are being made for a vastly diverse population and one belief running everything works for only one type of person. When it comes to school we are not attending to make changes in the world but rather to learn about it so why not let people do so and live? I do not condone pushing one’s beliefs on others but I do think that students should be able to express themselves. If I am expected to read the Bible as a summer assignment then I should be able to whip out the Quran too. Given, I am writing this right after France’s sketchy behavior with the integration of education and religion and the whole “birkini” thing so I am a little steamed but honestly, come on.
    The Environment: I think that most of the nation is all for “going green,” I mean no one has any opposition to the well-being of the world we all share, the way we go about preserving it, however, is a different story. The real problem lies within making it, well, easy. The way this nation operates is that we can do it the easy way or… uh… let’s just see what happens. No one wants to sell their car and grow their own food but in order for our ecosystem to be saved we need drastic changes.
    The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs: This is a loaded subject, one that I am inclined to skip right over because it overwhelms me. It’s just that it says “future role” but in order to determine that we need to see how badly it was messed up previously. I look at it like one of those group building exercises where everyone starts out in a circle but then grabs random hands and makes a huge human tangle and then you take forty five minutes to untangle the limbs without letting go of anyone’s hands but by the thirty minute mark everyone is just like “Screw this, let’s get food.” But when related to the government we have this giant tangle and Obama can’t just skip out, he has to sort it all out and it is just such a shitty situation it makes me want to cry.
    President Obama and/or Congress: Good luck I guess. When Obama won the election and even before that I was so filled with hope and full-out love for the man that I was blinded to what other obstacles he could possibly have, besides getting the country back on track, but now that he is going full steam ahead trying to fix our lives I am just appalled at how unpatriotic some of the citizens of the U.S. are being. It started when Obama won and none of the McCain stickers disappeared. I mean when Bush won (both times…) people who did not support him initially came around and even if they had no intention of supporting his policies they realized that he was our Commander in Chief and we were American citizens. But now that Obama is in office some people are behaving like children. I understand the spreading, and even the believing, of the rumors when a person is running for president but the slander isn’t stopping but in fact escalating and becoming less of a nuisance and more of a frightening mutiny: “Ooooh he’s Muslim you know, he could be a terrorist. Ahhh he isn’t a citizen at all, it’s a fact. Dear Lord, he wants my grandmother dead, I can see it in his eyes!!!” And now, on the bottom of Obama’s to-do list, right after fix this hell hole, he has to worry about his own fellow citizens turning on him. It’s a scary and disturbing thought.
    Part V: What Have You
    This post has kind of got me fired up a bit. I mean I’ve gone from talking about Snuggies to ranting about how ridiculous Palin is. Oh I didn’t mention that? Well she is. Okay I think at this point I should just say that I am looking forward to this class next year and to being a SENIOR and that I know it’s going to be the best year so far.

15. on August 19, 2009 at 7:14 pm nickstewart Said:
    

    Nick Stewart
    AP GO PO
    Summer Project

    Part I: Who Are You?

    I am basic. My family’s great. Two brothers I love. A dog named Buddy. A hammock in which I have my lazy time. And I play guitar.
    I live on the edge. No matter the season you will find me boarding somehow.
    I am happy. I game with Ryan. I dance with Christy. I laugh with Kesslan. And I party with all the band kids.
    I had the best summer of my life. To list the things I did would take awhile. But all I need to say is that I met this girl. And I could never be happier

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?

    September 20th I am hopefully flying down to San Fransisco to visit Mike Stalker, a three dimensional animation designer. He works for Pixar. He is graciously giving me a tour of Pixar and introducing me to other animators. I plan on milking this experience and then attending Cal Arts, a school founded by Walt Disney. Hopefully I’ll end
    up in California with an internship at Pixar. In the meantime I’ll be taking the year long Advanced Drawing and Painting class. Wish me luck guys!

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?

    I want to learn everything. I despise being left in the dust on all things political. Teach me all knowing Kautzman!!! please..

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?

    * The War on Terrorism: Everyone says it’s pointless. I disagree, but I rarely hear any good things coming from it. So i really don’t know.
    * The Economy/Taxation: Sucks
    * Abortion: I believe a human is a human when the sperm enters the egg and starts to grow. I am strongly opposed to abortion.
    * The Death Penalty: I believe that if a judge determines that a man cannot be allowed to live, then I would most likely agree.
    * Religion/School Prayer: I find it funny that they might possibly expect us to deal with all the troubles of being a teenager, doing homework, and dealing with everything else and then NOT allowing us to pray. And I think teachers need the ability to pray even more than we do.
    * The Environment: Looks good to me
    * The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs: Ahaha I don’t know
    * President Obama and/or Congress: He’s my president. He’s not a stupid guy as far as i can tell. It works for me. Congress bleh

    Part V: What Have You

    NOPE

    See you all soon guys!

16. on August 20, 2009 at 11:16 am Jesse Peterson Said:
    

    Jesse Peterson
    Part I: Who Are You?
    The background on my family is that my mother teaches at Northwood Middle School and my dad is a supervisor at Contact, a culvert plant. I have two sisters; Michelle is 27 years old, married and has a two-year old child. My younger sister’s name is Jayme and she is 14 years old. She is a freshman at Mt. Spokane this year. My family is very close. We love to camp, travel and spend time playing games or hanging out at home.

    The most memorable experience I have had was that last year I traveled to Peru with a Spanish group from school, for nine days. It was a lot of fun to see and experience a different culture. The landscape of the mountains is unforgettable.

    Some of my friends include Nikki Follett, Kristina Nielsen, and Bree Ferris. We generally hang out at school and attend a game or two every year. We have been friends since the seventh grade.

    In my spare time, I love to read. I could read all day. Once I get into a book, I don’t want to stop. The part most enjoyable is getting immersed in the story. Gardening is another one of my favorite things to do during the summer. Right now, I have three tomato plants and two pots of mint. I dry the mint so my mom can cook with it. For the past year, I have worked at a bistro called, McGlades. I waitress and help with dishes.

    During the summer, unwinding in my family means camping. We camp on the St. Joe River. We river raft, jump off cliffs into the river, meet new people, and make s’mores around the campfire. We camp four or five times every summer.
    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    My plan when I finish high school is to go to college. I am not positively sure which college I want to go to yet, but I am thinking of taking an online college. I plan to get a degree in accounting or business management. In five years from now, I plan to have a successful job working in an office. In ten years, I plan to own a coffee shop and have a family.
    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I would like to learn more about politics. Right now I am not that political or really know much about our government. I am also taking AP GO PO because I believe it might get me into a better college or help me obtain a scholarship. One of the learning strategies that I don’t really like, but I can do it, is Cornell notes. My best learning style is when the teacher lectures in a storytelling way and I take notes. I like taking notes in an outline.
    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    My level of political knowledge is a newby.
    My opinion on the war on terrorism is that, I don’t really have a solid opinion on whether I am for it or against it. On one hand, fighting to eliminate it is good, but I don’t like when the American soldiers get killed. I do believe that there is always going to be terrorism some where in the world at any given time no matter how much you fight it.
    Taxation is unfair and ridiculous because the middle class pays the majority of it. The lower class benefits with welfare and health care and the upper class has expensive accountants that figure out ways to exclude them from paying taxes. There are more middle class Americans than lower and upper class. So the middle class always gets taxed more. America depends on the middle class. Obama wants to try a new tax increase that only includes people making a million dollars a year. We will see what happens.
    I strongly believe in abortion or pro choice. Each woman should be able to decide what to do with her body. Men don’t have babies and can attack a woman or get a girlfriend pregnant and then leave her, having no consequences. I also believe that women should take care of themselves and if they are going to be sexually active, they should be on the pill or use some type of birth control. A baby will affect a woman’s life for the rest of her life.
    I think the death penalty should be allowed because it is our taxes that feed and house criminals that have made a choice to do a terrible crime. Most criminals live better than people working everyday and living in poverty. Some of the criminals shouldn’t be allowed to live, (i.e. Joseph Duncan).
    I think that praying in school should not be allowed. It is none of the teachers or other students business on what religion you are. The teacher’s should not force you to pray within another religion. Plus, the first amendment of the bill of rights is the freedom of RELIGION, press, and expression, so the teachers or anyone for that matter has no business telling you who to pray to. The amendment that declares separation of religion and state was conceived for a reason. Historically, it is always a hotspot within our culture.
    I think that the environment is fine and all the weather extremes are not because of mankind and global warming, but a natural phenomenon that happen when plates shift and erosion takes place. I believe this because there were lots of ice ages and extreme weather conditions before human existence. I am concerned about each individual’s carbon footprint. We could all help out with using less natural energy. Our family is conscientious when it comes to turning off lights, keeping our house insulated, land limiting our trips to town to save fuel, etc.
    As far as the future role of the United States in world affairs, I have really no idea what we are doing in world affairs. This class will be an excellent resource for my education in this area.
    I don’t really have a solid opinion on President Obama either. I think that his popularity has declined since swearing in as president because of the health care reform, but he has only been in the office six months, so I am going to wait to see how the next three and a half years go.
    Part V: What Have You
    There isn’t really anything that you might need to know.

17. on August 20, 2009 at 1:43 pm Mary Konis Said:
    

    I. Who am I?
    I am the youngest of four daughters, my sisters names are Rachel, Anna, and Naomi. They are between six and twelve years older than I am and they have influenced my life in a big way. Naomi is my advisor on all my affairs, without her things would be much more difficult for me. My sister Rachel has an eighteen month old daughter Madison; she is always happy and makes my day better every time I see her. My sister Anna has a four year old son Parker Thomas, he was born two and a half months premature, but he is perfectly healthy! He is why I believe in miracles. My family is very close and we still get together for family dinners, my sisters are my friends and my support when difficult things happen in my life.
    I have been in love with the sport of volleyball since 4th grade; my passion for this sport grows every time I play. I am a setter, but my heart is in the defense, so if I continue to play in college I believe that is where I will end up. Volleyball is always consistent even when the world around me seems to be spinning out of control. The game is always the same, the point will always be to keep the ball off your floor and put it down on theirs, there is something to be said for than normalcy. Volleyball has taught me leadership, commitment, strength, independence, teamwork, and work ethic. Sports offer many opportunities – I have made close friends and experienced new places.
    Aside from volleyball my outside interests are scattered. I have recently started to play tennis, Molly and I played doubles last year. I love music; I like most all types as long as I can sign to it. Musicals and Disney movies are close to my heart. I like to play cards, especially with my family. I am not easily embarrassed and I believe that opinions are meant to be shared. I live at Keva Juice and on Tuesdays I’m at Didier’s. I love kids of all ages, they remind me of how silly all my problems are and they are full of hilarious comments.
    This summer has been relaxing. I went to Phoenix with my club volleyball team at the end of June, our team played really well and we had loads of laughs. Other than that I have been to the lake a few times both Pend Oreille and Priest Lake. I love the sun and relaxing with friends. I have spent a lot of time with my niece Madison and nephew Parker.

    II. What do I want to be when you “grow up”?
    My immediate plans include attending a 4-year university. I am not confident in where I want to attend for sure but some of my ideas include Gonzaga, Seattle U., Western, Whitman and University of Great Falls. I am interested in a major in Bio-Chem. and after that getting a pharmaceutical degree. Five years from now that would put me at WSU getting a pharmacy degree. With this education I ideally want to go into research and developing pharmaceutical drugs to solve the many illnesses that plague our world. If that doesn’t work I would love to own my own chain of pharmacies. I do love children so I eventually want to get married and start a family.

    III. What do I hope to get out of this class?
    I am taking AP GO PO to better my college resume, push myself academically, because politics interests me far more than general history, to better understand the political makeup, to improve my knowledge and opinions, and above all to hopefully do well on the AP test. I would like to learn more about how politics affect my life so that I can make important decisions such as what candidates will best serve my needs when I can start to vote. I want to learn how to better understand current affairs so I am more prepared to try to shape my future. As for a class direction I learn best in a discussion format; the benefits of a debate out weigh other tactics because they make me form my own opinions as opposed to just absorbing facts. I believe that without having to create my own opinions I don ever fully understand the knowledge I am given.

    IV. What do I know or think?
    I am new to politics, until recently I didn’t believe that politics applied to me but my interests have recently peaked. My opinions are just beginning to evolve so the opinions that are present are really more observations.
    The War on Terrorism: As a world power the United States falls under attack by terrorists and we must protect ourselves from this. I understand that we as a nation feel obligated to protect nations that cannot provide their own defense, whether it be from themselves or another nation. Yet, I question if this is a purely responsible action due to our nations rising debt and the inability to care for all of our internal affairs. I do believe that we are responsible in great part for balancing and peace keeping of the world but I don’t believe that we can completely sacrifice the economical health of our nation for this effort because that would then upset entirely the balance of power of the world causing further problems.
    The Economy/Taxation: The current state of the economy worries me most immediately in my own way to pay for university with scholarships being cut and loans being harder to get. Yet I believe that flux in the economy always happens and that the last thing that our nation needs to do at this point is panic because that will only further the downturn. I am not well enough informed on the issue of taxation at this time.
    Abortion: On a personal level I am pro-life. The way I was raised and what I believe would never allow abortion to be a personal option. Yet, I believe that some people have situations in life where abortion would be the overall best option and for that reason I am pro-choice because it is every woman’s own decision and I don’t believe there should be a law to take that away.
    The Death Penalty: I support the death penalty. I believe that some crimes are vial enough that those who commit them are not fit to be allowed to return to society. I also believe that when a crime like this is committed that it isn’t the responsibility of tax payers to keep these criminals put up in a prison and thus the death penalty is the reasonable option. Yet, I do understand that if wrongfully convicted the death penalty doesn’t allow for removal of the error.
    Religion/School Prayer: Freedom of Religion is a key part of our constitution a big factor in why many of our nation’s first immigrants came here. Thus I believe that every person should have the right to practice their religion as long as it doesn’t harm others. Yet, I don’t believe that in a public school system that religion has a place because that gives the possibility of alienating the students that are promised equal treatment.
    The Environment: I would not consider myself a “tree hugger” by any extent – yet I do believe in conservation. Our world doesn’t have an unlimited amount of resources and we must try to conserve what we have for the future populations. I believe that regulations need to be put on pollution especially that put out by cars and other machines. Global warming on the other hand I don’t believe in. I believe that change in temperatures has occurred throughout history of our planet both before and after humans were polluting the earth. The earth goes through cycles and yes our pollution does change and hurt the environment but not all change is caused by us.
    The future role of the US in world affairs: I believe that we must work to maintain a balance of power of the world as a peace keeper to help prevent another World War, but that at the same time we must be sure we can take care of our own. I would need more knowledge to form a more solid opinion.
    President Obama and/or Congress: I believe that Obama has good ideas and intentions to help the internal affairs of the US, but I am not confident that he has the experience to know how to best reach his goals and have his ideas fulfilled without harming the economy. As for Congress I have limited opinions other than that I fear the Democratic domination – I fear that not all Americans opinions are being defended because of this imbalance.

    V. What have you…
    I am terribly excited to make senior year awesome! I am bad with computers so sorry if I posted this wrong!

18. on August 20, 2009 at 9:06 pm Sarah Fullmer Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    Hello everyone! My name is Sarah Fullmer. I moved to Spokane about a year and a half ago and I love it! I was born in Provo, Utah and have moved all over the country. By the time I was 15 I had lived in more houses than I had had birthdays. That’s a lot! But moves aren’t the only thing in great quantity in my life. I’m the oldest of 9 kids. All from the same parents. I’m proud to say that the girls are up one as of this past April.
    In school I’m a part of the Chamber Choir and Jazz Choir. Not much else though. Outside of school I enjoy anything that involves being outside. Backpacking, hiking, camping and boating are among my favorite activities. This summer I went on a 10 mile hike into the Grand Canyon to Havasu Falls. It was a lot of fun!

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    The question of my life. I change my mind almost every day. I love the idea of being a lot of different things so I find it hard to committing to only one career. Currently though I plan on being an elementary teacher and minoring in voice, French, and History. I plan on going to BYU Idaho or BYU Provo and if those don’t work out I honestly don’t know where I’ll end up.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I signed up for AP Gov mostly because a lot of friends who graduated last year enjoyed it a lot. But after finishing AP US last year I found myself almost mesmerized by our government. I also catch myself having conversations about our government with my parents every once in a while, even though I feel my knowledge to be very slim according to most political topics. Mostly I hope to learn more about what’s happening today so that I can have a better idea of what I believe and therefore become an active citizen.
    I’m honestly very excited for this class and not only the lessons we will learn but also the skills we will develop and use through out the year.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    Like I said before, I feel that my knowledge of anything political or government related is pretty slim. Probably between novice and average.
    I’m afraid to say the war on terrorism is one of those topics (there are many) that I know very little about. Obviously 9/11 was wrong and we shouldn’t have let them just get away with it, but it doesn’t seem like 8 years later we should still be fighting.
    This economy sucks, and I hope we have one of those turn around things by next year when I’m out on my own. I don’t think its fair to tax people who work hard to earn themselves a good life more than the hobos on the street. Granted we should help them out a little, but handing them money and cars isn’t going to help them in the long run.
    Abortion is wrong. That’s all there is to it. Sure women have the right to choose but they made the choice when they had sex. Once you’ve done that you have to take the consequences for what you chose. Abortion to me is just a way for people to get out of the natural consequences. And the whole schpeel about how its ok if your baby is deathly sick or most likely going to die is a load of crap. There’s a purpose to everything and God wouldn’t send a precious baby down to earth if he didn’t have a bigger plan for the family.
    The Death Penalty… well I’m not sure that I really have an opinion on this one. Sure anyone who receives it deserves something, but can the government really reserve the right of life and death. What made them judges of something as extreme as life and death?
    I’ll say that my last school was a private Christian School and we said prayers and went to a Bible class on a daily basis and I didn’t see anything wrong with that. I’m a Christian but I don’t think it’s something the whole state of California has to go up in a hussy about. On our money it says “In GOD we trust” and our founding fathers were all very pious men. Does this mean school has to be a church? No. This is also America. One of the few places we have the freedom of religion. I could keep rambling for a while about this, so basically I don’t have a huge opinion.
    I’m no tree huger, people have survived on this earth for thousands of years and we’re still alive. Plus if anything should happen like global warming and the whole earth blowing up, it’s going to be in another couple thousands of years, so I think we’re safe.
    America is one of the, if not the, best country in the world. How many countries have so many freedoms? I think our country should take a role in World Affairs. Just because we have a good life (for the most part) doesn’t mean we should keep to ourselves.
    I don’t agree with much of anything Obama is doing but I do know he didn’t seem to mention much of his current plans during the election. This, however, is not to say that I’m an avid Republican. I feel like at this point in time there isn’t a perfect party. Not that there ever was, but it seems to me that there is so much corruption in each party from senators (and congress in general) wanting money for themselves that the voice of the people is being drowned out. I think we need not a new system of government, but maybe to start fresh, and get people elected that really want what’s best for the people. Is this possible? I don’t know. But we’re not going to get anywhere complaining about things!

    Part V: What Have You
    I don’t think I have any big secrets or anything you guys might want to know. So see you, unfortunately, in 2 weeks! Living up the Senior Year!

19. on August 20, 2009 at 11:37 pm Taylor Jordan Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    My name is Taylor Jordan. I was born in Spokane but moved to Australia at a young age. I lived there for several years before moving back so Spokane. Since then I have taken several trips back and it is really as much as a home to me as Spokane is. I have an older sister named Mikayla and an older brother named Chris, both of whom graduated from Mt. Spokane. Outside of school, I play tennis and recently got into running. But other than that, I like to do a lot of stuff with friends. My friends are a huge part of my life, and they’re awesome. This summer has definitely been one of the most epic summer’s ever. I’ve probably had about 2 days thus far where I have sat around with nothing to do. It’s been go-go-go from the beginning, in a good way. Leadership camp was the highlight of my summer but I have spent several weekends at the lake with friends which are the perfect way to forget about stress. I haven’t exactly started my summer homework in preparation or taken senior pictures… the only thing I’ve done really is a bunch of ASB stuff, but it’s probably about time to get my stuff together and get focused!
    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    I will be attending a four year college after high-school and I am not sure where yet (perhaps UW, Pepperdine, or George Washington). I am not exactly a science or math kind of guy, so some things I have been thinking about doing would be law/politics, foreign language, or possibly a teaching degree. Money is always nice but I’ve learned through people that it isn’t an issue if you love what you do. So five years from now, I hope to see myself on a career path. Ten years from now? Who knows?
    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I love politics and am very passionate about it. By taking AP GO PO, I am hoping to have a better understanding of how our government works so I can further develop my own opinions. How do I want this year to go? I like to argue with people who I disagree with, I’m pretty opinionated. Passing the AP test would be awesome, so that is really my goal I guess, to have an improved grasp on how our government works.
    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    The War on Terrorism – I’m assuming that this question is meant to say where I stand on the war in Iraq. As I am all for a “war on terrorism”, but that is simply not what this war is. Sadam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden are two very different people. Our government exploited the American people by using the tragedy of 9/11 to lead us as a nation into a war based off lies.
    The Economy/Taxation – The economy is in pretty bad shape, and China basically owns us. It’s not a great situation. I am a firm believer in tax cuts for the lower and middle class (AKA those who struggle to pay the bills). I’m not saying that we overtax the rich; I’m saying that those who can’t afford to pay it should receive assistance.
    Abortion – Abortion is a tough one. I see the immorality. I am in full support when it comes to a woman who has been raped or if the child poses a medical threat to her. I am a somewhat reluctant supporter when it comes to a standard abortion with no such circumstances. I do not think abortion is murder, but I do think a woman has the right of choice. Abortion is by no means the best method of birth control. I think that we should be encouraging alternatives instead of bickering about abortion. Let’s face it, sex is a forbidden topic. Of course we like to pretend that kids in our school aren’t doing it, but it is definitely happening. I think that passing out condoms in school and letting kids know “if you’re going to do it, be safe” is a good way to instill good habits in the young. All said and done, I am pro-choice.
    The Death Penalty – I am against the death penalty. I do not believe that our government should be able to dictate what crimes are deserving of death.
    Religion / School Prayer – I do not think that schools have the right to promote religion. I don’t mean to sound harsh but is there not plenty of time before and after school to pray? If one feels the need to pray before every meal, then there is freedom to do that. If you want to pray at school, go for it, but there is no need for the school to sponsor or promote it.
    The Environment – The environment is a key issue of our generation. You can cite as many obscure little sources as you want, but the overwhelming consensus in the scientific community is that global warming is a real threat. If, for some reason, you are still skeptical, then perhaps you can look to your common sense and realize that regardless it is our responsibility to treat our planet that we all share, and that generations after us will love on, with love and respect.
    The Future of the United States in World Affairs – The US has a responsibility to be a peace keeping nation, and one that offers aid to countries that need or request help. We have no business butting in to other countries’ affairs and saying, “I don’t like the way you do things, do it this way.” But we should definitely work hand in hand with the United Nations to encourage worldwide diplomacy.
    President Obama / and or Congress – Obama has, as promised, brought hope to our nation. Let’s face it, when George W. Bush was in office, nobody liked us. We were essentially the most hated country on earth. On the home front, we went from the largest financial surplus in history to the largest deficit. Obama has eased tensions between many countries and has completely improved the image of American government. Some ignorant simpletons argue that Obama’s new healthcare plan is socialist and that the government is taken over, but allow me, if you will, to spell it out for you. Obama’s healthcare plan includes a government OPTION (key word) plan for those who can’t afford or do not want to stick with their coverage. So that means, if you want to stick with your plan and you don’t want “the government to be involved in your healthcare”, then you don’t have you. Hip-Hip-Horrayy! Everybody wins! Personally, I am a supporter of socialized medicine. You want to know why? Because it works. It works better than our system, and that has been proven. Look at any other modernized country and we are living in the dark ages of healthcare. If socialism didn’t have such a negative connotation here then maybe people would see past their stubbornness and see what is truly black and white. Obama could pass some radical bill, as democrats have the majority, but he is trying to create a bi-partisan bill and compromise with senate republicans. And for those of you worried about Obama being a socialist, he has actually lowered taxes. Go figure.

20. on August 21, 2009 at 2:01 am Justin Johnson Said:
    

    Part I:
    Well I typed this up once already, all finished and nice and was editing and guess what happened. Yup, my computer died. So let’s try this again.. My name is Justin Johnson and I’ve lived in Spokane for maybe 8 years. Before that I lived in Blaine, Washington, where there are even less things to do than there are here believe it or not. I have a sister named Erica who is 22 or 23 or maybe 24 who lives in Seattle as an accountant and then a Mom and Dad that do pretty boring things.
    Outside of school I cross country and downhill bike, snow ski, wake board, wake skate, wake surf, water ski, sky ski and knee board. During the summer my family and I go up to the lake at least once a week, and I mean the lake as in Lake Roosevelt, not that giant choppy mess called Priest Lake that you all seem to love so much. Other than that just took a few road trips to the west side of the state to see the sister and the family this summer.
    Good grades and work ethic were taught early on in elementary school and they seemed to have stuck; even though procrastination always seems to prevail, but that’s not something I’m too worried about fixing.

    Part II:
    What do I want to be when I grow up… the million dollar question. A question that Advisory has certainly not helped me with at all, saying that I should be a ‘lymph node fluid removal technician’. In the more immediate future though I hope to attend the University of Washington or the University of Puget Sound, not a big fan of this Spokane weather. Past college or even in college I have no idea what I want to do, but I’m not too worried about it.

    Part III:
    I hope to gain a more in depth understanding of our nation as it plays out on the modern set through this class. I don’t care so much about the trails and railroads of America in the 1800’s and could care less what an anaphora is or when I should use one. It will be nice change to have a class that provides information that is relevant and useful and not filled with pointless crap that I will forget after I take some test that confirms whether or not I memorized enough note cards.

    Part IV:
    I’d say my knowledge of politics and current events is average to proficient as I read Newsweek every week and tend to read the headlines and major stories on MSNBC.com.

    - The War on Terror:
    The United States has had a terrible strategy regarding counter-terrorism since the beginning. 9/11 provoked a swift but faulty retribution aimed at Iraq, a country that posed no threat to the U.S. George W. Bush and his cabinet spoon fed us about Hussein’s “Weapons of Mass Destruction” when really he had none. Bush rushed legislation including the PATRIOT Act which was hastily passed through Congress, which clearly created controversy and problems later on. Not only that, but because of 9/11 Bush was able to rush us into a war that has nothing to do with protecting our freedoms but has everything to do with promoting American resources even when there would have been much better ways to do so. Overall, the War on Terror should have been directed at Afghanistan in the first place and we should have let Iraq stay unscathed.

    - The Economy / Taxation:
    Obama continues to say that our economy is recovering, and that the worst of it is over, but I don’t believe that. Jobs seem to continue to fall, and foreclosures continue to happen. Idiots keep buying Escalades and new boats on their credit cards and only later realizing that they do not have the money. Clearly this system of spending lots and stimulating the economy with money from consumers (money that don’t have) has created an illusion that we are doing great, whereas the awful truth is that things are not so well. This is shown when people can’t pay their debt and the ‘repo-man’ comes to take away their new helicopter. Our economy will not be foolproof until we learn to control our money and spend what we save.

    -Abortion:
    My rule on abortion is.. if you don’t want one, don’t get one. I believe a woman has every right to do what she wants, and it is her own business.

    -Death Penalty:
    The Justice System needs to be reworked so that low tier crimes do not award such extreme jail time. By having less populated prisons we would have more room for higher tier criminals to rot in prison and leave only the extreme cases to the death penalty.

    -Religion/School Prayer:
    School and religion should be completely separated, people can do whatever they want on their own time but it should not be forced upon anyone.

    -The Environment:
    As shown by the recent success of the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ federal program as well as raising emissions standards, our country has taken a turn to go green. Although this is all and well, America has bigger problems on their plate to deal with such as the War on Terror, health care, and the economy.

    -The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs:
    The Iraq War was a decision that turned the world view of the U.S. very sour. Europe started looking at the U.S. as imperialistic and the Middle East viewed us as intrusive. As a result of these attitudes some of our allies are hesitant to aid us, and our image as a superpower decreases. If Obama does nothing to assert American power and capability while also rekindling the alliances with Europe we will likely begin to fail as a superpower.

    -President Obama and/or Congress:
    Being sided with most left wing ideals I was glad when Obama was elected, but recently he has disappointed me. His failure to champion the liberal agenda and pass much needed health reform is pathetic. The idea for town hall meetings was a fatal mistake. Instead of growing a pair and broadcasting on prime time television his health reform bill and its components Obama chose to hear from the various elderly and bearded NRA geezers who are convinced that adding a public sector of health insurance will turn us into socialists. If Obama would have just interrupted your beloved ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and explained his program on prime time all these false rumors would be dispelled and we could actually see the points of the proposed law. However, Democrats everywhere are failing miserably at promoting health reform. Instead of using an emotional argument such as Joe the Plumber’s current health insurance denied him coverage for his liver transplant, they choose to use logical arguments of facts and numbers. Meanwhile the conservatives are only concerned about emotional arguments involving ‘Grammie’ and hoping that her plug won’t be pulled by Obama’s apparent ‘Death Panels’. Obviously an emotional argument will win over the masses a lot easier than a list of charts and explanations.

    Part V:
    I think that’s about it.

21. on August 21, 2009 at 7:57 am Valerie Nauditt Said:
    

    Part 1: Who are you?
    Hola! I’m Valerie Nauditt. I guess I’ll start with my family. I have one older brother, Brad, who graduated two years ago from Mt. Spokane and my dad and my mom. My entire life I have lived in Spokane and only moved once. I have grown up around motocross and have loved every moment of it. However, this summer I haven’t found much time to go out to the races with my family but rather I have been busy playing tennis, going to the lake, and working. I went camping for the first time this summer up on Kalispell Island at Priest Lake. It was so much fun. I can’t wait to go again. I love just spending time up at the lake with friends and family.
    Part 2: What do you want to be when you grow up?
    I plan to visit UW and University of Montana just to get the feel of the college. One day, I want to become a pharmacist but first I have to make it through six years of college. So if I lose my interest in pharmacy somewhere along those six years I don’t know where I will end up. Five years from now I will probably be a college student or at a beginning job. In ten years I have no clue where I will end up. There is so much that will happen between now and then, there is no use in planning. Hopefully I will be working at a steady job and enjoying life.
    Part 3: What do you hope to get out of the class?
    I signed up for AP GO-PO because I, like many, like the way it will look to colleges. I also heard it was a fun class and the passing rate of the AP test was rather high. Also, I am one who strongly believes that to be a good American citizen you have to know how your government works. There is no point in voting if you have no clue who or what you are voting for. I don’t want to be a voter that gets swayed by the cheesy ads. I want to know what I’m actually voting for and be knowledgeable on how the government works. So therefore I would hope to get information I can use my whole life.
    Part 4: What do you know or think?
    If I’m being completely honest, I know very little about politics. I feel like I have formed my opinions based upon what my parents and my peers believe. I don’t actually know any logistics. Here are my opinions on the following topics.
    The War on Terrorism: I know I sound like a ‘Negative Nancy’ when I say, I don’t think the war on terrorism will ever end but I believe that to be true. World Peace will never truly exist to the extent of terrorism being extinct. Since we have taken such a strong stance and role in the war on terrorism I feel that we need to finish what we went to do. Too many lives have been lost to back out now.
    The Economy: Obviously something needs to be done for our economy or we will keep slipping. I feel like there’s no right way to deal with the economy though. Economics is a self feeding wheel. Therefore there is no magical solution to keep it going up and to the right.
    Abortion: Abortion is tough. I do think if I had to take a stand I would be against abortion. Imagine all the people that weren’t ‘planned’ that became wonderful people and lived joyous lives. Adoption is always an option.
    Death Penalty: I’m for the death penalty. I don’t think it sends a good message to the public that its legalized killing, but some people do horrendous things and they cross the line so far sometimes it’s the only true justice. Plus the death penalty is chosen by multiple people. It’s not a cookie cutter case fits all.
    Religion in Schools: Religion is a very personal subject to many. It’s such a good topic of discussion because no one knows for a fact if they are correct in what they believe. That’s where faith comes in. I don’t think a public school should force any student to pray or do any religious acts due to the various religions out there. However, I do feel that our country was, at one point, based upon religion. For this, I don’t think we need to push religion out of government but we don’t need to push that religion on our citizens either.
    The Environment: Go green! That’s all I got to say. If it’s not us that are going to have to pay for everyone’s sloppy messes it’ll be our kids or grandkids. If we start cleaning it up now we will be doing everyone favors.
    World Affairs: I know very little about the US and world affairs. However, I do think the U.S will always be involved in world affairs, were too big and boastful of a country to hang to the side. The economy may not allow us to be the most powerful at this time, but we will never fall too far from the top.
    President Obama: I don’t really have anything to say about President Obama because I feel like he speaks in an elevated language. I don’t believe a lot of the public understands what he is and is not saying during his speeches. I feel like any president would have a rough time given the circumstances going into presidency but hopefully he makes the best of it.
    Part 5: What have you.
    That’s all I got to say folks!

22. on August 21, 2009 at 11:46 am Haley Anderson Said:
    

    PART I: Who Are You?

    Hello! This is Haley Anderson here, and I have been living in Spokane since March 19, 1992. My family consists of my mom, Linda, my dad, CK, my sister, Hannah, and of course, my two cats. I have lived in my current house for almost 11 years, and in my younger years, I lived on the lower South Hill. Some call me crazy, but running is a huge part of my life, whether I’m fast or not. So, I run cross-country and it is the greatest sport ever, not only for the running part, but the amazing friends that come with it. I also do track, but it’s not too exciting when running in circles. Like most people, I love to travel! Two summers ago, I was lucky enough to visit Italy and Germany with my family, as well as Mexico, on a church mission trip. While there, I made lifelong friends and it turned out to be the best week of my life! This summer I stayed in Spokane to visit colleges, see friends, and of course, to get tan!

    PART II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?

    Once I am finished with high school, I want to attend a four-year university. My eyes are on University of Washington to study the fields of graphic design, photography, and architecture. Art runs throughout my family and I want to keep it going by going into the creative arts. The Seattle area is a great fit for me too, and the UW has multiple options available. Five years from now, I see myself finishing up college and getting a job in my area of interest. Ten years from now, I would love to be designing my own house and having a successful career!

    PART III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?

    I’m taking AP Government, well… to be honest… because I didn’t want to take Citizenship. This class will improve my knowledge in politics and government. Also, it seems like a fun class that will keep me busy and keep me in touch with the outside world. I look forward to becoming more familiar with our government. I want this year to go smoothly, as most students do, and challenge me to stay focused and have fun!

    PART IV: What Do You Know or Think?

    For politics overall, I would like to say I am average, but I am definitely novice. Yet, I do try and watch the news often and read the front page of the newspaper to see what all is going on locally, or globally.

    The War on Terrorism: I’m not too knowledgeable about the war on terrorism, but I know I generally oppose any type of war. I don’t believe violence solves anything. While I believe our intentions for fighting in Iraq were appropriate, I believe it’s time for us to withdraw our troops.
    The Economy/Taxation: The economy is interesting, knowing my generation is going to be impacted by the decisions being made today. It is important to know what is going on and how the economy is doing because it will effect my generation in the future. It’s hard to follow this topic because it’s always changing! Taxation, however, is not a huge issue to me now, but it will be in the near future.
    Abortion: Abortion is a topic that is difficult to discuss. There are better ways to deal with an unborn child than to kill it. Like adoption! It makes sense for a family to give up the child to have a better life, but not giving an unborn child a life is wrong.
    The Death Penalty: The death penalty sounds so harsh to me at first. But when I think about it, it’s a matter of justice. If a criminal kills one or more people, they should be sentenced for their actions. But in some cases, this penalty may be too harsh.
    Religion/School Prayer: This topic is always hard, since I have been very active in my local church. I think students should not be punished for praying in school. However, encouraging students to join any religion at school is wrong. I like the fact that church and state are separate.
    The Environment: I think people blow this topic out of proportion from both sides. Global warming or not, we need to acknowledge that the earth is changing and there are ways to help slow the process, and improve our environment. We all need to do our part to understand the facts, and do what we can to help. Whether it’s reusing bottled water, to putting solar panels in your backyard, etc.
    The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs: I am not too familiar with this topic but I know our role in world affairs will effect my generation as the years pass by. Everyday comes with new challenges for us to face, and how we’re involved will have an impact down the road.
    President Obama and/or Congress: I went to his inauguration! Obama has been doing a good job considering all the challenges that were put into his hands when he was elected. From his healthcare reform, to our economy, he has plans, even though some say they aren’t effective. As far as Congress goes, I know little, but I can’t wait to learn more!

    Part V: What Have You

    I can’t wait for a great year! Hope all goes well for everyone, and have a fun rest of your summer!

23. on August 21, 2009 at 2:32 pm Tyler Fackrell Said:
    

    Part I: Who are you?
    I’m Tyler Fackrell and I’ve only lived in Washington for three years. I used to live in California. Washington is nice, but I don’t really like the weather. We moved up her for because my grandpa and grandma live up here. I have three brothers, Dalton, Josh, and Parker. Some of the things I like to do outside of school are hangout out with my family and friends, and I also like to play wiffle ball with my brothers. I play MLB the show a lot. I enjoy taking our boat out to the lake. This summer I went to California to visit family. We went to a couple Angel games which was sweet. We also went to the lake to relax and made it to a couple Mariner games this summer. Besides that I’ve just chilled at my house and watched baseball games.

    Part II: What do you want to be when you “grow up”?
    After high school I plan on going to college. The colleges I’m applying for are Gonzaga, Washington State, and Cal St Fullerton. When I’m done with college I want to become a sports agent. In five years I’d probably be in a sports agency building up clients, and then after ten years go off on my own with my bro, Drew. Taking your clients with you and then you can start your own agency. Being a sports agent would a great job. You get to represent the best athletes in the country.

    Part III: What do you hope to get out of the class?
    The reason I’m taking Advanced Government and Politics is because it’s more of a challenge and gets you more prepared for college. Also I need to learn more about Government and Politics because it is a big part of being an adult. People need to know what is going on in the country. How things are going and how they can make a difference. To be honest I never watch the news, and I need to start watching a little bit everyday. I would rather watch sportscenter then the news. I just want to learn whatever Mr. Kautzman has to offer. I look for to a good year.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I really don’t know enough on those topics to form an opinion. If you wanted an opinion on whose the best player in the MLB I could help you out, but not on these topics. Hopefully, by the end of the year I will have an opinion on all of those topics. I don’t really have any more to add, but I hope this will be a great year.

24. on August 21, 2009 at 4:09 pm Nicole McMurray Said:
    

    My name is Nicole McMurray. I have one older brother named Nick and he is 19 and attends the University of Washington. My parents, Lance and Jonine, both manage retail stores. My dad is the manager of Harbor Freight tools and my mom is the manager of Staples. I also work at Harbor Freight tools because my dad got me a job there. I was born in Atascadero, California and I moved to Spokane when I was seven. When I was eleven my family moved to where we live now in Chattaroy. Even though I have lived here in Washington for awhile, California will always be my home. When I was little I did both gymnastics and ice skating for about seven years. Now I am a cheerleader and I try to play tennis even though I quit playing it at school. I really love animals and they are something I have been interested in ever since I was little. This summer I have been working a lot which has been a bummer but I always love the money. I have also been going to the lake a lot and I just got back from California with my mom.
    My plans for after high school are not set yet, however I know I will be attending a four year college. I am looking at either San Diego State University or the University of Washington right now. At college I want to study either marine biology or work to be a veterinarian for ocean animals. I love animals and I think it would be amazing to be able to help them for the rest of my life. I am not sure where I will be in five or ten years but I hope it is somewhere good. I think it is very scary that we are even graduating this year but I know it’s going to be great!
    I am taking this class because it seems like a very interesting course. Another huge reason is because my brother took this class and loved it. I feel like it will really help me grow as a person and help educate me on the government and politics. I want to learn more because as of right now I know practically nothing besides that Obama is president and I went to the inauguration!
    When it comes to politics I would say my knowledge level is a newby. I do not really know anything about them. The war on Terrorism is kind of dumb in my opinion. I know this may be what every unknowing girl would say but I really just don’t get why we can’t all get along. Why would you want to blow something up? It just makes a mess and people get hurt. Plus the people you hurt are going to want revenge. So basically it’s a pointless nonstop battle. The economy and taxation is something I don’t really know anything about except that taxes are a lot and it’s annoying that we have to pay so much! Abortion is something that I do not really like to have an opinion on because people can get really defensive and I’m not a fighter. Yes I feel like it is wrong at times but sometimes people are unable to help it and that is really their only choice. It is very controversial and everyone has their reasons for doing it or not doing it and that is their own personal choice. The Death Penalty is a harsh punishment but there are a lot of bad people in the world that do very horrible things. When they do these things I do believe that at times the only punishment that is effective enough is the death penalty. Religion is a very controversial topic as well. It is something that I would never push on someone else. I believe in god but people can believe whatever they want because it’s not like it is really going to affect me, nor is it my business. The Environment is something that I really like and I wish that it would get taken better care of. We create so much pollution every day and it’s hard not to but there are always things we can do to help. Don’t buy plastic bottles of water every day! The Future role of the United States in world affairs is something that I have absolutely no opinion on. I don’t know what goes on with that or anything…dang. President Obama is pretty cool. That’s about the only thing I can say about him. I went to the inauguration with K-dawg this last January and it was so amazing! Obama looks so good on a big television screen.
    Well hmm if you didn’t know…. Mr. Kautzman’s real name is K-dawg but only Val-pal, Katie Bates and I can call him that! Haha I miss DC

25. on August 21, 2009 at 4:11 pm pkautzman Said:
    

    Submitted for Megan Sikes by Kautzman

    Part I: Who Are You?
    Well, my full name is Megan Carly Sikes. I have lived in Spokane my whole life and can’t really complain. I live at home with my Mom, Dad, and beloved Baxter. On my off time I like to make baked goods and snowboard (weather permitting). I’ve played softball for our school since freshmen year and plan to do so this year as well. This summer I haven’t really done much of anything. We had a family reunion at our cabin in McCall, Idaho which is always a good time and I went to go check out Western’s campus for 3 days as well. I’m really looking forward to our senior year!

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    After high school I definitely plan to go to collage. I’m seriously considering Western as of right now but who knows. I lover their campus and they have a great biology program which is what I’m looking for. Hopefully 5 years from now I will be zoning in on my masters and getting opportunities to be a part of experiments dealing with molecular biology. Ten years form now I guess I’d like to be doing the same thing except for getting paid for it.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    Honestly I am taking this class because everyone else is and because I want to know more about this subject. I would love if I made it through the class alive and didn’t fail the AP test, along with learning a lot along the way. For me personally, I like taking the “Big Picture” and narrowing it down to something relatable so that I better understand what’s going on. That’s about it.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I am by all means definitely not an expert on any of these topics. I can only do what is asked of me and throw in my own two cents.

    The War on Terrorism:
    First off, I do believe that there has to be some sort of war on terror due to the fact that the World Trade Center was attacked by terrorists. I agree with the intentions of the War on Terror but I don’t think those intentions are being carried out correctly. We have been in Afghanistan for a while now, and although we have made some progress, our soldiers are still dying and terrorism still exists in the region. I don’t have the answer for what needs to be done; I can only say that something needs to change.

    The Economy/Taxation:
    Well, really the only thing I know about the economy is that it’s bad. But as for taxation, I think it is necessary for our society to function. Everyone who is able should have to pay taxes because they reap the benefits of paved roads or public schooling, along with all the other things that taxation provides.

    Abortion:
    I don’t think that abortion should be illegal. Any woman should have the option to abort a pregnancy, whether they choose to use the option or not. I think it’s the woman’s right to decide whether or not they will carry out the pregnancy based on her own circumstances. But I also think that the decision needs to be made in the very early stages of the pregnancy.

    The Death Penalty:
    I think the death penalty should be carried out on people who commit terrible crimes such as murder. Even if the criminal gets a life sentence, that doesn’t mean that they are locked up in a cell all day. The death penalty is a better punishment, for people who do such crimes, than life in jail (which may not prove to be all that bad). Also, it’s the tax payers’ money that is used to keep-lets just say- a serial killer alive and fed in prison.

    Religion/School Prayer:
    Basically the only thing that I believe about this topic in relation to school is that you should be able to practice your own religion as long as you are not forcing it upon others. The school itself shouldn’t have the right to initiate prayer, but students should be allowed to pray alone or with others in school as long as it does not interrupt learning.

    The Environment:
    I think it is our responsibility to keep the environment healthy for future generations. I don’t think that we are doing a bad job of it, but we could be doing a better job than we are doing now at improving our world. I think as time goes on and the whole “Go Green” slogan really sticks with people it will improve even more, especially since there are more and more products out there on the market now that are environmentally friendly.

    The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs:
    Well as far as I know we tend to get into business that we need not be in sometimes. I don’t really know a lot on this subject but I think in order for us to be well liked around the world we need to change something in our way of thinking we need to “step in and help out” all the time.

    President Obama and/or Congress:
    I think he is what we need in the situation we find ourselves in now. He obviously wants “change” and that might not be such a bad idea considering that not everything we are doing, whether it be overseas or here at home, is working.

    Part V: What Have You
    I’m looking forward to having a grown-up class and talking about real issues.

26. on August 21, 2009 at 4:13 pm pkautzman Said:
    

    Submitted for Dillon Fischer by Kautzman

    Part I: Who Are You?
    I’m Dillon Fischer and I live with my 15 year old sister, my mom, my dad, and my dog. Outside of school I spend most of my time hanging out with friends and family, seeing movies or playing games with them. This summer I relaxed and unwound by having fun with friends, going to the lake, and taking trips when I was not scooping ice cream at work.
    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    I plan to go to college, but I haven’t completely decided yet. I am leaning towards University of Washington, although I haven’t yet decided on what degree and career I want to pursue. Five years from now I will hopefully be just out of or finishing up college and entering the job market. Ten years from now I hope to have a found a good job, and be in the position where I could buy important things like a house and a car.
    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I am taking AP GO PO first and foremost for the AP credit. Conveniently I am also interested in politics, and I would like to learn the details and inner workings of our government. I haven’t paid much attention to the to the detailed workings of government, and I hope that by the end of the year I will walk away with much more knowledge on the subject.
    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I consider myself politically competent in general.
    • The War on Terrorism
    I think a “War on Terrorism” is necessary in our time, but I think we are going at it with the wrong approach. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be fighting Al Qaeda, but I think our aggressive foreign policy in the Middle East makes it a breeding ground for terrorism. Going in to these already unstable countries “guns blazing” creates just as many terrorists as it kills. The real progress is made through reform and education, and I think that should be our main focus.
    • The Economy/Taxation
    As everyone knows, the economy is in a recession now, and will bounce back just like it always has. I think the news and people in general are blowing it out of proportion. I don’t think the decision to give billions of dollars in bailout money to major banks was necessary or responsible. As for taxation, it’s necessary to keep our country functioning, even if I might not always agree on what it’s spent on.
    • Abortion
    Abortion should be legal in some cases. While I think it should be limited, based on aspects such as the length of the pregnancy, it should be an available choice to women in cases such as r#pe or if child birth could pose danger to the mother or the baby.
    • The Death Penalty
    The death penalty should be an applicable punishment to those convicted of heinous crimes, if there is strong evidence. However, I am somewhat undecided because I have a hard time justifying the state killing its citizens.
    • Religion/School Prayer
    I think everyone should be free to practice their own religion as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others. I also believe in separation of church and state, and I don’t think the government should ever sponsor or endorse any religion. Public schools should not be able to organize any sort of school prayer, but if students choose to pray at school and are not disturbing other students or class activities, then it is their freedom to do so.
    • The Environment
    Our natural environment is in a decline, and it’s our responsibility to stop it. The condition of the planet we live on directly affects us, so we should take care of it. While the steps that have been taken so far are admirable, I hope that some day the “Green” movement becomes more than just a trend and is taken more seriously by the government.
    • The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs
    The role of the United States in future world affairs will be similar to what it is now. While we may give up some economic power to China and India in the future, I think we will remain a strong economic force and a powerful military presence throughout the world. I hope that we use that power more responsibly in the future.
    • President Obama and/or Congress
    For me, it is too soon to have a verdict on President Obama. While I agree with many of his policies and bills, I don’t agree with the stimulus bill. I think the constant socialist accusations against Obama are ridiculous. Even though I favor the Democratic party, I think contrasting ideals are healthy for government and our currently Democrat congress could get carried away without much resistance.

27. on August 21, 2009 at 5:07 pm Daniel Lipuzhin Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    I can’t describe myself in a blog post comment, however, I’ll try… My name is Daniel Lipuzhin, I was born on October 24th, 1991 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. My parents got divorced when I was little; I live with my mom, Irina. In 2003 (I was almost 12), my aunt invited us to move to Spokane. My mom decided to do it, because she believed it would give us better opportunities and greater freedoms than were possible to get in Russia. So, we moved to Spokane, and have been living here since July 2003. I like it here, but I miss my homeland a lot. I’m proud of my heritage. I’ve left a lot of good friends in Russia, but I have also made great new friends here.
    I’m a Christian. I like playing sports, particularly basketball, soccer, volleyball. I enjoy the outdoors; just looking at nature is breathtaking, especially in our state. Computers are a hobby of mine; I (try to) develop websites and find cool stuff to use computers for. The most exciting thing that I did in a long while was visit my relatives in Russia during the summer of 2007. It was great, seeing all the familiar faces and the condo I grew up in…This summer, I also visited my relatives in Federal Way. Then, we all went to Oregon to meet with their relatives. Overall it was fun, I just relaxed. This summer was great, except for the fact that it was so short.

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    My immediate plan for the future is to finish writing this sentence. Then, later on, I’d like to finish high school, go to college, graduate from college… I’m looking at University of Washington and Eastern Washington University as prospective colleges. I really liked the UW campus when I was there. However, EWU is closer, more affordable, and I already have 5 credits there through my French III class.
    Five years from now I hope to either finish college, get a job according to my profession, and get married, or continue my education. Ten years from now, I’ll be done with education, and will hopefully have a stable job, which will allow me to take frequent vacations with my family. I hope to stay in Spokane, because I like it here, but you never know what will happen.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I’m taking AP GO PO to find out more about our government and how it works, because I don’t know much about it. Also, I want to get a college credit out of this class, and make my transcript look better. I hope that there will be less work to do in this class than AP US History last year, because I’m taking more challenging classes this school year, and I hope to have time for all of them. The blog comment assignment idea seems really interesting, I like the Internet approach to school/homework/learning.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I’m a political newbie, I’m not really interested in politics until school starts, so I might be wrong or misinformed on several of the issues below.
    The War on Terrorism .
    “War on Terrorism” sounds nice, it seems like the right thing to do. However, I don’t think that it’s very effective. If it was, it would be over already.
    The Economy/Taxation.
    The economy is very shaky right now, although my family wasn’t affected by it all that much. The gas price is the most obvious indicator for me, and it wavers all the time. Also, there are a lot more homeless people asking for money on the side of the road; I feel sorry for them losing their jobs. I know that the crisis was caused by banks playing with housing loans. The thought that makes me really uncomfortable is that the US has a huge national debt. When are we going to repay it?
    Abortion.
    I don’t know what has been going on with abortion in the US, but I’m against it. We don’t have the right to just take someone’s life.
    The Death Penalty.
    Taking a life on purpose is wrong, even if the person about to be killed did something awful. Therefore, I believe that the death penalty shouldn’t exist, even though sometimes it’s much harder to see someone live than die.
    Religion/School Prayer.
    I believe that prayer should neither be forced, nor forbidden in schools. That way, it doesn’t hurt anyone.
    The Environment.
    We live on Earth, so we should take care of it. Less littering and less pollution would certainly help the environment deteriorate slower. However, it’s not going to last forever…
    The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs.
    I have no idea what the future role of the US in world affairs will be.
    President Obama and/or Congress.
    I think that President Obama has a lot of charisma. He is attractive and inspiring. I’m not into politics, as I said earlier, so I don’t know whether Obama really does what he says, but he says it well. One thing I heard about him that I don’t like is Obama’s support of homosexuals. I believe homosexuality to be wrong, and as such, it should not be endorsed by a country’s government, especially the president.

    Part V: What Have You
    I hope that this class gives me the necessary knowledge of the inner workings of the US, and that we all have fun and make good friends.

28. on August 21, 2009 at 5:11 pm Alex Price Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You
    My name is Alexander Troy Price, so named because it makes a sentence in Greek. I belong to a family of five, including my sisters, Danielle and Abbie, my mother, Lisa, and my dad, Alan. I enjoy music, both playing and listening to it. I play Guitar and trumpet. I also enjoy martial arts, being a brown belt in shudokan. I like to hang out with my best friends, Kyle, Beau, Quin, and Evan. We generally play music (Beau, Quin, Kyle, and I all belong to a band called Facing Wayside) or just hang out. I am a Christian, and spent a good bit of my summer volunteering at camp Tshimikain and attending our church camping trip, Low Gear. I like goofing off with friends (though I probably shouldn’t say that at school) and doing anything to get my blood pumping. I like politics and hope to one day join the world of government, whether in the local sector or in the national limelight really doesn’t matter to me.

    Part II: What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?
    Like I said, I would like to join politics one day. I don’t yet know where I plan on going to college, but I hope to get into Central Bible College in Missouri because it is a Christian college with an excellent political science program. I am also very interested in sports, so I hope to attend a college with excellent sports programs. Five years from now I hope to be well on my way to getting a degree, though I don’t know where I will be living. Ten years from now I hope to be establishing a successful politics career.

    Part III: What do You Want to Get Out of the Class?
    I am stoked for this class! I’d like to get a deeper knowledge of how our political system works and learn a little bit more about what goes on behind those high vaulted walls. I like learning based off of experiences the best. I’m taking this class partly because it came highly recommended from my sister, and partly because I like learning about politics.
    I think that this class could be a great forum for discussion to hear other people’s points of view as well as sharing my own. I like debate and argument and hope that I will be able to do this in a polite, controlled atmosphere.

    Part IV: What do You Know or Think?
    I believe that I have a proficient knowledge of most aspects of government. I watch the news and read the paper daily, and I like learning about current events. To start off my opinionated “rant” I would like to say that I would be considered very conservative in my views. That being said, I believe that the War on Terror is a war with a noble goal in mind, desiring peace and security for our time. However, the blood shed that has occurred has affected primarily women and children, unfortunate civilian victims of vicious suicide bombings. The moral idealism of the people in the Middle East makes a full scale war in the area a Pandora’s Box. They believe that we are the Great Satan, so there is precious little that we can do. We are essentially trying to save a drowning man who wishes to die.
    The economy is a tender issue with me. I think that the way we are trying to solve the current money problems is ridiculous. We are shoveling money on a fire to try to smother it. I am more of a proponent of Keynesian economic theory, but I personally think that no political party has proposed a solution that will work.
    Abortion is murder. Plain and simple. Taking the life of an unborn child to avoid discomfort is akin to killing a man who stands in your way. My mom used to be the head of a Crisis Pregnancy center, so I have a relatively deep level of knowledge on this area. Women who have an abortion are approximately 800% more likely to commit suicide or admit suicidal thoughts than any other group of women. The way I see it, if you are adult enough to have sex and risk a pregnancy, you are adult enough to deal with the natural consequences of your actions.
    The death penalty is one of the few so-called controversies that I have very little opinion about. In simple terms, I am an “eye for an eye” guy. If someone murders, they should be killed.
    “An atheist can no more diminish the glory of God by refusing to acknowledge his existence than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling ‘Darkness’ on the walls of his cell”—C.S. Lewis. I am a Christian, and think that there will always be prayer in school, no matter what men may do to stop it. I for one would proudly stand and shout “under God” when all around me were silent, and the same goes for prayer. Many of the people in this class may disagree with me, and so be it. I won’t condemn you for believing differently. I will, however, focus my attention on God whether it is legal or not.
    I don’t think that global warming is as big of a deal as the liberal media wants to make it. I think that it is a cycle, and this theory is supported by plain raw science.
    The United States is and always has been a superpower. I could make a strong argument that we should not be the world’s policeman, but I also believe that Proverbs 3:27 is a valuable commentary on helpfulness. “Do not withhold good from those that deserve it when it is within your power to act.”
    I would not have voted for Obama. I think that his policies are slowly destroying America, and Congress is helping him. He admits that he has socialist tendencies, yet others argue that that’s not what he meant. I respect the office with all due respect, but I don’t believe that Obama is qualified to lead a country.

    Part V: What Have You?
    That’s pretty much it. I am certain that a lot of people will disagree with me and I’m cool with that. If anyone wants to argue their case, feel free but please do it respectfully! I am tired of having people scream in my face that I am intolerant without even letting me explain my side. Have a great year, and I’m excited to meet you all!

29. on August 21, 2009 at 5:30 pm Holleigh Bergstrom Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    Hi! I’m Holleigh Bergstrom. I love Scooby Doo, playing soccer, and when I was in 4th grade my sister and I went to the National Chess Championships in Kansas City, Kansas. We made a pact never to tell anyone about it when we were old enough to realize that normal kids don’t usually have chess practice or spend their Saturdays at large nerd gatherings known as chess tournaments… so if you know Callie it would be greatly appreciated if you don’t tell her I told you this-thanks.  Callie is my older sister who also took AP Gov and loved it! I also have a younger sister, Amanda, who will be in middle school next year, and my mommy Dana and daddy Dave. This summer my sisters and I went to Arkansas for a week to visit family (because honestly there’s nothing else to do in Arkansas) and had a great time! We had many duels and battles with our little cousin who apparently was invincible and never died, which seemed a little unfair to me so I used my invisibility cloak and foam bazooka to even things out a bit. For the rest of the summer I’ve been spending my days working in my Uncle’s vineyard where I learned how to weed eat and break lawn mowers and over excessively beat spiders with a gardening hoe. Other than that I’ve just been hanging out with friends (mostly Jo- the crazy fast one with beastly calves, and Morgan who goes to Mead) and catching movies whenever I can, it’s been great!

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    Before last summer my plan was to stay as far away from school as possible after college. After being a coach at Skyhawks sports camps for kids, however, my mind drastically changed. I realized how much I enjoy being around little kids (probably because of our similar maturity level), and now I want to become an elementary school teacher, preferably any grades k-3. Since I have to be smarter than the little kids, I am going to college, but the hard part about that of course is where. Wherever it is I hope to be able to throw the javelin there and/or maybe even play soccer. I have no idea where I want to go, but I am applying to Whitworth and a couple east coast schools for options. Going farther way would be an adventure, but I also wouldn’t mind staying close to home. In five years I will hopefully be graduated from college and onto student teaching at an elementary school. In ten years… I suppose I hope to be a full time teacher and, God willing, moved out of my parent’s house.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I’m taking AP GO PO because I heard it was a really fun class and somehow we also learn a lot about our government and how the system works. The whole year my sister was in this class I always heard how fun it was and how they got to make political campaigning songs using the outline of Christmas songs, which I thought would be tough but really awesome too. Even with a few tough tests and of course the AP Exam, it sounded like a great year. Since then, I knew I would be taking this class my senior year, too. At the end of this year I hope to better understand our government and how it all functions together, and what each position actually does and is responsible for. Also, I would like to learn how it all affects me and if one person really can make a difference in the overall scheme of things. Ideally, I hope to have as much fun as my sister did and get a 5 on the AP test at the end of the year. Looking forward to it!

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    Aside from the news being on each morning and at night when my parents watch it, I usually make no extra effort to learn about political topics or discussions. However, I do eavesdrop on my parents’ conversations sometimes expecting to hear some juicy secret about what our Christmas presents will be, only to hear each of their opinions on Obama’s Social Security plan or bail out money spent in all the wrong places. Unfortunately, if they catch me they will start telling me about it all and I usually have no idea what they’re talking about, in which case they are more than willing to fill me in. Thanks to these little tidbits of information I willingly or unwillingly collect, I would consider my political knowledge level to be novice. I don’t know too much about many of these topics, but here is what I do know…
    The War on Terrorism: Even in fourth grade I understood the fact that someone tried to hurt America, and since that was a ‘no no’ we had to stand up for ourselves and let them know that wasn’t ok. Now, are we even still fighting terrorism? There are soldiers dying daily that sometimes we don’t even hear about or acknowledge that they died for us. Fathers, Mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and friends. People who had lives and loved ones they wanted to protect but died in the line of duty- for what? I can’t imagine dying and not knowing why. I feel like we have been at war for so long, sometimes people have forgotten why we are still fighting. I have nothing but the utmost respect for those laying their lives on the line to protect people like me that they don’t even know.
    The Economy/Taxation: All we hear these days is about how bad our economy is, and following it is that person’s personal solution of how to fix it. I myself still don’t understand how the richest country in the world doesn’t even have enough money to keep their banks open. Although I know very little about the details of how to fix a problem like this, I think the easiest way this could begin to be resolved is not through more taxing, but less. The taxing system has always worked in favor of the lower and upper classes, leaving the average, hard working middle class citizens between a rock and a hard place. The upper class has enough money to pay the taxes and still have a surplus, and the lower class receives the money from the taxing of the upper and middle classes. This leaves the middle class working hard and having to support other people (some who truly do need and deserve help and others who may actually be capable of supporting themselves but choose otherwise), without any extra cash or frills and continue to pay their bills paycheck to paycheck. What if the government lowered taxes, at least for the middle and lower classes, so they could keep their money and spend it in other ways that support businesses, in turn supporting and eventually stabilizing if not boosting our economy? I am sure that there are more than a few reasons why that wouldn’t work, but it’s a thought.
    Abortion: Taking a life away from someone who has no choice in the matter about their own future just seems wrong. I understand that maybe the parents don’t think they’re old enough or ready to have a child and raise it yet, but it’s a little too late to make that choice. If you made a wrong decision already that put you in that situation, I don’t think you should be making decisions for other people, much less people who haven’t even had a chance to make the right decision. There are many people who would love to have a child but are unable to, which is why adoption would seem to be the better option. Yes, having the child would be painful and even more so to give it away, but I think if it means a chance for life and for that baby to have an opportunity to make their own decisions someday, it would be worth it.
    The Death Penalty: This is a tough subject, mainly because of how circumstantial it is. I believe that some people really can change their ways, and even though they may not deserve complete freedom again, they don’t deserve to die either. On the other hand, as bad as it is to say, there are also people who will never change and are just taking up space, air, and food in prison that could go to better use.
    Religion/School Prayer: As a Christian, I believe, in general, that people should be able to pray wherever they want, whenever they want. If that happens to be at school, it should be allowed and not frowned upon. However, people should not be forced to do things they don’t want to do. Kids should not be forced to pray or worship things they don’t believe in. Religion should be a choice made individually and not hindered or forced upon by anything or anyone. As far as getting rid of the statement “under God” in the pledge of allegiance goes, I think it’s rather absurd. It’s not a statement that you’re pledging your life to God or even that you believe in Him, but merely it is a pledge and sign of respect to the United States of America and its founding Fathers.
    The Environment: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! I’m all for making our planet greener and environmentally friendly and recycling whenever I can (Jaclyn Brim can attest to this). I think anything we can do to help our future children grow up on a cleaner, healthier planet is great. As far as Global Warming goes… well this last year we had record cold temperatures around the globe and unusual weather incidents, including snow in Baghdad and blizzards in China. If ever I was a believer in global warming, after this last year I’m unconvinced.
    The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs: I am not very educated on this topic other than what I know about our not-so-awesome relationship with North Korea, thanks to the movie Stealth and recent media coverage in North Korea about the reporters from the United States being put in prison and North Korea’s ‘rocket testing’. I do hope that we can be on good terms with most countries around the world, especially ones we depend on for supplies and natural resources.
    President Obama and/or Congress: I paid more attention during the most previous Presidential Election than any other campaigns or elections combined, probably for the same reason as everybody else-curiosity. Would we have our first African American President? Would we have our first woman President? Would we have our first Woman Vice President? I thought it would be cool either way, but I didn’t know much about their politics. I knew Obama was endorsing change, but I was unsure about what kind. So far, I have no complaints about his Presidency or the Congress, but then again I don’t have to pay bills or taxes or vote yet either. I feel like when I do become an adult, however, and the laws and taxes do directly affect me, I will have an opinion.

    Part V: What Have You
    I’m excited to start senior year and have a great time in AP Gov with you all! Good luck to everyone with applying and finding colleges!

30. on August 21, 2009 at 6:24 pm Kristina Nielsen Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?

    Hello, I’m Kristina Nielsen. I live with my mom Kim, my dad Blake, and brother who’s name is Kris and will be a freshman at Mead this year. I was born in Seattle and have lived in Spokane since I was two years old; we have been living in the same house since I was five! Together we have been on a lot of trips. My parents love to go on vacation. We have been to places like Mexico, Canada, California, and Oregon. This summer I went on a couple vacations to California to visit family and Seattle to visit more. When i’m not with my family I have out with my friends. We find exciting things to do and fun new places to go all the time. This summer I spent a lot of time with them. As I prepared for senior year, this summer I relaxed a lot. I researched colleges a bit and started thinking about what I will have to do in the future. Now that it is the last few weeks of summer I have to finish my projects.
    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?

    When I graduate high school I want to either go to a four year college or a community college. I’m not sure where yet but I know that I don’t want to stay in Spokane. I have been looking for colleges in Seattle. After college I want to transfer to a Chiropractic college in California or Portland, Oregon. That’s where I see myself five years from now. Ten years from now I see myself getting ready to leave Chiropractic College or having already been done with it.
    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I am taking AP GO PO because I took AP US last year and I know that this class will give me another challenge I am looking for. I would like to learn more about politics in general because I don’t know much about it. I would like the year to go smoothly and for me to learn as much as I can. I know that it will be a good year and I will learn a lot that I didn’t know before. I liked the learning strategy that Mr. Schultz had because I was never able to procrastinate in his class. I always had my assignments done on time and I learned a lot about history.
    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I would have to say that I am a novice when it comes to politics. I don’t know much about it and I don’t really keep up on the news.
    • The War on Terrorism – I don’t really understand the war on Terrorism.
    • The Economy/Taxation – I don’t know that much about it but I feel that taxes are getting too high.
    • Abortion – I think that getting an abortion is destroying a human life. I don’t think woman should freely be given the right to get one. If they got pregnant and don’t want the kid, they should at least put it up for adoption after it’s born. They should be old enough to make the right decision about it.
    • The Death Penalty – I think the death penalty is a little too harsh for someone that has committed a crime. It’s not fair to kill people to prove that it is wrong to kill other people or to prove another point. If someone did something that would mean they would deserve to die, they should just be put in jail for life.
    • Religion/School Prayer – Prayer and religion should be allowed in school. It is what the person believes in and they should not be penalized or treated differently for believing differently than anyone else.
    • The Environment – The environment needs help. People need to treat it better than they already do. There are a lot of people who talk about going green and who talk about making the world a better place to live in, but they actually need to start doing what they say and make it happen.
    • The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs – I don’t understand what the future role is of the U.S. is.
    • President Obama and/or Congress – I don’t really know. So far I don’t really like Obama though. A lot of people seem to think that he isn’t doing a good job with the world and I think they may be right. But I don’t really pay attention to him that much. No matter whom the president is people are going to complain about them. Obama is just trying his hardest.

    Andddd yep! That’s all i can think of!

31. on August 21, 2009 at 7:16 pm Kylei Tompkins Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    My name is Kylei Tompkins and on July 2, 1992 I was born in Glendale, California. My three sisters and I lived with our parents in a small house behind my grandparent’s home. When I was a couple months old, we moved to Tujunga, California. I loved the neighborhood that I grew up in. I kind of lived out in the middle of nowhere. I had three neighbors and they were awesome. When I was thirteen, we moved to Colbert, Washington and I love it. I love playing sports even though I’m not very good at them. I also love reading books. If I have a good book, I could waste a whole day reading it. I have three sisters, one brother-in-law, one niece, and another one on the way. I just love life and being with my friends and family. This summer I have been pretty busy with a few different camps and traveling a lot to visit family.

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    My plans after I graduate is to go to a four-year college. I would like to go BYU, as long as I get in, but I’m pretty confident that I’ll get in. I have always wanted to be an elementary school teacher and I enjoy writing, so I want to write books on the side. In five years I hope to have graduated from college. In ten years I hope to be married with a few kids enjoying life.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I’m taking AP GO PO because I’m interested in government and the way society works. I also wanted to take a class that would challenge me. I would like to learn more about politics. I don’t mind homework but busy work is just annoying.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I don’t know a whole lot about politics, which is part of the reason I’m taking this class. The War on Terrorism- We need to make it safe for our country. I don’t like that we are at war, but we can’t just take ourselves out right now. I think we need to protect our country, and especially when terrorists come into our country and kill thousands of people.
    The Economy/Taxation- The economy isn’t doing very well right now. The democrats answer is to keep raising taxes and Obama has put us into even more debt since he has been in office.
    Abortion- I’m 100% against abortion. I don’t understand why someone would kill an innocent baby. Yes there are reason why to have an abortion. Some people say that it’s only okay if you get raped, but I still don’t think it’s okay. You can put the baby up for adoption. You will still have to live with the fact that you got raped whether you do adoption or abortion. If someone went around killing newborn babies, it wouldn’t be okay, but it’s okay to kill a baby that’s still in the womb.
    The Death Penalty- In most cases I’m against the death penalty, but there are some instances where it should be used, like a serial killer or something.
    Religion/School Prayer- Religion is a choice and if people want to pray in school, I think it’s okay. If that’s what they want to do, I think we need to respect that.
    The Environment- I like the environment and I think we need to take care of it better. The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs- I don’t know that much about it. President Obama and/or Congress- I don’t like Obama and I think it was a mistake him going into office. First of all, there is a question on whether or not he was born in the United States. He won’t show anyone his original birth certificate to prove what he said which is that he was born in the United States. He has made a lot of mistakes in his first six months in office. Our country’s debt has doubled because of him. I hope he turns things around for the better, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.

    Part V: What Have You
    Nope that’s it.

32. on August 21, 2009 at 9:27 pm JJ Scott Said:
    

    Part I: Who are you?

    I’m JJ Scott and most of my time outside of school is revolved around music. Whether it be listening, playing, or writing music that is usually what I am up to. I play the tuba in the school band and also play in a band with two of my friends. I mainly focus around playing the guitar and singing, and I enjoy writing lyrics as well. All of these combined tend to end up with me writing songs in my spare time, which this summer has been all the time. During the summer I worked odd jobs here and there, but my main focus was expanding my song reveteur.

    Part II: What do you want to be when you “grow up”?

    As I stated before, I am very ambitious in music. Therefore, my ultimate goal is to become a musician. Though, I still plan on going to college and studying environmental science. My hope is to get into Evergreen College over in Olympia where they have a great environmental science program, and I will also be attempting to pursue my musical dreams while I am there. By the looks of it and from what I’ve heard, there seems to be a better music scene in Olympia than the ever growing Death Metal cancer in Spokane. Other than this immediate one, I do not have any plans for the future. I don’t believe in living for the future; it is too unpredictable.

    Part III: What do you hope to get out of the class?

    I am taking AP Government & Politics not for the obvious reason of possible college credits but for the possibility to better understand the system that is, to an extent, controlling our lives. If you don’t know your government, your government will take advantage of you. I am hoping that during the course we will learn about the many aspects and perspectives of government; not only our own but of other governments as well.

    Part IV: What do you know or think?

    I am no expert when it comes to politics, but I know enough to hold a good, in depth conversation on the various issues of today’s world.

    The War on Terrorism-

    I personally do not believe war to be any sort of answer to problems or issues, and in this particular case I believe that you reap what you sow. In that, I mean that what seemed to be a major reason for the terrorist attacks was the American lifestyle, which I believe to be grotesque. America is the most unhealthy and self-centered society out there. Many aspects of our society were built on taking from others and injustice. But back to the topic, I believe that the war is primarily a war about oil and the pushing of American ideals.

    The Economy/Taxation-

    Again, I believe that our current state of economy is best put that you reap what you sow. It is no one’s fault other than our own as a country that this economy went into a recession. Although everyone might not be to blame directly, it seems that we all allowed illegal business practice to happen because it was increasing the economy. We all liked this until it caused the economy to eventually plummet, and at that instance we all were ready to point the finger. As far as taxation goes, I don’t mind higher or lower taxation as long as we agree to where the taxes are going, and I mean this in a more utilitarian manner, not just congress or a few powerful groups agreeing.

    Abortion-

    I believe that abortion should be an option for people. Although, I would not personally apt to use it; it is a person’s right.

    The Death Penalty-

    I find the death penalty to be one of the biggest dilemmas of the penal system. It does seem practical that if one were to commit a murder he or she should be murdered as a punishment but for this to happen you, in turn, have to be a murderer. Though, life imprisonment would mean that the murderer is being taken care of by tax payer money. So, I believe that the death penalty should be an option for punishment but should be decided case by case.

    Religion/School Prayer-

    I honestly find organized religion to be problematic. It seems to cause issues among groups, but on the other side I do see the good it can do for people regarding morals and things such as that. Religion is a right though, so I can only personally disagree. As for school prayer I don’t mind it if it’s being done personally.

    The Environment-

    The environment should be pretty high up on the list of important things to watch out for. If we abuse the environment now, we will pay the consequences later, and they will be severe. We must remember the environment being in its current state is what is keeping us alive. Apart from Nature being beautiful in general, there are other reasons to be more resourceful with it. Trees are a big source of oxygen to the atmosphere, and for those of you that don’t know; we need it to live. Bamboo is becoming a popular alternative choice, amidst other plants. And even if pollution doesn’t cause global warming there are plenty of other ways it can kill us. The environment should be savored so we do not regret our actions, or lack of actions, later.

    Future role of the United States in world affairs-

    I would like to see a lack of role in world affairs on the government’s part but not necessarily on the people’s part.

    President Obama and/or Congress-

    I have nothing against President Obama, and I believe he makes a good president. Although, I don’t want to make him out to be some sort of idol, which seems to be taking place. My opinion on Congress is that Congress will be Congress, as it always has been.

    Part V: What have you

    I have no further statements.

33. on August 21, 2009 at 11:14 pm Derrick Cunningham Said:
    

    Part I:
    I am an Oklahoma boy, born and raised, but I doubt that quick glimpse into the place from which I hail (I don’t really talk like this I promise) provides much information about who I am. In all actuality, it says very little about the person I am and have become as I highly question whether or not the typical “Oklahoma redkneck” serves as a fair representation. Rather I live with my family (my dad, since my mom lives in Oklahoma) with a rascally, yet cute, puppy named Daisy. I am one of four children and while life seems hectic since I am the oldest by eight years, I wouldn’t have it any other way…I think so at least.
    I feel like my life can easily be summated by the famous Andy Warhol: “They say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” By taking this more proactive approach to life, I find that change precipitates at a much quicker rate. I feel that by pursuing my own peculiar interests, I live life to my fullest. For example I highly enjoying the arts of origami, iting, and cooking but can also find joy in completely different activities such as watching my favorite reality TV show Big Brother or staring aimlessly in the sky at the stars.
    Part II:
    I feel like language is my true passion. Each sentence, each word, each phrase, each breath adds to one’s overall message. French and Mrs. Rough probably sparked this interest. I am sure that many people who hear that this is my passion would surely scoff at such an idiosyncratic passion; however, I feel it is truly one of the most marvelous and fascinating aspects of human culture. It is the basis of everything from the mathematics that allow us to create a bartering system to the LG Dares and iPhones we so avidly text from.
    I still do not know what I want to do career-wise, however. There are so many areas of expertise that involve language whether it is as a CIA worker, a hospitality agent, or even an international businessman (which seems to be what I am leaning toward). All I know is that I want to pursue my passions, not necessarily something that will make me a lot of money even if I think or know I have the capacity to do such. I am unhappy enough as a courtesy clerk at Safeway to want to pursue a career I hate for the rest of my working life. In any case, I want to go to college in a big city so that I can more easily absorb the amalgamation of cultures that exists in such places. Seattle seems to be the place for me right now as I can easily envision myself partaking in the wide spectrum of activities available there. One night I could be raving it up at a local club and the next I could be snapping at open poetry night. The possibilities are truly endless if you ask me.
    5 years after High School I am hoping to have my masters degree (since I will have a great abundance of AP credit by college to hopefully help shave off a year of college) and ten years I hope to find myself happily pursuing a career that I am passionate about (until then I just need to find that career!) which may include a doctorate.

    Part III:
    Not only am I taking AP GO PO to show that I am taking a rigorous course load for college applications, but also to further expand my political knowledge. This definitely relates to the Andy Warhol quote I previously mentioned: if you want change you have to be part of that change. When I talked to Mayor Mary Verner in an extracurricular leadership program, she stated that she found she made the most change when she worked with the system, not just by simply declaring her sentiments on an issue via picket sign or other protest. By understanding the US political system I feel like I can be a more aware catalyst of change.
    Part IV:
    I would definitely say my level of political knowledge is novice to average at most. While I understand a lot of political organization based on my AP European and US history classes I don’t really think that I really understand the current state of affairs as much as I would like. Sure I know that Marbury v. Madison established the principle of judicial review, but I think I could have a better idea of how this principal has affected United States politics in the long-term and today.
    • The War on Terrorism
    o Since the war on terrorism has not been a widely discussed topic in national news lately, I am not quite sure what is going on and cannot really comment or have an opinion on the specific war. In a more general perspective, I do not really support offensive war, just defensive war (and even defensive war could, hopefully, be resolved by more diplomatic means). Any opinions on the war would have to be based on whether the war would be categorized as offensive or defensive.
    • The Economy/Taxation
    o This is a really hard issue for me to comment on as there are so many facets that pertain to it. I do feel, though, that as businesses cut on their expenses (namely employees), it is further harming the economy by reducing the amount of capital that can be spent by these employees. Also the government probably needs to overhaul its current programs for big industries. It has lost billions in bail outs and the current “cash-for-clunkers” program could just re-saturate the market with new cars (which sounds like the time leading up to the great depression but not to the same extent). Economic stimulus packages have also proven to be only temporary bandages to the declining economy. While each of these ideas do help if used correctly, I feel like if we learn to which extent to use these programs (without going overboard), we can help increase our fiscal stability while hopefully decreasing the rate at which the deficit increases.
    • Abortion
    o I take a very, very secular view on this issue. I personally believe abortion is a very painful thing to think about and not a good option and is killing a life that could be – a life that can initiate major change in his or her existence; however, I do not believe that it is the role of the government to say whether or not a woman can or cannot perform an abortion. As previously mentioned, there are definitely better alternatives, but this seems to be similar to the issue of gay marriage to me: it is not the government’s role to decide how someone should execute their personal affairs.
    • The Death Penalty
    o I am skeptical about whether or not the death penalty should be used. Even if someone performed a horrid act, does that mean all of the benevolence and love is immediately taken from their lives and that they are incapable of ever exhibiting these traits? I don’t think so. The only people I have ever felt deserve capital punishment are those who are involved in the sex slave trade. This trade truly disgusts me. At the same time I do not know if this even constitutes as justification for sentencing one to death. This issue seems to go beyond the classic “eye for eye” philosophy that encompasses many rationalizations for pro-death penalty. I do not really believe that we as humans or as a society are ready to discern between whether one deserves his or her life.
    • Religion/School Prayer
    o While religion is a completely internal affair for me, I fully appreciate public displays of religion given they do not attack another religion or influence public policy. Self-determination free of a religious regime is highly vital to a truly free society. As long as one’s self determination is not inhibited by another’s religion, it is all right. So as long as someone’s moaning about “traditional values” doesn’t mean a gay couple can’t get married or that an abortion cannot be performed or that a member of a cult does not go killing people, it is all good to me.
    • The Environment
    o I feel like helping the environment is not only an investment in now, but for the future as it will help preserve our resources. Furthermore, as we formulate new ways to help reduce negative environmental impacts, innovation is sparked. Without such innovative minds at work to solve environmental problems things like the Chevy Volt which boasts 230 miles per gallon would never have been invented. Progress is always a good thing in my book.
    • The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs
    o I really would like to understand what role the United States plays now before I can formulate an opinion on the future role it plays. Therefore, I cannot say I really have an opinion or enough knowledge to say.
    • President Obama and/or Congress
    o It is so hard to formulate an educated opinion on Obama and the current congress with the many biased opinions and speculations that circulate around the news and amongst the people I know. I do think that with the summits Obama has made some very significant strides in world affairs and hopefully the United States will be able to be a mediator to keep peace and help re-establish the world economy under Obama. I do believe that universal health care is a good program to push for – it just needs to find the right form. For years European governments have instated similar programs with good success; however, I feel the government should not be too centralized. In essence, it is another balancing act where the government helps provide services to enrich the lives of US citizens while making sure that it isn’t interfering with these citizens’ personal affairs and finances.

34. on August 22, 2009 at 12:19 am Jessica Levy Said:
    

    Hey all, my name is Jessica Levy, but pretty much everybody calls me Jessie. I’m the youngest in my family with one older sister, Sam, and one older brother, Josh. I’ve lived in Spokane in the same house since I was born, October 8, 1991. Outside of school my schedule is pretty much filled with working with my animals mostly goats, my horses, working on my ’68 and now ’67 VW Bug, and just plain working.
    Here goes part two, ever since I was a little girl, well I guess everybody has heard or thought something similar. The truth is that hope to go to Washington state University or University of Idaho in order to towards getting my Veterinary degree. In five years I’ll hopefully be in WSU Vet school and in ten years I will hopefully be an intern at a clinic.
    On to part three, I am taking the class to get some college credit first of all. Besides that I want to learn more about politics and government. In truth I have absolutely no idea what happens in the government about 99.9% of the time and well hope I can change that. Plus I was informed that this class is about 98% easier than my history class last year which means it will be a nice, interesting break from hard history classes. I do know that it will be slightly challenging at times since I’ll have homework from all my classes and by working, but I figure it will all work out in the end.
    As previously stated I know very little about politics. Now down the list we go:
    The war on Terrorism: personally I feel the war on terrorism is a good cause that has gone farther than anyone expected it to go. The war has also been taken out of perspective, from a war on terrorism to a war on the Middle East, for some people and taken way out of hand for others. Although it is a good cause I also feel that the war needs to end soon and our troops need to be brought home.
    The economy/taxation: The economy is in extremely bad shape right now and people are working to better it, but many walls have been hit and many things have had to change. Taxation has its reasons and I feel that not all the reasons are good. Understandably the country needs money in order to survive, but I feel that taxation and the economy go hand in hand that the rich and upper class have it easier since they have more money but not necessarily more taxes.
    Abortion: An embryo is a human as well whether two days, two months or two years a human is a human and abortion is wrong. There are other choices. And some people may feel that abortion is right for them at the time but later in life they will regret that choice or it will change who they are forever.
    The death penalty: A person who deserves the death penalty and is genuinely guilty should receive what they deserve. The problem comes when a person who is innocent is sentenced to the death penalty and has done nothing wrong but tick off the wrong person or been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
    Religion/school prayer: A person who wishes to have religion in school and have the ability to pray in school should be allowed. Our country was built on the base of a faith in God, the nation has also grown to encompass many different religions, but we should still be a nation based on a faith in Christ and that means religion and prayer in school.
    The environment: The environment is deteriorating but what’s to be expected when you have millions of people inhabiting one planet. Over the last few years steps have also been taken in order for the planet to, not be repaired, but to be abused less and deteriorate slower.
    The future role of the United States in World Affairs: The U.S. will have a large role in future world affairs since we have a habit of sticking our noses into everybody else’s business. We will also make an impact with our ideas and our position, whether that’s on war and peace or survivor relief.
    President Obama and/or Congress: President Obama will either make it or break it in the next four years and depending on how he runs the country depends on how that goes. I don’t pay enough attention to politics to know which way Obama is going to take our country and I have no idea about Congress either.
    Part V:
    Pretty much you learned all about me and my opinions and I have no idea what else to add.

35. on August 22, 2009 at 12:34 am Kara Contabile Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    I am Kara Contabile. I love my family and they all live here in Spokane with me. I’ve lived here my whole life. My mom and dad both have jobs they love and have had forever with no college experience. I also have a job I really like. I work at Albertson’s, and that’s where I spent a lot of my summer. Working there is really fun, especially since many of my best friends work there as well. When I’m not working I like to play soccer and softball, and those kept me busy throughout summer. Besides work and sports I really like camping, shopping with Alexis, and just hanging out with my favorite people. I consider myself to be a really funny person and I like seeing funny movies with my two best friends who I call “the Taylors”. My favorite show is The Office and I honestly believe there is an Office quote for everything. As I prepared for senior year, Katie and I sat on her roof and watched the lightning storms. That is the best way to relax.

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    After high school I want to go to college, I’m just not sure where. Some days I have the desire to go far away, like to the University of Arizona, and some days I just want to stay here and go to Spokane Falls or Gonzaga. It changes a lot, but I’m pretty sure I want to do something that has to do with law enforcement and will hopefully be doing that in five years. In ten years I want to be married and have a house and a stable job.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I am taking this class so that I don’t have to take it in college and I really want to pass the AP test. I want to learn everything that the Collegeboard thinks you are supposed to learn in this class so that I can earn the credit I deserve for taking it. I don’t mind working hard and studying for the class, as long as it will help me in the end for the test. I would rather over prepare and pass than have an easy class and not be prepared at all for the test. It has happened before…haha.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I’m not anywhere close to a political expert, I would say I’m closer to a newby, but I do have opinions about certain topics because of my faith and my beliefs.
    · The War on Terrorism
    I’m not well educated about the details of the war, but I do think it was the right choice at the time that it was declared. The goals of the war don’t seem like they are being met as of now though.
    · The Economy/Taxation
    I don’t feel like I have adequate knowledge about this topic yet to have an educated opinion.
    · Abortion
    I have strong views about abortion and I am definitely pro-life. I think that there are better ways to deal with an unexpected pregnancy than to take the easy way out. One of my best friends chose to keep her baby when she was weighing all her options, and she couldn’t be happier. I think there is a reason why women get pregnant and that it is wrong to end a life that is being created.
    · The Death Penalty
    I am kind of on the fence about the death penalty. I think that there have been times that the death penalty was a good choice, but the punishment needs to fit the crime. But I also think that it is wrong for government to “play God” with people’s lives.
    · Religion/School Prayer
    I think that religion should be allowed to be freely practiced at school by students, if it is not interruptive or offensive. If someone wants to pray that is there choice, but there is always a moderate way to do things or an extreme way. I know that I wouldn’t want someone to force there opposing views on me, so I wouldn’t want to do that to my peers in a negative way.
    · The Environment
    I’m not a litter-bug and I try to do what I can when it comes to the earth, but I am not radically involved in the politics behind what is going on with the environment.
    · The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs
    I don’t have enough knowledge to comment on this yet.
    · President Obama and/or Congress
    It seems as though there are a lot of extreme changes coming out of the White House since the president change. It is a little overwhelming. I don’t really like how Obama is more of a celebrity than a political figure and I think that it is going to affect America in the future. The fact that a lot of people think Obama can do no wrong is a problem because of how the media tells us information concerning the government. As an ordinary citizen it is hard to know what is truth as opposed to what makes the president that everyone is rooting for look the best. I hope he meets all the expectations that our country has for him.
    Part V: What Have You
    Umm I don’t really know what else to say. I’m not really a politics fan but I’m looking forward to learning more about it this year and becoming a more well- rounded citizen. I’m a good listener, even if I don’t share the same beliefs and I tend not to judge based on political opinions.

36. on August 22, 2009 at 10:34 am Chris Baldwin Said:
    

    Part One: Who Are You?

    My name is Christopher Alex Baldwin, however I usually go by Chris. I am part of a large family; my mother Florence, father Gary, two older brothers named Roger (34 years old) and Jeremie (33 years old), two nieces, Madison and Isabelle, and also countless cousins, aunts, uncles, and other extended family. Both my father and brother Roger have served in the Marine Corps My mothers’ grandparents traveled to the United States from Italy, and my fathers’ descendants have been traced directly to the Mayflower as it sailed from Europe. I like to think of myself as a quite social person, as I try to be friendly with everyone I meet and try my best to stay out of just one “clique.”
    I have many interests in my life. I love playing the trumpet in the Mount Spokane Jazz, Wind, and Marching ensembles. I have played lead trumpet in Jazz One since the beginning of my junior year, and play with as much passion as I can. The music I let flow from my trumpet is telling a story of some past experience, or even the mood I am in. I am also extremely passionate about the military, and the United States Marine Corps to be specific. Along with the passion of the military comes the passion of military history. Learning about past conflicts is one of the most intriguing things to see in my eyes. I love shooting in trap and skeet competitions, as well as rifle and pistol target shooting. Hunting is also a family past time and always brings us together in the fall time. My main two forms of stress relief are either taking a session at the gym, or Airsofting with people around the country. It’s a hobby that actually gives me an adrenaline rush, and it’s the closest thing to actual combat you can get, with one exception- you don’t die!
    This summer I have spent my time working, enjoying the company of friends, vacationing with the family, and preparing for my senior year. I have a job as a materials scientist at a local laboratory. I work with microelectronics and also work to discover why a certain part may have failed. I have traveled to my cabin in northwestern Montana, in a little town called Yaak. According to the locals, it’s the “last best place on Earth.”

    Part Two: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up?”

    I plan on attending either the University of Washington or the University of Colorado to pursue a career in robotics engineering or law enforcement. Once I graduate from college, I will most likely enter a life in the military as a Marine. After serving the country, which I have already taken so much from, I will begin my career in engineering or law enforcement. Five years from now I hope to have successfully obtained a college degree and to continue forward in my life. In ten years, I hope to have served, and to begin to pursue a career.

    Part Three: What Do You Hope To Get Out of The Class?

    I am taking A.P. Government and Politics because I would not only love to be challenged, but I am also extremely interested in the topics we will cover throughout the year. I enjoy working in groups and individually, as I also greatly enjoy visual and hands-on learning. Debates are also enjoyable, as it allows students to voice their opinions. I know this will be a great year.

    Part Four: What Do You Know or Think?

    I believe myself to be of proficient knowledge when it comes to politics, as I follow them often and understand their concepts easily.
    The War on Terrorism, in my opinion is an absolutely just conflict. The United States is simply defending itself from previous attacks. However, I believe this war has been carried out far too long due to the distraction of the Iraq War. If the United States focused its entire efforts on the War on Terror from the outbreak of it, the chance of the conflict being over by now are extremely high.
    The economy is still in a recession. Even though it seems as if it is improving, it will regress again, and perhaps carry this improve/regress cycle many times over before it becomes healthy once again. This has been shown through past recessions, in which even great wars were necessary to improve the economy. Could this be the same for the present situation? Taxation is another issue in itself. I believe people of every pay grade in the nation should be taxed in the same manner and for the same amounts. If I were a multi-millionaire, I would not want to be taxed more than anyone else making a lower income than myself. It is not right to punish those who are striving in order to compensate for those who are neglecting to be sufficient part of the work force.
    Abortion is a sensitive issue. I stand from the view that as long as a fetus does not have a heartbeat, and is therefore not a living being, aborting a pregnancy is acceptable.
    I believe in the death penalty completely. If an individual has committed such a crime to deserve said sentence, then every step should be taken to remove them from society. People will find ways to escape from confinement, and if they succeed, they are once again even a greater threat to society then before, for now they are much more desperate to evade the law.
    The individual, not the organization, should decide if they wish to demonstrate Religion and Prayer in school. Religion should not be forced upon students, but rather left open to everyone. I do believe, however, there should be one exception to this. The Pledge of Allegiance should be recited as it was written when this country was founded. The United States was founded on religion, and due to religion. Our founding fathers were proud of that, and showed this by adding “Under God” into the pledge. Every citizen of this nation should respect that. It is not forcing them to believe in a certain God or deity, but simply showing what beliefs this nation was created by. I feel strongly about this, as I believe myself to be a patriot.
    The environment is a greatly discussed topic today. Global Warming, I believe to be a hoax. Did ice caps not melt in the past? Ice Ages have ended, and began again, correct? So what makes today any different other than that humans inhabit the Earth? I believe humans may be speeding up the process of a temperature increase, however it is all a natural cycle as time passes.
    The United States should remove itself from many foreign affairs in policing the world. Although some influence needs to be given in certain issues, not every issue in every nation must be addressed by the United States. I believe if this were to come to a reality, our country would also become much more self dependant, and would the become prosperous once again. In addition to this, the national debt would also decrease, for we would be borrowing less money in being more independent, and would also be able to pay off much of our debts.
    I am an independent party supporter, as I agree and disagree upon issues from both the Republican and Democratic Parties. The new President in the White House I believe is doing many things the best way he can, but could also be doing much more. The bailout bills that have been passed are nothing but a “quick fix” and in the long run are only increasing our debt. The “Cash for Clunkers” program is only reducing our emissions, but is still increasing the nations’ debt. I strongly agree in removing our influence in Iraq, as well as increasing our influence in the War on Terror.

    Part Five: What Have You

    I believe I have said it all! I look forward to seeing you all in September. Have a great last few weeks of summer!

37. on August 22, 2009 at 11:30 am Sarah Pierce Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    I am Sarah Pierce. I come from a family of five, which also houses four pets, two cats and two dogs, one of which is an eight week old puppy. I have two little brothers named Ben and Jeff, who are twins and will be entering Mt. Spokane as freshmen this coming year. Most of my friends will be taking this AP GOV class. I tend to like things simple and straight forward, and to just let each day happen, and I’ll worry about tomorrow at the very end of today. Outside of school, a lot of my attention goes to softball and music. I am very into music, more of the stuff that had yet to be discovered by raidio stations. As a matter of fact, I am writing this AND importing 6 albums onto my ipod. This summer to me could be defined as my “hangout summer”, since I devoted most of my time to doing things with friends and more of the things I want to do.
    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    I definitely plan on going to college. But I am terribly struggling with the what, where, when, and why factors. My parents are intense engineers and have successfully made their occupation look less and less interesting to me over the years. Being more of a left-brainer, I am most interested in the liberal arts. My dream job would be somewhere along the lines of music writing or producing. Basically, I want to be paid to go to shows. Art and design school also interests me, as well as culinary school. I realize how difficult it is to build a solid salary out of any of those positions, hence my hesitation in committing to a job or college. At the moment I would like most to go to a school in Oregon, preferably U of O. The Birkenstock-wearing, bicycle-riding hippies down in Eugene are my kind of people. Eugene also is close enough for me to Portland, a culture center for my kind of music. Years from now I simply hope to be happy with the path I chose. Income is not very important to me. I just aim to find my place where I am happy to wake up on a Monday and go to work.
    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I am taking AP Government and Politics because an AP class looks better on a college transcript, and I have heard good things about the class. I would just hope that at least one thing we do in the class catches my full interest, because social studies as a whole is my ultimately least favorite subject. I’m not necessarily the type of person who has a super strong opinion on a political issue, and I would consider myself very liberal. I agree with whatever makes the most sense to me. In short, I just want to make it through the class.
    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    -The War on Terrorism
    I am definitely a novice when is comes to knowledge and understanding on the war on terrorism. Although, I tend to believe just about everyone is. This war is attempting to scratch the surface and consult with an issue that runs too deep for anypolitician to grasp, I don’t really care how many years he’s “been in the business.” I recently watched the movie Traitor, which was supposed to open my eyes to the terrorist side of terrorism, but I still don’t really understand how religion and beliefs can bring someone to kill themselves and hundreds of innocent people at a time. I don’t necessarily think time is being wasted with the war, but I also don’t think we are fully ready for that war, speaking both in terms of military and politically.
    -The Economy/Taxation
    The economy….is what it is. What I mean by that is in the last, oh, say century or so, we’ve seen everything. Highest highs, lowest lows, but I cant help but notice the trend, it always comes back. Of course, I don’t plan to sit back and watch, neither do I think anyone else should. But suggesting that people come together and start saving or something would be pointless. Hasn’t that been tried before? Hmm…maybe to stop global warming? How’s that been working out? And when it comes to taxation, I know too little to have a valid opinion. I would just be spitting out nonsense and ticking people off.
    -Abortion
    I am definitely pro choice. I can’t imagine being faced with the choice, especially not at age seventeen, but it’s good to know there is one. Sometimes people just AREN’T READY. I can see the “then they aren’t ready to have intercourse” argument coming, but women who become pregnant as a result of being raped should have the choice, because despite being their child, that child also represents a painful memory. There are some hard core drug addicts out there who would probably sell their child for cash if it were legal. Some people just can’t take the responsibility of a child. I mean seriously, this is America, more than half of us cant even take care of our lawns.
    -The Death Penalty
    I believe the death penalty is necessary in our crime punishment system. It is not one to use lightly though, and I think it should only come to that point in extreme cases. Obviously the typical extreme case would be a mass murderer, and in which case I would support that type of punishment. People like that should not be allowed to lead any sort of life, even one in jail, after taking the lives from so many others without much of a second thought.
    -Religion/School Prayer
    I think prayer in school should always be a choice, but should never be forced upon a student body. Especially in public schools where there is too much diversity to focus on one religion. I would have no problem walking by a student at lunch who is stopping to pray first, but forcing everyone to pray as if we were saying the pledge everyday is a terrible thing to force people to do since beliefs are so different and precious to each individual.

    -The Environment
    Politicians and scientists have successfully gotten me to worry about the environment. The optimistic side of me supports the theories that dramatic environment changes are a part of the earth’s history, but very little of that history includes human presence. Thinking that we are possibly leading ourselves to the end of humankind freaks me out, but it is one thing to worry and another to do something about it, and I have done close to nothing about it. I am the stereotypical American when it comes to this.
    -The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs
    I have no valid knowledge on this subject.
    -President Obama and/or Congress
    After the presidential election, my following of Obama and the highest of the US government dropped dramatically. I believe that he was the right choice to lead the country right now, but I have not followed his successes and failures well enough.

    Part V: What Have You
    I have no further comments.

38. on August 22, 2009 at 12:23 pm Carrie Crosby Said:
    

    Part 1: Who Are You
    Well, my name is Carrie Crosby, and I’m 17 years old. I was born in Spokane, January 16, 1992 and have lived in the area for my whole life. Since I was four I have raised and shown poultry. Yes, that means Chickens. I have really enjoyed showing chickens. It has taught me responsibility and how to work hard.
    I also play the violin. It is something that is really important in my life. Through music I participate in many activities. I play in the Spokane Falls Community College Orchestra, I participate in JCA (Junior Chamber Artists), which is a sight-reading program at Gonzaga, I compete in solo ensemble, and I also give lessons fro violin and Viola. Music is a hobby that I wish to continue with the rest of my life.
    I have one younger brother, Chris, and no sisters. He will be a freshman this year. This summer to wind down, I went to string camp the first week of summer and am going camping at priest lake this week, with my family. Besides that I enjoyed my time off from school. I basically slept in and stayed up late.

    Part 2: What Do You Want To Be When You “Grow Up”?
    Once I graduate High School I plan on going to Eastern Washington University. I want to go there because they have a hygienist program. This is important to me because I want to be a hygienist. EWU also has a nursing which is my second choice if I can’t get into hygienistry. I want to be a hygienist because they have flexible hours and decent wages. Flexible hours would give me a chance to play in a local orchestra. Five years from now I see my self about to start my fifth year of college. This is because hygienistry is a 5 year program out a Eastern. Ten years from now I see myself having a full time job as a hygienist. I also want to still be in an orchestra.

    Part 3: What Do You Hope to Get Out of The Class?
    I am taking AP Go Po to expand my knowledge about Government and Politics. Well that’s obvious. But, I feel I need to know more about our government and how it works, even on a local level. My family has always stressed the fact that they want me to be an educated voter and an educated person in general. I hope that this class can help prepare me to be a part of functioning society. I usually do well with all types of assignments, except for group projects. It’s not that I don’t work well in groups, its that I don’t like it when people don’t do their own part. I like it better when I work on my own.

    Part 4: What do you know or Think?
    - The War on Terrorism: While I think it is good that the US is working to rid the world of terrorists. Sometimes, I feel that we are too involved in controlling the “bad” in the world.
    - The Economy/Taxation: From what I know about our economy, it doesn’t sound too good right now. I would say I don’t know enough to know a solution, but I do know that we need to fix it. I feel that this present situation isn’t as bad a some people make it out to be. Yes, it may get worse but it’s not the Great Depression.
    - Abortion: While I feel that life starts at conception, I believe that there are instances where abortion is the choice of the mother. It should always be the mothers choice.
    - The Death Penalty: Again, I feel that taking a life is a terrible thing. In the case of a convicted felon I understand how the death penalty can be seen as protecting society, but I feel it is still wrong.
    - Religion/School Prayer: It does not bother me to see others practicing their religion, even in school. Prayer in school does not affect me, it is someone’s choice. The only thing that bothers me is when others try to impose their own religion on me. I know what my beliefs are and don’t need someone else to tell me what to believe.
    - The Environment: I think the best way to describe my opinions about the environment is with the actions of President Theodore Roosevelt. He urged many conservation efforts, but was not afraid to use the land for people. As long as you use and replenish, using resources is ok.
    - The Future Role of the US in World Affairs: If we completely stopped our influence in the world, I don’t see a problem in countries falling apart so much as a problem with the stronger countries attacking us. If we stopped our current influence in the world, then other countries could see it as weakness and may take advantage of that. Besides, we can’t completely stop our influence, because we have so much debt with other countries in the world that it prevents us from that.
    - President Obama and/or Congress: I don’t feel I have enough knowledge on this topic to have an adequate opinion. I don’t watch enough new, or read the news paper enough to fully understand this.

    Part 5: What Have You
    I don’t really have anything else to say about this next year. Just that I hope that I have a great time and learn a lot. =)

    -Carrie Crosby

39. on August 22, 2009 at 12:55 pm Kaylie Madsen Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?

    My name is Kaylie Madsen. I was born in Upland, California, but Spokane is where I call home. I have two younger brothers and one older sister. My family is very musical and sometimes, when we are bored, we just jam. I would consider myself a nerd, but I’m totally fine with it. We’re more successful in the long run, right? I’m in choir and I love to play the piano even though I’m not very good at it. I have a great group of friends and we get along very well. This summer has been interesting. I spent the first half packing and getting ready to move to Utah only to find out in the middle of July that we are staying another year here in Spokane. So after that I have basically chilled at home.

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?

    I plan to go to a four-year university when I graduate from high school. I will most likely attend BYU but I am also looking into some of the UC schools. I have worked really hard in high school to get good grades and hopefully it will pay off, literally. I would love to do something in the medical field but I have no idea yet. I’ll probably start off pre-med and if I don’t like it, I’ll move on. Another profession I’m interested in is teaching but probably more like college level. Five years from now I hope to be working or furthering my education. Ten years from now maybe married and working.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?

    I am taking this class because I like to challenge myself with my schoolwork. I also would like the college credit if I pass the AP test. Politics have always fascinated me but I never really paid much attention to them or understood them. I would love to become a political pro and really develop an opinion on major issues.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?

    Aside from the occasional news watching, I don’t know much about major political topics.
    The War on Terrorism: I don’t really know enough about this to have an opinion. All I know is that it is a widely discussed topic on the news. I think it is important for the United States to defend ourselves but to what extent we will go to do that is a good question. I’m sure we have good intentions?
    The Economy/Taxation: Again I don’t know enough about the issue to have a solid opinion but all I know is that our economy is not doing too well. I think taxation is one way to help it but should not be the only way. Maybe one way we could help ourselves is to be more responsible with our money and perhaps not take out loans we could never pay back.
    Abortion: I am against abortion. I believe there are many other ways to deal with an unwanted pregnancy rather than killing the baby. Adoption is an option.
    The Death Penalty: I don’t really have an opinion about this issue. I think certain people deserve it such as those who have committed serious crimes like murder.
    Religion/School Prayer: I believe everyone has the right to worship whatever religion when they want. However, I don’t think the schools should force it on anyone. It is a personal choice and should be respected.
    The Environment: I think that when it comes to our environment and the issues that surround it there is only so much we can do. Sure we can go around telling everyone it’s our fault this is all happening but really most of the effects are irreparable. For now all we can do is just make smart “green” choices and hopefully slow down the damage we have made to our environment.
    The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs: I do not have enough information on this topic to state an opinion. I think it’s important for the US to be involved with other countries since we are such a powerful and influential country.
    President Obama: I really do hate conflict and when people argue about our President, so I don’t like to get involved. I do believe, however, that we should respect whatever president we have. I’m sure the job of the president is very difficult and I don’t think I could do much better if I was in his shoes.

40. on August 22, 2009 at 1:44 pm Elise Martin Said:
    

    Part I: Well to start off, I’m Elise Martin and I am 17 years old. I live with my mom, Melissa, my dad, Rick, and my brother, Grant, who will be a Freshman this year. We have lived in Spokane my entire life and have lived in the Mead School District all my years. I went to Evergreen Elementary and moved to Meadow Ridge Elementary, then to Mead Middle, and now obviously Mt. Spokane. We have a dog, Tanner and a cat, Jo-Boo. My mom teaches fifth grade at Farwell Elementary and my dad owns his own car repair business, Martin Motors. I have a lot of friends, some of my close friends are, Ashley Garber, Delaney Zalud, Morgan Williams and Courtney Kleckner. I play softball with Delaney and just for this year I am playing soccer for fun with Morgan and Delaney. My favorite sport would have to be softball. I really enjoy swimming and I used to be on a swim team but I had to quit because I have bad back problems. Also I like to ride my bike, go to the gym, travel, and read. A good majority of the time I am laughing or talking and always smiling.
    This summer I was out of town quite a bit during the weekends, going camping or to the lake. I didn’t have a real job but, I cleaned my grandma’s house every week! I also went to Malibu Camp in August. I’d have to say that it was the BEST week of my life. And then I took senior pictures. I did some online classes to raise my GPA, and purchased my SAT book to study up! Mainly I just hung out with my friends and family, and relaxed.

    Part II: What do I want to be when I “grow up”? That’s a pretty good question… Well without a doubt I want to go to college. I’m not exactly sure what I want to do in college or where I want to. I have been thinking of the Seattle area, like Seattle Pacific University or Seattle University, or Portland area, like Portland State, my mind changes almost everyday. Five years from now I hope to be graduating college and exploring a career of interior design, possibly. And ten years from now I would like to be married and have a steady job.

    Part III: I am taking AP Government & Politics because; I really hope to learn more about what’s going on in the world around us. I want to know about the politics, and how our government affects us. In complete honesty this class sounded better than just regular citizenship. The class itself seems like it would be a good way to be even more in tune with my school.

    Part IV: I think I am a political “novice”, because I know a few things about politics but not a lot. First as far as the War on Terrorism, I have a cousin who is currently serving in the Army in Afghanistan as a communications specialist. So, I know he’s there as a response to 9/11 and our president sending us over there about 9 years go. My opinion right now is, that we shouldn’t be over there anymore because it seems to be making it worse the longer we stay there.
    >The Economy / Taxation, I understand that we need to pay taxes for public services, ex: public education, fire, police, clean air, clean water… So I’d say taxes aren’t a bad thing though they may seem too high in our now announced recession. I think economy is in the recession because the people at the top became too greedy, and everything around them fell apart, but hopefully our “new economy” can make a rebound.
    >Abortion to me shouldn’t be political. It’s right to life, vs. right to choose. My opinion is a woman has a right to choose if she has a baby. Me personally, I would not choose to have an abortion but under certain circumstances I understand another’s choice.
    >The Death penalty, I don’t think someone should be killed for killing someone else, I think they should go to jail for the rest of their life because it’s more torture to have to endure jail for the rest of your life.
    >Religion / School prayer, the Constitution says there should be a “separation of church and state,” but if a person chooses to pray at school, it’s their choice. However, I don’t think anyone’s religious beliefs or choices should be forced on anyone else. Religion is personal and private.
    >The environment needs to be protected for the sake of all humans. The environment gives us the natural resources we need to sustain life and we are not doing a good job of maintaining it, from global warming to ocean pollution, deforestation and mining. We need to find better, alternative sources for energy that are safe. We need to save the planet in order to save ourselves.
    >The future role of the United States in World Affairs- I don’t know much about this, but I think we need to have good relations with all countries and stop fighting and start helping find a cure for diseases and hunger. There is no reason anyone should be starving on our planet. There is enough food for everyone. If we could have good relations and then fair trade with all countries, we might be able to end hunger and poverty.
    >President Obama and Congress have a chance to change things in our country. Now they are talking about trying to make sure everyone in the United State has Health Care. That would be a big change. Also, Pres. Obama seems very trustworthy and has a chance to be a great leader for our country. He is reaching out to other nations and to all of the citizens of our country, not just the wealthy ones. Hopefully, he can get things done and get our economy back on track, and pull us out of recession.

    Part V: To wrap this up, all I want to say is I’m hoping for a great year with all of you. This class will be a great experience, and I really believe that we can make this fun!

41. on August 22, 2009 at 3:18 pm Kelli Davin Said:
    

    My name is Kelli Davin and I am 18 years old. I live with my parents and my brother just graduated from Western this last spring. I have been working at Sonic for a couple of weeks now and I really enjoy it most of the time. It is much better than working at McDonald’s, let me tell you! My best and closest friends are Devon and Larae. We love to hang out and find random things to do. Between work schedules and vacations, we managed to go to the lake, camp, go to some movies, swim, and learn the Thriller and High School Musical dance. I have played a lot of tennis and relaxed by the pool for most of the summer.
    I plan on going to a 4-year university after I graduate this year. I’m not positive as to where I would like to go, but somewhere by Seattle like Western or a couple others. Five years from now I will be graduating from college with a degree in public relations or some kind of business possibly. Ten years will be when I have a steady career, maybe starting a family, and be living as I please. I’m working hard now so I can get into a good college and have as many options as I could imagine.
    I am taking AP GO PO because it will give me a challenge more than citizenship would. Last year in U.S. history was pretty easy going, and my friends convinced me to be in AP this year. I hope to learn more about politics and voting. Now that I am 18 I am able to vote and want to make the right choices when there comes an important election or debate. I really like discussions and interacting more than just reading out of a book to learn.
    My level of political knowledge is pretty low. I know the surface of topics, such as when the election started and the candidates, but I’ve never gotten into all the details. The war on terrorism has been going on forever it seems. We have gone to Iraq and adjusted their government, but I don’t think we can get rid of all the terrorists. That is part of their religion and beliefs that we can’t change. It is horrible but I don’t think we will ever get all our troops back home if the U.S. doesn’t accept they are different than us. Taxation is good to a point. Without it, roads would be horrible and many other things we take for granted that we don’t realize. It puts more money back into the economy naturally. I believe abortion is okay under certain circumstances; if the girl is under 20, raped, or unable to take care of a baby because of living or financial difficulties. If a woman has an abortion more than once just because it’s a mistake, then I believe that is wrong. The death penalty seems too easy for most people, but if they keep killing other people then the prisoner deserves it. Religion and prayer is a very touchy subject. There are different beliefs in our school so it wouldn’t be right to preach to classes of any religion. We have to respect eachother as well as our own when it comes to religion. I think global warming will happen if it happens because of Earth’s natural cycle. People can help speed it up or slow it down, but I think its a natural cycle. The U.S. should stand by and watch other countries and help out if needed or asked in world affairs. We are the superpower right now. America should use it and we should keep continuing doing what we are doing. I don’t know much about Obama and congress.
    I’m pretty easy going and want to do my best. I learn at a good pace and am a good multi-tasker.

42. on August 22, 2009 at 3:24 pm Allan Schroeder Said:
    

    Part I:
    Hello, my name is Allan Schroeder, I live in Mead Washington and have all my life. I have one brother and one sister, both who I love very much, and two extremely supportive parents. Outside of School, my interests are running cross country/track, music, and just being with friends. This summer I did a lot to just stay relaxed and get ready to begin senior year. Before school actually ended, I had a chance to go down to North Carolina and represent our school at the Nike Outdoor Nationals track meet. It was a great experience and I learned a lot about where I stand on a national level, and I like what I see. I’ve also spent a lot of time at the lake just relaxing with friends. It has really been my highlight of the summer.

    Part II:
    After senior year, I do plan on going to college. Although I am not 100% on where I would like to go yet, I have narrowed down my choices. Harvard, Columbia U., Iowa St., and Boise St. are all colleges that I am considering, because they all have the architecture courses that I am planning on taking, and because they all would like me to run for their schools on scholarship. So because of this my obvious first choice would be Harvard or Columbia U. I still have “official trips” that I can take and I believe those will help me greatly in picking a college.

    Part III:
    The main thing I’d like to get out of the class is just a better understanding of how our government really works. And how the court systems works. Also, I would like to learn more about politics in general. Like just how much do the Republican and Democratic ideals differ. Because, although I consider myself Republican, I find myself more and more taking ideas from both parties that seems to fit. As far as learning strategies, I am a very hands-on person. So just always reading a section of the text book, and then answering questions on it that night for homework is something that I would very much like to avoid. Group and individual projects are always good things.

    Part IV:
    Honestly I would call myself more of a Novice as far as my political knowledge goes, which is another reason why I’m taking the class. But I do hold opinions on some of the topics listed.
    War on Terror: This is one of the topics that I am not as sure about. Every time I try and follow the war, I just get swept up in all the different names and the ever changing opinions and so called “causes” for why we are there.
    The Economy/Taxation: The economy situation, I don’t want to say is horrible, but it is not looking good. I feel that the government is stepping in to far in taking over healthcare, buying out banks and car manufacturers, and it seems to me that neither party is doing anything that is really going to help.
    Abortion: Abortion is a horrible thing and something that is to be avoided at all costs. But at the same time it is up to the mother to make that choice. Everyone makes mistakes, and this mistake is one that could possibly cost mothers jobs, having to take time off that costs them greatly.
    Death Penalty: I feel that the death penalty is something that we have always had and that should stay, because sometimes life in prison does not fit the crime. Someone that decides they have the right to take someone else’s life away from them prematurely deserves to have theirs taken from them, but in a more humane way, and only after a court and judge agree that it is the correct punishment.
    Religion/School Prayer: I consider myself a Christian, but I am not someone that goes to church every Friday or anything like that. But I do know that the constitution gives people the right to free religion. That was one of the beliefs that the United States was built upon. So I think that people should have the right to practice which ever religion they choose and like to believe and trust in, even if it is different from my own.
    Environment: Well I’m not to sure what kind of opinion I am supposed to have on this, but, I do love the outdoors. Running is one of my favorite things to do. So keeping the air clean and parks alive is something that is very important to me. I feel that this is the only earth we have, so far, and we haven’t done the best job of keeping it clean. I like that more people are becoming “greener” because it is something that can only help us all.
    The Future Role of the United States: Really, my only opinion on this one is as long as we keep people happy and not wanting to destroy us, then it can only lead to benefits. I feel that we do have a lot of work to do to get to that point, but I can see us reaching that point.
    President Obama/Congress: Well I am not an Obama fan, I don’t hate the man, but I don’t agree with everything he does. And he made a lot of promises in his campaign that he is abandoning now that he won. I know that some of that comes with finding out facts that he was unaware of before he became president. There is a lot he could do though. His policies in healthcare I don’t agree with to be completely honest. I think he is just trying to do to much, trying to give out to many handouts which in turn just leads people to depend on the government and do nothing for themselves.

    Part V:
    Go MSHS!

43. on August 22, 2009 at 3:45 pm Carley Ross Said:
    

    Who Are You?
    In the short 17 years of my life, I have discovered the charm of living spontaneously and never fearing “the new”. To start off, I am a California-native and my senior year will be my first attending Mt. Spokane High School. I have lived in Spokane for almost four years now, and in addition to transferring schools, I will be moving from the Spokane Valley to the North side of Spokane, specifically Colbert. I have spent 2 and half years in the West Valley district (West Valley City School and West Valley High School), and 1 and a half years at Saint Georges School. For those who have never heard of SGS, it is a private school (secular, no uniforms) in which the high school consisted of less than 140 students. I’ll say that I am looking forward to starting the school year with a lot of new faces! I was involved at both high schools, including the Dance Committee President planning prom and dances, the drama department, outdoor club, WV Color guard, ASB, SG Knowledge Bowl, and varsity golf and varsity tennis. Outside school I love golf, jogging, spending time with friends and meeting new people. I enjoy traveling, I love analyzing literature and I also confess to listening to (and loving) Top 40 music, including Latino Top 40. (I will apologize in advance for the following rhyme) I have a passion for fashion and I am a member of the Nordstrom Fashion Board this year. I enjoy attending community events such as Hoopfest, Earthday and Bloomsday.
    I am the oldest of four, and was born in Orange, California. We followed my dad’s career overseas, where we spent four years in the Cotswolds in England. When my fathers company was sold, we returned to sunny SoCal. But this time, we lived in Laguna Hills, California. We made our move to Spokane in the summer of 2005 when my grandfather was diagnosed with terminal illness. The distance between Spokane and Laguna is a good twelve hundred miles, with a cultural gap ten times greater. The move was definitely a shock for all of us, as my parents had been away from their hometown for over 20 years. No more Disneyland, no more beaches, or going to school with reality show stars…not to mention the lack of sun. Despite the culture shock, we started adjusting to the Pacific Northwest way-of-life. Before you knew it, we were starting to call soda “pop” and even wearing Northface fleeces. And soon after adjusting to Washington, we discovered Idaho.
    This summer, I spent most my time in the state famous for its potatoes. This will be our second summer spent at our lake cabin on Priest Lake in Huckleberry Bay. I also applied for and obtained my first job at the Leonard Paul Store in Coolin. If you ever came by the store, you would have probably seen me folding clothes, stocking groceries or taking food and coffee orders in the deli. On Tuesdays, my schedule included karaoke at Hills Resort. On days off, I was busy being as unproductive as possible either lounging in the sun or on the water trampoline with company, or just exploring the area.
    This summer, I focused on enjoying the moment, as well as being spontaneous. I have really enjoyed working, and I have reaffirmed that I am very much a people’s-person. All I can say is that I cannot believe summer is (almost) over. I believe it can now be scientifically proven that time really does fly when you are having fun. And as September 8th is within arms reach, I am ready to get off to a good start this year and make the most of my senior year!

    What Do You Want Be When You “Grow Up”?
    After graduating from Mt. Spokane, I am planning on attending a four year college (possibly University of Idaho). Currently, my interests are in the fields of business/marketing and retail or education, primarily high school. As soon as I graduate from college, I can guarantee I will be in a place far away and different from Spokane. I see myself somewhere new, and probably somewhere hot. I would also like to be fluent in Spanish by the time I’m out of college. Five years from now I would love to be a buyer or account director at a store such as Nordstrom. But whether it is five or twenty years into the future, my biggest goal is to remain happy, healthy, and spontaneous!

    What Do You Hope To Get Out Of This Class?
    I enrolled in AP Government and Politics because I want to challenge myself senior year. I would like to obtain the most I can from my high school education, and I feel that by taking the challenge of an AP class I can fulfill this goal. Unlike the majority of Americans, I want to understand how our government functions and have valid reasons for my opinions on political subjects.
    From previous experiences, I have found that I retain much more from lectures that do not use power point. If a book is used, I like being able discuss the material after the assigned reading, or expand on the material in the book via lecture. I also enjoy projects, and group collaboration. I think that group efforts are a very important learning method, as group learning is very helpful and common in college.

    What Do You Know Or Think?
    To be honest, I would call myself a novice in political knowledge. I understand the basics of the branches of the government and I have taken a US History class at my previous school, so I wouldn’t call myself a “newbie”. Considering all this, I shall share my current opinions on the subjects listed.

    The War on Terrorism: From what is exposed to us via media, death seems to be the only result of the War on Terror. My understanding of the war was that the US wanted to install democracy in the Middle East, as well as react to the attacks on the World Trade Towers. I can see the optimistic purposes of the war, but I highly question the efficiency of our tactics, as well as imposing of our own culture onto others.

    The Economy/Taxation: I know for a fact that the recession we are experiencing is very bad, as my father is an experienced trader in the stock market. I think that President Obama’s spending money to get us out of the recession could end up very consequential. If the economy does end up healing itself, how much debt will future generations be left to deal with? I am no political expert, I do not know how to fix the biggest recession since the Great Depression; but massive government spending does not make sense to me in the time of this crisis.

    Abortion: I do not believe that abortion should be legal. In cases such as the murder of Laci Peterson in 2002, her murderer was charged with the killing of herself and her unborn child. So with this, why should the killing of a human life allowed in the doctor’s office?

    The Death Penalty: I really do not have much of an opinion on the death penalty. I know that in 2008 there were about 37 executions. I do not know what the qualifications are for the death penalty, but I can imagine that with the small number of executions the crimes committed were gruesome ones. If the death penalty was outlawed for reasons of inhumanity, then I believe the humanity of imprisonment for life should be reconsidered also. If one would say that the difference is life, then what do we define life as? Is being locked in a prison cell, with scheduled meals and visits the same as living with the freedom of location, relationships and choices?

    Religion/School Prayer: I think that unless one attends school at a private institution, religious views should not be imposed upon students. But I also do not think religion should necessarily be completely banned from school, as it is needed for deeper understanding of ancient, past and present cultures. I think that students should not be discriminated against for their religious views. If a student had religious beliefs which included specific clothing or prayer, they should be able to practice those beliefs if they do not obstruct the learning environment.

    The Environment: I believe that protection of the environment is very important, but also is a lot easier said than done. I will admit I chose to drive a car rather than take public transportation, so one could call me hypocritical. I believe that the US has become a very environmentally conscious country, as we have some of the toughest automobile regulations in the world. “Going Green” (“green” as in organic/eco-friendly, not green marijuana green…I am not speaking about legalizing 4/20…that’s another opinion) has become part of our culture, and I also believe it is one of the biggest marketing ploys ever. I think that the “save the earth” cry heard across the country is a step Americans are taking away from the traditions and culture of post WW II to the mid 60’s, a time of economic and industrial growth. So as I agree there is a dire importance to keeping our earth healthy, I will admit that I do not prioritize the environment in my everyday choices.

    The Future Role of the US in World Affairs: I do not really have too much of an opinion on the US in world affairs. I do know that the US has taken the role as the “world police”. (I would like to expand my knowledge in this topic this school year!)

    President Obama/ Congress: It seems to me that priorities are not very well organized in President Obama’s agenda. I thought the bill that was passed on advertising for smoking was great; in fact it was the toughest one in history. He promised that our troops would be coming home, but all I hear of is more being deployed. I think the massive spending is inappropriate, especially in this recession. I do not believe he should have bailed out companies like GM in the auto industry. I also thought that Sotomayor’s comment that race plays a big decision in her judgments is sickening. If we ever wanted to be free from racism, we would learn to judge people as individuals, not as a race. I do not know half my heritage, as my father was adopted and can only guess at his ethnicity. But whether we know what race we belong to, should it affect how we live from day to day? Have we forgotten that Lady Justice wears a blindfold? As President Obama wants to be rid of racism, this seems like a great step backwards from my perspective. In short, I would like to expand my knowledge from the little I have been exposed to via the rose colored glasses of our media.

    What Have You?
    I would like to say that I am looking forward to meeting all or you this fall! As Goethe says “Knowing is not enough; we must apply”! I am excited to using the knowledge from AP Gov in everyday life to assist my own actions and opinions, as well to influence those around me. I am also very excited to be attending Mt. Spokane next year and I hope everyone enjoys the remainder of their summer!

44. on August 22, 2009 at 7:33 pm Drew Williams Said:
    

    Drew Williams
    Summer Project
    AP GO PO

    Part I Who Are You?

    My name is Drew Christopher Williams. I was born on 12/30/1991. I have two younger brothers (Alex 15 years old and Aaron 7 years old). I was born in Walnut Creek, California. I lived in Martinez, California for fourteen years, before moving to Northern Spokane. Both of my parents were born and raised in California also. My mom is a science and math teacher at Mountain Side Junior High. My dad got hurt at his job when I was around 3, so he stays home.
    My interests are sports (Mostly baseball, but also football, basketball, hockey etc.) I collect sports memorabilia, I like to hang out with friends and play video games.
    One experience I had to live through was moving two states away from all my family and friends, right before my freshmen year. I had to make new friends like it was kindergarten, but after a little while it was better and turned out fine for me.
    To relax over the summer, I went to California to visit my family. While there, we went to places like Santa Cruz, San Francisco and the beaches. After we returned from California, my family went to Orcas Islands. While there, we went to the beaches and watched the whales. Other then that, I slept in late, watched TV, hung out and I was lazy.

    Part II What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

    My immediate plan after high school is to go to a four-year college. The colleges I want to go to include: Gonzaga; ASU; Pepperdine; Seattle; Oregon and WSU. I want to go to Gonzaga most out of all my choices, because it is a high ranked law school, I have a cousin that goes there, and it is a great school to major in subjects like English and History. When I go to college, I plan to major in English, because I want to become a sports agent, or a lawyer. English is the subject that is recommended for law school and I am also good at English. After my four-year college, I plan to go to a law school like UCLA or Cal Berkeley, because they are in the top 7 for law schools in the nation. Five years from now, I see myself at Cal Berkley studying law for my future job as a sports agent or sports team lawyer. In ten years, I see myself with a law degree and a great, high paying job as a sports agent for baseball, football and basketball.

    Part III

    I chose A.P. government and politics because, I like history, and I am good at it. I want to be challenged in classes I am good at, while having fun and enjoying the class. A.P. is also great for college. I would like to learn more about our government and its history in America. I want to know the specific jobs that each member of the Government has to do and what the government does internationally. I would like to know how politics work exactly. For example, I want to know specifically what all the president’s roles are and what he can and cannot do. I see the year being fun and challenging. I see myself getting a good grade, hopefully an A, while still learning a lot of new things.

    Part IV

    My level of knowledge in government is a little above novice. I know some levels of government and some of the government roles but not all of them. I am interested in politics and sometimes follow the news, but I do not know that much about it.

    War on terrorism: I believe it is wrong and a lot of it is our government’s fault. If we didn’t invade Iraq, we wouldn’t have such a huge problem and we might not have to worry as much about terrorism. I honestly don’t know much about the subject, but that is what my teachers and the news make it out to be like.
    Economy: Our economy is terrible, and we need to do something about it fast before we go down completely. If our banks didn’t give out loans to people without money, and if our government knew what it was doing, then we wouldn’t be in a position like we are today. Economy is a major issue and we abused it. People bought items that they did not really have the money to purchase and now America is struggling because of it.
    Abortion: I think it is wrong to take a life away, because people weren’t smart about what they were doing to cause the problem. Abortion should be made illegal and people should consider and understand the consequences of their choices.
    Death Penalty: I believe the death penalty is wrong and inhumane. Just because one person did something extremely bad, doesn’t mean we have to consider death for that person. They should just be locked up for the rest of their lives, if the crime was so severe. The death penalty should be eliminated and we should use other methods and penalties to give to a person convicted.
    Religion: I don’t believe that all school should have to pray or be religious in any way, but people do have the right to be individually religious. I believe people have the right to pray and be religious anywhere they want, without anyone saying otherwise.
    Environment: Our environment is getting worse, and it is all our faults. We are doing things like cutting down the rain forests and destroying lands. We need to preserve any nature we have left, because in 25 years it could all be gone and 7 billion more people could take up the rest of earths land. We should support groups that end land clearings and cutting down of nature.
    Future Role: If America still is going the way it is now, we will have a much lower role in the world in future years. Countries may not look to us for anything like help, support or international trade. Also, other nations may someday own parts of our country and that will not be good at all. We need to preserve and strengthen America before we go lower than we already are.
    President Obama: I believe that he hasn’t really helped us much. I see him taking a lot more vacations, and spending his time doing things like calling Mark Buerhle to congratulate him on a perfect game, or talking about who’s going to win the Sprint Cup Championship. He needs to help us or we will go down, because what he is doing now isn’t enough and that is not the president we need at this point in time.

45. on August 22, 2009 at 8:59 pm Alyson Nicol Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    Hi! My name is Alyson Nicol. I am the middle child in a family of five. I have an older sister named Amanda (but I call her Mandi) who is going to be a sophomore at the University of Puget Sound. I also have a younger brother named Matthew who is going to be an 8th grader. Outside of school, I really enjoy tap dancing. I have been dancing for the past 12 years and I love it! I also love music so I like to play the piano and French horn in my spare time. My family goes camping every summer and this year we went down to the Oregon Coast in Newport. I also spent a week at church camp, hung out at my grandparent’s lake cabin, and spent time with my friends. All in all, it has been a good vacation.

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    My plan right now is to go to a four year college. I haven’t decided yet where I would like to go. I’m currently interested in history and I also love to read and write. I plan on continuing with these interests in college. Five years from now I plan on graduating from college and beginning a successful career. In ten years I plan on having a stable job while continuing to do things that I love.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I decided to take AP GO PO because I love learning about history. Last year I took AP US and it was a really good experience. I would like to gain a better understanding of how our government works and be able to apply that knowledge to our government now. I hope I can play a larger role in society if I better understand its politics.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    Truthfully, my level of political knowledge is not very high. I probably haven’t paid as much attention as I should have to current events so I’m excited to learn some new things this upcoming year.
    The War on Terrorism has always sort of felt like a far off reality that I have never had to deal with. I periodically watch the news or read articles about horrible things that are happening in the Middle East, but it is hard to comprehend something so terrible that is happening so far away. I do believe that we should support those who are fighting to keep this country safe. Without them, we would not be able to lead our daily lives feeling safe and secure.
    As far as the economy goes, I don’t know very much. I do understand that the recession has been pretty bad and many people have been struggling to keep their jobs or find new ones. I hope that our country can find a better way of managing money so that we can learn from our mistakes and find a solution to this economic crisis.
    I, personally, am not for abortion. I do, however, believe that you can’t judge people that have made that decision. Is it better to have a child and raise them in an environment in which they are mistreated or to not have that child at all? There are lots of alternatives to having an abortion. Whatever decision you make, you have to live with it and the consequences.
    I do not believe in the death penalty. There are a lot of people in this world who have made terrible decisions but I don’t believe any of them warrant that kind of punishment. It seems almost hypocritical to give a murderer the death sentence. Life in prison seems a far more humane thing to do.
    Everyone has the right to their own religion. I do not think schools should force religion on anyone but neither should they discourage it. Students should be able to feel respected no matter what they believe in.
    As far as the environment goes, I think we need to focus on making small changes. We need to protect the resources that our society relies on. Going “green” seems like something we can all do to protect what we have. Even small things like planting trees and recycling can make a big difference in the long run.
    I really don’t know much about the current role of the US in World Affairs. I think that other countries are growing and becoming equally or more powerful than America. If we want to maintain our role as a powerful country we need to keep peaceful relations with other world powers.
    As I said before, my level of political knowledge is rather low so I don’t feel I can judge President Obama accurately. To be president of a country like America is a huge responsibility and I believe Obama is doing the best he can considering the circumstances. I don’t always agree with what he or Congress is doing but I also don’t know enough about politics to make any snap judgments.

    Part V: What Have You
    I’m looking forward to a great year with everyone!

46. on August 22, 2009 at 9:31 pm Bailey Tansey Said:
    

    Part 1: Who Are You?
    Well my name is Bailey Tansy, and I have three little brothers and one little sister. My parents got a divorce were I was ten and I am now eighteen. I have been living with my dad on and off for the last two years. Now I live solely with my mom. I love horse back riding, dirt bike riding, reading books, and spending time out side and with my dog, horse and bunny. That’s my personal life. I did go with my mom and little brother Levi, out to the Spokane River to go crawdad hunting and catch baby trout for them to eat in our horse’s trough. Then we also went to Fish Lake and caught sunfish to put in the horse trough as well. The rest of my summer has been working with my horse, reading a book, and having my birthday I am all so enrolled in the fair. My favorite week this summer was when me and my mom went to Aslin Finch, to look at their bunnies, and I saw this little white one with brown ring round its eyes and fell in love. The only problem was that we were about five dollars short so I couldn’t get him. Then on my birthday a week later I found out that my uncle had gone down to Aslin Finch the day after I had seen the bunny and pestered him for an early present, in cash, that he had gone down and bought the bunny for me. My bunny, Cotton Candy, along with the camera I got from my grandparents were my favorite presents. Then this last week I finally got to hang with some of my friends,in August, and hope to hang out with more before school starts. The biggest thing that has helped me to relax would have to be reading one of my many books, but I cant wait for school to start so I can see all my friends and have a full day.

    Part 2: What Do You Want To Be When You “Grow Up”?
    I want to be a massage therapist when I grow up. I plan to take at least a two-year course and might even take more if that turns out to be my true passion. If massage therapy is not my true passion then I at least have a job I enjoy and that will hopefully pay well, and then work my way threw college, again.

    Part 3: What Do You Want From This Class?
    What I want is to be able to walk away from my senior year and not be as unprepared to take an active roll in my constitutional rights, but also be able to hold an on going and intelligent conversation with my peers and family who are very opinionated about our government.

    Part 4: What Do You Know Or Think?
    1. The war on terrorism is a big thing, but I don’t know much beyond what I hear from my family and people at school.
    2. I don’t know much on The Economy/Taxation except that land is in demand and going for a lot more then its worth, and that taxes are on the rise.
    3. Abortion is a sensitive topic to most people, I would believe. I personally don’t believe in it unless the woman was raped, and the only reason behind that is that at a young age having a baby can change your life and force you to grow up sooner, but also when the baby grows up the poor mother would be forced to lie or tell the child the truth and then you run the risk of that child blaming the parent’s sacrifices on them selves. I do not believe that if a young woman willingly partakes in consensual sex that if they become pregnant that an abortion should be an option, because that was her choice and so she should live and raise or put the child up for adoption. Plus there are always organizations that will help a young mother in need.
    4. Now believe me I think that the death penalty if properly appointed to the men worthy of such punishment is acceptable, but then again all power can be abused and some people will abuse the power to determine who lives and who dies. I am not sure if the death penalty is also given to women but it not then I believe it should. If a woman is willing to committee a crime that a man was sentenced to death for then so should the woman be sentenced to death.
    5. I do not believe in or support any religion being taught in a school or prayer being mandatory unless the child is in a privet school that offers such activities. I also believe that there should be guidelines for the schools that do provide prayer and religious teaching so that the extremes of whichever religion is in question can be monitored
    6. Our environment is fine. Sure we need to clean it up a bit but it wouldn’t become a problem for years to come and by then human society will have a plan to deal with it but I do feel extremely bad for those who cant talk or express their feelings. The animals. But as for us humans I say we seal our own fate even if it is in the future to come.
    7. I believe that the U.S of A. should be fully involved in world affairs, but again I don’t know much about our government and its policies and such, but like the reason I want to take this class I think that we as a group of people living under a government and being as large as our county is need to know and have a say in the affaires around the world. It will affect our trading, treaties, and other affairs with other counties.
    8. Give the man the respect that he deserves. Ya so our current president is in fact putting us in accumulating debt he is the president of the U.S., and a majority of the citizens of the U.S. put him in the office of the president and so we now must put up with his less then smiled upon choices and decisions for our country. Most of what I have heard about Obam has been nothing but people slamming on him then saying that it is ok because that person did not vote for him. So what he is our president now and deserves the respect that is his due.

    Part 5: What Have You
    I am not overly social in class I am there to get my work done but I will try to be approachable and a friend were one is needed. So feel free to say Hi cause I probably will say hi to you and make a total loser of my self.

47. on August 22, 2009 at 9:33 pm Justin Fritz Said:
    

    Part 1
    I am Justin Fritz. I enjoy baseball, hockey, snowboarding, long boarding, and water sports. The only sport I really follow is baseball and the only team I honestly care about is the Detroit Tigers, who are in 1st place if you didn’t already know. I have two sisters. My older sister is named Chelsea and is married in Idaho and I don’t see her much. My younger sister is named Nicole and she is 13. So, unfortunately I see a lot of her. Switching gears here. I have only been going to Mt. Spokane since my sophomore year because that’s the year I moved up from the Tri-Cities. I have found the snowfall in Spokane to be significant to my snowboarding activity. Which by the way if I am “sick” during winter it is code for “Justin is snowboarding”. I am an opinionated person and will not hesitate in sharing mine, even when it is not needed or asked. It’s a slight drawback, but it’s who I am.

    Part 2
    This is a big decision. I’ve been told I’d make a good congressman, senator, or state representative. But, I have always wanted to be a lawyer for as long as I can remember. I have looked into it and I still have the passion to be a lawyer but a career in criminal justice also seems rewarding. So, split between the two ideas, I have decided to go to a community college after high school and get a liberal arts degree before I go to a four-year university. That way I am able to save money and hopefully figure out my career path. In five years I hope to be on my way to a rewarding career and no longer working at Wonderland. In ten years if all goes according, I will have a few degrees under my belt and doing something in the field I love.

    Part 3
    I am taking AP GO PO because I find government and politics interesting. In fact I knew more about last years election candidates and what they stood for then half the people that voted. I’d like to learn more about how government and politics is structured, as far as the limits of power and the cooperation of each part and how they are able to co-exist. I learn well in any environment really, having two sisters, I am able to focus and get work done easily by blocking out surrounding noise.

    Part 4
    This is definitely my favorite part of the assignment.

    The highly biased media depicts the War on Terrorism in my opinion very negatively. The fact that Americans are unable to support a cause so admirable is discouraging. The facts I do have on this war may not be 100% accurate but then again you cannot alter facts (unless you’re a liberal). The book, The Last Survivor by Marcus Lutrell, I believe that is the correct spelling of the author, shows how much these men are actually sacrificing and how much respect they actually deserve.

    I am extremely glad the economy/taxation is a topic I get to talk about. Obama’s so-called plan to help the economy is idiotic. How do you buy your own debt? You can’t it’s impossible, unless you’re creating more debt. Not raising taxes? Who is going to pay for your socialized healthcare? Taxes. Deficit spending? What a joke, that didn’t work in the Great Depression and it, obviously isn’t working now. Way to go Mr. President.

    Abortion is a touchy subject. I am pro-life not for religious reasons. I just happen to hold a high value of life. I would like to state, that a fetus is, from the moment of conception, a human being and the definition of murder is killing or taking the life of another human being. So, if abortion is murder, than it clearly cannot be acceptable.

    The death penalty I am in favor of. You may say that being pro-life and pro-death penalty are contradictory but I assure they are not. In some cases where rehabilitation cannot or has not fixed the problem. Wasting more money on a criminal is completely ridiculous. Also, I think the criminals’ rights and needs are more attended to then the families who these criminals affect. That is in no way acceptable.

    Religion/School Prayer is another touchy subject. I myself feel that school prayer should be allowed but is not necessary for everyone to partake in. If you want to pray, then by all means pray, but don’t disrupt anyone else. The same idea goes with religion. If you want to be religious by all means go for it and as long as it doesn’t disrupt others than by all means be religious.

    The environment is another fun topic for me to discuss. I myself could care less. The Earth clearly works in cycles. Look at the data. Global cooling, global warming, global cooling, global warming, the cycle repeats over and over, in my opinion it might as well be globull warming. If we are talking electrical, bio-diesel, ethanol, or hydrogen cars, it is completely foolish of you to think that this is the solution. For one the cars are not cost efficient, the cars are not fuel-efficient, the cars are just as expensive if not more expensive than a diesel fueled vehicle.

    The future role of the United States in future world affairs is not a subject I know a lot about or will pretend to know a lot about. My honest opinion is the United Nations is a joke. The United States should seek to protect its allies and itself, no matter what the cost.

    President Obama…you want my honest opinion or media influenced lie? Messiah, of course I’m kidding. Savior of America, yeah that was another joke. It sickens me to know that the media already picked my president before anyone could vote. Well, then again I suppose the race card does equal a free trip to the white house. To clarify I am not a racist, but I do feel strongly that he is under-qualified. What has he accomplished? O, that’s right nothing significant. Not to say the other candidate was any better. I guess since I believe very conservatively, I feel this man is unfit to lead America. I really feel that this is the beginning of a decline for America. This is not to say it is solely Obama’s fault but really is he helping with all his spending, taxes, socialized healthcare, control, gay marriage, and other agenda plans?

    Part 5
    I enjoy philosophy. I’ve read some of Plato’s works and Socrates. My favorite philosopher is Voltaire. That to me is not a big deal; I like to learn from their knowledge or ideas that are just so far ahead of their time. Either that or we are way behind in our time. If you haven’t noticed I am a right wing conservative. My oath is “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” I look forward to discussing ideas, beliefs, and well clearly politics, as our ideas are bound to differ, perhaps we can learn from one another, if not I can agree to disagree.

48. on August 22, 2009 at 9:49 pm Ashton Boothroyd Said:
    

    I’m a very busy, but fun loving person who takes advantage of any opportunity I have to relax and “catch-up” with people. Just recently I celebrated my 17th birthday and look forward to many more years to come. I love to compete and be with those I care about most. Friends and family are very important to me. Currently I live with my mom, Angelique, and my step-dad, Lance who met in high school in Hoquiam, Washington. My dad, Lloyd, lives in Arizona right now for his job. I have a half sister who is 12 and is growing up too fast for my liking. I love watching movies, being at the lake, and being with my good friends Chip, Colten, Evan and Joey. This summer before my senior year I basically did just that. Although my summer started out with some hard work (4 straight football camps in a row) it settled down and I was able to enjoy the summer fun while preparing for this next year simultaneously.
    After high school I plan to attend a four year college. Washington State University and University of Montana have shown a lot of interest in me with regards to football and I hope to receive a football scholarship from either school. Idaho is a possibility as well. Five years from now I hope to own a sports medicine and training facility while being backed by a degree in business management and having minored in sports and nutrition sciences in college. Five years from then I plan to expand that business with several facilities nationwide.
    I’m just looking to further my education in social studies. I’ve always found politics to be interesting, but never wished to take the time to really understand it. I would like to see a more in-depth aspect of government and politics through learning with a hands-on, kinesthetic learning environment.
    By no means am I an expert in political knowledge and would consider my knowledge to be average. The war on terrorism seems to be a never-ending fight to make us at home feel secure. I’m not saying that it isn’t necessary but it does not require the majority of our military attention. The current economic situation could’ve bee avoided and will not last forever. Spending in moderation and will help the nation drive through it, but complete a lockdown on spending will only make it worse. Taxation is necessary to fund schools, roads, and health care. Unfortunately it also funds Social Security which, I’m sorry to say, our generation will have no part of. The issue of abortion will always be a hot topic. Personally, I’m pro-choice and believe in the rights of the individual. I really don’t have a comment for the death penalty. Religion will forever be the most debatable topic in society and now with issues in the classroom, our youth are being called to make their own stand without very much experience. My issue: whatever happened to separation of church and state? I don’t have very much to say on the environment, but I do feel it is important to maintain a hospitable planet. Our current focus needs to be issue on the home front so we can be in a better position to provide support and aide to allies and countries in need. We are losing are podium as the world’s superpower in a rapid fashion. Simply put, I wanted McCain. I’m not impressed with Obama’s first Hundred Days or his second Hundred Days in regards to health care and domestic priorities.
    Wildcat Football Rules!

49. on August 22, 2009 at 10:54 pm Devon Preedy Said:
    

    Part I
    Hello, my name is Devon Preedy and I am 17 years of age. I live with my parents and two siblings in beautiful Green Bluff. My friends are very important to me and you can often find me with them out and about doing fun activities! I enjoy English and history and, on occasion, I have found myself watching the History Channel this summer. I pretty much live and breathe dance. I have been dancing 15 years at Penni’s School of Dance and am the captain, as well as, the only four year member of the Mt. Spokane Wildcat Dance Team. I take pride in my dancing and the accomplishments that have come from it. I have spent most of this summer swimming at either my pool or at the lake with friends, camping, fund raising, reading, and of course dancing!

    Part II
    When I graduate from Mt. Spokane High School I would like to become a dance teacher and later possibly owning my own dance studio. I plan on attending a four year college at either the University of Idaho or Whitworth University. Either college is fine by me because they both have dance majoring programs that are very interesting and benefit oneself in the long run. In five years, I see myself graduating from college and working at a dance studio and coming up with some amazing routines! In ten years, I am really going to push myself to own a dance studio somewhere in Washington.

    Part III
    I am taking the Advanced Placement Government and Politics course because I want to expand my knowledge with what I have learned from previous history classes. I find government and politics an intriguing topic and I would like to know more about a certain aspects of it when talking with an adult. I want to learn more about how our government is run and why things are carried out the way they are at times. I would like to learn a lot of material this year to carry with me in my future.

    Part IV
    While I don’t have an extensive amount of knowledge about what is going on in the world today I know enough to be “in-touch” with our country and world to know about most of its problems.

    ~War on Terror: I haven’t heard much about terrorists lately but there are attacks that still occur around the world. The bombings in Afghanistan are the events I hear about the most and my knowledge doesn’t go beyond that really.

    ~Economy/Taxation: Yeah I don’t know much about this topic at all. Learning about it would be interesting as well as eye opening. I know that our economy is not doing well at all and that we are in a “recession” but President Obama is trying to help out with his programs such as ‘Cash for Clunkers’ and his stimulus package.

    ~Abortion: This topic is a very touchy one with a lot of people. My beliefs are that if the mother’s life is in eminent danger then she should get an abortion. Whereas if you had one night of “fun” and weren’t cautious then that is your fault and you should have to suffer the consequences. An abortion can ruin ones future in ever giving birth again and health.

    ~Death Penalty: I don’t know much about the death penalty besides the lethal injection. To every action there is a consequence. If the crime (any activity that is illegal where one would threaten a person’s life) is serious enough then this is a fitting punishment for them. One has the ability to think through their actions before carrying through with their plans. I believe that lethal injection or life in prison should be fair enough sentences to carry out for criminals. After all, they ended somebody’s life short so they should suffer as well.

    ~Religion/School Prayer: I am a Christian and don’t agree with what has been going on in the past few years with this topic. I know that there is such thing as separation of church and state but the court case a few years ago on the atheist wanting to take the line from the Pledge of Allegiance “…One nation, under God..” is completely ridiculous! There are more important issues to worry about than something that has been uttered from all generations’ lips for hundreds of years.

    ~Environment: Ozone layer hype is wearing me out as well as global warming. I am pro-green but some activist groups take it too far.

    ~Future Role of U.S. World Affairs: Well I think that our country is slowly but surely coming out of its exorbitant debt and I hope we keep our trading partners happy and don’t do anything idiotic in the future. I know very little about this topic so I don’t have much to say besides we should try to stay in the rest of the worlds good graces.

    ~Obama/Congress: Being a democrat, I wanted Obama to win the presidential election this past year. I knew he would make a good president from watching his debates and numerous interviews. He is what change is about and he has brought it so far. I understand that yes, he has made his little faux pas here and there but who hasn’t? I have been very impressed with what he is doing to try and help our country out in its time of need and I see a bright future for the United States if things keep going well.

    Part V:
    While I may have different views than my fellow classmates I am always willing to listen to others and hear their beliefs on topics as well. I’m excited for this school year as well as learning more about what our country does and what it means to be a citizen of the United States.

    ~Devon

50. on August 22, 2009 at 10:56 pm Chris Petersen Said:
    

    Part 1:
    Who am I? I’m Chris Petersen. I have two brothers, Corey and Connor, and two parents (male and female). I was born near Seattle on the ninth of June in 1992 and have lived in Spokane since I was five. I’ve gone to school with the same kids since kindergarten with a few additions hear and there. Depending on whom you ask I thrive in athletics, academics and music. I play piano and alto saxophone; dabbled in basketball, football, and tennis; and have taken numerous honors and AP courses. My senior year I’ll be participating in marching band, track and field, and taking three AP classes. I find that if I’m not too lazy I can typically excel at whatever I choose to do. In preparation for this year I’ve relaxed a lot, but worked and stayed healthy at the same time. I really enjoy anything physical or outdoorsy, particularly longboarding and anything involving water or trampolines.

    Part 2:
    Well, after high school I’ll probably go to some college somewhere and get some sort of education and hopefully land a job that I can survive on. Otherwise I haven’t really thought about it, so if that doesn’t work out I’ll just be one of them homeless. College sounds like a great place because everyone says you’ll fail in life without a college degree unless you want to work within a fast food franchise for your entire existence. Five years from now I hope to be graduated from college and heading to my appropriate business, law, or medical school, depending on if I ever decide what I want to do with myself. Ten years from now I’ll probably live in England, be married to a celebrity, and be one of the twenty-five richest nobodies in the world.

    Part 3:
    Most people look at “AP” and go screw that, that’s just extra work. I personally don’t necessarily care about my final grade as long as I come out of a class having actually learned something; which in my experience I find I’ve only really learned material in AP classes, with one immense exception, AP Biology. But I actually enjoyed APUS with Mr. Schultz this year and probably learned more in that class then all of my other classes combined. So after Mr. Schultz graciously endorsed APGOPO I decided I’d have to take it. I don’t have any particular “learning strategy” as long as what we’re doing is either useful or somewhat enjoyable.

    Part 4:
    According to my standards I’m a political newbie, I’ve never really cared about politics because I haven’t really needed to “let my voice be heard” via casting a ballot or anything. I do have some opinions but I don’t claim to be a political-know-it-all like some people I know. That’s the main reason I’m taking this class, I want to hear a mixed group of opinions on multiple topics so I can improve my opinions; based on reviews from students and teachers this class sounds like the place to start.
    - The War on Terrorism: This one’s a little rough for me, but the way I see it is that any devout Democrat during the Bush administration was instantly against the war because all the Democrats would bring up is how many “soldiers died today” and just all the bad news. While on the flipside if you watch or hear any of the interviews from returning soldiers, it sounds like the people we are helping are truly grateful for our assistance. We are making a difference, despite what people may say the government isn’t just sending soldiers into war for kicks and giggles.
    - The Economy/Taxation: If you go back in time and “watch” the economy for the last hundred years it naturally fluctuates between times of inflation and recession. The period we are in right now could be a common recession, but if you look back on the Great Depression people and banks were doing stupid things with money then just like we have people doing in our current situation. Roosevelt formed several government reform programs during that era, similar to what the government is doing now, but I’m not sure what difference these new “economy solving” programs will make. In the end World War II is what pulled us out of the Great Depression.
    - Abortion: I’m against abortion. I believe if you’re going to have sex and don’t want kids you should use birth control. But by making the choice to have sex you need to be able to live with the consequences of your actions. Why should a potential human being have their life cut short because you made a stupid choice and following through with it would cause you an inconvenience?
    - The Death Penalty: I’m shaky on this one, but unless jail life is real swell I don’t understand why we need to sentence people to life in jail where they’re going to die anyways. It’s the same consequence either way; it’s just that one choice costs a lot less because we have to pay to keep these people alive while they’re a continuing to not contribute back to society.
    - Religion/School Prayer: I believe religion is a personal thing, it doesn’t seem like it should be necessary for an individual to worship in public unless they’re seeking attention. Being a religious individual I don’t understand why people really care that we say “God” in the national anthem. That was something our founding fathers obviously had great faith in and felt should be included in the anthem, it should at least remain there as tradition. If people are TRULY offended then they can just leave that part out when they recite the anthem.
    - The Environment: I don’t know about this one. There is so much crap out there, literally and figuratively, on this subject. Yes we are polluting earth (look at China), whether or not the ozone is shrinking because of it and we’re all going to die because the temperature is fluctuating I don’t think anyone knows for sure. Throughout history there have been periods of ice ages and periods of heightened volcanic activity, I think just like most things in life, weather changes.
    - The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs: After every war there is a natural sense of isolationism, no one wants to go back to war after they’ve experienced it. Isn’t the best way to avoid war to just ignore everyone else so it’s impossible for us to get into a fight? Well sure, but what about innocent people born into places where they aren’t given the natural freedoms they deserve? I believe that because we are so fortunate we should do all that we can to help others enjoy the same blessings.
    - President Obama and/or Congress: To be honest I haven’t really been following what the government has been doing over the past few months. I believe that at this point they know more then we do probably and are probably trying to make the right decisions, at least I would hope that, I could have that all wrong.

51. on August 22, 2009 at 11:02 pm Chris Petersen Said:
    

    Part 5:
    Something I probably should have mentioned is that I spent most of my summer planning and helping get both of my brothers’ weddings over with. Also I am officially asian by marriage

52. on August 23, 2009 at 1:59 am Larae Stotts Said:
    

    In response to Carley Ross:
    Welcome to Mt. Spokane! I think I speak for most of us when I say that we are mostly kind, friendly people. Just ask one of us if you’ve got any questions or concerns!

53. on August 23, 2009 at 8:50 am Justin Fritz Said:
    

    Follow up assignement
    Justin Fritz

    In response to Ryan Hervey:
    I think you misunderstand separation of church and state. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” That is what the bill says. Nothing about separation, they just cannot mandate a nationwide religion or endorse one and they cannot stop anyone from worshiping their religion.

    In response to Kesslan Hall: It is great to see that we almost agree on every big issue. You seem to be an intelligent person, not to say anyone else taking the class isn’t. The war on terror isn’t all the media shows. As far as minding our own business goes your right to some degree.

    In Response to Jaclyn Brim: I liked your insight and expression of thought on the whole evolution part of your post. That is exactly how it should be, not doctrine, just theory. But if they are allowed to teach evolution as a theory, shouldn’t they be able to teach creationism, as a theory of course?

    In response to Alix Bold: In your blurb about the president you say we were in worse hands before. Could you possibly elaborate? To my knowledge most people who dislike the Bush administration did not fully understand or comprehend what they were doing. These people are usually extremely brainwashed by the democrat propaganda on television and unable to form their own opinions. Sorry, to seem rude, but I don’t understand how you can say we were in worse hands before Obama.

    In response to Katie Bates: I don’t mean to knit pick but America wasn’t exactly built “under God” The nation isn’t actually founded on Christianity or any set religion at all. The first amendment for example “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” James Madison said, “Religion and government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.” So, surely to say that this nation was built under God is a misconception that many do believe and until I researched I fully believed. But Gonzaga is a good school. You should really look at attending it whether or not you really want to, sometimes things in Spokane can surprise you.

54. on August 23, 2009 at 8:53 am TJ McGriff Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    Hi, I’m TJ. My real name is Tomas James but nobody calls me that really, just TJ. I’m born and raised in Spokane and can’t wait to move out of the house. I try to hang out with family as much as I can, especially my cousins, I have quite a few. But quick background would be that I have my sister and me and both my parents. My family has always been there for me so weekends I try to stay close to home for the most part, especially hanging out with cousins. Family friends are also important for me obviously. I mean I just got back on the 13th from a camping trip that had a total of 45 people or something. Outside of school I play a lot of sports. This whole summer I played baseball pretty much. And in the state playoffs we ended up taking like 5th place, although we lost to the same team twice and they took 2nd. So you never know how it may have changed. I also went to Chicago for a LeadAmerica conference which was totally awesome. If you don’t know what I’m talking about I’m sorry. But it was totally awesome. I wouldn’t even know where to start to talk about that.
    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    Well my plans include graduating… but seriously I plan on going on to college and then to medical school. I plan on going to a four year college and I have about 4 or 5 that I’m very interested in right now. Five years from now I plan to be applying to medical school. I’m planning to go into surgery or pathology. One of those two I can’t decide between those two right now. And then ten years would be graduating from medical school. I have a lot more school in front of me but I really like the medical field and am determined to become a doctor. It has been what I wanted to be for my entire life I guess
    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I’m going to take AP Government because of the AP credit and I like the challenge. It is a good class. I would like to have a year similar to this last year minus some of the stress. I took 4 AP classes last year and it was a little too much for me. I have three this year for college credit and I feel like that will be better for me. I actually just form to the class that is taught. I like a lecture class, honestly, with interaction. I have always felt comfortable with that kind of an atmosphere. But whatever is thrown at me I just go with it. I grew up with the saying “adapt, overcome, be a marine” (great movie by the way, Heartbreak Ridge, I recommend it for any Clint Eastwood fan)
    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I would have to say that I’m just averagely involved. I’m not some political junkie (not bashing on anybody), but I just find it too thick and in circles that can never end. I would still think that I’m somewhat kept up to date on the economy and politics. I find some things actually interesting how some people think, and I argue with most of them most of the time.
    • The War on Terrorism – oxymoron, I mean there is always going to be terrorists, terrorists sometimes don’t view themselves as terrorists but as patriots, the American Revolution was basically a bunch of terrorists if you think about it
    • The Economy/Taxation – we are capitalist, that means it goes up and it goes down, you can’t stop it with increasing taxes and stuff, I argue with this mostly, you just can’t safeguard it or you just make it weaker, all of the evening things out is called socialism…
    • Abortion – I wouldn’t personally recommend it but for some it is the best option,but it should be used for extreme cases not everyday life
    • The Death Penalty – oxymoron again but I don’t know what else could be done, there needs to be a punishment but there should be a better way to go about it.
    • Religion/School Prayer – religion is a part of my life, I think people should have the option to be able to but not enforced and not condoned, but time in the day should be allowed for all faiths, whatever that may be
    • The Environment – we need to preserve and save it people how hard is that? Another easy thing from my point of view, it really can’t be that hard
    • The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs – I hope a big deal but we have to be smarter about it. We need to show that he have a conscious and a backbone at the same time, be a leader but follow
    • President Obama and/or Congress – I’m mostly republican and i don’t necessarily agree with what is going on but that is what is going on so you have to deal with it
    Part V: What Have You
    I’m not as smart as some students think I am, but if I have the right answer I’ll say it. Also that I’m shy for the most part but when I’m in a leadership position I’ll take charge, I like to have a plan when I’m following and if you don’t give me one I’ll make one. And also that I have no organization so if there is a binder due at the end of the year you might be getting a call from me asking what we need

55. on August 23, 2009 at 10:38 am Jill Pignataro Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?

    Hey everyone! I’m Jill Pignataro (Jillian is not my real name, just in case you were secretly wondering, though some people call me that anyway. You can if you would like). I was born in Manhattan and raised in Queens, though my accent is nearly gone except for a few words such as never using the word “pop” to substitute it for “soda”. My two brothers were born in New York as well. Matt, is the oldest, and Andrew is the youngest. I have two parents, a cat named Tiger, and a dog named Emily.
    So, at the age of nine, I moved here. That’s pretty much all I have to say about it. I like things right to the point.
    As far as my interests go, I like music in any form (hence being in band), and I also enjoy being right-brained because I find logic quite boring (no offense). I’m pretty good at doodling. I find writing to be another outlet for expressions. As for physical interests, I enjoy playing wiffleball with my brothers and cousins and also playing football with them every Thanksgiving. It’s tradition.
    This summer I went down to Florida for only five or six days and went to Disneyworld for the third time. I don’t quite remember the first two visits. My favorite ride was Tower of Terror. Also, this summer I am doing marching band, which will hopefully result in achieving a nice tan.

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?

    My plans for the future as followed. I’m going to college, preferably one with a vet program such as WSU or any other colleges with that particular program. I’m interested in veterinary medicine, but there are also other things that interest me such as writing and psychology. In five years from now, I imagine myself being in college of my choice, probably encased in student loans, while studying and working a part time job to pay for those loans. In ten years, I hope to be out of college or veterinary school, if I should go, or hope to be in a steady career.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?

    I am taking AP GO PO because it is an AP class, and so that I may challenge myself. From this class, I would like to learn more than I already know—which is very little. I would rather not be ignorant of the issues facing our world. If I could get a better understanding of the problems facing politics and the government, I might have a better understanding to help determine my, as well as another’s, future.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?

    On these subjects I have little knowledge, but I do know some facts. I would have to classify myself as probably a newbie.
    The War on Terrorism: Many families have lost loved ones, and the government has invested much money in this. I don’t approve of wars, but, because the United States has already taken part, withdrawing now might prove disastrous. Although progress is slow, it seems to be making an effective change.
    The Economy/ Taxation: This was started through the investment of houses at the liberty of bank loans and homeowners who didn’t have enough money to pay them. The economy goes in a cycle of recessions and occasionally stagnates or thrives. Because Franklin D. Roosevelt started reform projects similar to what Obama is doing now, I believe that it might worsen the economy. People have become too dependent on government for discovering a way to make their financial problems disappear.
    Abortion: This is one topic I don’t have an exact opinion on. I will state a pro and con for it. Pro: The population is growing rapidly. By adding another person to the population, it doesn’t solve anything. Con: Many people look to adopt and aborting the child might not let a couple experience the journey of raising a child.
    The Death Penalty: This is another subject I am stuck on. Killing someone is wrong and, yes, they should be punished. Is this, however, the right way to go about it? On a different note, many people have connections outside of jail that can only cause further harm to innocent civilians. If those facing the death penalty are dead, they can no longer cause further harm.
    Religion/School Prayer: This is a very serious topic. I think people in public schools should be allowed to wear the cross or wear shirts that are religious. I do not believe that people should preach to others about their religion or scolding someone on their choice of being agnostic. The Pledge of Allegiance was written many years ago. The “Under God” part was not likely to offend at the time. If someone objects to those words, then they don’t have to say them.
    The Environment: This becomes a pressing subject when talk of global warming and how the glaciers are melting starts to be repeated. I believe the environment is in need of some help. Many people everyday are making changes. The ozone layer might be depleting, and once the glaciers melt part of Florida might become buried underwater. Until this situation is in the near future, that is when the time for change will come.
    The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs: This has been a pressing issue. Because of our status and resources, many countries think that the United States should take an avid part in their affairs. On the other hand, some resent us for taking an active part in other affairs. Either way, someone is always bound to disagree.
    President Obama and/or Congress: Many people wanted reform, which is why Obama was elected. He has tried to mimic some of Franklin Roosevelt’s reforms, and has also tried to meet with other world leaders to achieve peace. I like Obama, though I believe he could do more. As for Congress, I have little notions on what they are discussing.

    Part V: What Have You

    No, I believe I covered everything. I just to say that I am also looking forward to seeing everyone in class, and learning new things. I hope you all had and are still having a great summer!

56. on August 23, 2009 at 10:54 am Krystal Roach Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    To start off with my name is Krystal Lynn Roach, however some people do prefer to call me KYTL. I was born March 12th 1992, which makes me 17 years old for those of us who do not like math, and have lived here in Spokane my whole life. I have 2 sisters and a brother, live with both my parents and have a dog and a cat. I was homeschooled up until my freshman year when I started at MSHS, I believe that I have a variety of friends both inside and out of school that I have grown to love due to that fact.
    As most of my friends can attest to my main interest is dance, being as I have danced in school and in studio for the past 8 years. I also like singing and playing the piano though, so I find that I pretty much just enjoy music in any aspect. Outside of music I like to read and spend time with my family and friends.
    As for this summer I relaxed by visiting family from out of state, researching different college programs, going to the lake, preparing for school, and of course getting a little sun burnt in the process.

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    Honestly, I have not mapped out a plan for my life and I like it that way because I definitely do not want to put a block in the way of opportunities that may or may not lay before me. I am however, at least as far as I consider, a somewhat intelligent person so I have planned an outline of what I would like to accomplish in the next couple of years. I would like to go to a 4 year school (not sure where) and get into some kind of profession that helps others, such as physical therapy. Five years down the road I want to be graduated with a good job. As for ten years I would love it if I could still be happy with a place to live while pursuing my dreams.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I am taking AP GO PO simply because I want to learn and be challenged on a daily basis. I do admit I do not have an abundance of knowledge when it comes to this subject, so I hope that by the end of this year that I will be able to participate in political conversations and actually understand what the words coming out of my mouth exactly mean.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    The War on Terrorism- I do not understand exactly why we went to war. I do think that we are at a standstill where we can not pull out of the war but can not move forward giving the circumstances.
    The Economy/Taxation- Well obviously the economy is in trouble, I have seen it affect people around me. How exactly it came to be this way I can not say I know. In the past, WWII pulled us out of a depression however I think being at war today has not had the same effect as before because countries relate to each other differently today.
    Abortion- I know what I believe and that is that I would never promote abortion because it’s simply not fair to end a life as it begins and there are ways to prevent children. So if you’re not ready to have them then prevent them or be ready to give them up to someone who is ready. However on the other end I do not think that the government in any way has a right to say whether or not abortion should be a legal decision, it should be an available choice for everyone even if some people feel the choice is wrong.
    The Death Penalty- I think it makes perfect sense to take a life when they have ended the life of another. Any other reason to put someone to death does not quite work in my brain since there are other ways of punishment including a life sentence.
    Religion/School Prayer- The nation was formed as being “Under God” so I think it should be referenced to in the pledge, I think any other extremes should be limited though. Everyone has a right to choose their religion and if they do not want to participate in school events that use a certain religion then they should have a right to remain silent but not necessarily create an assembly against it. While at the same time those who do wish to say a prayer or quote a verse should not be restricted from doing so. It all comes down to having the right to make a personal choice that does not infringe on anyone else’s rights.
    The Environment- As far as I know there is proof both for and against the greenhouse effect and global warming. The simple fact is that the environment is changing and we need to realize that we may need to change it. Right now we should practice what we can so as time goes on we can see if it helps. What we do has an effect our environment.
    The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs- In the past the U.S. has been known as the leader of the free world, I think as long as there is no major incident that it will continue to be that way.
    President Obama and/or Congress- I do not know exactly what the president or the congress is doing at that very moment and I will not try to predict what is going to happen because I am novice when it comes to the government. I do however feel that to a certain extent President Obama was voted in by a portion of people because he is black and people in the U.S. wanted a change compared to what it has been in the past.

    Part V: What Have You
    Just to finish I am looking forward to a fun and exciting year and can not wait to learn more!

57. on August 23, 2009 at 11:20 am Keara Haley Said:
    

    Part I: Who are you?
    Hey!! My name is Keara Quinn Haley and I’m 17 years old. I’ve lived in Spokane all my life and in mead since 7th grade. I was in the Odyssey program, a program for gifted children, at Libby middle school from 5th to 8th grade so this is only my 4th year in the Mead school district.
    My family has always been one of the most important things in my life. My mom, Carla, and my dad, Dan, have raised me to be a very open and non judgmental person. My two older half siblings (eric, 26 and wendy, 24) have been a very good influence on me growing up, and hopefully I have had a similar effect on my younger sister, Jaiden, who is 9. I also have a crazy big extended family because both my parents came from large families.
    My friends are the 2nd most important thing in my life. I feel luckier every day to have friends who are so caring and supportive. I love spending time just hanging out with people at the movies, the mall, or someone’s house. A lot of my friends are in, or associated with, band, which is one of my biggest passions.
    Music has affected my life so greatly, has given me many opportunities and has led me to meet the most amazing people in the world. I’ve played trombone since 5th grade and baritone and euphonium for the past couple years. I am and always have been a brass player. I also love soccer, traveling and just enjoying life in general.
    This summer has been a pretty relaxed summer. I went to the lake a few times and spent time at friends’ cabins. Other then that it’s been filled with movies, running around town with friends and preparing for this year’s marching season.

    Part II: What do you want to be when you “grow up?”
    My immediate plans are just to make my senior year a success and enjoy my last year in Spokane. I definitely plan to go to a four year college to get my degree in music education. My plan is to go to the University of Washington because i LOVE the campus and they have a wonderful music program. Five years from now? If all goes according to planned, I’ll have my degree in music education and be starting to start my life and find a career. In ten years hopefully I’ll have found that perfect job for me and be settled into life.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I’m taking AP GO PO because I love a good challenge and because I really don’t know much about politics. I have some simple opinions on certain subjects, but I want to learn how to find the true facts and form solid opinions. I’d also like to learn the difference between the political parties and the history behind them. I’d love for this year to be an easy-going, yet fun and informative, year. I learn best when I have varied styles throughout the year. I love hands on projects and at the same time I don’t mind a paper every now and then. I know the AP test could end up being stressful, but at the same time I can’t wait for the opportunities of the class.

    Part IV: What do you know or think?
    When it comes to politics I’m probably closest to a newby. I have never really followed the news or researched specific topics. I find it hard to sift through the truth and other stuff that comes with sensitive topics. Hopefully after this year i’ll be more able to form opinions on topics by researching and finding out the specifics.

    The War on Terrorism
    I don’t really have an opinion on the war on terrorism due to the fact I don’t really know much about it. This seems to be the topic with the most changing facts about it, which makes it hard to follow.
    The Economy/Taxation
    I haven’t really been following the economy other than what I’ve heard from other people. I know the recession has affected other people more greatly than myself, but I tend to forget about it sometime because it hasn’t affected my family as much as others. I would actually love to learn more about the economy and how it works and the effects it has on life in general.
    Taxation, however, I have very little knowledge about. I would love to learn how taxes work and what the protocol is for raising them.
    Abortion
    This is probably one of the topics I have a moderately strong opinion on. I believe women should have the choice to control their own future. In cases where the pregnancy was an accident or sexual assault, the people obviously didn’t plan to have a child and it was most likely because it wouldn’t be right for them at the time. Even though the former knew the risk, they still should have the opportunity to have the future they were planning for.
    When the couple doesn’t realize the consequences of sex, would that couple really be smart enough to be parents in the first place? The child wouldn’t get the proper opportunities in life in a situation like that.
    The Death Penalty
    I don’t really have the adequate information to form a solid opinion on this because I’ve never really learned about the history or debates going on around this topic.
    Religion/School Prayer
    I’m personally not religious, so I’m very adamant about the separation of church and state. I do however respect the opinions and beliefs of other people. I think that people should have the opportunity to practice their beliefs as long as they aren’t trying to force them on other people.
    The Environment
    I really haven’t followed the debate on global warming and the such, so I don’t have a big opinion on it. I do however think more care should be taken to protect the environment and and the living creatures in it. I realize that we do need to use the resources, but we need to find a smarter way to use them so future generations can actually still have resources to use.
    The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs
    The only information I have about this topic is the things I learned in U.S. History last year. I think that the idea of the U.S. being the “police” of the world is a silly idea. I know some co-operation is needed between countries to keep the peace, but I don’t think the United States needs to take that under it’s control.
    President Obama and/or Congress
    I haven’t been following the progress of Obama’s first months in his presidency but I do know he has been trying, and in our country’s current state, anything helps.

    Part V: What have you?
    I’d just like to say I’m a very open person who’s very accepting of people’s opinions. I can’t wait for this year and I hope everyone’s had an amazing summer!!

58. on August 23, 2009 at 11:54 am Ype Kingma Said:
    

    It would be impossible for you to completely get a grasp of who I am through a simple paragraph about me, but I will do my best. I am a seventeen year old who wishes high school would last forever. I am usually pretty relaxed and like to take things as they come. Wrestling and dancing are my main passions. I know what you are thinking, ‘wrestling and dancing!? Those don’t go together!’, well you’re right, they go together about as well as cream cheese on a steak, but that doesn’t matter because I love both; I started wrestling sophomore year and was immediately hooked. I have since then put forth every dedication towards this sport that I felt was necessary to succeed, this summer I attended Washington intensive camp which is one of the toughest wrestling camps in Washington and I am very proud to wear the completers shirt. As for dancing I started teaching myself freshman year, it started with a few c-walking moves, and it grew into a passion where I can now do most freestyle hip-hop styles and I am currently moving into the more classical dances such as salsa and swing. Wrestling and dancing may go together, but to me they are the same, they both take all my dedication to succeed in, during wrestling season nothing else is as important to me, and I honestly can’t think of a day that has gone by where I don’t find myself dancing about between, and usually during, classes. I am very active and have many passions, though none of them are as intense as wrestling or dancing, but I also am recently an avid longboarder, a member of the retuning yearbook staff, and I will never turn down the chance to do something that will make for a good story or a good laugh.
    My immediate plans for the future are to graduate high school and to go to Gonzaga University, my brother goes there and my dad works there, so I have been looking forward to being a bulldog for a long time. My brother is a member of the GU rugby team and I can’t wait to join freshman year and play rugby with him. I plan to be a biology major at GU but only as a stepping stone to what I really want to go into, which is marine biology, I have always been interested in marine life and I will find a graduate school to attend part time for a marine biology major while working at a carrier related job.
    I am taking AP Government and Politics because I am a firm believer that the youth need to know what is going on in the world around us so that we can be educated and productive citizens after we have graduated and entered the so called ‘real world’. I believe that taking this class will help me understand the economic and political situation our country is in. I am hoping we will spend time on where we are economically and different scenarios of how where we could go from here.
    Honestly my political knowledge is lacking of late, I have not been paying as much attention as I should have been, but I am not completely ignorant to current events as that I still do like to know what is going in the world I live in. I believe that the war on terror needs to stop; we have too many economic issues for us to be involved in something so costly. The way I see it, our economy is our main issue right now, our focus should be on getting ourselves back on track and making ourselves more independent from China. I know there are people who are going to hate me for this, but I believe in choice, I would never condone it in my own life, but I don’t think that gives me the right to tell others what they shouldn’t be ok with. I also agree with the death penalty, I believe that only the worst of crimes should be punished as such, but there are certain things that do justify the death penalty. Religion should not be banned in school, but it should be optional, a teacher should not get in trouble for having a cross on their wall, but there should not be a required religion class. The environment is not on the top of my priorities, but I do think that it is very important and I am against drilling in the ANWR and I think that more money needs to be invested into how to clean the air around big cities. I think that the US needs to be involved in foreign affairs, but our number one priority should be our personal economic growth so that we can once again be the dominate superpower and then have a greater influence on the foreign economy. In my opinion Obama is a good president but he needs to focus much more on rejuvenating the consumer economy and getting economic independency from China.
    If there is anything I would want to say to my fellow classmates, it’s that I am really excited for this year and for this class. I enjoy laughing and would love to do it all year long in this class. See you soon.

59. on August 23, 2009 at 12:10 pm Kevin Yen Said:
    

    Kevin Yen
    Part I:
    Defining who I really am as a person is truly a question I cannot fully answer, defining what makes me who I am is a much easier question to answer. To begin with my full birth name is Kevin Yen, without a middle name, born in the south side of Oakland, California on a spring morning of May 8th, 1992. Soon after my birth I moved up to Corvallis, Oregon where I spent 10 year of my childhood, growing up, playing in trees not with a care in the world. Right around the end of my 4th grade year my parents decided to move to Spokane, Washington due to some family difficulties, and this is where the real life story begins.
    I quickly became friends with some of the kids in my school who were skaters, which I wasn’t. Life for me was a normal one up through high school, I kept some of the same friends had some fights with them. I joined the cross country team right around 7th grade with thanks to my older brother who talked me into it and I’ve never looked back since, I wasn’t never that great at distance running just average. I found a new branch of friends when I joined the cross country and track team but still kept the same friends from when I first moved to the city of Spokane.
    I never could figure out who I was, whom I wanted to hang out with, who I wanted to be until my junior year in high school. My brothers said that my junior year would be when I really knew who my friends where, and they were right. I am a decently good distance runner, I like hanging with my cross-country friends but I still hang out with my other friends. I enjoying running, sometimes, I like technology, I do have a lazy work ethic but I tend to get my work done when needed, there isn’t one thing that sets me apart from other kids my age. In the end I am a relaxed person who like to stay at home, which is half of what I did this summer.
    This summer, the last summer before my senior year in high school has probably been the most enjoyable. I’ve been all over the northwest, most of the time places that I didn’t want to go, and this has been the first summer that I’ve had my car which making getting around a lot easier. I spent a majority of my summer at home, where I like to be, but every chance I got to go out to the movies, to the river, to a friends house I took that chance and went out to just have a relaxing summer. I’ve had a good summer and I am prepared to tackle my senior and to finish 13 years of public schooling.

    Part II
    I really did not know what I had planned for my future until my trip down to Oregon to visit my cousin this last month. Just thinking about my future sent chills up and down my spins, because o the uncertainty that the future holds. Would I get into college earn a degree, masters, PhD and get stuck with a job that I would hate for the rest of my life. Just this thought made me want to become a kid again with no worries in the world, but how I was going to talk to that girl that I liked. That was until I had an actually very insightful talk with my 31-year-old cousin.
    I’ve been good with history and research and that sorts and it’s always been something I enjoyed doing. So I thought that I could become an archaeologist, in what field I am really not sure. I have a pretty rough idea of how I’m going to achieve this. After graduating from Mt.Spokane I plan on going to Spokane falls community college to get my basic courses and classes out of the way because of the fact that it costs less then going right into a university. While I’m at the falls I will be ale to experiment with becoming an archaeologist to see if that’s what I really want to do with the rest of my life. After spending roughly 2 years at the falls, I plan to transfer up to a university like the University of Washington to further work and study in the field of archaeology. After earning my degree I plan on joining the ROTC program in either the air force or in the army so that the government will be able to help pay for my schooling. While in the ROTC program I will hopefully be able to continue my schooling and earn my masters in my field, after a period of 4-6 years I will leave the ROTC after completing the program and then once again continue my schooling to earn my PHD or something along those lines, with me leaving the ROTC I’ll receive a monthly pension check for my duty.
    Post schooling I plan on getting a government job, which will help pay for my schooling if the ROTC grant was not enough. This is where I plan to be, where I hope to be in the years to come, I learned all of this after talking to my cousin to opened a door to many more possibilities to me then what I had normally thought. Nothing is ever set in stone though; the plans of my future could change in an instant.

    Part III
    I’ve never known that much about politics of even cared for it, but I choose to take this class to help me better understand the world of politic so that I actually may have a opinion about the world that goes around me, instead of ignoring all politics and living in my own world. I am expecting to learn a great deal about our political system that is all.

    Part VI
    · The War on Terrorism
    o No opinion
    · The Economy/Taxation
    o No opinion
    · Abortion
    o No opinion
    · The Death Penalty
    o I actually support the death penalty. Not much reason behind it, I just support it.
    · Religion/School Prayer
    o I absolutely do not have a problem with religion; I am an agnostic. A person’s choice to pray in school is absolutely up to them, and there it nothing wrong in what they really believe in. But there is something wrong with a person forcing another religion or belief upon someone else of a different belief, that is where I believe it crosses the line and is where I begin to have problems with religion in school. I just believe that it should be kept private or shared among people of the same belief and not go out with a goal to try and convert people. That is my belief.
    · The Environment
    o The environment has always been a big issues, and there is no doubt that we as a people need to work on preserving the world around us, but I feel that there are people and organizations out there that are overplaying the need to save the environment. I understand that the world will end if we don’t do something, but the world isn’t going to end tomorrow if we do not stop using plastics.
    · The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs
    o No opinion
    · President Obama and/or Congress
    o No opinion

    Part V
    Wooooo senior year….

60. on August 23, 2009 at 12:16 pm Kyle Hicks Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    I’m Kyle Hicks. I’m a snappy dresser, a rhinestone cowboy, and a proud ukulele enthusiast. My family is made up of my mom, my dad, an older sister, an older brother, a younger brother, and two very personable Border collie mixes. I have my family to thank for my ideals, my personality, and my sometimes sarcastic sense of humor. My house might be the only one in which its residents speak in only italics. Music has played an important role in how I’ve grown up and how I identify myself. I spent my summer thinking of productive things I could be doing and then hanging out with my friends and family instead.

    Part II: What Do You Want To Be When You “Grow Up”?
    My plans for after high school are still in the conceptual stages. I will probably go to college, though I don’t know where or when. Optimally I would be able to make a living wage by playing music, but I am certainly not banking on that. A good friend instilled an interest in psychology, and I was considering that as a possible career. Five years from now, I couldn’t even attempt at telling you where I will be. Ten years from now, my plans are more concrete. I will have written a best-selling memoir about my time as a male exotic dancer called Beneath the Pleather.

    Part III: What Do You Hope To Get Out Of This Class?
    I’ve noticed that many of my peers (and I’m guilty of this as well) have a “center-of-the-universe” attitude. What I really want out of AP GO PO is a better understanding of the world around me. I want to know why our government works the way it does. I want to know why I should care about this or that. But most of all I want to know how to form my own opinions instead of just relying on Jim Lehrer, Katie Couric, or Stephen Colbert.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I wouldn’t call myself a n00b, but the political knowledge I absorb is like the novel summary on the back of a book. I know the gist of the story, but I don’t know the details, the characters, or the footnotes.

    The War on Terror:
    Is the War on Terror separate from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or is the War on Terror just a broader term for both wars? Maybe that question just proved my n00bness.

    Anyway, every crazy shut-in that writes threatening letters to the White House is a potential terrorist. Trying to sift through all the cat ladies, disgruntled postmen, and jilted lovers seems like searching for a needle in the haystack. Oh, and the haystack is the entire world.

    In regards to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: I have no idea why we went there, but I’m under the impression that if we leave, the world will implode into itself. At least that’s what the news told me.

    Economy/Taxation:
    As my dad so eloquently put it, “Try buying your way out of debt.” I don’t know if the bailouts and the other programs are working to help stimulate the economy, but logic would point to a resounding “no”. The American economy (as with every economy) fluctuates from time to time. During a recession, it sucks noodles, but there is little more to do than go about our business and do the best we can until it regulates itself.

    Abortion:
    I will never know what it is like to be a pregnant woman. I do not know what it is like to be alone with no support, no money, and few options. If I ever have to make the decision (which luckily I won’t) I might get an abortion, but I’ll never know. That is why I can’t say for sure whether abortion is right or wrong. It doesn’t seem right, but is it completely amoral? This is one issue that I doubt will ever be resolved satisfactorily. My personal opinion, though, is that having no options seems much worse than picking the “amoral” one.

    The Death Penalty:
    Like abortion, the death penalty should be an option despite its ambiguous morality. I would like to believe that everyone has good inside them, but I’m not naïve. There is a very minute percent of the human race that is evil down to their pinky toe. The pedophiles, the serial killers; these are the people that deserve the death penalty. My only problem with the death penalty is that there are numerous cases in which people were sentenced to death, and then years later proven to be innocent.

    Religion/School Prayer:
    I am not sure why this is even an issue. We, as Americans, have freedom of religion, but that doesn’t mean you can force your own personal religion down everybody’s throats. Public schools shouldn’t force “prayer times”. If a student wants to pray at school, that is his right, but if he starts rolling around speaking in tongues whilst burning incense over the Satanic alter, then he is a distraction to other students’ learning. Parents have the option to home school their children or enroll them in a private school that conforms to their religious teachings. (Except maybe the Satanists. You probably won’t see the Aleister Crowley Institute of Learning anytime soon.)

    Oh, and if saying “under God” so deeply offends you, then you are the one with the problem, not the United States of America for the past 233 years.

    The Environment:
    I would love to have an opinion about the environment and global warming, but the “facts” regarding both have become so muddied and tainted that they are less science and more political science. For right now, making small changes in every day life – such as recycling and using energy efficient technology – seems to be the best way to make a difference in the environment.

    The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs:
    I don’t have an opinion this topic.

    President Obama and/or Congress:
    I don’t care what your politics are; the office of President deserves more respect than it has been given the past eight years. Obama, Bush, and every President were elected into office by the American people (well, the Electoral College) and should be treated with respect. That said Obama, as with all past and future Presidents, is a politician and should be met with tasteful skepticism.

    Part V: What Have You
    I’m excited about this class and can’t wait to have Kautzman as a teacher. He’s the best! (Yo, Kautzman, how many brownie points was that last comment worth?) ANSWER – About 20 points of extra credit every time my name or the class is used in a positive fashion; nicely done!

61. on August 23, 2009 at 12:38 pm Jesse Peterson Said:
    

    In response to Carley Ross:
    Welcome to Mt. Spokane. I noticed that you love to travel, so do I. I look forward to meeting you this year. I also love lectures too. A lecture paints a story in my head and helps me remember the material. Is it the same for you? If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. I look forward to meeting you this year.

62. on August 23, 2009 at 12:43 pm Joanna Luse Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    Hello! My name is Joanna Luse, though some of you may know me as Jo. I am the second middle child in my family. I have three siblings, my older sister Natalie, older brother John, and little brother Samuel, or Sam. A little odd fact that is relevant to nothing, my brother, John, was born in Saudi Arabia. My father, Ray, is a Physicist and works with cancer patients at Sacred Heart Medical Center using radiation. My mother, Jan, has a teachers degree but decided to home school all my siblings and I until our freshman year of high school, so this will only be my fourth year of public school.
    Being home schooled has its ups and downs just like any other thing. Unlike public school there is no social interaction with other children everyday like most kids get, besides siblings. This forced me to get along with my family which I am very grateful for because I have a very good bond with all my family members. However, without that constant social activity I had a tendency to be introverted and shy, so my mom had to find other ways to get me to be around other kids. I started soccer at seven years old, track in fifth grade and I have always gone to church. Those were my times with kids my age where I could build relationships, and I have kept many of those friendships strong even to this day. An up to being home schooled was getting to go places during the school days. Silverwood and Disneyland are extremely fun places when no one is around on a week day.
    Hmmm what did I do this summer to relax and unwind? Well I have gone to my cabin on the Pend Oreille River a few times. I really haven’t done much of anything besides hung out with my friends Holleigh and Jackie. I did think about getting in shape for my senior year of sports… but those thoughts didn’t turn into actions.
    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    I am not a person who plans my life out, I’m not really goal oriented and I have absolutely no idea where I will be in five or ten years. I hope to go to college an find something I am interested in to study, but until then I am waiting on God to give me direction on where to go. I have been asked to run track but I am not sure I want to dedicate my time and energy to sports if I should be focusing on school. I hope to have more of an idea after this year but I am not sure as of right now.
    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I have been told numerous times that this is a class well worth my time. I have absolutely no idea how anything works politically, so I would like to learn about our country and how it is run. But other than that I am excited to learn what is taught.
    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I am a complete newbie. I don’t know enough about the war on terrorism to have an opinion if we should stay in a war or back out. For the economy and taxation I don’t think the recession is as bad as the media says, that could just be because my family has not been hit as hard. But seeing the commotion with the swine flu and what it turned out to be I’m not ready to fully believe the media. Abortion I think is a horrible thing and think there is a way better way to deal with unplanned pregnancy than killing a baby. True, I have not gone through this myself, but it is against my morals to basically murder an innocent baby for the mistake of the parents. Also killing a baby is snuffing out a life that could potentially find the cure to cancer, or make a life altering invention. Whatever it potentially could have been I just think abortion is wrong. Now the death penalty, I am not very well informed about this topic but I think it is necessary in some cases. But then again I don’t know much or anything at all about this. I don’t think religion should be taken out of school. Religion is a part of most everybody’s everyday lives. Now I am not saying it should be forced upon anyone but I think taking religion out is kind of like taking out a part of our culture. The environment can always be treated better. I don’t know much about the tactics of how we get our natural resources but I don’t think we need to completely destroy forests to obtain the building materials we need. Yes we do need the resources but we should go a different route that won’t obliterate life for plants and animals as they know it now or even their lives. These last two topics I am completely blank on. I don’t have an opinion because a really don’t know anything about either one. I hope to learn more about them in this upcoming school year.
    Part V: What Have You
    Well I don’t really have anything else to say except I look forward to being in this class and learning about the way our country is run. See you all at school!

63. on August 23, 2009 at 12:52 pm Molly Brown Said:
    

    Yo yo yiggidy yo. I’m Molly Brown. I don’t exactly know how I’m suppose to organize this blog so I’m just going to start with the first requirement. I have three sisters, two older and one younger. I will be 18 in 2 months, on October 18th. I keep pretty busy during the school year, I’m a cheerleader, in marching band, jazz band, and wind ensemble, I’m in math club, National honor society, student council, and Link Crew. This summer I didn’t do much relaxing or unwinding. I spent most of it working at my fathers company Next IT. It is a software company that creates human emulation software. I have worked there since I was fourteen and this summer I worked in sales and in computer programming.

    After high school I plan on going to college where I will major in electrical engineering with a minor in financing. After that I plan on getting my MBA and perhaps a law degree. I think I will probably go to Gonzaga University because it has everything that I am looking for in a school.

    I’m taking AP GO PO because I have heard that it is a challenging and very interesting class, plus I don’t particularly want to take Citizenship. I hope to gain a more vast knowledge of politics and better formulate my own opinion.

    I would consider myself a political agnostic. Though I enjoy politics and like to learn about them I don’t think I know enough about most topics to form an opinion that is not ignorant. So basically I remain unconvinced and open to debate from either side.

    Thanks a heap ☺

64. on August 23, 2009 at 1:42 pm Justin McClain Said:
    

    Part I: My personal life consists of very few dimensions, first there is my church community where I have all of my core friends who I have known since I was very young. My second dimension would have to be the tennis community where I spend most of my time; most of the people in this area of my life are just like me they have two things on their minds, tennis and food. My relaxation time over the summer was spent playing tennis and going to youth camps currently I’m at our family’s cabin on Vashon Island where I have been for the past week with my family and my best friend Zach. Vashon is where I can relax and do what I want, using the nearby high school courts to go out and hit whenever the mood strikes.

    There are four people in the McClain clan. My sister, Lindsy McClain is a Mt. Spokane alumni who is currently attending Eastern for her nursing degree. My Mom, Robyn McClain, works at Spokane Christian Academy and teaches the middle school classes, she was my teacher for a while too. My Dad, Darin McClain, works for Grace construction products selling concrete chemicals. The final member is me, Justin McClain, I protect our household from various creatures such as Nazi Zombies or the Power Puff girls. I make sure the parents are doing their jobs and that my sister maintains her good study habits, needless to say I am the glue that holds this family together.

    Part II: In my future I would like to study either theology or physical training at any four year college that will give me a tennis scholarship. I hope to either be a pastor or perhaps a tennis pro in my future, or just go wherever God calls me. As for my future I will go wherever I am called which makes life very simple for now.

    Part III: I am taking AP GO PO to learn more about myself, I have always simply sided with my parents on the whole Democrat versus Republican debate. Since most of the news nowadays is bias I hope to learn the straight facts on what each side stands for and what side of the political spectrum I lie on. I have heard from many of my friends that this class was interesting and a good class for intellectual individuals seeking a challenge, not to mention it looks good on a college resume.

    Part IV: My level of political knowledge is definitely novice I have rarely watched the news through my lifetime (excluding this summer) and I don’t really read the newspaper. Without political knowledge my opinions may not seem to be worth much on such heavy topics, but, I know enough to write some and I can make up enough to make myself sound smart.
    The War On Terrorism: This is a topic I don’t know much about I just know that I have many friends and many people I have known fighting over seas and they have surely been there for a long time.
    The Economy/ Taxation: I have much faith in what the economists say, and now they have begun to say that the recession is over, as a teen I really didn’t see the effect of the recession in my household. I simply saw was what they showed on the news and what I heard about from some of the families who were affected by it.
    Abortion: As a former fetus and someone who is pro-life I am strongly against abortion, it simply seems wrong to me to kill someone who is not yet alive. Not even giving them a chance to be… you never know who may be the next Billy Graham or Pete Sampras.
    The Death Penalty: This is a topic that I know very little about.
    Religion/ School Prayer: Prayer is a topic that I feel very strongly about and I believe that by allowing us to simply pray during school does nobody any harm. As long as it’s not forced upon students we should be free to pray and worship as we please. Plus, I feel that having Christ cover our schools would be beneficial. This goes for all religions, not simply Christianity.
    The Environment: In the news people have started talking about the newer environmentally friendly cars that are coming around, and they seem like a good idea to save the environment. My family has a recycle bin at home. Other than that this is another topic I have very little knowledge about.
    The future role of the United States in world affairs: The United States seems to be involved enough in world affairs as things stand today. I think that it was Uncle Ben who once said “With great power comes great responsibility” and the United States has been quite responsible with the amount of power that we have.
    President Obama/ Congress: I’m a glad to hear that Obama has backed off on socialized healthcare, which was one bill of his that I really did not support. I heard he was trying to only let his supporters into the town hall meetings where he was going. Other than that I do not know much about him.

    V: That is just about all I have in terms of political knowledge, all I have left to say is I have heard very good things about this class and I am really looking forward to it. See yall September 8th!!!!!

65. on August 23, 2009 at 1:48 pm Kayse Burden Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    I always cringe when a teacher asks me to write about myself. I am an almost constantly changing person. I’ve lived in Spokane my entire life. We lived a few blocks west of Central Valley High School till I was one and a half. I went to Colbert and Mead Middle and I love where I live. Compared to my family, I could either be considered more normal, or slightly crazier; it all depends on what mood I’m in when the comparison is happening. I have two older sisters. Kelsey (the oldest) is student teaching at CV this fall and then she will be finished at Whitworth. Keri is being a crazy genius and working on two majors (electrical engineering and criminal justice) and three minors (physics, sociology, and math). Yes, she is crazy, but I love my firefighting sister (yes, she is a firefighter in Cheney) despite her overachievements. My mom is a stay at home mom and I don’t know if I could have made it through this past year if she wasn’t. My dad has a home office and works for Hewlett Packard (no, he can’t fix your computer, he works in the storage portion of HP).
    Part II: What do I want to be when I grow up?
    My passion is medicine. I want to work in a hospital either as a nurse or an occupational therapist. I would rather work with children, but I love the hospital environment so much that it really doesn’t matter what age group I work with.
    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I am taking this class because I want to know more about politics so that I can make informed decisions when I vote. I want to learn about the workings of the government, how citizens can be involved, etc. I really hope that this year is not just a learning experience, but one that I can actually apply later in my life. I like to have fun while I’m learning and my past experiences with learning about politics have been boring, so a little more excitement would be nice.
    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I am somewhere between newbie and novice in the world of politics because nothing has really “stuck” in the past.
    * The War on Terrorism
    I would rather that the war stays in the Middle East. From the books that I’ve read and a few private sources, I know that this war has been going on for a long time and the U.S was pulled in by 9/11. If we pull out, it will follow us home. I don’t want to live in a war zone.
    * The Economy/Taxation
    I think that taxes should be reduced right now because of the financial struggle that our country is going through. I also think that the economy would have recovered by now if the government had stayed out of it.
    * Abortion
    I am completely against murdering unborn children. I don’t care when their heart starts beating, a child is a child. I am even against the “morning after” pill.
    * The Death Penalty
    I don’t know what I think about the death penalty, I’m still deciding.
    * Religion/School Prayer
    Prayer is a private action that, in my opinion, should not be banned in any way, shape, or form. If I choose to pray in a public place, that is my choice. If someone is offended by it, they don’t have to watch/listen.
    I don’t really have an opinion on the pledge of allegiance, I just think that if you don’t want to say something and no one is going to hurt you if you don’t say it, then don’t say it.
    * The Environment
    We have to live here, if we trash it, we are not going to enjoy it. I’m not an environmentalist; I just think that we should take care of our home and keep it clean.
    * The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs
    I think that we need to stay out of world affairs that we’re not already involved in till we fix our own country. I’m not saying that we should stop humanitarian projects, but our country is falling apart and we need to fix it.
    * President Obama and/or Congress
    I’m a republican and I don’t like what Obama has done so far. Congress is making me mad right now. Our government is spending too much money and it seems like they are looking for more ways that they can waste money every day.

66. on August 23, 2009 at 1:57 pm Lauren Lynch Said:
    

    Part I: Who are you?
    I’m Lauren! I have lived in Spokane my whole life, and I am excited, but nervous to finish out high school and see what the world has to offer me and what I have to offer the world.
    I have a dad, Tom, and a mom, Kim, and a 20-year-old brother, Corey. I have a huge extended family that I love. Despite my family’s craziness, I would never ask for anything different. They have shown support for me in whatever I decide to do, and I love that I can be completely myself with them.
    Aside from school, my time is spent playing softball, running cross-country, and having various adventures with my friends. I love being involved in ASB, going to games, and being on a team. Music is my passion. It inspires me and makes me think, and there is rarely a moment I am not listening. Simply being with my friends and laughing is what makes me the happiest.
    I see myself as a pretty carefree person, yet I love to think about the deeper things in life. Inspiration is everywhere, and I absolutely love traveling. I’ve found that the more I see, the less I know. Experiencing other cultures firsthand can teach you so much more than you could ever learn out of a textbook. So far I’ve been to France and Italy, which were amazing. At the top of my future travels list: India, Australia, and Greece.

    Part II: What do you want to be when you “grow up”?
    My immediate plans are to finish out my senior year and go to a four-year university next fall. I have not yet decided which college will be right for me, but I know I plan to stay on the west coast. I am looking forward to college because I know I have a lot to offer the world and education will open more doors for my future. Deciding what I want to study and being around an entirely new community of people is what I look forward to the most. While I’m not sure, my studies will probably lead me to a career focused on helping people, whether it is in the medical field or elsewhere. I can’t wait to study abroad!
    Who knows where I will be five, ten years from now? Depending on what I study I could be in college, working, or in the Peace Corps. Despite the fact that I am unsure about the details of my future, I can be sure that my passion will take me farther in life than I could ever plan out right now.

    Part III: What do you hope to get out of the class?
    I am taking AP Government & Politics because, aside from the obvious goal of doing well on the AP test and getting some college credit, I want to understand more about politics and develop more educated opinions. I love politics and current events, but I wish I had a better foundation to form my opinions on. Hopefully AP Go Po will present me with opportunities to further my political views and understanding of our country. Mostly, I am excited to know what my classmates believe and think. Thought-provoking classroom discussions are what I am looking forward to the most, because that is how I learn the best. Many of my classmates and friends have radically different viewpoints than I do, and I think this class would be a great chance to see things with a different perspective.

    Part IV: What do you know or think?
    I feel that I am somewhere between average and novice as far as politics. I love learning about politics, but lack of time often limits what I know. I also tend to get my news and information from few sources (Newsweek, Time) which also probably hinder my level of knowledge for some issues.
    I am not a fan of the United States involvement in the war in Iraq. Although I fully support the brave men and women who fight for our country, our time was up in Iraq a long time ago. I don’t understand why we are still there, and I think that the US has gotten too involved in the internal affairs and governments of some countries.
    Obviously our economy is in bad shape but I don’t feel that I know enough about the economy/taxation to make an educated statement about it.

    Abortion is complicated and as far as I see it, it will always be complicated and controversial, at least morally. Morally, everyone has their own opinion on when a life technically starts, when abortion is acceptable, and how different circumstances and beliefs/religions change whether it is right or wrong. So, I don’t think the government has the right to decide when or whether an abortion is right or wrong.
    Also, whether a child was conceived by r.ape or incest should not change the value of a child’s life; the law should not be arbitrary. We should see a human life as a human life, and the government should not decide under what circumstances aborting a human life is acceptable.

    I am against the death penalty. Again, I don’t think that the government should make the decision on whether a convict deserves to die. Many people argue that our prisons are crowded and convicts that have no chance of parole are flooding our prison system, but I honestly don’t see how space should ever be criteria in changing your opinion someone’s death. Also, the death penalty has been shown in some states to cost more than putting murderers in prison for life.
    According to a report from The Death Penalty Information Center, over 120 people have been released from death row with evidence of their innocence. I believe that even murderers deserve some kind of chance of redemption, even if they are stuck in prison without parole. Our jurisdiction system should just not have this kind of power.

    Everyone has their right to practice their own religion and pray in schools as long as it is not disruptive to the learning environment.
    I don’t know how I feel about “global warming”, but it is clear that our earth is changing for the worse and we aren’t doing enough to help it. I think that big industries should have much harsher restrictions on emissions and that our leaders should put a bigger emphasis on helping the environment.
    I am not sure what the future role of America will be, especially years in the future. I do think that other countries such as India and China are progressing in ways that we are not, and that if The United States wants to stay as one of the world’s biggest superpowers, we should do some things differently.
    I am a supporter of Obama and have been for a while. I think his presidential campaign was brilliant and he succeeded in what he wanted to do: bring hope to a nation that had lost some of their respect globally after Bush’s terms. Obama has done great things to improve our international relations, and has made more progress than any other president before him on health care reform. Many Americans are quick to label him as a socialist or whatever, but our health care system now is simply NOT WORKING. It does not give coverage to everyone. Americans fear losing what they have now (adequate appointment availability and limited doctor choices based on private insurance, with an estimated 46 million uninsured) even if change would bring them something better. Fear of the unknown with healthcare has clouded American’s ability to see this issue clearly.

    Part V: What Have You
    Yay for senior year!!!

67. on August 23, 2009 at 2:06 pm Sadie Peterson Said:
    

    Sadie Peterson
    AP GO PO
    Summer assignment

    Part I: Who Are You?
    Well, for starters, I have a pretty sweet family and friends that I love a lot. Music is and always has been a part of my life. I play the piano and clarinet in band and I actually really enjoy it. I love the outdoors and spent a week this summer backpacking with my dad around Mt. Rainier after we did some hiking up in Juneau, Alaska. I also spent a couple weeks at Camp Spalding, which has been a pretty significant and important part of my summer for many years in the ways it has shaped who I am and the way I live my life.

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    I’m hoping to be attending Whitworth University next year and I’m not entirely sure what my major will end up being. At this point, I’m thinking about an education major and minor in music. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, but now that I’ve actually had to think about, I have no idea what I want to do with my life. I am also coming to the realization that while going to college after high school seems to be the “norm,” it’s not a requirement. With that in mind, I’m even more confused because that opens hundreds of new options for my life after graduation. Moreover, in five years I hope to have a bachelor’s in something that I can use and enjoy, and in ten years…I have no idea.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I’m honestly taking this class because I’ve heard Citizenship is boring and I would rather challenge myself than sit through a less worthwhile class. I also hope to better my understanding of politics in general. I understand the basics, but not usually enough to argue my position. I guess ultimately I’m taking this class because it looks better on college applications, and it’s supposed to be one of the best classes the school offers.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    The war on terrorism is a little beyond me. While I don’t believe we should continue sending troops to the Middle East, we would be taking chances if we decided to pull them out. Hundreds of thousands of people have died as a result of this war and I all I really know and can argue is that is wrong, as stupid as that sounds.
    I know even less on the economy. I haven’t been paying much attention to the causes of why the economy is the way it is, so I don’t really have an opinion on the matter.
    I don’t believe abortion is right and just by any means. It is murder in the sense that though the fetus may not be truly alive and aware yet, it was still conceived for a reason and it should have the chance of life.
    The death penalty seems completely wrong to me. It seems like there should be plenty of better alternatives, but I don’t really know anything about it. Murder just seems wrong.
    The environment is something that obviously needs and is being addressed. I think a lot of what we, Americans especially do, like throwing pop cans out the window, or driving our cars when it’s completely unnecessary, are things that can be easily fixed and would make a big difference. As for global warming, I don’t feel like I know enough to take a stand.
    The rest of these I am completely ignorant to and hope to learn more about in the class.

68. on August 23, 2009 at 2:09 pm Anna Wold Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    Oh boy, about me, huh? Well to start with, I was born in Denver, Colorado on June 13, 1992. I was born on a Thursday, not that I’m superstitious, or anything. I am the youngest of five kids; three boys and two girls. My oldest brother lives in Arizona and is a computer wiz, the two middle boys have gone through Mt. Spokane high school, and are now living together in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and my older sister living in LA is getting married in September, and I’m proud to say that I’m a bridesmaid!
    My family moved to Spokane when I was three, having bought a family farm from my great uncles, consisting of a farmhouse, two dairy barns, and Dead Mans Creek running through on 98 acres, not five miles east from the high school. It was there in the farmhouse that we rode out the ice storm of 1996, with no heat or running water. We resided there until we were able to build our new home across the creek, in 1999. Though I was born in the city, I grew up in the country, and I love it. The country gives me a sense of freedom that no city can give, for that I have always hated cities.

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    To be honest, I don’t know what direction to go with in my life. Ever since middle school, I’ve been required to take personality tests to find the job that is right for me, but I never seem to find what I’m looking for. I’ve always had a love for animals. But I don’t want to work with just any animal; I want to work with non-domestic animals. Which of course makes you think of the zoo, but a big zoo requires a big city and I’m a country girl. My mom has always encouraged me to go into the medical field, and I know it sounds mean, but I don’t want to deal with other people’s problems. Right now, I’m thinking about staying in Spokane and finishing up my basic classes at a community college.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    I am taking AP Gov in hopes of learning more about politics. I grew up in a republican family and I understand the basic beliefs that my family stands on, but we are not ones to have political conversations. As I have gotten older, and more interested in what the future holds, I’ve realized that I really don’t understand what people are talking about on the news. I want to know about new laws that could be passed, such as the ‘No Hate’ law, it sounds like a great law to not discriminate against your neighbor, but then pastors can’t preach certain material that is clearly stated in the Bible.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I would say that I’m a novice in politics. Other than what my family believes, which is based on our Christian beliefs, I know very little.
    The War on Terrorism: As Americans, everyone should support our troops, no matter how much dislike there is for the war. But as for the purpose of the war, it seems the government has jumped from one reason to another. We started by going over and taking down Al-Qaida, now we’re protecting our oil recourses. No matter how important the war may be for the comfort of Americans, the media gives it a dissatisfying look. Now a days, it seems the only thing about the war on the news, are the reports of killed soldiers.
    The Economy/Taxation: For people living in Spokane, the recession hasn’t hit as hard as places such as California. My own family has experienced the strain on finances, but we are able to buy only what is needed and get through. As for taxation, I don’t have any knowledge of.
    Abortion: Based on my beliefs, abortion is wrong. It’s irresponsible for women to have unintentional pregnancies, and I understand that for some, having a child is not an option, but aborting the baby is murder. Some people say that it’s not wrong when the baby hasn’t come into the world yet, but its still killing God given life.
    The Death Penalty: The Bible clearly states “an eye for an eye” and when a man kills another, that man should be put to death. I don’t like to think about the death penalty, but its only right for a killer to be killed.
    Religion/School Prayer: I have a shirt that says “Dear God, Why do you allow so much violence in our schools? signed a concerned student: Dear concerned student, I’m not allowed in schools. God” Every where I have worn that shirt, people come up to me and say that its true. As for me, I can understand if there really isn’t any involvement of beliefs in school, due to so many different beliefs, but that shouldn’t stand for teachers getting fired for helping students understand the Bible. Just last year, I took the Bible as Literature class. How is it that we are able to study the events that happened in the Bible, but we can’t study the Godly beliefs that lie behind the events?
    The Environment: One thing good about this global warming scare is that people are starting to take better care of our environment. I laugh when people say ‘so much for global warming’ when there is eight feet of snow on the ground. They don’t understand that global warming can involve extreme freezing as well as extreme heat.
    The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs: As for world affairs, I know it’s a huge deal for Americans, but I don’t know how being involved can affect us.
    President Obama and/or Congress: Due to the fact that I’m a republican, and I have different views than democrats, I personally don’t like President Obama. I had the privilege of going on the inauguration trip to Washington D.C., but it was mainly to see all the monuments. And as for Congress, I have no idea.

    Part V: What Have You
    I think the only thing I haven’t said was that I’m a visual person.

69. on August 23, 2009 at 2:29 pm Bree Ferris Said:
    

    Part 1:
    Hey! I’m Bree Ferris. I live with my mom, dad, and annoying younger sister. We also have a couple dogs and cats. I’m from L.A. so I absolutely love (and miss) the city and beach. There isn’t any sport I’ve done my whole life that occupy’s all my time but I have tried quite a few different ones and found I’m better off going to the gym. I prefer trying new things outdoors, though, like rock climbing and dirt biking. Even though I’m not a huge fan of snow, I do enjoy snowboarding in the winter. The summer is definitely my favorite time of year, I love going to the lake to water ski and wakeboard. My family does most of our traveling in summer. Cruises are my favorite but I also enjoy visiting friends and family in L.A. or any excuse to travel.
    Friends and family make up most of my life. All the things I love doing wouldn’t be the same with out them. I rely on them more than anything, aside from myself. They push me to do better in life and keep me grounded. Nikki is one of my best friends and I spend most of my time hanging out with her. I’ve spent most of my summer hanging out with her, and my other friends. My summer also consisted of camping a few times, going to L.A., some volunteering, and just forgetting about school.
    Basically, I’m a pretty outgoing, adventurous person and I know who I am. I’ll try most anything once just to try it and I’m not afraid to say what I think. I want people to know who I really am and I’m not embarassed to show them.

    Par 2:
    I’ve known what I’ve wanted to do when I “grow up” since I was in fourth grade- be a lawyer. If you have ever met me you know that I love to argue and wether I’m right or wrong I won’t give up until some proves me either way. Gonzaga, Pacific Lutheran, and Seattle Uni. are my top three choices undergrad choices but I’m considering Loyola Merrymount as well. I’m not sure exactly what kind of law I want to get into but for now I’ll get a pre-law major and some kind of degree in international business. In five years I will hopefull be in graduate school at Harvard Law- my dream college. In ten years I’m not sure what my life has in store for me.

    Part 3:
    I joined AP GO PO because I’m intersted in law and politics- I figured they went hand in hand and would be important for me to learn about. This year I hope to learn a lot about our government system so when I argue politics I have good reasons to back my opinions. The most important things I hope to get out of the class are being able to pass the AP test and having a better understanding of politics and the government. I hope that the class involves a lot of in class discussions of current events.

    Part 4:
    I’d say my political knowledge is average, nearing towards novice (ironic considering I want to get into law). Although I may not be an expert in politics I do have my opinions.
    When it comes to the War on Terrorism, honestly I don’t have a lot of knowledge. However I do feel we’re killing people for what seems no reason at all. Not only are our soldiers being killed but so are tons of innocent bystandard. All I can think of is what it’d be like if other countries were killing American citizens because the country was attacked by Americans. With that said, I don’t feel it’s in the country’s best interest to pull our soldiers out immediately. We’re in this too far to just say “okay we’re done” because that could leave for some very dangerous back lash. But I do feel it’s time we work on getting out.
    As far as the economy and taxation goes- my generation is screwed. We’re so far in the hole my kid’s kids are going to be paying it off. Or at least that’s how it feels. Big businesses and banks have gotten too careless and they could all learn to live on a budget. Everytime I hear the news for awhile it seemed everyone was getting bailed out or bought up. The government needs to stay out. These businesses have to learn to thrive on their own and not cry to the government when they’ve made a mistake. Maybe then we might begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel- maybe.
    I do believe in abortion and to a very limited point. Taking a life is wrong but there are exceptions sometimes. People always jump to the conclusion that if a woman is pregnant she made the decision to have sex and therefore needs to take responsibility for her actions. Victims of forced sexual assault didn’t make that choice though and if a women became pregnant because of forced sexual asssault abortion should be allowed. Being pregnant for nine months may mean she’s unable to work and take care of herself, which may be her only way of sustence, and adoption wouldn’t solve that. Sometimes abortion is the only option.
    I also think of my grandmother on my mom’s side. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and suffered for years in pain, helplessly. Taking medication took the pain away but brought on side affects and made life not worth living. To this day my mom says she’s not sure if she would have kept a child if it had been diagnosed with MS before it was born after seeing the way her mom suffered and how painful it was. Until their is a cure, women with babies that have deadly, uncureable diseases should be allowed abortions.
    The last reason is if giving birth would kill the mother. However these decision should have to be made within the first trimester.
    The death penalty is another exception to not taking life. I strongly believe in killing one to save a thousand. As long as there is no question of “is he guilty or not” I find it acceptable.
    Personaly, religion in school is okay with me as long as one, no one is preaching or promoting their religion to others throught school and two, any partaking in religion is optional and not influenced by others. What I’m saying is someone praying silently before they eat their lunch or taking an optional religious class shouldn’t lead to controversy. Realistically though, there is too many fine lines of what is and isn’t acceptable and it can often lead to violence which is why it should remain separate.
    The enviornment changes throughout time and after seeing Spokane’s winter last year, I’m not totally convinced of global warming. We should try to recycle more and use less harmful products in everyday life, though.
    When it comes to world affairs, Obama, and congress I don’t have a lot of opinions because I haven’t spent enough time on the topics to know exactly what’s going on. I do believe that if America stepped down as a world leader we might not have as many issues as we do now- at least with other countries hating us. I always look at Great Britain as an example, they were once the world superpower but have stepped down to a less prominent role and they haven’t had many issues. So far Obama and congress haven’t done much to help the economy except for spending more money and putting us further in debt. Obama hasn’t done what he said he would yet.

    Part 5:
    I’m looking forward to my senior year and this class!

70. on August 23, 2009 at 2:42 pm Bree Ferris Said:
    

    Response to Carley Ross’ Post

    First, welcome to MSHS! I’m from southern California too and I know what you’re talking about when you say there’s a definite culture change- and no sun. I moved here eight years ago and I’m still adjusting. I also hope to learn more about the U.S in future world affairs. It’s a topic I think we could all benefit from learning about.

71. on August 23, 2009 at 2:42 pm Adam Ropp Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?
    My name is Adam Ropp and I was born in Spokane in 1992 and have lived here my whole life. I have a sister, Halie, my parents, Jeff and Sherri, and a Jack Russel Terrier named Cricket. I’ve played tenor saxophone since fifth grade and picked up guitar a couple years ago, but it’s not really my instrument of choice. I enjoy music, movies, and skiing. I have only been skiing for a couple years, but it is the one activity I look forward to the most every year. There is nothing better than a day up on the mountain with friends. My summer wasn’t nearly as relaxing as I expected it to be because it seemed like I was gone every other week. Definitely one of the highlights of my summer was hiking up to Carlton Lake in Montana.
    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
    My most immediate plan for the future is to graduate from high school but after that, it’s off to college. The universities I have been looking at are Stanford, the University of Washington, and the University of North Carolina. So far UW has been my top pick, as it is the only university west of the Mississippi that offers Paper Science and Engineering, which is the field that I want to get my degree in. In addition to the Paper Science degree, my second major would be in Chemical Engineering because the two are so closely related and would broaden my job horizons once I graduate. The career I hope to seek after college would be working in either a paper mill developing new ways to make paper or working for a company like DuPont developing greener plastics.
    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
    There are a couple reasons why I am taking AP Government and Politics. In less than a year I will be 18 and thus able to vote. I want a better understanding of how the American government is organized and how it functions before I go out and vote for our nation’s future leaders. Unavoidable political arguments, this last November having a ridiculous amount of them, encouraged me to take this class. I want a better understanding of politics and current world issues in order to better form my own opinions. I am looking forward to this class this year and expect it to be one of my favorites, considering how much I enjoyed U.S. History last year.
    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
    I do not consider myself a political expert by any means, but I like to stay well informed of current issues and events. A lot of people find the news boring, I find it interesting.
    The War on Terrorism: Going back to 2001, the invasion of Afghanistan to topple the Taliban was justified. Capturing Osama bin Laden and destroying al-Qaeda was a top priority and well worth the invasion. However, the invasion of Iraq was unjustified. Yes, oil is extremely important to America, but the current quagmire we are in was not worth it. The film Taxi to the Dark Side shows the ethical issues in Iraq with places like Abu Ghraib and the prisoner abuse there along with the abuse happening at Guantanamo Bay. This is not only wrong on a moral level, but it was a severe slap in the face to our military and overall an embarrasement. And while we have been hunting insurgents in Iraq, the Taliban has made a comeback in Afghanistan. The war in the Middle East has become a huge problem that I honestly don’t believe the United States can solve.
    The Economy/Taxation: This is an area that I don’t understand all that well. While I don’t believe that a laissez-faire approach to the economy is correct, the government can’t control the economy. I don’t think that tax increases or throwing money at the problem will fix it, nor will giving money back to taxpayers, because they are more apt to save it rather than spend it. I think we need to look at the solutions for the Great Depression (not World War II) implement something like the programs they had back then.
    Abortion: I honestly don’t believe in abortion, but situations like teenage pregnancy can lead the parent(s) into poverty because they have to care for a child without proper financial support. Personally I believe that if you don’t want the child, adoption is the best choice. However, I also believe that the decision for abortion should be up to the parents, not the government.
    The Death Penalty: This is another thing that I think should be left up to the person it is affecting. If a person is charged to life without the possibility of parole, I believe that I should be up to the prisoner whether or not he wants to live out the rest of his life in prison or to end it early.
    Religion/School Prayer: Religion is one of those things that has a good side and a bad side. It gives people something to believe in and adhere to, but it can also cause rifts between religious groups, Israel and the rest of the Middle East being a perfect example. There should be a complete separation of church and state, seeing as to how one influencing the other is generally a bad thing. Also, religion should be something that is up to the individual to decide on. If he or she wants to be Catholic, Muslim, or Jewish, that should be a personal decision. As for school prayer, as long as it’s personal and not organized by the school, I see no problem with it.
    The Environment: This is one of those issues that will, and has already, become of great importance to Americans and the rest of the world. With pollution, especially air pollution, destroying ecosystems and creating warmer temperatures, we need to be more conscientious of what we drive and how we produce products like plastics and rubbers. A tie in to this is alternate sources of energy and fuel, seeing as to how we have a finite oil supply. The Edward O. Wilson quote, “If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos,” shows what great impact us humans have on the environment, and if we want the earth to remain as fruitful as it is now, we need to change the way we do some things.
    The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs: China and India are rising as economic and political superpowers while the role of the United States is starting to diminish. We need to give up the role of “World Policeman” that we took on after World War II and try to find our niche in the coming economic and political landscape. Economically and politically we can’t afford to keep on trying to solve other nations’ problems and install democratic governments wherever we see fit by ourselves. If we want to take on these endeavors any more, we need to rely on support from other nations.
    President Obama and/or Congress: While I’m not saying that electing President Obama was a mistake, I believe that the American people put way too much trust in him. It was as if we expected him to come in and wave a wand that would magically solve the nation’s economic problems and end the war in Iraq. It’s not that simple, and the man is only human and still has to work with our system of government. Congress, on the other hand, needs to prioritize and hammer out the most important issues, such as the economy.
    Part V: What Have You
    Not really, other than I’m looking forward to the class and ski season starts in a few short months. O yeah.

72. on August 23, 2009 at 3:29 pm Katie Todaro Said:
    

    Part I: Who Are You?

    I am a human girl, born on a day in which all of the planets (well, eight of them) were aligned. Seven years after that auspicious day, I moved to the rugged northwest, where my father hoped to land a job felling trees, but had to settle for stock brokering instead. Rather than flannel, he wears a suit and tie. In compensation, my mother will still make us flap jacks even though we aren’t “Really Lumberjackers”. Outside of school I enjoy climbing things and playing with my stuffed animals and using sculpee to recreate biblical scenes.

    Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?

    After attending finishing school I hope to open a school for girls, like the orphanage in Madeleine. It will be covered in ivy and the girls will walk in and out in two straight lines– or else. There I will teach them, among other things, how to properly crack the sugar-tops on creme brule, color coordinate an array of table linens to the decor within a home, and how to make party guests feel like they are welcome– all of which are very important skills, if you ask me. If my Finishing School dreams don’t pan out, I hope to attend a liberal arts college, Vassar, and study in creative writing and graphic design. Post-”Oh we’re so liberal we don’t even believe in grades” education, I will take my relatively marketless degree and beg for any sort of job that will prevent me from having to eat cat food.

    Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?

    I’m taking AP GO PO because only sissies don’t accept a challenge. When Thomas Jefferson asked Lewis and Clark if they wanted to explore the great unknown, they said “Hell yes we do!” When the high school councelor asked me if I wanted to take AP GO PO I said the same thing. I really hope to get some good discussion out of this class. There are few things I enjoy as much as a political argument with people who know what they are talking about. So I would 1) Like to know what I’m talking about 2) Discuss those ideas and concepts with other people who do as well. As far as class formats go, I’m relatively impartial.

    Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?

    I watch CSPAN and listen to NPR like every American who truly loves their country. Take that as you will.

    * The War on Terrorism
    “Root them out!” like my Grandpappy always said. “If you gonna go round makin trouble for everyun’ else, then you got another thing comin’”. Because really, if your mission is death and terror, do you really deserve to live? Some further steps I would like to see taken to make sure the terrorists will never again have their way with the American people:
    - No more flight lessons. Ever.
    -Heightened security measures in the public sphere, including, but not limited to:
    *Undercover Justice Agents
    *Disguised surveillance cameras in the most unexpected of places (terrorists don’t just hang out at the airport, you know)
    *Wire tapping of suspicious persons (they named it the PATRIOT act for a reason)
    -Terrorist bating
    -Liberalization of the Geneva Conventions

    * The Economy/Taxation
    Here is my diatribe on the state of the American economy (and public):
    If you spend more than you have, you will be in debt. If you don’t pay your debt, then your debtors will therfore own the things for which you have not yet paid. So why have a majority of the American people failed to grasp a concept which can be summed up in a few sentences? Hmmm? American households owe, on average, over $10,000 dollars in debt. MONEY MOST PEOPLE DON’T HAVE. So when homes they could not afford get repossessed, when shiny new cars above their budget get taken away, when they see their Italian leather sofas carried out of their homes when they’ve gone bankrupt, they will hold their palms to the sky and ask God why the magical money angels haven’t yet come to their aid. They will wonder why their things are arbitrarily being taken away. It just don’t make no sense.

    * Abortion
    Matters of soul and spirit and life force aside, my opinion on abortion is fairly simple. At what point is a fetus viable outside the womb? Given, there will never be an exact amount of time– but an average range could easily be found. After that point, an abortion is illegal. Before that set date, an abortion is legal. Katie has spoken.

    * The Death Penalty
    “An eye for an eye” is a really awesome proverb. Here’s why: If someone kills your family, you get to kill theirs! If someone keys your car, you get to key theirs! If someone trips you on the sidewalk, you get to give them a little taste of pavement yourself! It’s truly beautiful and glorious to behold the masses engendering wars of retaliation. The poking! The slapping! The stealing! May it never end, my friends.
    This is why I think it’s a great idea to use the penal system to kill people who have killed other people, among other heinous crimes. It’s like taking our justice system to a whole new, proverbial level! Hooah!

    * Religion/School Prayer
    Having state endorsed religions in a country like the United States seems a bit ironic, considering that it was a nation founded for reasons of religious freedom (and money). Additionally, it seems that endorsing one religion is unecessary. How could, and why should, religion interfere with and influence matters of the government. One particular religion could be considered a guideline for government conduct if, and only if, everyone supported and believed in the same religion. Unfortunately for some, this is not the case. There are dozens of religions and no-religions within the United States– beliefs which are held by full citizens. So why, then, should the beliefs of only a single group be held supreme to those of all others? They shouldn’t, is the clear and just answer.

    * The Environment
    You know what makes me sad? Knowing that I am a member of the generation that will witness the slow dying off and extinction of the otters, and the manatees and the panda bears. My forefathers have left me with a world where the otters are dying (they’re dying, people) and there’s nothing I can do about it. Mother earth has been mugged and left dying in a metaphorical alley way– let us please be the good samaritans who stop and offer her a bandaid.
    I firmly believe that if environmental concerns are put on the forefront (alternative energy, recycling programs, growing home vegetables and buying organic produce, riding bikes and walking instead of driving, smog and pollution control, etc), a lot of the other problems (troubled relations with the middle east, rising costs and scarcity of raw materials, chemical related illnesses and deaths, pollution) will be solved as well.

    * The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs
    I believe that the United States is going to have to get used to riding back seat. Sometimes you call “shotgun” and you get to ride up front for a while. But that doesn’t mean you’re going to get ride shot gun all the time. Come on now, America, you knew that. Sometimes someone is faster than you, or tricks you into forgetting to say “shotgun”, or beats you to the ground and makes you relinquish your position up front. These things happen, America. China and India and your Middle Eastern cousins are all getting older and stronger and faster and wiser. You better watch out, now. You better watch out.
    Since other nations (ahem, China) are clearly catching up to America in terms of economy, technology, development, etc., the United States and its’ leaders are clearly going to have to adjust to not getting their way No Matter What. A more diplomatic and lateral approach to world affairs (especially concerning nuclear power and resource sharing) will need to be taken by all players in the global arena.

    * President Obama and/or Congress
    I don’t know much about Barack, but I am a big fan of his wife. She is a glowing example of what a first lady can, and should be. Barbara was okay… I guess. But has anyone really taken a good look at Michelle? Have you seen her move about the white house while dutifully accompanying her powerful husband? Never have we seen a woman with such poise and grace in Washington since the likes of Jacqueline Onassis. And I will say it loud and proud: Michelle Obama in 2012. Yes She Can!
    Moving on to congress:
    We have a democrat in the white house, and a democratic congress by a healthy majority. No longer will we need to fret about matters of partisanship. As long as the democrats don’t come up with any really cockamammy ideas, I’m excited to see some real changes start happening on capitol hill. Or, you know, they may not. Politicians have a very special and eloquent way of doing absolutely nothing.

    Part V: What Have You
    Mazal tov.

73. on August 24, 2009 at 7:44 pm Sarah Fullmer Said:
    

    Commenting on Ype Kingma

    First of all I loved your comment about doing anything that would make a good story! I actually heard about one of your summer adventures, and laughed for the longest time.

    Also, I totally agree with you about the need to educate the youth of the world because in reality we’re going to be leading the world in a matter of years! Kind of scary, but true. So I think that’s a great reason to take the class!

74. on August 24, 2009 at 8:06 pm Sarah Fullmer Said:
    

    Commenting on Taylor Jordan

    I had no idea you used to live in Australia! Thats awesome!!!

    But I do have to say that its a good thing you’re a nice guy, because I don’t agree with almost anything you said…

    As far as taxes go why should the people who work hard for their money have to pay more money in taxes that then goes towards Obama’s “healthcare” program which more wealthy people don’t even need?! Did you know that one of Obama’s advisors, John Holdren, is suggesting that the government puts additives in the water that makes men more sterile and therefore curves the population!? Holdren also proposed implanting sterility capsules in girls at puberty and removing them only when they obtain government permission to have children! What kind of president would put an advisor into office that wants to take freedom away from the people!? This is one of the few reasons I don’t agree with anything that has to do with Obama.

75. on August 24, 2009 at 8:22 pm Sarah Fullmer Said:
    

    Commenting on Mary Konis

    I enjoyed your stand on The War on Terrorism. Esp how the war isn’t worth sacrificing our economy’s health!

76. on August 24, 2009 at 8:23 pm Sarah Fullmer Said:
    

    Commenting on Nick Stuart

    I thoroughly enjoyed you’re autobiography. You gave great points but it was short and sweet!

77. on August 24, 2009 at 8:25 pm Sarah Fullmer Said:
    

    Commenting on Jaclyn Brim

    I loved your story about the nuns and the Catholic school! Quite enjoyable!

78. on August 25, 2009 at 11:55 am Jenna Alaskar Said:
    

    Commenting on jaclyn Brim:

    Haha Jaclyn, I went up to that school once too! I thought it looked like some cool, creepy, abandoned convent but then, once I got all the way up the hill, I realized what it was. I was similarly disappointed. But good for you for going on the tour! I just flipped a U and sped back down the hill before they could see me haha.

79. on August 25, 2009 at 12:15 pm Justin Johnson Said:
    

    In response to …

    Jenna: Completely agree about the “War on Terror” piece particularly the name of it. Terrorism to us is just a war to them, they just can’t afford tanks.

    Megan E: I actually agree with you more than I thought I did! Although your view on the “War on Terror” is a bit sketchy I guess I’ll forgive you.

    Ashton: Very envious that you have such a solid plan for your future, wish I had a slight idea of what I wanted to do.

    Katie T: Would just like to say your post was very entertaining, and I hope to visit you someday at your Orphanage! View on abortion is exactly same as mine, and I had no idea the otters were dying! Tragic.

    Dillon: Agree with approach to Afghanistan and the need for reform and education, but right now I think that it’s too late and Bush has screwed it up too badly and by staying longer we are just creating more enemies.

80. on August 25, 2009 at 12:17 pm Jenna Alaskar Said:
    

    Commenting On Katie Tadaro:

    Your post mysitifies me katie. Half the time I was laughing and the other half I couldn’t tell if you were serious or not. There are some key points that I do agree on though:
    1) M. Obama = amazing. I would even go so far as to compare her to Jackie Kennedy. yep, I went there.
    2) Flapjacks are delicious.
    3) Your view on abortion is simple and wise-minded.
    4) Dying otters is a tragedy.
    There are some things I disagree on, however:
    1) Your view on the death penalty. I couldn’t tell if you are really for the death penalty (and therefore, I disagree) and just decided to go all hyperbolic or if you are against it and decided to be so rediculous that it is obvious you are being sarcastic. Sigh, I am a very literal person.
    2) And your shotgun theory. I have been riding shotgun since I was a wee girl (since I was 4′9″ that is) and I will never concede to that whole taking turns thing. Maybe I am that fast, maybe I am that strong, and maybe the U.S. is too. I think that we are always in a competition and that as long as we are the strongest and more importantly, the smartest, we get shotgun. Hell, we get to drive.

81. on August 25, 2009 at 12:45 pm Jenna Alaskar Said:
    

    Commenting On Kayse Burden:

    I was a little confused on some of your points:
    1) How would the war in the Middle East follow us back if we pulled out? The areas that the U.S. is occupying in the Middle East do not have the capacities to contain terrorist groups at this time. The conficts that U.S. troops are trying to resolve do not ultimately involve the United States so if we left nothing would follow us.
    2)Abortion: What? It’s not a kid in a woman’s uterus the morning, or even months after. You can’t murder an inanimate object. If a plant died you wouldn’t hold a funeral becuase even though it is a grouping of cells it isn’t a person, the same thing goes for abortions.

    I did however agree with you about public displays of religion. I do think that if you want to do something to express yourself at school then do it but I do not think that any educational establishment should condsider religion in administrative decisions.

82. on August 25, 2009 at 1:28 pm Jenna Alaskar Said:
    

    Commenting on Christy Houk:

    Hmm I don’t really understand your stance on the death penalty. You say that abortion is “murder” but uh the death penalty actually is murder. Who are we, and who is the government, the one that you even admitted to having “corrupt leaders,” to decide who is guilty enough for death? From your entry on religion and education I take it that you are somewhat religious, if so, isn’t it God’s decision who is guilty or not?

    Also, how have your “fears” of Obama been confirmed? So far we are in fact on a fasttrack, but on a fasttrack to much needed change. And when you say “‘We the people’ has worked for 200 years,” what do you mean? This country has been digging itself into a hole for 8 years. It’s definitely not working.

83. on August 25, 2009 at 1:42 pm Jenna Alaskar Said:
    

    Commenting on Joanna Luse:

    Whoa how did your bro get born in Saudi Arabia? That is awesome, I bet he flaunts it. I certainly do haha. And I had NO idea you were homeschooled for so long! Wow, I don’t think I could even stand my mother as a teacher haha. Oh and that’s amazing that you got an offer to play track in college. Have you gotten any offers to play soccer?

84. on August 25, 2009 at 4:54 pm Christy Houk Said:
    

    Commenting on Bree Ferris:

    You brought up a lot of good points on the opinion section that I hadn’t really thought about. It’s exciting to hear that you like to argue and I look forward to discussions with you.

85. on August 25, 2009 at 5:02 pm Christy Houk Said:
    

    Commening on Lauren Lynch:

    The facts you shared about the death penalty were very interesting. It’s cool to see people talk about their opinions and have solid information to back them up.

86. on August 25, 2009 at 5:04 pm Joanna Luse Said:
    

    Commenting on Kayse Burden

    I know a professor who teaches criminal justice at Eastern, i wonder if your sister had him. John Goldman?

87. on August 25, 2009 at 5:08 pm Joanna Luse Said:
    

    Commenting on Carley Ross

    Welcome to Mt. Spokane! I look forward to meeting you, if you need help around the school anytime just ask me, i’ll be happy to help.

88. on August 25, 2009 at 5:09 pm Christy Houk Said:
    

    Commenting on Justin McClain:

    Thank you for being out spoken about your faith. It’s good to see that God is a part of your life and a part of your opinions that reach beyond religion.

89. on August 25, 2009 at 5:12 pm Joanna Luse Said:
    

    Commenting on Jeremy Urann

    I’m right there with you with all the different topics. I really know nothing more than the bits and pieces i have heard. I look forward to learning what is going on for real with you.

90. on August 25, 2009 at 5:18 pm Joanna Luse Said:
    

    Commenting on Megan Erickson

    I agree with you that if you don’t want to say “Under God” then just don’t say it. I don’t think saying it is harming anyone. That is what the founders of the US based it on anyway, we really shouldn’t try to change history.

91. on August 25, 2009 at 5:19 pm Christy Houk Said:
    

    Commenting on Kyle Hicks:
    I will be waiting on Beneath the Pleather with a strained patience. But besides that, I love the way you state your opinions in a slightly sarcastic “why is this even a question” way. Sometimes people just need to know that what they think really does make no sense. You are good at saying that without making them sound like morons.

92. on August 25, 2009 at 5:36 pm Christy Houk Said:
    

    Commenting on Justin Fritz:
    I really don’t even know who you are but with reading your autobiography I am excited to hopefully get to know you more with this class. Your opinions are pretty similar to mine and it will be interesting how the rest of the class divides on these topics.

93. on August 25, 2009 at 6:00 pm Mary Konis Said:
    

    In response to Alysa Sue Draper- DeHart ~

    The reasoning for your name was really interesting – I don’t believe I had ever heard a name explanation that was so complex! Your summer sounds like it was full of adventures, did you have fun helping at the Wheelchair games because that sounds like it would have been a really good experience! I enjoyed reading your opinion on the War on Terrorism I thought it was a very valid point.

    In response to Sarah Fullmer ~

    I cannot imagine having that many siblings! I bet your house is crazy all the time! I loved your comment about changing your mind about your future everyday; thank goodness I am not alone. I think we are all hopping the economy decides to like our generation and turns around for our first ventures on our own. I enjoyed your comment on no perfect party because that is where I stand right now too.

    In response to Haley Anderson ~

    First off, I envy your Europe trip! The fragile state of the economy scares me due to how much current decisions will affect our generation. Your opinion on the environment pleased me because it was really rational and you see both sides of the issue, this planet is our home and we have to take care of it, but it has been slowly changing far before we were here.

    In response to Daniel Lipuzhin ~

    Russian heritage very cool and it is awesome that you are so proud of that. That experience of adjusting to a new country must be crazy and I am glad you enjoy it here! Your opinion on the War on Terrorism seemed wonderful to me, eight years after 9/11 if it was working it would have been over – but at the same time had a good intention.

    In response to Kaylie Madsen ~

    For starters I am glad you aren’t moving away yet – choir wouldn’t be the same without you! I am with you on the incomplete political opinions, but I was with you on the poor nature of taking out loans that can’t be paid back. I feel like this is a big cause of our economical problems, especially the bank failures. I also enjoyed your opinion on Obama, because although I may not support his policies he is and will continue to be our countries President for four years.

94. on August 25, 2009 at 7:20 pm Kristina Nielsen Said:
    

    In response to TJ Mcgriff:

    If you don’t think that some people should get the death penalty what other option is there for doing something so bad they deserve it? I mean there is putting someone in jail for life.. But you said that there needs to be a punishment but a better way to go about it. Would life in jail be that better punishment?

95. on August 25, 2009 at 7:53 pm Kristina Nielsen Said:
    

    In response to Joanna Luse:

    I never knew you were homeschooled! I liked reading your blog. I agree with you on what you think we should do with the environment. It makes me sad to see all the trees around here being cut down to have things that we don’t really need or that we could get somewhere else. There is a lot that people can do to save the environment and most of that includes not harming other animals’ habitats.

96. on August 25, 2009 at 8:39 pm Jaclyn Brim Said:
    

    Commenting on Katie Todaro

    Ditto about Michelle Obama and basically everything you said…except for the abortion part. I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree becasue I’m pretty sure if we duked (debated) it out you would slaughter me.
    Anyways, your post was a joy to read and I guess you can hit me up in a couple years if you want something other than cat food to eat. Haha like it will ever come to that…

97. on August 25, 2009 at 8:56 pm Jaclyn Brim Said:
    

    Commenting on Adam Ropp

    Haha wow, I loved that Wilson quote. It’s kind of depressing that there might be some truth in it.

    Paper science or chemical engineering, holy cow! Those aren’t degrees you hear every day. They sound interesting though, even though I’m not sure what Paper Science even is. Does it have anything to do with that space thing you were chosen for last semester?

    And I agree 100% with that statement that people are putting way too much trust in Obama. Let’s problem solve instead of sitting around waiting for the government to take care of us.

98. on August 25, 2009 at 9:14 pm Jaclyn Brim Said:
    

    Commenting on Kyle Hicks

    Well I must say that I think we both will learn a lot more in this class than we did in U.S. history, and we probably won’t be made fun of as much (Oh. Mr. Ayers). But last year I did learn that you were interested in music, thanks to Jeremy’s presentation, and that was cool to know. If you ever make an album I’ll buy it, but don’t count on me reading Beneath the Pleather.

    I agree that the President needs respect, regardless of who fills the spot. It’s a hard job so they need to be given support… although I do appreciate the occasional political cartoon, so I guess that can fall under “tasteful skepticism”.

99. on August 25, 2009 at 9:45 pm Jaclyn Brim Said:
    

    Commenting on Kaylie Madsen

    “Adoption is an Option”. So clever, because it makes sense and has a nice ring. I think we are right on the same page with the abortion issue.

    I’m sorry about the whole packing and unpacking thing but I’m really happy you’re staying. We needed to finish out our high school career together. Haha and just because you said you hate conflict I’m going to argue with you about every issue. Not. I really don’t know much, about politics anyway, so that wouldn’t be too smart on my part.

100. on August 25, 2009 at 10:07 pm Jaclyn Brim Said:
     

     Commenting on Justin McClain

     Well it’s nice to see that while you are obviously very religious that you don’t think religion should be forced upon anyone.

     Also I don’t really have a lot of family and friends, like it sounds like you do, involved in the military but my uncle was sent to Afghanistan and that put some strain on everyone who knew him. It’s hard when they are so far away but it’s comforting to know that they are serving our country.

101. on August 26, 2009 at 10:00 am Derrick Cunningham Said:
     

     For Larae:
     I never knew you were considering the Peace Corps. That is really admirable I have to say! I have always wondered about what it’s really all about. You will have to tell me about it sometime.

102. on August 26, 2009 at 10:05 am Derrick Cunningham Said:
     

     For Megan Erickson:
     I completely relate with you when you say you don’t want to waste your hard work in High School by not pursuing a higher education. I would say the stress and the time invested in my AP classes is too much to give up only to never use it.

103. on August 26, 2009 at 10:06 am Jesse Peterson Said:
     

     In response to Anna Wold:
     Hey, I live in the country, too. During the ice storm, we had no power and no running water for 18 days. My family had to sleep in the front room because my dad set out a propane heater. Our power turned on and off during the 18 days. My dad had to take down and put up my baby sister’s crib three times. It was crazy! I agree with you on the war on terrorism. The media never seems to tell the whole story. I was listening to a show on TV and a soldier was explaining what we actually are doing for the people of Iraq and it was heartfelt. They have rebuilt schools, towns and people lives. With the environment, I just heard that people think that the eight feet of snow on the ground is the result of global warming, but if you think back before the huge Mt. Saint Helen’s blast, the winter’s did include at least eight feet of snow. The past thirty years of climate was actually abnormal. I have seen historic pictures of our relatives plowing driveways using huge tractors. It was insane. Witnessing those pictures completely turned my thinking around and continues to make me question global warming.

104. on August 26, 2009 at 10:12 am Derrick Cunningham Said:
     

     For Jaclyn:
     I thought you comment about “Jackie” was funny considering I remember Winnie telling a sub once that you liked to be called Jackie. Anyways, even though I have a secular view on abortion and don’t believe that my or anyone else’s opinions should determine whether a woman legally has the right to choose an abortion, I can relate to your stance. I, too, believe it is a rather greedy choice and adoption is the best option if the mother does not want the baby.

105. on August 26, 2009 at 10:33 am Derrick Cunningham Said:
     

     For JJ:
     You are right when you say not to live for the future. Now is a lot better thing to live for since the rewards are immediate.

106. on August 26, 2009 at 10:41 am Derrick Cunningham Said:
     

     For Elise:
     Elise! Your mom was my 5th grade teacher at Shiloh. I never made that connection. I had the Martin Motors pen she gave me through sixth grade where I lost it haha.

107. on August 26, 2009 at 12:01 pm Sarah Pierce Said:
     

     Commenting on Katie Todaro

     Katie as usual, i could not agree more with your entire blog. I think my plan for the class is just let you take over the debates while i just sit back and nod my head quietly yet definitively. Wouldn’t that have me following the correct future politician path anyways?
     Also, I do hope your finishing school plans fare well considering the 2007 dilemma of rat poison being found in 60 million cans and pouches of pet food….

108. on August 26, 2009 at 3:37 pm Kaylie Madsen Said:
     

     In response to Larae Stotts:

     So weird, we both have brothers named Carter who are 7 years younger than us. I’ve seen you work at Pattison’s. Seems like a fun place to work. I thought you were super good in the play last year. You should definitely do the musical this year.

     In response to Alysa Draper-Dehart:

     I read that you went to the “Lead America” conference in Washington D.C. I was wondering how that went? I contemplated going but wasn’t sure. It must have been fun to learn about a bunch of medical things and to go to a cadaver lab. It sounds like you got to do a lot of exciting sightseeing. If it makes any difference, I think you would be great in the medical field.

     In response to Megan Erickson:

     I can’t believe you’ve been in Spokane your entire life! Oh well, you’re still one of the smartest people I know. I’m pretty much jealous that you went to Hawaii. Next time you should take me with you.

     I agree with your thoughts on the economy. I think that the fluctuation in the economy is inevitable as well. It will eventually turn around but sometimes the dip is just a little deeper.

     In response to Nicole Follett:

     I’ve known you for a while but it was nice to learn a little bit more about you. That’s cool that you went to Peru. Did you go with the school? It probably was fun to go to some concerts, especially The Fray. Sounds like you had a great summer.

     I agree with your thoughts on President Obama. People are always going find something to criticize with any president we have. At least he’s trying. Even though we may not agree with everything he’s doing, we should still support him as our president.

     In response to Carley Ross:

     Well, welcome to Mt. Spokane. I think you’ll really like it here and if you don’t at least it’s your senior year. I almost had to move this summer so I can kind of relate. I hope you have a great senior year!

109. on August 26, 2009 at 3:48 pm Holleigh Bergstrom Said:
     

     In response to Jackie  Brim:
     Hey! So first of all I hope we have EVERY class together again this year like last year, man that was fun! -Just kidding, but seriously… I know you never get enough of people calling you Jackie and we both know I’d be happy to help with that. I definitely think teaching English as a second language would be great for you. As a bonus, if you did you could read them our hit children’s book from freshman year- you know the one with the sweet pictures and the main characters being a turtle, lion, penguin, and elephant. I know it got me through many sleepless nights. Surprisingly, I agree with you on almost everything you said especially about the war and the environment. Also, I liked your “for heaven’s sake” comment on the religion topic, I laughed . By the way, I saw your Mom and Gina at Didiers a couple weeks ago.

110. on August 26, 2009 at 3:49 pm Holleigh Bergstrom Said:
     

     In Response to Alyson Nicol:
     Hey, I’m the middle child in a family of 5 too! There’s no way I could ever do anything musical or tap dance though, but I think that’s really cool you can! I agree with nearly everything you said and also think it’s really sad knowing and hearing about all the sadness with the war. Even if we only know what the media tells us, troops are dying over there fighting for our freedom and that in itself is terribly sad, but extremely admirable and they deserve respect and recognition for that. Also, I thought it was interesting when you said “it seems almost hypocritical to give a murderer the death sentence”. I never really thought about that before.

111. on August 26, 2009 at 3:52 pm Holleigh Bergstrom Said:
     

     In Response to Alex Price:
     Wow you do seem proficient in your knowledge regarding all these topics, which is pretty impressive for a high school student. I really like how you supported a few of your opinions with citing from prominent sources like the bible and a well known and respected author. I think you would do great with a career in politics someday because of your passion for it and being aware and already having an opinion about most things going on in the government. I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts in class discussions!

112. on August 26, 2009 at 4:11 pm Holleigh Bergstrom Said:
     

     In Response to Carrie Crosby:
     I didn’t really notice how similar the death penalty and abortion can be perceived, both having to do with the choices of other people deciding and even ending the future of others lives that don’t have a say in the matter. It’s interesting to see how people can feel differently about them, the two being similar. I’m not sure if you meant for it to sound like this, but it seems like you are more against the death penalty than you are abortion. However, both these topics are circumstantial as it is and I could have interpreted it wrong. By the way, I think you’d make a great hygientist or nurse because you are so nice and can get along with anyone. Also, despite your quiet nature and what I thought to be soft voice, I (along with most everyone else in second period biology last year) discovered you can demand the attention of an entire room, I was thoroughly impressed! 

113. on August 26, 2009 at 4:12 pm Holleigh Bergstrom Said:
     

     In Response to Daniel Lipuzhin:
     I really like how you were able to simply state all your opinions straight and right to the point, something I need to work on. I also like that you clearly took one side or the other on almost all the topics and didn’t beat around the bush but just said what you thought and stuck to it. It was good to see you believe in the same policy that we don’t have the right to just take someone’s life, whether it’s by abortion or by the death penalty, and although I agree with your view on abortion, I must disagree with your view on the death penalty. Unlike babies, criminals had their chance and blew it, more than likely multiple times and it must have been something horrible if they even needed to consider the death penalty. Although it is circumstantial, I think the death penalty should exist, at least in some cases.

114. on August 26, 2009 at 4:16 pm Haley Anderson Said:
     

     In response to Alex Price & Kristina Nielsen:
     -I completely agree on both your opinions regarding religion and school prayer. It makes sense for letting people believe what they want to believe, and not punish them for it. I also am very involved with my faith and I will stand for what I believe.

     Response to Allan Schroeder:
     - I think that it is neat how you are interested in the field of architecture. It seems like a career not many people are interested in, or have the passion for.

     Response to: Holleigh Bergstrom:
     -Haha, I have to say that is pretty neat how you went to the National Chess Championships, and promised not to tell anyone, but you did anyways! I have never understood chess, and don’t think I will anytime soon. But that is pretty funny.

     Response to Kesslan Hall
     -In response to your abortion opinion, I agree. If r.a.p.e. was the case, than the mother should definitely be encouraged to put the baby up for adoption. Although, that could be extremely difficult, knowing the baby could bring up the harsh memories.

115. on August 26, 2009 at 6:50 pm Chris Baldwin Said:
     

     In Response to Kevin Yen: Kevin, have you thought about your commitments to the military outside of school? Most schools will not allow you to collect on your Mongomery G.I bill until after you graduate, and quite often they want to “get out of you what they can” while in the military, and may not allow you to continue on to earn your PHD. A standard military committment today is four years after completion of Basic Training School(B.T.S.), Which, in ROTC, takes place over the course of two summers (freshman/sophomore and sophomore/junior). You are not able to call yourself a true member of the U.S. Armed Services until successfully completing B.T.S. Then after Basic Training, you must be chosen to attend O.C.S, or Officer Candidate School, where you are trained to become an Officer in the military. If you ever need any information about this topic in particular, please ask, as it may be the same path I am taking, and I have followed up on much research.

     In response to Kyle Hicks: The War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War were created based upon two completely different ideas. The War in Afghanistan has expanded into the “War on Terror” which covers much of the Middle East, with the Pakistan/ Afghanistan border being the “hot spot” of it all. The Iraq War, in my own opinion, was created solely based upon the want of oil of our nation. There were never any W.M.D.’s, and previous politicians can attest to this, as well as countless Generals and those in high military command positions.

     Commenting on Ryan Hervey: Wow. I have known you for nearly six years and I never knew you were a Texan at heart.

     Commenting on Katie Bates: When has Abortion become illegal? Planned Parenthood, for example, offers young people with birth control and even abortion specialists.

     Commenting on Jaclyn Brim: Jaclyn, I think you may be confused with the War in Afghanistan. Operation Desert Storm took place many years ago, under the first President Bush, to push Iraqi troops under Saddam away from Kuwait. Today, many believe that the war in Iraq was simply “Bush finishing what daddy started.” The War on Terrorism and Afghanistan is an entirely seperate entity in itself, based solely upon the retaliation and defense of the U.S. from the 9/11 attacks.

116. on August 26, 2009 at 7:40 pm Kayse Burden Said:
     

     Commenting on Justin McClain:
     I totally agree with you on abortion. there was a website that Ms. Epperson showed the class that was an estimate of the harm that we cause to the planet through disease, cutting down rain forests, etc. One of the areas that it showed was abortion, and by its numbers, we (as a nation) have killed a generation’s worth of children already. Who knows what they could have done if they had been given a chance.

117. on August 26, 2009 at 7:48 pm Kayse Burden Said:
     

     Alix Bold:
     So you are completely right about the environment, in my opinion. My dad found an article that was published by Canadian scientists that was full of research that they have collected on sunspots. The information showed that sunspot activity is at the lowest that they have record of and they believe that we just entered a new part of the environmental cycle that takes us from ice age to ice age. According to them, we are going to have weather like we’ve had for the past two years for a total of thirty year, then who knows what will happen.

118. on August 26, 2009 at 7:59 pm JJ Scott Said:
     

     Responding to Alix bold:

     I’m glad to see that you are planning on going into environmental studies too! Someone has to stop humanity from destroying its home.

119. on August 26, 2009 at 7:59 pm Kayse Burden Said:
     

     In response to Joanna Luse’s comment to me:
     Keri did have Goldman and if I remember correctly, she enjoyed the class.

120. on August 26, 2009 at 8:01 pm JJ Scott Said:
     

     Responding to Kyle Hicks:

     The way that modern science is going, the future might actually make it possible for you to know how it feels to be pregnant. I’m sure you will still never know but there might be the opportunity if you get curious. Oh, and it’s ok to bank on making a living as a musician, we are so going to make it Top 40!

121. on August 26, 2009 at 8:01 pm JJ Scott Said:
     

     Responding to Keara Haley:

     I hope all goes well with your plan to go into music education, and UW is a great school for that study. Being affiliated with music is by far the most rewarding career in my opinion.

122. on August 26, 2009 at 8:05 pm JJ Scott Said:
     

     Responding to Justin Fritz:

     I’m not sure if you have been listening to President Obama speak about his healthcare plan, but he is cutting huge amounts of money from programs that don’t work, such as Medicare, to pay for the plan. He has also stated many times that these programs that don’t work need to be reformed, along with the healthcare system here in America, because they are just money pits at the moment. I’ve also heard of plans to raise taxes on the more wealthy people of our country.

123. on August 26, 2009 at 8:07 pm JJ Scott Said:
     

     Responding to Chris Baldwin:

     I really loved the line you wrote about the music from your trumpet telling a story. That is something that most people don’t understand about music. Music is a language in itself that can better represent emotion than any words.

124. on August 26, 2009 at 8:21 pm Kayse Burden Said:
     

     Responding to Jenna Alaskar’s comments:

     In response to your first question:
     I have personally met with Iraqi General Georges Sada who served under Saddam and he told my church, which he has visited multiple times, that without U.S. intervention in Iraq; the terrorists would have come to America. But since we keep them occupied in Iraq, they can’t. He has also told many stories of the kids that he’s met who pretty much worship the ground that American soldiers walk on. If you’re just listening to the media, you’re not getting even half of the story. And sure, it could be days or even months before we’re attacked again if we pull out, but it would happen. If you think that I’m wrong, read the book “Saddam’s Secrets How and Iraqi General Defied and Survived Saddam Hussein.” Then you will see how I view the war.

     In response to your second question:
     Your opinion of when a fetus is actually considered a child is different from mine, and that is probably a difference in religion. To me, having sex means that two people are ready raise a child. If they don’t want a baby, they shouldn’t have sex. If they do decide to have sex despite not wanting a baby, they should put the baby up for adoption after it is born, not kill it before it has a chance.

125. on August 26, 2009 at 8:46 pm Jesse Peterson Said:
     

     In response to Katie Todaro:
     I totally agree with you about supporting the death penalty. I also believe criminals need a taste of their own medicine. Someone shouldn’t be able to take a life or torture a life and then live in a pampered environment.

126. on August 26, 2009 at 8:47 pm Jesse Peterson Said:
     

     In response to Krystal Roach:
     I didn’t write this on my assignment, but I have a dog and a cat too. I used to dance for 14 years, but I stopped during freshman year because well…I wasn’t that good hahaha. I’m looking forward to seeing you this year.

127. on August 26, 2009 at 9:12 pm Kyle Hicks Said:
     

     In response to Katie Todaro:
     I just wanted to let you know that your autobiography made me actually “lol”, and I could never completely tell when you were being serious. Also, thanks for representing the heebs and sheebs at the end. L’ chaim!

     In response to John Fritz:
     I thought it was funny that in the “Economy/Taxation” sections we had very similar opinions and said almost the same thing about “buying your own debt”.

     However, you make it out in your “War on Terrorism” section that it’s impossible to be supportive of the soldiers while being against the war. I respect, appreciate, and honor the men and women in the military, but I don’t support the war, and I know there are others that share my opinion.

     In response to JJ Scott:
     Oh, JJ you filthy hippie. It’s a good thing we get along so well, or I might hate you purely for that “grotesque, unhealthy, and self-centered society” comment. (Uh-oh! I think my patriot is showing!)

     In response to Christy Houk:
     Your comment, “I am less scared of [McCain] than I am of Obama,” could be hilariously inappropriate if taken out of context. It had to be said.

     I liked reading your autobiography. I thought you organized your thoughts really well.

     P.S. I’ll be sure to send you a signed copy of the book when it comes out.

     In response to Sadie Peterson:
     Thank you for touching on the “Alright! I’m done with high school and can move on to the rest of my life! Oh crap. I don’t necessarily know what I want to do with the rest of my life, let alone the next few months,” confusion. I feel your pain, sister.

128. on August 26, 2009 at 9:16 pm Kayse Burden Said:
     

     In response to Taylor Jordan:
     I just have a couple quick questions about your responses to global warming and health care:
     1) Did you know that the U.S. government does not financially support any scientific organization that does not support the global warming theories? I agree that we should respect the planet, but we need all the facts, and our government isn’t allowing us to get them.
     2) If you look at Obama’s plans for taxation, he plans to raise our taxes. How do you think he will get out of the debt that he caused by the stimulus packages without raising taxes?

129. on August 26, 2009 at 11:41 pm Katie Todaro Said:
     

     In response to Alex Price:

     Obama is not a socialist! Michelle would never have married a man committed to government led social programs… she’s too classy for that.

130. on August 27, 2009 at 8:41 am Megan Erickson Said:
     

     Commenting on Jaclyn Brim:

     I totally agree with you on what you said about religion. It frustrates me when people seem to think that evolution is a “forbidden” subject because they consider it to be taught from a religious standpoint when in fact it is not. Students can believe what they want without putting up too much of a fuss.
     And by the way, I tried to read A Clockwork Orange and I couldn’t. It was too confusing and I didn’t get it. I guess you are just a genius.

     Commenting on Holleigh Bergstrom:

     I’m slightly sad to say that being invincible kind of trumps an invisibility cloak and a bazooka. Sorry. Besides that, I agree with your view on the War on Terror. Yeah, people have indeed lost sight of what we went there for. They even turn the other cheek to the ever increasing death count. Despite whether you support or oppose the war, we have to respect all the people who have died because in the end they are fighting to protect us.

     Commenting on Chris Baldwin:

     That is so interesting you can trace your family back so far! I wish I could say the same thing. On the other hand, I have to disagree with you about airsofting. Yes, it can be “fun”, but I don’t care what anyone says. It hurts. Anyways, I agree with what you say about the economy. It is all an inevitable cycle and it seems that no matter what the government attempts to do, it just flows. It can never remain stagnant. And I also agree with what you say about taxes. It indeed is not fair that those who work hard to earn money are “punished” by receiving higher taxes.

     Commenting on Justin Johnson:

     I was surprised to see that we agreed on some topics, but I disagree with your ideas concerning healthcare. Of course, “emotional” arguments definitely cannot be the deal-breaker for reforms, but a certain degree of those arguments should be taken into account. I am sure that when we are all old and we need that hip replacement, we would want just one surgery instead of a lifetime of narcotics to feel better. Hospitals will then be plagued with sick people awaiting the government, not professionals that see the problems first hand, to judge their outcomes. It is wrong to deny medical needs.

     Commenting on Valerie Nauditt:

     Valerie! Did you notice pretty much all of what we said is the same? I was reading through your post and it was surprising. In fact, I think I agree with everything you said. I particularly agree with your views on the death penalty and the United States in world affairs. We are kind of like mind twins, except not. Weird.

131. on August 27, 2009 at 10:34 am Carley Ross Said:
     

     Commenting on Christy Houk:

     I’ve also grown up in a home where politics is common subject. It is guaranteed the post-dinner conversation with the larger bulk of the fam usually ends up in a loud discussion about politics. I am looking forward to AP GoPo this year as well so I can have the validity to chime in and keep up with the “big kids”. I too have heard the argument that adoption and foster homes are bad environments, but isn’t it funny that this is the argument used against life? Is the risk of a tough childhood really great enough that we would deny a child the right to live? In the US well over 3,000 abortions are preformed each day. That is more deaths than the September 11th attacks, but where is the outcry? With all the human potential that was denied existence, we could have had a cure for AIDS, a solution to global warming or even a best friend.

132. on August 27, 2009 at 10:36 am Carley Ross Said:
     

     Commenting on Ryan Hervey:

     Wow, do you still remember all those old addresses? That is pretty cool you have had the experience of living in so many different places. What do you like about Spokane the most in comparison everywhere else? In reference to the US and world affairs, I am curious to hear your opinion of instances where the US has overstepped its boundaries. Also, do you think the US has had its share of instances where not enough measures were taken to ensure peace?

133. on August 27, 2009 at 10:37 am Carley Ross Said:
     

     Commenting on Jenna Alaskar:

     I am thinking the same thing with the whole college application process and choosing one of how many schools. When I do pick the school I will attend, I’m making sure the credits transfer easily (just in case). I honestly do not know President Obama’s religious beliefs or his citizenship, and neither do most Americans. But that is what scares people; it leaves unlimited room for possibilities. Remember that when JFK was elected into presidency, everyone flipped out because he was Roman Catholic, not Episcopalian or Presbyterian. That was only 40-something years ago, and cultural acceptance is one slow train. But in regards to his opposition, when has everyone liked their political leader? If every single one of us loved the Obama Administration, then we wouldn’t be one of the most diverse countries in the world. I also believe that patriotism is defined as a love of one’s country, not one’s President.

134. on August 27, 2009 at 10:39 am Carley Ross Said:
     

     Commenting on Justin Fritz:

     I admire the snowboarding, as the first time I tried boarding was my last. It will be nice to live an earshot away from Mt. Spokane, but after several trips, I found Silver is my Mt . I like to hear clear opinions, especially on touchy ones like our President. How pathetic is it that we cannot express opposition to our current office without being labeled a racist. Did I miss something, or has the majority of politically correct Americans and politicians stopped judging people as an individual? I think the overused shouting of “racist” is digging us into a hole we might never get out of. If we ever wanted to take the next step to racial equality, we would stop thinking about it altogether.

135. on August 27, 2009 at 10:40 am Carley Ross Said:
     

     Commenting on JJ Scott:

     I hope you do follow your ambitions into a career in music. I have a friend who made the decision to study music and is very happy with his choice. I also like what you said about the future being unpredictable, that’s an easy one to vogue for. I agree that the War on Terrorism appears to be about imposing our own culture and oil. As you had said the US is based on injustice and is one of the most self-centered societies, I would like to hear your reasoning and experiences in different cultures. I know our society is infatuated with money and consumerism, but wealth has been a corruption ever since the beginning of civilization and obviously the US is not the only place it dwells.

136. on August 27, 2009 at 11:39 am Katie Bates Said:
     

     Commenting on Nick Stewert:

     The fact you are getting the chance to tour Pixar is amazing! You better make some super awesome movies once you work there. I’m counting on you because I absolutely love all those movies! Hahah.
     Plus, I really liked what you said about the school prayer. Nicely stated.

137. on August 27, 2009 at 11:42 am Katie Bates Said:
     

     Commenting on Justin Johnson:

     Main reason I’m responding to your blog: PRIEST LAKE IS THE MOST BEST LAKE EVER! Wow, you are a dardar. Hahah. BUt anyways, for real now. My sister just got married up there at my cabin like four days ago, and guess what? No choppy lake at all. I have pictures. Soooooo Lake Roosevelt is lame.

138. on August 27, 2009 at 11:44 am Katie Bates Said:
     

     Commenting on Nicole McMurray:

     Bestfriend! I had to comment back on yours. (Yeah, K-Dawg, I know we are suppose to respond to people we don’t know, but we’re all DC buddies so let’s be real).
     All you know about Obama is he looks sooooo good on a big tv! Hahahaha I so agree with that! And because that’s all about I know. We can learn together

139. on August 27, 2009 at 11:50 am Katie Bates Said:
     

     Commenting on Jessica Levy:

     Ahhh, yes. I have heard this class should be easier than AP US last year, but come on… Can anyone replace Schultz?! It’ll be a change. Hahah.
     As I hate to argue about things I know very little about, your stand on abortion is confusing to me. You are strongly against it, whether it be 2 days in or 2 months. I may agree it’s a hard choice to say whether it’s right after 2 months, can sperm and an egg even begin to connect and consider it human within 2 days? Might as well be saying when a guy is doing his business alone in this room by his computer screen he’s killing all those sperm right as they’re coming out… Just a thought.

140. on August 27, 2009 at 11:56 am Katie Bates Said:
     

     Commenting on Carley Ross:

     Okayyyy so I’m hoping you will be like a God sent gift on our tennis team because the world knows we want it. At least those who even pay attention to our team. That is so awesome you play tennis though! My sister and I placed 6th in state this year in doubles. Sadly, she graduated PS please do tennis and not golf… Haha
     Anothheeer thing! My goodness you have a place on Priest! And in Huckleberry Bay! Suchhh a nice bay. I have a cabin up there too, in Indian Creek Bay. I love it, and I’m there all the time. I worked at the Camp Store in my bay this summer and last summer. Last summer was way more fun, but that’s a different story. You have to tell me about working at the Leonard Paul Store! I go there a ton to rent movies.
     Anyways, looking forward to meeting you and good luck at Mt. Spooooo

141. on August 27, 2009 at 1:00 pm Elise Martin Said:
     

     Commenting On Jeremy Urann:

     Eak! I am very excited to have this class with you! We haven’t talked a ton since what, 6th grade? Haha I mean we have brief conversations but never really get to chat. I’m thrilled to reconnect! You have great insight!

142. on August 27, 2009 at 1:19 pm Elise Martin Said:
     

     Commenting On Katie T:

     Your auto-bio was quite entertaining to read! I found myself agreeing with most, if not all your opinions slash statements. This class should be loads of fun with you!

143. on August 27, 2009 at 1:27 pm Elise Martin Said:
     

     Commenting On T.J. McGriff

     Thomas! Haha well since I nearly spent my whole summer with you, okay technically just at your baseball games, I’m sure this class will be a great opportunity to talk about more baseball!! Oh wait I mean government and politics. Ha! Alright see you soon!

144. on August 27, 2009 at 1:37 pm Elise Martin Said:
     

     Commenting On Ashton Boothroyd:

     Ashton! Neighbor ol’ pal! I’m super stoked to have you in this class, considering we have never had a class together! And you’re one of the only people who didnt make fun of me for my disease! Thanks by the way, thats what neighb’s are good for right? Anywho, I completely agree on your statement that you would like “to see a more in-depth aspect of government & politics, with hands-on learning.” Two thumbs up for that!

145. on August 27, 2009 at 2:00 pm Sarah Pierce Said:
     

     Commenting on Jeremy Urann’s Post:

     Jeremy, thank you for your commentary on the US government. You basically said what I would have if I were keen enough to have thought of it. Haha I also share your opinion on Obama. I know very little, but I just like him.

146. on August 27, 2009 at 2:08 pm Sarah Pierce Said:
     

     Commenting on Justin Johnson’s Post:

     Justin, you are correct. Advisory is a waste. They definitely told me I should be an orchestra conductor. I barely even know how to read music.

147. on August 27, 2009 at 2:16 pm Sarah Pierce Said:
     

     Commenting on Taylor Jordan’s Post:

     Okay Taylor be patient with me and please first accept my novice political knowledge, but I just have to inquire about your stand on the war. Be it the War on Terrorism or in the Middle East, can’t we at least appreciate how United States Military interference has subdued the activities of both Saddam Hussein and Bin Laden? And no, the execution of Hussein has definitely not solved everything in the middle east, not even close. But at least it opens a small door through which we can work together with the middle east and help them move forward.

148. on August 27, 2009 at 3:28 pm Jessica Levy Said:
     

     Commenting on Adam Ropp:
     I think your view on the economy and taxation is unique and one that has good reason. You are right that the government needs to take a different stand on the economy in order to fix the problems that have been created. I like your idea of leaving the choice for the death penalty up to the person facing life in prison, and I think religion should be left up to a person as well and not forced upon somebody. And Skiing is awesome!
     Commenting on Katie Todaro:
     I must say you have a very interesting way of writing and you keep people reading even when you write a lot. But you state your opinion matter of fact and that’s pretty awesome you don’t like to beat around the bush unless you’re making a joke and even that has something to do with your opinion. You will be a very interesting person to debate with.
     Commenting on Nick Stewart:
     I think your post is the most amazing its short sweet and to the point. And I think every student prays any time we have homework in more than two classes so we would probably go crazy otherwise, and every teacher would be even worse since they have more classes a day and all that homework to grade.
     Commenting on Sadie Peterson:
     It’s pretty cool that you went backpacking this summer it sounds like it would be awesome. And I completely agree with your stand on abortion it is wrong no matter what.
     Commenting on Bailey Tansey:
     Are you showing your horse or rabbit at the fair, and is this your first year? Maybe I’ll see you there since I’ll be showing my goats. I agree with what you say on abortion. And your right that Obama deserves our respect now even if he is making choices that people don’t agree with, he shouldn’t be put down even if you didn’t vote for him, he’s in charge now, deal with it people.

149. on August 27, 2009 at 6:07 pm Katie Preston Said:
     

     In Response to Katie Todaro:
     I really enjoyed reading your autobiography. I loved your plan to open an orphanage, I hope to see that dream of yours come true some day. Your views on the world, and the United States in general, were very interesting and enlightening. I did not agree with your view on the death penalty, but that was it. But let me just say… Michelle Obama RULES!!!! lol

150. on August 27, 2009 at 6:13 pm Katie Preston Said:
     

     In response to Sadie Peterson:
     Hey Sadie! I totally agree with what you said about the war in Iraq. I think we’ve imposed on their country too much. Your views on the death penalty and abortion were interesting too. Its really cool you went hiking in Alaska! That sounds awesome and I’m pretty jealous!

151. on August 27, 2009 at 6:22 pm Katie Preston Said:
     

     In response to Adam Ropp:
     That Wilson quote you had was amazing and totally true! Your views were very enlightening and were also very helpful. It was really cool learning more about you! ☺

152. on August 27, 2009 at 6:37 pm Brooke Batterton Said:
     

     Part I: Who Are You?
     My name is Brooke Batterton and this is my first year at Mount Spokane High School. I have a close family, my parents have been married for 22 years and I have a sister who’s fifteen and a brother who’s twelve. I also have extended family here in Washington and we all have lots of fun together. I was born a California girl and love the sun and the beach. I spent most of my childhood in California and in Washington in addition to three years in Canada. I love to travel and experience other cultures. While living in Canada I became good friends with a girl who lives in England and this past year I had the opportunity to travel to Mexico with my Spanish class and stay with a family in Puerto Vallarta. There, we hosted a vacation Bible School and were able to impact the poor community there in a positive way. I enjoy playing volleyball and have played both high school and club for the past three years. I also have a passion for choral music and began singing in children’s choir when I was ten years old. This summer my family took a trip to our cabin in McCall, Idaho where we enjoyed canoeing, hiking, huckleberry picking and family games. Other summer highlights include Spike and Dig, Silverwood and my birthday. I am looking forward to a great senior year.
     Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
     I plan on going to college and have recently visited both the University of Idaho and Washington State University. I am applying to both of those along with Northwest, George Fox, and Seattle Pacific Universities. I want to major in nursing and go on to nursing school. In five years I will most likely be working with children or a trauma unit in a hospital and hope to have an opportunity to serve on a medical mission’s team to a foreign country. Ten years from now hopefully will be married with children, and living in a warmer climate.
     Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
     I signed up to take AP citizenship so that I could broaden my knowledge of political issues and know where I stand on various topics. I would like to prepare myself for voting next year and for voting in the next presidential election as well. I am primarily and an auditory and visual learner and I like a variety of teaching techniques, which would include lectures, note taking, bookwork, videos and projects. I would most like to study why and how our government was formed and also gain perspective on current political and controversial subjects.
     Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
     I would consider myself a person with a fairly proficient level of political knowledge on most issues and an average level on a few.
     The War on Terrorism
     My opinion of the war on terrorism is that I agree with the action that the government took to ensure the safety of the American people. One of the reasons I am glad to be an American is the safety and freedom that we enjoy as a country. I would like to do more research in this area and find out why most people are opposed to the war.
     The Economy/Taxation
     As of right now, I think that our economy is in a very bad place largely due to the economic system and the lack of monitoring that takes place concerning corporations and their bonuses. I do believe that some taxing is necessary although perhaps not to this extent. I definitely believe that the welfare system needs to be revamped. We need to work toward helping those with critical needs while not promoting third and fourth generation welfare dependence. This can be accomplished by helping people find jobs so that they can contribute to society. America is both an affluent country and an economic powerhouse, but we need to protect our resources and be cognizant of the national debt which can lead to a prolonged recession.
     Abortion
     I am pro-life and believe that a fetus is a life at conception and should share the same rights as all other human beings. There are many women who are unable to have children and would like to adopt a baby from an unwanted pregnancy.
     The Death Penalty
     I agree with the death penalty. I think that murderers and serial killers need to be dealt with more severely or they continue to be a danger to society. The alternative to the death penalty is life imprisonment but prisons and jails nationwide are overcrowded and it costs society millions of tax dollars. I think that there should be consequences for heinous crimes and that people need to take responsibility for their actions.

     Religion/School Prayer
     I believe that all religions should be taught and accepted equally and that no one should be denied the right to pray. I think that our forefathers designed the Bill of Rights with the ideas in mind that no one should be discriminated against and that all those freedoms, including freedom of religion and freedom of speech should be applicable whenever and wherever. I do not believe in separation of church and state to the extent that anything involved with the church or religion should be completely severed from anything connected to or supported by the Federal government. However, I don’t think that religion should be forced on anyone and that each person should be able to choose what they believe.
     The Environment

     I believe that we as individuals should be good stewards protecting and preserving the earth and its resources.
     The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs
     I think that some major roles of the United States in World affairs should include helping stabilize world economy, promoting international cooperation, aiding third world countries in developing free market economic systems, and encouraging and supporting world health and hygiene.
     President Obama and/or Congress
     I think that the election of an ethnic President has made leaps and strides for the civil rights and liberties of America’s minorities. I do not agree with most of President Obama’s policies and plans for America’s future. In less than six months in office we are approaching $10 trillion in debt, more than the sum total of all the debt since the founding of our nation. As a young American, it concerns me to move into my future facing such economic oppression.
     Part V: What Have You
     I like to have discussions with people who hold all different views on controversial issues. I am willing to listen to other opinions and form one of my own based on what I hear and what I already know. I am looking forward to a very enlightening year.

153. on August 27, 2009 at 7:20 pm Kylei Tompkins Said:
     

     Response to Kyle Hicks’ post:
     I loved reading about your family and such. There were a lot I didn’t know before. I also enjoyed your opinion on abortion and it made me laugh. You’re a funny guy.

     Response to Elise Martin’s post:
     About your stand on the death penalty, that’s what I thought until I read this book about a serial killer, Ted Bundy. He killed many women and once he was found guilty, he was put in jail. Then he escaped jail, went to another state on the other side of the country and killed more women. This process continued about two more times until he was given the death penalty. It’s a really interesting book. In case anyone wants to read it, it’s called The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule.

     Response to Lauren Lynch’s post:
     That is so cool that you have been to France and Italy. I bet it was an experience you’ll never forget. I think it would be awesome to travel all around the world. I totally agree with you on the whole “global warming” thing. We don’t do enough to help our environment.

     Response to Justin Fritz’s post:
     It was really interesting reading about your stand on certain things. Honestly I have to say that I agreed with you on almost all of the topics you covered. Obama really hasn’t done anything that actually helped this country significantly. There is probably someone in America that would be a good president, but the problem is that person won’t run.

     Response to Sarah Fullmer’s post:
     I had no idea that you wanted to be an elementary school teacher. That’s really cool. It was really interesting to read about where you stand on certain subject. But, it is true; we will get nowhere if we just sit on our hopes chest and complain.

154. on August 27, 2009 at 11:14 pm Kristina Nielsen Said:
     

     In response to Katie T:

     That is so cute that you want to open a school for girls! Last year having Ap history with you was fun because you are a very opinionated person. I can’t wait to see what you have to offer this class.

155. on August 27, 2009 at 11:20 pm Kristina Nielsen Said:
     

     In response to Kara C:

     I agree with your statement about Obama! He does seem like he is more of a celebrity than a political figure and people are too caught up in the fact that he is the first African American president. I have seen so many People magazines just about Obama’s life with his children and what his wife wears. It is going to catch up to America in the future and I just hope that everyone is ready for that when it does.

156. on August 27, 2009 at 11:32 pm Kristina Nielsen Said:
     

     In response to JJ Scott:

     I agree with you on what you said about religion in school. It is totally okay for someone to want to pray before a meal or before or after school. There are many different religous beliefs in this school and people should be allowed to voice their opinion as long as it doesn’t attack or put down another religion.

157. on August 27, 2009 at 11:40 pm Ashton Boothroyd Said:
     

     Commenting on Elise’s Post and Response:

     Like a good neighbor, Ashton Boothroyd is there. I’m looking forward to sharing a class with you, too! As for you skin issue, it could have happened to any of us. In response to your view on the death penalty: I feel its necessary to free-up space in jails in order to allow room for those who have commited crimes worthy of jailing, yet not deserving of a death sentence. Though torture is all in good fun (Note: This is a joke. I find no satisfaction in torture.), correctional facilities become full with an abundance of criminals and sometimes these criminals are let out early due to lack of space. I much prefer them to be contained in their cells.

158. on August 28, 2009 at 12:08 am Ashton Boothroyd Said:
     

     In Response to Keara Haley’s Post:

     I completely agree with your view on Abortion. Children born into a situation where their parent or parents are not capable of supporting a child properly or the conception of the child was unwanted due to force, are most likely to suffer a harmful and destructive life from birth.

     In Response to Kayse Burden’s Comment:

     A whole generation may not have been given a chance to excell in life, but they may have also avoided a life harm and suffering. Who’s to say that the mind that could have potentially found the cure for cancer was not in that mix. But to end abortion completely creates a new issue of necessary aid for those who are born into depriving environments. Aside from that, abortion rates have dropped significantly from the 70s and 80s. Maybe more parents are deciding to own up to their mistakes? Hopefully those parents have a good enough foundation to support their children.

159. on August 28, 2009 at 8:17 am Ryan Hervey Said:
     

     In response to Katie Bates:
     That’s awesome that you lived at your lake cabin all summer! I’m pretty jealous. Do you wakeboard then?

     Alysa Dehart:
     Hey, I read mangas too! It sounds like you had a pretty amazing experiance at Washington DC, what other areas are you looking at for careers and college majors?

     Alix Bold:
     I love you and your incessant reading habits! I completely agree with what you said about Obama and congress. Pretty much, voting is often just choosing the lesser of two evils. (Not that I believe that Obama is really “evil”)

     Kesslan Hall:
     I’ve never read the Velveteen Rabbit…you might have to lend me that sometime. And huzzah for sneaky band all-nighters! I think it’s awesome that you want to be a photographer too. Follow your dreams!

     PS-I commented on Jeremy Urann’s post early on.

160. on August 28, 2009 at 11:28 am Alex Price Said:
     

     In response to Jill Pignataro: Cool! I didn’t know you were raised in Manhattan! That’s cool. I noticed some of the things that you said about abortion, namely the Zero Population growth theory. Think what you may about the morals of abortion on a whole, but the idea that killing an unborn child to prevent overpopulation leads to too many loose ends that eventually create problems such as genocide, homicide, and situation ethics. I am certainly not going to preach on abortion, but I do notice that this logic invariably leads to eugenics.

161. on August 28, 2009 at 11:44 am Alex Price Said:
     

     In response to Brooke Batterson: Welcome to Mt. Spokane! I look forward to meeting you, especially since we share many opinions on various world issues. For example, your opinion on abortion matches right up with mine! I also agree that separation of church and state (an idea never included in the constitution anywhere) is a convenient phrase used by certain members of congress to limit freedom of religion.

     In Response to Keara Hailey: I hate to nitpick on this specific topic, but “separation of church and state” as a law or ideal, does not exist. You are entitled to ignore religion and not be subjected to it, but when people try to separate church from state it opens the religious up to a great deal of discrimination. And I am not just referring to Christians, because Athiests and Agnostics (because they are not religious groups) can rant and scream and yell at the religious in full public areas but the religious are crucified for their responses. I am sure that you are not like this, and certainly don’t want you to get the impression that I am accusing you of doing this, but i have been railed at simply for my beliefs, even when I don’t share these beliefs in public.

162. on August 28, 2009 at 12:10 pm Katie Preston Said:
     

     In response to Brooke Batterton:
     Welcome to Mount Spo Brooke! I hope you have a fun year!!! It was cool learning more about you. I didn’t really agree with your views on Obama. I think he is doing a good job. Obama came after a president who left the nation in trouble when he left office. Obama is simply trying to clean up what Bush left.

163. on August 28, 2009 at 12:19 pm Katie Preston Said:
     

     In response to Nicole McMurray:
     I liked your views the war and the environment. We totally need to stop buying plastic water bottles! They stay in a landfill forever! Let me just say Camelbak water bottles are where its at!

164. on August 28, 2009 at 12:27 pm Valerie Nauditt Said:
     

     Lauren Lynch: I think your information on the death penalty is eye opening to me because I always thought that the death penalty would be cheaper than supporting their life term in jail. But I also want to point out that it is not merely the government that makes the decision on the death penalty. That convicts get the right to trial by jury and his ‘peers’ are those that agree his sentence should be the ultimatum of the death penalty.

     Justin McClain: I do agree that simply allowing people to pray at school is a good thing and that’s what we have now. If you would like you could pray at any given moment throughout the school day. However, when you say it would be beneficial to have Christ cover our school, I guess I don’t really understand what you mean by that. I am confused because you say you wouldn’t want any religion to be forced upon anyone, yet you only want Christ to ‘cover’ our schools. What about the other religions that don’t believe or worship Christ?

     Kyle Hicks: I couldn’t help but laugh when you were talking about being pregnant. You crack me up. I wanted to comment about the death penalty though. I think it’s interesting that you are so quick to label pedophiles and serial killers as the ones that deserve the death penalty. I do agree though that the death penalty has had a lot of flaws with convicting the wrong person and somehow that needs to be address.

     Chris Petersen: Don’t you think that we should be doing something to help the ozone though? There is so much information that the o zone is shrinking that I feel it is almost silly to ignore all the facts and say were not causing it. If anything we are speeding up the process and digging our own grave for the events to come.

     Devon Preedy: I think it’s kind of interesting that you say you haven’t heard much about terrorists lately just because I think that shows America’s lack of knowledge or immunity to the horrendous acts that go on. The standard for media coverage has gradually gotten more extreme. When we first went over to Iraq after 9/11 every little bombing was on T.V. and was a serious controversy. Now it’s been so over done that society in a way blocks it out. It doesn’t make the ‘breaking news’ anymore.

165. on August 28, 2009 at 2:44 pm williand002 Said:
     

     Ryan Hervey:

     I agree with you about America. We are walking a fine line and we overdo it all the time, like the war in Iraq. Also I agree with the fact that some of our presidents have abused their experiences and I believe Obama will be the same way.

166. on August 28, 2009 at 2:49 pm follenic000 Said:
     

     In response to Katie Todaro-

     I think that it is great that you want to open a school for girls; you don’t hear about people wanting to do anything like that very often!!! I totally agree with you on school religion and prayer; I don’t think that one religion should be forced upon everyone. Also, I also think that Michelle Obama is a great person!

     In response to Joanna Luse-

     Pend Oreille lake is such a pretty lake, I love it! I think that it is great that you’re not sure what you want to do when you grow up. It’s good to just explore and try new things! I am also a newbie in politics so you’re not alone!!! I don’t think that we should be destroying all of our forests to build materials we need either!

     In response to Jill Pignataro-

     Jill!! I did not know that you were born in New York! I have been to Disneyworld before too; however I hated the ride Tower of Terror! I absolutely agree with you that since our troops are already in the war that taking them out of war might not end so well, and I am sorry for you losses. I agree with you on the environment part, yes the environment does need some help.

     In response to Devon Preedy-

     Dancing for 15 years is such a long time! I used to dance a while back and I know how much hard work it is. Congratulations on being the only four year dance member at Mount Spokane. If you were to ever own a dance studio would you teach all dance styles? I agree with you all the way on the abortion topic. I don’t think that it is right for a mother to have an abortion if she was just having “fun” on night. Yes, everyone makes mistakes including President Obama and people shouldn’t be so hard on him.

     In response to Carley Ross-

     Hi! Welcome to Mount Spokane. Did you like going to a school with less than 140 students? I love traveling too, what is the best place that you have been to? I went to Peru this last spring break and that was so much fun! It was cool to see a totally different atmosphere than the one we live in. How did you like England? I don’t have a cabin on Priest Lake but my family goes camping at Indian Creek a lot; Priest Lake is so pretty!

167. on August 28, 2009 at 2:54 pm williand002 Said:
     

     Bailey Tansey:

     We do create our own fate, but we can also prevent a bad one. Our enviroment is not fine, we are destroying it even more all the time. Check out a local park, and see how much trash is on the ground after everyone is gone. Also we are not just polluting, we are cutting down rain forests and destroynig lands. Our environment won’t get better, but it will get worse because people never change.

168. on August 28, 2009 at 2:59 pm williand002 Said:
     

     Alex Price:

     What kind of guitar do you play?

     Also I agree with you 100% about Obama. I wouldnt have voted for him either. Also I do not think he is doing a good job at all. He spends most of his time doing stuff like talking to sports athletes and commenting on things like The Sprint Cup. He needs to step up now or step completely down.

169. on August 28, 2009 at 3:10 pm williand002 Said:
     

     Kylei Tompkins:

     First off do you like Cal or Spokane better?
     Also I agree, it was a huge mistake putting Obama in office. He hasnt done anything to help, but instead hes let America slip lower than we already were. He needs to step up and take on his roles before we sink.

170. on August 28, 2009 at 3:24 pm williand002 Said:
     

     Krystal Roach:

     Was it hard to come to a high school, after being homeschooled?

     Also about our role in the world; we are in a major incident right now. Our economy is getting worse all the time, Obama isn’t doing anything to help bring America back, and a lot of our companies are going down. This is just the beginning to our down fall. I believe we have enough of a chance to come out of it, but we are in a problem already, an our role won’t be a superpower in a couple of years down the road.

171. on August 28, 2009 at 5:45 pm JJ Scott Said:
     

     Responding to Carley Ross:

     Well, my reasoning for the United States being built on injustice is historically quite clear. I meant this in a more sociable way not necessarily political, but since people run our government it has leaked into the political side. One example is that much of the land that the United States now “owns” (the idea of owning land is ridiculous) was ruthlessly and brutally taken from the Native Americans. Also, by no means is our society equal. It was built off of inequality, and yes the politics changed to make everyone equal, but the mind set never entirely changed with it. And there is the ever popular attitude of cheating your neighbor to make an extra buck, but like you said the United States is definitely not the only culprit of these actions. I mean, Hitler based his whole 1000 year Reich on the ways of the United States. My remark on our society being the most self-centered is just my opinion and attempt at satire. It seems like much of the world is greedy, but couldn’t we be the first to change?

172. on August 29, 2009 at 12:20 am Jeremy Urann Said:
     

     In response to responses from fellow classmates, I just want to do a follow up to what others said to me but I’m not sure as to whether or not this hits all the assignment standards. I just feel like it’s snappy and more meaningful!

     In response to Elise’s response:
     Oh Elise, you silly girl. You’re right it’s been far too long. I believe the last quality time we spent together was making some sort of movie in elementary land. For no apparent reason, I distinctly remember you and Alex Franklin fighting over who got the pink dress. Oh, and a water fight at Alex’s house. That particular memory is blurred and water-stained. Go figure.

     In response to Sarah’s response:
     Sarah, my dear, you are very keen. Apparently more keen than I, seeing as though I can’t even remember my stance on the US of A government. Am I a scatterbrain or what? I’ll be all insightful one minute and a complete ditz the next. It’s befuddling.
     P.S. God, I know Sarah. When I hear Obama speak, I just smile like an idiot. He’s captivating. Honestly, he could propose gibberish and I would just grin like a monkey‘s uncle. Some people are just soooo charismatic.

     In response to Ryan’s response:
     To my dear accountabilibuddy, [that’s a weird word to spell out], I like you. You made me smile tonight at 11:39 as I rigorously attempted to complete these many blog assignments. Thank you. And thank you for reiterating my love of language, though I must confess, your syntax was simply scrumptious. More so than my original arrangements. Love you, man.

     In response to Joanna’s response:
     Dude, I’m ignorant. And it sounds like you are kind of maybe sort of feeling a little bit maybe the same way. Let’s buddy up and get down to the nitty gritties of politics. By the end of this thing, we’ll be thwarting the masters, a.k.a. Alex Price and Katie Todaro. I’m just kidding, but I’m not really kidding.

     Well, only four people responded to my post (Lame), so I guess I will actually do the real assignment:

     For JJ Scott:
     Hey JJ, (Well isn’t that fun to say!) basically I was first intrigued by your auto-bio due to your use of the word reverteur, because I thought it was repertoire. Either way, it’s scrumptious. Then, being gung-ho and all, I read further. You’re so blunt, I love it. Some times the fluff is nice but after all, what you really want is meat and potatoes. I like where you stand on school prayer because I feel that way as well. It should be an option not forced. Though I have issues with organized religion in general. Also, your right about the whole death penalty thing. If someone killed someone else, without a shadow of doubt, in cold blood, it’s inhuman and I don’t know as though they deserve a free life again. In fact, I don’t know as though they deserve life at all-especially one pampered and prepared by money from my Walter’s Fruit Ranch Orchard Café check, thank you very much. I was wondering where you stand on the “racism” issue though? I remember that being something that came up sophomore year. Thanks!

     For Derik Cunningham:
     Well, I started reading your post for three reasons. The first reason being your post didn’t start with, “Hello, my name is…” Thank you for that. The second reason is that I don’t know you all that well. And the third is that the way you wrote that first sentence reminded me of the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme song. Hah. On a more-serious-yet-still-light-hearted-in-an-ironic but-undoubtedly-true-note, I loved your Andy Warhol quote, which parallels with the meaningful yet ever cliché quote: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” It may be popular, but it’s popular for a reason. I also appreciate your adoration for language. When it comes to language, I’m all about the simplicity in complexity and vice versa. You got it spot on, man. Kudos for You-dos. Just wanted to make it rhyme.

     For Elise Martin, the second time really:
     Dude, I think you are a lot like me. Just because we are extraverted and goofy, people automatically consider us less intellectually inclined. Sorry people, you are gravely mistaken. You, my friend, are very insightful. I particularly enjoyed your stance on religion in school but I have to call you out on the Death Penalty. I think, beyond a doubt, that it’s harsh to execute someone for a given crime, but the way we pamper our jail personnel is quite costly for taxpayers. The death penalty: Immoral? Possibly. More logical? I think so. Besides that, you be chill.

     For Kelli Davin:
     I like you. You’re funny. Just thought I’d tell you though you’ll probably never see this response. What actually got me first reading your post was the words, “Thriller” and “High School Musical”. You know my booty starts bopping when I think of togetherness. I agree with most of what you said besides some of your stance on global warming. I believe we have a direct effect, and though it is proven to be a natural process, we defy nature by our actions. Anyways, later.

     For Kautzman:
     I’m thinking my responses to the responses counts for at least one response seeing as most of them had to do with my original post, prior to response. If not, email me about my response and just let me know what’s up and if I need another response. Thanks for being understanding and reading this response! That’s seven times. Read it and weep. And I don’t mean that cynically or rudely, but rather light hearted and with a chipper delivery. (I think you did just fine – Kautzman)

173. on August 29, 2009 at 10:06 am nickstewart Said:
     

     Kayse Burden: Prayer is a private action that, in my opinion, should not be banned in any way, shape, or form. If I choose to pray in a public place, that is my choice. If someone is offended by it, they don’t have to watch/listen.

     Response: Exactly! I think that prayer is to personal of a thing for any higher authority to claim control over.

174. on August 29, 2009 at 10:06 am nickstewart Said:
     

     Lauren Lynch: Also, whether a child was conceived by r.ape or incest should not change the value of a child’s life; the law should not be arbitrary. We should see a human life as a human life, and the government should not decide under what circumstances aborting a human life is acceptable.

     Response: I completely agree. All life starts equally. An unborn child is still a child and should never be deemed any less of a human based on the way they were conceived.

175. on August 29, 2009 at 10:09 am nickstewart Said:
     

     Katie Todaro: At what point is a fetus viable outside the womb? Given, there will never be an exact amount of time– but an average range could easily be found. After that point, an abortion is illegal. Before that set date, an abortion is legal. Katie has spoken.

     Response: So aborting a fetus that is at it’s most vulnerable state ( before it is capable of surviving on it’s own) should be legal? Like a child being told that if he is unable to recite his ABC’s correctly, then his education will end forever, even if it happens to be the child’s first day of pre-school. Oh! But if the fetus can survive on it’s own, then abortion isn’t an option. It’s silly and impractical Katie. A human is a human when the sperm enters the egg. Nick has controverted!

     Aside from that, I love your thoughts on Michelle and I can’t wait for this year. See you in a week Katie

176. on August 29, 2009 at 11:22 am Sarah Pierce Said:
     

     Commenting on Keara Haley’s Post:

     Keara, I like and agree with the points you made in you opinion on abortion.

177. on August 29, 2009 at 12:05 pm Brooke Batterton Said:
     

     In response to Alysa’s post:
     That is so cool that you were able to go to the medical/leadership camp. I have received letters for those and always wanted to go, because I hope to go into a career in nursing. I would love to hear more about your experiences there sometime. and I agree that WSU is the perfect distance from home and am applying there also.

178. on August 29, 2009 at 12:08 pm Brooke Batterton Said:
     

     In response to TF:
     I used to live in California too, San Diego to be exact. And also moved up here to be with closer to my grandparents. The sun and the beach is definitely where it’s at though.

179. on August 29, 2009 at 1:00 pm Alysa D. Dehart Said:
     

     Larae Stotts-
     I love your ending comment “government applies paper clips and wads of gum to many problems, and that is definitely not going to cure cancer” I literally laughed out loud! Your family sounds like a charm, full with different characters. And your ideas with current topics sound like a discussion waiting to happen.
     Megan Erickson-
     I totally agree with your assessment of the abortion, death penalty and Obama issues. As for your summer, well to say the least it sounded nice and relaxing along with the joy of having family and friends nearby! (Other than helping your sister move on to college).
     Nicole Follett-
     I bet the fray concert was fun! (Did they only sing their newer songs?) But anyways it seems like we agree on some points with the different topics, such as the War on Terror and abortion. So as far as this year goes, I hope to side with you on some arguments!
     Jenna Alaskar-
     You seem like a very interesting person, to have lived all over the world (by our standards at least) and to know a great number of people as well. Class will definitely be interesting with you in it, with your knowledge! So I hope to learn from you and get to know you.
     Nick Stewart-
     Gratz on the tour with Pixar! Sounds like you’re happy with that! But anyways I hope this year is fun, seeing as we’re on the same level with the economy as you say “Sucks”.

180. on August 29, 2009 at 1:26 pm Jesse Peterson Said:
     

     In response to Larae Scotts:
     Wow, I had no idea that you want to be a lawyer. I enjoyed reading part one of your blog, it was very entertaining. I love peppermint mochas too.

181. on August 29, 2009 at 1:29 pm megansikes Said:
     

     In response to Kyle Hicks:

     I liked and agreed with a lot of what you had to say; especially about abortion and religion/school prayer. I also enjoyed reading your views because you weren’t attacking the government or society like some other people have done. You simply stated your opinion and didn’t make it so serious. I really liked it.

     In response to Justin Fritz

     Hmm ok first off, I got rather offended and turned-off by what you had to say. I see that you said you are an opinionated person, but I think there is a better way to go about that than being rude and sarcastic. I don’t have anything against you personally, I don’t know you, but when you say “Well, then again I suppose the race card does equal a free trip to the white house.”, it makes me kinda think we are going to butt heads.

     In response to TJ McGriff

     By all means I am not extremely knowledgeable about any of these topics; I just disagree with some things you said. I do agree that there will be terrorism no matter what, however, I don’t agree that just because they are doing what they believe is right for their country (extremists), we should stay out of it, especially when it endanger the lives of our citizens.

     In response to Kara Contabile

     I absolutely agree with you that President Obama is more of a celebrity than a political figure. The other day I was watching the Today’s show and they spent like 10 minutes taking about how Michelle Obama wore shorts! Who cares?? It’s the same way for him too, so good point. On the other had, I do not think that having an abortion is “the easy way out”. I am certainly not saying that it is the right choice and I agree that a lot of mothers are happy with their decision to keep their child, but deciding to get an abortion is not a walk in the park.

     In response to JJ Scott

     Although I strongly disagree with your attitude towards the country we live in regarding the War on Terrorism, your ability to state your opinion is guaranteed to you as an American, through the freedom of speech in our Constitution. I don’t have any problem with people opposing to the way our government is run, as long as they are not just complaining and actually doing something about it. Other than that I think it sounds like you have some good ideas about how to better the environment.

182. on August 29, 2009 at 1:38 pm Brooke Batterton Said:
     

     Commenting on M.E:
     I like your perspective on abortion. It is interesting to think about what the other options really are in those situations, but I still do think that it is killing a life that could have had the chance to make a difference, regardless of what would have happened to the mother in the process.

183. on August 29, 2009 at 2:10 pm Brooke Batterton Said:
     

     Commenting on K.H.:
     What is colorguard? I have never heard of it and am curious as it is such a large part of your life. I am a new student to Mt. Spokane. You sound like a fun person to be around. I like your straight-forward and honest opinions about the topics for discussion and look forward to getting to know you.

184. on August 29, 2009 at 2:22 pm Carley Ross Said:
     

     In Response to Brooke Batterson:

     I am glad to see another new senior at Mt.Spokane! Where did you go to high school before? I was born in Cali as well, and as I am looking outside to rain and a gray sky I sure miss it. I thought your opinion of President Obama was spot on, it is going to be our generation who pays for all this debt. Look forward to meeting you!

185. on August 29, 2009 at 2:22 pm Justin McClain Said:
     

     In response to Kyle Hicks:

     I completely agree with your standing on school prayer, if “under God” bothers you that’s your problem. We are definitely in the same boat in terms of political knowledge. I am also quite looking forward to reading your biography

     In response to Kevin Yen:

     Glad to hear your summer went well and I gotta say I never knew you were from California, some solid tennis goin on down there. I also quite agree with what you had to say on the environment topic, we do need to get to work on preserving our environment. I look forward to making some more movies with ya man!!

     In response to T.J. Mcgriff:

     First off you are as smart as everyone thinks you are, or could it just be the photographic memory… I really liked what you said about the future role of the U.S. in world affairs, that we should have both a conscience and a backbone. I also agree with what you said about religion and I’m glad (not surprised but glad) to hear that it is part of your life.

     In response to Devon Preedy:

     I really liked what you have to say about abortion if the mothers life is threatened then it could possibly be a viable option, but if you looking for a shortcut because you screwed up then you should still have to suffer the consequences. I also have quite a few friends at my youth group who have danced their whole lives and the dedication is pretty cool, I’ve seen what they can do and it ain’t easy props for that.

     In response to Nicole McCmurray:

     The whole veterinarian thing sounds pretty cool especially if you have a passion for animals. I really enjoyed reading you auto biography accept for where you quit the school tennis team, your bro willed his skills to you so use em, and definitely stick with Gym. My mom was the coach and she had good things to say about the team and you. Keep it up.

186. on August 29, 2009 at 2:27 pm Brooke Batterton Said:
     

     Commenting on A.P.:
     What kind of band is Facing Wayside? I would love to hear some of your music sometime. I love that C.S. Lewis quote, I had never heard it before; how fitting for an arguement like that. You seem very informed on many political topics which will be an asset to our class discussions. I like to listen to people who know what they’re talking about and also noticed that you and I have very similar stances on most issues.

187. on August 29, 2009 at 2:28 pm Tyler Fackrell Said:
     

     Ryan Hervey:

     The way your face lights up when you describe
     your ambitions, it’s really inspiring. Dude, that’s cool how you traveled a lot, and got to live in so many places. What did your dad do that required him to move around so much? I totally agree with your stance on abortion. It’s wrong to take the childs life before it’s born. I also agree with you on President Obama, as long as he does a good job then it’s golden. People need to just back off. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

     Bree Ferris:

     I’m from Southern California too, and the beach is awesome. It’s always sweet to go back and visit family and friends. I also would like to be a lawyer if being a sports agent doesn’t work out. My mom used to be a lawyer, and she loved it. I couldn’t agree with you more about the economy. We have put ourselves in a huge hole. The government just needs to stay out and let the big businesses, who caused this, figure it out. I also agreed with you on recycling. People need to recycle more, and not waste so many materials.

     Sadie Peterson:

     Sounds like you had a pretty legit summer. Hiking in Juneau must have been a pretty cool experience. It also sounds like your a regular at Camp Spalding. Not quite sure what that is. It seems that you and I are both lacking the political knowledge we need for this class, but we’re both willing to learn more about the complicated splendor that is politics.

     Kevin Yen:

     Dude, I never knew running was such a big part of your life. It seems to me like you have your future pretty much planned out. I hope it all works out for you bro. I liked your reasoning on religion. It’s ok for people have religion in school as long as they don’t try to promote it amongst other students. Have a chill summer, well what’s left of it.

     Carley Ross:

     I’m also the oldest of four. When I was younger I used to live in Orange County. It was awesome. Warm weather, not to far from the beach, and really close to Disneyland and Angel Stadium. Moving up here was a huge shock. No more Disneyland and worst of all no more Angel games. However, I still call it soda, no way am I going to call it pop. It seems to me like you did some nice research on the whole Laci Petterson thing and the 37 executions. Nice job. You didn’t seem like a novice. You sounded like you knew what you were talking about. I agree with you when you said Obama shouldn’t have bailed out GM. Looking forward to a great year.

188. on August 29, 2009 at 2:31 pm Larae Stotts Said:
     

     Comments for Brooke Batterton:
     Welcome to MoSpo!
     I used to be a volleyball player, it is an intense sport.
     Are you going to be in chamber choir this next year? I have also been singing most of my life.
     I would like to know if you think us stabilizing the world’s economy and helping other countries in need should come before our own needs. Do we help them first, since we are, after all, much more prosperous than numerous third world countries? Do we put their needs on hold while we reach over the cliff to grasp our own flailing economy?

     Quote: Kayse Burden: “Did you know that the U.S. government does not financially support any scientific organization that does not support the global warming theories? I agree that we should respect the planet, but we need all the facts, and our government isn’t allowing us to get them.”

     Kayse, thank you for bringing this to my attention. I never knew that before. It is sketchy. It makes you wonder how many of the things we see and hear could be propaganda—not necessarily government propaganda, but propaganda from any organization.

     Kaylie Madsen: Are you trying out for Little Shop of Horrors? I plan to :]

     In response to Adam Ropp:
     I agree that the War is a growing amoeba of messes that we aren’t solving too quickly! However, I wouldn’t say that we can’t solve it. I think we just need to try to look at it as “a glass half full.”

     Bree Ferris: I am glad you are interested in law as well! I don’t know if I am aiming to be a lawyer, but I certainly think law is interesting and would provide me with a new, changing task day after day.

     Kautzman: Aren’t you going to tell us a little about you?! ANSWER: Patience grasshopper, all things in due time.

189. on August 29, 2009 at 2:39 pm Keara Haley Said:
     

     So to save space and make my life a little easier, I figured I’d just respond to peoples’ bio assignments in one comment.

     Jeremy, I’m n the same boat as you are when it comes to politics and I know what you mean when you say ignorance isn’t bliss. I’m very glad that I have someone else in the class who will be as excited to learn all we can about all our topics. I also love what you said about the environment, I agree with the fact that people need to realize how much our actions today affect the future of the environment.

     Katie T, first of all, you never fail to make me smile. You’re such an individual and it’s people like you who make life fun. I’d also like to say I love the point you made on abortion. It could be a compromise between the two sides on the issue.

     Katie Bates, I love what you said about teachers lecturing! I love when teachers make lectures interesting and fun. My biggest pet peeve is when they lecture in a monotone voice and make it seem like they really aren’t interested in what they’re saying. Hopefully we won’t be subjected to that this year =)

     Nicole, how does your brother like UW? That’s my first choice for school so I’m interested to hear people’s opinions on it. =)

     Allan, wow! The Nike outdoor national track meet sounds really cool. That’s awesome that you got an opportunity like that. How well did you do?

190. on August 29, 2009 at 3:21 pm Kesslan Hall Said:
     

     Comment to Katie Todaro’s post: I love the way you and your Grandpappy think. I completely agree with the logic and thought behind those well aged words of wisdom.
     As for abortion, fetus is the term used after 8 weeks of developing, prior to that it is an embryo. So do you believe after about 2 months it is finally illegal? Also, just to clarify, why do you believe that after it is visible it is not okay to have an abortion? It was there before then, just as microscopic animals are there but not seen.

     Oh, and I like your word cockamammy, may I have a definition?!

191. on August 29, 2009 at 3:46 pm Kesslan Hall Said:
     

     To Adam Ropp, a comment:
     I was reading your “who do you want to be” section and love your aim on greener plastics. That would make such an impact for the world.
     I also like your opinion on Obama, people did put way too much faith in him to fix all the problems in the world.

192. on August 29, 2009 at 3:54 pm Alyson Nicol Said:
     

     In Response to Alysa Draper-Dehart: Wow! That is so cool that you got to go to D.C. and have that experience! I didn’t know you were interested in becoming a doctor. Washington D.C. seems like such an amazing place to learn and discover. I’ve never been there myself. How were you introduced to the “Lead America” program that led you to this camp?

     In Response to Justin Fritz: I don’t agree with your position on the environment. Yes, the earth does have cycles but shouldn’t we also take a look at the influence we ourselves have on the world? Perhaps these new cars are not making a positive difference for our environment but there are things we can do to maintain what we still have. If we continue to abuse our resources and do nothing, our environment may fall into an even worse state than it is currently in.

     In Response to Christy Houk: First I just have to say “Go Dance Emporium!” On a more serious note, I understand how you feel when you say politics is a common topic of conversation in your family. My dad and sister love to talk politics and sometimes I have trouble understanding what they are talking about. I also hope this class will explain some things so I can add more to the conversation.

     In Response to Daniel Lipuzhin: I enjoyed reading your post! We’ve been in French together for the past 3 years and yet I didn’t know very much about you. I especially enjoyed your comment about Obama being attractive. It made me laugh. I agree with what you said about him having a lot of charisma. He knows how to work a crowd but does he know what he is doing when making big decisions for this country?

     In Response to Derrick Cunningham: I strongly agree with your response about the death penalty. I wish I could have worded my response as well as you did. Nothing seems to justify sentencing someone to death, even if they themselves have committed a murder.

193. on August 29, 2009 at 3:58 pm Kesslan Hall Said:
     

     To Anna Wold:
     That’s so exciting that your sister’s getting married!!! Mine is too, it’s going to be fun being a bridesmaid!
     Maybe you should look into the big safari tours as a career that sounds like a ton of fun and is large open spaces with non-domestic animals.
     I am SO glad that I’m not the only one who understands that about global warming! It’s not that I believe in it, for I believe that weather changes always happen [remember the ice age?], but I still understand the concept it’s based on and when I tell that to people, they say “well why’s it called global warming?” Thank you for knowing that it also involves places getting colder!

194. on August 29, 2009 at 4:08 pm Kesslan Hall Said:
     

     Response to Brooke Batterson:
     Colorguard performs at half time football games with the marching band and does competitions in a lot of places. It’s like dancing with a variety of flags and choreography to music while jazz running (running that looks “pretty”) all over the football field for about 8 minutes! I love it! If you go to our football games on the 18th or 24th of Sept. or the 8th of Oct. then you will see us!=] Mt. Spokane’s guard and marching band are some of the best around, at large competitions we are almost always the top 3 in many categories. I hope that sums it up for you!
     Welcome to Mt. Spokane by the way!!!
     Thanks, I usually like to be clear and to the point. I’m excited to meet you too!

195. on August 29, 2009 at 4:12 pm Jill Pignataro Said:
     

     In response to Ryan Hervey:
     I didn’t know you lived in Thailand. That is awesome!As for your future writing career, I hope you can succeed. Writing is a great outlet for expression of one’s ideas. If I see your name on a future novel, I’ll try to read it. Also, I agreed with your views on the separation of church and state in schools.

     In response to Nicole Follett:
     I agree with most of your views on the issues. Like you, I also believe withdrawing troops might become a problem. Although I really don’t have an opinion on abortion, I believe that is somewhat wrong to abort a baby with a medical condition unless the child only has only a few years to live.

     In response to Kylei Tompkins:
     Kylei, I totally agree with you that reading is awesome. If I’m reading a good book, I know I can do nothing else until I finish that book. I never knew you wanted to be an elementary school teacher. That is a great goal to achieve, and all your students will think you are the coolest teacher ever.

     In response to TJ McGriff:
     Did you play Legion baseball this summer? If you did, I hope you had a great time. I wish I could have gone to LeadAmerica conference as well. That sounded like a lot of fun. I think the medical field is an awesome field to go into as a career. I also want to go in it (except to work on animals not on people), but I think you would make a wonderful doctor.

     In response to Kyle Hicks:
     I think I am a ukelele enthusiast too, even if I can’t necessarily play one. I agree that music is a most important part of life. If you actually follow your dream and write your memoir book, I will read it and see if it is anything like what you posted on this blog.

196. on August 29, 2009 at 4:16 pm Kesslan Hall Said:
     

     Response to Fritz:
     Thanks! I’m glad I am seen as an intelligent person through my words!

197. on August 29, 2009 at 4:29 pm Kesslan Hall Said:
     

     To Nick!!!
     Oh how I enjoy laughing with you too!
     Oh, and guess what? My dog’s name is Buddy, too!
     That’s an awesome and exciting experience you’re going to have on the Pixar tour. Good luck, and congrats with Pixar!
     I love how direct and honest you are with everything concerning politics. See you September!

198. on August 29, 2009 at 4:41 pm Alix Bold Said:
     

     To Jenna Alaskar:
     I had no idea you had traveled so much, let alone born in a different country! That must’ve been fascinating. How many countries/states have you been in total? And as far as your opinions on the War on Terrorism, I couldn’t agree more about Bush and Cheney. I will never understand how he was elected a second term.
     To Katie Todaro:
     I fully agree about opening a girl’s school and the things they should learn. It’s absolutely vital in my mind ha, ha! As far as Obama, you have definitely brought my attention to Michelle. I have noticed her grace but have never fully appreciated all she represents so thank you for that. Good luck with your degree and not eating cat food. =)
     To Kayse Burden:
     I loved the line in the very beginning of your blog, how you are an ever changing person. I don’t think I ever paid attention to that when teachers ask that question but it is absolutely true. Thanks for enlightening me!
     To Justin McClain:
     Props to you for being the “glue of the family” and defending them against Nazi zombies and Power Puff girls ha, ha!! Also, I fully agree with you about the school prayer. Though I am not a religious person, it is nice to see someone who is and agrees with me on that topic.
     To Kyle Hicks:
     You’re sense of humor continues to keep me laughing. I had a hard time catching my breath at seeing your ten year plan! And as far as Obama, that was very well put. Everybody deserves respect, especially our elders and it amuses me that so many people attack the President when many were the ones that helped get him elected.

199. on August 29, 2009 at 5:15 pm Kesslan Hall Said:
     

     Commenting on Jenna Alaskar’s post:
     Wow! Saudi Arabia? Exciting! How many places have you been?!
     I’m quite clumsy too! It makes life more…interesting!
     On a more serious note, London seems like an exciting place for college. Are you wanting to live there after college if you do go there? Traveling sounds like so much fun, and I like how you want to be surprised for your future.
     As for your views on Bush, he is not the only one who wanted the war. 72% of people were wanting to use military force in Iraq and 88% said the war was going well in 2003. Now, the perspective has changed of course with 20-20 hindsight, but you cannot completely blame Bush for the war. Check out my statistics: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/770/iraq-war-five-year-anniversary . This sounds like you are just ranting, and I think I should remind you of 9/11. Should we have just “let it slide?!”
     And abortion. I agree it is a touchy matter, but as for your opinion, out of curiosity, would you call it “murder” or not?
     The death penalty is not just saying go kill him and him and him. In Washington the death penalty is to those who commit 1st degree aggravated murder only. Not just to random people who have done something bad.
     As for having to read the Bible as a Summer assignment, you can take different classes, the only reason we don’t have a Qur’an reading assignment is because we do not have very many people who can teach that and not enough people to take that class; also in general a lot of people in Spokane aren’t familiar with the content of the Qur’an.
     I like your arm-tangle-food analogy.
     And although I understand what you mean about the McCain stickers, I still see AlGore stickers on cars and even Hilary Clinton stickers.
     Well I am really quite different from you and am looking forward to debating with you soon! =]

200. on August 29, 2009 at 5:28 pm Kesslan Hall Said:
     

     Responding to Haley Anderson’s comment:
     True it could bring the baby unpleasant memories, but the parent and the adopting parent don’t have to tell the baby or the adopting parent that the baby was only because of r.a.p.e. and since they have no personal recollection of the instance, they should be fine.
     But thank you for input!=]

201. on August 29, 2009 at 8:20 pm Sammi Pace Said:
     

     Part I: Who Are You?

     My name is Samantha Jo Marie Pace. I’ve always be called Sammi, Sammi Jo, Slimmit, Slick, and nicknames following along those lines by my family. I just celebrated my 17th birthday on August 6th at our shared lake cabin at Priest Lake. My dad is one of, originally, 15 kids but now 13, and my grandma is one of 12, so I guess you could say I have a rather large extended family. We’ve always been very family oriented, and I’ve lately been joking with my parents about how they’ve micromanaged my summer weekends, since all they ever did was make my plans for me, always involving family and laying around in the sun. It’s a tough life.
     I’m a very optimistic and compassionate person, but I try to maintain as much of a logical stance as is possible. I’ve never known of a period in my life where I was unhappy, unless there was some circumstance prompting it. I’ve grown up on the basis of working to earn what I want, so it just so happens that I’m decently lazy majority of the time. I’ve never been into sports, but I love watching football. It’s most likely my mother’s love for the sport that’s rubbed off. I spend my money on late nights that require energy drinks or pancakes and concerts downtown with friends. I listen to just about every kind of music, with country as an exception, and my favorite all time band would have to be Iron and Wine. My mostly European roots are largely mixed, and I figured out that I’m 1/32 French Canadian. Everything else is lost among the family history. My mom and I both enjoy the occasional episode of Jackass that appears on MTV, much to my Dad’s distain.
     I am the youngest of three kids. The oldest, my sister, Jessica, is married with a 3 year old daughter named Desiray, and I’ve deemed myself as The Best Aunt Sammi Ever. Jess is currently pregnant with number 2, and we’re all determined for it to be a boy. She and her husband refuse to find out the sex. My brother, the middle child, Tony, just this last October, decided that the Navy was what he was meant for. He brought home a brochure, and one week later he was signed up. He left for bootcamp in Chicago at the beginning of November, so my parents, my grandparents and I all spent a very chilly Christmas in Chicago for Tony’s graduation. He was given less than a week of leave, then was shipped to Monterey, California to study linguistics, where he then met the love of his life, is getting married this next month, and is going to be a daddy come February. It’s all happened so very fast, but I suppose there’s no reason to put a stop to anything. Come this time next summer, I expect to be moved out and starting the next chapter of my life. It’s all quite exciting.

     Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?

     Come this time next summer, I plan on being moved out and living amongst the activities of the real world, whether it be in Portland or Seattle, I have yet to decide. I plan on attending college, and I’ve just recently come across a possible career that sparked my interest.
     On one of the micromanaged nights up at the Priest Lake cabin, my step-grandma’s youngest daughter, Francis, made the trip up from Colorado with her friend Ruth to surprise her mom. Francis has spent the last few years on an army base in Afghanistan, finding ways to bring water resources into the country. She’s helped do the same in Uganda and has traveled all over the world. My career, whatever it may be, cannot be something where I stay in one place. I’m too restless, and too far gone in my longing to make some kind of a difference to stay where I am for the rest of my life.
     I’ve been looking into hydro-engineering, where I was previously planning on majoring in psychology and moving on to the Peace Corps. As side courses, I would like to take photo-journalism, a culinary course, and I would like to continue with French. I honestly couldn’t give a prediction of where I see myself in 5 years, let alone ten. I sincerely want to make a difference in one way or another. My view of the world and the people that make it is this: There are the people that create the problems. There are the people that live their lives day to day, and they don’t deal with the workings of the world. There are the people that make the difference in trying to come up with solutions for the way things are. I would prefer to be the last one of these, but we’ll see where everything goes.

     Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?

     I am, honestly, taking this class mainly for the possibility of a college credit. However, as I talked to more and more previous students about the course, I have grown a genuine interest concerning the amount of politics that are included in this class. In talking with Francis, the woman I spoke of in Part II, I was given a genuine spark of curiosity for politics and the way the world works. I hope to at least gain an understanding of our current government and the way that our country is heading, and, if I can, gain some knowledge of the inner workings of foreign countries and policies.

     Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?

     My ranking involving politics would most definitely be around the Newbie/Novice area. I’ll try to give a legitimate opinion on as much as I can, but I make no promises!

     * The War on Terrorism
     I feel as though this is a lost cause. Terrorism, obviously, is not going to correct itself, but I feel as though the involvement of outside influences will do nothing more than spark an increase in terrorist activity. It’s the same basic principal as if a terrorist was to attack our country’s way of running things. We’re going to protect and defend our way of doing things, and, if nothing else, we’re going to ensure that we keep the same agenda. It’s a simple opinion, and nothing too involved, but it works.
     * The Economy/Taxation
     I have honestly stopped keeping up with the economy. The most that I’ve kept up with is the housing market, seeing as my sister has been trying to purchase a house for the past few months. I don’t have much to say about the economy, other than it’ll pull back up in time. It’s all a continuous cycle, and we still haven’t experienced anything as extreme as the Great Depression. When it comes to taxation, I’m one of those that feels as though the wealthy should be taxed heavier than all the rest, and I feel as though it should be a percentage based on yearly income.
     * Abortion
     I have a neutral stance on abortion.The few times that I’ve known of a woman getting an abortion, they’ve said they regretted it later on. I just recently was involved with someone that was scheduled for abortion, and, in her case, she was definitely in no shape to be a mom. I suppose that it should be a last resort, that adoption and raising the child yourself should be considered way before abortion, but if it’s something that a woman really can’t deal with it, I’ll turn my head and speak no more.
     * The Death Penalty
     A solid opinion! If you take the life of another person into your own hands, you don’t deserve to live. If it’s anything other than an accident, I believe that the death penalty should be utilized. I don’t know how else to expand on this, other than what I’ve already professed.
     * Religion/School Prayer
     Beliefs are beliefs, regardless of what policy allows. If you’re one to pray before each meal, do your piece in silence and carry on. I’m admittedly not a religious person, but I’m not the kind to deny another of their practice. I feel that students should be allowed to pray if they wish, so long as it doesn’t get in the way of their schooling or create problems. It should be on their own time, and if it’s found offensive, I feel as though the one offended should just stick to their own beliefs and carry on, but I won’t argue with the current system.
     * The Environment
     I don’t follow with the whole “Going Green” trend, I’ll call it, but I feel that what resources we have should be very well taken care of. Our population will continue to swell, and soon enough, we’ll find our resourced depleted and more problems than ever. We all live on the same Earth, and I feel as though we all would be doing well to take care of it, much like you would wash your dishes and keep your living spaces clean. Same basic principal.
     * The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs
     * President Obama and/or Congress
     On these last two, I really don’t have much of an opinion at all. My political knowledge is through the roof!

     Part V: What Have You

     I don’t have much else to say, other than I plan on becoming an avid snowboarder this upcoming winter season, and that I genuinely feel as though this course will prove to be worthwhile. I shall see you all September 9th!

202. on August 29, 2009 at 8:43 pm Sammi Pace Said:
     

     In response to Brooke Batterson:
     Where in Canada did you live? We just took a choir/band trip to Vancouver, BC this last spring, and I loved it.
     Do you go huckleberry picking around your cabin? My family and I have always gone huckleberry picking around Priest Lake ever since I can remember.

     In response to Jenna Alaskar:
     When did you live in London? I am supremely jealous, and if you really do get to see the final premiers of Harry Potter, I want to see pictures!

     In response to Larae Stotts:
     Larae! I hope you had a great summer. Up until reading what you would like to do, I would have never guessed that you would pursue something involving law. You’ve always seemed like the earthy, peace type, which I suppose could carry into law and justice and such.

     In response to Nick Stewart:
     Nick, I can totally relate to the whole experience of finding someone new so special. I’m right there with you! How, though, did you get to have a chance at meeting up with the top animator of Pixar?

     In response to Jeremy Urann:
     Oh, my friend, it’s been way too long, but I hope you had a great summer. I’m curious. What about your leadership camp was so life altering?

203. on August 29, 2009 at 9:16 pm Joanna Luse Said:
     

     Commenting on Jenna Alaskar’s comment

     I had no idea you were born in Saudi. That is so cool. How did it come about that you were born there? My dad worked there for a few years so that is why John was born there.

     If it was anyone else that was my mother idk if i would too. But my mom and i are cool. She is perfect for that kind of job.

     No i haven’t gotten any offers for soccer yet.

204. on August 29, 2009 at 9:17 pm Joanna Luse Said:
     

     Commenting on Larae Stotts

     What makes you want to go to Jamaica and Paris?

205. on August 29, 2009 at 10:01 pm Nicole McMurray Said:
     

     In response to Katie Preston, in response to my autobiography. So I’m not sure if this is cheating because I’m commenting on a comment on mine but… I wanted to so I hope it’s alright. So KP, you like the environment! Who doesn’t but I have an objection to you dedication. I know for a fact that you had a plastic water bottle every single day last year in French. Ha I may be weird for remembering, but I do because you tried to make me fill it up! I’m making you get an eco friendly one this year

206. on August 29, 2009 at 10:14 pm Carrie Crosby Said:
     

     In response to Katie Preston:
     I think that’s cool that you want to go into the medical field. It is something that definitely interests me as well. I can certainly see you helping people, for a living. UW, University of Portland and Santa Clara seem like pretty prestigious schools. Good for you to do that, because today it seems people are going to college just to get the degree. There is learning involved. I agree with you on abortion. It should really be a choice to live and at the same time the choice of the mother. Adoption is better that abortion.

     In response to Jenna Alaskar:
     First of all, I never knew you were born in Saudia Arabia. That is really cool. How many places have you lived in, and which is your favorite, besides Spokane of course? From Part II, it seems you are very driven. Even though you are not for sure what you want to do career wise, you know that you want to travel to places you have never been to. I think you are very adventurous. Second, you write amazing. What you explained about the class really puts into words what I want out of this class too. I love discussions. I guess I got that from taking the block sophomore year, but I agree. This class should teach us about current issues, and make us more intelligent people.

     In response to Sarah Fullmer:
     Well, I haven’t really gotten to know you since you moved here. Reading your answers I feel I know you better. I would say I agree with most of your opinions on current issues. All except on abortion. I do feel if someone chooses to have sex and they get pregnant, that they shouldn’t have an abortion, but what should a woman do if she is r*aped and becomes pregnant. In that case its not like the person went out intending to become pregnant.

     In response to Justin Johnson:
     First of all I like how you are frank with things you find unimportant. I too love Lake Roosevelt. My grandparents live up there, so I go there quite often. Also, go procrastinators! =) Oh, and some advice about UW. If you don’t care for Spokane weather, then you may not like Seattle either. It is usually haunted by foggy and rainy weather. I totally agree with you on the economy. People need to stop spending money they don’t have. Spending may revive the economy but not deficit spending.

     In response to Alex Price:
     I think that is awesome that you want to be apart of government. I think you would be great at it. As for your comment about people not listening to your opinion, I am completely understanding. You should always have a chance to explain your side of the story. When you mentioned Keynesian economy theory, I being the uneducated person that I am, had no idea what that is. Maybe a little more insight to this and I could understand your opinion on this topic.

207. on August 29, 2009 at 10:20 pm Taylor Jordan Said:
     

     Commenting on Christy Houk

     So Christy, in regards to the economy, you said “having our government pay off and buy out more companies that have destroyed themselves will do nothing besides skyrocket our national debt “ However, had we not bailed out such companies, it would have created a ripple effect that would have led to a depression of the likes of which, our country has never seen. The situation is sticky in the first place, but at this point, the best we can do is damage control and hopefully learn from mistakes. Also, Obama hasn’t raised taxes, he has lowered them for 95% of working families. It’s called the Making Work Pay Tax Credit. In regards to the death penalty, it actually costs more to kill an inmate on death row than it costs to keep them in prison for life because of the long appeals process (http://www.deathpenalty.org/article.php?id=42). You say, “Many of his ideas, including a standardized health care and redistribution of wealth show aspects of socialism that never would have made their way into our country seventy years ago.” However, income tax on the top bracket was 79% in 1939 (70 years ago), and Obama proposed moving it from 35% to 39% (in other words to where it was in the 90’s… with a republican congress… and a level of economic growth the country had never seen before…). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_tax_in_the_United_States)

208. on August 29, 2009 at 10:21 pm Nicole McMurray Said:
     

     In response to Carley Ross:
     Ok so let me start off by saying I am completely jealous that you lived in Laguna Hills. I myself was born in Atascadero, California, but a lot of my family lives near Orange. I love California and in my opinion I would say Washington totally sucks compared to the beautiful beaches and just plain wonderfulness of California. You seem like a really cool girl and I can’t wait to get to know you. We really need some school oriented people at Mt. Spo and it seems like you will be perfect! We are lucky to have you and I hope that your senior year is all that it can be!
     In response to Kaylie:
     Oh my goodness I am so super glad you are staying here another year!!! It’s so good that you don’t have to move right before your senior year. It wouldn’t have been the same without you 
     In response to Carrie Crosby:
     I totally knew you raised chickens! I remember in French you would talk about it and like win things at the fair with them. I have chickens too and everybody thinks it’s weird. At least you have them too! Hooray for chickens haha
     In response to Jessica Levy:
     I definitely think you should go to UW! My brother is going there and he LOVES it. I am actually thinking about going there just because he is there and enjoys it so much. He pretty much never wants to come home because he has fit in so perfectly there. He calls it his new home and he said he would live in Seattle forever so it must be good! It is such a great place and the campus is so amazing and big!! You should go visit it, I’m sure you would really like it.

209. on August 29, 2009 at 10:37 pm Taylor Jordan Said:
     

     Commenting on Jenna Alaskar

     Jenna I must admit, I admire your frankness. I tend to agree with you on the majority of things. I thought what you said about the death penalty was quite ironic. It’s basically true though. In regards to President Obama, I can’t agree with you more in regards to how frustrating it is that he is do disrespected. I remember when I would use the term “idiot” to describe George W. Bush and my grandmother would freak out and say, “If you won’t respect our president, then who will?!” But now that Obama is in office, slanderous insults are OK (=

210. on August 29, 2009 at 10:37 pm Nicole McMurray Said:
     

     Katie bestie Bates! I’m so happy you responded to mine! haha I saw it and was like you are totally right we are DC buddies so we pretty much do what we want… well sorta. I can’t wait to learn more about Obama together, such a fun great learning experience!Also just wanted to say I really miss those freezing temperatures and having all those layers and hand warmers, and that crazy lady freaking out about that bus that was staying on and we were all going to die from the exhaust. Do you remember that? I’m surprised I do, I mean it literally just popped into my head as I was typing. So witty of my brain and I. K-Dawg I’m so super excited! I hope you are too and also I hope you remember that crazy bus lady or I am just weird and have a super good memory!! (Are you speaking ill of Donna – with the elementary school trivia questions?)

211. on August 29, 2009 at 10:49 pm Taylor Jordan Said:
     

     Commenting on Christy Houk

     So Christy… Christy, Christy, Christy… You say, ” Saying “under God” in the pledge of allegiance should not be changed for the fact that that has been part of our country from the beginning for a reason. The original founders were some of the most brilliant men of their time, it’s about time we trust them again.”

     However, I forgot to mention that the phrase “Under God” was not added into the Pledge of Alleigance until 1954 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance). So…. yeahhhhh…..

212. on August 29, 2009 at 10:56 pm Taylor Jordan Said:
     

     Commenting on Alex Price

     In regards to the economy, you said “I think that the way we are trying to solve the current money problems is ridiculous. We are shoveling money on a fire to try to smother it. I am more of a proponent of Keynesian economic theory” – Wait. Hold up. Keynesian economic theory? Is that not the basis for the New Deal and the current stimulus package? Why yes; yes it is! The Keynesian economic theory “advocates active policy responses by the public sector, including monetary policy actions by the central bank and fiscal policy actions by the government to stabilize output over the business cycle” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keynesian_economics). In simple terms, the government should spend money to stabilize the economy in a downturn.

213. on August 29, 2009 at 11:19 pm Taylor Jordan Said:
     

     Commenting On Justin Fritz

     So upon your request, I did indeed “look at the data”. So let’s talk environment, shall we? “Globull warming”, that’s witty. But in fact, on the issue of climate change being caused by human impact, “Since 2007, no scientific body of national or international standing has maintained a dissenting opinion. A few organisations hold non-committal positions.” The last scientific body to switch from a dissenting opinion was the National Association of Petroleum Biologists (AKA oil biologists) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_opinion_on_climate_change). Now one thing you say is true, the carbon dioxide concentration has worked in a cycle over the history of our planet from what we can tell from ice records, however, what you will notice when the industrial revolution started, is an unnatural spike in CO2. (http://199.6.131.12/en/scictr/watch/climate_change/images/carbonDioxideLevels.jpg) Take a goooooooood look at that green line. Do you mean to tell me that the recent spike in CO2 is solely due to a natural cycle?

214. on August 29, 2009 at 11:32 pm Taylor Jordan Said:
     

     Commenting on Sarah Fullmer

     Sarah, I would love to see what your sources are in regards to John Holdren. But here’s one source, which I find to be quite reliable, which states that, “He was confirmed as Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy on March 19, 2009 by a unanimous vote in the Senate. He testified to the nomination committee that he does not believe that government should have a role in determining optimal population size and that he has never endorsed forced sterilization” In other words, every single last republican senator voted in support of him. But I don’t see what that would even have to do with Obama and his healthcare plan if that were true. It is easy to shift focus from the actual plan to some obscure, absurd rumor. However, Obama did appoint him, he was approved by a unanimous vote, and as far as I (and wikipedia, for that matter) can tell, he has no intention of putting additives in our water supply. Phwew, we can rest easy!

215. on August 29, 2009 at 11:35 pm Jenna Alaskar Said:
     

     In Response to Sarah Fullmer’s Comment on Taylor Jordan:

     OHHHH, your input on John Holdren sounded crazy to me until I realized where you got confused. Holdren is a scientist that studied the environmental consequences of overpopulation at Harvard. He wrote a textbook called Ecoscience: Population, Resources, Environment which talked about overpopulation (Google it). He wrote about extreme methods like the one you described, but explains that these methods are bad and that there are better ways out there. To quote the book: “Far better choice in our view is to expand the use of milder methods of influencing family size preferences,” such as birth control. He was confirmed unanimously by the senate (that means Republicans voted for him too) after testifying that compulsory sterilization should never happen.

     Unfortunately, the Hannity show (from Monday July 13) that started this whole ridiculous thing was false, as several other journalists have written (again, Google it).

     Obviously I don’t know Holdren, but I read his resume and it seems really crazy to me to accuse someone who has worked in academia and public service for basically his entire career (when he could have probably made tons of cash in the private sector) just because Fox News doesn’t bother to check its sources.

216. on August 29, 2009 at 11:55 pm Jeremy Wales Said:
     

     Part I: Who Are You?
     My name is Jeremy Wales and I was born at Fort Polk, Louisiana October 11, 1991. I live with my mom, step-dad, and step-sister. Music is vital to me and I appreciate the various spectrums of it. I play tuba in school wind ensemble and play bass guitar in a band with two of my friends and school jazz. I have been playing music for very many years and it has become a great part of me.
     During this summer, I spent the month of July in Louisiana and visited my Dad and his side of my family while being down there. Also, my summer has been revolving around making music with great musicians.
     I like to look at the more optimistic ways of life and its` happenings. However, I do still look at things as a whole and take it all in for what it is. I do not particularly look to have debates and conflicts onto people, but to accept their opinions and listen. I have come to find out that many can learn just from listening to one another even though the listener might have a different belief. I see it as better than attacking another person verbally.

     Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
     Immediate plans for the future? Well, I plan on going to college somewhere near Seattle. I will most likely going to go to college at Evergreen College in Olympia, but I am open to other colleges around there as well. Evergreen seems to have a flexible system that would be easy for me to learn from and catches my interests in environmental science, English, and music. In five years from now, I see myself continuing my passion with music in any way I can. Ten years from now? Well, I cannot say for sure about that far, but I know for a fact that I will still be playing music in some way.

     Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
     This may sound generic, but I am taking AP GO PO to learn. To be honest, I do not know much about our government system and politics at all. However, I have an open mind to always learn. I feel I do not know as much about government and politics as I should to be leaving high school.

     Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?

     Like stated above, I do not know much, but here is what I think or know.

     The war on Terrorism- For my opinion, the war on terrorism is understandable. Though I do not care for war at all, I believe that standing up for what one believes in is a good thing. I support the troops, but I still do not look fondly upon war. Conflict is inevitable, as we are all still animals in an environment all together.

     The Economy/Taxation- Well, I know how fragile the economy can be; hence we are in this depression. (Are we even still in it? I do not know any more.) I think people should revise their spending because I have noticed that a good majority of people spend more money on items, services and total luxuries that are not needed, or are just really bad with their money. Of course, along with the money comes taxation from the government. I agree that the government should have this flow to keep things up and running. Personally, I do not have a problem with the taxation. It all pays for construction, item flow, etc. I believe it is a necessary evil.

     Abortion- For abortion, I believe that the decision should be based on the woman who is harboring the child inside her. I think abortion clinics should be kept for their sake. Of course there is a law stating that after a certain number of months, it is considered as murder. I believe this is valid because it gives the woman a good amount of time to figure out if she really wants to follow through with birthing the child and raising it. Depending on their circumstances, they may say yes or no. As far as I have been taught and/or heard, this country has been based off of a role to have the freedom to choose. This is a prime example of a situation such as that.

     The Death Penalty- Well, for this, I would have to say that anyone who deserves the death penalty as a consequence for their action(s) would probably actually deserves it. Not to sound cynical or anything of that nature, but I do strongly believe in “what comes around goes around.” And anyone who would take another person’s life over a quarrel or something miniscule such as that should not deserve to see light. I also do not think they deserve to live in prison with the luxury of tax money comforting them. It is as if the murderer abandoned all practical senses of being human with all emotion and cut away the other in spite. It makes me sick to know there are people that do that.

     Religion/School Prayer- As stated in the abortion topic, I believe praying in school is a choice based on the individuals. If that is what the certain people do for themselves, then I believe they should be allowed to do it. Then again, certain individuals can take it to the other level where they try to force their belief of a god onto one another (which I have had personal experience with). It is not pleasant to be pestered in such a way. In a nutshell, publicly praying to oneself or worshiping for oneself is not hurting anyone. So why stop them?

     The Environment- The environment should be taken care of much better. As far as I see, many see it as a small problem. I see it as the opposite. People have been mistreating our planet since industrialization due to many luxuries that we think we need to have. The planet is what we live on and what we feed off of to stay alive in our habitat. I am sure there are organizations set or being set that will help our planet, but I have not been seeing any being used or activated. I like having faith in people, but I cannot have faith in the whole population if that makes any sense.

     The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs- I think that the United States should continue to get involved in certain affairs if needed. I think we should preserve ourselves a bit more, but also help out the other countries in our trades and other things such as that. (I am sure it is obvious that I do not have much of a great opinion on this.)
     President Obama/or Congress- Congress? No comment on Congress from a tongue such as mine. I have no opinion to share about Obama at this moment.

     Part V: What Have You

     I would say that I am easy to get along with and I am very satirical.

217. on August 30, 2009 at 8:51 am Molly Brown Said:
     

     Alix,
     You want to be an enviromental engineer? I did not know that…what exactly does an enviromental engineering job entail?

218. on August 30, 2009 at 10:12 am Krystal Roach Said:
     

     In response to…

     Valerie Nauditt: That’s so cool that you grew up around motocross, I’ve always wanted to try something like that but I probably would round up killing myself if I tried so it’s great to hear that you enjoy it so much. I really liked your point when you talked about having to know what you’re voting for, I think that what you said was spot on. As far as religion, I agree in full, the government shouldn’t control the way we choose to live if it’s not bothering others. Well that’s all see in school.

     Dillon Fischer: Ok so working at an ice cream shop is one of the top summer jobs on my list, but anyways I have some slight confusion on your opinion after reading your section on the war on terrism. First off you say that the war is necessary which I disagree and believe that war could be prevented if we wanted it to be. But then you go off and start talking about how education and reform would make the real progress and that’s what I think should happen to prevent war. I’m not exactly sure but it seems like your saying that going to a nation to teach would be the right to do the war but I don’t think that would be a war so I’m pretty much confused on where you stand. I really liked what you said about religion though it was pretty much the same opinion as mine. That’s it but I do have to ask if your little sister is Krista Fischer by any chance?

     Bree Ferris: Wanting to be a lawyer I think is brave, I wouldn’t have ever thought about it especially in 4th grade. Your stance on abortion was solid; I think it should always be a choice because sometimes it’s right for someone. I don’t understand though where violence is caused by religion unless it’s being forced upon someone which as far as I know it’s not at the moment. Well that’s how I feel at least have a good rest of your summer.

     Jaclyn Brim: Did you enjoy Miami? I’ve never heard about or seen that school you talked about, how come you ended up not getting pictures? Anyways down to the real stuff, if we have the science why should we say not to let people have abortions? I don’t agree that it’s the best choice and would not support but to say its wrong I don’t think is right. Sometimes people feel its there only choice and the government shouldn’t control that decision.

     Justin Johnson: mm… technology sucks sometimes doesn’t it? I’m not quite sure how you don’t know your sister’s age, but it’s funny. Your really shouldn’t diss Priest Lake I’ve gone there since I was born I think it’s a great place. Most of your opinions I agreed with and if I didn’t well… it’s clear to me that you know more about the subjects then I so to try to argue would be quite foolish. You made your points clear and understandable; I can’t wait to see what other opinions you have.

219. on August 30, 2009 at 10:14 am Ashton Boothroyd Said:
     

     Responding to Valerie Nauditt’s Post:

     I visited University of Montana this summer and liked it a lot. I hope you do as well. Everyone is Missoula seemed pretty nice too. As for your interest in Pharmacy, I’d recommend taking a look at Washington State. But it seems that a lot of people won’t give Pullman a chance so I understand if you wouldn’t want to.

220. on August 30, 2009 at 10:19 am Larae Stotts Said:
     

     Jeremy Wales!
     I had a great year with you last year in history! I hope we can eat more gummy worms.. let’s just hope Kautzman likes us more than Ayers did!

     For the record – I get along well with everyone and happen to have a very high opinion of “gummy worms”. Kautzman

221. on August 30, 2009 at 10:33 am Ashton Boothroyd Said:
     

     Response to Tyler Fackrell’s Post:

     A sports agent would be an awesome job. Maybe one day you could represent me, if I go pro somehow.

222. on August 30, 2009 at 10:36 am Kara Contabile Said:
     

     Kara Contabile- Follow Up

     Dear Katie Todaro-
     I would like to join you in your dream to own a school of girls. I think we should be partners. I also think both of us would be very good at refining young orphans…but there will be no singing or dogs, that always leads to trouble. Now down to serious business. I had no idea that you came from a family of lumberjacks! But now that you mention it I can totally see it. Also I’m really looking forward to having class with you, your opinions often differ from mine, but I love learning from you!

     To Ryan Hervey- I honestly agree with pretty much everything you said! I also like how open you are about your standpoints. And I didn’t know you lived in so many places. All these years I just thought you were a kid from Polsbo.

     To Jeremy Urann: I must say I am in the same boat when it comes to knowing pretty much nothing. I think you did a really good job stating how you feel about abortion and the death penalty, and I couldn’t agree more.

     To Katie Bates: I think you are a little confused. Abortion is definitely legal, and it is because of Roe vs. Wade. Here in the US it is pretty easy to get an abortion because of places like Planned Parenthood. According to http://www.abortiontv.com/Misc/AbortionStatistics.htm#United States
     “ Abortion is legal in the USA at any time throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy… FOR ANY REASON (due to a woman’s “mental health” exception)”
     But just because it is legal doesn’t mean it is right. As for your stance on the environment I totally agree with you.

     To Megan Erickson: I really like what you said about the War on Terror and I feel the same way. And as to your predicament with choosing a college, you can go anywhere! You are one of the smartest girls ever! Oh and I also really like what you said about looking beyond Obama’s eloquent words and hearing what he is really saying.

     In Response to Megan Sikes:
     My bad I should have been clearer. Abortion is not an easy decision at all, but in comparison to dealing with 9 months of pregnancy and then giving up your baby for adoption or keeping it to raise, the option itself is easier. That is not looking at the emotional strain of having an abortion. You are right though; I would also not call abortion a walk in the park.

223. on August 30, 2009 at 11:05 am Daniel Lipuzhin Said:
     

     Commenting on Carley Ross’s post:

     According to your autobiography, you are very involved in school and community events; I think that’s awesome. Your language is also very colorful. I hope you like MSHS.

     Commenting on Drew Williams’s post:

     Drew, I think that your career choices are pretty cool. And you political views are direct. However, I hope that America is in a better state than you think.

     Commenting on Bailey Tansey’s post:

     I admire your reason to take the class, it’s practical. I can also relate to not socializing much in class.

     Commenting on Justin Fritz’s post:

     You really seem to be an opinionated person, as you’ve stated. Do you ever doubt any of your opinions? I doubt a lot of mine.

     Commenting on Anna Wold’s post:

     You were so lucky to go to D.C. for the inauguration! Regarding your view on the death penalty, I think that if we all lived by “an eye for an eye,” without forgiveness or tolerance, we would all kill and/or dismember each other pretty soon. It’s cool that you refer to the Bible, but you have to keep the whole thing in mind; Matthew 5:38-44 says it really well about “an eye for an eye.” Just some food for thought.

224. on August 30, 2009 at 11:22 am Allan Schroeder Said:
     

     Ryan;
     I really like your outlook on the war on terrorism. I too believe that if it is going to be a successful war then our troops need out full support and confidence in them. They are after all representing the US and fighting for us.

225. on August 30, 2009 at 11:33 am Allan Schroeder Said:
     

     hahaha Katie Todaro:
     I could not agree more on the death penalty. I love have frank and straight forward you were about it and your position. Very well stated.

226. on August 30, 2009 at 11:39 am Allan Schroeder Said:
     

     Justin Mc:
     I was very interested to see what you would have to say on the religion topic in schools, you being a religious man yourself. And I’ve got to say I agree 100%. Praying in school does not effect anyone else, as long as it is done at the proper times. Therefore there is no reason for it to be outlawed in schools.

227. on August 30, 2009 at 11:43 am Allan Schroeder Said:
     

     YEN!:
     Dude how have I known you this long but not known you were born in california? That’s awesome. And you are a great distance runner, not just OK. And i agree with your Part V 100%

228. on August 30, 2009 at 11:44 am Molly Brown Said:
     

     In response to Carly,
     Welcome to Mt Spokane! I hope you enjoy your new school, and even though others have already said it, If you have any questions feel free to ask!See you the first day!

229. on August 30, 2009 at 11:48 am Molly Brown Said:
     

     In response to Katie T….
     Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog. The straightforward opinions, insightful narratives, and chalk full of fun to boot. I liked the way you broke down complicated issues to their core and just told it how it is, and I agreed with you on a lot of your opinions.

230. on August 30, 2009 at 11:50 am Allan Schroeder Said:
     

     To J.J:
     So is there anything about America you like? I find it a little funny that you call Americas lifestyle “grotesque” but you still drive your car to school everyday, something that probably wouldn’t happen without the war, you have food on your table, a computer with which to do this summer assignment. Yes we have taken advantage of it a little to much but to go as far as saying you find your very own country and lifestyle grotesque, that’s just not something i can comprehend.

231. on August 30, 2009 at 11:55 am Adam Ropp Said:
     

     Kyle Hicks – About the War on Terror, I think pretty much any fighting going on in the Middle East that the U.S of A. is involved in has to do with fighting terrorists. Considering the people we fight on a daily basis bomb their own people almost daily, they could be considered terrorists. Also, if an Aleister Crowley Institute of Learning popped up, the amount of protesting would be epic. Non-stop media coverage would be entertaining indeed.

     Keara Haley – Agreed on the respecting other people’s religious beliefs but not trying to force your beliefs on another person. Also, the United States does need to give up its “World Police” job and instead learn to work with other countries. And high-five on UW, looks like a lot of people are going to be going there.

     Derrick Cunningham – I had never thought about the fact that working to solve the environmental problems would spark a lot of innovation, but now that you mention it, it’s true. We would never have invented things like energy producing windmills had we not needed to out of necessity. With healthcare, though, wouldn’t a government-run healthcare program be a good idea, as long as the option is kept open for people to use privatized health care if they wanted to?

     Alex Price – Your analogy that our involvement in the Middle East is us trying to save a drowning man who wishes to die is spot on. If they don’t want us to help them, why should we help? Also, throwing money at the economy obviously doesn’t work. Trying to spend more money to get us out of debt seems like a backwards idea.

     Katie Todaro – I’m surprised there hasn’t been a religion formed around the magical money angels yet, considering how many people don’t get the concept of managing their money. Somehow, the fact that they don’t have the $5,000,000 for the new house doesn’t seem to hit them until it has been repossessed by the bank. Also, what has happened to the Earth seems to be along the lines of a generation or two before us saying, “Wow, we really messed this up,” and then proceeding to hand the problem off to us. If we don’t start fixing it now, who knows how bad it could be in fifty year.

232. on August 30, 2009 at 12:00 pm Molly Brown Said:
     

     In response to Nick Stewart,
     I didn’t know that you were getting to tour Pixar, that is so cool. I know you will be great, your such a good artist!

     In response to Nick Stewart’s post continued because I forgot to add this before I posted.
     I really enjoyed that you kept everything short and sweet and did not drone on and on about things.

233. on August 30, 2009 at 12:06 pm Molly Brown Said:
     

     In response to Sadie Peterson,
     I also enjoyed how when you talked of your future you said it quite simply, “I want to have a degree that I can use and enjoy,” because ultimately is that not what we all want.
     I also enjoy that though you did not talk a lot about the different political issues what you did say seemed very insightful.

234. on August 30, 2009 at 12:11 pm Kevin Yen Said:
     

     In response to Jaclyn Marie Brim:

     I understand where you are coming from with your point of view on abortion, from a religious background or whatever.
     But you cant tell me that you don’t know see this from another perspective, the perspective of the person who is getting the abortion.
     Yes, there are those who choose to get them because of some careless night, but then there are those who have no choice to get them, because they didn’t have a choice in weather they wanted a baby or not through a crime that i can not say due to the sensor on this blog. But you have to try and look at things from all perspective with a open-mind.

235. on August 30, 2009 at 12:37 pm Devon Preedy Said:
     

     Commenting on Jeremy Wales:
     Wow! I didn’t know you were born in Lousiana that is soo cool! You have a pretty optimistic view on most of the topics that were presented for the assignment but I would like to know your views on Obama. I won’t judge you based on them, I just find it interesting what other people think. Also, I’m glad that you are a person willing to listen to other people’s opinions. Sometimes as soon as somebody states their own belief, people in the room get offended before a person can give specific detail as to why they think that.

236. on August 30, 2009 at 12:51 pm Lauren Lynch Said:
     

     Commenting on Jenna Alaskar: It’s weird how much I don’t know about you, for how often we have hung out this year. 1: That is so cool you were born in Saudi Arabia! I can’t imagine moving that much, seeing as I have never moved in my life.
     2: I found that I agree with all of your points and your blog was enjoyable to read. I think that you are right when you said that America can do it the easy way, or just see what happens, and I think that goes for a lot of areas, not just regarding the environment.
     3: Facebook is amazing,and you know it!!! Don’t be a hater.

     Commenting on Mary Konis: I agree with you about how sports can be a constant even when life is crazy. That is how I feel about running and softball, they are always there, and when you step on the start line or in the batter’s box, you can forget everything else.
     Regarding your view on the death penalty: when you say it is not the responsibility of tax payers to support criminals in a prison, do you believe that it is okay for taxpayers to support criminals when on death row? It often costs millions of dollars more to have a criminal executed than in jail for life.

     Commenting on Sarah Fullmer: 9 kids!? That is awesome, I bet your house is full of energy all the time. I’m the only kid in the house, so I don’t know if I could handle that, and being the oldest too. Do you like living in Spokane? Where has your favorite place to live been?

     Commenting on Justin Johnson: I agree that the debate over health care reform has been uneven. Conservatives have been using emotional appeals to gain support, and have relied on fear to sway people away from Obama’s plan. But when you say his failure to pass the health reform is pathetic, I have to disagree with you. Obama has gotten way farther than any president in the past on progress for health care, and I think it is going to take time to convince a nation that has so much to fear regarding the decisions of the government.

     Commenting on Nicole Follett: You say that you “don’t think that abortion is neither right nor wrong,” which from the rest of your paragraph i will assume means that it is conditional to the circumstances. Do you really believe that an abortion is more acceptable because of the financial situation of the parents?

237. on August 30, 2009 at 12:53 pm Devon Preedy Said:
     

     Commenting on Adam Ropp: I don’t know much about you except that you went to Sadie’s with my friend Sarah Headley our sophomore year and you were in our group and fairly quiet so I read your bio. That is pretty neat that you have been playing an instrument since the fifth grade! How many different instruments do you play? Also, what is paper science? Just curious because I’ve never heard of it before! But it sounds interesting!

238. on August 30, 2009 at 1:02 pm Devon Preedy Said:
     

     Commenting on Joanna Luse:
     That is way cool that your brother was born in Saudi Arabia! I’m jealous! Down to the political topics, I agree with your views on abortion it is not right to kill an innocent unborn child. Secondly, I don’t necessarily think that the recession is that bad either, I mean there are some aspects that have gotten pretty sketch but a bunch of it is hype from the media so people will go into a widespread panic. I enjoyed reading your auto-bio! Have a great remainder of the summer!

239. on August 30, 2009 at 1:08 pm Kevin Yen Said:
     

     This is just a general response to everyone on the economy topic:

     I’ve been going through some of the peoples responses to the the economy and the general trend i am seeing is that they feel that the economy is getting better as a whole, stock prices peoples getting jobs and such, better economy then it was a year ago.
     But the is that there is still a high number of homelessness
     Just looking out on the street, looking down the down on a drive to XC practice there are homeless people, homeless families on the corner of every street begging for anything, food money or whatever.
     So when people say that the economy is getting better, getting better for who?
     Yes, it’s getting better for business owners and the majority of the population, but there is still that small percentage of people who the recession had hit hardest and still aren’t able to recover from.

     So yes the economy has gotten better but there are still homeless people, jobless people around that should not be ignored when talking about the economy.
     That is how i feel

240. on August 30, 2009 at 1:17 pm Devon Preedy Said:
     

     Commenting on Justin Fritz:
     I’m glad you have the same opinion as I do on Global Warming! It SHOULD be called globull warming because it is just an unnecessary topic in my opinion. People take it too far and say ridiculous things about the earth ending in (insert amount of years here). Our country has enough to worry about as it is without the global warming topic.

241. on August 30, 2009 at 1:25 pm Devon Preedy Said:
     

     Commenting on Kristina Nielsen:
     First off, let me apologize for not visiting you yesterday on your half hour break at your job. I feel bad. =[
     Secondly, I find your view on the death penalty well thought out and you gave a good statement. I am pro-death penalty myself, but yours is the first that I've read that is against it so good job, good job! (clap clap) Haha, sorry dance team thing that we do... Anyways, I hope to see you soon Stina Bea! =]

242. on August 30, 2009 at 1:25 pm Kelli Davin Said:
     

     Taylor Jordan ~ That is really cool you lived in Australia, I did not know that! The best summers are the ones that are packed with a bunch of things to do. Between you and Jeremy it sounds like the ASB camp was worth a lot for this next schoolyear and for yourselves!

     Daniel Lipuzhin~ I had honors block with you sophmore year, but never really got to know you. Thats cool you are into all the computer stuff. I think they are just really confusing most of the time..

     Carley Ross~ Wow sounds like you have done a lot so far in life! That would be really fun to live in Cali. and England. I have never movied but i would think it would be hard to love so many differnt places. It will be nice meeting you in class!

     Kyle Hicks~ I know a lottle from years past, but not much. What do you mean you speak only in italics in your house??

     Brooke Batterton~ Sounds like you enjoy being outside. My birthday was in the summer too and i agree, it is a highlight!

243. on August 30, 2009 at 1:42 pm Kevin Yen Said:
     

     In response to Valerie:

     To some degree i agree with her point of view on the war on terrorism, and I’m glad someone finally said that there will never truly be world peace.

244. on August 30, 2009 at 1:44 pm Alex Price Said:
     

     In Response to Ryan Hervey: Cool! I didn’t know you lived in Thailand! That is pretty awesome. I just wanted to reference what you said about abortion really quick. I agree with you completely that the unborn child should not have to suffer for wrongs that others committed, but I would like to fill you in on a small statistic. you said that you feel bad for women carrying unwanted children because of r a p e etc. However, less that one half of one percent of ALL consulted abortions are due to r a p e (including statuatory r a p e , date r a p e , etc.)

245. on August 30, 2009 at 1:46 pm TJ McGriff Said:
     

     Kevin Yen: Hey, it’s really cool that you want to go into archeology. It a really cool field to go into. I would never be able to handle it but I can totally see you doing that. I hope that everything goes well for you for college and everything. We are going to have an awesome senior year!

     Justin McClain: So tennis boy where is that scholarship coming from? I know you will get one. You’re too good for your own good. I think you would make a better physical trainer. I don’t know why, just what I feel like you would be good at. You have that kind of personality to help people out that way. I don’t know maybe you should look into it a little

     Brooke Batterton: Hello, Brooke, I’m TJ and if you could tell people think I’m smarter than I really am. I just wanted to welcome you to the school. It is pretty sweet and there are a lot of nice people so don’t worry. Also it is very difficult to get lost, it is one big circle. Just don’t try to look for a 100 class on the second floor they aren’t ever there (my sister might have done that, not me)

     Krystal Roach: Hi, I’m TJ. I don’t know if we have actually ever met… I don’t know. What was it like being homeschooled though? And it is really cool that you like to dance, I’m not that good. I’m always jealous about it; I have two left feet at times. Not good.

     Johanna Luse: I had no idea you were homeschooled. And senior year is going to be awesome. I wish I had a chance to unwind before senior year though… see you soon.

246. on August 30, 2009 at 1:46 pm Kevin Yen Said:
     

     In response to Kristina Nielsen:

     Once again, you have to look at things from all perspectives and analyze things before having a full opinion, i’m mainly talking about you abortion opinion.

247. on August 30, 2009 at 1:48 pm Sadie Peterson Said:
     

     In response to Ryan Hervey:

     I don’t think I knew you lived in Thailand, that’s super cool! I’m also impressed with the fact that you seem to know what you want to be doing after graduation, but it really doesn’t surprise me because that’s pretty fitting to your personality.

248. on August 30, 2009 at 1:49 pm Sadie Peterson Said:
     

     In response to Jenna Alaskar:

     That’s awesome that you were born in Saudi Arabia! What a cool experience to say you’ve had. Oh, and I agree with you that facebook does suck. It consumes everyone’s time, including mine, which could be spent doing more productive activities.

249. on August 30, 2009 at 1:49 pm Sadie Peterson Said:
     

     In response to Jesse Peterson:

     That is so cool that you’re in to gardening! I tried doing that this year but then the weeds kept growing and I got frustrated, so I am impressed with your patience and success.

250. on August 30, 2009 at 1:50 pm Sadie Peterson Said:
     

     In response to Sarah Fullmer:

     You must have a lot of patience to be the oldest of nine kids. I only have two siblings and that’s hard enough. That’s cool though, and I imagine having a big family could be a lot of fun. You must never be bored!

251. on August 30, 2009 at 1:51 pm Sadie Peterson Said:
     

     In response to Justin Johnson:

     I would like to know what wake skating and sky skiing is because I have never heard of them and I get a pretty funny picture of you flying through the air on skis when you say you sky ski. Please do tell.

252. on August 30, 2009 at 1:55 pm Alex Price Said:
     

     In response to Devon Preedy: I find it odd that you consider yourself a democrat yet you have some very conservative views (most notably on abortion.) I think that it is cool of you to stand up for what you believe about God. I know alot of Christians, even pastors children, that refuse to say on any open forum that they are Christians. On the war on terror, the Afghan bombings are the most famous by far, yet they aren’t even the most deadly. America is one of the few countries that lives nearly unnafected by terrorists. For example, in England, Jerusalem, France, Moscow, or St. Petersburg, if someone left a backpack sitting under a bench in a public place (like a mall) it would take about thirty seconds before someone called in a bomb squad. Here, little kids rifle through it and look for loose change. I’ve read alot about the terror that threatens other people in distant countries, and I find myself very wary of loose objects (totally unnecessarily of course.) People always talk about how they have already paid for 9/11 by now, but have they paid for the subway bombings in Paris? Have they paid for the rifle attacks in Lebannon?

253. on August 30, 2009 at 2:01 pm Katie Preston Said:
     

     In response to Nicole McMurray:
     Well you and the environment should be happy to know that I have changed my ways. No longer will I bring a plastic water bottle to school! Camelbak bottles are much better and way cooler because of the awesome straw! And I totally reused the plastic water bottles that we had in French!

254. on August 30, 2009 at 2:40 pm Dillon Fischer Said:
     

     Commenting on Justin Fritz:
     I have a hard time picking just one of your positions to comment on. To me, your opinions came across as highly biased and purposely inflammatory.

     I guess I will just address your piece on President Obama. Accusing the media of “picking your president before anyone could vote” is ridiculous. Like it or not, no one was forced into voting for any single candidate, and I would think the fairly close end result of the election would show that. As for your comment about the “race card,” it sounds to me like you are a little sore over losing the election. If the race card equals a free trip to the white house, I am bewildered as to how Shirley Chisholm, Jesse Jackson, Alan Keyes, and Al Sharpton have all failed at their attempts to become president.

     Commenting on Kyle Hicks:

     I agree with your position on abortion, and I think you put it better than I could. High fives.

     Commenting on Christy Houk:

     Our founding fathers included Christian phrases in the establishment of our country long ago. As you said, they were brilliant men, and also established methods for the people to change the government with time. I think including Christian elements in our government is outdated, and I don’t see how saying “Under God” in the pledge of allegiance is not endorsing one specific religion over another. Unless you want to change it to “ One nation, under God, and Allah, and Buddha, etc…”

     Commenting on Jenna Alaskar:

     I didn’t agree with all of your views, but I agreed with most. I thought your autobiography was interesting and entertaining to read.

     Commenting on Taylor Jordan:

     I agree with your view on the War on Terrorism, and I forgot to make the point you did because I focused more on the Afghani aspect of the war.

255. on August 30, 2009 at 2:42 pm Katie Todaro Said:
     

     In response to Kesslan Hall and Nick Stewart:
     Before a fetus is viable, it cannot be an independent lifeform. It needs to be within another person, and as such is simply an extension of the “host”, i.e. mother. So if Momma is game to be piggybacked, then all is left as it is. But does it really make sense for the government to legislate what a woman can and can’t do with her body? If she does not want to carry a fetus, should we force her to? I sez no.
     Now here is where the “viable point of life” comes into play. If a fetus is capable of living outside of the womb, then the choice of life is no longer completely within the mother’s hands. The fetus could survive outside the care of it’s mother. At this point, I believe the mother does not have the right to kill the fetus by aborting it, as it is, at this point, an independent life form. In this sense, I will get behind the comparison of abortion to murder. Before viability, however, it is a woman’s choice.

256. on August 30, 2009 at 2:43 pm Anna Wold Said:
     

     In response to Sammi Pace
     That’s awesome that you’re only 17, and already going to be aunt of three. It’s amazing my older sister is even getting married. I also agree that abortion should be a last resort, but do you believe that its murder?

     Responding to Jeremy Wales
     You really are an amazing musician, and I enjoyed listening to you guys at the marching band sleepover. On taxation, do you think that richer people should be taxed higher than poorer people?

     Response to Ryan Hervey
     That is so cool, that you once lived in Thailand! My dad tells stories all the time about when he was stationed there during the Vietnam War. He was the microwave radio operator, and also the manager of an NCO club (hard to believe, I know), and the first time he told us about the Thai Guards, we thought he was talking about tigers!

     Response to Alysa Draper-Dehart
     Ah, man, I would have loved to see the fireworks at the reflecting pools, I went in late January, so there weren’t any fireworks. And I agree with you, that Obama puts us in a scary situation. With his large spending sprees, one family will be spending millions for generations, just to pay it all back.

     Response to Megan Erickson
     Moderation and balance when it comes to the environment is something that should always be practiced, even after we find methods of protecting our resources.

257. on August 30, 2009 at 2:45 pm Katie Todaro Said:
     

     In Respone to Nicole McMurray:

     Why would you want to blow something up? It just makes a mess and people get hurt.

     Nicole, I completely agree. Have you ever tried to clean up blood and entrails? It’s horrendous. The War on Terrorism is a housekeeper’s nightmare.

258. on August 30, 2009 at 2:49 pm Kevin Yen Said:
     

     In response to Justin Fritz:

     You are right.
     You are very opinionated, which make it’s hard for someone to like you.
     But I’m just going to say this, it seems that you are letting your own opinions cloud your judgment, and your blocking out the outside information, mainly talking about your position about obama.
     all i’m saying and just let him do his thing and see it work out

259. on August 30, 2009 at 2:55 pm Katie Todaro Said:
     

     In response to Jesse Peterson:

     Fist bump. I agree, no pampering for criminals. In fact, my stance on the death penalty also includes some ideas for prison reform. Instead of the lethal injection, or even the old school methods involving rope and firing squads, I say we have a system of direct retribution. We’ll suffer those criminal reprobates every harm they’ve ever done, beat-down style.

260. on August 31, 2009 at 10:03 pm Jeremy Urann Said:
     

     In response to Sammi:

     Well, as far as my “life-altering” experience goes, I’ll try to do it justice through words, though I wish I could just give you the vibe.
     To start, imagine a place where you never had to put on a façade or act differently-where who you are is enough all the time. That’s not something you can always experience out here in the real world, and I compare the two because camp was something of a better world. What the ideal world would be. When you arrived, you were welcomed and immediately felt like you belonged and were important. You mattered. And as the week continued, you were separated into councils [random groups] and you got to know these people better than family. I shared deeper connections at Mt. Adams than I had ever shared previously. Not only did I meet the most incredible individuals, all more than capable of changing this world, I accepted who I was-yet realized how I can improve.
     Man, you wouldn’t believe how odd this is to put into words, but it’s almost like reliving it in a 13th degree sort of way. I just-the only way to describe how I felt inside and out can be summed up in two words: truly alive. Do you ever have those fragments in your life where you feel as though you aren’t simply going through the motion anymore, you’re creating the motion? You are alive. There is really no other way to put it.
     Camp wasn’t always easy though. I had to make a lot of decisions for myself that weren’t necessarily the “easy way out”. What’s more difficult is taking what I learned from camp and that trying to recreate that same sense of belonging in my life and, most prominently, in our school. And this is what we were trying to communicate to you guys at the A.S.B. meeting. It is not me alone who shares these sentiments. All of the Officers are on board, and that’s why we need you guys to be on the same page. To quote a little known movie, “We’re All in this Together”. We can’t do it without help.

     That’s what camp was about for me. I hope that gave you a bit of insight as to how and why my mindset is the way it is.

261. on September 1, 2009 at 11:52 am Justin Fritz Said:
     

     In response to Kevin Yen on his response to me:
     I am not here to be liked. I am who I am. Take it or leave it. However, my opinions may be be clouded. But if they are clouded they are clouded by facts which inevitably allow me to pass judgment on an issue or situation.

     In response to Dillion’s response to me:
     You are right, I would agree I came across a bit hostile. My apologies. However, I am not sore about losing the election as previously stated both candidates were, well, a fail vote. The “race card” may have been taking it a bit to far, but then again maybe not. As it was announced Obama had won, I was out with my friends at a restaurant and the waiter told us that he voted for Obama to change history. When asked what he meant, the waiter replied the first black president. When asked if he knew what he stood for, he could not tell us. So, if a candidate is chosen off the color of his skin and not his stance on issues, I would say it becomes a larger issue. One more point I need to address is when you said the media did not pick a president. Who did the media endorse, talk up, and look down upon the whole process of the election campaign? Do you remember them saying that Obama had won when the entire Eastern United States had not voted or had their votes counted yet? I do, and that is what I meant by my comment. Once again I apologize if I came across as rude or inflammatory it was not my intention, my intention was to get people to think.

     In response to Daniel’s response to me:
     I find it hard to doubt my opinions when I research the issue and have facts and evidence to support my stance.

262. on September 1, 2009 at 11:59 am Karen Burunov Said:
     

     Part I: Who Are You?
     Hey there! I guess I’ll just jump right into things. My name is Karen Burunov, and as I’m sure everyone else who’s taking this class, I am a senior at Mt.Spokane High School. My parents are both Russian, but i was born here in America. I am the second oldest of four kids in the family. I’ve lived in Spokane pretty much all of my life and I love it. I love sports, although I didn’t play any for school last year. I love playing basketball, volleyball, softball, and football. I’m also very much in love with music, it plays a major role in my life, and I listen to it on a daily basis. My summer this year has been amazing for the most part, I had some family come stay with me from Massachusetts in the beginning of summer, and I just returned from Massachusetts myself, where i was for a month. I love camping out with family and friends, this year i went to a huge church youth camp for 4 days and 3 nights. It was amazing! I love all the team competitions, and long talks into the night by the campfire. God also plays a big part in my life. He never lets me down, I can talk to him about anything.

     Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?

     Since I’m only seventeen, I haven’t exactly decided what i want to do when I “grow up”. I’m sort of deciding between being a biomedical technician, or going into the field of physical therapy or massage. I know for a fact that I want to go to a 2 year college, and then a 4 year, but I am not sure if I want to go to college here in Spokane, or move to Massachusetts where the majority of all my relatives live. Five years from now, I am hoping that i will be living in Massachusetts. Ten years from now, I don’t know where I’ll be, but hopefully I will be happy and making progress in life – only God knows.

     Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?
     To be honest, I’m not exactly sure why I am taking this class, but I hope to learn a lot from it. I don’t know much about politics, so I hope a learn a lot. I want the year to go by as smoothly and peacefully as possible.

     Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
     I am definitely a newby when it comes to anything of political knowledge. I could honestly say I am almost completely oblivious to any of these topics so bear with me please.
     * The War on Terrorism: I don’t know anything about it.
     * The Economy/Taxation: I know that we are in a recession, and that gas prices go up and down like a rollercoaster.
     * The Death Penalty: I don’t know anything about it.
     * Religion/School Prayer: I don’t think that we should overdo things here, but I definitely don’t think that we should take out “under God” from the pledge of Allegiance. School prayer should be an option, anyone who’s open to it, can do it, but it should not be forced upon the entire student population of a school.
     * The Environment: We need to try to keep pollution out of our environment, and we definitely should not be taking down all the trees just to build up more homes, animals play a big part on Earth too, and destroying their environment makes its harder for them to live, and I don’t think its fair that they haveto be the ones that are constantly adapting.
     * The Future Role of the United States in World Affairs: I have no knowledge whatsoever on this subject.
     “President Obama and/or Congress: No view to speak of, on my part.

     Part V: What Have You
     Hmm .. I don’t believe there is anything that I would like to spring upon all of you. Good day!

263. on September 1, 2009 at 12:06 pm Karen Burunov Said:
     

     * I forgot to add what I think of abortion:

     I am definitely again abortion. It should not be allowed for a woman or girl of any age. It is your decision to do the things that cause you to get pregnant, so you should deal with the consequences. No matter how far along the baby is, it is still a human being. Abortion is the same thing as taking a gun, pointing it to a person’s forhead and pulling the trigger.

264. on September 1, 2009 at 3:36 pm Kesslan Hall Said:
     

     Response to Katie T’s response!
     Well I understand what you are saying overall; however after it is seen and “viable” then it still can’t be independant from it’s mother for quite some time, I believe that it can’t live on it’s own for more than about 2 weeks until a few monthes before it’s born, and then it still if iffy on whether it will survive or not. So would you say it’d be okay to have an abortion a few months before it’s suposed birth date? Would you care to tell me more on your stance?

265. on September 3, 2009 at 11:25 am Jeremy Wales Said:
     

     In response to Larae- I am sure he will! Ayers probably could not handle our positive energy in his class. On the subject of delicious gummy worms..YES, there will be a lot of gummy worms. I will make sure of that.

     In respone to Devon Preedy- Thanks for the comment Devon. I am glad to know that you understand where I am coming from in my way of thinking. I really appreciate it. I see you have asked for my opinion of President Obama. Well, to be honest, I do not know enough about Obama as a person or political figure to have a good detailed opinion of him. It would be unjust of me to give an opinion if I do not know all the necessary facts to know.

     In response to Anna Wold- Thanks Anna, I am glad you enjoyed hearing us play. That complement means a lot to me. On taxation, I believe that all should be taxed equally. Take for instance, if everyone were to be taxed 10 percent (I am being hypothetical), and a poorer family is to be taxed that and only makes 10,000, then it would be a 1,000 tax. Now let us bring the sight to the richer people. If the rich were to make 100,000 and be taxed 10 percent, then it would be a tax of 10,000.
     I see that system as equal. This nation was to be built upon equality (even though there still is not a lot of it to be seen). Of corse there is still racial segregation (Not to the extent as the civil war days, but it is still there) and division between rich and poor. What ever happened to equality?

     -Jeremy Wales

266. on September 3, 2009 at 12:41 pm Jeremy Wales Said:
     

     Comment to Karen Burunov- You seem like a really fun person. I am not a big player of organized sports or anything, but I do admire respctible people who can. You say music plays a big role in your life. That is good!

     I see you say you are a Newbie in your views and such. Do not worry, I am a bit of a newbie as well Hah! I think the whole point of taking a class is to learn what the class has to offer the students.

     One question though, what does a biomedical technician do? It sounds interesting.

     Comment to Sammi Pace- You have sat next to me in french class for about a month last year and judging by that and what you have written, you seem to be an easy-going person and very intuitive.
     Your view of the death penalty matches mine and your view of abortion seems very just as well. I have had a couple friends who had to consider that alternative as well, so I may know where you are coming from with that.
     I like the way you justify yourself and your views in your writing. I am looking forward to working with a person such as yourself in this class.

     And along the lines with the “going green” trend, I really do not wish to follow that either, but I do respect the environment and all of its worth as well.
     I am not sure if you mentioned this, but what the the names of your neices? I am an Uncle of 3 as well.

     Comment on Brooke Batterton- Your section of Religion really caught my good side. You brought up that the founding fathers had the intentions of every religion and idea to be accepted equally and respected (at least, I think that is what you were getting at. correct me if I am wrong). In your section with the Economy, you say certain things should be revamped. That is an interesting way to see it. I think it needs a little moderation, but not total re-vamp. But hey, whatever works right? I am sure the government would want to try anything they can (within reason) to help their whole economic system.
     Canada is a beautiful place. I love it over there.

     Comment on Chris Peterson- Chris, you are an awesome musician. Just thought I would say that. Anyways, you said that the economy naturally fluxuates and has been throughout the years. I have seen that too. I also believe that the economy may fluxuate through its natural corse or human error. But that is taking it to a different card. I am saying that I agree with what you have said. Your religion section caught my eye too. I am glad you are in this class. I forgot already, but what Ap history class did you take last year?

     Comment on Haley Anderson- Why be called crazy if you like to run?? You traveled to Italy and Germany? What was it like over there? I have always wanted to travel to Germany or Ireland. You also stated that you love the creative arts. I have GREAT appreciation for art and various forms of artists and I hope you succeed in that!

267. on September 3, 2009 at 2:54 pm Justin Fritz Said:
     

     Response to Karen Burunov

     I find it interesting that you say that God is a huge part of your life and you later say that the pledge of allegiance should have the phrases “under God” taken out. The two ideas seem contradictory to me. Could you possibly clarify?

268. on September 12, 2009 at 1:08 am Larae Stotts Said:
     

     Fritzy:

     No one likes to hear that Hitler was a good man.
     Haha, I’m just joking with you.

     I don’t think you are a hard person to like, but I think you should give Obama a shot. Who knows, maybe he will turn out to be a political genius. Maybe not.

     Everything happens for a reason, and he was elected to solve our problems and carry us through these tough times with his strong voice.

269. on September 13, 2009 at 12:14 pm Russ Zeeryp Said:
     

     ASSIGNMENT PARAMETERS:
     By: Russell L Zeeryp Jr.
     Part I: Who Are You?
     I live with my mother, she’s an amazing person with a very optimistic personality. I believe that has greatly affected me as an individual. I have six sisters and a brother. I’m the middle child, but raised with my two younger sisters. I grew up in a bad place full of terrible people, but with a smile and hard work my family managed to get away from there. I’ve done some shocking things growing up, nothing horrible, mostly taking place doing my pre-teens (Don’t really need to get into that). I know many people, but I only call a few my friends. I don’t just go up to people and ask if they want to be friends, because a true friendship is based on trust and experience. My interests outside of school are… work … have fun …and girls (I put that there for some light hummer).
     What I did this summer: I didn’t really do anything. I meant the world’s most interesting girl, truly one of a kind, at least in my eyes, but it didn’t work out. I worked on my Car (1988 R.S. Camaro), beautiful car. I got a job making twelve dollars an hour working for “Knight’s Construction”. I went to five different summer camps, two for football and three for wrestling. I didn’t really “unwind”, I just prepared for my senior year.

     Part II: What Do You Want to Be When You “Grow Up”?
     My plans for the future, I don’t really think I have any long-term plans, just goals. My goals are simple, be better than my father was, have a great life, understand ‘why’ and ‘how’ for everything, and help confused teens who want someone to be there for them. I am going to a four-year college. No matter how hard or taxing, I will. My plan is to get into WSU, but at the moment that’s not looking very bright, but nonetheless I will still struggle for my chance. I want to go to college because I would be my mom’s only child to ever finish High School and head off to college, but there is more to it than just that. I want to become a Programmer, a Writer, or just another man who helps those who need it, and only an enlightened person can do any of those, so I want to go to college to become an enlightened person.
     Five-years from now, I’ll be struggling to become a programmer, and struggling even harder to find happiness. I say that because I did some research on Programming. From what I saw a good programmer most likely would not be hired because there are others out there who are great programmers who have been doing just that for nearly ten years. In fact, most programmers aren’t hired do-to lack of experience. So knowing that I had a thought, “what if I get my name out there before becoming a ‘great’ programmer?” I came up with the idea to use my second favorite talent, writing, to get my name out there and to bring in some extra cash. I know this is a hard path to follow, but I feel this path will lead to my happiness in the future. Ten-years from now, I’ll have a beautiful family, a piece of land to raise my children on, a fun job full of joyful people, and a lifestyle based on helping others or making others feel good about themselves. I believe this can all be done with hard work and determination.
     Part III: What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Class?

     I’m taking this class to be seen. To be seen by my pears, to be seen by my family, to be seen as someone who’s willing to go the extra step. To not just be another face in a yearbook, but rather to be the face of someone who gave it their all and had no regrets. I would like to learn everything I can while taking this class. In truth, I would like this class to be my easiest one, but on the other hand, I also want to be challenged. Learning strategy, my best way to learn something is straightforward and for everything to come together like a puzzle (Everything makes since to me when everything works together).
     Part IV: What Do You Know or Think?
     I’d have to call myself a novice. I say that because I understand what’s going on, for the most part, but I know I don’t have all the facts. The War on Terrorism, I see this as a scare tactic but on the other hand, I also see it as a topic that truly scares me (Sorry more light hummer). I don’t really have a full understanding on any of these topics, and I believe those who don’t understand should ask questions, not answer them. So I will say what I believe is the smart thing to say in this situation, “I don’t fully understand these topics yet.”
     Part V: What Have You
     I like to make jokes, but normally I will sit silently and take-in everything I hear, question it, try to understand it, and if it makes since and compares to what I believe in I will take it to heart. I’m really looking forward to this year and the time we’ll share. Thanks for having me and I hope you enjoy this writing.

270. on September 13, 2009 at 12:38 pm Russ Zeeryp Said:
     

     To: Ryan Hervey
     From: Russ Zeeryp

     Your Autobiography is awe-inspiring, and I truly mean that. I believe we have a great chance to become good friends. Much like you I greatly enjoy writing, it’s my biggest passion. What you said about having your own believes is the same I feel towards the subject of politics, and your values seem to be nearly the same as my own. I hope you accomplish your dreams of becoming a great writer, and I hope we get to talk and have a great year together.

271. on September 13, 2009 at 12:56 pm Russ Zeeryp Said:
     

     Commenting Drew Williams
     Hey Drew, just wanted to say we’ll mostly disagree on a lot of subjects, but that’s mostly because I like arguing
     When it comes to Government we have a lot of different opinions, but I would like to hear more on your thoughts of our Government and our Economy. I know this response isn’t that long, but that’s because I’ve known you for 3 years, but I never knew what/how you felt towards our Government.
     I’m looking forward to arguing with you, studding with you, and hanging out with you. Talk to you later.

272. on September 13, 2009 at 1:17 pm Russ Zeeryp Said:
     

     Commenting to Karen Burunov

     I just wanted to say something about your Environment Topic. What you said about cutting down trees and building ‘human’ homes. I agree with what you said how it isn’t right, but I just wanted to say evolution takes place because of changes in the environment. Humans had to “adapt” to the constant changes, and we’ve only been on this planet for a few ten-thousand years. I believe the strong live and the weak die out, but I also believe the weak are need to keep the strong. There is a cycle to it. I could explain it, but it would take a great deal of effort to put it into written word, but if I told you face-to-face I believe it would be easy to understand and change your outlook on the subject.

273. on September 13, 2009 at 2:06 pm Russ Zeeryp Said:
     

     Commenting everyone on the subject of Abortion.

     So many of you say, “It’s murder and it’s wrong,” and stuff like that. There are so many good reasons for abortions, but I do understand how people say it’s murder, and you’re killing something that hasn’t even had a chance to fight back, and how it’s not the babies fault. I understand how this subject is very touchy, in fact I really don’t think I should be writing this message because the way I feel on the subject, but I don’t think it shouldn’t be said.

     When is abortion ok? Must would say never, but think of it on a scientific terms. What if a young female (12-17) is rapped, and she becomes pregnant? Must raper’s have genetic defaults of some sort. So I guess I’m asking, “Do you really want to keep something inside of you that was forced there, and may have the same problems as it’s father?” This is where I’d say, as would many others, “Well you don’t have to have an abortion!” but here’s a thought, “What if that child grows into a teenager. He hates himself, and doesn’t know why his parents ‘gave him away’. He’s confused, and doesn’t know how he feels. He hates himself, maybe he hates the world, maybe he hate other kids at his school? What is that teenager capable of doing to others?” What if that baby becomes a full grown man and does the same thing as his father, and gets someone pregnant? And on that note what if that girl is your daughter? What if abortion is now against the law you’re daughter has to live with the fact that there’s a child growing in her that was forced there. Why should someone have to live with something they didn’t do?

     So I guess I just want to know what you all really think on this subject, and how you all would feel if it happened to you.

     What if you had the chance to stop something bad from happening? There are two different kinds of bad people: Those who do bad things, and those who sit back as bad things happen.

     So is it really “Evil” if you kill something that’s not alive, something without brainwaves, something that could become a walking fiend?

     With that note I’m calling it a day.

     P.S. I don’t like abortion, but I try to understand the situation before I judge those who do are going to get it done or who have had it done. In truth, I think it’d be the hardest chose anyone could ever make, so we would try to help them, not judge them.