me Clarion Wednesday. April 1.5. tafi£_2
A
Kim’s Korner
America needs tougher punishments to end crime
Commentary by
Kim Button
In Singapore recently, a teenager
from America was caught spray painting
cars and throwing rocks, eggs, and
flower pots at them. If he was still
living in America, he would have
probably been fined and slapped on the
wrist. But this boy made a huge mistake
in deciding to vandalize cars in
Singapore. The punishment for
vandalism in Singapore? Six lashes
with a split bamboo cane, among other
things.
This story has been in the news
because many Americans believe that
the punishment is just too harsh. I agree
that it is a cruel punishment just for
vandalism, but maybe what we need in
America is tougher punishments like
this because the ones we have right now
sure aren’t working.
Of course, thrashings with a
bamboo stick wouldn’t work too well in
America. But what about punishments
like cutting off a finger if you’re
convicted for stealing, the death penalty
for any convicted murderer, and
castration for rape offenders. I know that
these punishments are unusual and we’ll
never have them in America because of
human rights laws. But something has
got to be done about our crime rate that
has sky-rocketed. While our prisons and
courts are overcrowded with criminals.
I’m sure that the citizens of countries
with stiffer punishments are enjoying a
little more peace of mind than American
citizens are right now.
I’m almost certain that tw
American teenager in Singapore has gl
to be scared to death about hi]
upcoming punishment. I know thatl
would be if I was going to be beate|
with a bamboo cane. And I’m almo|
positive that he will never vandalizl
anything ever again, at least not whill
he ,is in Singapore. But that’s whatwJ
need: punishments so severe thal
everyone has to think twice before eve]
contemplating a crime.
What do you think about that?
Prayer should not be allowed in public schools
Commentary by
Casey Marshall
“During a single week last month
in the District of Columbia public
schools, two high school students were
shot and seriously wounded, another
student was stabbed by a sixth-grade
girl, an assistant principal was punched
in the face, and a policeman was
assaulted by students. Mayor Sharon
Pratt Kelly responded to the mayhem as
big-city mayors often do: she announced
plans to post 60 more cops on campus.
Ex-mayor and now councilman Marion
Barry has proposed a law allowing
students to lead non-sectarian classroom
prayers. ‘Maybe, just maybe, it will
turn some of our values around,’ he
says. ‘We’ve lost our way.’”- Time
Magazine, April 11, 1994
Answer this for me: How can every
student pray when everyone doesn’t have
the same religion? How can the school
teach each religion fairly? Also, there
are some students who don’t believe in
God, so what are they gomg to do?
To me, religion should be based at
home with the students’ parents
teaching them. Some parents don’t want
their children to be taught religion
because of the way they may teach at
home. Also, the teacher may teach the
religion they believe in better than they
would teach the other religions they
CLARION
Kim Button & Casey Marshall
Co-Editors
Angie Clark
Assistant Editor
Ben Vbegele
Sports Editor
Henry Stepp II
Photo Editor
Brad Kimzey
Advisor
- ^
In some cases, people are judged by
their views or religion or their values.
And in elementary school, what other
students think about you is important.
For instance, if your friends were a
certain religion and were cutting down
your religion, then they asked you what
religion you were, you might even lie
and say that you were their religion just
to fit in. To me that is worse. AlsoJ
some people (and students) don’t want|
to make their religion public.
I think religion should not be in thei
public schools. It will not solve any!
problems, it might make some things!
worse-the students might start a “Holyj
instead of gang wars.
Angie s Peace Of Mind
Humans need to stop
cruelty towards animals
Commentary by
Angie Clark
There comes a time in each of our
lives when our heart is touched by an
animal. Perhaps in that brief moment
you experienced the beauty and grace of
a wild animal, or a feeling of
compassion for an animal in distress. Or
maybe it is an instant emotional
connection with a cat or dog. In that
moment, the wall that separates humans
from all other species melts away.
In that same moment, we also
realize that something else grows inside
us. We become aware of how human
beings exploit animals for their own
personal gain. We also begin to realize
how deeply rooted animal cruelty is
within our society. Animal cruelty
seems too much a part of our society
and even in our own lifestyles to be
undone. Many of you think that it is
easier to move on with your lives and
worry about more “important” things.
Compassionate living isn’t very
hard, but it does take a commitment on
your part to change, beginning with
small actions. First, re-examine the way
we treat animals in our daily lives. We^
must also become self-educated. WeneedI
to leam how farm animals are raised |
before going to the slaughter house, (
how animals suffer needlessly for|
product testing.
Leam how to ask the hard questions I
about what goes on in animal research
labs, and whether our government is
using your tax dollars to hurt or help j
animals.
Finally we must act. Animal
suffering will not cease to exist until
each of us takes responsibility for the
choices we make in our daily lives. That
is not to say you should run out and
become a vegetarian. What is being said
is that each and every one of us has a
profound impact on the fate of these
animals. All that is being asked is to
all of us to take responsibility and leam
which products were tested on animals,
or how the cattle was raised and treated
before reaching the slaughterhouse.
The planet we live on belongs to
all living things. Every living thing
that lives here contributes to the Earth s
beauty and diversity. Just remember that
animals also have the right to live fr®®
according to their own natures, free fro'”
harm and abuse, just like human beingS'