Journalism
Why Feminism is Important
The dictionary definition of feminism is “The advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.” Feminism started as way for women to be seen and heard, because women have been taught that their place was in the home, that their only purpose was to have children, and to take care of the house. Women were not allowed to vote, they were not able to have a say in what happened with their lives.
Each wave of feminism has focused on different issues, first wave feminism was about getting the right to vote, and it was led by suffragettes like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This movement started with a women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. It was a group of women who felt that they needed to start taking ownership of their lives, and tell the government that they needed to have influence in the outcome of the country. Women were asked to do so much in the home, but they were not allowed to express their opinions, these women didn’t think that was okay, so they changed it.
Second wave feminism, which took place in the 1960s and 70s, was mainly focused on gender equality in the workplace and allowing women to take ownership of their lives. Even though the first wave feminist movement tried to give women more power, life for women still revolved around the wishes of their husbands. Women finally decided that it was time for women to accomplish what they wanted with their lives, they wanted to work, and be treated equally. People like Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan led this movement for equality. They made sure there were more women in the workforce, as well as start a national conversation about the objectification of women, reproductive rights, and sexual assault. If this movement had not happened, women would probably still mostly be housewives, completely controlled by their husbands and their children. A woman’s place used to be solely in the home, unable to work or accomplish their dreams. These women marched and fought for the right to be the owners of their own lives, and to show the world that are strong and independent.
The third wave feminist movement is currently underway. This movement has shifted from trying to get women to be taken seriously and treated equally by society, to making sure that everyone is treated equally, not just women. This is called inclusive feminism, and it is incredibly important now. Third wave feminism, as with the first and second waves, is dedicated to women’s rights, as well as ending sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia, as well as making sure women have access to safe and legal abortion. These issues were the main points of the Women’s March on Washington January. At the march, people vowed to stand up against hate of all kinds and continue to practice inclusive feminism. It is time now to make sure that all minorities are able to rise above all the hate in this world.
Feminism is so important. Not everybody realizes that, but without feminism, the world would be so much more hate-filled than it is now. The people who have fought for equality have done so much for this world, and it is such a better place because of them. Animas teacher, Aliza Cruz said, “Feminism is the support of the belief that women should have access to all of the opportunities that are available to men, and the understanding that women face different understandings based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity, and that women should not be subjected to rules that men are not.” She is absolutely right, women happen to be born with less opportunity than men do, and especially if those women are of another minority. It is the job of all feminists to make sure that all people are treated equally and with respect. This society will not succeed if that doesn’t happen.
Today, feminism is crucial to the well-being of our culture, this world can be filled with hate, and feminists need to fight against that hate, and end discrimination of all kinds. A student at Animas said, “It's about equality, and getting equality via bringing up minorities to the level that privileged majorities are at. It's not bringing men down, it's about raising women up to get on the same level.” This is something everyone needs to remember, feminism is about making sure that the less privileged people of this world are able to gain the rights they deserve, and be treated with respect and love by all people, that is the true purpose of feminism today.
Each wave of feminism has focused on different issues, first wave feminism was about getting the right to vote, and it was led by suffragettes like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This movement started with a women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. It was a group of women who felt that they needed to start taking ownership of their lives, and tell the government that they needed to have influence in the outcome of the country. Women were asked to do so much in the home, but they were not allowed to express their opinions, these women didn’t think that was okay, so they changed it.
Second wave feminism, which took place in the 1960s and 70s, was mainly focused on gender equality in the workplace and allowing women to take ownership of their lives. Even though the first wave feminist movement tried to give women more power, life for women still revolved around the wishes of their husbands. Women finally decided that it was time for women to accomplish what they wanted with their lives, they wanted to work, and be treated equally. People like Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan led this movement for equality. They made sure there were more women in the workforce, as well as start a national conversation about the objectification of women, reproductive rights, and sexual assault. If this movement had not happened, women would probably still mostly be housewives, completely controlled by their husbands and their children. A woman’s place used to be solely in the home, unable to work or accomplish their dreams. These women marched and fought for the right to be the owners of their own lives, and to show the world that are strong and independent.
The third wave feminist movement is currently underway. This movement has shifted from trying to get women to be taken seriously and treated equally by society, to making sure that everyone is treated equally, not just women. This is called inclusive feminism, and it is incredibly important now. Third wave feminism, as with the first and second waves, is dedicated to women’s rights, as well as ending sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia, as well as making sure women have access to safe and legal abortion. These issues were the main points of the Women’s March on Washington January. At the march, people vowed to stand up against hate of all kinds and continue to practice inclusive feminism. It is time now to make sure that all minorities are able to rise above all the hate in this world.
Feminism is so important. Not everybody realizes that, but without feminism, the world would be so much more hate-filled than it is now. The people who have fought for equality have done so much for this world, and it is such a better place because of them. Animas teacher, Aliza Cruz said, “Feminism is the support of the belief that women should have access to all of the opportunities that are available to men, and the understanding that women face different understandings based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity, and that women should not be subjected to rules that men are not.” She is absolutely right, women happen to be born with less opportunity than men do, and especially if those women are of another minority. It is the job of all feminists to make sure that all people are treated equally and with respect. This society will not succeed if that doesn’t happen.
Today, feminism is crucial to the well-being of our culture, this world can be filled with hate, and feminists need to fight against that hate, and end discrimination of all kinds. A student at Animas said, “It's about equality, and getting equality via bringing up minorities to the level that privileged majorities are at. It's not bringing men down, it's about raising women up to get on the same level.” This is something everyone needs to remember, feminism is about making sure that the less privileged people of this world are able to gain the rights they deserve, and be treated with respect and love by all people, that is the true purpose of feminism today.
Steve bannon is wrong for this country
Steve Bannon is the current assistant to the president, and was the chief strategist for Donald Trump during the campaign, and has no business being in the White House. He is a white supremacist, he is the previous executive chair of Breitbart, a newspaper that caters to the “alt-right” a term that was created by a white nationalist, Richard Spencer who has quoted nazi propaganda.. He literally said “Fear is a good thing. Fear is going to lead you to take action.” People like Bannon are not meant for presidential advisement. He is not good for our country, he will cause this country to become very dangerous, and he will create an unnecessary level of heightened hostility, by promoting his racist and sexist ideals, and convincing the president to act on them.
Steve Bannon was previously the head of Breitbart, a news website that caters to the “alt-right”, which is a form of conservatism that promotes white supremacy in its essence by writing articles that are specifically meant to be read by the “alt-right”. Breitbart has published articles about how Planned Parenthood kills people; one of their headlines reads, “Planned Parenthood’s Body Count Under Cecile Richards is Up to Half a Holocaust”. This is incorrect, and it can be dangerous to publish a news website that writes articles that are not true.. The fact that this man promotes incorrect statistics and now advises the president of the United States is terrifying. Another headline of theirs is, “Would You Rather Your Child Had Feminism or Cancer?” This shows that Steve Bannon doesn’t care about how ridiculous he sounds as long as he keeps his following of racist, sexist, brainless people who will believe anything he tells them. This is why Donald Trump is now our president, it is clear that there is a demographic of people do not care what the truth is as long as they are told what they want to hear, and they get to keep spewing hate at everyone in their vicinity.
People are not happy about this appointment of Mr. Bannon as chief strategist and and senior counselor. Animas High School junior, Quinn Luthy said, “I think he is a little troll that climbed out of the depths of hell into our government.” Quinn is not alone, there are many people in our school community and all over the place who feel that Bannon is not right for our country. An opinion piece in the New York Times said, “Anyone holding out hope that Donald Trump would govern as a uniter — that the racism, sexism, anti-Semitism and nativism of his campaign were just poses to pick up votes — should think again.” Bannon poses a serious threat to the people in this country, and that fear should not be undermined. It is important for people to realize how terrifying this man is.
People are afraid of what will happen with Bannon being in the amount of power that he is. When asked if he thought Steve Bannon would be good for this country, Quinn said, “He is so outnumbered, and policies that only benefit straight, white men don’t benefit the majority of this country.” He is right, Mr. Bannon does not represent the majority of this country, we live in a country of diversity, and it is not okay to have people in power who want to undermine that. This country will not succeed if such a large part of it are not represented in the government.
Steve Bannon was previously the head of Breitbart, a news website that caters to the “alt-right”, which is a form of conservatism that promotes white supremacy in its essence by writing articles that are specifically meant to be read by the “alt-right”. Breitbart has published articles about how Planned Parenthood kills people; one of their headlines reads, “Planned Parenthood’s Body Count Under Cecile Richards is Up to Half a Holocaust”. This is incorrect, and it can be dangerous to publish a news website that writes articles that are not true.. The fact that this man promotes incorrect statistics and now advises the president of the United States is terrifying. Another headline of theirs is, “Would You Rather Your Child Had Feminism or Cancer?” This shows that Steve Bannon doesn’t care about how ridiculous he sounds as long as he keeps his following of racist, sexist, brainless people who will believe anything he tells them. This is why Donald Trump is now our president, it is clear that there is a demographic of people do not care what the truth is as long as they are told what they want to hear, and they get to keep spewing hate at everyone in their vicinity.
People are not happy about this appointment of Mr. Bannon as chief strategist and and senior counselor. Animas High School junior, Quinn Luthy said, “I think he is a little troll that climbed out of the depths of hell into our government.” Quinn is not alone, there are many people in our school community and all over the place who feel that Bannon is not right for our country. An opinion piece in the New York Times said, “Anyone holding out hope that Donald Trump would govern as a uniter — that the racism, sexism, anti-Semitism and nativism of his campaign were just poses to pick up votes — should think again.” Bannon poses a serious threat to the people in this country, and that fear should not be undermined. It is important for people to realize how terrifying this man is.
People are afraid of what will happen with Bannon being in the amount of power that he is. When asked if he thought Steve Bannon would be good for this country, Quinn said, “He is so outnumbered, and policies that only benefit straight, white men don’t benefit the majority of this country.” He is right, Mr. Bannon does not represent the majority of this country, we live in a country of diversity, and it is not okay to have people in power who want to undermine that. This country will not succeed if such a large part of it are not represented in the government.
What High School Students can do in the aftermath of the election
The outcome of the 2016 presidential election has been terrifying for many people. Donald Trump has shown through his statements and actions that he does not care about the people of this country. His comments about building a wall on the southern border, and his proposition to require people of muslim faith prove that he is a bigoted, unempathetic racist. This is not a man fit for the presidency. He said that he wants to grab women “by the pussy”, and he wants to defund planned parenthood. He has shown through his cabinet appointments that he is against rights for the LGBTQ community, women, and people of color. This is not the kind of person who should be running this country, and it is the job of everyone to do as much as possible to combat the hatred and bigotry coming from the leader of this country. Here is a list of what high school students can do.
Make sure that you don’t back down, don’t allow people to tell you to just get over it. This may be our new reality, but it doesn’t mean that it is okay or normal, because it’s not. We cannot allow our country to become saturated with hate, and we cannot allow the people who will be affected by this most to suffer the worst consequences. We need to show everybody that we do not support Donald Trump, and we will not support the hatred and bigotry he represents.
- Get involved with local politics. It is very important to do what you can at the local and state levels. Volunteer with political organizations in your town. In Durango, there is The La Plata County Democratic Party, The La Plata County Republican Committee, The League of Women Voters, and Southwest Colorado Peace and Justice Coalition. You should also be contacting your representatives, we need to make sure that they know our concerns.
- Volunteer and donate. There are so many organizations that benefit minorities in this town, and it is important to do what you can to support these organizations whether it be through donations or volunteering. The Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center and Planned Parenthood are both organizations that will be safe havens under a Trump presidency.
- Get involved with school clubs. School clubs are a great way to get more involved with your school community, and a way to show your community that you will not allow hatred and bigotry to become normal in our country. At Animas High School, the Gay-Straight Alliance is a great place to get involved, and at Durango High School, PEAT is a good club to get involved with. If there is a club that you feel the need for, you should definitely create one, the more organizations that are determined to fight against the bigotry of this new administration, the better.
- Stand up to bullying. We have to stand up to bullying of all kinds, this can be really hard and exhausting, but it is important to be heard, and to show people that you are an ally to them. We need to show people that just because Donald Trump will be our president, doesn’t mean it is okay to disrespect people or openly hate. Hate will not be condoned, no matter what the president of this country says or does.
- Start political conversations. If we want people who may not agree with us, to understand us, we need to start respectful political conversations with those people. We need to start talking to people, if we all just stay in our bubbles, nothing will get accomplished. These conversations will not be easy, and they will not be comfortable, but they are important.
- Protest. Find what protests and rallies are going on in your area, and get involved in them. We need to show Trump that we are not going to back down until he understands that we won’t tolerate hate and bigotry.
Make sure that you don’t back down, don’t allow people to tell you to just get over it. This may be our new reality, but it doesn’t mean that it is okay or normal, because it’s not. We cannot allow our country to become saturated with hate, and we cannot allow the people who will be affected by this most to suffer the worst consequences. We need to show everybody that we do not support Donald Trump, and we will not support the hatred and bigotry he represents.
Women's March on washington
On Saturday, January 21, 500,000 people marched on Washington to fight for the rights of women and minorities. The march came about because of the outrage and fear of the election of Donald Trump, he has vowed to take away reproductive rights, and has also made incredibly racist and sexist comments. People felt like they needed to make their opposition clear, and this march was a way of doing that.
People came together to fight against the bigotry that resonates from Donald Trump and his cabinet, we made it clear that we will not accept this, and we will not back down. This march was about acceptance and peace, it was an incredibly peaceful march, and people showed their solidarity with people who will be affected by this administration. During the march Michael Moore spoke, he said “I picked up the Washington Post, and the headline read, Trump Takes Power. I don’t think so, here’s the power, here’s the majority of America right here, we are the majority. New president vows to end American carnage, Mr. Trump, we are here to vow to end the Trump carnage.” This march was a message to Donald Trump that we will not allow him to tear people’s lives apart.
Donald Trump will probably reverse abortion rights, and has shown that he doesn’t care about women’s rights, or anyone’s rights unless they are a straight, white, rich, christian man through both his cabinet picks, and his comments. He will probably sign an executive order for a religious freedom law that would allow any private business, including schools and health care providers, to discriminate against people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. He has banned refugees from seven different countries, this is devastating for so many people, and has literally ripped families apart.
There were many inspiring signs at the march, it seemed that people wanted to show both their support for the people who will be affected by this administration, and to show that we will not back down if Trump tries to take people’s rights away. One of the signs that made a big impression on me said, “Weak men fear strong women.” I think this is important because it shows Donald Trump that he will not succeed in trying to undermine our rights. We will not allow him to destroy our hope or take away our determination. This was a group of people dedicated to opposing any of Trump’s discriminatory policies.
People came together to fight against the bigotry that resonates from Donald Trump and his cabinet, we made it clear that we will not accept this, and we will not back down. This march was about acceptance and peace, it was an incredibly peaceful march, and people showed their solidarity with people who will be affected by this administration. During the march Michael Moore spoke, he said “I picked up the Washington Post, and the headline read, Trump Takes Power. I don’t think so, here’s the power, here’s the majority of America right here, we are the majority. New president vows to end American carnage, Mr. Trump, we are here to vow to end the Trump carnage.” This march was a message to Donald Trump that we will not allow him to tear people’s lives apart.
Donald Trump will probably reverse abortion rights, and has shown that he doesn’t care about women’s rights, or anyone’s rights unless they are a straight, white, rich, christian man through both his cabinet picks, and his comments. He will probably sign an executive order for a religious freedom law that would allow any private business, including schools and health care providers, to discriminate against people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. He has banned refugees from seven different countries, this is devastating for so many people, and has literally ripped families apart.
There were many inspiring signs at the march, it seemed that people wanted to show both their support for the people who will be affected by this administration, and to show that we will not back down if Trump tries to take people’s rights away. One of the signs that made a big impression on me said, “Weak men fear strong women.” I think this is important because it shows Donald Trump that he will not succeed in trying to undermine our rights. We will not allow him to destroy our hope or take away our determination. This was a group of people dedicated to opposing any of Trump’s discriminatory policies.
Gay-Straight Alliance Activities
The Animas High School Gay-Straight Alliance has done many advisory activities over the years, but this one has probably been the best yet. The activity is by grade level, with each grade in the commons for a forty-five minute presentation and question and answer session. Both the junior and senior classes have participated in this activity, and it has gone very well, and the sophomore and freshmen classes will participate in December and January.
The activity started with showing a video, and then moved to playing four corners. Four corners is a game where a statement is said, and people move to different sides of the room that have signs that say “agree”, “strongly agree”, “disagree”, and “strongly disagree”, based on what they think about the statement. This game was very powerful during this activity, it made people think, and it also opened up the opportunity for honest conversations about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) issues in this country.
The second part of the activities were question and answer sessions. This allowed people to ask question they had about LGBTQ issues and the community. It was a safe space for people to genuinely ask questions in a non-judgmental setting. In high school, even a supportive one like Animas High School, it is sometimes very hard to have conversations about LGBTQ issues. This activity allowed for honest, good conversation about these issues, and further education for the students at this school.
These activities have been very good for the students, and the school as a whole. During these activities, people learned about LGBTQ issues, and discussed what can be done to help. People don’t only learn about issues that face the LGBTQ community, but also what allies can do to help. It is very important for people who are not part of the community to know what they can do for people who face hardships, and how to support them. Issues that only affect a certain population can be ignored by people who are not part of it, and the goal of these activities is to raise awareness and teach people about the LGBTQ community, and tell people who they can support their peers.
The activity started with showing a video, and then moved to playing four corners. Four corners is a game where a statement is said, and people move to different sides of the room that have signs that say “agree”, “strongly agree”, “disagree”, and “strongly disagree”, based on what they think about the statement. This game was very powerful during this activity, it made people think, and it also opened up the opportunity for honest conversations about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) issues in this country.
The second part of the activities were question and answer sessions. This allowed people to ask question they had about LGBTQ issues and the community. It was a safe space for people to genuinely ask questions in a non-judgmental setting. In high school, even a supportive one like Animas High School, it is sometimes very hard to have conversations about LGBTQ issues. This activity allowed for honest, good conversation about these issues, and further education for the students at this school.
These activities have been very good for the students, and the school as a whole. During these activities, people learned about LGBTQ issues, and discussed what can be done to help. People don’t only learn about issues that face the LGBTQ community, but also what allies can do to help. It is very important for people who are not part of the community to know what they can do for people who face hardships, and how to support them. Issues that only affect a certain population can be ignored by people who are not part of it, and the goal of these activities is to raise awareness and teach people about the LGBTQ community, and tell people who they can support their peers.
LGBTQ Youth Need Safe Spaces
Youth need these safe spaces because sometimes it is the only place they can get support and be themselves. When youth are constantly hearing that who they are is wrong, it causes a huge toll on them, and society. This is an issue, and people need to start understanding that.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth go through many hardships both at school and at home, that is why it is so important for these youth to have safe spaces for them to be themselves. According to the Human Rights Campaign, ninety two percent of youth said they have heard negative statements about their identity at school, and sixty eight percent said they heard negative things from elected officials. When youth hear that much negativity from the people they are supposed to trust and feel safe around, it causes an immense emotional toll. Without these safe spaces, youth would not have the support they need, and may face negativity and danger in every aspect of their lives.
Suicide is a serious issue among LGBTQ youth, according to the Human Rights Campaign, youth are four to six times as likely to commit suicide as their hetersexual peers. Safe spaces like Gay-Straight Alliances or LGBTQ drop-in centers help prevent suicide among these youth. It is so important to try to prevent as many suicides as possible, and these safe spaces do that. The LGBTQ community experiences so much hate, and sometimes these places are the only ones where these youth can truly be themselves without fear.
LGBTQ places for homeless youth are also incredibly important for keeping these youth safe. According to the Williams Institute, about forty percent of homeless youth are LGBTQ, that is almost half of the youth that are homeless in this country right now. This is caused by the fact that so many parents throw their LGBTQ children out of their homes. According Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), twenty six percent of LGBTQ youth are thrown out of their homes by their parents. This is a problem that needs to be addressed, especially with the rising rate of youth coming out at younger and younger ages. These shelters cause so much support, and safety that youth don’t always have.
The LGBTQ community needs as much support and safety as possible, youth face hate from all sides, and it is time to start supporting these kids. Safe spaces are their only support in a world where they have no support at school or at home. It is time to fight for more safe spaces, and a safer society.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth go through many hardships both at school and at home, that is why it is so important for these youth to have safe spaces for them to be themselves. According to the Human Rights Campaign, ninety two percent of youth said they have heard negative statements about their identity at school, and sixty eight percent said they heard negative things from elected officials. When youth hear that much negativity from the people they are supposed to trust and feel safe around, it causes an immense emotional toll. Without these safe spaces, youth would not have the support they need, and may face negativity and danger in every aspect of their lives.
Suicide is a serious issue among LGBTQ youth, according to the Human Rights Campaign, youth are four to six times as likely to commit suicide as their hetersexual peers. Safe spaces like Gay-Straight Alliances or LGBTQ drop-in centers help prevent suicide among these youth. It is so important to try to prevent as many suicides as possible, and these safe spaces do that. The LGBTQ community experiences so much hate, and sometimes these places are the only ones where these youth can truly be themselves without fear.
LGBTQ places for homeless youth are also incredibly important for keeping these youth safe. According to the Williams Institute, about forty percent of homeless youth are LGBTQ, that is almost half of the youth that are homeless in this country right now. This is caused by the fact that so many parents throw their LGBTQ children out of their homes. According Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), twenty six percent of LGBTQ youth are thrown out of their homes by their parents. This is a problem that needs to be addressed, especially with the rising rate of youth coming out at younger and younger ages. These shelters cause so much support, and safety that youth don’t always have.
The LGBTQ community needs as much support and safety as possible, youth face hate from all sides, and it is time to start supporting these kids. Safe spaces are their only support in a world where they have no support at school or at home. It is time to fight for more safe spaces, and a safer society.
Voter's Guide
Election day is coming up, and many people are realizing that they don’t much about the people who are running for office at the state level. This is a guide of the republicans and democrats who are running for Congress and Senate. The topics that will be focused on are the environment, education, the economy, and the military.
Michael Bennet is a democratic Colorado senator, and is running again this year, he feels strongly about many issues, but we will focus on four of them. He is very committed to the environment, and strongly believes in conserving the planet. He has fought to pass legislation that protects our planet, including getting Chimney Rock to be named a national monument, and has also helped pass the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act that would protect the forests of Colorado. He is a former superintendent, and has helped pass laws that he feels will benefit students in this state. Bennet and John McCain passed a law called Troops to Teachers that would get military members involved in schools. He has done a lot to help support veterans and improve our national security. A major thing he has done is make sure that veterans and their families have good access to health care including mental health care. He also has worked towards strengthening national cyber security. He also worked to refine No Child Left Behind in order to make it more flexible for students in this country, as well as passed a bill to help simplify the financial aid process for potential college students. Bennet wants to make sure that people in Colorado are financially sound, and that small businesses are able to flourish. For this reason he passed a bill that makes it legal for small companies to use crowdfunding sources to help start. He has also worked towards further wind energy production which he feels will create more jobs. Michael Bennet feels very strongly about this state and supporting the people in it.
Darryl Glenn is the the republican candidate for senate. He is committed to protecting the country from foreign terrorism, the economy, and working families. He believes that education should be in the hands of local officials instead of the federal government. He wants superintendents to be in charge of what students learn and how they learn, instead of DC politicians making those decisions. Glenn wants a neutral tax system, which he believes will make taxes fair for everyone in the country, and help small business get on their feet. He also wants corporations to get tax incentives so that they stay in the country, and keep jobs here. In terms of the military, he thinks that the government needs to strengthen the military in order to fight the threat of Islamic terrorism. He believes that Islamic terrorism is one of the biggest threats to this country’s national security, and the country needs to do everything in its power to protect the citizens from that threat. Darryl Glenn has served as the El Paso county district one commissioner for two terms, and two terms on the Colorado Springs city council, and he is ready to serve as senator.
Gail Schwartz is a democrat running for senate. In her own words, she is “...a proven champion for rural communities, I have fought to make western and southern Colorado the best possible place to work, raise a family, and educate our children. Working together, I know that we can bring independent, commonsense leadership to a broken congress.” She feels very strongly about making sure Colorado land is kept public, and never privatized. She believes in the importance of education and making sure kids graduate from high school, and she has fought to have financial aid easier for students to obtain. Schwartz has fought to get education and health care easier to access in rural areas. She believes it gives the global economy access to rural communities. She supports the veterans of this country, and it committed to addressing mental illness among veterans, and support for veterans’ families. Gail Schwartz has been involved in government at the state and local levels since 1995, always believing in Colorado, and its people.
Scott Tipton is the republican candidate for senate, and he has lived his whole life around Durango, and is very passionate about making life as good as it can be for the people of Colorado. He believes in supporting the people of this area of Colorado. He wants an energy plan that would include natural gas, clean coal, and American made oil, and would also include alternative energy like hydropower, wind power, and solar power. He also believes that land regulation should be put in the hands of local governments. He believes that people at the local level should be in charge of their own education, because he think parents and teachers know best what their schools need. In terms of the economy, he thinks that regulations should depend on the company, and states should be in charge of regulations, not the federal government. He believes that jobs are leaving the country, and that it is hard to start small businesses, his solution is to reform the tax system to make it easier for jobs to stay here, and so small businesses can start more easily. Tipton thinks the country is not as secure as it used to be, and that it needs to change. He wants to support veterans by making sure the VA is accountable for how they support veterans.
Hopefully this guide was helpful, and that there is new incite into who these people are. These four candidates are all up for election this year, so don’t forget to vote.
Michael Bennet is a democratic Colorado senator, and is running again this year, he feels strongly about many issues, but we will focus on four of them. He is very committed to the environment, and strongly believes in conserving the planet. He has fought to pass legislation that protects our planet, including getting Chimney Rock to be named a national monument, and has also helped pass the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act that would protect the forests of Colorado. He is a former superintendent, and has helped pass laws that he feels will benefit students in this state. Bennet and John McCain passed a law called Troops to Teachers that would get military members involved in schools. He has done a lot to help support veterans and improve our national security. A major thing he has done is make sure that veterans and their families have good access to health care including mental health care. He also has worked towards strengthening national cyber security. He also worked to refine No Child Left Behind in order to make it more flexible for students in this country, as well as passed a bill to help simplify the financial aid process for potential college students. Bennet wants to make sure that people in Colorado are financially sound, and that small businesses are able to flourish. For this reason he passed a bill that makes it legal for small companies to use crowdfunding sources to help start. He has also worked towards further wind energy production which he feels will create more jobs. Michael Bennet feels very strongly about this state and supporting the people in it.
Darryl Glenn is the the republican candidate for senate. He is committed to protecting the country from foreign terrorism, the economy, and working families. He believes that education should be in the hands of local officials instead of the federal government. He wants superintendents to be in charge of what students learn and how they learn, instead of DC politicians making those decisions. Glenn wants a neutral tax system, which he believes will make taxes fair for everyone in the country, and help small business get on their feet. He also wants corporations to get tax incentives so that they stay in the country, and keep jobs here. In terms of the military, he thinks that the government needs to strengthen the military in order to fight the threat of Islamic terrorism. He believes that Islamic terrorism is one of the biggest threats to this country’s national security, and the country needs to do everything in its power to protect the citizens from that threat. Darryl Glenn has served as the El Paso county district one commissioner for two terms, and two terms on the Colorado Springs city council, and he is ready to serve as senator.
Gail Schwartz is a democrat running for senate. In her own words, she is “...a proven champion for rural communities, I have fought to make western and southern Colorado the best possible place to work, raise a family, and educate our children. Working together, I know that we can bring independent, commonsense leadership to a broken congress.” She feels very strongly about making sure Colorado land is kept public, and never privatized. She believes in the importance of education and making sure kids graduate from high school, and she has fought to have financial aid easier for students to obtain. Schwartz has fought to get education and health care easier to access in rural areas. She believes it gives the global economy access to rural communities. She supports the veterans of this country, and it committed to addressing mental illness among veterans, and support for veterans’ families. Gail Schwartz has been involved in government at the state and local levels since 1995, always believing in Colorado, and its people.
Scott Tipton is the republican candidate for senate, and he has lived his whole life around Durango, and is very passionate about making life as good as it can be for the people of Colorado. He believes in supporting the people of this area of Colorado. He wants an energy plan that would include natural gas, clean coal, and American made oil, and would also include alternative energy like hydropower, wind power, and solar power. He also believes that land regulation should be put in the hands of local governments. He believes that people at the local level should be in charge of their own education, because he think parents and teachers know best what their schools need. In terms of the economy, he thinks that regulations should depend on the company, and states should be in charge of regulations, not the federal government. He believes that jobs are leaving the country, and that it is hard to start small businesses, his solution is to reform the tax system to make it easier for jobs to stay here, and so small businesses can start more easily. Tipton thinks the country is not as secure as it used to be, and that it needs to change. He wants to support veterans by making sure the VA is accountable for how they support veterans.
Hopefully this guide was helpful, and that there is new incite into who these people are. These four candidates are all up for election this year, so don’t forget to vote.
Religious Liberty Laws: Why They Don't Benefit Anyone
Twenty-eight states have religious liberty laws. Do they really benefit religious people, or is it just an excuse to discriminate against the LGBT community? Religious liberty laws are laws that make it legal for business owners to deny service to people based on their religious beliefs, they specifically target the LGBT community. These laws only benefit people who feel like LGBT people conflict with their religion. Although these laws allow business owners to not serve people if it conflicts with their religion, it won’t help with the fact that the world needs to start being more open, and accepting of all different kinds of people. There are still many people who believe that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) choose to be LGBT, when that is just not the case. Our world will not get better if people are able to close themselves off to the rest of the world, because something makes them uncomfortable. The only religion they really “protect” is Christianity, and that is the one religion that has plenty of protection in this country .“Religious Freedom” laws are not, and never have been about protecting religious rights, they have been excuses to discriminate against the LGBT community.
Most of the people who are pushing for these laws are conservative christians. Christians in this country are one of the most privileged groups in this society, and there is no reason for further legislation to “protect their religious freedom”. Robin Wilson, a law professor at the University of Illinois said, “Jesus, or whoever your faith figure is, would not be standing up for the idea that a person should never have a place to live, or not have a job, or a livelihood, or a way to support their families.”. People need to focus more on being good people, instead of trying to take away other people’s rights.
This is not only about private businesses, but public organizations, including public schools. In Tennessee, HB 1840/SB 1556 makes it legal for mental health workers to deny service to LGBT clients, including public school guidance counselors if it conflicts with their religious beliefs. The bill states, “Under the bill, no counselor or therapist shall be required to serve a client as to goals, outcomes, or behaviors that conflict with a sincerely held religious belief of the counselor, provided an appropriate referral is made.” This is a serious issue because even though a referral has to be made, it is very common to only have one school guidance counselor, which means it is possible for LGBT students to not have support from counselors in school. LGBT students don’t always have support at home, and if they also don’t have support from a school counselor, there may not be place for those students to go who need support. Support is one of the most important things for a person to have, and when that is taken away, the world can seem like a very scary and dangerous place, especially when public spaces as well as private organizations are not safe places.
It is part of life to have to serve people one might not agree with, and it should not be the job of the country or state to make discrimination legal. If someone owns a business, it is not okay for them to decide to choose who can or cannot use services from their business. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, Tennessee, Michigan, Florida, Ohio, Kansas, and Mississippi all have some form of religious liberty law proposed, or currently in place. This may not seem like very many states, but there are so many people who are affected by these laws. The LGBT communities in these states are drastically affected, whether they are barred from a restaurant or denied mental health care. This is not what our country was founded on, it is not what it should perpetuate.
There is another issue of some people that being LGBT is a choice, and that people need to be stopped from making that choice. This is an incredibly damaging belief because being LGBT is definitely not a choice, and a lot of people live in torment because they can’t change who they are if they are LGBT. An organization that has been a leader in this belief is the Family Research Council they said, “It is not loving to provide any [protection against LGBT discrimination], because it’s not loving to allow gay people to be gay.” This is a terrible statement to put out to the public, because a lot of people actually believe it. The LGBT community has been told that who they are is not valid forever, and to continue to perpetuate this belief is dangerous because LGBT kids see this. They see their parents say these this, and they feel like nobody will ever accept them, and they will not be able to live a fulfilling life. This ties into the religious liberty laws because organizations like this try to lobby to make it legal to discriminate against the LGBT community.
These laws are discriminatory and wrong, and they really don’t help anyone. They bar the LGBT community from getting the rights and respect they deserve. They allow religious conservatives to never have to accept the LGBT community, and this causes them not grow into more respectful and accepting people. We need to eventually see a world where this kind of discrimination is not an issue, and people are treated with respect and given the rights they deserve.
Most of the people who are pushing for these laws are conservative christians. Christians in this country are one of the most privileged groups in this society, and there is no reason for further legislation to “protect their religious freedom”. Robin Wilson, a law professor at the University of Illinois said, “Jesus, or whoever your faith figure is, would not be standing up for the idea that a person should never have a place to live, or not have a job, or a livelihood, or a way to support their families.”. People need to focus more on being good people, instead of trying to take away other people’s rights.
This is not only about private businesses, but public organizations, including public schools. In Tennessee, HB 1840/SB 1556 makes it legal for mental health workers to deny service to LGBT clients, including public school guidance counselors if it conflicts with their religious beliefs. The bill states, “Under the bill, no counselor or therapist shall be required to serve a client as to goals, outcomes, or behaviors that conflict with a sincerely held religious belief of the counselor, provided an appropriate referral is made.” This is a serious issue because even though a referral has to be made, it is very common to only have one school guidance counselor, which means it is possible for LGBT students to not have support from counselors in school. LGBT students don’t always have support at home, and if they also don’t have support from a school counselor, there may not be place for those students to go who need support. Support is one of the most important things for a person to have, and when that is taken away, the world can seem like a very scary and dangerous place, especially when public spaces as well as private organizations are not safe places.
It is part of life to have to serve people one might not agree with, and it should not be the job of the country or state to make discrimination legal. If someone owns a business, it is not okay for them to decide to choose who can or cannot use services from their business. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, Tennessee, Michigan, Florida, Ohio, Kansas, and Mississippi all have some form of religious liberty law proposed, or currently in place. This may not seem like very many states, but there are so many people who are affected by these laws. The LGBT communities in these states are drastically affected, whether they are barred from a restaurant or denied mental health care. This is not what our country was founded on, it is not what it should perpetuate.
There is another issue of some people that being LGBT is a choice, and that people need to be stopped from making that choice. This is an incredibly damaging belief because being LGBT is definitely not a choice, and a lot of people live in torment because they can’t change who they are if they are LGBT. An organization that has been a leader in this belief is the Family Research Council they said, “It is not loving to provide any [protection against LGBT discrimination], because it’s not loving to allow gay people to be gay.” This is a terrible statement to put out to the public, because a lot of people actually believe it. The LGBT community has been told that who they are is not valid forever, and to continue to perpetuate this belief is dangerous because LGBT kids see this. They see their parents say these this, and they feel like nobody will ever accept them, and they will not be able to live a fulfilling life. This ties into the religious liberty laws because organizations like this try to lobby to make it legal to discriminate against the LGBT community.
These laws are discriminatory and wrong, and they really don’t help anyone. They bar the LGBT community from getting the rights and respect they deserve. They allow religious conservatives to never have to accept the LGBT community, and this causes them not grow into more respectful and accepting people. We need to eventually see a world where this kind of discrimination is not an issue, and people are treated with respect and given the rights they deserve.
The Pine Tree Youth Circle
The Pine Tree Youth Circle is a peer-led support and mentoring support group for high school students. It was started last year by Animas High School graduate, Allee McKown and is currently co-run by Animas High School junior, Maya Blaisdell, and a Durango High School senior, Kate Petty. The Pine Tree Youth Circle is a place for high school students to give and get support, through talking about issues that high school students face, including stress and identity. As teenagers, we don’t always get a chance to really talk about what it is like to be our age, and this group tries to create an environment for that. The group is based off of the One Circle Foundation format, which is a circle for middle and high school students. The One Circle Foundation is a group that, “promotes resiliency and healthy relationships in children, youth, adults, and communities with research-based circle program models and best practices.” (One Circle Foundation). Allee is trained by this organization, as is Maya and Kate. The curriculum from the One Circle Foundation is used in the group, as well as the curriculum created by Maya and Kate, or other programs adapted to fit the group better.
On a weekly basis, the we take turns leading the group, and we either have discussions, activities, or both. These discussions are really beneficial to everyone in the group, it is a way to talk about what is affecting our lives right now. It also allows for people to get support around what is going on with them, they can decide to lead the group in whatever discussion or activity they feel like, and it can be really helpful to talk to peers about our lives. The group is an opportunity to learn that no one is alone in their issues, we all have issues, and it can feel really good to see that in the group setting.
Lasting relationships were created from the Pine Tree Youth Circle last year, we got to get to know our fellow group members really well, and that is one of the best things about the group. The group does three different retreats each year. During these retreats, members learn leadership through facilitating a group, active listening, how to give and take feedback, as well as different topics and lifelong skills. There are also guest speakers who may have backgrounds in running groups. Throughout the retreats, we learn a lot about ourselves and the other members, plenty of time is given to getting to know each other in order to have a cohesive group.
The first retreat is really about establishing connections within the group and planning the schedule for the year. People really get to know each other during this training, it is the first time they are able to have more time to deeply discuss and reflect who they are, and what they want the group to be for them, all while being accepted and supported by peers. That first retreat sets the tone for the rest of the year.
The second retreat is about revisiting what we want the group to look like, and what we want it to be. Since the group is peer-led, everyone in the group has a chance to lead discussions, and everyone has a say in how the group is run, we all discuss what we like about the group, what we don’t like, and how we can make the group better. This is really a time for reflection and feedback, both for how the group is run, and to individual people about how they show up in the group. This feedback is both positive and constructive, and it allows the group to become stronger.
The last retreat is about how the group was for everyone, it is the last event the group does together. Reflection is the main point of the weekend, and it is also about spending time together as a group, sometimes this is the last time we will see each other, if people graduate or move. There is a lot of both personal and group reflection.
The group is continuing this year, and we will be having a lot of amazing discussions, retreats, activities, and workshops. The group is a place for people to be part of a community and discuss issues that they are facing right now. The Pine Tree Youth Circle is about the people in it, and it is formatted in a way that each person can almost make it their own. Each group member will lead a discussion or activity, this allows the group to get to know each other, and understand what is important to each person.
The kinds of activities we do are games that can spark discussion about society or life in general. The the group is mostly based around discussion, the topics range from identity, gender, and sexuality, to escapism and addiction, as well as depression or home issues. The purpose is for each person to bring something unique to the group discussion and get the support they need. The Pine Tree Youth Circle is a really amazing group that lets people talk to each other about what is going in their lives, it is a confidential group, so we are able to talk about personal issues, and trust the group to give us support around that.
The Pine Tree Youth Circle is now open, so if you are interested in being part of the group, please email Maya Blaisdell at [email protected] or Kate Petty at [email protected].
On a weekly basis, the we take turns leading the group, and we either have discussions, activities, or both. These discussions are really beneficial to everyone in the group, it is a way to talk about what is affecting our lives right now. It also allows for people to get support around what is going on with them, they can decide to lead the group in whatever discussion or activity they feel like, and it can be really helpful to talk to peers about our lives. The group is an opportunity to learn that no one is alone in their issues, we all have issues, and it can feel really good to see that in the group setting.
Lasting relationships were created from the Pine Tree Youth Circle last year, we got to get to know our fellow group members really well, and that is one of the best things about the group. The group does three different retreats each year. During these retreats, members learn leadership through facilitating a group, active listening, how to give and take feedback, as well as different topics and lifelong skills. There are also guest speakers who may have backgrounds in running groups. Throughout the retreats, we learn a lot about ourselves and the other members, plenty of time is given to getting to know each other in order to have a cohesive group.
The first retreat is really about establishing connections within the group and planning the schedule for the year. People really get to know each other during this training, it is the first time they are able to have more time to deeply discuss and reflect who they are, and what they want the group to be for them, all while being accepted and supported by peers. That first retreat sets the tone for the rest of the year.
The second retreat is about revisiting what we want the group to look like, and what we want it to be. Since the group is peer-led, everyone in the group has a chance to lead discussions, and everyone has a say in how the group is run, we all discuss what we like about the group, what we don’t like, and how we can make the group better. This is really a time for reflection and feedback, both for how the group is run, and to individual people about how they show up in the group. This feedback is both positive and constructive, and it allows the group to become stronger.
The last retreat is about how the group was for everyone, it is the last event the group does together. Reflection is the main point of the weekend, and it is also about spending time together as a group, sometimes this is the last time we will see each other, if people graduate or move. There is a lot of both personal and group reflection.
The group is continuing this year, and we will be having a lot of amazing discussions, retreats, activities, and workshops. The group is a place for people to be part of a community and discuss issues that they are facing right now. The Pine Tree Youth Circle is about the people in it, and it is formatted in a way that each person can almost make it their own. Each group member will lead a discussion or activity, this allows the group to get to know each other, and understand what is important to each person.
The kinds of activities we do are games that can spark discussion about society or life in general. The the group is mostly based around discussion, the topics range from identity, gender, and sexuality, to escapism and addiction, as well as depression or home issues. The purpose is for each person to bring something unique to the group discussion and get the support they need. The Pine Tree Youth Circle is a really amazing group that lets people talk to each other about what is going in their lives, it is a confidential group, so we are able to talk about personal issues, and trust the group to give us support around that.
The Pine Tree Youth Circle is now open, so if you are interested in being part of the group, please email Maya Blaisdell at [email protected] or Kate Petty at [email protected].