Same Sex Marriage by Jasmin R.

Same sex marriage is a controversial issue in society today. Because there isn't a law that will allow homosexual couples to get married, the government legalized the license in certain states. However, the homosexual rate in the United States is increasing, therefore the issue has been furthermore contradicted. The states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, and Vermot legally marry gay couples. The states New York, California, Rhode Island, New Mexico, and Washington DC recognize marriages by same sex couples legally performed elsewhere. The government has a theory that the marriage rate will increase once the marriage inequality is dropped and not forbidden. Thus, the current issue of gay marriage affects many people everywhere and is working on making a legalized law.

Eating a Vegetarian Diet by Jazmyn R.

What’s the first thing that comes to your head when you hear the word “vegetarian”? Personally, as a meat eater, I used to think to myself “are they crazy enough to not like ribs?” But now that I think about it, it is unfair for innocent animals to be killed just to please our selfish cravings. Like us, animals are living things and they have feelings too. How would you feel if you had to be raised and killed by a living thing superior than humans just to be cooked and eaten, then later on dumped in a toilet? You might think that’s impossible, but that is exactly what we do to harmless animals.

Animals may not have been created to be eaten, but I still don’t agree with the theory that humans were biologically made to eat animals. In fact, some of the leading killers in America (heart disease, cancer, obesity, and strokes) are linked to meat based diets. Meat also contributes to osteoporosis, arthritis, Alzheimer's, multiple allergies, diabetes, and food poisoning. Every year in the U.S. alone, 27 billion animals are slaughtered for food. By switching to a vegetarian diet, you can save more than 100 animals a year from the misery of slaughter for food. A vegan diet can also virtually eliminate bad cholesterol, clogged arteries (heart disease), poor circulation, and atherosclerotic strokes.

Besides improving your health, switching to a vegan diet will also benefit our Earth and it’s natural resources. More than half the water used by the US goes to raise the animals we kill for food. Forests are also being destroyed and bulldozed to make more room to raise them in farms. Massive amounts of food and materials are wasted on the animals because we eat them anyway. Animal excrement emits gases (hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane, and nitrous oxide), which contribute to global warming.

By switching to a vegetarian diet, you can save animals, improve your health, help the Earth, and make good use of our natural resources. Our earth provides us with fruit, wheat, and other naturally grown foods. Therefore, the consumption of meat is just something humans do out of pure ignorance. Maybe someday, when we drive those poor animals to extinction, people worldwide will continue living and feeding off a different, healthier food and will finally recognize the death of a beautiful animal that we willingly and necessarily caused.

Metal Detectors by Cashella L.

Well in are school we have metal detectors, ahh beautiful metal detectors to keep, the students in Leman High safe, so there wont be any harm to us students , ahh BIG HAPPY FACE…. NOT ! the school is “quote” on “quote” not safe. Yea okay sure.., are school has metal detectors because there’s to much fighting and kids bringing in weapons, but not once we had lock down in are school because some stupid kid bring in a dangers weapons, this never happen. Kids bring in weed or drugs to school not weapons, you can’t stop kids from bring those things in because metal detectors don’t ring when you walk throw t be scanned, see its still a waste of time to have this . Everyone is fearreus about these metal detectors and kids are trying every way to destroy them.. but it’s making things worse, and the trying to make it seem that we need it .

I have my own experience with metal detectors, well my story is, one day is was raining really hard and I thought of was getting to class and being dry, as I walk through the metal detectors i didn’t hear the lady call me saying I need to be checked, so the police officer grab me, like I had something on me trying to boam the school , what the hell -.-‘ anyway so the lady grab me by the arm and check me, you shouldn’t seen the look on my face, I was gunna pull some Jackie Chan move on them. They checked me and went my way, oh my god I wanted to kill someone. Not really kill someone but metaphor. this is my story on metal detectors, or on how metal detectors made a impact on me

Gang Violence by Kenny R.

Throughout history, Gang violence has made a major impact on the world. But is gang violence necessary? Many people died due to gang violence and racism within the gang. The number of gangs multiplied from when they first originated. There are more than 27,900 gangs around the world with more than 774,000 members. Some gang members don’t have a choice weather to be in a gang or not to be in a gang. Gang violence has a big percent on today’s crimes, assault , burglary, drive by shooting, extortion, homicide, identification fraud, money laundering, prostitution operations, robbery, sale of stolen property, and weapons trafficking. Gang violence plays a big part in school with bullying. 23% of students aged 12-18 reported that street gangs have been presented at their school during the previous 6 months. 46% in public schools with reported gang violence, 21% in suburban schools. There is more gang violence In public school then suburban schools. Many innocent people died during the actions of gang violence. When people join gangs its mainly for a reason, one of the reason is just to be cool! Kids now a days feel its cool to be in a gang & that it’s a trend. Do I think Gang Violence is necessary? No I think its not because its hurting the way how kids are being brought up and it is destroying our society!

Gun Control by Dwayne M.

Gun control is a good law because most people are out of hand with it. For an example a person can get drunk , or high , or , is just out of control at times, and just shoots a person for talking about them. Another example, is if a person says its for protection, then show it off in front of their friend then all of a sudden a accident occurred, with the gun. When a person says they use the gun for protection they don’t really need it for protection because they don’t have a solid reason. There should be more gun control because guns are still used by people who are wanted today. Like people who rob people with guns, kill people and threaten people with the gun. Guns for owners should be allowed but under a contract or a deal. Something that should make him or her not use it on purpose. Or sell it to another person.

Racisim by Case E.

Why does racism still exist? Many brothers and sisters have died for no reason other than the hatred of others towards their race. If you think about it we are all human and black, white, Asian, Hispanic, etc. We need to stop killing each other for skin color, or race. There have been many examples of hate crimes or things like that. For example right now there are major issues and I mean major with immigrant workers. Many Americans or unemployed workers attempt and have succeeded on killing Cubans or Columbians because they are illegal and “took their jobs”. Now I am a Hispanic and I don’t want to seem biased because my people do the same. Everyone is wrong that thinks hey he’s black or white or Hispanic or Asian. If you think of it we are all the same with the same body structure (anatomy if you wish). Some are fat some are skinny but we are all still the same human. Another race that has been discriminated against are the Arab Americans because dictators from their country has bombed everything they become labeled as a terrorist. Ever since 9 11 it has changed. There have been lots of bomb threats and bomb cars. But we can’t blame them because it is real and has happened in other countries. It is just a scary thought to think that guy next to you on the train can explode us up. But me not being Arab…think just for a second what do they think. Maybe they think you can do the same if you think about it….

Metal Detectors by Allison G.

We might as well put barbed wire around the school and put a watch tower in front of the field to accompany the metal detectors, which the school has provided. I am not for metal detectors because they are invasive and rude. Since the metal detectors were made permanent this year the school has gotten the feeling of jail. We the students, and only the students, are checked (scanned) as soon as we come in, but not teachers or faculty. WHY IS THAT? The school fails to see that teachers could also bring weapons into school. For example William Wilberg from JH ROSE high school was charged of bringing weapons on school grounds.

Another thing that really gets me is that were not allowed to bring our phones to school. So I have to pay a dollar A DAY for some company to hold my phone until I get out of school. I really not feel that’s a very smart idea o not allow the students to bring their phones. What if there any emergency, what are we to do then. When brought up to the school they argued that “if your parents have an emergency they can call the school and we will locate you.” I attested that on numerous occasions and all I got was a busy tone. My parents cannot be on hold when something important is happening. Another thing o I don’t like is that were not allowed to go out for lunch its lid e were forced to be caged in and forced to eat their food. Little by little are freedoms are being stripped away. http://www2.wnct.com/news/2011/apr/26/7/teacher-arrested-bringing-gun-school-ar-981498/

Metal Detectors by Genesis M.

Metal detectors have been becoming more common in New York City high schools over the years & as annoying as it may be, I think it is a good idea to have them. Yes it may be a long process but it is for the safety of the students and staff. Metal detectors stop people from bringing in weapons which can prevent many crimes inside of the high school campuses. The main reason to have metal detectors in high schools is to decrease the amount of crimes within the schools. Metal detectors can prevent school shootings that have occurred over the years such as the Columbine high school massacre in 1999 which resulted in 15 dead, and many injured. I think people should stop complaining about metal detectors because in the end of the day they are just there for our protection, and besides we all get use to them anyway. I would rather wait on a line for a few minutes and walk through the metal detectors than to not have them and have someone come with a weapon and shoot up the school.

Metal Detectors in Schools by Genesis E.

Metal detectors are made for our safety and I understand that 100percent. But that shouldn’t stop us from bringing in our phones, ipods and our freedom. My school in Bronx,NY is one that has metal detectors in it but they don’t allow us to bring in our phones. I can see why they wouldn't want us to because we could get distracted and such , but what happeneds if the student is in a perdicament in which he or she could get hurt after school, they have no type of way to get in contact with anybody because we are not allowed to have our phones on us. On top of that most security guards are rude and demand respect when they don’t give it back. It has basically become a jail. This issue is important to me because it is unfair that students feel like they are trapped in a jail because Lehman is also a school with a lot of students so we feel cramped and alot of more students get into conflicts. I completely understand that metal detectors are to
protect us and they have but it is aslo increasing the violence in my school and mostly afterschool because the students are helpless and have no idea what could happen .

Why are illegal immigrants sent back to their country? by Alberto C.

I believe immigrants built and build America , so therefore they should have all rights to stay. If they are employed and want to start a new life for himself/herself or to work to support their family back at home in their country. They should be able to live here without the government deporting them because it shows in history that immigrants help build America and made it what it is now. Immigrants built railroads and work in factories today. They should be able to attend schools. The big picture of this is that we didn’t build America alone; we had help from immigrants all around the world. They struggle for a country that’s not even theirs and made it their home. Seriously, they need credit for help building a strong and stable country. As President J.F.K argued, “every American who ever lived, with the exception of one group, was either an immigrant himself or a descendant of immigrants."

Metal Detectors: Privacy by Blanca B.

One thing that gets under my skin is having metal detectors in school. I understand we can’t have Ds’s, iPods, mp3s...Etc. However, you need phones because what if there’s an emergency and the staff doesn’t come in time, what then. There can be emergency in the class room and maybe there no phone in the room, and the student or teacher could be in danger and there no communication in the room. This happened last year and we had a kid in class that had phone and called 911. The staff didn’t come to the room under five minutes. It took them like 15minutes. If we stood there and we let the staff take over, my class mates could have be in serious trouble. Having a phone is important to have in school just in case we really have an emergency, especially if the school doesn’t have good security.

One con about Metal detectors is privacy. I think that’s a major issue that we have with metal detectors. There often set up at the main student entrance to a school that has implemented security measures. Especially in large schools, stopping at a metal detector, emptying pockets and allowing backpacks to be searched may lead to students being late for classes. Metal detectors may become an inconvenience to the students, parents and even the school faculty. Furthermore, it is controversial because searching students', teachers' and parents' belongings is a possible invasion of privacy.