SMT Incoming
This week’s Letters to the Editor are from Summerville High School Students that were written for Brianna Willis’ English classes
Good Coverage
“I just wanted to thank everyone for your coverage of all of Summerville High’s arts programs. You guys had terrific coverage of Swinging at the Ritz, the Film Festival, and all the plays. The only things I ask of you guys are to keep up with your amazing coverage of the arts and more coverage of the bands at the Mother Lode Parade. Thanks guys, you give me so much pride in what I do as a performer.” – Dillon Nelson, junior
What’s so Funny?
”It is to my great displeasure to inform you, an expert in the business, that I have begun to notice a decline in the quality ofrecent newspaper comics. There indeed is a standard that has been subconsciously set in the minds of anyone who has enjoyed a classic comic such as a strip by the great Jim Davis or any other well known cartoonist, and it is for that reason that people, myself included, are tired of the new and time adapted ‘funnies’ that have by some strange mishap found their way onto the brightest and most cherished page of the newspaper. Why is it that the great majority of new up-and-coming cartoonists feel the need to force their political and social ideas into a page that was once adored to be timeless and imaginative? Charles Schulz, possibly the most successful and famous comic creator in history, was once quoted saying, “I think comic strips should live a life of their own. Don’t get involved too much with television. You have to show characters watching it, because it’s part of our lives. But whatever you do, don’t use expressions that have become famous on television. You are out there to create your own language and your own expressions. You are creating in a medium just as good as anything they do on television.” The comic page is in desperate need of more timeless, humorous, and artistic views that will draw in readers of all types and leave them feeling lighthearted and altogether more positive. There is an endless amount of possibility and talent out there being wasted by copying one successful genius and trying to redo his method. Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Waterson felt very similarly to my own view. In his disappointment with recent comic strips he stated, “Newspapers can do better. Syndicates can do better. Cartoonists can do better. The business interests, in the name of efficiency, mass marketability, and profit, profit, profit are catering to the lowest common denominator of readership and arc keeping this art form from growing. There will always be mediocre comic strips, but we have lost much of the potential for anything else. We need more variety on the comics page, not less.” I challenge anyone with artistic ability, originality, and a humorous view of the world to take action and start making a difference in our sad and sinking society.” – Ryan McGrady, junior
A Tip for Teenage Boredom
“For a teenager in Tuolumne County, there are only so many extra curricular outlets to target our energy into, outside of school. We have the movies, which has now shot up to ten dollars per show. There is bowling in two separate locations, which is always fun but only once in a while. Sitting at Starbucks with friends only keeps a persons attention for so long. If you are really cool you know that Walmart is the place to hang out; Only in Tuolumne County. During the summer there is mini golf and the pool. But on those hot summer nights what are the legal options? . . . . . Sometimes I think that my group of friends sound like the three vultures in the Jungle book. “What do you wanna do?” “I don’t know what do you wanna do?” This is why country kids like us often find inventive ways to keep ourselves occupied, such as cow tipping. Can cow tipping really be achieved? Some claim to have done it and others say that it is impossible. My large Animal veterinarian stepmother believes that the cow would wake up before being pushed to the ground, but I’m not so sure. So what is the verdict is cow tipping possible or not?” – Cheyenne Buck, junior
A Question of Wood
“I have often been puzzled with the pandering question of,” How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” Now this must begin with the argument of can a woodchuck chuck wood? And if in fact a woodchuck could chuck wood, would he? This all depends on the varying woodchuck and their determination and fitness levels. I can chuck wood per say but I have no drive to. Say a woodchuck wanted to chuck wood how much wood could he chuck and how long could he chuck wood. Say the average woodchuck could chuck 20 chunks of wood in one minute. With a controlled woodchuck population of 1,000 woodchucks, that is 20,000 chunks of wood being chucked in one minute. Why would you need 20,000 chunks of wood being chucked somewhere, let alone in one minute. Now with a single woodchuck chucking wood the number of wood being chucked could and would change. With the woodchuck’s girlfriend chucking near by, the woodchuck would chuck as much wood as he could chuck to impress her, to standout above all surrounding woodchucks chucking wood. I am sad to say because of the woodchucks wood chucking ability being so chuckingly high with today’s economy all wood chucking operations have been moved to Nevada where wood chucking is still in great demand. With all of Nevada’s wood, which should be chucked, they are asking if all woodchucks could chuck and would chuck their wood.” – Chris Garcia, senior
Biased News
“The media is excessively biased. They often times give their opinion in place of real news. I believe that the television shows, which “give the news”, should only present the news. They are brainwashing children, most of the time against the current or recent president. This is erroneous; it eliminates the people’s brains and thought. These anti-humanitarians make us think that the mediocre is hunky-dory. Also, this convinces us that we should listen to just one voice and not make our own judgments or have our own opinions. Thus, Americans never know the absolute reality. When I notified some of my friends that adult stem cells had been found to be successful whereas embryonic had not, they asserted adult stems cells did not exist. Upon giving them proof, they replied, “nobody cares”. These, nevertheless, are the sophomoric ideas that come from the media. Some say the media is good for kids in that it gives them facts they will face as adults. This would be true if the news hosts would not cut off anyone who had a different opinion than them without letting the other human being say more than two words. The only channel that has it right is Comedy Central, however they do not report the news as often as make jokes. If Fox or CNN would be more like Comedy Central news, by letting both sides be heard, the media would be a great foundation of information. Until then, the newspaper or Internet is the best choice for anyone seeking news without bias.” – Ben Brandow, freshman
