The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/725508
Page 2 September 9, 2016 Staff Editorial National anthem protests... Opinions Editorial Policy: Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the district, staff, or student body. We welcome signed letters to the editor. Names may be withheld upon request. We also reserve the right to edit submission based on length and/or clarity. THE BLU FFER STA FF Lexi Pritchard Editor-in-Chief News Editors Lexi Pritchard Julissa Villalobos Kourtney Sanders Shania Prieto Opinions Editor Britney Miranda Brooke Blythe Features Editor Claire Miller Gabriel Hale Sports Editor Becca Frey Sophia Cumpton Topics Editor Julissa Villalobos Editor-in-Chief Abby O'Sullivan Advertising Director Alisa Pelanconi Adviser Cartoonist Amanda Waugh Staff Writers Brianna Tackmier Trinity Stehno Sarah Herrera Yesenia Cerrillo Aly Smith A-&-E Editor Italy fails to prepare for quakes Brooke Blythe Features Editor San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick made headlines across the country on August 26 when he decided to sit during the singing of the national anthem at Levi's Stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin. During his post-game interview with the NFL Media he explained, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color, to me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder." Following his first protest, he has gained a following of different people from around the country. For his second protest at a different game September 1, teammate Eric Reid took a knee alongside him during the national anthem, according to nfl.com. That same night, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane did not stand for the anthem. According to usatoday.com, this past Sunday Redding native and soccer star Megan Rapinoe also took a knee during the anthem, a "nod to Kaepernick." she later claimed. Also, the Associated Press reported President Obama's defense of Kaepernick on Monday at the G20 summit, stating that he, "was exercising his constitutional right" to protest during the national anthem. As a staff, we stand behind the idea that Kaepernick does have the right to freedom of speech. In fact, all these professional athletes have that right. It is our country's First Amendment. They were protesting in peace. In our society, this is one of those examples of protest in a legal and courteous manner. There have been no threats made by them and they were still respectful enough to maintain silence during the national anthem. No one was shot. No one was killed. Yes, it caused controversy. Yet that is exactly what each of them wanted to happen. As individuals, each athlete has made a valid statement. There is racism and oppression in this country. After over 240 years with the status of an independent nation, people are still judged by their skin or religious background or past. Or maybe even all of them. While it is unusual to protest during the national anthem, every athlete, not just Kaepernick, had a right to do so. Every person in our country has this right. As a staff, we agree that they were making a statement in a peaceful manner and we choose to respect it. T he news of Italy's latest earthquake has been spreading quickly. With the many heartwarming stories of rescue and reunification, there stands one problem. With all of the previous earthquakes, shouldn't Italy have been prepared for another like this? Italy does sit on top of major and minor fault lines, making it one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. Italy has been doing a great job of rescuing after the earthquake, but a poor job of preparing ahead of time. In 2009, they had a earthquake that destroyed a wing of a hospital that was supposed to survive the latest earthquakes standards. We all tend to forget that while Italy is beautiful, its land is quite shaky. Since Italy became unified, there have been 35 major earthquakes and 86 smaller ones. Brianna Tackmier Opinions Editor O n Tuesday, September 6, the ex-swimmer from Stanford University originally facing only 6 months in prison for the rape of an unconscious woman will be released from prison after only serving half of his sentence due to good behavior. He was sent to live with his parents in Ohio for his three-year probation period and is now registered for life as a sex offender, according to the Associated Press via Yahoo! News. The judge who sentenced him to only 6 months in prison cited, "extraordinary circumstances of his youth and clean criminal record" as a means of deviating from the minimum two years in prison sentence. In one word, garbage. I am not a feminist for the record, but I very strongly believe in the due process of law. If we cannot follow the said rule of law, then why do we even have it? It is like our Constitution before the Bill of Rights was added to it; it basically would have given the government complete control to do whatever they want and even to change their mind about something at the drop of a hat. A normal 21-year-old who was a high school athlete without a criminal record but not a college swimmer would have gotten at least the sentence to two years in prison without early release for good behavior. We as a nation need to stop teaching ourselves that it is okay to break the law and be released early based upon vague ideas such as youth or good behavior. As for youth, it doesn't matter if one is young or old when they commit a crime. Once someone turns 18, they are by law an adult and thus should be treated as one. The jury conviction is based upon the unanimous decision of twelve people with no background knowledge of the person on trial other than the incident they are on trial for. If the jury convicts the person on trial, then it is expected that the person on trial serve at least the minimum sentence rather than a sub-minimum sentence. This does not apply only to men but also to women, not only the youth but also to the old: Both the jury and the judge should not take into account someone's popularity, youth, or previous criminal record in a court of law. In a court of law that written word should be obeyed regardless of who is being sentenced for what crime they are found guilty of committing. " Experts say it will look like green paint has been poured into the water... " Amanda Waugh Cartoonist Syrian refugees seek shelter T he Syrian Civil War, a violent and detrimental war that has lasted 5 years in the Middle East, worsens as governments' militants go full force into rebel forces. Neither side seems to care about the casualties. Thousands have died in the tide of war; men, women and children, at least 200,000. Fear grew throughout the country like a parasite, causing the natives to flee their land plagued by violence and utter chaos. Four million refugees are knocking at our door seeking shelter, but the government have turned them away. However, we should be letting them in. Many are scared of Syrians; they're scared of their religion, their skin color, and what they represent, but that is no excuse. Fear should not override what is morally right. Events like 9/11 and every other terrorist attack has branded these people with a red A, making them outcasts, but people are still people. If America were to go into civil war, people vs. the government, civilization would crumble. Imagine one day war breaks out, bomber planes shake the house making the earthquake, the loud echoes of gunshots ringing, smoke is everywhere, your mother/children/ family are screaming for each other as soldiers approach your house; their intentions indicating violence and death to your families. Imagine being trapped like animals in a place where you have to constantly hide and cower in fear because one wrong word and your family is dead. That is the life of a Syrian citizen. The U.S. is the land of the free, we fought tyranny, and we should be sympathetic to the victims who are under it. The heat has been daunting. SPARTAN THUMBS Home game Homecoming Nominations Cooler weather Donald Trump He exhausted the controversy around his nomination. Football has a home game tonight. Students don't approve of the voting process. Kapernick It seemed more like an attention gimmick. Bluffer/ Trinity Stehno ***These Thumbs were acquired by Mr. Michael's third period class. Aly Smith Staff Writer Toxic algae found in Shasta Lake C yanobacteria, otherwise known as the current blue- green algae bloom on the Pit River Arm of Shasta Lake, has been studied by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control. Experts claim that the traces of Cyanobacteria are large enough that swimming in that area is not advised due to toxicity. How you can tell what part of Shasta Lake is contaminated is by looking at the color of the water. Experts say it will look like green paint has been poured into the water, the overall ground under the water will be slimy, as well as on the surface of the water white or brown foam may be seen. People who choose to swim in Lake Shasta should observe their surroundings and be informed of the health effects that may occur while swimming. Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control says for people to, "Avoid contact with algae tainted water and guard against swallowing any of it of inhaling water spray." Other health issues caused by the blue green water include skin rashes to occur wherever Cyanobacteria has touched the skin, mouth ulcers have been a side effect of swimming in the contaminated water as well. If someone has inhaled water spray or drank a small quantity of the contaminated water vomiting or flu -like symptoms may occur. In the worst cases of things that could occur, you can receive liver failure, nerve damage, or even death if you consume too large of a quantity of the contaminated water. On another note, due to the conditions which can occur when swimming or being in the contaminated water, it is advised that you should not allow your pets to drink any of the contaminated water, and to not allow pets or children be in the water at all. Also, let it be known that boiling the water does not rid the water of toxins, and eating the fish is not advised. Every region has been hit. Many of the buildings have been protected by heritage laws that prevent any moder n i zat ion of the old architecture, so when an earthquake hits, they are one of the first to go. Even though Italy has been low on funds, they should have been prioritizing the citizens safety. "I have to say, my anger is greater than my pain. Anger at the thought that this debacle could have been avoided," the Italian writer Dacia Maraini wrote in an opinion article in the daily newspaper Corriere della Sera. Yes, earthquakes are inevitable, but their damage can be softened by upgrading buildings so they can bend and sway with the earth. There are many new inventions being brought to market such as a bed that can open up and collapse you into a box that will protect you from falling debris when it feels an earthquake. Italy's situation isn't ideal, yet in the future this may better prepare them for what to look for in future quakes. freed from prison Convicted rapist