The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/755415
Page 2 November 18, 2016 Staff Editorial Thanksgiving loses traditional meaning... 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 Leslie Soto Staff Writers Brianna Tackmier Trinity Stehno Sarah Herrera Yesenia Cerrillo Aly Smith A-&-E Editor Brooke Blythe Features Editor Thanksgiving is coming around the corner again, and we don't think anybody attending this school has really taken a few minutes in the last 365 days to consider what they're thankful for and to sit down and appreciate the good things that in life. Are you thankful for the air you breathe every day, food you have on your plate, or the roof over your head, keeping you dry and warm at night? Over the last several centuries, people have forgotten the real meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday, and they've changed traditions to better suit the busy lives of working people. The Mayflower left Plymouth in 1620, and the pilgrims traveled 66 days because they wanted to have the freedom to practice whatever religion they chose, and they also wanted the promise of land ownership that would come from moving to Cape Cod. The pilgrims were grateful for being able to make it on their long journey. Though many of them died from exposure to the cold, scurvy, and contagious diseases being spread around. Approximately half of the Mayflower's original passengers survived long enough to see that New England Spring come around. It takes away from the meaning of Thanksgiving. SPARTAN THUMBS New Dutch Cups Election Black Friday Thanksgiving Break It's been a long two and a half grading periods. Dutch Bros. has sensational new cups. Neither candidate is fit to become President. Seasonal Drinks Students have been looking forward to them. Bluffer/ Trinity Stehno ***These Thumbs were acquired by Mr. Kennedy's third period class. We at The Bluffer are thankful for many things this approaching holiday season, including, having homes to keep us from weather, friends and family to talk with, plentiful food to eat, nice people in our lives, and living in a safe, free country. The idea of Thanksgiving has been clouded since the tradition is carried on by the image of a plump turkey on your dinner table and shopping on Black Friday. The Bluffer would like to remind everyone attending and working at Red Bluff High School of the real reason behind the beautiful holiday we celebrate on the fourth Thursday of every November; Thanksgiving is about being with the people you love the most, and celebrating the fall harvest. Back in 1621, the first Thanksgiving celebrated the Pilgrims' first harvest of the year after they all had migrated over on the Mayflower. It was attended by ninety Native Americans and fifty-three Pilgrims; this brought people together to celebrate as one group. The tradition is carried on today because it's honorable to remember our ancestors and how we got here. While we may not know how we got to where we are, it is imperative to remember the actual meaning of Thanksgiving. Amanda Waugh Cartoonist Chaos ensues from Black Friday A s Thanksgiving nears, Black Friday is a pushing its way to the beginning of November. Even though Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, people prepare ahead of time, looking for the best deals to grab before anyone else. Many people camp outside stores days before Black Friday just to get the best sale. Although some emerge with bargains, many come out bearing battle scars of broken bones, stab wounds, black eyes, and sometimes, they don't come out alive. This seemingly harmless holiday turned into a ruthless battle. Although some may laugh at headlines like "Man Dies From Stab Wound Over New Television", imagine if it was your own parent. For those who wake up early and know that it's the day that they might be able to get that new television for their families that they usually couldn't afford and then get stabbed for it is what we shouldn't be proud of. Since it's not likely that people will stop scavenging soon, there are ways to stay safe during Black Friday while still getting the deals that everyone craves. Online shopping: the ultimate way to shop while still laying in bed in your PJs. Many sites such as Amazon, Kohls, Home Depot, and Best Buy have Black Friday deals starting Thanksgiving morning! It's easy to acquire the items your friends and family want at low deals while staying in the warmth of home. Also, shop later to avoid the mobs. There are still good deals out there, especially those that people look over. Even if you miss out, statistics say that sales in December are just as good or even better than those during Thanksgiving. Either way, staying away from the Black Friday madness this month while still getting the deals everyone craves is a wise decision. Happy and safe shopping to everyone this year. Global warming changes planet E veryday we put toxins into the air that will remain unfixable. We destroy this Earth as its inhabitants and pollute every inch of nature that resides within this realm, whether it be through driving cars or tossing trash into the ocean. Global warming is very much real, even though Donald Trump doesn't seem to believe that, and it's all a hoax created by China. Ice caps are melting and many say 'so what. That had nothing to do with me', but it does. Once all of the ice caps have melted, San Francisco will be at least a foot or two deep in water. This will cause all ice caps to melt on both ends of the Earth, and make everyday an even hotter Red Bluff summer. Without the polar ice caps to maintain temperature, the Earth will fry leaving it to soon be uninhabited. Not only should people simply care because it COULD affect them in the future, but because we are ruining ecosystems. Red Bluff summers go from 117 degrees to 130 degrees instead due to the fading poles. Animals are dying and going extinct. Polar bears have been seen to be nearly starving to death. The animals that once ran around their small tundra are gone because that tundra is now nonexistent due to our irresponsibility as humans. As well as the fact that we're burning a hole in the atmosphere, which is something we kind of need in order to survive and keep the oxygen on Earth. We also constantly poison food supply. Change the world before we no longer have it. Aly Smith Staff Writer Heroin epidemic saddens people of the United States B etween the many things going on in our country one of the biggest epidemics that is currently breaking our hearts is America's Heroin epidemic. Not only have there been many stories of mothers passing out from overdoses in supermarkets as their beautiful children have to call for help or just break down crying, but there have been stories of both parents passed out in cars with their children crying in the seat behind them. That's a traumatizing experience for children and families to go through, but still it happens. The Huffington, West Virginia (CNN) says, "Sara Murray tends to two dozen babies in the neonatal therapeutic unit at Cabell Huntington Hospital. They shake. They vomit. They're inconsolable, high-pitched screams pierce the air. The symptoms can last for hours, days or months." We ask, how did we get so bad that babies are born addicted to heroin? How can a mother not care about her children so that she abandons the health of her child? One in ten children are born addicted to something. That reality hits like a ton of bricks. I hardly believe that something this bad is part of what's going on our country. It's terrifying and sad to believe that people are throwing their lives as well as their kids' lives away for heroin and I wish that people would open their eyes and put their children's lives first. Brianna Tackmier Opinions Editor Election shocks America I 'll be honest; when I first heard back in 2015 that Donald Trump was running for President, I thought it was a joke. I'm not hardcore Democrat, but I expected a race between two polished politicians. While over the last several d a y s we've all p r o b a b l y h e a r d some of (I still can't b e l i e v e I'm saying this) President Trump's plans for our country, the real question is, "Where do we go now?" my answer was away, and sure enough not long after the race widened to 209 electoral votes Clinton to 244 for Trump, Canada's immigration website crashed from Americans attempting to sign up to travel to and become citizens of the country, according to ABC News on election night. It would seem that regardless of anyone's personal opinion of the two candidates, there are others who stand by that same o p i n i o n . We know he can be erratic; he's called for the construction of the wall, offended people who identify with different races and religions, claimed he would, "make California turn on the water," and even has accusations against him for sexual harassment. With all his controversy, President Trump's first days after being sworn into office are critical. We're living in a world that hangs in the balance between a never ending war and extreme terrorism. Knocking that askew will surely spell disaster and he needs to proceed with caution. There is no remaining room for spontaneous, insultive reaction to global issues. "With all his controversy, President Trump's first days after being sworn into office are critical."