Op/Ed

Popecation: An Analysis Thereof

October 5, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Chuckie Copeland

Staff Writer

9/21/15

Thank God! We are all getting out of school this Tuesday due to a rare, once in a lifetime chance, due to Pope Francis coming to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families. We will have what Ms. Pahomov calls a “Pope-cation” and what some have dubbed a “Pope-pocalypse.” The city will be mobbed with an assumed 1.5 million tourists coming into the city. Many citizens however are leaving this city for a short vacation during the time off. How though, will people be able to get back to school in time for school to start again on Monday? Principal Gerwer only gives us a 10% chance of having school then.

9/30/15

Well, we couldn’t get to school on Monday as school would be closed then for the Pope. The school district of Philadelphia closed schools then because they assumed that the Ben Franklin Parkway would still be clogged and Septa was officially not running. We had the day off to just do whatever we felt like, and many of us enjoyed that time. However then came the opposite of a silver lining, the day that we would have off, would be taken away from our spring break. Was that fair to us?

To find out, I went around asking people their opinion.

“No I didn’t have much fun at all, I was bored. And the fact they took one of our spring break days was even worse.” Sophomore Sam Dennis lamented.

Sophomore, CJ Irwin-Diehl said: “I did have fun, you know, spending time with my friends and hanging out but I don’t think it was worth it to take a day off our spring break because we have like, no days off in March and April.”

I didn’t have to go much further, the consensus was quite clear that people didn’t have that much fun, and to get a day taken off our spring break was not worth it.

Unfortunately, that’s history! The Pope came and went, the city went on lock down for 5 days, and we all got an extra day off. People wish they had more fun and did not seem to have much enthusiasm for the Pope’s presence, but that can’t be changed. Maybe in the future the School District would be more considerate with our days off, and we might find ways to entertain ourselves.

I am not a second rate citizen or why I’m tired of having to fight be treated like a human being over an idea

June 4, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

By Sean Morris

Staff Writer

Soon the Supreme Court will make its historic ruling as to whether or not gay marriage should be legal in all 50 states. A few weeks ago, in response to this, a group of anti gay marriage advocates, one of thousands, protested against this mostly citing religion and an erosion of family values.

Here’s the thing: I don’t care what your religion says: but you do not get to decide my rights based on it. And I am tired of people using it as an excuse.

First of all, this country is based upon religious freedom and secular government. I mean I could believe in the great wookie monster if I damn well please, but should I get to write laws based off what he says? No. Its because not everyone will believe as the lawmakers do, so they can’t write laws based off of it, ergo they should not push down gay rights because of it, especially as there’s even evidence to show that marriage came before Christianity.

I remember when current Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio said: “Because today we’ve reached the point in our society where if you do not support same-sex marriage, you are labeled a homophobe and a hater.” Well what else do you call it Marc? You don’t think I’m entitled to the same rights as everyone else? you’re getting defensive about being called a “hater”, but you are one.

Some people might like to have civil unions instead, which I pretty consider the equivalent to the “colored” water fountains- a separate but “equal” policy. And another wanna- be President Rick Santorum has said that if the Supreme Court decides in favor federal marriage equality, then he will actively fight it. And they aren’t the only ones- I think every GOP candidate for the presidency thus far, and any newcomers, will be against gay marriage, and probably gay rights overall. These people all have a chance to become leader of the free world and they don’t even respect the freedom of people.

These candidates are a part of the larger war against the LGBT community by usage of religion, and I am damn tired of it. Religion does not have precedence over the rights of human beings. If you took a child and you raised him in different households of different religions, he’ll likely practice what he’s taught, but if he is gay then he’ll never stop being gay. People are born gay, but they aren’t born with a religious identity. However using their religious identity people have killed others- sometimes even their own children- and used the excuse of religion. Now some people might say that these people don’t represent the current group of Christians as a whole. However, that argument quickly becomes the “not all men” or “not all cops” defense, which just does not hold up. When a group of people have messed up a system and perverted it this much, the only way it will get better is with a massive system change. Therefore, a person’s identity that exists at birth and cannot change needs to be protected over belief systems that CAN change. Human rights are important enough to do so.

I think the protection of discrimination due to religious beliefs needs to come to end. It’s been used to keep the status quo of racism, slavery, women as second- class citizens and so much more.When we allow a single religion to influence the law, then how are we different than many of the governments we are fighting in other parts of the world? All people, with all their unique and individual loves, emotions, and stories deserve the protection and rights of their government.

Personal Column: How much did I spend on prom?

May 28, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

bellevue — Ballroom in the Hyatt at the Bellevue, the location of SLA’s Senior Prom

by Leah Kelly

Staff Writer

The prom season is a crazy and busy one in the lives of high schoolers, especially if it is senior prom. While boys tend to be more reserved with how much they spend on the event , the stereotype is that most girls go all out and spend tons of money to make sure that their night is “perfect”. This includes purchasing an elaborate dress that they will only wear for one night, paying to get their hair and makeup done, manicures, pedicures, shoes, jewelry, purses, the list goes on and on.

And so, the question that many people end up asking is: Is it all worth it? How much money should actually be spent on the prom experience?

I have a lot of thoughts on this topic.

First of all, I don’t think that it’s fair for me to judge people who spend a lot prom, even though I don’t agree with it.

For many people, especially in Philadelphia, I find that prom is a largely cultural phenomenon. Depending on your family or neighborhood, some groups tend to have huge sendoffs with big balloons and their whole family present, while others meet up with a small group of friends, snap a few pictures and head to the prom venue. One is elaborate and expensive, while one is small and frugal.

The flip side to all of this pomp and circumstances is that tensions run high while people are preparing for the big night.

I think that prom is not nearly as much about how you look as it is about having a good time with whoever you’re with. To me, the company I share is much more important than the material things: a dress, shoes, makeup, etc.

Therefore, my financial breakdown for senior prom this year looks much different than I’m sure other people’s budgets do. I am barely spending any money on a dress, shoes, hair, makeup and things like that. I borrowed a dress and shoes from two different friends, which means that I spent no money in that department. I’m having another friend do my hair and I am doing my own makeup. The only part of my appearance that I am spending money on is $10 to get my nails done.

The things that I am spending money on are all of the activities that my friends and I are planning for that night and the following day: a hotel room, gas money to get to the beach and spending money for a day in Wildwood.

Overall, I think that it’s important to look nice and to dress up for prom which requires spending at least a little bit of money, but I think that the main point of prom (especially senior prom) is to enjoy those who you are with, which is priceless.

Women’s treatment in Afghanistan

May 23, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Chiara Nemati

Staff Writer

Here in the United States, we have many passionate activists and who speak out on a wide range of topics, from education, to the way the government and police force treats African Americans, to the state of women’s rights in our society

Unfortunately, other countries are not so fortunate in their freedom of speech and their citizens are often unjustly punished. On March 19, 2015, an Afghan woman by the name Farkhunda was brutally beaten, thrown off a rooftop, run over, and set on fire and thrown in the Kabul River in Afghanistan, killing her. The mob attacked her for allegedly burning the Holy Quran. Many people learned of this atrocity through social media. Many people in Afghanistan believe this attack shows just how preoccupied the soldiers and police officers are with fighting the Taliban. With no help from law enforcement Farkhunda was killed over a false accusation.

In Afghanistan, men traditionally are pallbearers, but in this case the women’s rights activists of Afghanistan carried the coffin of 27-year old Farkhunda. According to a report in the Washington Post, they did so while chanting “Farkhunda is a daughter of Afghanistan. Today it is her, tomorrow it could be us.”

In Afghanistan it is not uncommon for women to be beaten or treated unfairly. Without out a voice or much authority the crimes against women usually go unpunished. President Ashraf Ghani was elected last year, and has already made such a huge impact in the Women’s rights world. His wife has spoken on many occasions about women’s rights in Afghanistan. However there is still much that is hidden to the public.

Women are beaten by their husbands day after day. According to a report in DW some choose to run away while others see only one option. Suicide. Hamila is a 22-year-old women who has scars and wounds from her husband’s’ beatings. One day she decided to run away from her forced marriage.

As I was reading articles on all of the terrible things that happen to the women of Afghanistan all I could think was why has this not been something more talked about or helped. We will occasionally hear the big stories like Farkhunda but it leaves you to wonder how many other things similar to this incident and the incident of Halima occur everyday?

We have a voice, we have the opportunity to help by voicing our opinions and bringing awareness to the situation in Afghanistan. We are fortunate enough to leave such situations with our lives still intact. The women of Afghanistan do not. They live everyday below men with fear of being beaten. Sometimes the only option that brings them peace is death.

60s TV Today: Mad Men

May 13, 2015 by lpahomov 1 Comment

Ella Donesky
Staff Writer

If you have a TV, you may have heard of the AMC television show Mad Men. If you have Netflix, while scrolling for TV shows you may have seen the iconic image of a silhouetted man, seated, set against a colorful 60s-esque backdrop (designed by Milton Glaser, something of an icon himself). Or maybe you just know it as the old-timey show your parents watch.

Most of the SLA students I interviewed had heard of the show, although that doesn’t mean they were all fans. Sophomore Mark Gucciardi-Kreigh said “All I know about it is that a lot of people smoke cigarettes, all the time, everywhere, and then people sell things, like ads, right? And then they wear fancy suits.”

Sophomore Harrison Freed said “I’ve heard that it catalogues the misogynistic workplace dealings of the early 60s.”

Throughout the past seven seasons, Mad Men has attracted a little over 2 million viewers, as well as positive attention from many critics who write for newspapers and magazines such as the New York Times, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Vox and Entertainment Weekly.

Until 8th grade, I wasn’t one of the 2 million viewers. My parents, who are not big TV watchers, learned of the show through friends who were hooked. So before streaming became available on Netflix, they borrowed seasons 1 through 3 on DVD from the local library and binge-watched the show.

Sophomores Zoe Andersson and Kai Burton, who both watch Mad Men, along with their parents, agree that the Mad Men is pretty engaging. I asked them why they watched the show,

“Don Draper.” Immediately said Andersson.

“The drama.” Offered Burton.

When I started the show, most of my friends were watching shows like “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation,” TV shows that were also set in offices. This confused me. I wondered, what was it about TV shows set in offices that were so attractive to teenagers, but furthermore, why was this show I had been watching not popular among my demographic? Why did I like the show?

Mad Men isn’t what you might call a ‘feel-good’ show. Yes, there are moments of victory for characters, but the show is accurate to the time, so often you’re watching sexist men objectifying women, and white office employees making bigoted comments towards African American secretaries. Regardless, it’s important for my generation, especially, to understand the challenges of the 60s, without romanticizing the fashion and music, and to accurately shape their opinion of the era.

With that said, the fashion on the show is one of the primary reasons I watch Mad Men. The show’s seven seasons cover take the viewer from the early ‘60s to ‘70s providing a window on the dramatically changing fashions during these years. With each passing season women’s skirts get shorter, men’s sideburns get longer, and everyone’s boots taller.

I asked Freed what appealed the most to him about Mad Men, “The whole concept sounds appealing, a period piece that lasts during a changing time in the American workplace, it’s appealing in itself.”

Burton, who started the series this past Saturday, said “The time period made me the most interested, the fact that it took place in the 60s, it’s different. And definitely the issues, especially misogyny.”

Andersson said, “The director is really accurate to the time period. He includes a lot of political and social issues that were going on in that era, too.”

Within the first 10 minutes of the first episode, women are clearly the subject of many sexist comments made. Here are a few examples (by both men and women):

“Let her know what kind of man you are, so she can know what kind of woman to be.” And by Joan, who stated without irony, “[The typewriter is] simple enough for a woman to use.”

However, prejudice on Mad Men isn’t limited to gender, but also Jews and homosexuals find themselves the frequent target of oddly casual bigotry. One of the founding partners of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce–the ad agency at the center of the series–asks the creative director, “Have we hired any Jews?” The response was “No!” delivered with a laugh. One of the show’s main characters, Salvatore Romano, is a closeted homosexual.

The show also has its vices. One of the series’ main characters (and often antagonist), is alcohol. Though more prominent in the first season (every office has a booze cart), drinking and smoking becomes almost invisible throughout the rest of the series due its ubiquity.

My favorite character is the secretary Peggy Olson, who fights her way up to copywriter and, later, to copy chief. Her development is the most fascinating because, unlike many of the men in powerful positions, she is forced to over-prove her worth to be treated equally (that fact that even then she never really develops into one of the series’ richest storylines).

I’m often amazed at the innocence in the show. In the first episode, Peggy visits the doctor to obtain birth control pills. She lays down on the examination table and the doctor enters with a lit cigarette in one hand. First, I admire his progressiveness by providing her with birth control, considering the time. But he then he reminds her to exercise restraint, reminding her “easy women don’t find husbands.”

It’s fascinating to me, with the general knowledge we all currently possess, to be able to witness historical events, such as the murder of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 or the Moon Landing in 1969 and to be able to observe the development of social and political issues that I know about but never experienced (as they were during that time, since many of these issues continue in contemporary contexts), and which could never be explained to me through a textbook as vividly as they play out on screen.

In many ways, Mad Men is still relevant today. It is useful to be reminded how recently social norms took forms so offensive to us today. Sexism and Racism continue to exist, though perhaps less blatantly and a series of basic laws to protect people’s rights have been put in place that did not previously exist, which must be seen as evidence of progress.

“[The show Mad Men] can be relevant to some people. With adults, it’s closer to their time period, even if it wasn’t their time period.” Says Burton.

Part two of the last season premiered last month, though you can catch up on seasons 1-7 on Netflix or Comcast On Demand.