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Remedy through Ramadan: An experiment in religious tolerance
by Christopher Byram, co-opinion editor
By the time you
read this, the Islamic holiday of Ramadan will have been
going on for a number of days.
This may not
mean a whole lot for many of the people in this region, but
to about 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide, Ramadan has a great
religious significance. Although I am not a Muslim, I will
be observing and practicing Ramadan this year, out of
respect for a very popular world-wide religion and to
attempt to gain some greater spiritual and philosophical
understanding.
Positive thinking no 'secret'
by Jonathan Seaborn, editor-in-chief
For the people in the world who actually need self-help, the
last thing they need to hear is that they can change
everything in their lives by using only positive thoughts.
That is what the book “The Secret” is trying to sell us.
“The Secret” is a so-called “self-help”
book and movie that claims to let you in on the little
secret that if you think about something hard enough it will
happen. That is total bologna. I hate to break it to the
author of this book, but you do not control your own fate.
In fact, I don’t believe in fate at all. That’s right folks,
nothing has a higher meaning or is preplanned in any way.
Identify your identity
by Alex Everett, co-feature editor
With groups growing in
popularity among teens, it is hard to decipher what is real
and what is being fed as a lie.
So many people seem to be
claiming to belong to one group or another without knowing
enough about that certain group to even make a conscious
decision if that is who they really are.
Local concerts lack attention due to poor promotion
by Vondee Langehennig, staff editor
Under unfortunate circumstances, Linda Patton recently made
history by becoming the first female member of the South
Plains College Board of Regents.
“We (women) always need other
opportunities,” said Patton. “This will certainly open a
whole lot of doors.”
Britney's comeback, disappointment to loyal, hopeful fans
by Brittany Bradford, co-opinion editor
The red carpet rolled out, the celebrities stepped out of
their limos, hummers and limos and overly-expensive SUV’s
and the cameras flashed.
As the interviews commenced and the
gowns sparkled, there seemed to be one thing on everyone’s
mind. On that night in Las Vegas, at the Palms Hotel, one
performance was going to either make or break the career of
a rehabbed, divorced mother of two who once ruled pop world
and topped the charts with every single she released. She
has a history of amazing performances, especially at this
particular award show. This was the Video Music Awards, and
this was the comeback of Britney Spears.
Life changes, so deal with it
by Heather Daniel, staff writer
I wrote a
good-bye article last semester that is obviously null and
void, because I am back at South Plains College and back on
the Plainsman Press staff. I thought I was moving to Austin.
Those plans have been postponed due to an unforeseeable
separation. Because of this fact, I have come to the harsh
realization that life changes. This is my opinion on what
one should do in such an event.
Making 'major' decisions: Following my dreams, not my degree
plan
by Sawyer Thomas, staff writer
New students, friends, and classes all around make the
beginning of a semester seem so complicated.
OK, for those of you who have changed
your majors mid-tour in college, I now know exactly how
difficult it is. During the summer, I decided I was finally
going to pursue my dream of becoming an international
superstar. I changed my major to Commercial Music, a
program which is world renowned at South Plains College,
deleted any and all information I had learned about
journalism from my brain, and prepared for the long and
tumultuous journey ahead. Some might criticize the
decision, and, in fact, my vocal instructor, Lesa Wood,
asked me “Are you sure this is what you want to do? You’re
so good at the journalism stuff.” My response was an easy
one, “Well, I’m good at everything, but music is what I
love.”
Alternative education not as weird as others think
by Caroline Basile, associate editor
College can be
very overwhelming.
When you’ve never
walked into a real classroom, it can be intimidating.
Having been home-schooled my whole life with no academic
interaction from anyone other than my younger sister and
parents, I thought I would feel nervous and stressed my
first day at college. Instead, everyone was really nice and
polite, and I found that it was just a great place to be. I
felt welcomed.
Healthcare system needs shot in arm
by Robert Stone, staff writer
Michael Moore is known for controversy with films like
“Bowling for Columbine” and “Fahrenheit 9/11.”
In his new film, “Sicko,” he discusses
how America’s healthcare system is terrible when compared
with other countries. Personally I agree with Moore on some
ideas, and disagree on others. Moore has come up with his
own way to fix our health care system, which he calls “A
Prescription for Change.” It includes free health care for
every resident in this country. Don’t get me wrong, I would
agree with that. But the problem is, we could not afford it.
America is up to its eyeballs in debt.
Cops, construction, missing gasoline all on highway 114
by Brittany Bradford, opinion editor
I love South
Plains College.
It’s affordable
as far as tuition goes. It’s a nice campus with a lot of
trees, and of course the classes are small, and the students
and faculty are super friendly.
But there is
nothing I hate more than the location. Although it seems
minor, and to be fair, I understand that this is just the
way it is. I knew what I was signing up for when I enrolled
at SPC.
WWE pumps up steroids scandal: McMahon takes body slam
by Robert Stone, staff writer
The steroid scandal has rocked the foundation of pro
wrestling.
Wrestlers are being linked to steroids,
and some have admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs.
Wrestlers in the industry are paying the price to entertain
the millions of fans who come see them perform.
Within the past 10 years, 104 wrestlers
on the pro wrestling circuit have died young. The deaths of
wrestlers such as Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero have
brought this issue into the public light, especially in the
case of Benoit’s double murder of his wife and son. Before
he took his own life.
Red light cams nothing but a scam
by Hylann Camacho, editorial assistant
Imagine a world where every move one makes is recorded and
monitored constantly, like a parent watching over children
to make sure they don’t do anything they are not supposed to
do.
The city officials are doing just that
to the people of Lubbock. Besides the invasion of privacy,
the new red light cameras are using ridiculous amounts of
taxpayers’ money as well as collecting it. There are now 12
red light cameras fully functional at intersections in
Lubbock. The explanation for our new little spying friends
was to prevent people from running red lights and to promote
public safety.
Following dreams bigger than hometown
by Ali Flores, staff writer
I come from a small town.
As I write that, I can imagine what
runs through everyone’s minds. What do they do? Party?
Hangout? Do they even have opportunities in a small town?
The answer is, “yes.”
Having grown up in Littlefield, I have
only seen a few crazy things, nothing compared to what goes
on in New York City or Los Angeles mind you, but enough to
have some experience.
You say hello, I say goodbye: My heartfelt thank you to
those I love
by Jennifer Conlee, former associate editor
My life is a contradiction, so it makes perfect sense that I
am writing my farewell piece at the beginning of the
semester.
I had hoped to spend one more semester
writing for this paper that I have come to love.
Unfortunately, my first issue will be my last, so I must now
thank those who mean everything to me.
I still remember the first time I met
my interesting adviser, and I think I’ll stick with that
word to describe him, though there is an array of words I
could choose from.
I was still a baby in high school, a
senior who somehow got the advantage of coming to the SPC
campus a week before it was to be overwhelmed by thousands
of other fresh-faced high school seniors. | 