By Kelton Kluiter
This week in the NFL playoffs in the AFC the Chiefs played the Texans and the Ravens played the Titans. On Saturday the Titans stunned the Ravens on the road 28-12 with Derrick Henry rushing for over 180 yards once again. Then on Sunday the Chiefs beat the Texans at home with a remarkable 2nd quarter comeback after being down 24-0 in the first quarter. The Chiefs would then go on to score 6 unanswered touchdowns and win 51-31.
In the NFC the Vikings played the 49ers on Saturday and got manhandled 27-10 in San Francisco. On Sunday Night the Packers took on the Seahawks at lambo field. The Packers came out hot and were up by 18 at halftime. The Seahwks came out hot in the second half and brought it back within 5 points but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit as the packers defeat the Seahawks 28-3.
Monday, January 20, 2020
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
NFL Playoffs
By: Kelton Kluiter
The NFL playoffs started last weekend with wild card weekend. The Patriots played the Titans and the Bills played the Texans in the AFC. The Titans went on to stun the patriots and maybe put an end to Tom Brady’s legacy in New England. The Texans came out very slowly and were down 16-0 against the bills but roared back in the second half to win in overtime. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson made an incredible play to get the Texans into field goal range to seal the victory.
In the NFC the Vikings played the Saints and the Seahawks played the eagles. The Vikings shocked the NFL in a Minneapolis Miracle rematch as they defeat the Saints at home in overtime. The Sunday night game between the Seahawks and Eagles came down to the wire. In the first half Eagles star quarterback Carson Wentz went down with an injury as Jadaveon Clowny speared him as he dove forward.
This week on Saturday the Ravens play the Titans in Baltimore and the Texans play the Chiefs in Kansas City. On Sunday the 49ers play the Vikings in San Francisco and the Seahawks play the Packers in Green Bay.
The NFL playoffs started last weekend with wild card weekend. The Patriots played the Titans and the Bills played the Texans in the AFC. The Titans went on to stun the patriots and maybe put an end to Tom Brady’s legacy in New England. The Texans came out very slowly and were down 16-0 against the bills but roared back in the second half to win in overtime. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson made an incredible play to get the Texans into field goal range to seal the victory.
In the NFC the Vikings played the Saints and the Seahawks played the eagles. The Vikings shocked the NFL in a Minneapolis Miracle rematch as they defeat the Saints at home in overtime. The Sunday night game between the Seahawks and Eagles came down to the wire. In the first half Eagles star quarterback Carson Wentz went down with an injury as Jadaveon Clowny speared him as he dove forward.
This week on Saturday the Ravens play the Titans in Baltimore and the Texans play the Chiefs in Kansas City. On Sunday the 49ers play the Vikings in San Francisco and the Seahawks play the Packers in Green Bay.
Friday, January 10, 2020
The New Year
By: Katie Stirling
The New Year can be an exciting time for many, especially this year. As we head into a new decade and more years to come, many people will be starting new beginnings. Whether it’s graduating from high school or college or starting a new job, changes happen often throughout the years.
After Christmas is over, many people look forward to New Year’s Eve. Some will gather with their friends or family to celebrate the new year that is finally upon us. Once the clock strikes midnight, it’s official. But what is there to look forward to after January 1st?
It’s true that after the 3 month stretch of holidays that some don’t look forward to the first couple of months of the year. Especially in Iowa when it’s winter time, sometimes all we think about is the warm weather that may be soon, or not so soon, approaching.
For some, the new year is when they set goals. A fresh start can be eye-opening for many. Some people may want to quit bad habits, or start new healthy ones. Patterns can form easily when given a fresh opportunity to start them. There are many people who take advantage of this. There are others who try, but just can’t succeed.
The new year means coming back from a long break. Whether you’re in school, college, or just working, you typically have some sort of break at the end of the year. This lasts about 2 weeks for kids in school, sometimes longer for college kids. Adults enjoy the break off of work also. Time spent at home is refreshing over the holiday break. Although it must come to an end and everyone returns back to work.
New Year’s can mean new beginnings, returning to your daily routine, setting new goals, or whatever you want it to.
The New Year can be an exciting time for many, especially this year. As we head into a new decade and more years to come, many people will be starting new beginnings. Whether it’s graduating from high school or college or starting a new job, changes happen often throughout the years.
After Christmas is over, many people look forward to New Year’s Eve. Some will gather with their friends or family to celebrate the new year that is finally upon us. Once the clock strikes midnight, it’s official. But what is there to look forward to after January 1st?
It’s true that after the 3 month stretch of holidays that some don’t look forward to the first couple of months of the year. Especially in Iowa when it’s winter time, sometimes all we think about is the warm weather that may be soon, or not so soon, approaching.
For some, the new year is when they set goals. A fresh start can be eye-opening for many. Some people may want to quit bad habits, or start new healthy ones. Patterns can form easily when given a fresh opportunity to start them. There are many people who take advantage of this. There are others who try, but just can’t succeed.
The new year means coming back from a long break. Whether you’re in school, college, or just working, you typically have some sort of break at the end of the year. This lasts about 2 weeks for kids in school, sometimes longer for college kids. Adults enjoy the break off of work also. Time spent at home is refreshing over the holiday break. Although it must come to an end and everyone returns back to work.
New Year’s can mean new beginnings, returning to your daily routine, setting new goals, or whatever you want it to.
Iran
By: Ethan Schmidt
Trump has eliminated Iran’s military strategist. He was responsible for killing many Americans. He was a singularly destructive actor in the region. He was considered the second most important man in Iran. He was behind Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah. Iran said they will not be following the restrictions laid out in the 2015 nuclear record. On Sunday they said, “Iran will continue its nuclear enrichment with no limitations and based on its technical needs.”
Many Americans are in fear of World War 3. It has been trending on Twitter with the hashtags #WW3 and #WorldWar3. They think Iran will strike back and will declare war with America. Iran hit back Wednesday. They fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi airbases housing American forces. Iran Guards said it was in retaliation for the death of General Soleimani on Friday. Iraq and US officials say that there appear to be no casualties. Trump tweeted “all is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well-equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.”
Iran’s leader Ayatollah Khamenei has described the attack as a slap in the face to the US. He also warned that the attack will not end the dispute. He said a speech on Iranian state television saying “When it comes to confrontation, military action of this kind is not enough. What is important is that the corrupt presence of the United States should come to an end!”
Trump has eliminated Iran’s military strategist. He was responsible for killing many Americans. He was a singularly destructive actor in the region. He was considered the second most important man in Iran. He was behind Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah. Iran said they will not be following the restrictions laid out in the 2015 nuclear record. On Sunday they said, “Iran will continue its nuclear enrichment with no limitations and based on its technical needs.”
Many Americans are in fear of World War 3. It has been trending on Twitter with the hashtags #WW3 and #WorldWar3. They think Iran will strike back and will declare war with America. Iran hit back Wednesday. They fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi airbases housing American forces. Iran Guards said it was in retaliation for the death of General Soleimani on Friday. Iraq and US officials say that there appear to be no casualties. Trump tweeted “all is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well-equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.”
Iran’s leader Ayatollah Khamenei has described the attack as a slap in the face to the US. He also warned that the attack will not end the dispute. He said a speech on Iranian state television saying “When it comes to confrontation, military action of this kind is not enough. What is important is that the corrupt presence of the United States should come to an end!”
What Makes a Winning Team
By: Cole Negen
High School sports are truly a unique experience. Some people don’t get as much experience in it, but as someone who participates in 4 sports, competition is definitely not new to me. Over my time it’s been no secret that the teams I have been on have not been very successful. I’ve been on some really fun teams, and I’ve been on some not very fun teams. As an avid sports fan, I’ve also been able to see what teams who are competing at the highest level looks like. Over this time I’ve noticed a few common denominators.
Identity
More than a lot of things, teams who are most successful have an identity. Not just amongst the best players, but amongst everyone. Everyone knows what is trying to be accomplished and what is expected of them as an individual. Recently while I was down at the state football finals, I got to see a matchup of 2 teams who I’m actually very familiar with. The matchup was the Class A finals, between Grundy Center and West Hancock. West Hancock had a very clear and obvious identity; run the ball. They had 3 players with over 1000 yards rushing, as well as the leading rusher in all of Class A. Their offense was straight forward, run, run, and run some more. By the state finals game, their quarterback had passed it a total of 37 times! For reference, they played 13 games, meaning they called a pass play on average about once a quarter… if you round up. The coaches knew what they wanted to do, they players bought in to that idea, and they were able to run with it.
Talent
So this is the obvious one. Like I said I played on teams that were super fun and everyone knew what we needed to do to win. The problem is, we just weren’t that good. You hear a lot of negative things about people with talent. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. This is very true. But after all, it’s hard to overcome a team that is naturally talented. A team that naturally has an advantage over other teams strictly because of genetics is very difficult to overcome when they are working hard.
Hard work
Yeah, it’s not glamorous. I am definitely one who is tired of hearing the old adage of out working someone. But that’s really a huge part. Nothing breeds success like trial and error. Teams that compete at the highest level put in the work. Not only that, but they are focused. They get good grades, they are focused in the weight room. They study the game. They just push themselves, and like I said above, when talent works hard, at least from an individual standpoint, it’s hard to get even a slight edge.
Coaching
A team needs coordination to work. Some people are just naturally inclined to buy into coaching, coaching methods, lifting programs. Good teams have coaches who can get all the rest of the people to buy in. These coaches know how to maximize the potential in every player. They don’t just teach, they have programs. A lot of the most successful teams have coaches who have been there for an extended period of time. These teams stay on top because that coach knows what it takes out of the players, and what he needs to do to get those players to do to be on top (if you can follow all that). Coaches know the process, and how to fit each individual player into said process.
Attitude
Attitude not in the mean or arrogant sense per say, but attitude in this case can also double as charisma. A lot of great teams have a lot of fun at what they are doing. They never take themselves nor what they are doing too seriously, to the point that they forget why they even play the sport. Every year our wrestling team wrestles Lake Mills. Last year, when we faced them in a dual, I just noticed how much fun all there guys had. There bench was super energetic and active, something you don’t often see in wrestling. They were really good to. They would later go on to State Duals, and made a nice run while they were down there. This attitude allows for teams to not over-complicate things, and also gives them the motivation to compete and win.
Intelligence
While this one isn’t as 1:1 as the other characteristics, but most teams who are the best of the best, have a lot of knowledge for what they are doing. They know the philosophy of the sport, why things are taught a certain way, what to do in certain situations during a game or match, and so on. Some teams are so talented they can coast on the fact that they may not know a ton about the game, but I would say a good majority of teams are very intelligent in their sport.
Balance
Good teams are good in all areas. For instance, a team may lead the state in 3 point shooting percentage, but say they also score in the paint at a JV level. This team is not going very far. Even if the coach draws up an offense designed to primarily shoot 3’s, eventually they will be exposed. Look at the best players on each team. Often times, the best players are amongst the best in all areas on there team. The best scorer is also probably one of the best rebounders, and one of the best defenders, and so on.
There are many other things that you could make a case to include in this list, but this is what I came up with. When I think of great teams, these are what I think of, more than most anything else.
High School sports are truly a unique experience. Some people don’t get as much experience in it, but as someone who participates in 4 sports, competition is definitely not new to me. Over my time it’s been no secret that the teams I have been on have not been very successful. I’ve been on some really fun teams, and I’ve been on some not very fun teams. As an avid sports fan, I’ve also been able to see what teams who are competing at the highest level looks like. Over this time I’ve noticed a few common denominators.
Identity
More than a lot of things, teams who are most successful have an identity. Not just amongst the best players, but amongst everyone. Everyone knows what is trying to be accomplished and what is expected of them as an individual. Recently while I was down at the state football finals, I got to see a matchup of 2 teams who I’m actually very familiar with. The matchup was the Class A finals, between Grundy Center and West Hancock. West Hancock had a very clear and obvious identity; run the ball. They had 3 players with over 1000 yards rushing, as well as the leading rusher in all of Class A. Their offense was straight forward, run, run, and run some more. By the state finals game, their quarterback had passed it a total of 37 times! For reference, they played 13 games, meaning they called a pass play on average about once a quarter… if you round up. The coaches knew what they wanted to do, they players bought in to that idea, and they were able to run with it.
Talent
So this is the obvious one. Like I said I played on teams that were super fun and everyone knew what we needed to do to win. The problem is, we just weren’t that good. You hear a lot of negative things about people with talent. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. This is very true. But after all, it’s hard to overcome a team that is naturally talented. A team that naturally has an advantage over other teams strictly because of genetics is very difficult to overcome when they are working hard.
Hard work
Yeah, it’s not glamorous. I am definitely one who is tired of hearing the old adage of out working someone. But that’s really a huge part. Nothing breeds success like trial and error. Teams that compete at the highest level put in the work. Not only that, but they are focused. They get good grades, they are focused in the weight room. They study the game. They just push themselves, and like I said above, when talent works hard, at least from an individual standpoint, it’s hard to get even a slight edge.
Coaching
A team needs coordination to work. Some people are just naturally inclined to buy into coaching, coaching methods, lifting programs. Good teams have coaches who can get all the rest of the people to buy in. These coaches know how to maximize the potential in every player. They don’t just teach, they have programs. A lot of the most successful teams have coaches who have been there for an extended period of time. These teams stay on top because that coach knows what it takes out of the players, and what he needs to do to get those players to do to be on top (if you can follow all that). Coaches know the process, and how to fit each individual player into said process.
Attitude
Attitude not in the mean or arrogant sense per say, but attitude in this case can also double as charisma. A lot of great teams have a lot of fun at what they are doing. They never take themselves nor what they are doing too seriously, to the point that they forget why they even play the sport. Every year our wrestling team wrestles Lake Mills. Last year, when we faced them in a dual, I just noticed how much fun all there guys had. There bench was super energetic and active, something you don’t often see in wrestling. They were really good to. They would later go on to State Duals, and made a nice run while they were down there. This attitude allows for teams to not over-complicate things, and also gives them the motivation to compete and win.
Intelligence
While this one isn’t as 1:1 as the other characteristics, but most teams who are the best of the best, have a lot of knowledge for what they are doing. They know the philosophy of the sport, why things are taught a certain way, what to do in certain situations during a game or match, and so on. Some teams are so talented they can coast on the fact that they may not know a ton about the game, but I would say a good majority of teams are very intelligent in their sport.
Balance
Good teams are good in all areas. For instance, a team may lead the state in 3 point shooting percentage, but say they also score in the paint at a JV level. This team is not going very far. Even if the coach draws up an offense designed to primarily shoot 3’s, eventually they will be exposed. Look at the best players on each team. Often times, the best players are amongst the best in all areas on there team. The best scorer is also probably one of the best rebounders, and one of the best defenders, and so on.
There are many other things that you could make a case to include in this list, but this is what I came up with. When I think of great teams, these are what I think of, more than most anything else.
Types of Relatives During Christmas
By: Grace Litterer
Per the fact that I wrote an article over Types of Relatives During Thanksgiving, I figured I would honor Christmas and all of the fun family time that accompanies it with a similar article. Now, I feel as though everyone has a similar experience when it comes to extended family Christmas celebration. I feel that these experiences must be honored in a blog before I welcome the new year.
First is the College Student Cousin. I have to pay homage to this relative, mainly because it’s a classic. The College Student Cousin has one thing that really sets them apart from the others. They always ask for cash. Yes, cash is really the only thing that they want or need in their lives. In fact, their sole purpose at family Christmases is to rack up cash and withstand interrogation about their classes, their majors, and whatever else every single aunt and uncle has questions about.
Next is, of course, the Sarcastic Uncle. Now, traditionally, this person is an uncle, but they don’t have to be. This person really has one role that stands above all else, and it is vital to a family Christmas. Yes, this person absolutely must speculate about what a present consists of. Now, here is where the sarcastic part comes in. The classic is, “Well, it looks like you got a box!” However, honorable mentions for the catchphrase of a Sarcastic Uncle include, “I bet it’s a bowling ball!” or “Did you get some socks in your stocking?” Yes, according to my Sarcastic Uncle, I have gotten a box for Christmas every year since I was born, but, hey, it wouldn’t be a family Christmas without the Sarcastic Uncle.
Finally, we have the Horrible Gifter. Yes, this is a family classic. This person could be a grandma, an aunt, or a cousin. This Christmas classic is made famous by Aunt Clara and a pink bunny suit that she gifted to Ralphie in A Christmas Story. From this person, you may receive a number of items, but none that you will like. Yes, you would find anything from socks to used candles to a big, pink bunny suit.
Of course, no matter what kind of relatives you have, Christmas will always be fun. I, for one, would never want to miss the ham induced comas and competitive Pictionary tournaments that accompany my holidays. Plus, what would Christmas be without a college student interrogation, a wise crack from an uncle, and a gift you have to lie about loving?
Per the fact that I wrote an article over Types of Relatives During Thanksgiving, I figured I would honor Christmas and all of the fun family time that accompanies it with a similar article. Now, I feel as though everyone has a similar experience when it comes to extended family Christmas celebration. I feel that these experiences must be honored in a blog before I welcome the new year.
First is the College Student Cousin. I have to pay homage to this relative, mainly because it’s a classic. The College Student Cousin has one thing that really sets them apart from the others. They always ask for cash. Yes, cash is really the only thing that they want or need in their lives. In fact, their sole purpose at family Christmases is to rack up cash and withstand interrogation about their classes, their majors, and whatever else every single aunt and uncle has questions about.
Next is, of course, the Sarcastic Uncle. Now, traditionally, this person is an uncle, but they don’t have to be. This person really has one role that stands above all else, and it is vital to a family Christmas. Yes, this person absolutely must speculate about what a present consists of. Now, here is where the sarcastic part comes in. The classic is, “Well, it looks like you got a box!” However, honorable mentions for the catchphrase of a Sarcastic Uncle include, “I bet it’s a bowling ball!” or “Did you get some socks in your stocking?” Yes, according to my Sarcastic Uncle, I have gotten a box for Christmas every year since I was born, but, hey, it wouldn’t be a family Christmas without the Sarcastic Uncle.
Finally, we have the Horrible Gifter. Yes, this is a family classic. This person could be a grandma, an aunt, or a cousin. This Christmas classic is made famous by Aunt Clara and a pink bunny suit that she gifted to Ralphie in A Christmas Story. From this person, you may receive a number of items, but none that you will like. Yes, you would find anything from socks to used candles to a big, pink bunny suit.
Of course, no matter what kind of relatives you have, Christmas will always be fun. I, for one, would never want to miss the ham induced comas and competitive Pictionary tournaments that accompany my holidays. Plus, what would Christmas be without a college student interrogation, a wise crack from an uncle, and a gift you have to lie about loving?
2020 - What We Can Expect From a New Year
By: Tess Lampe
If you didn’t already think that the phrase “See you next year!” was a bad enough dad joke that is often said on New Year’s Eve, try “See you next decade!” It’s certain that that was said plenty of times as the Earth made yet another full revolution around the sun and we entered a new year and a new decade.
With this new year and the 20/20 vision that supposedly came along with it, many new things can be expected. Just as every year, new memes will arise, more people will be born, and more experiences will be had. When it comes to large entertainment franchises such as Disney, Marvel, DC, Star Wars and others, there are many plans to continue to spread enjoyment across the world with new and highly anticipated films and series’. Even though many things are still being worked on and we don’t know everything that is to come, the following include much of what we do.
For Disney, they have many things coming from them to us this year. Films that will be released this year directly from Disney include: Call of the Wild (February 21, 2020 - Starring Harrison Ford), the animated film Onward (March 6, 2020 - Starring Tom Holland & Chris Pratt), Mulan (March 27, 2020 - Starring Liu Yiefi), and many more. Even though Marvel and Star Wars are currently owned by Disney, there are many things being released from those franchises as individuals. For Marvel, these include: Black Widow (May 1, 2020 - Starring Scarlett Johansson) and the Eternals (November 6, 2020 - Starring Angelina Jolie, Kit Harrington, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan, & Kumail Nanjiani). Venom, which has been apart of Marvel but not the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will be coming out on October 2, 2020 and will be starring Tom Hardy. New Mutants, an X-Men movie, will be released on April 3, 2020; starring Maisie Williams, Ana Taylor-Joy, & Charlie Heaton. X-Men is owned by Fox, but recently there was a deal made between Disney and Fox, meaning that Marvel now owns the rights to the X-Men. However, New Mutants is not yet a part of the MCU.
As for DC, there are also set to be many new releases: Birds of Prey & the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (February 7, 2020 - Starring Margot Robbie, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, & Mary Elizabeth), Wonder Woman 1984 (June 5, 2020 - Starring Gal Gadot & Chris Pine), and Cyborg (April 3, 2020 - Starring Ray Fisher).
Star Wars, on the other hand, has less coming. Because the Skywalker Saga officially ended on December 20th, 2019, it is rumored that the next trilogy will not begin until around Christmas of 2022. However, the hit Disney+ show The Mandalorian will have a second season, which is supposed to be released around the fall of 2020.
Other highly anticipated movies to come in 2020 include Dolittle (January 17, 2020 - Starring Robert Downey Jr.), Bad Boys For Life (January 17, 2020 - Starring Will Smith & Martin Lawrence), A Quiet Place Part II (March 20, 2020 - Starring Emily Blunt), New Mutants - X-Men (April 3, 2020 - Starring Maisie Williams, Ana Taylor-Joy, & Charlie Heaton), No Time To Die - James Bond (April 8, 2020 - Starring Daniel Craig), Fast & Furious 9 (May 22, 2020 - Starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, etc.), Top Gun: Maverick (June 26, 2020 - Starring Tom Cruise), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (July 10, 2020 - Starring Paul Rudd, Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Dan Aykroyd, Annie Potts, Ernie Hudson, etc.), and many more.
That may seem like a lot, and there is now doubt that it is. However, that’s not all. If there are any people within a certain category of entertainment that may be more enthusiastic about a new release, it’s the gaming community. There are many game releases to come this year, the most anticipated ones being Rainbow Six Quarantine, The Last of Us Part II, Cyberpunk 2077, Marvel’s Avengers, Dying Light 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 5, Halo Infinite, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Ghost of Tsushima, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Watch Dogs Legion, and many more. The vast majority of these games will be available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC (some being available for Stadia as well).
The Last of Us Part II happens to be one of the most, if not the top most anticipated game of 2020. It has had many changes in release date, recent changes going between February and May. The final decision was made by Naughty Dog and Sony Entertainment to release the game on February 21, 2020. The Last of Us (released in 2013 - Starring Troy Baker & Ashley Johnson) is a survival horror game that is mainly set 20 years after the “zombie apocalypse broke out across the world. This game was and still is in the top 5 most sold games in history that many people hold near and dear to them. With its sequel being known since around 2015 and the first trailer being released in 2016, the fans became quite exhilarated. Without the game even being out yet, the Last of Us Part II was previously nominated for most anticipated game of the year.
That being said, there is much love and excitement to come out of the entertainment industry, even though that is not the only thing that will make 2020 exciting. Basically, the year of 2020 is going to be a banger. Not only will franchises be expanding upon their fandoms and their creations, but inspiration will continue to spread across the people who enjoy it the most. Essentially, if this much is happening in 2020, you can only begin to imagine what is in store for the decade as a whole.
https://www.nerdmuch.com/games/172385/upcoming-games-2020/
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/610944/most-anticipated-movies-2020
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/27/star-wars-series-the-mandalorian-season-2-coming-fall-2020-jon-favreau-says.html
https://screenrant.com/2020-superhero-movies/
https://www.purewow.com/news/disney-movies-coming-out
https://www.vox.com › culture › marvel-fox-disney-merger-x-men
If you didn’t already think that the phrase “See you next year!” was a bad enough dad joke that is often said on New Year’s Eve, try “See you next decade!” It’s certain that that was said plenty of times as the Earth made yet another full revolution around the sun and we entered a new year and a new decade.
With this new year and the 20/20 vision that supposedly came along with it, many new things can be expected. Just as every year, new memes will arise, more people will be born, and more experiences will be had. When it comes to large entertainment franchises such as Disney, Marvel, DC, Star Wars and others, there are many plans to continue to spread enjoyment across the world with new and highly anticipated films and series’. Even though many things are still being worked on and we don’t know everything that is to come, the following include much of what we do.
For Disney, they have many things coming from them to us this year. Films that will be released this year directly from Disney include: Call of the Wild (February 21, 2020 - Starring Harrison Ford), the animated film Onward (March 6, 2020 - Starring Tom Holland & Chris Pratt), Mulan (March 27, 2020 - Starring Liu Yiefi), and many more. Even though Marvel and Star Wars are currently owned by Disney, there are many things being released from those franchises as individuals. For Marvel, these include: Black Widow (May 1, 2020 - Starring Scarlett Johansson) and the Eternals (November 6, 2020 - Starring Angelina Jolie, Kit Harrington, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan, & Kumail Nanjiani). Venom, which has been apart of Marvel but not the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will be coming out on October 2, 2020 and will be starring Tom Hardy. New Mutants, an X-Men movie, will be released on April 3, 2020; starring Maisie Williams, Ana Taylor-Joy, & Charlie Heaton. X-Men is owned by Fox, but recently there was a deal made between Disney and Fox, meaning that Marvel now owns the rights to the X-Men. However, New Mutants is not yet a part of the MCU.
As for DC, there are also set to be many new releases: Birds of Prey & the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (February 7, 2020 - Starring Margot Robbie, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, & Mary Elizabeth), Wonder Woman 1984 (June 5, 2020 - Starring Gal Gadot & Chris Pine), and Cyborg (April 3, 2020 - Starring Ray Fisher).
Star Wars, on the other hand, has less coming. Because the Skywalker Saga officially ended on December 20th, 2019, it is rumored that the next trilogy will not begin until around Christmas of 2022. However, the hit Disney+ show The Mandalorian will have a second season, which is supposed to be released around the fall of 2020.
Other highly anticipated movies to come in 2020 include Dolittle (January 17, 2020 - Starring Robert Downey Jr.), Bad Boys For Life (January 17, 2020 - Starring Will Smith & Martin Lawrence), A Quiet Place Part II (March 20, 2020 - Starring Emily Blunt), New Mutants - X-Men (April 3, 2020 - Starring Maisie Williams, Ana Taylor-Joy, & Charlie Heaton), No Time To Die - James Bond (April 8, 2020 - Starring Daniel Craig), Fast & Furious 9 (May 22, 2020 - Starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, etc.), Top Gun: Maverick (June 26, 2020 - Starring Tom Cruise), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (July 10, 2020 - Starring Paul Rudd, Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Dan Aykroyd, Annie Potts, Ernie Hudson, etc.), and many more.
That may seem like a lot, and there is now doubt that it is. However, that’s not all. If there are any people within a certain category of entertainment that may be more enthusiastic about a new release, it’s the gaming community. There are many game releases to come this year, the most anticipated ones being Rainbow Six Quarantine, The Last of Us Part II, Cyberpunk 2077, Marvel’s Avengers, Dying Light 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 5, Halo Infinite, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Ghost of Tsushima, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Watch Dogs Legion, and many more. The vast majority of these games will be available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC (some being available for Stadia as well).
The Last of Us Part II happens to be one of the most, if not the top most anticipated game of 2020. It has had many changes in release date, recent changes going between February and May. The final decision was made by Naughty Dog and Sony Entertainment to release the game on February 21, 2020. The Last of Us (released in 2013 - Starring Troy Baker & Ashley Johnson) is a survival horror game that is mainly set 20 years after the “zombie apocalypse broke out across the world. This game was and still is in the top 5 most sold games in history that many people hold near and dear to them. With its sequel being known since around 2015 and the first trailer being released in 2016, the fans became quite exhilarated. Without the game even being out yet, the Last of Us Part II was previously nominated for most anticipated game of the year.
That being said, there is much love and excitement to come out of the entertainment industry, even though that is not the only thing that will make 2020 exciting. Basically, the year of 2020 is going to be a banger. Not only will franchises be expanding upon their fandoms and their creations, but inspiration will continue to spread across the people who enjoy it the most. Essentially, if this much is happening in 2020, you can only begin to imagine what is in store for the decade as a whole.
https://www.nerdmuch.com/games/172385/upcoming-games-2020/
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/610944/most-anticipated-movies-2020
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/27/star-wars-series-the-mandalorian-season-2-coming-fall-2020-jon-favreau-says.html
https://screenrant.com/2020-superhero-movies/
https://www.purewow.com/news/disney-movies-coming-out
https://www.vox.com › culture › marvel-fox-disney-merger-x-men
Types of Basketball Fans
By: Conner Freerks
Since we are in the middle of the basketball season I thought I would tell you the type of basketball fans. I’ll be talking about the three most popular fans. The “Coach”, The “Dad”, and the “ Cheerleader”.
The “Coach is somebody the thinks they know everything about basketball. They sit at the very top of the bleacher and thinks they are the coach. They are always yelling at the coach or at the player to do something and most of the time they are wrong. They were most likely the little league coach and they are at every game. Next is the “Dad”.
The “Dad” is the person that is always criticizing their child no matter how good they did. They want their children to be the best player. They are always yelling during the game and like to disagree with the ref. Like the coach, they like to try to coach from the sidelines. Finally is the “Cheerleader”.
The “Cheerleader is someone that is always yelling let’s go, team and always participate in the cheers that cheerleaders do. I swear if the could become an honorary cheerleader they would. They like to get the crowd loud. You can hear them over anybody and usually a mom of one of the players.
There you have it, the three types of basketball fans. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it and stay tuned next week.
Since we are in the middle of the basketball season I thought I would tell you the type of basketball fans. I’ll be talking about the three most popular fans. The “Coach”, The “Dad”, and the “ Cheerleader”.
The “Coach is somebody the thinks they know everything about basketball. They sit at the very top of the bleacher and thinks they are the coach. They are always yelling at the coach or at the player to do something and most of the time they are wrong. They were most likely the little league coach and they are at every game. Next is the “Dad”.
The “Dad” is the person that is always criticizing their child no matter how good they did. They want their children to be the best player. They are always yelling during the game and like to disagree with the ref. Like the coach, they like to try to coach from the sidelines. Finally is the “Cheerleader”.
The “Cheerleader is someone that is always yelling let’s go, team and always participate in the cheers that cheerleaders do. I swear if the could become an honorary cheerleader they would. They like to get the crowd loud. You can hear them over anybody and usually a mom of one of the players.
There you have it, the three types of basketball fans. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it and stay tuned next week.
Lost Faith?
By: Lilly Cobb
Have you ever lost faith in something? Have you ever felt like giving up? Well if you ever did and don’t know where or how to get help. Well you are reading this so you found help. Hello My name is Lillian Cobb most call me Lilly.
Growing up I had a crazy life. Mine is not as bad as most but it can make you down. You would never think that someone that has parents not together would hurt. Well I know for a fact it does. At the age of 7 my parents broke it off. After a while my dad would come back around and try to break in and take me away from my mom. He was crazy but I did not know that until I moved two years later. Leaving my whole childhood behind. My friends, the rest of my family. It hurts.
After a few weeks after moving my mom found someone new. Well he was nice on the outside. He was abusive and hated me. The only time he was nice was when he was around my mom and would say “See I am not a bad man.” but he really was. Once my mom finally found out after 5 years that he was abusive she left him. Another year has passed I had friends and I felt like I belonged. That's where I as wrong. No one really liked me. I moved again to a new school and made friends. But what no one knew was that I was depressed a year before I moved once I found out people really did not care that much of me. I made friends online and left me like everyone else. Then I got tangled up in love with someone close to me well he cut me off within a month and moved on. It made me feel worse like I didn’t belong here in this world. Then I remembered something someone told me. Everyday is a new battle and each battle you get stronger. But you can’t become stronger just by yourself, you need to tell someone what's going on or else you will become weaker than what you were before. So let someone in and push through win every battle. You mean something in this world and to me. I can tell you are very special even without meeting you.
Have you ever lost faith in something? Have you ever felt like giving up? Well if you ever did and don’t know where or how to get help. Well you are reading this so you found help. Hello My name is Lillian Cobb most call me Lilly.
Growing up I had a crazy life. Mine is not as bad as most but it can make you down. You would never think that someone that has parents not together would hurt. Well I know for a fact it does. At the age of 7 my parents broke it off. After a while my dad would come back around and try to break in and take me away from my mom. He was crazy but I did not know that until I moved two years later. Leaving my whole childhood behind. My friends, the rest of my family. It hurts.
After a few weeks after moving my mom found someone new. Well he was nice on the outside. He was abusive and hated me. The only time he was nice was when he was around my mom and would say “See I am not a bad man.” but he really was. Once my mom finally found out after 5 years that he was abusive she left him. Another year has passed I had friends and I felt like I belonged. That's where I as wrong. No one really liked me. I moved again to a new school and made friends. But what no one knew was that I was depressed a year before I moved once I found out people really did not care that much of me. I made friends online and left me like everyone else. Then I got tangled up in love with someone close to me well he cut me off within a month and moved on. It made me feel worse like I didn’t belong here in this world. Then I remembered something someone told me. Everyday is a new battle and each battle you get stronger. But you can’t become stronger just by yourself, you need to tell someone what's going on or else you will become weaker than what you were before. So let someone in and push through win every battle. You mean something in this world and to me. I can tell you are very special even without meeting you.
Friday, December 13, 2019
Home Economics Class
By Katie Stirling
There are a variety of different classes you can take here at Clarksville High School. Some are required while others are chosen. These chosen classes are electives. Many students enjoy the electives we have available already, and others wish there were more options. One of these options is a Home Economics class.
Home economics teaches students about skills needed while adulting. A lot of things change once students start to live on their own. After high school, this class could come in very handy. Home economics, or home science, deals with the interactions and relationships between individuals, families, communities, and the environment they live in.
One main topic many think of when it comes to Home Ec class is cooking. Knowing how to cook and make your own food is a very important necessity in our lifestyles. In the future, students may end up living alone at some point and will have to know how to do this. Many learn from their parents at home, but this only applies to some. If there were a class at school to offer help with this, many students would benefit. They would learn how to properly prepare their food for themselves.
Another part of home economics is budgeting. This is an area that many students lack knowledge in. There are certain classes we can take to learn about financial situations, but the Home Ec class could take it even farther in advance. Without this useful information, we tend to get confused about how to handle finances. College isn’t too far ahead from high school, and we need to be informed of these expenses.
The Home Ec class would be a great opportunity for upperclassmen to be exposed to some of the struggles of adulthood. The material could make lives easier for the better.
There are a variety of different classes you can take here at Clarksville High School. Some are required while others are chosen. These chosen classes are electives. Many students enjoy the electives we have available already, and others wish there were more options. One of these options is a Home Economics class.
Home economics teaches students about skills needed while adulting. A lot of things change once students start to live on their own. After high school, this class could come in very handy. Home economics, or home science, deals with the interactions and relationships between individuals, families, communities, and the environment they live in.
One main topic many think of when it comes to Home Ec class is cooking. Knowing how to cook and make your own food is a very important necessity in our lifestyles. In the future, students may end up living alone at some point and will have to know how to do this. Many learn from their parents at home, but this only applies to some. If there were a class at school to offer help with this, many students would benefit. They would learn how to properly prepare their food for themselves.
Another part of home economics is budgeting. This is an area that many students lack knowledge in. There are certain classes we can take to learn about financial situations, but the Home Ec class could take it even farther in advance. Without this useful information, we tend to get confused about how to handle finances. College isn’t too far ahead from high school, and we need to be informed of these expenses.
The Home Ec class would be a great opportunity for upperclassmen to be exposed to some of the struggles of adulthood. The material could make lives easier for the better.
My Top 5 Christmas Songs
By: Cole Negen
Christmas is fast approaching. Very fast approaching; I feel like yesterday was Thanksgiving. Christmas is truly is the most wonderful time of the year. I’m a sucker for Christmas lights, old Christmas movies, and all that happy stuff. To celebrate Christmas, I thought I’d countdown my 5 favorite Christmas songs.
For #5, I’m going to go with Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! By Frank Sinatra. Frank is truly the voice of the 50s, and he has a lot of covers that could go on the list. Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, and of course how could you forget Jingle Bells. But for me, Let it Snow Has stood out to me. While the other ones are fun and cheery, Let it Snow feels cozy, like there is a blizzard roaring down outside to the point where you can’t even see the street, but you just don’t care because you’re just sipping hot chocolate by a fireplace. Frank also does a great job with his performance, making it truly unique. It’s just super easy to enjoy this song, which is why it is my #5.
For #4, I’m going to go with Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives. I don’t know Burl personally, but I almost wish I did, because by the way he sings, it’s almost like he is the voice of Santa. He has a booming voice that fills the room, and you can tell he just has a big smile when he sings. He definitely isn’t the most talented singer, but his voice has almost a feel of a brass instrument. Loud and rustic, but yet beautiful and majestic. Holly Jolly Christmas is the perfect song for Burl. A song about wishing someone a Merry Christmas, just because you feel like everyone should. Burl doesn’t just want you to have a joyful Christmas, his charisma almost forces you to drop whatever you’re doing and get in the holly jolly mood.
For #3, I’m going to go with It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams. There isn’t a ton to say here. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year is in my opinion, the mission statement of Christmas. There is no other time of the year, where everyone is happy, everyone is enjoying themselves, parties and presents are all around, and no school or work. Andy gives a loud, gleeful performance, with loud instrumentation. It isn’t quite as inviting as when Burl Ives sings, but the song is so fun and in your face that you can’t help but like it. The way it is presented, every other Christmas song is just the backdrop, and Andy gives us the main attraction. It can be a little too much, and I don’t think it is a super casual listen, which is why it isn’t higher on the list.
For #2 I chose Winter Wonderland by Bing Crosby. In this performance, Bing delivers a performance that is the right amount of powerful and cozy at the same time. At times Bing is super chill, taking in the sweet sounds and sights of Christmas. As the song progresses, Bing gets more and more animated. The song just ties up everything Christmas is to me. Sleigh bells, family, snowmen, and so much more. This song is so much fun every time I listen to it, which is why it gets my #2 spot.
For #1, I am choosing Perry Como’s It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. This song highlights those first moments of the season, when you walk into the mall to Christmas shop and you see Christmas trees and reefs, and lights are up all around town. It captures that feeling of Christmas in it’s early stages. When you have all the festivities to look forward to, but yet snow is falling, and it is time to celebrate Christmas. Not to mention Perry gives a super animated performance that just bounces from start to finish. It makes me want to make Christmas cookies or go caroling or something corny like that. The song is almost too much fun, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which really strikes a chord with me. It may not hit other people like it does me, but I just can’t get enough of this song, which is why it is my #1.
So there is my list. Christmas music, being that it is usually the same thing over and over again, just presented a little each time, is always going to be subjective. Everyone looks for there own thing in Christmas music, so I don’t expect most people to agree with my list, but I just hope you give these songs a try.
Christmas is fast approaching. Very fast approaching; I feel like yesterday was Thanksgiving. Christmas is truly is the most wonderful time of the year. I’m a sucker for Christmas lights, old Christmas movies, and all that happy stuff. To celebrate Christmas, I thought I’d countdown my 5 favorite Christmas songs.
For #5, I’m going to go with Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! By Frank Sinatra. Frank is truly the voice of the 50s, and he has a lot of covers that could go on the list. Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, and of course how could you forget Jingle Bells. But for me, Let it Snow Has stood out to me. While the other ones are fun and cheery, Let it Snow feels cozy, like there is a blizzard roaring down outside to the point where you can’t even see the street, but you just don’t care because you’re just sipping hot chocolate by a fireplace. Frank also does a great job with his performance, making it truly unique. It’s just super easy to enjoy this song, which is why it is my #5.
For #4, I’m going to go with Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives. I don’t know Burl personally, but I almost wish I did, because by the way he sings, it’s almost like he is the voice of Santa. He has a booming voice that fills the room, and you can tell he just has a big smile when he sings. He definitely isn’t the most talented singer, but his voice has almost a feel of a brass instrument. Loud and rustic, but yet beautiful and majestic. Holly Jolly Christmas is the perfect song for Burl. A song about wishing someone a Merry Christmas, just because you feel like everyone should. Burl doesn’t just want you to have a joyful Christmas, his charisma almost forces you to drop whatever you’re doing and get in the holly jolly mood.
For #3, I’m going to go with It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams. There isn’t a ton to say here. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year is in my opinion, the mission statement of Christmas. There is no other time of the year, where everyone is happy, everyone is enjoying themselves, parties and presents are all around, and no school or work. Andy gives a loud, gleeful performance, with loud instrumentation. It isn’t quite as inviting as when Burl Ives sings, but the song is so fun and in your face that you can’t help but like it. The way it is presented, every other Christmas song is just the backdrop, and Andy gives us the main attraction. It can be a little too much, and I don’t think it is a super casual listen, which is why it isn’t higher on the list.
For #2 I chose Winter Wonderland by Bing Crosby. In this performance, Bing delivers a performance that is the right amount of powerful and cozy at the same time. At times Bing is super chill, taking in the sweet sounds and sights of Christmas. As the song progresses, Bing gets more and more animated. The song just ties up everything Christmas is to me. Sleigh bells, family, snowmen, and so much more. This song is so much fun every time I listen to it, which is why it gets my #2 spot.
For #1, I am choosing Perry Como’s It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. This song highlights those first moments of the season, when you walk into the mall to Christmas shop and you see Christmas trees and reefs, and lights are up all around town. It captures that feeling of Christmas in it’s early stages. When you have all the festivities to look forward to, but yet snow is falling, and it is time to celebrate Christmas. Not to mention Perry gives a super animated performance that just bounces from start to finish. It makes me want to make Christmas cookies or go caroling or something corny like that. The song is almost too much fun, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which really strikes a chord with me. It may not hit other people like it does me, but I just can’t get enough of this song, which is why it is my #1.
So there is my list. Christmas music, being that it is usually the same thing over and over again, just presented a little each time, is always going to be subjective. Everyone looks for there own thing in Christmas music, so I don’t expect most people to agree with my list, but I just hope you give these songs a try.
Christmas Break Anticipation
By: Grace Litterer
For this week’s blog, I figured I would step away from another “Types of” blog. Now, considering that there are two weeks left of school, it’s time to describe what it’s like when Christmas is coming, or at least Christmas break. It’s a time everyone looks forward to. Kids love it because it means no school and no homework. Teachers love it because it means no papers to grade and kids to deal with. Even parents love it because it means that they don’t have a morning rush to get the kids dressed and lunches made. Yes, it’s a time of giving, family time, and a great break from the normal everyday life. For the next two weeks, everyone is talking about Christmas.
Now there are a few things that happen often in school before Christmas break. Firstly, you hear Christmas music everywhere. In PE, you can hear all of the Pentatonix songs you like. You can listen to Jingle Bells while writing your English paper. You can even hear the faint sounds of We Wish You a Merry Christmas while learning new theorems in Geometry. Yes, it’s a lovely time of cheer and constant mention of a Christmas Countdown. I mean, let’s face it. Every single classroom has a Christmas Countdown. You can practically hear the children cheer as the countdown is changed from 10 to 9. (Of course, we were all looking forward to single digits.)
Another thing exclusive to the Christmas season is the time spent on Amazon. Instead of spending their extra study hall time on Youtube just waiting for the bell to ring, everyone spends their time on Amazon, searching for the ultimate deals on gifts for anyone and everyone they can think of. I mean, honestly, except for maybe gas money, there is no other reason to have a job other than to buy gifts during Christmas time. It is the season of giving after all.
Of course, the holidays are an important time in high school. They are the mid-school year break. Something that everyone looks forward to. In fact, you can see some classrooms starting their countdowns in October. So, if you are ever wondering why each and every high school student has a little extra glee on their face in December, just look to the holidays.
For this week’s blog, I figured I would step away from another “Types of” blog. Now, considering that there are two weeks left of school, it’s time to describe what it’s like when Christmas is coming, or at least Christmas break. It’s a time everyone looks forward to. Kids love it because it means no school and no homework. Teachers love it because it means no papers to grade and kids to deal with. Even parents love it because it means that they don’t have a morning rush to get the kids dressed and lunches made. Yes, it’s a time of giving, family time, and a great break from the normal everyday life. For the next two weeks, everyone is talking about Christmas.
Now there are a few things that happen often in school before Christmas break. Firstly, you hear Christmas music everywhere. In PE, you can hear all of the Pentatonix songs you like. You can listen to Jingle Bells while writing your English paper. You can even hear the faint sounds of We Wish You a Merry Christmas while learning new theorems in Geometry. Yes, it’s a lovely time of cheer and constant mention of a Christmas Countdown. I mean, let’s face it. Every single classroom has a Christmas Countdown. You can practically hear the children cheer as the countdown is changed from 10 to 9. (Of course, we were all looking forward to single digits.)
Another thing exclusive to the Christmas season is the time spent on Amazon. Instead of spending their extra study hall time on Youtube just waiting for the bell to ring, everyone spends their time on Amazon, searching for the ultimate deals on gifts for anyone and everyone they can think of. I mean, honestly, except for maybe gas money, there is no other reason to have a job other than to buy gifts during Christmas time. It is the season of giving after all.
Of course, the holidays are an important time in high school. They are the mid-school year break. Something that everyone looks forward to. In fact, you can see some classrooms starting their countdowns in October. So, if you are ever wondering why each and every high school student has a little extra glee on their face in December, just look to the holidays.
The Fight For the Liberties of Diverse Minorities
By: Tess Lampe
From the beginning of time, many groups throughout the ages have been discriminated against because they differed from a social or religious norm. From this discrimination, people have risen up against those who disrespect them, like Rosa Parks and Henry Gerber. Rosa Parks supporting African-Americans and Henry Gerber supporting LGBTQ+. These leaders, the punishments their people endured, and their attempts at freedom that occurred during the movements towards claiming their rights may have differed, however, they were quite alike in their overall goal.
Every battle always has a person or people who help define or lead the fight. Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin, and James Farmer all progressed their fight for civil rights while Henry Gerber and Craig Rodwell were doing the same for the Gay Rights Movement. The one thing they all have in common, as they were treated like they were monsters, they continued to fight on for their equality for decades. Many things Rosa Parks and James Farmer did had to do with equal transportation, service, etc (Biography.com Editors). Henry Gerber created the Society for Human Rights that helped protect the rights of homosexuals. Craig Rodwell created the first gay bookstore and a very important march that is now known as Gay Pride Week. These things helped the gays to be able to show their real selves in public. Nonetheless, everything these people did for their rights drastically progressed and improved the Civil Rights and Gay Rights Movement.
Even with all of the effort people put in to gain their rights, a large majority of people disregarded these efforts by punishing protesters every chance they got. These punishments were also applied to anyone who protected or helped the two groups. It began as authorities invading their free spaces, like the Stonewall Inn or African-American homes/meeting places. Likewise, many were forcibly humiliated and abused as well. However, homosexuals, especially those who were in the military or army, were frequently questioned to find any other gay person who may have joined the military to find those like them. If the victim refused to tell the questioner, they were beaten or threatened to be outed (Kuhn 25). Similarly, hundreds of people in the government were fired if anyone was suspicious of them being gay because others thought gays communists. On the other hand, African-Americans could not hide who they were, and therefore were not questioned or threatened to bring out their true selves. Instead, they endured the segregation of water fountains, bathrooms, buses, and job opportunities/equal charge. If they started to show any resistance, they were turned in and accused of wrongful things. In the same way, groups of African-Americans were abused and provoked by groups of white people in public.
Despite what both groups were unwillingly put through, many refused to give up the fight for freedom. Bus segregation was a large problem for the majority of African-Americans. In 1955, Rosa Parks and the NAACP organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a protest against bus segregation (Parks/Haskins 126-132). Pamphlets were sent out to many African-Americans to notify them not to ride the buses in response to Rosa Parks’ arrest. This occurred for nearly a year until the federal court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional. This became a large victory for the African-American community, as they could now get to work, school, and their homes without being treated poorly and separated from others. Meanwhile, as the fight for gay rights had many ups and downs, its most important victory took place less than five years ago. On June 26 of 2015, former President Barack Obama officially legalized gay marriage in all U.S. states (Ariane de Vogue & Jeremy Diamond, CNN). This was the most important because not only were people of the LGBTQ+ community recognized, they were finally able to marry the one they loved without repercussions like everyone else could. These major victories differ because the Montgomery Bus Boycott was indeed important, but only a stepping stone of the other battles African-Americans had yet to win. However, gay marriage being legalized was the victory that the community has been waiting for since they were first discriminated upon; it was, as of now, the last legal win for gay people. In the end, the most important thing in common between these victories is that they greatly progressed the fight for equal rights for both communities.
In conclusion, both the African-American and LGBTQ+ communities have long fought for their liberties and endured the punishments forced upon them. Nonetheless, every single person involved overcame the obstacles thrown at them. Today, both communities still struggle with public acceptance, but it may be believed that their most difficult battles are over. Tragic occurrences also take place today, like the Pulse Shooting and police brutality, but this is a time where history repeating itself when it comes to winning battles may be what some people need.
Bibliography
Parks, Rosa & Haskins, Jim. Rosa Parks: My Story. New York: Dial Books, Puffin Books, 1992. Print.
Kuhn, Betsy. Gay Power! Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books, 2011. Print.
Vogue, A. & Diamond, J. (2015, June 27). Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage nationwide. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2015/06/26/politics/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling/index.html
The Biography.com website. (2014, April 2). James Farmer Biography. Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/people/james-farmer-21349629
Bayard Rustin - leader for social movements such as civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights.
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