The REAL Meaning of Christmas

The point of this cartoon is to show how corrupt the meaning of Christmas has become. The Grinch is saying in the quote that Christmas isn't just about presents or things from a store. The customer is requesting this quote on a present that she wants to buy and in the process completely contradicting what the Grinch was saying. People today are so focused on buying things and giving to others that they are oblivious to the true meaning of Christmas. I agree completely with this cartoonist. There are so many Americans who obsess over buying the right gifts and making sure they get something for everyone on their list. They overlook what CHRISTmas is about. I don't think that the Grinch was talking specifically about Jesus' birth in that quote, but it's the same idea.

The customer's stupid grin supports the cartoon's point because it helps to demonstrate the ignorance and lack of common sense that people have today. She's all giddy because she just thought of a great present for someone, but she doesn't even realize what she's doing in the process. She is a symbol of the majority of Americans during Christmastime. Another visual element is the store owner's expression. He has a serious look on his face and his hands together like he means business. It shows that he is just trying to make as much money as possible. I bet he's thinking that if this lady is stupid enough to want that quote on a Christmas present, at least I'll get some money out of it. Storeowners are trying to lure customers into buying their products in whatever way possible, and by doing so, they lead people away from the real meaning of Christmas.

Sean Taylor's Death

This column is centered around the death of Sean Taylor. Though it is not all about him, I believe that Sean Taylor's death is the cause for writing this article. The author, Jason Whitlock, argues that the reason behind Taylor's murder is because he was a victim of black violence in the U.S. today. I agree with what Whitlock is saying about our society today. People are just setting aside the fact that the majority of African Americans killed today are murdered not by caucasians, but by fellow African Americans. A strong parallel that i found is this: "If you saw a fat man fall to the ground clutching his chest, you'd assume a heart attack, and you'd know, no matter what the cause, the man needed to lose weight. Well when shots are heard and a black man hits the pavement, there's every statistical reason to believe another black man pulled the trigger." This parallel associates the reasoning behind assuming that a murdered black man was killed by another black man and assuming that a fat man who died clutching his heart died from a heart attack. It also parallels the fact that if a fat man died from a heart attack, one would know that he needed to lose weight if he didn't want to die. In the same way, if a black man died from being murdered by another black man, then one would assume that there is an evident problem there that needed to be fixed. This helps to support the article because it clarifies Whitlock's reasoning behind what he is saying. It also provides more insight as to why this is such a problem in our society today.

Response to Inappropriate Teen Dancing

In summary, this column addresses a somewhat controversial problem in the secular world. However, this problem should not even need to be discussed in the eyes of a Christian. Betsy Hart takes the stand as a concerned parent and doesn't in the least bit encourage or advocate "freak dancing". She then goes on to address others' views on this topic, including those who "support" it and those who don't. The author's point in writing this article is to illuminate what she believes to be a growing problem in schools around the nation. Many parents are probably unaware of the type of dancing that goes on at high school dances. Meanwhile, teenagers are engaging in "foreplay" at, of all places, school events. I agree with this column for the most part, and I do think that it is a very prominent issue in high schools around the nation today, even at a high school such as ours. Teens should be able to dance in God-pleasing ways, yet I don't think that it is all our fault. The types of music and other influences, such as TV, also play a part in this suggestive dancing. However, the strategies that Betsy presents to stop this dancing I do not agree with. It's common knowledge that teenagers are rebellious. I know from experience that when chaperones at dances try to prohibit such dancing by turning on the lights or playing twenty-year old music, students rebel.

One rhetorical question that i found asks, "If the "$400 dress girl" had been sexually assaulted in the parking lot after the festivities because the dance wasn't a "dud," would her mom be happy, or suing the school?" This helps to support Betsy's point because it's implying that improper dancing leads to other things later on, specifically rape and sexual assault. The author uses this to help support the fact that she needs to go to all of her kids' school dances. She wants to show how "dangerous" dirty dancing can be later on in the night. Betsy may be a little far out on this statement. This type of dancing may not lead to such extremes, but I still think that teens should not be dancing in such ways.

Brandon Brodowsky is Love

Brandon Brodowsky is the love of my life. His Grandma wants me to date him, and i think we would be perfect aswell. Girls, step off!