Category: Opinion

It’s my body, but is it still my choice in Florida?

~ gracerracerlol ~ Leave a comment

Grace Bennett
Oxbridge Academy

Governor Ron Desantis’s enactment of a restrictive six-week abortion law in Florida represents a profoundly misguided and unjust intrusion on women’s rights as well as healthcare decisions.

In an associated press article, Kamala Harris said, “As of this morning, 4 million women in this state woke up with fewer reproductive freedoms than they had last night.”

On the morning of May First, 2024, women in Flordia woke up to a soul-crushing reality. The enacted bill, making abortion illegal after six weeks, stripped women of their ability to decide about their pregnancies before they were even aware of them. 

Statistics have shown that most women are unaware of their pregnancy before or at six weeks, making termination nearly impossible. According to Ansirh, one in three people discover pregnancy at six weeks or later, and about one in five discover pregnancy past seven weeks. Almost two in three people aged 15-19 discover pregnancy at six weeks or later.

In Florida, it seems as if all odds are against women in this category; it is not just a matter of the violation of women’s rights; it is also a diminishment of healthcare opportunities for pregnant women. In an associated press article, Roberts said, “We’re coming in between them and their doctors and preventing them from getting care until it’s saving their lives, sometimes at the expense of their fertility.” 

“As a girl growing up in a fast-paced environment, I am worried about sharing special moments with a significant other because I am no longer able to choose what happens with my body if I end up pregnant.” Said a high school student in Florida.

Even though I haven’t experienced this tragedy, I am a 15-year-old girl living in Florida; my peers and I can get pregnant or be victims of sexual assault. It is safe to say we now live in fear; it has ruined intimate moments for us and made us feel anger toward our bodies and resentment towards those around us. Banning abortion is not just a political argument; it is an emotional battle that affects all women around the country in all ways, whether that be emotional, physical, or anything in between. 

“The taking of a life is murder, and it is illegal.”According to Danny McCormick, 

The abortion ban runs deeper than just a political stance, more than a “preference;” it is a life-altering and heartbreaking reality only women are left to face. Men can and have been imposing this decision on women across the country now more than ever; they determine the fate of our bodies. 

Why is a 45-year-old man, oblivious of female reproductive systems and women’s personal lives, able to dictate what happens to me and others like me, disregarding our age, ability, and feelings about pregnancy?

Knowing I have minimal standing in the fight for women’s rights, I write this in hopes of educating anyone I can about the decisions that the wrong people are making; men should not be the dictator of any woman’s body. Growing up in this day, especially in the South, is frightening; it affects more than just the impregnated women; it affects doctors, young girls being scared to have intimate moments, healthcare providers, and more. Hopefully, the Nov. ballot will dissolve the six-week ban, and if it does, the fight is still not over for women in the South.

Man or Bear: Why Women Cannot Afford to Choose the Man

~ madisonconnor17 ~ Leave a comment

by Madison Connor
Hebron Christian Academy

“When everyone believes you, what’s that like?”

Legendary singer, songwriter, doctor, and performer Taylor Swift released a song during her Lover era called, “The Man,” which discusses sexism she has experienced both in the media, and in the world. In the song she asks a powerful question, “When everyone believes ya, what’s that like?”

The reason this question is so powerful is because as women, we are rarely believed. Not to say that men are also not believed, but it is much more common for women to be doubted, scrutinized, accused of lying, accused of tempting and looked at like they do not belong. a A recent media controversy has spiked, started by a man, asking women the question of “Would you rather be alone in the woods with a random man or bear,” and to their surprise, many women  chose a bear.

“Only wear one earphone, check behind you every minute or so, never be alone with a man you do not know, never leave your drink unattended, scream, give them a fight, always be aware of your surroundings. and learn self defense.”

Many people ask why women chose the bear, but contrary to popular opinion, it is not because women woke up one day and decided to hate men. It is a result of conditional training and instinct women have been given over centuries that have taught us to be wary of men, many of them quoted above. It is a result of the fact that over hundreds of years, women have been treated like second class citizens, inferior to men,, treated like cattle, treated as objects by men, and treated like birth-givers and nothing else. We are told that boys are boys. School dress codes are even implemented supporting these notions, with girls having to dress conservatively to not “tempt” the boys.  

“I still have nightmares years later.”

One of my dearest friends said this about the man — a family member — who sexually assaulted her when she was much younger. This is another reason why women are choosing the bear, because they won’t have to see the bear at the family reunion. This response, for me, is also a result of the fact that almost every single woman in my life has been nearly sexually assaulted, sexually assaulted or knows someone who has. It is a result of the fact that in America, a person is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds, with 91% of sexual assaults being done to women, and 99% done by men. It is a result of the fact that many women, including myself, feel that if they have not joined this statistic, they will.

“At least if I got attacked by a bear people would actually believe me.”

Many have said this about why they chose the bear, specifically, content creator @mrsjrd on Tiok. No matter how prolific the person is, from superstar Taylor Swift to a fhigh school girl, women are not believed. Taylor Swift was questioned, scrutinized, and judged when she had eight witnesses, and a photo of the assault happening, so why would anyone believe the woman whose only witness is herself? Even with bites, marks and DNA evidence, women are questioned, but, if you show marks from a bear, you are more likely to be believed.

“He didn’t seem threatening; he was skinny as a rake, aging and shorter than me.”

Anna Richards, a hiker on a trail in Armenia actually was faced with this hypothetical country. She took up an offer from a beekeeper to sleep on his porch to avoid the bears. Not even 12 hours later, she said she felt a body on hers and hot breath on her neck. Thankfully, Richards was able to push the man off, but it goes to show that even if women do choose men, it does not pay off.

“You know what to expect from a bear.”

This is exactly what my dad said on whether or not he would want me, his youngest child, alone in the woods with a man or a bear. Because, either a bear will attack or leave you alone, but a man is unpredictable.

“I want to rape you”

When I was 13, that was the phrase I received from a man solely because I would not send nudes to a man who was at least 17. This was solely a reaction to the fact I would not send nudes, and one could only imagine what would have happened if I faced this interaction in person. All of these reasons very clearly showcase why I would choose the bear, and I would probably choose the bear even if I know the man, because as my dad said, men are unpredictable.

“Men are beasts, and even beasts don’t behave as they do”

“BookTok” is ruining the romance genre

~ livselman ~ Leave a comment

by Liv Selman
West Laurens High School

Growing up as a reader, getting book recommendations from my friends was a memorable and fun aspect of my childhood. My friends and I would read a series together and obsess over characters and get excited together over plot twists.  

With the creation of social media and its ability to connect people across the globe, engaging in book recommendations became a larger-than-life fad for a community of mostly women on TikTok. Thus, the term “BookTok” was born.

At first glance, BookTok seems like a wholesome concept. It has really made reading fun and accessible for all people on the internet. However, it has gained a bad reputation from the types of books that it praises and recommends, specifically in the romance genre.  

It is common to find videos of people suggesting poorly-written books only because they are sexually-explicit. Although it is not typically categorized as porn, according to researchers, reading things like this can have similar negative effects on the brain, such as impulsiveness, desensitization to reward, and anxiety and depression.  

The creators that promote these books also fail to realize that they may be unintentionally encouraging younger viewers of their content to pick up these books. This coincides with the cartoon-cover designs that many publishers have chosen for these books that make them appear unassuming and kid-friendly. While these covers may make romance books less embarrassing to read in public(as opposed to a classic cover image of a bare-chested man), they can be misleading to young children on TikTok who are looking to get into reading.

TikTok user @nicolereadsalot said in a video about this subject, “Do not let book covers fool you, some of them look so sweet and innocent, but are filthy.”

BookTok has given the romance genre a bad reputation. Throughout time, certain romance books have been regarded as classics, such as Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone With The Wind” and Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights.”  These books are all astounding works of literature that deeply explore the lives of the two romantic leads and the progression of their relationships.  These works represent the epitome of what the genre of romance should represent– an exploration of what it means to be vulnerable and human.  

However, when people on TikTok announce to the world that the romance book they just finished is “very spicy,” it doesn’t paint the romance genre or readers in general in a good light.

The problematic content of BookTok is not limited to literary porn.  Even worse, there is a sub-committee who promote books that romanticize abuse, which they have categorized as “dark romance.”  These books have plots based around female characters being stalked, assaulted, or kidnapped by their love interest.  Obviously, this can be very damaging to real life survivors of these things because it minimizes their experiences and turns them into entertainment.  

So, what can be done to combat the perversion of the romance genre on TikTok?   We cannot control what people choose to post or read, but we can control what books we choose to pick up and which creators we listen to.  One of the most powerful aspects of reading is that it is all about one’s own personal experience– we read what we believe is quality and what we are interested in.  That is the beauty of being a reader– it is all up to you. 

A Green Light in High School

~ adrianaacevedo16 ~ Leave a comment

F. Scott Fitzgeralds literary masterpiece, “The Great Gatsby” must continue to be taught in Schools

“Its one of those iconic pieces that everyone talks about,” says history major, Mari Daze.

“The Great Gatsby” has been taught in school for decades, as it touches on many different themes.

“I think it’s a good way to analyze how an author in the 20’s portrays the American dream and how we portray the American dream now and comparing and contrasting what things have remained the same, what things have changed,” Mari says.

The novel also allows students to grow their literary minds by understanding different concepts that are not literal.

“I think it showed the American dream, not in a literal sense, it was open to a lot of interpretation which i think is important to learn in school so that students can have their own opinion about it,” says Ebudu Okeke, a phycology major.

Outside of the classroom, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel remains important years after it is read. “The Great Gatsby” provides as a great source to many references in popculture.

“Every so often, you might hear someone make a reference to ‘The Great Gatsby’, like the green light,” says Mari.

“The Great Gatsby” must continue to be read in order to provide students with “a clear view to history,” says Mari.

“It’s just become very iconic,” says Mari.

“The Simpsons” is Better Than “Family Guy”

~ seblord48 ~ Leave a comment

“The Simpsons” and “Family Guy” are one in the same – they are both long running adult cartoons with large fanbases. Both have been criticized and revered for their boldness in making edgy and offensive jokes. However, one show clearly stands above the other – “The Simpsons” surpasses “Family Guy” in humor, characters, and touching moments, making it the superior show. 

While “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy” have similar humor in the fact that they are both unapologetic and offensive, “The Simpsons” pulls it off with more class than “Family Guy” ever could. “Family Guy” utilizes cutaway gags, which are clips that interject the main story with a quick joke. In fact, “Family Guy” episodes have an average of 11 cutaways per episode according to the Family Guy wiki, which often interrupts the story and disrupts the flow of the episode. On the other hand “The Simpsons” delicately crafts their jokes into the story so that the episode flows seamlessly while at the same time being funny. 

In addition, the characters from “The Simpsons” are so much better developed and well rounded than the characters from “Family Guy.” A perfect example are the two daughters from the families from each show. Lisa Simpson, The daughter in “The Simpsons” is a very interesting complex character with multiple interests, like playing the saxophone, reading, activism, and dolls.​​ But Meg Griffin, the daughter from “Family Guy” is a one dimensional character with little to no interests, and according to her wiki page is merely a punching bag for the rest of the family who adds nothing to the story. The complexity of characters in “The Simpsons” leads to greater connections and stories than seen in “Family Guy.”

“The Simpsons” not only does comedy and character development much better than “Family Guy” but also the sweet touching moments. “The Simpsons” has a wide variety of heartwarming episodes, which include but is not limited to “Maggie makes 3,” “Lisa’s first word,” and “mother simpson.” “Family Guy” only has one episode that attempts to be sweet, “Brian and Stewie,” an episode which is just as gross as it is heartwarming, for the fact that Brian eats out of Stewie’s diaper. 

When surveyed, the majority of people said that “Family Guy” was the better show. However, the reason they stated was that it was only because they hadn’t seen “The Simpsons” where as people who chose “The Simpsons” said that they watched both and “The Simpsons” was just better. So while “Family Guy” may be more popular nowadays, it doesn’t hold a candle to the classic that is “The Simpsons.”