The Lion's Roar
12/01 Issue
Lincoln Park High School's Girl's Basketball Team (2001-2002): Striving for Unity
By Sana Gafoor
As I entered the arid gym on a gloomy Wednesday afternoon, the girl's basketball team was already underway with a grueling practice. Heavy stretching, 25 wall-to-wall touch runs in two minutes, followed by free-throw shooting and ball handling skills. Their heads were in the game as each player brought their own expectations to practice. Coach Washington gladly commented on the status of this year's team: " When we hold try-outs for the team in the late fall, skill-level is just as important to me as the next coach. But for a girl's team to succeed at the high school level, positive attitude is just as important as that skill level. Without unity, a well skilled team will have a bunch of "one on one" players and not a team." Coach Washington is confident in establishing a good standing in this year's difficult green division. Although a few senior veterans have returned, such as Mariah Henrie and Stefanie Alztae, it is more important on how the team works together. Two returning juniors, Kiersten Sullivan and Gabby Gonzalez agree. " If the girl's aren't enthusiastic and don't come into each game expecting to win or with determination, the whole team is hurt." This year the girl's varsity team is looking as strong as ever, and the LP Roar hopes that you check them out at one of their Tuesday home games. Junior Varsity: The girls JV basketball team has high hopes for their season as well. Returning veterans, Melissa Perret and Anna Matsumoto shared some of their thoughts with the LP Roar: " At the JV level, attitude and cooperation is just as important as at any other level. Over the past few weeks of conditioning we have learned to work as a team, and we hope that this will help us not only make the playoffs but also beat last year's rivals, Walter Payton and Northside Prep."
Why I do not oppose US bombing in Afghanistan
By Himabindu Chitta
The past weeks have brought a spate of anti-war protests around the world. Ordinarily, I would join these protesters, but I do not oppose the US bombing in Afghanistan despite there being several good reasons to do so:
1. Firstly, there is nothing to bomb in Afghanistan. The country has been ravaged by two decades of war - infrastructure is in utter ruin. The people have been subjected to unimaginable hardship by the interminable fighting, which has spawned hundreds of thousands of widows. To cause further human suffering is indeed callous.
2. Secondly, there is little guarantee that bombing Afghanistan will achieve anything. The purported objective of the bombing is to capture Osama Bin Laden. If he is eventually captured, what then? Will that stem global terrorism? Will it finish Al Qaeda? Very likely not. Al-Qaeda is a vast network that extends over sixty countries. With or without Bin Laden, Al Qaeda will find money in Central Asia and the Middle East and willing recruits in rabidly fundamentalist religious schools. The horrendous socio-economic conditions in places such as Afghanistan, Pakistan and Palestine are the true breeding grounds for terrorism. The correct cure for the problem is, therefore, to curb the flow of money to terrorists, to improve education and to raise the standard of living in poor, underdeveloped nations. So why bomb Afghanistan? How does that help?
3. A third argument is that the US is merely acting in anger, seeking revenge for the September 11th attacks. Several nations in the world have been victims of terrorism for decades. When they speak of retaliation, the global community warns them to exercise restraint or face economic sanctions. Has the US been strongly asked to exercise the same restraint? Has the global community threatened America with economic sanctions? To the contrary, America has been given full support by NATO and the UN. In this light, the US bombing seems like a display of arrogance.
These are potent arguments. I do not, however, oppose the US bombing in Afghanistan because there is no alternative. Change is needed, and it cannot be brought without overthrowing the Taliban and other such rigid fundamentalist regimes.
The breeding grounds for terrorism lie in poverty and ignorance. In extremely poor, war-torn regions such as Afghanistan, religious schools brainwash students. These young men have no knowledge of the reality outside their own. They live a destitute life, with no opportunities and little to look forward to. Little wonder then, that they are willing to sacrifice their lives fighting. After all, the fight is, they are told, for Islam. Unaware of how they are being manipulated and used, they genuinely hold a grudge against the forces that have deprived them of a normal, healthy, free, happy life. They need someone to blame. When they are led to believe that "the evil Americans and Jews" are to blame, they do not make reply or question why. They only do or die.
A higher standard of living, improved education systems and greater opportunities for young people are the need of the hour. But this change can only come when political stability is established in these regions and internal fighting ends. Ideally, diplomatic means should be used to achieve this goal. This tactic will not, however, work with the Taliban and others like them. The US bombing is only a means to an end. Once Afghanistan has a new government, the entire nation must be restructured. Without the bombing and the overthrowing of the Taliban, this will never be achieved. And this must be achieved at all costs - hence my rather unwilling support.
RAWA visits Chicago
By Himabindu Chitta
"RAWA is a political/social organization of Afghan women struggling for peace, freedom, democracy and women's rights in fundamentalism-blighted Afghanistan." RAWA or the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan opposes the atrocities committed against women by the Taliban and previous militant factions that have held power in Afghanistan. RAWA was founded in 1977 in order to encourage Afghan women to demand greater human and secular freedoms. On Friday November 9th, a representative of RAWA visited Chicago. Her lecture attracted many diverse people, all of whom had come to the small, low-profile restaurant for one primary reason - to get in touch with the human perspective of the war in Afghanistan.
Tahmeena Faryal did not disappoint us, despite being just a voice over the speaker. We were in the outer room; the main room was already packed to the hilt. Her thin and shaky voice did, nonetheless, tell a sincere and painful story. Even in her broken English, she managed to convey more truth than all the knowledgeable analysts on CNN with their colourful graphs and maps.
She began by telling the audience about the history of Afghanistan. Prior to the Soviet invasion, the country was peaceful and reasonably prosperous. It had been a monarchy for several centuries; nonetheless, quality of life was improving. Women contributed a great deal to Afghan society - 40% of doctors and 60% of teachers in Afghanistan were women. A very large percentage of Afghan students were women.
The Soviet invasion of 1979 brought an end to this and forced the nation into an excruciatingly slow and destructive war. The Soviet forces and their puppet government were opposed by the "mujahideen" or the "Islamic warriors". Some of these mujahideen were trained and supplied by the CIA. The guerrilla fighting continued for almost a decade until the breakup of the Soviet Union. RAWA supported the anti-Soviet fighters: they believed that emancipation of Afghanistan took priority over emancipation of women.
The "Afghanistan War" took a tremendous human and economic toll. Tens of thousands lost their lives in the conflict. The infrastructure of the nation was shattered completely. The mujahideen, once united against a common enemy, fought among themselves for power. Their militant factions that constitute the present-day Northern Alliance. They restricted the freedoms hitherto enjoyed by women and justified their actions by citing spurious "religious" reasons.
In this atmosphere of instability and violence, the Taliban took control. They were a group of religious students who promised to bring peace to the troubled nation. Instead, they imposed firmer and more excessive restrictions on women. With one fell swoop, they deprived women of the right to education and forbade them from working outside the home. Women could not leave their homes without being accompanied by a close male relative. Those who violated these restrictions were publicly beaten, flogged, even executed.
The Taliban were products of religious schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan called madrassas. These schools provide free lodging and education to several million students. This "education", however, is limited to teaching the Koran. The students are taught not to question their teachers and to accept all information on faith. They have scanty access to objective news reports and hardly ever come across views contrary to theirs. Having been thus brainwashed, madrassa students are easily manipulated into fighting for groups or individuals that seek power but characterize their cause as a "holy war."
RAWA runs an underground network of schools in Afghanistan that is in sharp contrast to the narrow madrassa system. They aim to educate girls and boys in a free and modern environment. They encourage, rather than stifle independent thought. And yet, this network is forced to operate in secret. They have limited funding and live under the constant threat of death - a certainty for women caught running schools for girls in Afghanistan. Until the WTC attacks, RAWA did not receive much coverage in Western media and was relatively little-known in this part of the world. Mercifully, this has now changed. RAWA is now a widely recognized institution supported by the UN.
RAWA does not support the US bombing of Afghanistan. The organization asserts that it has seen two decades of fruitless fighting - they see no positive side to the bombing of a nation whose people have suffered for so long. They also oppose the inclusion of the "moderate elements" of the Taliban and the Northern Alliance in the future government, citing the horrendous human rights record of these two groups.
RAWA has overcome tremendous odds in the 24 years of its existence. In addition to their network of schools, RAWA members have managed to film atrocities in Afghanistan - a nation where TVs, radios and all recorders are banned. This courageous organization maintains an excellent website (www.rawa.org). All those who wish to extend support to RAWA can contact them through the website.
Holidays at Lincoln Park High School
by Simone Crookshank
Finally, the Winter Holidays are here. Thanksgiving and the biggest sales of the year are over, and now we can all look forward to a long, well-deserved break (thank goodness, since most of the seniors I know couldn't go for much longer without some time off!). Seniors have to finalize their college applications, freshmen have their first exams to look forward to, and sophomores and juniors get to look forward to an future filled with AP exams, homework, and a few more semesters before high school is finally over. That said, there is still a lot to be thankful for during this holiday season, especially in light of the events of September 11. The year 2001 will always be marred by memories of the tragic events of the eleventh, but now is still a time to celebrate the good things we have. And, I think, one of the things all of us here at LP can be grateful for is Lincoln Park High School itself. Yes, that hallowed institution that provides us with hour-upon-hour of homework, testing, and other such fine activities, should also be a source of pride to all of us this season. Of course, Christmas is coming, but not only Christmas: the holidays at LP are truly representative of the different cultures and traditions that make up the United States. Here, at Lincoln park, people from different social spheres, religious traditions, and ethnic backgrounds come together every day of our lives and coexist peacefully in our school. We are, in effect, a microcosm of the whole country, and a pretty darn good one at that. If we can all get along, then we are a model for the country in the coming year. I think that, just quickly, I should sum up some of the different celebrations that bring us LPers together during the holidays. So, there is Christmas. Christmas is considered by many to be the most beautiful holiday of them all, a time for family and friends to get together and share news, stories, and gifts. Christmas decorations are going up all across town (and, who knows, maybe soon at Lincoln Park), and you can smell that nice Christmas-tree aroma at a tree lot near you. But, aside from the joys of Christmas, there are other wonderful occasions coming up as well. Hannukah, the Jewish holiday that, this year, takes place in early December, celebrates a magic and mystery of its own. Hannukah, like Christmas, is a time for families to get together, give gifts, and eat REALLY good food. Then, there's Kwanzaa, a holiday that celebrates the African-American cultural tradition in a unique way. These are only a few very general examples of what goes on at Lincoln Park students' homes during the holiday season. Around this time of year, people are happier and nicer to one another as the holidays approach. I think that's true of Lincoln Park as well--the closer we get to break time, the better we behave! Families from different countries and cultural traditions celebrate the holidays in different and wonderful ways. This year at Lincoln Park, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and a host of other religions will join together in giving thanks for the peace we have now and in praying for a peaceful future. So, from the Lion's Roar, happy holidays, and happy New Year.
Predetermined Personality?
By Erin McGonegle
Whether you're the oldest, middle, youngest, or only child, the order in which you were born plays a huge role in determining the person you will become. Specific personality profiles lend themselves to each group, and tend to reflect the group as a whole. Determine which category you fit into (some people will fit into more than one, e.g. if you are the middle child, and you are female, but your older sibling is male, you will probably show characteristics of both a middle child and an oldest child.)
First-borns tend to be very goal-oriented and are natural leaders. They are extremely organized and very dependable, but sometimes can be a bit obsessive about details. Their main faults are that they are very critical, controlling, and tend to be conscientious to a fault. Dealing with someone you find a bit bossy and intimidating? You probably have an oldest child by your side.
Middle children are skilled mediators and negotiators. They're peace-lovers and great listeners. Although they may not excel in a field, they'll still work just as hard as everyone else and are wonderful team players. Having grown up with younger and older alike, they are very sociable and friendly, but sometimes get lost in the shuffle. They tend to have difficulty setting boundaries and absolutely abhor confrontation. They tend to be secretive and keep their feelings inside, and dislike making decisions. They're stereotyped as "chronic people pleasers."
Youngest children are very affectionate and charming, they love meeting new people and are very outgoing. They are characterized as tenacious risk-takers, but are also rather financially irresponsible. They can be self-centered, manipulative, and love being in the limelight. Often times they are rather impatient and are very susceptible to flattery. However, they also are very fearful of rejection, having grown up as the loved "baby" of the family.
Only children do extremely well in life. Although they tend to have some trouble getting along with kids their own age and younger, they relate very well to older individuals. They sometimes show signs of being babied like the youngest children, but they also tend to reflect the strengths of oldest children. If you want a job done right, hire an only child, but make sure you've already agreed to everything ahead of time. Only children are very money-conscious.
Do these personality traits ring true for most people? Take a few examples. The majority of U.S. president, as well as early astronauts, were all oldest children, the natural leaders. Famous middle children include Martin Luther King, Jr., real estate tycoon Donald Trump, computer man Bill Gates and publishing giant Steve Forbes. There are many signs of skilled negotiators and strong team players in that mix. The majority of comedians and actors are youngest children, lovers of attention and devotion. They include Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Rosie O'Donnell, Jim Carrie, and Jay Leno. The claim that only children do extremely well in life is supported by the facts: more than half of all CEOs are only children.
Our birth orders dictate many things in our lives, and may even have an affect upon our business and personal relationships. Dr. Kevin Leman, authour of The New Birth Order Book and The Birth Order Connection, claims that different birth orders have to be dealt with in different ways. In an example of reactions of different birth order groups, a group each of oldest, middle, youngest, and only children were sent into a room with a piece of paper on the floor. The oldest children read the paper and systematically performed each task. The middle children each nicely told the next that he or she could pick it up and never decided who would be the one to do it. The youngest children fought over who would read it aloud and ended up tearing it to shreds. The only children walked in and sat around - they didn't even notice the paper! So, is any of this true to life? Many of the characteristics seem very fitting, and it's all scientifically proven, but I can't say what I think. After all, I'm just a middle child!
The LPHS Physics Club
By Himabindu Chitta
The Physics Club is a relatively new and little-known club at LPHS. Despite the name, those interested do NOT need prior knowledge of Physics to join. The club participates in hands-on building competitions such as the IIT Bridge Building Contest and the Vehicle Design Contest. We are also preparing for the challenging Rube Goldberg conducted by Argonne National Laboratories. This contest requires students to build a machine that can secure, raise and wave a national flag. In addition to fulfilling the requirements, the machine must have an innovative design. All participants in this competition are awarded Honorary Masters Degrees and the winning team is given a guided tour of the high-tech equipment at Argonne National Labs.
The Physics Club also organizes fun activities. We are planning a trip to the Planetarium on December 7th, when we will get up-close and personal with the wonders of the night sky. We are also planning a "bowling night" along with the Physics Club at Walter Payton High School. In order to celebrate our successful year, we will have a gala year-end party in May-June.
So if u have always liked to tinker or take things apart, if u like the idea of making a (working!) machine using just old cans and duct tape - come join Physics Club! We meet on Thursdays after 9th period in Room 229 (Mr. Shemwell's / Mr. Payne's Room).
Boys' Basketball
By: Jeremy Moorehouse
Heading full speed into the 2001-2002 season, the Lincoln Park boys' basketball team anxiously prepared for their upcoming games as I walked into practice one day after school. "We always think positive," asserted returning Head Coach McGinnis, who has returned after coaching at the University of Houston for a year, "I think we're really going to have a good season this year." Coming off of a rough 2000-2001 season, he is working the team hard to get them back into shape and to boost everyone's spirits for the forthcoming games.
Hoping to win the division title, fourth year athlete and Team Captain Andy Phalen exclaimed that he hoped "to make it to the city championship and be the first team from Lincoln Park to make it to the final four." With some new faces, and many old players returning for the upcoming season, the boys' basketball team is looking forward to a good year, and still hoping for a title, not to mention the support of their fellow students.