This is our last Sophomores Speak Out, and first we would like to thank the Vineyard Gazette and all of our readers, and then we want to wish everyone a safe and happy summer. Our thoughts this week are on what we have learned this year and all the people who played a part in our lives.  Enjoy!

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The Human Race

By Ana Nascimento>

Last week, the Martha’s Vineyard Times published some pictures of the Brazilian Day at the high school. Some of the pictures were posted online, and many racist comments were posted. At first I was quite mad, and very hurt, by the comments but then I realized that it was not even worth it to be angry. I will defend the immigrants from anywhere as much as I defend the country of my birth and as much as I defend America. Some people might think that all immigrants are illegal aliens, as they like to call them, but many are not.

As James Madison stated long ago, “This is a nation of immigrants.”  Everyone who is not Native American came from somewhere else. There were 45 comments on the Martha’s Vineyard Times Web site the last time I looked, and I realized that the cruel, racist and prejudiced comments were from the same people. It helped me very much to realize that most of the really unkind stuff that was said was from the same people posting over and over again.

I believe people are beginning to accept each other no matter where they are from; after all humans are humans and that’s how they should be treated. Calling immigrants names and teaching hate is not the way to teach the kids from the next generation to do better. How can we ask for a better world if we ourselves don’t start making it better now? Our next generation should not have to learn racism through the comments that are made all around. Words are only words, but they can hurt more than physical aggression. One of the posts said that back in the day they separated immigrants from Americans. Is that really  the way to do it? Do some people really think that immigrants are that different? But how are they different? They work hard, they sleep, they eat, they go to school, they love their children and they love their nation and embrace this one.

I would like to make this simple so that everyone can understand. Racism is a crime and it is inhuman. People are different from each other, but special in their own way and habitat. The fact that they are from another country does not make them any less human. It does not mean that they should not be treated equally.

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Thanks for Listening

By Courtney Mussell>

The Vineyard Gazette generously allowed us to have our own space in the newspaper to show Island readers what is going on at the high school, and our opinions on whatever is occurring in the world. Personally, I think it would be very interesting to see who is reading Sophomores Speak Out, and to know what their opinions are. I think it would be great to have a reflection section the week after we publish written by people who had read our writing.

Everyone has their own opinion on everything, and fortunately for our U.S. History II class, our opinions have been heard. I would really like to hear other people’s opinions, because everyone needs a chance to be heard.

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Learning About World War II

By Tyler Araujo>

Our U.S. history class had the pleasure of having Mev Good talk to us about his experiences in World War II. I found it very interesting because we have been used to learning about people and events through textbooks, and not through people who have actually been part of it. We learned how he was a mountaineer and all of the preparation he had to go through to get ready for the war. He told us that one of the hardest parts was that every day he would find out that one of his friends was dead or one of his family members was no longer there. I learned a lot from Mr. Good, and I think this was a great way of learning about the Second World War.

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Respect

By Philip Jordan>

Having Mr. Good come into our class to talk about his war experiences was a great experience for us. We appreciated hearing from him, and from Capt. Gene De Felice, who came in with him. These men really deserve our respect.

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Lifetime Story

By Denver Maciel>

This week my class was honored by a presentation from Mev Good. He talked about his experiences in World War II. He showed a film about what the war was like and he also gave us a book that he had put together showing what he did and how the war had affected his whole life.

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I Want to Serve

By Kyle Francis>

The question is always asked: is war the right thing? To me war is a necessary part of survival. If there was no war, things would not be how they are today. I am 16 years old and I have been thinking about the Army and Marines for a long time now, and I have realized that I want to go in. My grandfather is a retired army officer and he has told me many stories to try to scare me off, but the stories only make me more interested. I have had the feeling that I belong in the Army or the Marines since the Twin Towers were hit and I started watching the news more. I have learned about soldiers in Iraq and how they are fighting, and I want to be there to help.

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Disaster Closes In

By Kunal Datta>

On April 20 there was an explosion on a BP oil rig. At that time, they estimated there was going to be a leak of a 1,000 barrels a day, but the leak has been spurting out 5,000 gallons a day. On Tuesday, President Obama announced that he has directed federal authorities to the Gulf of Mexico. This disaster has come very close to land and this is a desperate attempt to save the coast from being covered with oil. I think it is a good idea to help BP take care of the oil spill, but they alone should be responsible for their mistakes and the damage that they caused.

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Can’t Spell Her Name

By Alexandra Mark>

I still can’t spell my teacher’s name correctly after a year in her history class. But after a year during which we raised funds to send to the people of Haiti, I have learned so much, not just about the history of the world, but also to appreciate what you have because in the blink of an eye it could all be gone, especially someone you love. I have learned to hope and believe that others will be there for me at a time when I need it the most. Thank you, Mrs. Weintraub!

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History Class

By Carlos Guzman>

Entering this class was a new learning experience. The way things are done is great. I learned a lot through doing research projects and watching movie clips. It helped me to learn. What I remember the most is learning about the Nazis and the Jewish people and the concentration camps. I will never forget that. I would recommend this class to the whole high school because you learn a lot, and in a fun and interesting way.

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Time Flies

By Andrew Randall>

As we reach the end of our school year and begin to type our last Sophomores Speak Out, I am realizing how fast this year has actually gone. It seems like winter break was just a few weeks ago, not months. Overall this year just flew, by which is unusual because I don’t usually think of school as fun. I hope junior and senior year go by just as fast and don’t drag on the way I thought school would.