Hello

On November 1992, Arizona finally approved the Martin Luther King holiday after the many years of boycotts and rages. It was the last state to declare MLK day a holiday right after New Hampshire which finally recognized the holiday in 1999. The process of developing this holiday in Arizona was very long, and upset many people both in-state, and out of state.

Governor Bruce Babbitt in May 1986 created the MLK holiday for Arizona after the state legislature had not voted to create the holiday. Later on the Attorney General’s office stated that the paid holiday was illegal and threatened to sue Babbitt because of it. The cost of the holiday should have been approved before the Governor declared it, and a year later the holiday was rescinded on grounds that it was illegal by newly appointed governor Evan Mecham. Mecham caused a lot of attention when he campaigned to cancel the paid holiday for State employees, commenting that “king doesn’t deserve a holiday”. He also added on to telling a black community, “You folks don’t need another holiday. What you folks need are jobs.”

On January 19, 1987, the day of what was supposed to be MLK day, people protested to the state capital demanding it to be turned. 45 Conventions were cancelled causing a loss of $25 million. One of the cancellation was a National Basketball Association convention in Phoenix, but Mecham simply quoted “Well, the N.B.A.. I guess they forget how many white people the get coming to watch them play. Even William L. Raby, the chairman of the state chamber of commerce, said “We usually back Republicans, but he’s a different kind of Republican.” Business interests toward the state disappeared as they did not want to support the state’s environment, and the tourism industry slowly turned flat.

Eventually Mecham declared a non-paid holiday a couple months later on Sunday January 3, but the community was not happy.

In 1988 Governor Mecham was impeached, and Rose Moffard took the office/ She told the associated press she wanted the issue to rest saying, “Not only has it effected the economy, but it also hurt us nationally. We are considered a racist state.”

The NFLs were scheduled to be held in Phoenix, Arizona. The NFL met in March 1990 in Orlando to select the site of the Super Bowl, and Arizona was favored. Civil Rights advocates in Arizona sent Art Mobley to Orlando to make sure the holiday issue was considered at the meeting. Mobely provided a detailed history and analysis of the MLK dilemma. At this time blacks across the nation supported an entire entertainment and convention boycott called by Dr. King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, and songwriter Stevie Wonder. State leaders John McCain, Dennis DeConcini and Governor Rose Moffard flew to Orlando to convince them that Arizona will try to win state observance at the earliest ballot box opportunity.

The Philadelphia Eagles owner said they would vote to rescind the award of the game to Arizona if anything was done to dishonor Dr. King. Opponents to the holiday felt they had a right to vote, and in November 1990 the ballot decided 51% to 49% to cancel paid holiday. Because of the increased percentage of African American players in the NFL’s, they urged the players association to yank the Super Bowl from Arizona to transfer to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Reverend Warren H. Stewart Sr., organized the citizens coalition ‘Arizonans for a Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday’ to bring together a campaign called ‘Victory Together One Clear Choice.’ In two years the state lost $350 million in convention business and Super Bowl, Arizona finally became the first and only state to popularly vote and pass a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. Voters approved the holiday ballot in 1992, and on March 23, 1993, awarded the Super Bowl XXX to Tempe.

The two posts, Janice and Eric, were written for two people in AP English who were assigned to get three letters from their close friends or relatives. The letter was supposed to talk about how they have grown and where I see them in the future. They both open it on May 27, 2010. Their teacher will then take it back, keep it, and then mail it back to them in five years.

I love how personal and emotional the self-reflection project is, and it would have been a great way to end the year.

Eric,

Today is May 27, our 1 year anniversary! I think back to when we were Freshman, and I never would have guessed we would end up with each other. I can’t believe how long we lasted… time went by so quickly when with you. I don’t know what I would do without you.

I remember when I first saw you – it was in band and we missed band camp so we were being taught how to march. I was wearing that jacket with the crowns all over it, and you were wearing that brown-ish khaki jacket thing. I remember I looked at you and thought, Wow, who is this really nerdy Asian kid with the glasses and bad haircut? He looks pretty lame. I thought nerds were only found in movies and TV shows, not real life. But when I got to know you better, you weren’t just a nerd, you were annoying too. You always came over when I didn’t ask, and you were just… annoying, like a mosquito that wouldn’t go away. I wanted nothing to do with you.

In the start of junior year you started to “blossom“. You lost the glasses, fixed your hair, and changed your style. But don’t worry, you were still annoying. When Emma rejected you for prom, you had to ask your second choice. You started to come over to my house when I didn’t want you to, and you kept bothering me at school. When I said yes I had no idea where it would lead me today. I am glad she ditched you.

When we started going out I didn’t like you that much, and I knew you didn‘t really like me. At that time I wanted to give the relationship a little chance and have a little fun with it for a while, but I doubted we could even last 3 months.

Slowly I liked you more and more each day. Over the summer you came over to make me breakfast, and give me flowers and cookies. I remember going pool hopping and getting kicked out by Ms. Utter, sneaking out of your house after your parents came home, and playing Super Smash Bros. You found little ways to make me happy each time I saw you, and each time usually worked. I feel like I always expect too much from you, forgetting that the simplest things we do together are the most memorable.

I could have used this letter to talk about how great you are at everything you do and how much you achieved, but I’m sure you’ve heard it way too much. You are going to Harvard and all…

So when you go off to this next chapter of your life and begin to surround yourself with other beautiful, smart, and successful people, I hope you won’t forget me. I’m sure I will never forget about all the times we’ve spent together, and all of the ups and downs we‘ve been through. I will miss you coming over to my house at night after swim practice just to eat my food and complain about how sore you were. I will miss the lack of sodium you put in your Chinese pasta, your ugly brown-poo colored pants, and the little cute things you make for me on special occasions. I will miss your lectures about being late, and eating too much junk food. I will miss your burritos, your house, and your enthusiasm for FBLA I will miss your perfect body and your gorgeous face. And I will miss being the person you came to whenever you felt down. I won’t forget the first time we kissed. I am so comfortable with you.

I like you a lot Eric, probably too much – so much it’s not healthy anymore. We became so much more closer to each other each time we made up after a huge fight, no matter how stupid the reason was. My feelings for you grown so high on the Eric-O-Meter, I don’t know what I will do when you leave me because you are always on my mind. I want to stay together with you forever, and it will be so hard in August when you leave.

Before we started going out I told myself I wouldn’t take any relationship in high school seriously. But now that I’ve met you, I can’t imagine myself with anyone else. You are perfect, and I will always be there for you.

Love you,

Alex

Janice,

I couldn’t think of any other person that I have spent more time with and watched grow. You changed so much from the 6th grade, yet you are the same pretty and nice girl from the day I met you in band. Still short and cute with your chubby little cheeks, you also have that same “true” vibe. You are not fake, and that’s what I love about you. When you hated someone, you didn’t go around acting like you were there best friend. You never spread rumors, lies or started drama just to get attention.

You were also talented and good at everything you did. I remember once for my birthday we went bowling and it was crazy because you ended up being like super pro at it! And at tennis you were always going beast mode. You were also good at making party plans, like in your birthday parties where you made an entire list of things to do like Vampire tag and that spoon card game. Even when we were kids I felt like you were like the mother of us all – always bringing the group together and making everyone feel sort of wanted. And I’m really grateful for ending up in your group.

Unlike the other girls in middle school, you were different, but in a good way. You always looked at people not by appearances or the way they dressed – you looked at people for who they are. Unlike other girls you were not shallow, and you made were friendly to anyone, even if they didn’t speak English correctly. I feel like you always have to put up with me, and I feel like I sometimes take that for granted. You were always so forgiving and I don’t think you can ever hold a grudge against someone. (Except for Joey maybe)

In the end I think your greatest quality is your strength. You have incredible strength, and I am jealous of it. You stand up for what you believe in, and you never let people stomp all over you. You are an independent woman, and in the future you will be so successful because of your strong determination for things you love doing.

Writing a letter about who you are, and how you have grown is hard because all I can think of is how much fun I had with you for these past 7 years of my life and how much memories we’ve had together that I am sure will never forget. So here’s a list that I think would fit you well: Nice, sarcastic, big eyed, big breasted, tennis balls, short, exciting, open, sociable, BEAUTIFUL, strong, independent, dependable, fun, blue, fuzzy and warm inside, athletic, laid-back, talented, a writer, family, sweet, cute, lovable, exciting, and everything inbetween. I know that you will have a wonderful life after High School, and I hope we can still make more amazing memories in the future.

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE, Alex

Legendary Jun Seba (also known as Nujabes), an underground hip-hop producer in Japan died on February 26th, 2010 from a car crash said to be caused by a large earthquake. I am not exaggerating when I say Nujabes was legendary. His music inspired me since the first time I heard it in the anime “Samurai Champloo”, and I don’t think any other kind of artist have, or ever will inspire me the way he did. Each track was so delicately yet perfectly made; one could tell he exerted an abundant amount of energy to create a simply breathtaking piece of artwork. He was the kind of musician who did what he loved because he loved it- not because he wanted money and fame.

I am not trying to be overly sentimental or anything, but when I found out Nujabes died already, at a young age, it felt like a giant part of my life went away. His music became attached to me all throughout my High school life. I would listen to a playlist of songs from Modal Soul and Metaphorical Music when I wrote an essay, painted a picture, or even lying in bed trying to fall asleep – I couldn’t remember a time I didn’t do anything without Nujabes in my head. The greatest part about him and his albums was that no one can ever be tired of them, and listening to the same song over 100 times wouldn’t even disturb the same feelings it sent from the beginning.

Another reason why his death made me sad was because I saw it symbolizing a sense of ‘starting over’. Who knew he would have died a few months before graduating? The ending of my High school years, the ending of my naïve youth. It reminds me that we are all leaving to different places, and who knows what could happen in the future – where everybody is going to college, what everybody’s plans are. I doubt I will ever see nearly half of the people I see in classes today. It hits me how we all are being pushed out into the real world and basically starting a different part of our life, finally escaping school.

High School shaped me into who I am today, and I hope I will never forget the people and teachers who stayed with me for the four years. I want to stay close to some people, but as much as they matter the most I think sometimes it is also good to disconnect once in a while and start fresh with fresh faces.

On May 31, 1921 in the racially segregated Tulsa of Oklahoma a large-scale civil disorder erupted, injuring over 800 people, causing an estimated 10,000 homeless, 1,256 residences destroyed by fire, and $1.8 million of property damage caused. Thirty-nine people were killed in the riot, ten of whom were white. The actual number of black citizens killed by white militiamen and others was around 300, making it the worst riot in US history.

The Tulsa race riot started when Dick Rowland, a 19-year old black shoe shiner in a shine parlor entered the elevator at a Drexel building to the colored washroom on the top floor around 4pm. In the elevator was a 17 year old white elevator operator named Sarah Page who was on duty. No one really knows what exactly happened in the elevator but the two must have been acquainted with each other at one point by sight. Most would say Rowland tripped in the elevator, and grabbed the arm of Page to prevent himself from falling. Page screamed and a clerk at one of the floors heard it, seeing the black man hurriedly leave the building. She assumed the young woman was assaulted and immediately called the authorities.

The next morning Rowland was detained by detective Henry Carmichael and Henry C. Pack and was taken to the jail for questioning. News spread about the event that day, along with an article titled ‘To Lynch Negro Tonight’ which was about whites assembling to lynch Rowland. As this newspaper hit the streets, white people gathered near the county Courthouse, seeking answers about the incident. Some were spectators only curious, but others were looking to participate and show support of the lynching of the young teenager. By sunset, hundreds of whites were assembled to have the making of a lynch mob. The sheriff Willard M. McCullough went outside and tried to talk the crowd into going home, but they did not listen. Eventually three white men entered the courthouse demanding Rowland be turned over, but deputies were able to turn them away. Eventually they were being vastly outnumbered by the crowed on the street.

A few blocks away, members of the black community gathered to discuss the situation at the courthouse. They came to a conclusion they were going to lynch Dick Rowland like they did to Roy Belton. Armed with rifles and shotguns they marched to the courthouse to support the sheriff and his deputies while defending Rowland from the angry whites. The sheriff though, assured them Rowland was safe and made them to return to Greenwood. The whites around the courthouse turned into 2000, many of them armed with weapons. Small groups of armed black started to go back to the courthouse in automobiles, ready to take action to protect Rowland.

It is said a white man told one of the armed black man to surrender his pistol, but he refused and fired a shot. It could have been accidental, or meant as a warning shot, but the ones followed were not, and eventually the courthouse was taking fire.

Immediately the white men returned fire, and the blacks continued firing back. It lasted only a few seconds, but already several men lay dead or dying in the street. The black mob retreated with the armed white mob following from behind. Innocent people from around were caught off guard and started to run as well. Panic came and mobsters started to fire at any black in the crowd. At 11 p.m. members of the National Guard assembled, joining patrols of the streets. Though, they were mainly being organized to protect the white districts near Greenwood. They rounded up any black who hadn’t made it back to Greenwood and took them to the armory for detainment.

The riot continued until Wednesday, June 1, 1921, progressively getting worst each minute. Whites eventually pushed into Greenwood, killing many innocent blacks along the way.

This shows how far we have progressed in America today from being a place which allowed slavery toward just a clash of different races. Though today we may still see smaller amounts of discrimination down in the south, violent mobsters back then would stand in riots demanding a lynching of a teenage boy who did not seem to have assaulted the girl in the first place.

Accoutrements – personal clothing, accessories, etc.
She wore her mothers pearl necklaces wherever she went and found the jewelry very important.

Antique jewelry and clothing has more meaning and personality than new jewelry bought at retail stores.

Parboil – to boil partially or for a short time; precook.
You must parboil the vegetables first before cooking the steak.

To parboil something you must boil it in water and a pot.

Geriatric – of or pertaining to geriatrics, old age, or aged persons
The geriatric woman walked with a cane around town, yelling at little kids.

The old woman is geriatric because of her wrinkles and grey hair. She must be around her 70’s.

Juncture – a point of time, esp. one made critical or important by a concurrence of circumstances
At this juncture, all seniors should have applied to colleges and scholarships.

Eventually high school seniors will have a point in their life for graduating and reach a stage where they finally are free.

Meticulous – taking or showing extreme care about minute details; precise; thorough
Meticulously the chemist calculated the equation over and over again making sure it was exactly right so he didn’t mess up the medicine.

Scientists must get information correct and have precise answers by taking data meticulously.

Attenuated – to weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity, or value: to attenuate desire.
Her love for playing the piano attenuated after the 2nd lesson.

Usually people do not enjoy things they loved doing after a long period of time, like the piano or other hobbies.

Assuage – to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; mitigate: to assuage one’s grief; to assuage one’s pain.
The large steak she ate at Outback assuaged her hunger pains.

It is a good idea to eat food when hungry so you don’t have stomach aches.

Resuscitation – to revive, esp. from apparent death or from unconsciousness
After taking her shower she felt resuscitated and felt like she could do anything.

Usually when people take a shower, or wake up after a long nap they are resuscitated and feel like they could run a mile.

Impeccably – faultless; flawless; irreproachable
The impeccable girl was beautiful and never seemed to do anything wrong.

Perfection is viewed in many ways, and is an evident problem in society today – especially through women’s appearance

Proffering – to put before a person for acceptance; offer.
He proffered an idea to move all the chairs back to his house after the party.

It is a good idea to proffer and lend a hand to help people who need it.

Rancho has its good and bad attributes but all together it is just lime any other suburban public high school. I disagree with the people that say “going to Rancho will dumber the student and they will not be qualified to go to a four year college” because it is the students choice to find his/her voice. If anything, it is easier to be seen in Rancho and get a better education because of the small student population and lack of competition. Most of the classes in other schools are not offered in Rancho, but we do offer ESL classes for non English speakers. Extracurricular activities are everywhere on campus and present opportunities to meet new people, develop skills, and have the best time possible. The band, drum line, and color guard is amazing and competed in nationals and state competitions, often winning first place awards.

Some of the disadvantages of Rancho are caused by budget costs such as the lack of décor, lack of overhangs when rainy and lack of class set. Yes the school is poor, and it is understandable because of the poor economy. But the fact that they decide to use money to rebuild a new football field instead of buying more textbooks or other educational resources makes no sense at all. A lot of people say Rancho has a horrible community. Of course there is a strong sense of cliques, a few fights here and there, and hated teachers, but what would high school be without the high school experience? There is always going to be that group of pot smokers in the square, and the ‘gangster’ kids near the girls bathroom, but in the end the student is the one who decides how he grows in high school. I think High school is about finding yourself through as much experience as possible, and I think I have grown a lot into myself thanks to RCHS.

People always ask me “Why do you try so hard to impress people?” “How do you get the money to get all that clothes?” “Aren’t you ever tired of dressing so weirdly?” It makes me kind of upset, and reminds me of why I hated dressing up during school. Firstly I don’t dress up to impress anyone but myself – I just love putting outfits and I find the high school fashion trend is just plain boring. I buy t-shirts that are ten dollars, and I tend to thrift a lot (along with my tendency to pick articles of clothing off of my grandmas/moms closet). And sometimes my outfits work, sometimes they don‘t- I’m still learning and almost ALWAYS when I look back at a picture I ask myself “WHAT were you thinking Alex?“

Anyways,

Springs warmth has not appeared yet and Rohnert Park has just been filled with fistfuls of rain. And because of this I have locked myself up in my room for the past days, just looking back at collections from ready-to-wear lines. For some reason there were three lines that I kept replaying over and over again, an SS 2010 Calvin Klein by Francisco Costa, an SS 2010 Comme des Garçons by Rei Kawakubo, and SS 2010 Karl Lagerfeld for Fendi. I guess I am stuck in the middle of simplicity and complexity now a days. Francisco Costa always has a way with simplicity, always framing his designs so soft and feminine, everything seems as sweet as it can go. Yet on the other hand there is Rei Kawakubo, the quiet woman in Japan who is a major trend setter in fashion today. Her collection of course was layers layers and more layers – a lot of cutting and dismantling wound up through the collection as if she wanted to rip apart all the trends and collage them into one. Lastly, Lagerfeld never fails to awe me – especially when his Haute-Couture demeanor mixed with Fendi seemed so perfect.

With a minimal color palette, Francisco stuck with pastel colors and a light value key. His dresses each had a significantly noticeable shape to it, yet very loose as if each dress was inspired by something organic. It was pleasing to the eyes and left me a sense of calmness from beginning to end. More youthful and sensuous than his other collections I found a deep love for this right after the first asymmetrical bubble dress came down the runway. Even the sweaty models (I felt at least) seemed to be a nice dramatic touch in a way.

Kawakubo has her way of highlighting past performances. In this collection she created a noticeable way of highlighting her old ideas right once the first model walked out. Patterns, nudes, military, cutoffs – nearly anything possible seemed to be cut into little pieces, pasted on to the model, and sent out to resemble a walking collage of past trends and style. She seemed to add a lot of Japanese floral prints which was in contrast with the amount of cut off shoulder pads and leather. All together I think she was mocking the obsession of shoulder pads on jackets, and now I find that trend virtually over.

Lastly there is the creative director for one and only Chanel, Mr. Karl Lagerfeld. There is something so basic about this collection that I just adore, even when it was so simple. The clothes were frayed, and the bags were amazing. Though I found the repeating white seemed too monotone and bland for me, I thought the thin peek-a-boo fabric and tiny bits of skin were a plus. I now really want to buy a clutch of my own.

On February 11, 2010, an amazing artist of the name Alexander McQueen was found dead in his closet, nine days after his mothers death. Nothing much is known about how he died, but hints lead to him committing suicide. So who is this Alexander McQueen? At first glance one would think his collections are strange, over dramatic and questionable. But once the show is absorbed into your system there is always a wonder of how one can turn reality into a wild yet beautiful fantasy where people can actually watch, touch, and love. And not only does he create amazing out of this world pieces, he plays each stage creatively like the reader is sitting inside the heart of fashion itself.

One of his last collections, the summer/spring of 2010 seemed to be the perfect ending to this mans reign in fashion. Though, I find a deeper meaning in the show. Firstly in the opening, the screen played a video of a naked woman laying on the sand with creatures crawling on her body, setting a very grim and dark environment from the start. Then the two video cameras in the middle point toward the audience, casting a live video on the screen, spinning to capture each seat until the models finally walk out wearing monster-like patterned dresses with skin attached shoes. I think his intention was to capture mankind, and the future through his futuristic and savage looking dresses. He wanted to create a monstrous world where the insides of a body was replaced with one of some sort of alien, creating a creature. The music playing was quiet, and eventually had the sound of heavy breathing as if someone was in the hospital. He wanted to highlight “self“ through his use of a camera and audience, and because of this his intent for suicide might have been running through his mind while creating this collection.

Or he could have been plainly thinking of the mixture of sea creatures and humans. No one will ever know.