ah, the Kant approach.

"Free yourself from your self-caused oppression."

Posted on: Monday Feb 17.03 ¬ 3:09 PM

You complain about Berkeley... And I heartily agree. But the answer should be to help, not to leave. Try voicing your opinions on campus. When I was at Berkeley High there were people who did it; they took all the crap they got in response, and other independent thinkers migrated to them like magnets. We need some strong, smart students who are willing to give up the popularity and be themselves. Our parents' generation fought for free speech -- and now we whine that it's lost. But you're missing the point: what's lost is not free speech, but the fighting spirit. If you run away then you're not free either. I wish people like you would stay at Berkeley High.

Posted on: Tuesday Feb 18.03 ¬ 9:10 PM

Tal Atid

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I'll be the first to admit that I did not face this issue at BHS. On the the other hand, let me also say that I do not feel an over-whelming sense of responsibility here. In this cut-throat world, I am not ordered or even encouraged to try and help my community. Going to Vista now, however, I realize how important it is. Maybe it's because I can see it with more perspective from the outside, or maybe I've just changed.

So no, I am not running away from it. In fact, I am doing my best to face it. I am going to really try my best now to help the BHS community as much as possible. I have just signed up for a joint-project between the YMCA and Vista that will help give under-priviledged BHS students support. I am looking at supporting this website. It would be very easy for me to just say, "Fuck it." I'd get my grades, transfer to a 4-year college, get my job, and leave BHS in a dark corner of my memory. But, as you point out quite well, that would be the cowardly thing to do. So, in my last year here at Vista (and probably Berkeley), I am going to make an attempt to give back to the community all I can. Not because I've gotten something; I don't feel like I have. But what we need is that fighting spirit, and without it everything is worthless.

I hope you didn't get the wrong vibes from my little rant there. I didn't even write it for the website, actually. I had just included it in an email to Brandon. But the point is that I really want to fix the situation, not just sit in my little corner and laugh. I might be a fool for being so idealistic, but sometimes that's necessary. I am by no means running away.

Posted on: Tuesday Feb 18.03 ¬ 11:43 PM

No, no wrong vibes! I didn't mean to accuse you either... just spark up a little debate, perhaps. :) I do respect you. It's just sad to be reminded of the problems of Berkeley, and makes me wish all the more we could change it. What Berkeley really needs is people who will openly voice their opinions, even those opinions that are not hip. Yes it will get them in "trouble"; but if they can keep a sense of being playful with it all, it would be so rewarding. Just think of all the challenges! The dynamic situations! Think what a gift to other people, to put them on edge! The flock of sheep confronts the precipice. What Berkeley really needs is to be made uncomfortable. Giving back is a great thing... It's really nice that you want to help out. In my mind, you are in an excellent position to help out because you understand Berkeley's problems so well. We need people like you! That's all. This newsletter is a good example.

"A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day." - Calvin

Posted on: Wednesday Feb 19.03 ¬ 11:03 AM

Tal Atid

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"A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day." - Calvin

------------------

Very true. ;)

Posted on: Wednesday Feb 19.03 ¬ 11:35 AM

Kelly

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I don't know how much I agree with your comments. Though I've only been at Berkeley High for a year, (i transfered in from a different High School) I didn't exactly see that everyone was 'phonies'. I know of some people like you described, who are just being liberal cause it seems like the cool thing to do in Berkeley, but I have friends who believe in something else besides the "normal" typical Berkeley mindset. And I've met so many people (more than my old school) who /are/ really 'berkeley-ish' and not just going along with the flow. Today at the walk-out I was surprised at first that not all of berkeley high walked out, but there was still a large turn out--and the students weren't just doing it to cut class. They all (most) came back after the march.
I don't know, I don't quite see such a level of phoniness that you did... but I do see the way how so many of the students say "Oh yes, I hate President Bush, yes I'm democratic, eww a republican?" and don't know what they're talking about. It's because we're so surrounded by the same opinions, no one is there to challenge you.
But there are still a good amount of people at BHS who DO know what they're talking about, who are very active, who start clubs like you tried to, who are passionate and sincere about what they're saying. Berkeley''s not such a horrible place.

Posted on: Friday Feb 21.03 ¬ 11:39 PM

A phony

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Kelly, i believe the phrase you search for lies here:
Ignorance is bliss.

Tal, keep rocking - ive got your back here.

Posted on: Saturday Feb 22.03 ¬ 1:38 PM

Nathan Hinchey

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I disagree with your statement, Kelly. I think that the vast majority of the people who walked out were just doing it to cut class. I think the low turnout was because a lot of people decided it wasn't worth the effort jsut to cut class, so it was an unusually high "I care" to "Hey! I get to cut class!" ratio, but that still leaves it about 3 to 1, I think. So at any rate, That's my two cents. (In an unrelated statement that should pretty much be igored, sorry, all, that I haven't updated /events in a while.)

Posted on: Sunday Feb 23.03 ¬ 4:00 PM

Tal Atid

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I fully agree that "Berkeley is not such a horrible place." I love it. My criticisms of BHS are not out of hate, but rather love. I want to improve it. But until we face some of the core issues that are inherent in our school system and student community, we will remain in limbo. We can't improve what we can't acknowledge.

As for the walk-out, it was the usual deal. The UC paper "The Daily Californian" claims that out of 500 students that cut class, only 200 made it to the ROTC building. I think that figure is highly optimistic. From what I saw, I'd be surprised if 100 BHS students were really there. This only goes to further prove my point. It also strengthens another claim I have: we lack a love of knowledge. As the fire alarms earlier this year proved, students will take ANY excuse to cut class. With the state of our education system as it is, this should hardly be surprising. Personally I find it pathetic, however, that students linger on the edge. If you enjoy school, come to class. If you rather cut, then please drop-out. Were students to be more decisive, maybe the administrators in this country would finally get the point. If students would put thier money where thier mouth is, half of the student population wouldn't go to class. This would hopefully drive the point home: we need change, and we need it now.

As it is, however, students go to school, suffer, and cut when they have a good excuse. What does this tell the administrators? That the students are fine. Are they really?

Posted on: Monday Feb 24.03 ¬ 2:23 PM

Tal Atid

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By the way, I'm planning on talking to some of the organizers of the walk-out. I think it is a bad move to have A.N.S.W.E.R. be the leader here. They have, in my opinion, some disgusting extremist views that I doubt anyone at BHS really shares. I commend them for organizing all these peace rallies, but the last thing I'd want to do is associate myself with them.

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