"Dependency is death to initiative, to risk-taking and opportunity. It is time to stop the spread of government dependency and fight it like the poison it is."

"Dependency is death to initiative, to risk-taking and opportunity. It is time to stop the spread of government dependency and fight it like the poison it is."

Everyday people in our society depends on government assistance to the point it has become a demanding need. Their head has been poisoned to think they don't need to get up and make a living for themselves. Tax-payers money have found an easy resort in their hands. As a working tax-payer, it's aggravating to know that your hard earned money is going to people who just sits on their behind and enjoy the easy access to money. Don't give me wrong, there are people that are working and receiving the government assistance because it is hard to make ends reach. I understand their argument, but what is the argument for those that just 'sit-back-relax' and in it just for the money?

For instance, one customer placed a crib, stroller, and mattress on layaway. She came back a week later to take out her layaway but ended up voiding the whole transaction, and then insisted on getting a copy of the void so she can send to her social-worker. Sending "proof" ought to show she cannot afford to pay for these kind of necessities, but, yet she managed to be rocking the latest Kilroys', Louis Vuitton bag, and a pair of true religions on her behind. Oh, she's being true to her religion, huh? The perfect and legit example of a loafer, and prime example that their need to be a stop to spread of government dependency.

This is What It Means to Say Barbuda

Being from Barbuda means pink sandy beaches and no, we didn’t import the sand. It’s a place where you can actually see the stars at night while suffocating from the OFF! spray that’s apparently not doing its job. It means taking a 19-seater to and from Dadli, the sister island to see any other part of the world and when returning, spending an extra 10 minutes in the air as the airport officials scramble to get the donkeys off the strip. It means walking around Codrington and hailing up everyone you pass on the street by name, even if they were tourists. Then, returning home after that long walk to land turtle and/or dear meat, now that’s finger licking good! Living in Codrington means running out of sugar and being able to put your hand over the fence to beg an ounce and get a pound in return. Another fun fact about living in Codrington, you can actually leave your house without your keys, wallet and/or sweater, a simple luxury I long to enjoy. Being from Barbuda means walking into church late and interrupting the congregation, showing up in something absurd and stopping the sermon. Since we’re already on the topic of church, I’ll tell you my last fun fact revolving around that. It means when anyone is getting married or being buried the whole village would show up, invitation or not, so you better be expecting some party crashers. To you, it may mean a place that needs development but it’s a place that I hold dear to my heart and I call home, Boo-yard!

- Lindsey Burton

This Is What It Means to Say San Antonio

The polished, privileged white kids in the Northeast, who go home to their mommies and daddies -- doctors, lawyers, the sons and daughters of established businessmen. Bordering the neighborhoods of Ginobili, Duncan, and Bowen -- kids who had the talent and were blessed enough to make it big.

Move a little Southwest. Fiesta colors plaster every ragged building, even if it isn't quite yet fiesta. Burritos, carne asada, tortas -- the best you'll find before crossing the border; that border that repels those with sense and those who lack ties to a perhaps beautiful, loving land. That border that divides a people and brings about hatred.

All over town, you see black and white, black and silver. Colors of a team that have become gods, revered by all despite Black, White, or Brown.

Friday night lights, pick-up trucks, and red cups in the hands of all -- whether you're 18 years old or 80.

This is what it means to say San Antonio.

“A man who won’t die for something is not fit to live.” – MLK

Ambition. Ambition seems to be showing up quite a lot nowadays. From this quote right here to the teachings of Hinduism to my own life. King states that a man without ambition is not fit to live but this was not what we saw in “My Pilgrimage to Nonviolence.” King dislikes capitalism because he claims it makes men too focused on attaining a good life and not enjoying that life. Despite his conflicting ideas, I too feel that ambition gets in the way of enjoying life sometimes. Being high on ambition sometimes causes us to forget the simple elements of life and we often miss out on the things that matter because we’re just too bunt out. I’m not saying we should all walk around aimlessly, what I am saying is that we should take a look around us when we are walking around. Like King, Hinduism stresses the importance of completing one’s duty in life but in this religion your duty is based on your caste system. In this instance where your purpose in life is dictated in a world filled with individual freedom, would King say that these men are worth living when they don’t necessarily live for themselves?

- Lindsey Burton

“A man who won’t die for something is not fit to live.” -MLK

Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”  Little did he know, Martin Luther King Jr. would tell us the unimpassioned life is not worth living either.  These men, who were centuries apart in life but contemporaries in philosophy, are two of the greatest example of standing up – and ultimately dying – for something they so strongly believe in.

Socrates was a philosopher far ahead of his times.  The Athenians were threatened by him and tried him unfairly.  He was unsubstantially found guilty with corrupting the youth and not believing in gods, and was executed.  But in fact, what the Greek philosopher was trying to teach was that those who think they know are ignorant, and those who know they are ignorant really are wise. The Greek leaders of the time were guilty of this and decided to demolish their greatest threat completely.  MLK was no different.  He stood up and preached about civil rights and equality.  He had a “dream,” and shared it with the world. He was assassinated because those who were in power – or at least thought they were – felt threatened as well.

Are Socrates and MLK’s similar messages a coincidence?  No. In fact, they support a universal truth.  Without their lives we never would have learned it.  But without their deaths, we never would have understood its importance.

Erica Gonzales

A man who won't die for something is not fit to live - MLK

I don't necessarily think that one is not fit to live, more that they aren't living. If you aren't passionate about at least one thing, be it a cause or a person or an ideal, you aren't truly living. You are merely existing. The difference between living and existing is passion. Some people go through life never finding their passion. They are lost souls, wandering this earth until they die. Those who find their passion live life to the fullest, experiencing each day as anew joy. Without this joy each day just is. Without passion the world would be a sadder place. There would be no reason to continue on. I like to think that even those who have not yet found their passion still strive to find it; that they are continuously looking for that one thing they would die for. Once you have found your thing, you are lucky. You have what millions of people strive for. You are the impassioned elite.

"All men equal, yeah right."

All men are not equal, contrary to what the Constitution says. It simply is impossible to do so in real life and perhaps it's a good thing that we're not all equal. Aside from the racial prejudice, not everyone can be equal. Some are born more wealthy than others, while others must carve and grind their way to success. In addition, there always has to be a winner and loser in everything such as sports and admissions to a prestigious college. If there was no winner, society would have no standard that must be upheld in order to promote and advance it. Some are winners by luck, while others rely on their sheer determination and skills learned. Now more than ever in the present day are there opportunities for people to become winners, to become wealthy and successful in their industry.

- JC

The Declaration of Non-Ivy Leaguers

When in the Course of academic events, it becomes necessary for one educational institution to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the College Board, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Higher Education entitle them a decent respect to opinions and quality of education of Non Ivy Leaguers requires that they should declare the causes which impel to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all college students choose to attend the institution that best fits their preferences, and that they do not deserve to be disrespected from other individuals from other institutions based on that choice.  The history of the present Ivy League Students is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute superiority and hierarchy over fellow institutions.  To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

They have undermined the value of our education system.

They have underestimated our intelligence.

They have separated themselves as the power elite.

They have undermined the prestige of our diplomas.

They have ridiculed our classes, our work load, and our work ethic.

They denounce the status of our professors.

They feel entitled to the best job positions, therefore we are undercut in our job search.

We will complete the around the same amount of credits.  We have come from the same cities, neighborhoods, and high schools as some of those Ivy League students. We will suffer, if not more, the same financial obligations.  We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind.

We therefore as the representatives of the Non-Ivy Leaguers in general congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of College Education for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good students of Non-Ivy League education, solemnly publish and declare, this group of Non-Ivy Leaguers independent.

California:

Drew Washington

Kim Shephard

Mi-Anne Chan

Texas:

Karissa Royster

New Jersey:

Erica Gonzales

The Declaration of the Visually Impaired

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to break the visual chains that have been forced upon us, and to separate the clear from the blurry, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of humankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all eyes are not created equal, that they are endowed by Near-Sightedness, Far-Sightedness, and Astigmatism. Certain unalienable Rights include vision improvement and legible signs. The history of the present King of Sight is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these visually inept. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has subjected us to awkward encounters.

He has made texts too small.

He has forced us to take wrong exits.

He has taken all the front row seats.

He has made foreign movies inaccessible.

He has made us poke ourselves in the eye.

He has subjected us to early crows feet as a result from constant squinting.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the Visually Impaired, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the Blind people of the world, solemnly publish and declare, That these United people are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the Visually Blessed and that all ocular connection between them and the State of Sight, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which the impaired may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Eyes and our sacred Honor.

By: Stephanie Queiroz, Alyssa Mitchell, Lindsey Burton, Radwa Ibrahim, Courtney Macomber, Olivia Boyce