Editor's note: I would like to present an article which I wrote for my Journalism class a while back. I worked hard on it and I wanted to share it. I hate drugs, and since I see so many people throwing their lives away by using them, I decided that marijuana would be the topic of my next editorial. Anyway here it is, and I hope you like it.
NEW! I have some more articles posted now, they are down at the bottom past marijuana.
My Marijuana Editorial
It never went into the paper (wonder why?) and I want someone to hear the message.
By: Samantha Liddle 5/15/1998
Drug use, particularly the use of marijuana, is prevalent in any school. It is more noticeable, however in a small school where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Teenagers tend to do drugs for reassurance when they don’t get it at home. Marijuana provides feelings of well being, relaxation and freedom from anxiety. Although marijuana is not an addictive drug and withdrawal symptoms are mild, its use can lead to harder drugs, especially heroin, when marijuana just doesn’t do it for them any longer. The use of marijuana also leads to medical and health problems, such as lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchitis.
Smoking marijuana is a stupid thing to do, and it is even worse when someone does it, just because someone else is doing it. You should not put yourself at risk just because of peer pressure. Junior, Shawna Weir feels that drug use in our school has, “...become a rising problem.” She is not the only one who feels this way. there are many others who feel that too many people are on pot, and they don’t know how to stop it. The War on Drugs seems to be a joke when drug use is so common. Crystal McLean, also a Junior, said, “I think it’s a bunch of crap!” referring to the supposed “War on Drugs.” It does not seem to be having an impact on our area, much less larger schools.
The smoking of marijuana, or more commonly known as pot or grass, is illegal. It has been illegal since the sixties, yet this doesn’t stop area teenagers from getting “high.” Anyone who gets caught on drugs during school will be punished as it says in the student handbook. The punishment to those caught in possession of a drug, or under the influence of a drug, will be 5 days in-school with a parent conference. Repeat offenders will be treated more harshly, with the third offense be sentenced to permanent suspension. Besides all these risks, there is the physical risk of getting lunch cancer and other lung diseases. Using marijuana eventually leads to heroin and even harder drugs. With all these risks it makes one wonder why people do drugs. Some feel it starts out as a social problem, in the form of peer pressure, and then they become dependent on the drug. Smoking pot is not the cool thing to do.
There is also a positive side to smoking marijuana. It gives the user a “high” feeling where you feel relaxed and have a sense of euphoria. Some smoke it at the end of the day to unwind. There are also medical benefits that come from taking it. Marijuana relieves tension, pain and other physical aliments. it is legalized in California, and Arizona for medical use, more specifically, cancer patients. Those who smoke pot on a regular basis don’t seem to understand the concern. Their feeling is that their smoking habit does not harm others and it should be their right to chose whether they want to harm themselves. They believe that marijuana does not lead to a criminal record. Users also raise the question of whether or not it is right to jail one person for smoking pot, and yet alcohol is promoted in media all the time as a ‘good’ thing to do. When in fact, alcohol is as harmful, if not more, than marijuana. Alcohol leads to alcoholism, to domestic violence, and to deaths in car accidents.
While marijuana does seem like a good thing in some ways it is truly not worth it to do something illegal just for a little high. There are risk, because like cigarettes, marijuana does contain tar, and the cancer causing agent is 70 percent more in a marijuana cigarette. And since when you inhale marijuana smoke you hold it in your throat longer, the effects on your lungs are more devastating. Smoking marijuana causes throat irritations, which is why you often hear users cough. Smoking marijuana, or in some cases eating it in cakes or breads, causes one to lose interest in long term goals such as school or jobs. This is why marijuana smokers are often called pot heads, because after a while, they just don’t care.
The only way that drug use can be prevented is if parents start spending time with their children and set a positive example. Teens tend to fill the void in their lives with drugs, and if this void was filled they would not need to depend on the substance. And teens, don’t give in to peer pressure, smoking pot is harmful and just plain stupid. The bottom line is don’t smoke pot because it can kill you in more ways than one.
There it is! If you agree or have a comment, feel free to email me.
And now there's more to read read on...
My Titanic article...
This went into the “pretty paper” but, the article was a contemplation of the whole
journalism staff’s writings, so credit was never given to who wrote what. Well, I wrote
this part:
The title of the article was: Argyle Academy Awards, Who’s in, & Who’s not in the Arts
by: Samantha Liddle
The results of the Argyle Academy awards have just come in for best Picture. It is not a very big surprise who won - the mega Titanic, directed by James Cameron and starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio as Rose and Jack.
The nominations for Best Picture were Titanic, Good Will Hunting, Men In Black, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and My Best Friend’s Wedding. Titanic and Good Will Hunting (a fairly close second) were favorites among the girl population, and Men In Black was favored by most boys. Still, Titanic won by a landslide. Sophomore, Kasia Mannar, has seen the movie four times, she liked it so much. She liked it, “Because of the great love story; [the fact that] it actually happened, and the technical effects.”
Although Titanic is sometimes considered a girl thing, it certainly held its own at the real Academy Awards ceremony this year. Titanic was nominated for a total of fourteen awards and won eleven, including Best Picture. Awards received also included best director (James Cameron) and best song (My Heart Will Go On.) The actors and actresses seemed to be snubbed at the awards. DiCaprio was not even nominated, and Winslet and Gloria Stuart (older Rose) also did not receive an Oscar for their role in the film. Titanic has quickly become the fastest grossing movie of all time. All in all, Titanic is a hit, not just in Argyle, but all over the world.
The BOOKWORM Articles
Here are some pieces I wrote for a newspaper called the Bookworm, formed by my friend
Shawna. My friends and I wrote in it during my sophomore year, (‘96-’97) but terminated
it’s publishing because it got too hard to keep up with.
Let’s just say that I wasn’t all with it that year, and that I was going through some hard
times. I think you can see that in the stuff I wrote. Which aren’t so good to begin with,
but oh well.
This one is from the first addition, I think. By me of course. It’s titled Opinions, but I didn’t give it that title, the editor did.
People in our school have a major problem that they really need to get over. Putting other people down to their face, or behind their backs is incredibly lame and not to mention rude and totally un called for. People here need to grow up, and realize that just because someone looks different, has different values, or acts differently than they do, is no reason to call that person a freak.
Just because someone is different doesn’t mean that they aren’t a nice person underneath it all. If people would give others a chance, and not act so arrogant all the time then they would realize how wrong they are. And don’t protest that you are treating others “how you would want to be treated,” because that is bull crap. No one likes to be called a freak.
Pretty intense stuff, eh?
Here is one from one of the last editions.
I guess it doesn’t have a title. :)
As you are taking a walk through the woods, you see a cute little bunny rabbit hopping along. This rabbit isn’t harming anyone. It is simply hopping along doing what every bunny does. All of the sudden a shot rings out. It scares you, as you look to see what has just happened, your eyes land on the rabbit. There is now a large hole in it’s body. Blood is pouring out. A man in his hunting cap hurries over and puts it in his bag. In this bag there are about 3 or 4 other rabbits. They are to be this man’s supper.
This man is not hunting to survive. He is hunting because he feels it is fun to kill. This animal was not harming him in anyway. Over population is not a big problem. Why does he need to harm this animal if he doesn’t need to? It’s not like the rabbit can fight back. It is just a big power trip. This man doesn’t need to hunt. he can go to the grocery store to buy his dinner.
Rabbit is supposed to taste like chicken, right? So, why not buy chicken and spare the rabbit it’s life? This man is bloody stupid! he has no respect for animal rights. It is cruel and heartless. This is not the 18th century, he doesn’t need to kill.
Oh, and get this, the next day this guy goes to the auction and buys his daughter “Floppy.” It doesn’t make sense.
"What do you mean? What do I care? Your article sucks!"
Send questions or comments
via email, I would like to hear any and all. Thanks for reading them.
Ed. Note: I'm searching for my abortion editorial, but it may be awhile before I find it and get it up, so bear with me.
© 1997 sliddle@capital.net
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