The Spartans Speak
A response to the reaction of 'Yoga pants'Friday, April 20, 2012 By Jen McCall
The editorial I wrote titled “Yoga pants strikes nerve” in the last issue of The Spartans Speak turned into an epidemic of outrage. It seems, to me, part of the problem is that many students don’t understand the purpose of an editorial, and that’s a scary thing. For those who don’t know, an editorial is an article that states an opinion and whose purpose is to create discussion among those who read it—whether you agree or disagree. I understand that this can be confusing, especially since our media constantly blurs the line between editorials and news, particularly with politics. However, there is a difference, and there is a proper way to dissent. A response to an editorial should not be a mindless rant, rather a coherent and thoughtful argument. If something evokes a reaction to the point where you feel the need to respond, the proper way to go about it is to articulate your thoughts in writing and send it to editors of the newspaper. Wanting to harm someone physically for a couple hundred words is not a well thought-out argument, nor does it reflect well on you as a person. There were many who questioned why my editorial was printed, and how the school could allow it. The answer is in The Bill of Rights. The First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law…prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” Since editorials are opinions, readers need to understand that not everyone espouses the same beliefs. Dissention is a part of life. Yet it’s the freedom of speech and freedom of the press that makes this country a beacon of democracy. Editorials give high school students a voice in their school newspapers. So I implore you to respond, get involved. But, please, resist the urge to spit venom. |