Heres the article that I wrote the magnet... you know, the column that I mentioned that was a huge deal? It's the only item in the whole school newspaper that has a name attached to who wrote it. So it's big. Though, apparently, I wrote it really really super well. I've been getting a LOT of compliments on it. A teacher I see around told me today that it was an amazing column... the best he's ever read in the school newspaper the whole time he's been here. And that's saying something, because he's been here for quite a long time... 15+ years I think. Thats a lot of magnets to go through!!! Anyways... I'll copy it into here. :) Here it is...

Violence in school can be prevented

Recently in my political science class, we watched a documentary called "Bowling for Columbine". For those no familiar with the movie, it has to do with our second amendment right (the right to bear arms), the NRA, the Columbine school shooting and the circumstances surrounding it.

While watching the movie, I started to remember how I have felt through most of my years at school. Depressed, alone, and like a speck of mud on everybody's shoes. Most of this was from direct teasing. But as I've gotten older, the teasing has become less obvious. Nobody says anything straight to your face anymore... it's become more of a "behind-your-back-gossiping" type of thing. But I believe this type of teasing is more painful than the "in-your-face" type. People tend to be more vicious when they're not staring you right in the face.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has woken up wishing they hadn't, or has just sat and thought about how much better thinds would be if these people weren't even around, wishing there was some way to get rid of them. For most, that's where it stops, that's where the line is drawn. But for some, they don't have the ability to stop. They have been so hurt that they don't have rational thoughts anymore. For them, it's so easy to just pick up that gun and put it in their backpack and bring it to school. It's easy for one little thing to set them off, and it's even easier for them to just pull that gun out. And the end result can be devastating. If you know of any of these people that are past the point of just dropping it as a stupid thought, then they should be turned in to an adult. It's a serious matter that should be handled propperly by a principal, liaison, or any other adult.

But guns aren't the problem. Guns aren't the ones who make fun of you for being too fat or too skinny, too tall or too sort, for wearing glasses or something that might be "so five years ago". Guns are just a tool used by those so extremely hurt by the words others say to them that they go to extreme measures to make them stop.

What I'm trying to say is we are the ones who can prevent school violence.

The next time you're with a group of friends, laughing and making fun of someone, stop and think to yourself "What did this person do to deserve this? Do I really know anything about them? If the same things were being said about me, how would I feel?" and instead of joining, just walk away. You don't know how they live their life, what their situation is like at home, why they are the way they are. And most of all, you don't know how what you say will affect them.

While watching "Bowling for Columbine", something was said that I found to be extremely profound. It was said by Marilyn Manson. When asked by Michael Moore what he would say to Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the shooters at Columbine school, Manson replied "Nothing. I'd just listen to them because no one else did." And I believe that's a good place to start for us. If we just stopped and listened to eachother, we could then stop hurting one another. We could stop it from becoming even a posibility in our school. But I'll leave that decision up to you.

Soooo... thats it. What do you think? That was the final verison, verbatim. I had to delete a lot of stuff because it couldn't fit into the space I had to work with! haha... I actually ended up deleting like 3 paragraphs by the time I was done trying to get it to fit! Oh well... hopefully my message gets across, and people won't try to make me feel stupid for trying to get that message out.

By the way... my last entry. I'm sorry about it... I hate it. I can't stand it, and I'm really embarrased that it's there. But I don't want to delete, beacuse it is me. That's how I felt at that time. I really feel stupid though. I don't want to end my life... I looked at that last paragraph, and that scares the crap out of me. What if God did really listen to me? I just... it'd all be gone. People would be sad. And I don't want to make people sad. I tried talking to my brother about it today... they way I explained it to him was that I'm sick of waking up every morning knowing that I'm going to just be dissapointed. But theres a lot of good thigns that happen through out the day too... I just concentrate so much on the negatives. And I'm so stressed right now...

I did end up failing Utopian Lit though. With an amazing 24%. Luckily though, when I came to him with a proposal of taking the class again as an independent study to bring the grade up, he said that would be fine. So for the moment I have an F, but when I get all of the stuff done and re-tested and get the essays written, that will be changed. Thank god. If I get that done soon, then I can get a good grade and good GPA on my transcript to send to the colleges. I like that idea. I'm gonna work on getting that done this weekend. I can't wait to get that changed. It made me feel sooooo much better today. I was even prepared for abad day today by wearing my shirt that says "I'm grumpy" on the front... but it ended up being an alright day. Though I did get a D in political science. I don't like that... but maybe it'll change since I turned in some extra stuff.

I definently won't procrastinate next quarter, or for the rest of the year. I've gone through my senioritis. I'm done with it now.

Rented movies.. I think I'm gonna go watch them considering I work both saturday and sunday, and probably won't have time otherwise. I also work monday... which sucks. I rented Saved! and 2 volumes of Sex and the City season 4. Can't wait to watch them....