Editorials

Reuse, reduce, recycle. Nowadays it’s all about "going green" and trying to protect our environment. In every classroom at Lincoln High School one can find a blue garbage bin with the recycling logo printed in bold white on the side of the can accompanied by a non-recycling brown garbage bin. But if one should take the time to look inside and compare the contents of both bins, one might pose the question "why do we even have the blue one?"

The fact of the matter is that students and teachers alike do not always "go green" when it comes to tossing out old paper, plastic, or glass. Sometimes it may be an honest mistake if a person does not realize that a certain glass container is able to be reused. Other times it is out of sheer laziness that a student will not fetch a misguided paper ball out of the trash can and put it in the recycling bin. Either way the blue bins need to be used more often.

There is a rumor at Lincoln that all of the garbage, recycling and regular trash gets put in the same place at the end of the day. If this is the case, I pose a couple of questions to those making these decisions: 1) why are there recycling bins at all? And 2) what are you saying to those who do recycle? That their efforts are in vain? If this is so, I make the claim: Think about the future. We only have one earth; let’s protect it.

For the past two weeks I have been glued to my television screen, cheering on team USA in Vancouver. I watched as Shaun White repeated as half pipe champ, Lindsey Vonn finally won gold and Apolo Ohno became the most decorated American winter Olympian of all time. The USA athlete’s hard work, devastation and excitement left me awe stuck and inspired. I will admit that I am tad obsessed with the Olympics, but I don’t see why you wouldn’t be. They have something for everybody, which makes them one of the best sporting events to watch, but surprisingly not a very large amount of US citizen follow the Olympics. It shocks me when people don’t know who Bode Miller or Apolo Ohno is because these guys are my idols.

An intense feeling of competition pervades during the time of the Olympics as each country routs for their own athletes. The nation vs. nation format is something that few athletic events can match. The best of the best come together and compete for the gold medal, with their nation’s pride on the line.

The Olympic Games mix competition with camaraderie and viewers often find themselves cheering not only for their home country, but for athletes from other countries as well. There is a mutual respect for the athletes who put in a great deal of hard work and preparation into their craft. I couldn’t help but get emotional as freestyle skier Alexandre Bilodeau won Canada’s first gold medal on their home turf as his special needs brother cheered him on. Then there is J.R. Celski, who bounced back from a life threatening speed skating injury and 154 days later won the bronze medal in the men 1500m. The sacrifices, the hardships and the dedication of Olympians can not be matched, and for a few short weeks the lesser known athletes get the chance to shine

The Olympic Games bring the world together and allow us to put aside our political differences and foreign policies for a few weeks. The Olympics are so great because they mix great entertainment, friendship, and contest into a world wide event. With the next Olympics in London 2012 I hope that more people will watch the games and see for themselves how great they really are.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is an overlooked condition that is particularly common in regions with long, cold winters. Because residents of South Dakota are subject to months of limited sun, awareness should be raised about SAD. This would help make a season already filled with stress, a more bearable one.

Many people don’t realize why their moods change during the winter months, so they don’t do anything to treat it. Symptoms include a change in eating habits; people crave more starchy and sugary foods, leading to weight gain. It also affects moods, causing depression and stress. SAD affects sleep schedules because people have difficulty waking up in the morning. While people suffer from these symptoms, they don’t realize that their condition is easily treatable.

SAD can be treated with simple tasks like eating more fruits, using light therapy, and occasionally tanning. Changing light bulbs to ones that give off UV rays also helps.

This condition affects the lives of more people then just the affected, because depression in any form hurts everyone around the sufferer.

The state of South Dakota and LHS should do more to raise awareness of SAD. Many people who have SAD have no idea it even exits; the state should educate their people about the condition. No one should have to suffer all through winter, because SAD is so easily treated.

Raising awareness of SAD will make life for everyone easier in the winter, since it is already such a stressful time with driving conditions and the holidays.

"Slumdog Millionaire" is one of the best movies I have ever seen. Due to the success of the movie, one would expect the child stars, Azharvddin Mohammed Ismail, who plays young Salim, and Rubina Ali, who plays young Latika, to be treated like the stars they are.

Although the Jai Ho Trust has taken care of the children to an extent with new one bedroom homes, a monthly allowance, and a trust fund for when they turn 18, the kids are at risk of losing these trust funds. This trust was set up in response to the success of the film; "Slumdog Millionaire" received 8 Oscars and was nominated for 40 other various awards.

The deal between the Jai Ho Trust Foundation and the actors is that they receive the money only if they have a 70 percent school attendance rate. As of right now the two child stars both sit below 40 percent due to trips to Paris and other public appearances.

Traveling is an educational experience itself, learning about the world and priceless life skills. This travel should be coupled with homeschooling so the children get a normal education also. The Jai Ho Foundation should accommodate to these circumstances for the children.

Although the children already received a lump sum from the movie from the beginning, I feel like they deserve their entire trust. They should not be at risk of losing it.

Granted, an education is important, but the children are famous and cannot be expected to be living normal lives anymore. They should be home schooled while they travel, like other child actors. It is unfair to make them go to school in India when they are at the peak of their fame. They should be able to travel the world, which is going to be more educational for them than just staying in India, and enjoy what they have earned.