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The Great Depression

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Daniel Coats

The Great Depression is remembered as one of the darkest periods in American history ever.  A period where life was hard and desperate and where there was little hope for recovery.  Consequences and effects from the Great Depression are still affecting America today and America will never be the prosperous flourishing country it used to be.  Instead America is reinventing itself since this horrible era.  The people of America had and still have pioneer spirits and stayed positive throughout the depression and that is how America got through the depression and picked itself back up and darted for the top.  (Although nowadays we are going downhill again.)  This unfortunate tragedy was so devastating that it affected many other countries, especially Europe.  Because of God’s grace, leadership, and a plan, America was able to turn around and recover after many years of unemployment and poverty.

In October 1929 the stock market crashed, which triggered the Great Depression.  This caused investment and consumer spending to plummet which lowers industrial output extremely meaning more unemployed citizens because of failing businesses. The main reasons behind the stock market crashing was actually happening during the “roaring twenties” when America was prospering. During this era income increased from 74 billion dollars in 1923 to 89 billion dollars in 1929.  Although this seems great, the “Coolidge Prosperity” of the 1920’s was not shared evenly among all Americans (McElvaine 38). “According to a study done by the Brookings Institute, in 1929 the top 0.1% of Americans had a combined income equal to the bottom 42%; That same top 0.1% of Americans in 1929 controlled 34% of all savings, while 80% of Americans had no savings at all” (McElvaine 38). While the disposable income per capita rose 9% from 1920 to 1929, those with income within the top 1% enjoyed a stupendous 75% increase in per capita disposable income (McElvaine 39).  As you can see this is a recipe for disaster.

Why was there this large and increasing difference from the rich and the middle class?  Wages for jobs in manufacturing only grew 8% while productivity increased four times as fast.  Production costs dropped and wages grew very slowly.  Corporate gains grew 62 percent!  Obviously money is not being distributed evenly. Henry Ford is a big example of corporate gains over wages growing.  He made 14 million dollars a year while his workers were making an average of 750 dollars.  In today’s money Henry would be making over 300 million dollars while his workers would be making around 18,000 dollars.  This is absurd and was happening all over the U.S during the roaring twenties and into the depression.

Although it seemed that the Depression will finally come to an end with Franklin D. Roosevelt’s social security bill being passed and with industries beginning to hire people, unfortunately it did not work as well as everyone wanted it to.  In fact, it didn’t really improve at all until the United States decided to take action and join forces with the Allies in World War II.  Millions of jobs were created when the United States decided to up their game on defense and when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, millions of more jobs were created when the U.S actually declared war after the fatal attack against the U.S.  By the time the War ended, the U.S was back on top and the Great Depression was pretty much wiped out.

Lessons that can be learned from the Great Depression are when bad times come and there’s not much people can do individually about it, stay active with people and stay active in the community.  It is easier to get through things with fellow friends and people.  That is the main thing that kept people alive and hopeful and strong during the Great Depression.  As well as having a positive mind set through hardships, people need to be wise financially.  Now that Americans have credit, it is easier to have debt.  Back then if you had no money, you had no money.  Nowadays people can borrow and borrow and get deep into debt which not only hurts themselves but also the economy.  We have already almost gotten into another Great Depression in 2007 (The Great Recession).  If America does not want to go through another terrible era like this again Americans must become financially savvy and work together.

Bibliography

“Great Depression, The.” History.com. A+E Networks, 2009. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.

McElvaine, Robert S. The Great Depression: America 1929-1941. N.p.: n.p., 1984. 38-39. Print.

“Timeline of the Great Depression.” PBS. WHRO, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.

The Role of God vs. The Role of the gods

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Sydney Harris

We’ve recently read the Iliad in English class, which is the epic tale of bravery, courage, and vengeance.  The story depicts the quest for honor and glory among the gods and men.  This story is a Greek and Trojan tale, so therefore includes Greek and Trojan gods and goddesses in them.  Divine intervention was a major part in Homer’s Iliad.  The gods that are seen most in this book are Zeus, Hera, Athena, and Poseidon.  Most of the gods have favorites and are on a particular side to win.  Although, as the just and highest god, Zeus is equal in loyalty to both the Greeks and Trojans.  Even when his son Sarpedon is about to die, for example, he lets the outcome go unaltered.  The gods in the Iliad are extremely active in the lives of their people in a very obvious and straightforward way.

As Christians we have one deity we look to for help and wisdom, and that is God.  God is also very involved in our lives and cares deeply for us.  He wants our praise and worship like the Greek gods but doesn’t do harm to us if we don’t.  He is jealous but doesn’t show His wrath upon us like the gods repeatedly do throughout that time period and in the book.  He doesn’t pick sides and is only doing and deciding what is right and good.  He answers our prayers like the gods in the Iliad do but not always the way we want Him to. He has been very evident in the history of this world, nation, and personal lives of everyone who accept Him.

History has opened a lot of doors for questions in relation to where is God when you need Him or how He lets bad things happen.  As Christians we struggle with answering this question for people and frankly ourselves.  In the Bible it states God is all-powerful and wise and just.  So, when bad things happen, we wonder how a wise and loving God would do such a thing.  We also know the earth is Satan’s domain, and he wishes to kill, steal, and destroy.  God doesn’t use His power over Satan because He knows he won’t stop, and He is righteous and will never force us to worship Him.  Bad things happen because sin entered the world through Adam and Eve and cannot be completely removed until Jesus comes back and recreates a new Heaven and Earth.

In history the Greek gods and goddesses have been known to not be perfect and make a lot of mistakes.  They have bad tempers, do what they want with humans, and don’t care for anyone but themselves.  The only way they would show mercy to you is if you were their child (or a demi-god), or you gave them sacrifices.  These gods committed adultery, murder, and a list of other things any normal deity figure would not do.  The Greek and Trojan people had no concept of one god making the whole universe and everything in it, so they made up their own gods.  They knew the stories and theories they made weren’t true, but they compromised the truth so they could do what they wanted.

The Christian God is the only way to Heaven or anything after death through His Son Jesus, who died for our sins.  He made the Heavens, Moon, Stars, and everything in it.  Our God is personal and real, the main difference between the two.  He wants to be involved and relevant in each single person out of the billions of people He uniquely created for a purpose.  He cares enough about us to give us rules and regulations and abides by them, earning our respect.  We have a reverent fear of God, but the gods only create a natural fear in their believers.  A lot of religions today are about works and just the religion, not the relationship.  That’s what Christianity is all about, the relationship we create with our Heavenly Father and how we share His love with others while we are on this planet.

Transcendentalism

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Luke Kline

Transcendentalism began to develop in the 1820s. It was the idea that our human spirits were involved with yet went beyond the natural world.  The natural world is not the only real thing.  Transcendentalists tend to view nature as a way of communicating the condition of the human soul.

An example of the transcendentalist worldview is displayed in Walt Whitman’s poem “The Ship Starting.”  Whitman uses extremely figurative language and personifies ordinary natural objects to represent human souls.  In the poem the ship represents humans sailing on the vast ocean.  The vast ocean represents the ever-changing and unpredictable life of humans.  Upon reading this poem literally one may just observe a narrative about a large ship sailing on the ocean.  However, each item in the poem represents something bigger than itself.  Everything is a symbol for something else.  This is the embodiment of transcendentalism itself.

For transcendentalists nothing is merely physical.  Spiritualism and divinity are a part of all aspects of life.  This is why you will rarely find a transcendentalist writing literally.  Almost everything in their works stands for something else.  The natural world represents the spiritual world.

Another aspect of transcendentalists is the idea of individualism.  Every individual is made equal and all are called to a certain purpose.  An excellent example of this worldview is found in another of Whitman’s poems entitled “I Hear America Singing.”  In the poem Whitman describes all different types of people performing their duties.  Everyone is “singing” while they perform their duty.  This can be interpreted as everybody is happy and satisfied with what they are doing.  Another aspect of a transcendental view of human nature is revealed here.  It is that all humans are inherently good.  When people perform their duty there should be no grumbling and complaining.  By fulfilling their duties they are good and satisfied.

Besides secular aspects, transcendentalists also have their religious views of religion.  In general, they tend to denounce the traditional creeds and traditions of the church.  Rather, they seek to find God in their soul and in spirit.  Instead of studying the Bible to receive the Holy Spirit, they desire a special revelation from God Himself.  Transcendentalists are firm believers in oracles and direct inspiration from God.  Here we again observe this reoccurring idea of putting aside the physical world and searching for the true things of the spiritual world.

Finally, the idea of coming out of the old and into the new is prevalent in a transcendentalist’s worldview.  Transcendentalists were not satisfied with the church or the political parties.  When the movement commenced, many separated themselves from church and state and sought fellowship with people who had the same mindset as them.  This idea of embracing the new is what caused them to not take faith in the “old church” and seek God in His present day being.  Transcendentalists support modernization of religion.  With all this, it is clear to see that transcendentalism centers around the idea of change and the embracing of new things.

Bibliography

Miller, Perry. The American Transcendentalists: Their Prose and Poetry. New York: Doubleday Anchor. 1957. Print.

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Philadelphia: D. McKay, 1900. Print.

Hard vs. Soft Science Fiction

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Chris Glock

Like most genres of literature, science fiction can be divided into sub-genres.  Of these sub-genres there is hard sci-fi and its opposite hard sci-fi.  Of these two genres there are many famous writers and works in each.  The line between the two is very grey with varying levels of hardness and softness as opposed to having just hard and just soft.

Science fiction is a fictitious genre that focuses on real and hypothetical science.  Usually science fiction takes place in the future, however there is a good number occurring in a modern setting and some even taking place in the past.  People often lump science fiction under the fantasy genre of which many sci-fi books could fall.

Hard science fiction had a focus on scientific fact or accuracy.  This definition however says nothing about the actual literary content of the book, which is why to many people it is not as alluring as soft science fiction.  Because of this hard sci-fi is sometimes scrutinized for putting scientific accuracy above all else.  People who aren’t fans of this sometimes see them as textbooks filled with knowledge rather than an entertaining story.

A great example of this hard science fiction is “Day Million” by Frederik Pohl.  This book tells the story of Don and Dora from the future, day one million to be precise.  While like all books it has a plot and main characters, they serve only to keep readers interested.  The book primarily talks about how different life is in the future.  Don is cybernetic and has a metal body, while Dora is some sort of modified human with gills and a tail.  At the end they both get married then never see each other again, this is because they both download the other’s personality into their minds so that they can see, hear, and feel, the other at any given moment.  That is the entirety of the plot; much more attention and detail goes into describing how this futuristic world functions.

Soft science fiction in contrast is any work of literature set in a fictitious scientific setting despite how inaccurate or realistic it is.  Many people prefer this, and for a good reason, too: without being held to the realism set by hard science fiction, the writers have easier times creating and interesting and captivating story for their audiences.  These books also tend to be better known as people who aren’t fans of the scientific side of them can still find the story fascinating.

A famous work of soft science fiction is H.G. Wells’s The Invisible Man.  It tells how a man named Griffin turns himself invisible; while conducting research, Griffin gets himself in trouble with the town.  He is then chased down and killed by everyone in the town.  This is soft science fiction because, while it does have scientific principles, it is used as a backdrop to the rest of the story.  The book doesn’t even mention how Griffin had become invisible except for it had been an accident during an experiment.

Bibliography

Blish, James B. “Surface tension.” N.p.: Gnome Press, 1957. Print.

Clarke, Arthur C. “Childhood’s End.” N.p.: Ballantine Books, 1953. Print.

Pohl, Frederick G. “Day Million.” Lanham: Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1979. N. pag. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. <http://www.sfcenter.ku.edu/Sci-Tech-Society/stored/day_million.pdf&gt;.

Wells, Herbert G. The Invisible Man. N.p.: C. Arthur Pearson, 1876. Print.

Hi There!

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Christopher Rush

Welcome back!  Your dreams, indeed, were your ticket out, but here we are together again, wouldn’t miss it.  How are we doing?  Same as always.  We are back in the saddle once again.  We have shaken off the dust, polished the fine silverware, and wound our pocketwatches for a new season.  How are you doing?

I know what you’re thinking: “Why?  You ended on top, masters of your field!  It ended so beautifully, so heartwarmingly optimistically — there’s no chance to be as great as it once was!”  Easy, now.  In a world in which Monty Python can reunite to sold-out shows, Rush can be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Batman is finally released in Blu-ray in its entirety (the Adam West version, of course), and Bob Seeger, AC/DC, U2, and Pink Floyd(!) can release new albums, surely we, too, are allowed to do something unexpected and unhoped for.

At the beginning of series two, I made a list (in approximately 28 seconds) of the various topics I wanted to write about, including every entry in the much-beloved “Forgotten Gems” series.  During series two and three, I wrote them all.  The journal and I accomplished everything we set out to do.  It was a rewarding yet tiring experience.  New opportunities came along, people grow old, things change, many factors that need not be enumerated here (or ever) … it was time for a break.

And yet here we are again.  Yes, despite the positive surprise occurrences mentioned above, the world is much different, darker, angrier, more confused place than it was when we left (a world in which the Forces of Darkness are met not by Armies of Light but by apologetic open letters), but what better reason to return and bring more hope back to a world that needs it so much?  We don’t have to be what we once were — we won’t even try.  We’ll just be who we are now, not trying to emulate ourselves or “the good ol’ days,” and see the world perhaps not as it is but as it should be, making Cervantes (O’Toole’s Cervantes, at least) proud as we go.

Reedeming Pandora is no longer an elective, and thus we will be different by necessity.  Instead of having the same core group of seniors contributing work each issue, we will expand our horizons and broaden our vision.  Most of the diverse selections will be the sundry projects from Honors English students, grades 10-12.  This relates to the general change of the Honors program in English: instead of having all Honors students do the same task each quarter, students are pursuing individually-tailored courses of study, what we’ve informally nicknamed “More Better Different.”  Along with this freedom comes a variety of ways students are proving their learning.  Some will be papers, some will be modified slideshows, some will be … I have no idea what some will be.  This is awfully exciting.  We are trying to bring that freshness into Redeeming Pandora.

True, this spontaneity may make it difficult to advertise what will occur from issue to issue, as even I don’t have much of a plan for what to write about, but as we like to say around the office, our motto at Summit is “Keepin’ it Fresh.”

As always, we will welcome the contributions of old friends (alumni), and perhaps we will see contributions by new friends (who may or not be alumni or even people who have never been to Summit).  Perhaps we will revisit some old series like Forgotten Gems, perhaps we will pay more attention to the world around us now.  We’ll find out together.  There are truly no lines on the horizons (other than the limitations of the printed page, of course).

One thing I do know, we will continue to bring laughter and warmth and hope to your lives and ours.  It’s not the time to give up and allow the darkness free reign over the world and our souls.

So buckle up, boys and girls!  The band is back together.  It’s Magic Time.

Cue the Collective Soul (believe me, it sounds better than it reads):

Welcome all, welcome all

Welcome all my friends.

Welcome all, welcome all

Welcome all again.

Welcome all, welcome all

Welcome all my friends.

Welcome all, welcome all

Welcome all again.

Welcome all again

Welcome all again

Welcome all again

Welcome all again!

“I am a part of all that I have met…”

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Christopher Rush

All times I have enjoyed / Greatly

I have known for some time I wanted to end this journey with a reflection on where I have been and how I have gotten here.  That others have done this same thing for this final issue is the last in a satisfying series of co-incidents this journal has enjoyed throughout the years.  For instance, I knew going into the second year I wanted the fifth cover to be an homage to The Beatles’ White Album, and then Connor Shanley wrote an article about The Beatles.  Last issue, without consulting each other, Thorny and The Nighthawk both wrote about troubled youths.  It’s been an interesting journey these last three years, that’s for certain.  One can tell what I have been most pressingly interested in at the time — it’s almost been a kind of journal of my pastimes … in all that free time I have.  It’s time now, though, to go back even further, to see what influences have been strongest over the years.  These lists will not include family and friends, as that would be both unnecessary (as their influence has been far greater and more significant) and dangerous (for fear of leaving out someone important due to the vagaries of the memory).  Instead, to mine own self shall I be true and look at what else really matters: the games, music, movies, and shows that have helped shape the man I have become.  (By the way, if you are still waiting for that in-depth analysis of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, check out the frighteningly-impressive work of Jason Finegan, Scott McMahan, and other members of Paperlate on “The Annotated Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” at http://www.bloovis.com/music/lamb.html.)

The Games

The point of this, if one exists, is to mention and possibly briefly discuss the early, formative events, so the more recent games (Uncharted, Assassin’s Creed) will be left on the backburner.  Other games have already been lauded and mentioned in other articles, so consider new entries here as additions to earlier lists, not a supersession (I am in no way a supersessionist, as you should know by now).

Our first video game experiences predated the Nintendo Entertainment System.  We spent great hours learning and playing on the old Texas Instruments TI-99/4A system with cartridges that slid into the main front slot.  I got fairly good at TI Invaders, as well as a few other games not too many people still alive have heard of.  We didn’t have too many of the “classic” games, such as Frogger or Donkey Kong or BurgerTime, but we had great games that challenged our mathematic skills as well as hand-eye coordination, and we learned and played and had a good time doing it.  I wish we still had that machine and those games — they are more enjoyable and worthwhile than many of the games the kids play today.  Those days ended around Christmas of 1988, with the arrival of our Nintendo Entertainment System.

Super Mario Bros. 1-3, Super Mario World, Super Mario 64)

Our first game was Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt, which was a great change, obviously.  Again, I wish we still had a working system (though I think my brother has a new console and still is playing the old games).  The first three Super Mario Bros. games were all different, which still impresses me, even though I know more about how they were made, how they were copies of this and that, and other ins and outs of the business.  That the creative team would do such drastic things with each new iteration of the series is far more creative and, if I may, courageous than most of the designers out there today, who simply cash in one golden goose without trying to invent or create beyond “improving CGI,” which is an oxymoron for another time.  I’ll never forget the first time I got to the last level of Super Mario Bros.  It was a Sunday afternoon, and Andy was hanging out, and I was so excited I ran upstairs to tell my mom I made it to the last level.  I ran back down, tripped over the controller cord, pulling the NES power cord out from the wall, shutting off the game.  That was rough.  I eventually got back and won some later time.  For many of us, though, the words “but our princess is in another castle” still brings an edge of frustration.  SMB2 was so different it was like a new kind of thing — not just a new game, but a new kind of gaming experience.  I remember Adam calling me when he got to the last level; I ran up the street to go to his house and watch him beat the game.  I have since beaten it as well, but the “it was all a dream” thing never sat too well.  The potions, the coins, the power-ups, riding the eggs … great stuff.  I usually play as Peach, which just makes sense, since you often want her flying/hovering ability far more than Luigi’s reckless jumping or Toad’s rapid uprooting skills or Mario’s averageness.  My first experience with SMB3, as for most, was the classic movie The Wizard, ridiculously underrated.  It looked so different: new power-ups, overworld maps, whistles … what was all this?  I first played the arcade version at Skate Country.  Goombas on wheels?  Flying capes?  This was intense.  The best part was not that it was easier (going from a cape, to big Mario, to small Mario, to dying) but that you could do more: the easier play allowed for more actual playing of the game, more things to do, more challenges and fun to be experienced.  When the SNES came a few Christmases later, naturally we played World quite a bit.  The added complexities, saved games, Yoshi, each addition made it worth playing and enjoyable.  The same can be said of 64 when that arrived a few more Christmases later.

A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time

I certainly played Legend of Zelda, and even beat it a few times, but I never got too far into Zelda 2 — this is especially interesting considering my already-discussed penchant for RPGs.  I never really got into it, in part because I never owned 1 or 2, they were always borrowed or rented, and RPGs are tough to get into when not personally owned.  When A Link to the Past came along a few years later, I was deeply affected.  That may sound silly, but considering the game’s vast scope, its great story and characters, the driving themes of heroism and self-sacrifice and growing up, the overt contrast of light/good and dark/evil, it came at just the right time.  Let’s not forget the music.  I would definitely play Link to the Past right now if I could.  I’m sure I will set up the SNES and play it within the next two years, once we can get Ethan to stop pulling every cord he sees.  Likewise, Ocarina of Time is just about everyone’s all-time favorite if not all-time top 3, and deservedly so.  It’s such a rich game; it completely stands up to multiple playings — it is everything you could want in a video game.  It was the reason I wanted a Nintendo 64.  It came out when we were in college, but it was still in that early time when the ol’ high school gang still hung out together, and being at home to play N64 wasn’t too childish a thing to do, especially when you were playing Ocarina of Time.  I will certainly get this out and play it again and pass it on to my kids, if the Lord tarries.

  • Dragon Warrior 1, 4
  • Final Fantasy 1-3
  • ChronoTrigger

I don’t know if more needs be said about these classic RPGs.  I have discussed their influence and greatness other places, and to do them justice would require far more time than we have here.  I never owned Dragon Warrior 2 or 3, so I didn’t get too far in them when I rented them, but Dragon Warrior and 4 were enjoyed immensely.  We have discussed the Final Fantasy games already.  ChronoTrigger is another near-perfect game.  With multiple optional storylines, multiple ways to play and finish the game, the marvelous New Game+ option, not to mention the layers and layers of gaming and characters involved, ChronoTrigger is another all-time favorite.  If I could only play ChronoTrigger, FF3, Dragon Warrior 4, Ocarina of Time (or Link to the Past), and Super Mario Bros. 64 (or World), for the rest of my life, I could be thoroughly satisfied with them.  Of course, I enjoy the other games on this list, and everything else (and more), but those would quite possibly satisfy me.

  • Super Metroid
  • GoldenEye
  • Bases Loaded II
  • Déjà Vu
  • StarTropics
  • Stanley Cup
  • Super Mario Kart
  • Super Off Road
  • Breath of Fire II
  • Earthbound
  • Secret of Mana
  • Illusion of Gaia

These are both twelve representative games of that time long ago, as well as the dozen other games that probably took up the most of my time.  With TMNT 1 and 2, and, and, and….  Obviously GoldenEye came later than the rest, and that was a whirlwind of a success.  It was required for all college campuses, apparently, even those that didn’t allow tvs, and perhaps it still is.  Super Off Road was another Skate Country favorite, unless the bullies were around to make it not fun in any way.  I spent a great deal of time playing many seasons of Bases Loaded II and Stanley Cup.  I never got as far as I felt I should in Earthbound, especially considering its comical and slanted take on typical RPG aspects (hiding its thoroughly uncomical aspects).  Considering I prefer ketchup only on my cheeseburgers or cheese only on my pizza, I never got very good at using the condiments with my food.  I should break that out again (though RPG time is a rarer than a Future Enterprise).  Illusion of Gaia, despite being fundamentally unbiblical (in its “origin of life on Earth” message), was an annual favorite — so much so, for several years I required myself to complete it before going to bed every Christmas Eve.

Secret of Mana and Breath of Fire II were other non-FF or DW RPGs that had their quirks and distinctions that seemed worth my time, but I never had the dedication to follow them all the way to the end, but they are still worth mentioning as influential games here.  Super Mario Kart was one of those games I enjoyed without enjoying it, if that makes sense.  I played it, despite not being a fan of racing games.  I don’t like the tension or the timing … plus I’m not a fan of driving, so that is part of it.  But I still enjoyed it, in a way.  Maybe I just like winning.

I would certainly be eager to pick up and play Déjà Vu or StarTropics right this moment, if the opportunity presented itself.  I believe StarTropics is available for Wii download, but I refuse to play it on the Wii controller (and I’m not too keen on spending so much money for a “classic” controller).  Déjà Vu was different — I liked the challenge, I liked the detective aspect, I even liked the computer-like point-and-click mechanisms driving the game.  Maybe I wouldn’t like that as much now, though … perhaps I would play it again on the computer, or it does seem like it would be great Wii controller material.  I’ve been ridiculed for playing StarTropics, but I never minded that.  It was one of the first games I actually bought, and I was so excited about it — and it did not let me down.  I have been let down by games before (Kabuki Quantum Fighter, I’m talking to you), but this did not let me down, even with the totally far-out ending I did not see coming at all.  I never played the sequel, but I didn’t have to.  This was sufficient for a great experience.  And Super Metroid is … Super Metroid.  What else needs be said?

  • Ultima: Underworld
  • Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi
  • Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
  • Return to Zork
  • King’s Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder!
  • TIE Fighter
  • Robin Hood: Conquests of the Longbow
  • SimTower
  • Maniac Mansion II: Day of the Tentacle

Between the NES and SNES days were the computer days (which did actually continue beyond the SNES days).  These 9 games represent that period of time, though not too many else could be added here (beyond what was mentioned in earlier articles).  I would be willing to play any of these games right now, especially Ultima: Underworld or Fate of Atlantis.  Those are excellent games.  The rest, too, are great, but if I had to pick only two (for whatever reason), I’d pick those.  I’d have a difficult time picking between them, so please don’t make me do that.  I wasn’t very good with a mouse or joystick, though … bad peripheral vision, I suppose.

Obviously these are not the only games I played growing up.  Let’s not forget the many family game nights of Trivial Pursuit, Careers, Pit, Hail to the Chief, cards (and many more).  I could not list all the games I/we played, since many of them have been forgotten.  I played my share of Double Dragon, Battletoads, Marble Madness (I marvel sometimes how deep the anticipation for that game was), DuckTales, Jordan vs. Bird, Captain America and the Avengers, Double Dribble, NES Golf, a whole lot of Mega Man, Goof Troop, Chip ’n Dale Rescue Rangers, Adventure Island, Ogre Battle, Perfect Dark, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.  I have written previously about many of the computer games of my youth, which need not be mentioned again here.  These are the most influential, really, as far as games that captured and expanded my imagination (though I’m possibly being a bit generous for Secret of Mana and Breath of Fire II).  I’m not sure Bases Loaded II really captured or expanded my imagination, but it was fun to play — though filling up pages and pages of password codes to remember my season progress wasn’t too much fun.  And yet somehow I still had time to study the Bible, spend time with family and friends, play sports, be outside, watch tv, read books … maybe there were more hours in the day back then.

The Music

I got “into” music rather late, in the sense in which you probably think of being into music — though I was surrounded by music almost continuously.  I spent more time listening to classic comedy than music (Jack Benny, Fibber McGee and Molly, Great Gildersleeve, Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis, Red Skelton, among others).  Thus, some of these influences have been more recent in their fuller maturity, but they are included here for the benefit of posterity.  As always, this is not an exhaustive list of my collection or influences, but these are the immediate “name the bands who’ve influenced you/you take great delight in” selections.

  • U2
  • Collective Soul
  • The Beach Boys
  • The Beatles
  • AC/DC
  • The Police
  • Sting
  • Rush
  • Genesis
  • Pink Floyd
  • Peter Gabriel
  • Phil Collins
  • Led Zeppelin
  • Moody Blues
  • Queen
  • Līve
  • Steve Winwood
  • Doobie Brothers
  • Dave Matthews Band
  • Journey
  • Def Leppard
  • Jethro Tull
  • Deep Purple

These fellows don’t need explaining, do they?  I’m not doubting we live in an age of contemporary musicians who have merit or skill or beauty in their souls.  I just don’t know who they are or listen to them, and I’m not going to start (unless you buy me one of their albums).  And no offense to the Rolling Stones or Aerosmith or Bryan Adams or Credence Clearwater Revival or The Kinks or the rest of the gang … you know I have many of your albums.  Yet these are the most immediate 22 groups/artists that I could easily rattle off if you asked me to.  Of course, if you asked me to, I just might change my mind and … never mind.  Deep Purple is still not in the HOF as of this writing.  Rush has only been in for a couple of months.  I don’t understand some people.  If you have created one of the top 3 most recognizable guitar riffs in the history of Rock and Roll, that alone warrants entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (and Museum).  Someday I might get into Fleetwood Mac, or The Grateful Dead, or The Eagles, but that may have to wait for less hectic season of life.  Let me know what that approaches, please.

The Movies

  • The Court Jester
  • Animal Crackers
  • Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

That’s the list.  You ask me what my favorite movies are I will tell you those three.  I could watch The Court Jester probably every day.  I don’t because I don’t want to wear it out (among other reasons), though I’m starting to suspect I couldn’t do that.  It’s not perfect, but it is about as perfect as movie as one can get.  Just when you think it has finished with great scenes and great moments … then the final swordfight scene occurs.  It is quite likely the best movie of all time — it is what movies are for.  I need to bring back, at least, the annual tradition of watching this on my birthday with my family and McDonald’s.  I will forever treasure that day with, well, the Class of 2010, let’s say.  That was a good day.  Animal Crackers, likewise, has its flaws, and I can easily go without the first few minutes and the last few minutes, but the parts in the middle, the parts with the Marx Brothers, are movie magic.  It’s intellectuality that surpasses almost all of the “academic excellence” of the past half century or so (I’m looking at you, Ivy League).  It is also very funny, just as The Court Jester is very funny.  They don’t make actual funny movies like these any more.  Meet Frankenstein is also superb, with some of the best Abbott and Costello moments in their career.  You can’t go wrong with these three movies.

Then there’s an ever-increasing tie for fourth place (not including movies we watch at school), some of which regularly receive a good deal of love from me:

  • The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
  • It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
  • Star Wars IV-VI
  • Casablanca
  • The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai
  • Indiana Jones 1-4
  • The Muppet Movie
  • The Great Muppet Caper
  • The Chipmunk Adventure
  • Fierce Creatures
  • How to Steal a Million
  • McClintock!
  • Dr. Strangelove
  • The Lion in Winter

This, too, could go on indefinitely, but this is the immediate group that springs to mind (somewhat) immediately.  Clearly just about any movie starring the Golden Age (or so) of film stars is worth knowing: William Powell, Cary Grant, Carole Lombard, Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole, Gregory Peck, Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, Myrna Loy, Clark Gable, David Niven, Steve McQueen, John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, The Marx Bros., Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Peter Sellers, Rex Harrison, Jimmy Stewart, Doris Day, Julie Andrews, James Garner (and so on).

The Shows

  • Babylon 5
  • M*A*S*H
  • MST3K
  • Red Dwarf

That is most likely my top four all-time.  It will take something mighty impressive to break into those.  I have extolled their merits enough over the years, if not in writing then certainly in person, so nothing more needs be said here.  Don’t get me wrong — I’m one of the biggest Star Trek fans you’ll ever meet, so those are definitely lifetime favorites as well.  These are, as before, the best of the best, the shows that have given me the most happiness in a lifetime that has been mostly happy (which is said to inform not to brag).  The rest of this list is pretty impressive, too, I think.  You couldn’t go too wrong dedicating yourself to this list (give or take a few additions here and there).  This group has more recent works, but that happens sometimes.  You’ll notice the bias is far more heavily in favor of long-gone shows — which makes sense, remember, considering the whole purpose of this article is to revisit the things of the past that have helped shape my present and will continue to direct my future.

Science Fiction

  • Star Trek (all, but DS9 is my favorite)
  • Battlestar Galactica (recent)
  • Stargate SG-1
  • Lost
  • Farscape
  • Highlander: The Series

I grew up on Star Trek, pretty much.  That’s not a bad way to live one’s youth.  It took a while before we owned any: the beginning experiences were renting VHS tapes from the library.  Somewhere around the 25th anniversary, channels started broadcasting them, so we started recording them.  One particularly enjoyable summer I was allowed to stay up at night and pause through the commercials, enabling us to get 8 episodes on a tape instead of the 6 from programming it to record.  I have programmed quite a number of VCR recordings over the years, let me tell you.  Shortly thereafter, we started watching TNG, which was a good experience as well, again with me usually staying up to pause through the commercials then everyone watching it together the next night during/after dinner.  The only TNG episode I saw as a first-run show was “All Good Things….”  Better late than never, I always say.  We got in on DS9 from the beginning, which was a good idea, though we missed a few season 1 episodes here and there.  It seemed to be a Sunday night staple, so I stayed up and recorded it, and then we watched it usually the next day together.  I liked it from the beginning, though it took me some time to get as into it as I still am today, just as it took the show a season or so to find its own identity.  By the last season, I was in college, but I still was able to come home and tape it Sunday nights, since that was free laundry night, so I’d record it then drive quickly back to Emmaus before curfew.  I couldn’t make it all the way to the end of the season, though, so it was a few years before I finally saw the end, when my wife organized the whole family to get the set for me for Christmas.  That was a memorably Christmas break.  The Star Trek universe always seems to go well with school breaks.

Highlander is a good show that became a regular part of my early high school after school life, just as Adam West’s Batman had was a few years earlier.  I don’t think I had seen the movies yet, but I was into the show for some reason.  I even spent a fair amount of time programming my TI-82 to broadcast the theme song.  I probably should have paid more attention in Algebra II class; I admit that now.

Obviously Battlestar Galactica and Lost (another hard-to-quantify show) are more recent episodic experiences.  I didn’t get in on them from the beginning: I’m a bit of a late starter now, having been burned a few times on shows that should have gone on longer (see Brisco County, Jr. below, or Earth 2, or Space Rangers or Covington Cross or The Good Guys or Push, Nevada), but I’m glad they had the loyal fan base from the beginning to allow them to tell their entire stories from beginning to end.  Of course, if I had known Ron Moore was in charge of BSG, I may have noticed it earlier, but I’m here now, so it’s a success as far as I’m concerned.  Lost is better than many people give it credit for, and the last episode is not a disappointment (except for maybe the window and a few lines here and there): the last episode simply iterates more clearly what the entire series had been saying from the beginning, more or less.  Anyone who disagrees has wholly missed the point of the show, pure and simple.  B5 is better, but BSG and Lost are experiences worth having.

SG-1 is another show that became a fairly regular family experience but not until I was in college, so I didn’t get to see it too often.  I have them all on dvd, but for some reason every time I try to watch it through, I get stopped somewhere in season 4.  I promise I will do my best to get through the whole story.  And someday I’ll watch Firefly.  Farscape is certainly the most grown-up science fiction show I’ve ever seen to date, and it’s probably not for everyone, and it certainly did build upon the foundations of earlier sci-fi shows and would never have existed in a society less … well, the word “profligate” comes to mind, but it’s not that saucy (well, not every episode — it’s not for kids, really — but it’s a good show).  It definitely deserved its final season … it’s hard to forgive the Sci-Fi channel for prolonging SG-1 and cancelling Farscape, especially when it only needed one more season.  That may be a subconscious part of the reason I can’t push through SG-1.

Mystery/Action

  • MacGyver
  • I Spy
  • Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (tough to categorize)
  • Nero Wolfe
  • Monk
  • Psych
  • A-Team
  • 24
  • Alias

Clearly this is a broad category.  24 and Alias are more recent shows, obviously (I was in on 24 from the beginning, though I haven’t seen every season; and I didn’t start watching Alias until after it was over), but they are still “good,” in their way.  It’s hard to wholeheartedly advocate for them, certainly not as easily as more family-friendly (most of the time) ’80s shows such as Remington Steele; Scarecrow and Mrs. King; Magnum, PI; Murder, She Wrote and the like, but they are enjoyable in their way.  I can wholeheartedly advocate I Spy and MacGyver, though — that’s easy.  I don’t know if you can find much of anything wrong with either of these shows, though I wouldn’t necessary let small children watch them (as can be said for everything on this list).  Top-notch shows, both.  The A-Team is another good ol’ show that makes you realize when you watch it again “oh, that’s a fair amount of stern language, and though no one really ever dies or gets shot, that’s a fair amount of violence.”  It’s not for legalists.  It’s hard to find much fault with the Maury Chaykin/Timothy Hutton Nero Wolfe mysteries, other than the fault of the show being cancelled three or four seasons too soon.  It will make you want to read the books and imagine them as the characters.  Surely you don’t need me to extol the merits of Monk or Psych (though clearly the earlier seasons of Psych were better on the whole than these last couple — it may have peaked in season 2).  Brisco County, Jr. was way ahead of its time.  If I told you the creative team who brought you most of Lost was responsible for BCJr., would that encourage you to watch it?  It is a part sci-fi, part western, part romance, all fun sort of show.  How often do time travel and westerns mix?  That’s right.  But Brisco County did it superbly.  The show tells a fairly complete story in its one season, but it certainly could have given us a couple more seasons worth watching, if only to resolve Dixie and Brisco’s romance.

Comedy

  • Barney Miller (somewhat difficult to categorize as well)
  • Cosby Show
  • Newsradio
  • Perfect Strangers

If you haven’t seen Barney Miller, go get the whole set.  It’s worth it.  The outfits will clue you in to ’70s fashion, and so will the theme song, but the show and its characters stand the test of time.  In an era that celebrates cops being above the law or just as dirty as the criminals they arrest (too many shows to mention), this is one show that values integrity, compassion, and justice.  You don’t need me to tell you about The Cosby Show, do you?  Like M*A*S*H, Psych, and Newsradio, season 2 of Cosby is a season I could watch pretty much every day and never get tired of it.  Newsradio is a modern classic ’90s sitcom with a who’s who of future stars and Kids in the Hall veteran Dave Foley and SNL veteran Phil Hartman (who sadly was killed between seasons four and five).  It’s one of those rare shows that is mostly clean and almost always family-friendly (provided your kids are not under 12), except for a couple of episodes here and there.  And it’s usually really funny.  Perfect Strangers needs to come out on dvd (beyond seasons 1 and 2).  This is an embarrassment to the entire industry.  It may have lasted a little too long, as some shows are wont to do, but it was a solid, enjoyable show from beginning to end, pretty much, with great moments, great lines, and, of course, the shower remodeling episode.  Get this out on dvd, people!

“Kids Shows” (Superior to most Grown-Ups Shows today, I warrant you)

  • Fraggle Rock
  • Muppet Babies
  • The Muppet Show
  • Thundercats
  • M.A.S.K.
  • Mysterious Cities of Gold
  • Pirates of Dark Water
  • SuperFriends
  • G.I. Joe
  • Transformers
  • X-Men
  • Batman (Adam West and The Animated Series)
  • Scooby-Doo (you could add most of the Hanna-Barbera family as well: Space Ghost, Birdman and the Galaxy Trio, Herculoids, Wacky Races, Laugh-a-Lympics, Thundarr the Barbarian, Josie and the Pussycats, Hair Bear Bunch, Hong Kong Phooey, Jabberjaw, Smurfs, Shirt Tales, Galtar, Pound Puppies, and a few more.  I could really go for some Shirt Tales right about now.)
  • Chipmunks, Heathcliff, Garfield, you know, the gang.

Have anything to say against these?  I didn’t think so.

British Invasion

  • As Time Goes By
  • Blackadder
  • Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett, natch)
  • Doctor Who (original)
  • Cracker (Robbie Coltrane)
  • Prime Suspect (Helen Mirren)
  • A Bit of Fry and Laurie
  • Jeeves and Wooster
  • Whose Line is it Anyway? (UK edition, especially)

If you think American crime shows are intense, give the original Prime Suspect and Cracker a try.  If you want a decent, laid back, calm and quiet and thoroughly enjoyable show, watch As Time Goes By.  If you want intelligent, occasionally saucy humor (of a British flavor), watch Blackadder, WLIiA?, and A Bit of Fry and Laurie (I assume you don’t need me to tell you about Monty Python, though you should check out Beyond the Fringe or The Goon Show).  If you have never read P.G. Wodehouse, or at least can’t get enough Steven Fry or Hugh Laurie (and who can?), watch Jeeves and Wooster.  And Doctor Who is Doctor Who.  I haven’t seen too much of the reboot, and I’m sure it’s great, but until I see it, I can only speak about the original.  Jeremy Brett’s Sherlock Holmes is unmatched, no question there.  I’m not saying everything British is better than everything American, but they certainly are good at making and exporting culture.

Misc.

  • Pardon the Interruption
  • Centennial

Enough said.

You could easily add a few shows that I really was into for a time that we come back to once in a while: Cheers, Wings, Remington Steele, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Bob Newhart Show.  Recently we’ve been getting (back) into some older classics: Murder, She Wrote; Magnum, P.I.; Father Dowling; Andy Griffith Show; Little House on the Prairie; and others of that ilk.  I’m sure Bones and NCIS will remain family staples for a while, at least.  It sure would be nice to see ProStars and Hammerman again someday, too.

The Books, The Poems, The Plays

Come on, son.  Haven’t I given you enough book lists already?  Oh, you want the works that shaped me?  Child, please.  “If you don’t know me by now, you will never never never know me.  Oooooo….”  Break out a summer reading list.

That which we are, we are

Well, that was fun, huh?  There you have it: the pop culture side of me, give or take.  “More we could say.”  It has been a good ride, Faithful Readers.  I appreciate you spending some time with us over the years.  As the song goes, “Somehow I know we’ll meet again / Not sure quite where, and I don’t know just when / You’re in my heart, so until then … / It’s time for saying goodbye.”  Probably my least favorite song of all-time.  I’ve never been one for long goodbyes, so we should wrap this up before it gets too maudlin.

This journey is ending, but another one is beginning.  Such is the way of things.  “Come, my friends, / ’Tis not too late to seek another world.”  Hopefully this journey has helped temper our heroic hearts.  With God’s grace, we are being made strong by time and fate, not weak, “strong in will / To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield” … strong to pursue faith, hope, and love.

Though we have said this journal was mainly about hope, it was also about faith and, most importantly, love.  I trust we have made that clear.

Now get out of here, and go pursue Truth, Beauty, Faith, Hope, and Love.

As always, we’ll be here for you when you get back.

We have always been here.

The Road We Leave Behind: Some Reflections

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Nicole Moore Sanborn

It’s that time of year again … the time when the seniors are about to graduate, the juniors probably can’t wait for them to leave, moments are bittersweet, and this chapter we call “high school” is about to come to a close.  It is hard to believe I’m finishing up my last few writing assignments from Mr. Rush, taking my last high school math tests, rehearsing to perform my last high school play, and playing my last high school soccer season.  That being said, I wanted to take some time to look back on the past few years called “high school,” make some sense of them, and reveal what I have learned.  This is my farewell article.  Graduation is the ending of one chapter and the beginning of another.  It would be silly to say I didn’t learn anything in high school.  I learned a lot.  Between athletics, drama, schoolwork, and personal life, I’ve learned a few lessons.  But, what have I learned?

First, I would like to include some “poems” I have written in past years.  I say “poems” because many of them have no structure.  I suppose they would be free verse poems, in which case they are real poems.

I wrote this one during my sophomore year.  It is titled “Her Fight Inside.”  The goal was to resemble spiritual warfare as well as truth overcoming lies.  It is a rather depressing poem.  Whether or not we experience this particular fight inside our hearts, we will all end up, at some point in our lives, with some fight inside of us.  Truth vs. lies.  Granted, I did steal the title from the song “Fight Inside” by RED, one of my favorite bands.  Here it is:

I wrote this next one after a short-term mission trip to Philadelphia with five other people in my class.  We helped the homeless by working in a soup kitchen and bringing food to them on the street.  I wrote this one in 10th grade as well.  Before writing this piece, I had reached a point of slight brokenness in my life, because I was beating myself up about every little thing.  This one is called “Healing the Broken.”

Brokenness.  It’s everywhere.  All you have to do is turn around a corner and it almost suffocates you.  This is the sad epidemic that Philadelphia and many other places face. Brokenness.  You can find it all around you, everywhere.  You see someone smiling, yet if you look deep into their eyes you can see it.  A girl cracks a smile while inside she is dying.  She turns a corner and the tears flow.  Only when she’s isolated and alone does she let the brokenness show.  Most of us put up a façade of what we want people to perceive us as, when beneath that lies brokenness and scars.  People don’t realize how deep hurt can be, or how prevalent it is in a person’s life.  The only way we can heal the brokenness is first to detect it.  Take the song “Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles, for instance… “all the lonely people, where do they all come from?”  Frankly, they’re everywhere.  Most of us are just too blind to see it.  If we weren’t so wrapped up in ourselves then maybe we could actually see it, and could then heal it.  Most of us put up that façade of happiness and fake laughter, while truthfully the night before we cried ourselves to sleep or our hearts just ache.  We tell ourselves that we don’t want others to see us broken, that we want them to see us strong.  Yet, if we are truly honest with ourselves, we do want people to know.  Not for pity, but for help and comfort.  We do indeed want somebody to know that we are hurting, so that they can help.  Most people are afraid to let someone in.  They fear transparency and vulnerability.  Yet, deep in their mind, they know that they need someone.  Brokenness is not hidden as easily as some believe.  In reality, if you just look deep into someone’s eyes you can see it.  So, why don’t we?  Why are we so wrapped up in ourselves and getting where we need to go that we can’t help someone else?  What if we looked into someone’s eyes, and asked how they’re really doing?  What if we extended the hand and told them we were there if they ever wanted to talk?  Would it have an impact?  I believe it would.

This next gem was written in 11th grade, during a period of happiness.  It was one of those days where I had inspiration to write, so I wrote.  I wanted to highlight attributes of God while crying out from the perspective of one who wants to heal the broken.  I also desired to reveal struggles some adolescents endure, struggles which aren’t always brought to light.  I entitled it “Help Us.”

The final piece I would like to share was written October of this school year.  I am actually very proud of this one, because it actually has a rhyme scheme.  I did not divide it into stanzas.  Some of the rhymes are rather silly, but bear with me.  It is called “A Reminder for when you Feel Weak.”

Now you’ve seen some of my previous writings and the intentions behind them.  But, what have I learned?  I have learned to solidify what I believe.  I have learned to persevere even through tough times.  I have learned God is sovereign.  He has taken every tough situation I have been through and used it to His glory and for His purposes.  My sophomore year was rough.  I was told many of my close friends were moving away.  Some of them did, but not as many as originally said they may have to move.  I attempted to accomplish everything without God.  I tried to rely on myself, because who else was going to get the work done?  Who else was going to do perfect, yes perfect, in everything?  My mindset became one of striving for perfection continually, without seeking God’s direction and help.  I did not see I could not be perfect and I could not accomplish life on my own.  My mindset toward myself was negative.  I was striving for a perfection that could not be obtained and made myself miserable for not obtaining it.  Every little mistake would trigger a string of negative phrases in my mind.  Why?  Because I stopped seeking God and trusting He would get me through the situation.  I took matters into my own hands, thinking that would fix it.  I stayed away from God because He was taking my friends away.  He was taking the people I cared about away from me, and because of that, I was mad at Him.  So I stopped seeking and decided to take everything on alone.  It took many strained relationships, mental breakdowns, and almost bad decisions before I realized what I had done and why.  Then, I turned around.  I started seeking God’s direction again.  Life got a little bit easier.  I stopped beating myself up every time I made a little mistake.  Strained relationships were gradually healed.  While in those situations, I did not see the good in them.  Looking back, I realize what I learned.  I learned it’s okay not to have all the answers.  It’s okay not to be perfect.  Vulnerability is okay.  Hiding my brokenness will not fix it.  Suppressing the hurt and not allowing others to help does no good.  Even when things get tough (not extremely tough, because I hadn’t gone through a traumatic or life-altering, painful event), God still has a plan.  My brokenness showed me the sovereignty of God.  I remember a phrase a Summit graduate once told me: “Sometimes God has to put you so far down, the only way you can look is up.”

Fast-forward to junior year.  I learned how to trust God even more with my stress.  Junior year was stressful, yes, but with God, it can be handled.  God definitely helped me out with my stress issues.  I learned to trust that He would stretch my time and heal my anxiety.  I continued to learn the unattainability of perfection.  I learned how to challenge myself without stretching myself too thin.  God really blessed me junior year with great relationships, new friends, as well as academic success.  My soccer season was really awesome as well.  I began to love myself for who I was, for who God made me to be, instead of striving for what I could not attain.

What did I learn senior year?  I learned how to trust God even more.  I learned it’s okay not to be the absolute best.  I learned I would not be accepted into every college I applied to.  I learned to cherish those special moments with friends, because time is short.  I learned to revel in the sweet moments, learn from painful moments, and to always keep going.  I learned how LOUD Americans are, and how many people we can fit into one overnight train car.  I learned more than I ever thought I would in a whirlwind European adventure.  I saw exciting and famous artworks and buildings.  I discovered different cultures and realized America has more good things to offer than I previously believed (free bathrooms and water, anyone?).  I learned I could successfully write a senior thesis, the daunting graduation requirement which connotes a much scarier image than is necessary.  I learned everyone’s futures are different, and realized I may never see some of my classmates again.  I realized my class will say “We’ll keep in touch!  Friends forever!” when I know it will not be true.  I learned to be secure in my faith.  I strengthened my faith through 12th grade Bible.  Learning about other worldviews and realizing how devoid of hope and inconsistent they are really solidified what I believe about Christ.  Senior year was amazing, and I learned so much.  I guess this is farewell…

Farewell to you, the future leaders of Summit.  Farewell to morning classes in the youth room (couches!), farewell to cramming three people into a table during class, farewell to the café, to high school drama programs.  Farewell to explaining to people exactly what protocol training and soirée are, and why we have predetermined escorts.  Farewell to our soccer team’s beloved “Clunker,” and to the bus which seemingly breaks down on every Freshman Trip, a trend my class started.  Farewell to discussing Bigfoot in history class, to watching theological debate videos, to walking across a tiny school to get to class.  Farewell to Predestination vs. Free Will debates at any time of the day in a private Christian school.  Farewell to high school athletics, to Ministry Teams, to watching funny and odd videos in the café.  Farewell to the babies crying during Mom2Mom while we are in class.  Farewell to explaining exactly how Summit works to outsiders, farewell to being called “Summiteers.”  Farewell to playing outside during English class in the middle school years.  Farewell to our beloved retreat and Triple R Ranch.  Farewell to school hosted service projects, to days of literally scrubbing the school walls.

The Class of 2013 is leaving a lot behind.  Yet, we look forward to what is ahead.  But, what is ahead?  Uncertainty, new friendships, independence, tested faith, and transformation are what lay ahead.  Meeting new people, without the labels we received in our elementary, middle, and high school days (Oh! You’re the girl who ________ in ___ grade!).  I plan to remember a few wise words of advice given to the Class of 2013.  We will be tempted, and our faith will most likely be challenged.  We will be thrust into the unknown, will be challenged, and life will change.  Decisions will have to be made.  People will change.  Our futures will begin to be shaped.  I believe high school is not only about learning facts and figures but also about discovering independence, learning life lessons, and implementing the facts and figures into our experiences (though you may think you don’t use what you learn in school, you do).  I look forward to what is ahead.

Farewell, readers….

“I’ll Have the 8-Count Nugget, Please”

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Amelia Sych Achée

Well, here it is.  We survived another year together.  We have persevered through the blood, sweat, and tears (literally) this school year has brought and fought to the end.  The end; I have dreamed of it for so long, countless years at the upper school.  Among the scents of Clorox, Windex, and Goo Gone, one smell overpowers good ol’ PCC that last day of school.  That, my comrades, is the smell of victory.

Even more pungent is the odor of that sentimental day of which every summit student dreams.  It’s a day full of speeches, farewells, and heels clicking across the gym stage.  No silly, not the ring ceremony … Graduation!  Two weeks before this grand day, I sit sipping my country peach tea, breathing in its glorious peachy scent.  And I wonder, what scent am I leaving behind as I dash off to my future?  When Summit remembers the Class of 2013, will we be known for the pleasant scent trail toward success we left for rising school leaders?  With this in mind, it only seems fitting I leave behind some bits of wisdom for posterity.  Take a deep breath: 8 nuggets of wisdom coming your way!

Swallow That Word Vomit! 

It comes in many forms.  It can be a “can you believe what she’s wearing?” or a “did you hear what he did last weekend?” or even “he’s such a ….”  We all know how it goes.  At some point we have all gossiped and been talked about behind our backs.  And it hurts … everyone.  I’m keeping this one short and sweet: don’t gossip, and when you do, make it right.  Take responsibility and apologize to the person you talked about.  And if you are the victim, do not “backfire gossip.”  It only tangles the web of jealousy, anger, and confusion even further.  Approach the person.  Furthermore, do not start a “gossip war” like we did in seventh grade.  No one escapes unwounded, and everyone crawls out with their own bag of regrets.  Here’s a tip I use: before you speak about someone, ask yourself, “Would I feel comfortable saying this in said person’s presence?  Would they?”  If the answer is “no” or even an “eh…,” just do not say it.  It is for the best.

Negativity: The Virus That Kills

For some it is a grand mountain to scale, for others a pebble to kick out of their path.  Nevertheless, negativity is a necessary parasite everyone must kill.  It is a pesky little virus, negativity is.  One minute you entertain a negative thought, the next “the trees are bare and everywhere the streets are full of strangers.”  Negativity is easiest to kill when it is small.  You see, negative circumstances (and negative people) will inevitably walk into our lives.  There is nothing we can do to avoid negativity around us.  However, we all have the power to be positive.  Rule of thumb: when you have a negative thought (about yourself, another, or a circumstance) speak the opposite.  If you do not, that little monster will gain ground faster than Bigfoot in the Boreal Forest.  Use scripture, use your friends, but just don’t give in!

Lauren Conrad Does Not Know Everything

Okay girls, we have all been guilty of this one.  While beauty magazines can be tempting and often offer some good advice, they are not the ultimate source of wisdom they may appear to be.  Not too long ago, I discovered an amazing designer named Lauren Conrad.  Her clothes were a perfect match for me, and her jewelry was unbeatably cute.  Even greater was my excitement when, one day while wandering through Target’s book department, I came across an LC style book.  An entire book filled with LC’s favorite beauty secrets.  For months, I pranced around dribbling LC beauty tips on all victims, willing and unwilling.  Then there came the day: one of her beauty tips did not work.  INCROYABLE.  How could I have been so wrong?  Listen, here’s the point: people like LC and the writers of your favorite magazine (Sports Illustrated, guys???  My apologies, I don’t know what you guys read) can offer some great tips in certain arenas.  However, do not put all your eggs in one basket.  Other people (like your parents) can offer even more valuable advice about life and beauty (and…uh…manliness???).  Be open to what they have to say.

Mom and Dad Are Not Stupid

“It’s a phase,” everyone says.  “Everyone thinks their parents are stupid at one point or another.”  While this is a phase most teenagers go through, let’s at least go about it with the right attitude.  Maybe you have a great relationship with your parents, maybe not so good.  No matter, at some point in everyone’s adolescence it will feel like mom or dad just doesn’t get it.  At these times it can be easy to discount their authority, rebel, and “vent” to your friends over Facebook.  Believe me: none of the listed options will help the said situation.  In fact, they will make things worse.  Take a deep breath.  Calmly and respectfully try to explain your side of things to them.  And if they just are not “seeing the light,” obey them.  It is hard to imagine sometimes, but our parents have been around a lot longer than we have.  They have much more experience than us newbies.  Think about it, they may actually be (duh duh DUH) right.  Even more, let’s not forget God calls us to honor our parents.  Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.”  And it’s not because mom was in labor with you for 32 hours, or because dad was up holding a crying baby countless nights, although our parents do often remind us of their sacrifice.  It is, like all God’s other laws, good for us.  He reminds us of this not because He likes seeing us struggle, but because He loves us.  When we honor our parents, God sees it, it pleases Him, and we reap the harvest of our self-control.  So, let’s honor our parents by obeying them, forgiving them, and speaking well of them with our friends.  It’s well worth it.

The Best Two Weeks of Your Life

Ahhh…the senior trip.  So many fresh memories flood my mind at the mention of our great international adventure.  If it is an option for you financially, GO!  Now many in the past have not gone by choice, and I respect that.  The senior trip may not be for everyone, so no judgment by any means.  However, in my opinion, if you go with the right attitude (you are there to learn. You are not on vacation), you will walk away with great experiences you will cherish for a lifetime.  I highly encourage you to go!

Respond to God

One of the greatest lessons I have learned is all my actions toward God should be, in their rawest form, reactions to what He has done for me.  It can be easy to fall into the “routine” of Christianity: attend church, go to school, read the Bible, sing, pray, repeat.  Just let me share with you, doing these things out of solely religious tradition will leave you feeling empty, lost in the cycle of “dos and don’ts.”  This, my friends, is not the place God ever intended us to be.

At this moment, God is pursuing you (Hosea 2:14-17, Luke 15:3-7).  Respond to God because His love chases after you (Psalm 23:6, 1 John 4:19).  All that to say, pray and read your Bible.  Discover God’s continual pursuit of you (Yes, He still pursues you after you are saved).  He wants you to feel and experience Him, so give God a chance to reveal Himself.  It helps to take time out of each day (like 15 minutes) to read your Bible and pray.  Ask God to reveal Himself to you in a more real way, and He will.  So much could be said about this, but I must move on….

When Sweet Friendships Go Sour

Unfortunately, I am well versed in the art of “friendship reconstruction.”  Don’t get me wrong, it is an important art to be versed in.  However in this case, no matter how beautiful the end, the means are made no less painful.  Most fights come down do this question, “do I value being right more than I value this friendship?”  If the answer is “yes,”  let the relationship go.  If the answer is “no,” talk to the person immediately (in person).  Explain how you feel, agree to disagree, and move on with the friendship.  Oh, and one more thing: Do not give up on a friendship too quickly.  I fought for a couple years with the girl who is now my closest friend.  Restoration is worth it!

Take Time to Smell the Roses

Finally, we all look forward to graduation, but do not forget to cherish your time in high school.  Okay, I am not telling you to enjoy homework, but Summit is an incredibly unique environment and high school has its perks.  Enjoy being with friends every day.  Enjoy the field trips and freedoms that come with growing up.  Hold dearly the good times you have, and do not focus on the bad (especially if you go on the Europe Trip).  You only go through high school once, so make some awesome memories.

Also (this relates back to the negativity section), it is easiest to find fault, but takes character to see good.  Spending all day, every day in a small Christian school, one can get easily caught in what I call the “web of complaints”: “But why uniforms?  Why all this homework?  What??  My skirt was not even that short!  If that wasn’t memorized, I don’t know what is!  THAT’S NOT FAIR!!”  Yes, indeed, I believe we all know what the “web of complaints” feels like.  Pointing out flaws is easy.  Anyone can do it, and many do.  However, you will find the roses way more pleasant to smell, if I may, if you focus on the good.  We go to a Christian school where we are not ridiculed for our faith.  We have teachers who actually care about our well-being.  We get a killer education with opportunities we often take for granted.  If you need to, make a list.  Just smell those roses!

Well folks, there you go: an eight-count nugget, fried in the oils of experience.  In all seriousness, though, these eight things have helped me in my time here at Summit, and I believe they will help you as well.  Do with them what you wish, just leave some for everyone else, feel me?

Yours truly,

Emmy Sych

Terror from the Skies … and the Table! The Nighthawk’s Top 1,000 Picks for the Discerning Palate

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Audrey Livingstone

Ask, and you shall receive.”  You asked for it, and here it is: by popular demand, Audball’s fav foods!  For years now, I have been a self-proclaimed “foodie,” as the kids say.  So, I figured in order to go out with a bang from the good ol’ schol journ, I would grace you all with a list of all the best restaurants, and my favorite meals from each.  Here goes nothing!

Carrabba’s

For any of you who may be unaware, Carrabba’s is a lovely Italian restaurant located in Newport News near Patrick Henry Mall.  I don’t believe they serve authentic Italian food (having spent a week in Italy a month ago, I am qualified to make this distinction), but it’s all quite yummy nonetheless.  The atmosphere is relaxed and classy, and the service is great.  I often start off with an order of fried zucchini, which I absolutely love.  If you like zucchini, it’s perfect; it adds a bit of crunch with the fried breading and a bit of tang with the dipping sauce.  Then I take a plate of Pasta Weesie, a creamy seafood pasta dish.  I don’t normally order dessert, mostly because of the bread they serve before the meal, which is always fresh out of the oven and comes with a variety of herbs and olive oil.  Next time you’re near Carrabba’s, give these babies a go!

Outback Steakhouse

Ah, Outback: an escape to the land of the Aussies.  This is definitely one of my all-time favorites.  It’s the perfect place to go for a celebratory steak.  Now, we all know the ages-old debate over whether Outback Steakhouse or Texas Roadhouse is better; my opinion (the only one which matters, really) is clear.  So, once I sidle into a comfortable booth with my family or friends, the first order of business is getting some good old cheese fries.  Who cares that they’re one of the most calorie-filled meals in America?  Live a little!  They’re much too delicious to pass up.  These cheese fries, are, in my opinion, the best variation of fries; they’re topped with both cheese and bacon and served with a spicy ranch.  After the cheese fries are gone, I usually go with a nice sirloin, garlic mashed potatoes, and steamed vegetables, though I have also been known to order the steak focaccia sandwich and fries.  Then the big guns come out.  My friends, if you’ve never had “Thunder from Down Under,” hop in your car and head on over to Outback right this moment.  Thunder from Down Under is a hot, homemade brownie topped with ice cream, whipped cream, and hot fudge sauce.  This is no ordinary brownie sundae; it has a certain … je ne sais pas.  I really can’t explain why it’s so good.  You have to do yourselves a favor and try it.

Bonefish Grill

I gotta say, there’s really only one thing that keeps me coming back to Bonefish.  First is the Bang Bang Shrimp (!!!).  Just a little tip: go on a Wednesday if you’re going to get Bang Bang Shrimp, because you can get it for just $5!  Anyways … this dish is something I crave at least once a week.  It’s small shrimp that’s breaded and fried, so it’s nice and crispy.  Then, it’s tossed in a nice spicy sauce.  As the fine print at the beginning of this article says, these suggestions are for the discerning palette; this dish is not for the weak.  It’s not overly spicy for myself, but it may be for some of you.  Have a glass of water handy.  To complete the experience, eat your Bang Bang Shrimp with chopsticks.  That’s really the only way to do it.

Panera Bread

Panera Bread really is a classic.  This place is perfect especially for young people, I’d say high school and college students, because there’s free wi-fi, and it’s got a nice calm, café feeling to it.  It’s perfect for working on homework by yourself or meeting up with a group to get some studying done.  But enough of that, let’s get on to the good stuff!  I suggest the “You Pick 2” deal, where you can pick two from their menu of soup, salads, and sandwiches.  I normally go for the chicken frontega sandwich and French onion soup.  The chicken frontega has juicy chicken, melted cheese, and the perfect amount of onion and tomato, all slammed onto some bread and thrown onto their well-seasoned Panini press.  The French onion soup is quite classic: just salty enough, with the perfect amount of bread and cheese.  Studying’s not so bad at Panera!

Plaza Azteca

You’re not really a part of the Summit community unless you’ve been to Plaza Azteca.  I personally have a craving for Mexican food that runs through my veins at all times; I’m not quite sure if that’s just me, or if any of you experience it as well.  Either way, let’s give this a go.

I always get one of two things at Plaza: the steak fried rice or the chimichanga dinner.  These are the two best things on the menu; I promise you.  Now, what you choose from these two is completely dependent upon how hungry you are.  If you’re ready to seriously chow down, go for the chimichanga dinner.  There are two chimichangas, which you can order either fried or soft and with either chicken or steak (I personally get them fried and with steak), and they’re then drizzled with a delicious queso sauce.  Then they throw rice and beans in the mix  Whoa!  That’s just a bonus, really.

If you’re thinking that’s too much food, that’s okay.  There’s always the steak fried rice, which hits the spot every single time.  It’s their signature rice and queso mixed with steak, which is pan fried like they do for the fajitas.  Order one of these two babies, and you’ll be a changed man/woman.

Five Guys

Five Guys is the best burger joint in town; it’s my not-so-guilty pleasure.  Sure, it’s greasy, but that’s more than fine every once in a while!  Just a little nugget of info before you head in: a regular burger has two patties and a little burger has one.  I obviously get the regular burger most of the time, and I suggest you do the same.

One of my favorite things in the world to eat is a nice bacon cheeseburger, and Five Guys just gets it right.  The burgers are perfectly juicy; the cheese is perfectly melted; the bacon is perfectly crispy.  Not to mention the Cajun fries are a perfect complement if you’re looking to really round out the meal as a whole.  I’ve gotten this nearly every time, but as a nice graduation pressie (to me, from me) I’m going to be adventurous and try something new; à la Macy Eskew, I’ll get a bacon cheese dog (yes, you read that correctly: a hot dog with bacon and cheese) with jalapenos!

Hayashi

Two words: sushi boat.

Oh no, the sushi boat is no myth.  It’s literally a boat filled with sushi.  What more could you ask for?  Not only is sushi healthy, it’s just really delicious.  Once you get past the idea you’re biting into a little fish, it makes for quite a lovely meal!  The texture of the sashimi is smooth, the beds of rice are perfectly cooked, the crab and shrimp rolls perfectly proportioned … mmm, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

Can Can Brasserie

Can Can Brasserie is the loveliest French restaurant in the area.  If you’re ever near Richmond, I insist you stop there.  It’s right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city and on the corner of a cute street with antique shops and old cinemas.  I’ve only been twice, but it was so good both times I went I consider it one of my favorites (that, and I just really love all things French).  The atmosphere really is quite European; it’s not too noisy, and people really take their time during their meals to enjoy what they’re eating.  The only thing about this restaurant that’s American is the portion size (I’m not complaining)!

When I made my first appearance at Can Can Brasserie, I ordered a steak with a red wine sauce and glazed onions, which came with shoestring fries (I can’t remember the exact name of the meal — oops).  The steak was cooked perfectly, and I love red wine*; it was the perfect meal.  I really don’t know what else to tell you; the Can Can Brasserie is not just a restaurant … it’s an experience.

Well, there you have it.  Of course, this only really scratches the surface of my top picks, but I didn’t want to overwhelm any of you.  Have a grand time making a proper culinary tour of Hampton Roads!

*Editor’s Note: Redeeming Pandora does not condone the consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially red wine, unless one is having hash for dinner or eating corn on the cob with one’s feet.

The Christian Response to Abortion

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Kaitlyn Thornton Abbott

As many of you are quite aware, as made evident by my thesis, I am extremely pro-life: in every scenario.  I think life deserves to be valued at every cost, seeing as it is a direct gift from God.  My conviction goes beyond emotional belief, and to the point I will have Micah 6:8 tattooed on my body.  As a Christian, my beliefs are obviously founded in God’s word and proven true by science.  But as a Christian, one has to wonder what the Christ-like response is to abortion, those who perform and have them, and those who advocate the idea.

There are many viewpoints one could take up, and frankly, the viewpoint each one chooses is going to be a direct reflection of what is in his or her heart.  For example, if one chooses to see all those who have committed abortions or who have had abortions are murderers, then his viewpoint is one founded in hate, not in love.  On the other hand, a viewpoint founded in love will react with grace and understanding and forgiveness; just as Christ has already forgiven all of our debts.

The Church has one main job, with many other jobs and missions branching out from that.  Our main job, as the body of Christ, is to “Go and make disciples of all nations.”  But one of the main jobs the church has to do is look after the orphans and widows (James 1:27).  But another job we have is seen in Micah 6:8: “What does the Lord require of you?  To seek justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”  As we can see, we are expected to seek justice.  We are to seek justice for everyone — whether they are slave, free, black, white, young, old, rich, or poor.  As the Church, it is our duty to find true justice — Biblical justice for every man, woman, and child.

Proverbs 31:8-9 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.  Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”  As the Church, it is our job to speak up for the unborn, seeing as they cannot speak up for themselves.  They are young, just as much as they are poor and needy.  They have become victims — ostracized for being too little, too helpless, not the “perfect” child.  The Church’s mission in our world of hate and glorification of perfection is, and needs to continue to be, to speak up for them but in love.

In love.  Isn’t that the key?  When you hear of a pro-life protest, many conceive the notion of people outside, marching along, with pictures of aborted fetuses on them.  And that is a very accurate picture.  Many radical pro-life believers will go to that extreme (funnily enough, studies have been done that show this method is less effective in reaching the target people group instead of building a meaningful relationship with whom you’re trying to minister).  The Church, as a whole, and the individuals of the church, have the duty to protest, but respectfully, and still hold our Savior high.  People in today’s society tend to respond with hate and act repulsed by a woman who has had an abortion.  This is not the way to act!  Yes, we as the Church hold the belief life is a sacred, good blessing from God.  But we also believe we have been cleansed from our sins.  What does it say of the church if we, as the body, refuse to act as the church ought to?

A woman who has had the trauma of having an abortion goes through a turmoil of emotions.  She is alone, she feels violated, she feels as if she has no support, she feels disgusted with herself; she feels guilty, she believes, if even for a time, that she has killed her baby.  As the Church, why do we continue to make women feel this way?  Now, I am in no way advocating the acts they have done — I see them as morally wrong; I do believe a life was being taken.  But we are called to forgive!  Jesus said in his parable:

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.  Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him.  Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.  At this the servant fell on his knees before him.  ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’  The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.  But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.  He grabbed him and began to choke him.  ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.  His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’  But he refused.  Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.  When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.  Then the master called the servant in.  ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.  Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’  In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.  This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

(Matthew 18:21-35)

Here we stand — we are liars, we are thieves, we have hate in our hearts (so essentially, we are murderers), we have looked at the opposite gender with lust; we are sinners.  What is just for our sins?  If justice were to be served, I know I’d be burning in Hell.  Our sins are NO better than the woman who has suffered from an abortion, and it is time the Church stands up and welcomes those women into the body with open arms and open hearts.  Our job is to cherish and forgive — just as we have been cherished and forgiven.

People tend to forget about the doctors performing the abortions; instead, our fixations tends to be on those who want the crime being done, not necessarily on the one committing the actual crime (because, technically, the woman is drugged and has no control of what happens).  However, we are not to deem them unworthy, either.  Even the most holy man, the most Godly pastor, is unworthy to stand before God — the Church needs to stop condemning people to Hell because of their sins.  Yes, they have sinned; but so has everyone else on this planet.  Until the church steps up, and opens its arms, and its doors, we can have no hope for the ending of abortion.  Our job is to pray, without ceasing, for God’s justice to be done on this topic.  Our response needs to be in love.  We are a Grace-centered community — not because of us, but because of what’s be done for us.  It’s time the church emulated that response.