Commentary
Sovereign Nation
From Gazette editions of November, 1983:
On Veterans Day we rouse ourselves to an unusual patriotic fervor, waving flags, watching the marchers, perhaps even laying a wreath at the grave of a veteran — known or unknown — to give our thanks. Then we go home and resume our daily chores without looking back.
What can we do to really honor those that have served for their country in war? I wondered last Tuesday. The answer was not long in coming — reinstate the draft, make service to our country obligatory for every citizen.
The Presidential election has been a huge issue in the sophomore class and students have followed every step of the way. This week many of our writers are reflecting on what happens now that we have a new president.
There is an overwhelming sense of hope and excitement among the students expressed best on our class bulletin board entitled Yes We Can! We are facing the future feeling part of this new world and a sense that we have seen real history made mixed with a little fear for our new president.
— Elaine Weintraub, advisor
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Bit Part on a National Stage
November 5, 2008
The horse is Obama
The geese are Obama
The green field is Obama
The trees on the ridge are Obama
The clouds are Obama
The blue sky is Obama
The woman who cries is Obama
The boy who became a man is Obama
The husband who is away is Obama
The friend who says wow is Obama
The black woman who voted for McCain is Obama
Election Clerks
Early Tuesday morning at the polls in West Tisbury a young woman carrying a box of muffins politely threaded her way through the line of voters that snaked out of the public safety building onto the sidewalk. The muffins were for the poll workers who had been there since before seven o’clock. As if reading the minds of all who stood outside on this mild autumn morning, most on their way to work, one voter turned to another and said, “Aren’t we lucky to live here?”