In our second edition of Ask The Editors, we will discuss the controversy on the Spanish bullfight, FCC, Justin Bieber roast, caffeinated drink concerns, and Greek life.

If you’d like to ask the editors a question, you can do so here: https://lasallefalconer.com/ask-the-editors/

Question #1 from Mike Wazowski:

The Bullfight: do you believe that preserving Spanish culture for the future or protecting animal rights is the better solution to the issue?

Alex’s Response:

Dear Mike Wazowski:

Spain has a very bright culture and history but the bullfight is one of the oddest elements to me. I don’t understand why people would go watch someone kill a bull during a “fight”, which is anything but a fight. Putting animals to death in a cruel and unusual way is not a tradition that I can morally support. Keeping it for tradition’s sake is a poor argument. You need better concrete argument than just for tradition’s sake. I could start a “tradition” of dog fighting in my backyard, pass it on to my grandchildren and tell them to keep it up because it’s a tradition. But that doesn’t mean it’s right. I cannot find a good argument to justify the killing of bulls that allows me to sleep well at night.

Although on a final note, we kill millions of cows here in the U.S. for those delicious steaks on Friday nights so maybe bullfighting isn’t so bad in comparison.

Clarice’s Response:

Dear Mike Wazowski,

I believe that preserving Spanish culture for the future generation is very important. I believe that the bulls used in the bullfight represent a larger symbol to the Spanish people than many foreigners may understand. It is part of their history, their culture, and their identity. The “animal rights” involved in this issue I suppose would be the torture of the bull throughout the fight and the eventual death of the bull. However, you must put into perspective that the bull, if not used in a fight, would most likely die in a slaughterhouse anyways. If a bull isn’t fit to fight, that means it’s going to the slaughter house. It’s not going to run free in the wild. I suppose the elongated period in which the animal has to suffer may be perceived as torture, but the period of time in which the bull is cut and injured in total amounts to around 30 minutes or less. It isn’t hours of perpetual torture on the bulls end.

Another point may be that the killing is pointless– but mind you, the meat of the slaughtered bull in the fight goes to local orphanages or food banks to feed underprivileged people in Spain or Mexico.

Yes, the length of the time the bull is in pain is unusual, and potentially even cruel. But the tradition of bullfighting is a part of Spanish culture that dates back centuries and holds an importance in Spanish culture that is difficult to write in a page or less. By ruling that this bullfight is simply a violation of animal rights would be to undervalue Spanish culture and tradition. We must look at the arguments against the bullfight and see what this fight is, beyond some popular misconceptions.

Question #2 from Senior:

What is your worst “Ahg- Freshmen!!!” story? (And by freshmen I mean everyone who isn’t a Senior)

Veronica’s Response:

Dear Senior,

I would say my “ahg-freshmen!!!” story would be the parking lot situation. I have had a parking pass for both junior and senior years with a parking pass to be able to park in the La Salle parking lot. I know that I should have a parking spot because I have a pass and they do not give away more passes than spots, therefore, when I am late to school, I usually end up having to park in the staff parking lot because someone decides to park on campus without a pass. This applies to the whole student body, not just underclassmen who do not have passes.

Clarice’s Response:

Dear Senior,

My worst “ahg-freshmen!!!” story is sort of a collective opinion that I have developed over the years. I suppose I might even consider it more of an “underclassmen pet peeve” than a story. I have noticed that underclassmen (and sometimes seniors, unfortunately) will crowd the hallways. Before class, right after the bell rings, during passing period… People just stand in the hallway and don’t move. That really bothers me, especially because you think of a hallway sort of like a highway. A fast moving way to get to your destination. The benches, the lockers, all of those are either parking spaces or neighborhood roads where you can meander and idle until you have somewhere else to go. So, my worst story? People who cause a traffic jam in the middle of the halls.

Question #3 from Jackmerius Tacktheritrix:

With all of the controversies coming out of Fraternities and Sororities around the country, is there still honor in joining Greek Life in college?

Clarice’s Response:

Dear Jackmerius Tacktheritrix:

I believe the controversies are incredibly saddening and should prompt reflection and introspection from the members of fraternities and sororities in America. However, the inexcusable actions of one group do not necessarily call for shutting down sororities or fraternities completely.

There has always been (or at least in my memory) a stigma of sororities being “party houses” or simply a place where you “pay for friends”– and obviously, some chapters or houses may partake in a lot of underaged drinking or excessive partying, two things I think are disappointing from any perspective. On the contrary, though, a lot of fraternities and sororities create and maintain lifelong friendships that students would not find anywhere else. They do service, charity work, and fundraising for their local communities. The elected positions within the houses teach democratic values and responsibility. Some houses even require members to maintain adequate (if not excellent) academic standing to maintain membership.

So yes, I believe there is still honor in joining the Greek system. I definitely think there have been some “bad apples” so to speak with groups committing sexual assault, vandalism, etc. over the years, but I believe that if a generation of people who want to abstain from the negatives of Greek life rush these fraternities and sororities, that we may be able to eliminate the negative aspects of Greek-life culture.

Question #4 from Kim Jung un:

In a country that prides itself on freedom, why is there such censorship on television i.e. the FCC? Do you believe the FCC is necessary or should it be taken away?**

Alex’s Response:

Dear Kim Jung un:

The FCC is designed to regulate communications in a way that ensures the best quality product with decent prices. This includes breaking up monopolies such as AT&T, making sure communications companies play fair with their customers, and protecting net neutrality. Where I think they overstep their grounds is when they try to censor content on the internet or television.

You may remember the wardrobe malfunction of the halftime show at Super Bowl 38 that received heated backlash from the public. The FCC fined MTV $550,000 but that fine was later voided in 2011. Many, including myself, consider these types of fines to be government overreach and a clear violation of free speech. I don’t care how offensive it was to viewers; it is not an excuse to censor content. Just because we find something offensive does not give us the right to censor it and I think this even extends to political correctness and words that people find offensive. A huge number of people gave their lives so that we could enjoy free speech, even if it offends. I think regulation is in order but censorship is an evil that I will not tolerate.

Question #5 from Not Ghandi:

Is it possible that at the rates teens are drinking sugary coffee beverages these days, our age group could develop health problems down the road?

Veronica’s Response:

Dear Not Ghandi,

I believe that it does not matter our age group, but the individual. Everyone is different with drinking or not drinking coffee, therefore I think it matters on the type of person and what they do with their lives. Most students at La Salle, even me, get coffee or sugary drinks. Of course, no one should be getting coffee drinks every single day, but it is a choice for the individual. Looking into the future, I think that when people consume drinks or food that are not beneficial to their health, it can or will develop health problems down the road. But this seems to still be a choice on how much you want to consume, not the age group.

Question #7 from Beetlejuice:

PLEASE DO AN ARTICLE ON THE ROAST OF JUSTIN BIEBER?

Veronica’s Response:

Dear Beetlejuice,

I have yet to watch the Justin Bieber roast. I will watch it when I have free time and see what I can come up for an article.