EDITORIAL

North Pointe – Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018 – 3

EDITOR'S DESK
Stamina over size: my height and sports
NORTH POINTE
SYEDA RIZVI

MY TURN
COLIN DUFFY
“Grosse Pointe Public School administrators and teachers
Throughout my life, I have been under-
are responsible for encouraging and ensuring freedom sized. In sports, size plays a key role and
of expression and freedom of the press for all students, being small is almost never a benefit. In
regardless of whether the ideas expressed may be seventh grade, I played third string running
considered unpopular, critical, controversial, tasteless or back for my football team. Every chance I
offensive.” got to touch the ball I was hit only a few sec-
BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY
onds later. Play after play I was destroyed,
and afterwards I could hear some people in
Syeda Rizvi Michael Hartt Emily Widgren the stands murmuring and laughing. These
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PAGE EDITOR PAGE EDITOR experiences motivated me to utilize my size
Sofia Ketels Abi Murray Hannah Zalewski and since that season I feel whenever I play
MANAGING EDITOR STAFF REPORTER PAGE EDITOR sports, I have something to prove. I believe
Maggie Carron Amelia Nowicki what one lacks in size can be made up in
PAGE EDITOR Adam Schwartz
PAGE EDITOR STAFF REPORTER hard work and dedication.
Arzoo Chhaya My past football season, I was pulled up
PAGE EDITOR to varsity as a sophomore. As the smallest
Our editorial represents the opinion of the North Pointe on the roster in weight and height, I had
Editorial Board consisting of the editors above. Members to adjust from playing people my own age
who have a conflict of interest with an editorial topic do not that were bigger than me to playing juniors
partake in that meeting or vote. and seniors that towered over me. The first
few times I tried tackling the other team
I wrapped up at the waste. Each time I
bounced off the ball carrier, I had to learn
a new technique of tackling, which was to
go lower at the shins and ankles of the op-
ponent. Hitting the ball carrier below the
shins is a huge advantage as a smaller play-
er. I utilized my speed and size to hit the
offensive players lower than usual and make
cleaner tackles.
Typically in basketball, the power for-
ward is usually played by the tallest play-
ers on the team. PFs are matched up with
the opposing teams’ tallest players, and
their job is to grab rebounds off the glass
AMELIA NOWICKI
and guard the tallest on the opposite team.
In my final year of basketball, I started at
PF as one of the smallest on our roster. I
used my speed and strength to dominate the
OUR EDITORIAL
rebounding category every game. I took ad-
vantage of my size in basketball by being
more physical and aggressive than everyone
on the f loor which gave me an edge over
everyone else on the court.
Everyone knows the typical cliche “heart
over height” saying, but not everyone knows
the living proof of this statement. Today,
multiple professional athletes prove my
theory. Houston Astros second baseman
José Altuve is the reigning National League
Most Valuable Player and stands 5 feet 6
inches tall. Altuve launches home runs 400
feet despite his height and weight. Captain
of the Argentinian National soccer team,
Lionel Messi is amongst the best soccer
players in the world. With nearly 600 ca-
reer goals, Messi lies in the Top 10 for most
career goals. Muggsy Bogues, the shortest
player ever to play in the NBA stood 5 feet
3 inches and weighed in at 135 pounds, and
thrived in a sport where it’s a huge benefit
to be tall. Atlanta Hawks alumni Spud Webb
measures 5 feet 7 inches tall. Spud is the
shortest player ever to win the NBA Dunk
Contest. These athletes prove that size
doesn’t matter if you have the willingness
to overcome it.
Each of these professionals serve as
motivation for those who work to achieve
greatness regardless of their height. They
provide a goal for young athletes who may
not be confident with their size, and act as a
model for them to work towards.
In the lives of many, size can jeopardize
our opportunities in things like sports, but
only for those who don’t work to overcome it.
The flaw in
our system
Healthcare is no longer
what it should have been. It has
become a motive for acquiring
wealth, transforming a concept
of love and care into a sickly
game of politics and power. The
fact that only affluent people
have the privilege of living long,
healthy lives defeats the concept
of a universal, moral healthcare
system, ignoring the quite large
population of those struggling
to survive. They are given no
attention because of something as
trivial as their empty pockets.
We need to determine whether
human beings, regardless of
age, gender or socioeconomic
status, should be given not the
opportunity, but the right to a
prosperous, healthy life. It really
is not a difficult choice to make.
Declining the right to healthcare
is equivalent to denying the ability
to live. According to the Harvard
Gazette, nearly 45,000 people
die annually because they cannot
afford life-saving treatments,
and over the past two decades,
healthcare has cost the lives of
17,000 children because, for them,
staying alive was unaffordable.
What could be worse than
watching your life drain itself away
because you cannot afford to live,
afford to pay for the treatments
of an illness you did not ask for?
What feeling could be worse than
watching someone you love suffer
in agony, knowing there is nothing

Living up to our YOUR TURN: you can do to help them? That the
reason for their pain is something
What is your as trite as a lack of bills? Healthcare

Constituion opinion about

is treated as a political issue, where
the significance of earning money
is placed above human lives. We
Something as basic as restroom signs may not have forgotten the humanity it is
seem like a big deal to you. The gender separation the bond? Do based upon. There are too many
signs clearly marked ‘male’ and ‘female’ have instances where people talk about
been there since we were born. They are signs we the time they lost their mother,
have always followed, but this obvious distinction you support the daughter, father or son to an illness;
of genders can make some people extremely “I feel like we shouldn’t People who aren't voting are times where death could have been
uneasy. Why? Because of the unequal treatment raise taxes on people. idea of raising usually those with no kids so prevented if only the materialism
of transgender Americans. This has been fur ther Some of them, their kids they don't want their money of money hadn’t overpowered
exemplified by President Donald Tr ump’s possible don't even go to Grosse taken away. They should help every other aspect. Healthcare
new bill that would require individuals to identify Pointe, so the taxes would
ta xes or not as it's important to have good is not a luxury, but a necessity of
only as the gender that they were born into, be raised even if none of education, supplies and a good life. To deprive anyone of this is
which would create ter rible complications for the their kids go here.” and why? school.” nothing less than monstrous.
transgender community in America. Faith Demaray Nia Crutcher It is the time to take a stand
If put into law, this bill should under no FRESHMAN By Leo Peck JUNIOR against the sycophants of America
circumstance pass. It shouldn't even be a INTERN and advance towards a society
consideration to begin with, because it creates where everybody is prioritized.
overwhelming hardships. Free healthcare is something this
Why does it seem like the more we go on, the nation should be striving towards.
more we turn our backs on the Constitution? Every The Declaration of Independence
American, regardless of race, religion or sexual is something we all hold very
orientation has the right to seek their own pursuit of close to our hearts. It is one of
happiness, whatever that may be. President Trump is the roots that America was built
planning on taking away a person’s choice of gender, upon, stating that all Americans
who they are, and forcing people to relinquish their have certain unalienable rights,
right to choose their identity. and the very first one listed is
However, the reality is that if this bill does not end “Life.” Denying people access to
up going through, the struggles of the transgender healthcare and treatment is the
community are far from over. For instance, we can same as robbing them of a right
already see how this would affect students at school. that has been secured for them
When all students take the PSAT/SAT, or any form centuries ago and for centuries to
of standardized testing. These tests only lists two “I'm in support of raising “I’m still undecided, but, I “That money will go to much come. America is a country where
genders for students to pick from. Transgender students taxes because I think believe we need to update needed repair improvement every man, woman, and child has
can’t express who they are. If students can check the benefits outweigh our schools and make them in the district with aging an equal right of obtaining life,
multiple boxes for ethnicities, then there should at the the negatives for the safer. We need to support our infrastructure that really liberty, and happiness. We cannot
very minimum be an additional box labeled “other,” environment and society.” schools, but go about it in a needs the upgrade to keep live in a country of hypocrisy
so nobody feels unrepresented. It would allow for less costly way to taxpayers.” up with other... schools." that denies human beings their
transgender students to express themselves as who unalienable rights. We must work
they see themselves as, not as a gender they have never Ava Stander Mrs. Figurski Barry Mulso towards attaining a system of
identified with. SENIOR STAFF SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER healthcare that can treat everyone
This shouldn’t matter now. There have been who needs it. We must speak up
countless opportunities over the years for new rules now to save lives.
to be put into place about this topic. Trump is only Though this is at a national
worrying about the impact it will have on him in EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Comments should be directed to the student level, we need to begin locally.
office, and if this bill doesn't pass it could ultimately Syeda Rizvi editors, who make all final content decisions. The This starts by reevaluating who
lead to his downfall. He’s trying to appeal to his party views expressed are solely those of the authors we are and what we prioritize.
MANAGING EDITOR: or the student editorial board and do not reflect
and allow his base to grow as midterm elections near. Sofia Ketels the opinions of the Grosse Pointe Public School Change will only go to the national
Trump is trying to gain back support from his System. level if people begin to show the
party and accumulate more individuals in favor of BUSINESS MANAGER: need for it
supporting him and his views. With midterm elections Jordan Craighead We are a member of the Michigan Scholastic It starts at home.
coming up, he is attempting to regain conservative Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Yes, we do need to do the obvious
WEBMASTER: Association, National Scholastic Press Association
followers. He does not want to lose followers, which Brooklyn McWhorter and Student Press Law Center. We subscribe things of getting word out,
could ultimately be a factor leading to his loss of to McClatchy-Tribune Information Services and acknowledging that this healthcare
power or possible impeachment. Trump simply wants PAGE EDITORS: iStockphoto.com. system is flawed, but it needs to
more voters and is using this bill in order to have Maggie Carron, Arzoo Chhaya, Michael Hartt, have a personal effect as well. We
Adam Schwartz, Emily Widgren, Hannah Zalewski One copy is available free to all community
more people side with him. need to realize that money only
members. Additional copies may be purchased.
Anybody should be allowed to express themselves STAFF REPORTERS: Our editorial policy and advertising rates are has so much importance. It makes
within reason. Not only does this allow them to Abi Murray, Amelia Nowicki available online at northpointenow.org. The North the world go round, but personal
be happy, but it enforces the Constitution. If this Pointe is printed on 100% recycled paper. gain should be prioritized far, far
bill passes, it helps no one. Instead, it would create INTERNS: Giacobi Bush, Niklas David, Colin below our humanity. This constant
CONTACT US
complications and add on to the discrimination Duffy, Kylie Duke, Farrah Fasse, Ray Hamilton, 707 Vernier Road need for money and material
transgender people face on a regular basis. The pursuit Ray Jason, Julia Magnan, Leo Peck, Victoria Grosse Pointe Woods MI, 48236 items is what takes out the beauty
of happiness should always be in place and this goes Wittenberg Email: gpnnorthpointe@gmail.com of living. Our healthcare system
Phone: 313.432.3248
against what individuals who are transgender live for. Twitter: @TheNorthPointe should be a lesson that: no matter
The North Pointe is edited and produced by
The Trump administration must acknowledge this. We Advanced Journalism students at Grosse Pointe Website: northpointenow.org what you can gain for yourself,
all need to be setting goals to help accept all kinds North High School and is published every two something as critical as a human
FACULTY ADVISER: Allison Dunn
of people, regardless of who they are and what they weeks. It is in practice a designated public forum life should always remain on
believe in. without prior review. a pedestal, far, far above the
materialism of anything else.