White House Party Crashers

A lot of commotion is going about last weeks White House Dinner on Tuesdays night. Tareq and Michaele Salahi came to the dinner and met a lot of prominent figures, where nobody notice nothing unusual. The only way they were caught was when Michaele posting photos of the dinner on her Facebook page. The Salahi’s were taking pictures with Vice President, Joe Biden and White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emaunel, Washington Mayor Adrian Fently, CBS News anchor Katie Couric, Rep. Ed Royce, and three uniformed Marines. This couple was not even invited to the state dinner. Fortunately, they did not put the President in danger, since they went through the same security as the other guest.

What the Salahi’s did would be put down in history of America as the funniest thing that ever happened during the time of Americas first black president. It does make it seem that anybody could get into any White House event. I believe that they knew somebody from security to get them into the event. Basically, the White House would have never known if Michaele Salahi did not post those pictures on her Facebook page. President Obama should get tighter security if he does not want the risk of this to happen again, but overall very funny.
~L.B.

Michaele and Tareq Salahi

I think Michaele and Tareq Salahi, should both be punish for entering the Prime Minister,s dinner without and invitation and the Secret Service should'nt let them get away with it. William A. Stone

White House Security Not Too Secure?

Since the election of President Barack Obama, it appears that the country has a decreases sense of nationalism. Although the inaguration of America's first African American president has enthused and warmed the hearts of some, many are still unsatisfied with American politics. The media often highlights the petty issues surrounding the Obama Administration by turning them into public scrutiny, instead of focusing on the more pertinent issues at hand. When it comes to the issue of respect for President Obama, it seems that the US lack a lot of it. Take for instance the recent breach of security at the White House with Salahi party crashers. Fame seeking couple Michaele and Tareq Salahi waltzed past security to attend the state dinner with President Obama. Uninvited, they mingled amongst the rich and famous in hopes of gaining more prestige. Now they are apologetic and don't have to pay any consequences for their actions. How is that so? Is it because nothing dangerous happened? I believe that if it had been President Nixon or President Bush or a African American couple instead that this security breach would be taken more serious. Maybe its just me, or maybe it's our law system.
LAHJ

White House Crasher

According to AOL News, A reality TV hopeful (a new house wife on the Bravo networks) and her husband who crashed a presidential dinner met President Barack Obama in the receiving line, Secret Service acknowledged its officers failed to check whether the couple was on the guest list.

This makes me feel, that you don't have to have an invitation to get into a party at the White House. As long as you are dressed nice and friendly, you can get in. Who ever was at the door, should get fire because what if the couple wasn't friendly and had a dangerous weapon that could have harm the other guess or even the President.

The person over the secret service should have a meeting about why the President need them and how important they are to the White House, because after this incident, it seems that they forgot.

This is not the only party the couple has crashed. According to MyFoxDC.com is reporting that the couple also crashed a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation awards dinner in September by sneaking in the entrance meant for bus boys and caterers.

This makes this couple professional party crasher. ~K.Y.B~

WHY ARE THEY HERE....

There has been a rumor that the newest edition to the Real Housewives of Atlanta was caught intruding in the White House. According to CNN,Tareq Salahi said Tuesday he and his wife "did not party-crash" a White House state dinner last week. Well, in my opinion they had no proof that they were invited and secondly, WHY isn't the security on their job. The Obama's are very lucky that anything didn't happen out of the ordinary. I honestly, don't know what the motive of the couple was because their actions reflect a publicity stunt.

There is no reason that they should have even gotten that close to Obama to even shake his hand. I think its stupidity and ignorance that they feel comfortable enough to even show up with their newly brought outfits, with their pretty smiles and their hidden agendas. I just can not get over this whole situation at hand. I feel that people are so desperate for money and attention, trying to get fame anyway they can, they are willing to do anything.

BY: ALEXANDRIA LAMAR

The Sniper: John Muhuammad

From the archive of John Muhammad that Ii read on MSNBC.com I feel that he is inhuman. Inhuman in the sense of him not showing any emotion, and not being emotional at all. After, the deliberation of the jury their decision if I'm not mistaking is the death penalty.
His role in society is very vivid in the aspects of crime and even to the extent of teen violence. I find it amusing that while he is in court he showed no emotion, and I wonder does he even feels the hurt and the influence that he has had. Being that he was a trained shooter, he knew the damage that he can and did do.
But, my personal thoughts on the situation is that I would honestly like to know what was his motive, what made him snap, what happened to him in his past that has followed him and was still haunting him in his adulthood.
I am not able to imagine why someone would do something to such a multitude of destruction but, it has happened, but I question how much longer will it be before it happens again.

LAMAR, ALEXANDRIA

John Allen Muhammad Execution

This mouth John Allen Muhammad was executed because he was the mastermind behind the Washington area sniper, which took place in 2002. He terrorized the nation's capital and with the help of Lee Boyd Malvo,a teenage accomplice.

John Allen Muhammad was pronouns dead at 9:11pm, but Lee Boyd Malvo, the teenage accomplice has a life in prison without parole for killing Linda Franklin.

What John Muhammad did was wrong, but the death penalty is worst. Just because he took away lives, does not give others the right to take away his.

I remember when I was in the 8th grade, Mr. Sanders, my Social Studies teacher told my class about a man who had a life in prison and while he was in prison he painted perfect women body, but sense he had life, he put men faces on the women's body. After he told us that story, he asked the class...what is better, the death penalty or life in prison?

He should have got a life in prison like Lee Boyd Malvo (Muhammad is done with life and don't have to deal with people, but Lee does) because that will give him time to think about what he did to all those people and why he did it. By giving him the death penalty, they gave him away out.

~K.Y.B~

My take on the whole execution of John Allen Muhammad

I remember back in 2002, when I was 15 yrs old in the 9th grade and there was news buzz about a man shooting innocent people in Washington, D.C. Maryland, and Virginia. I am not going to lie, but when I went back to school, my classmates and I would discuss the race of the sniper. Everybody thought that the sniper was a white man, since it only seemed that this race was the only one that could take out the time to comment a heinous crime like that and that the police still haven’t caught him for three weeks. When it was reported that the sniper was finally caught and it turned out to be a black man, my classmates and I were really shocked. We could have sworn that it had to be a white man who was doing all this outrageous shooting.
Looking at the news for those three weeks did anger me a lot. This guy is going around these states shooting people, who were doing their regular daily activities to only have their life taken away by this person whose life was full of failures. What a selfish act. It wasn’t until later that Muhammad was going to serve the death penalty. Muhammad’s accomplice John Lee Malvo, said that Muhammad wanted to use the plot to extort $10 million from the government to set up a camp in Canada where homeless children would be trained as terrorists. But Muhammad's ex-wife has said she believes the attacks were a smoke screen for his plan to kill her and regain custody of their three children. Nobody knows the real truth, since Muhammad won’t tell anybody his reasons. The families of the killed victims were ready for the execution day of Muhammad.
Overall, I believe that Muhammad got what he deserved. Just because he was not happy in his life, does not give him the right to hurt people and cause suffering to others. His act was really selfish. I don’t think he’s had any remorse of what he has done, since he didn’t say why he did those shootings. His accomplice, Malvo should have gotten the death penalty as well, but he was a minor, but having life in prison would suffice.

~L.B.

Something Different for Thanksgiving

The most common thing that comes to mind when 'Thanksgiving' is mentioned is a huge dinner with a big turkey in the middle of the family table. That's what I usually think of when the holidays come around. When I was younger my mom would drive us down to Peachtree and Pine in Atlanta and serve the homeless. This year I am challenging myself to step outside of my comfort zone and my routine of visiting family and friends and give out Thanksgiving dinners this year at The Feed Outreach Center... I am blessed beyond measure and cannot ask God for anything. As a mother, I feel it is time for me to carry the torch that my mother has handed to me.

-Tamika S. Alston

A Holiday Reunion

Every two years, Christmas holdiays is a well anticipated event for my family because my family commemorates to celebrate our family reunion and exchange gifts on Christmas. Family members comes far and near to partake in the joyous occasion. The entire week of Christmas is planned with events leading up to the "big day". We start the week off with holiday shopping for presents and delectables for Christmas dinner. Following a day filled with shopping, we have a fish fry one day and a movie night the next. All week long, my mom and auntees slave away in the kitchen preparing Christmas dinner. While the adults are busy with preparation, its the older children's responsibility to look after the younger members of the family.
With each passing year, a new addition is added to the family and more fuss it made over the new baby. Being with my family is tons of fun, laughs and headaches, all at the same time! I cant wait to see what's expected this year!
LA Holt-Jordan

There's more meaning to Thanksgiving than the usual

Ever since I have been in school, I just could not wait for Thanksgiving break. This break was anticipated every year. School would burn me out and having a week long break was the prescription to my relaxation. Relaxing was not the only think that I was looking forward to during the break. I also looked forward to the FOOD! I LOVE FOOD AND IN PARTICULAR, THANKSGIVING FOOD.

My Favorite dish is my momma's dressing, string beans, collard greens, turkey, Brown Sugar Ham from Honey Baked Ham store, gravy, macaroni, potato salad, yams, cranberry sauce, and tea to drink. For dessert my favorite pie in the world, is sweet potato pie. I loved this pie when I first came out my momma, just playing. This pie is the best when you put vanilla icecream on top, it adds a more fancy look to it, in my opinion. My momma also makes pecan pie, which is my sisters, and dad's favorite but I don't eat that, since I'm allergic to any kind of nuts, but I'm not missing anything anyway. Everything that is prepared for this holiday, i help out in a major way. I stay up cooking with my mom, since she clearly can't do it all herself, she's getting old now, being in your 50's is no joke. We don't have family to come over since, most of our family lives in Mississippi and that is a long drive, but sometimes we go there for Christmas.

Overall, i believe that my mommie is the best cook that has ever lived! I am sure that if anybody tried my momma's cooking they would feel the same way that I feel to say that this is the best food they have ever tasted! Trust me, I am not being bias, its a known fact. To me, Thanksgiving is a prelude to Christmas, in the sense that Thanksgiving prepares people for Christmas as in shopping, food, decorations. Just knowing that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, just gets me ready for my birthday, which is next month. I'll be 22 years old and trust me, I have been waiting for this age to come since I was little. Until then, I going to enjoy the last couple of weeks left that I am 21, so that I can make a smooth transition into my 22nd birthday!!!!

~L.A.B.

Entrance of the Holidays

Thanksgiving is the time to spend with family and friends, but for the most part it's the day to be thankful for life itself. I'm thankful for everything but I would really be more thankful for more time with my family. But I took the responsibility as an adult to support myself and I'll be working during the hoildays.

In my past years I was able to go home to Decatur,Georgia and spend quality time with my mom, brothers, granny, and cousins that would travel from Florida but now Thanksgiving Day is going to be all the time I have designated for fun and food. I wish I could stay a little longer and make the long week break feel like old times but it's time to grow up.

Now I'm a young adult and it's my duty to take care of myself so I could accept and appreciate my Thanksgiving Day to be with my family and return back to work for one of the biggest shopping days of the year, Black Friday. I'll be up bright and early to work, not to shop. There are many sales going on and I hope I at least make a couple, but I do know I'll take this time to work and finish off this semester with a big bang and take my week break during the Christmas holidays.

Life is too short so live life everyday and be thankful!!!!

Marti P.

The "Special" Thanksgiving...

This Thanksgiving is a special one. My uncle, Willie De Moore Billingslea is a commanding officer of his squadron VT-4 of the United States Air Force. My uncle has had much success this year and before he is deported to Iraq, we are celebrating this very special holiday with him. You might ask why is this such a big deal, well with many people serving our country I never thought about how would it personally affect me until my uncle became part of the number. With my uncle being deported we don't know how long he will be there nor do we know the chances of us being able to spend another holiday with him.
Being away at school I am not able to see my family as much as I would like too, and this is the perfect opportunity for me to see all my family in the same setting and to fellowship with them. I'm happy to say that I have learned the true meaning of "family" early instead of later in my life when I am older, to realize that every time you are with your family, you should spend each and every moment as though it's the last.
This Thanksgiving will be a successful one. Luckly, I will be old enough to share with my own family one day, how important holidays are and the gift of family.


Lamar, Alexandria

Thangksgiving at The Bakers

My family and friends come to my house for Thanksgiving, it has been a tradition since 1990.

The week of Thanksgiving is work for my Mom, dad, sister,and me because we have to clean the house from top to bottom. The Christmas decorations are all ready up and the Christmas tree is lit on Thanksgiving night.
My dad and I go to several stores to perchase all the ingredients for our Thanksgiving feast.

When we finally get all the ingredients for the feast, my mother starts cooking, and she doesn't stop until the day of Thanksgiving.

On Thanksgiving day, we have a proximally 38 family members over for dinner and the number continue to grow because my friends from high school come over to enjoy my mother's cooking as well(she's a very good cook).

Before we eat, my dad bless the food that my mother has prepared for the family. After the prayer is done, we form a line, so we can fix our food. While we are eating, we have lovely conversations and some time singing.

After we finish eating, the adults retire to the family room and the young adults come to my room, because I have Dreamcast(video game) or to the computer room.

During this time I love being around my family because in the end, that is all you have.
~K.Y.B~

Midnight Breakfast MADNESS!

For Homecoming 2009 Midnight Breakfast was held in the Woodward Gymnasium due to the amount of students expected. SGA members along with Katy Kash and the Sodeho crew hosted the event. "This is one of our favorite events during this time of year. We were ready!," said Kash. Students attendance was low because the homecoming concert started late and the weather was also a major factor. SGA Co-Director of Student Affairs and Activities, Rha'Nesha Radford was hoping for more students to arrive.
Yes I expected for the breakfast to be ridiculously overcrowded but I also expected it to be in the cafeteria. The venue turned out to be good though. Upon arrival I could hear the music of DJ L-City and Smiley. As I walked in the gym the hallways were packed with all classes and greeks being served. The menu consisted of french toast sticks, eggs, grits, biscuits, and fruit punch. Junior, Jasmee Jackson suggested that the breakfast be more organized like last year and include waffles or pancakes on the menu.
I step foot on the court I headed straight to the dj set but I saw many friends so I stopped to mingle. I saw alot of students participating in tacky day which showed an element of school spirit.
Overall the Midnight Breakfast turned out to be a success. "I enjoyed the entertainment,it was interesting," said freshman Johnnie Williams. DJ L-City on the
1s and 2s made the breakfast the spot to be. Can't wait to see what Homecoming 2010 Midnight Breakfast turns out to be.


-Mar Mar

STOMPFEST 09"

The expense is slowly edging on the anticipation of seeing what the themes and visiting sororities or fraternities have came up this year at the Stompfest. As, always the tickets are costly, the lines are long, and the HPE complex is packed.
All members of the Divine 9 where present and in full affect. The array of colors representing the black and gold of the Alpha Phi Aplha Fraternity, the pink and green of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the crimson and cream of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, the purple and gold of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the red and white of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the blue and white of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, the blue and white of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the blue and gold of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, and the brown and gold of the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity.
As the music begins the crowd is hyped by P.J. Peterson with the newest hit
"Turn't Up" by Travis Porter. Instead of going by each sorority and fraternity I'm just going to give my views on each performance.
The Alphas of Fort Valley State University did amazing as they took over the attention of the crowd. The performance was very entertaining. I am not surprised that the men of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity showed up and showed out. I think that their inspiration they took from the show America's Best Dance Crew was brilliant.
The Sigma Gamma Rho's of Fort Valley State University really didn't surprise me. Before the performance I'm anxious to see what happens. It starts off a little slow, but as I expected not one of my favorite performances nor was it the crowds favorite, there was so much disrespect as far as movement, talking, being disruptive as they were performing that it was kind of disengaging from my prospective if I was performing because you feel nobody is interested.
The Sigmas from FAMU, came and took over the stage as well they were well coordinated and all of them were confident, they did a wonderful job in representing their school and their fraternity.
The Deltas from Clark Atlanta University, in Atlanta came and brought the heat to Fort Valley. Originality and confidence was not a question for these ladies.
The Omega Psi Phi of Fort Valley State performance was confusing, but they did represent. The Iota's, Zeta's and Kappa's represented well also.
I enjoyed Stompfest 09'. I'm excited to see what these talented groups come up with next year.

BY:LAMAR, ALEXANDRIA