Harry Potter vs. Twilight

In 1998, we were introduced to J.K. Rowling’s first installment of her seven-part Harry Potter series. Since the debut of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” fans have memorized spells and fallen in love with the characters, good and bad. Last summer, the final book of the series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” was released. Even though the last three movies are still to come, many Potterheads are left with an empty feeling, like the Harry Potter craze is coming to a close. Rowling has produced a great work for our generation to grow up with.

For some, this is where Stephanie Meyer’s “Twilight” series steps in. Her novels target our age group, like Rowling’s novels did. “Twilight” gives us an escape from the reality and stresses of high school and new heroes to believe in. All four novels in the series have been New York Times bestsellers.

The first film in the series, “Twilight,” made almost $70 million its opening weekend, according to IMDB.com, the Internet Movie Database. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” the first movie of that series, earned over $90 million its first weekend in 2001.

Web sites like Fanpoop.com feature blogs and fan videos comparing “Harry Potter” to “Twilight.” Since “Twilight” the film came out in November, there have been countless discussions — some very harsh — about topics ranging from which series is better organized to which author is more eloquent to which leading guy is the hottest. Many fans feel as if the war between the Potterheads and Twilighters is uncalled for.

What do YOU think?

— By Angela Clark | VOX Staff

Hate Crimes Hit Local Jewish School

The Epstein School in Sandy Springs has been vandalized twice this school year – swastikas were painted on campus grounds. These horrible incidents hit close to home for me as an Epstein alum. Not only is Epstein physically close to my current high school, I still know kids who go there. No one knows who committed this atrocious hate crime, but I believe that it is someone who is ignorant and does not understand the horrible power of the swastika and what it means to our people.

As Jewish students attending religious school, we were always taught about the Holocaust, Nazism and Hitler’s plan to wipe out the Jews, but none of it ever felt real. We saw textbook pictures and heard survivors recount tales, but we never thought that the same demoralizing symbols used then would be brought before our eyes now. I was sure the passing of time had changed the world and people’s views of Jewish people.

The appearance of the swastikas near Epstein, however, made it clear that there are still people out there who have hate in their hearts and are not afraid to put it out there for the public to see. To say such a thing was unexpected would be a severe understatement. In this age when we’d like to think that everyone is open minded, I was taken aback that an act of vandalism of this magnitude would be committed.

Such hate crimes do not just affect the students at Epstein. Not only did Epstein’s elementary and middle school students have to face the horror and shame of seeing the swastikas branded near their school property, their families and friends had to feel the shock of such an act reverberate throughout our community. We all shared their disbelief and anger.

It should be known to all Epstein students, faculty and families as well as the entire Jewish community around Atlanta, that the VOX family is not only supportive in this time of unrest, but has and will continue to advocate for an atmosphere and environment against hate and prejudice of any kind. There is no justification for such acts, no matter the circumstances.

— Yasmeen Malik | VOX Staff

Now What? Clayton Schools Lose Accreditation

Dry. Too dry. I needed water, lots of water. Lost it? How? 

I couldn’t believe that Clayton County had lost its accreditation. I had been told for so long that we wouldn’t, so this was like a kick in the stomach. I remembered back about six months ago when the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SACS, told us that we had until September 1st to straighten up our act, or it would be bye bye accreditation. 

My head began to ache as I held back tears. A huge lump filled my throat. I covered my face with my jacket to hide my true emotions. I replayed the scene in my head. 

Monica’s mouth moved slowly as the words flowed from her lips: “We lost accreditation. Man, I don’t wanna go to Fayette!” 

I said nothing. I was utterly speechless. I felt like I was in a Charlie Brown episode as my biology teacher, Mrs. Hutson, tried to explain what would happen to us. Her words were like a stick trying to penetrate a solid brick wall. 

Water, I needed water. I felt like I was drowning in sand. I had to get out.

My thirst was quenched when the bell rang for fifth period. I didn’t feel safe going to French II; I knew a mini riot would form in the small trailer. I needed answers. I was confused about why my principal, Dr. Young, wasn't announcing what had happened like he promised. I learned later that the county had put a “gag” on the administration. They also restricted Internet and TV usage. They were supposedly trying to keep the students under control. 

To avoid the French Revolution that was bound to happen, I went to the tech lab, mostly so I could call my mom, who works in the counselor’s office. She tried to reassure me that everything would be OK and that Governor Perdue was trying to fix it. Did it really matter? My thirst returned, and this time I felt fire instead of sand.

Rage flooded my body. Fire began to burst through my veins. It angered me how every adult promised that it was going to be OK, but their promise was never fulfilled. I was not even angry now about our accreditation. I was angry that the adults were still making promises that they knew they could not keep. How dare they say that it would be all right when they had no idea? 

After fury, I felt grief. Most of my friends would be leaving soon, and I would be stuck in my high school without the only people keeping me sane. 

I then was overwhelmed with confusion. They said that we were only losing our accreditation temporarily. What did that mean? It seemed like the adults were trying to make this seem more complicated than it actually was. Why can’t the adults just look us in the eye and tell us the truth, the plain old truth? That we are screwed!

—Raven Hathcock | VOX Staff and Riverdale High junior.

What are you hearing or not hearing about Clayton County Schools, and what do you think of it?

A Weapon of Rape in Darfur

Place yourself in a Sudanese teenager’s shoes. You are a 16-year-old girl who has been forced to abandon her village and separate from her family. Finding food is a struggle, and every day you risk being captured, raped or killed by armed militiamen. Many teenagers are raped multiple times by militiamen while running errands, like collecting firewood, humanitarian relief workers in Sudan said in a CNN article. Rape victims in Darfur are as young as 4 years old, but millions of others have been affected by the crisis. “It's the scene of the world's worst humanitarian crisis, the biggest U.N. aid operation and the 21st century's first genocide,” reports CNN.

Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir was charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in mid-July with war crimes, ordering genocide and crimes against humanity. This decision was considered a big step to help the people of Darfur; however, not everyone is happy with it. Many Sudanese and peacemakers fear that arresting President Bashir could destroy peace efforts and even plunge the country into civil war. President Bashir continues to deny his involvement in any crimes happening in his country.

Unspeakable horrors have been happening in Sudan since 2003, yet many of us continue to go on with our lives like genocide isn’t happening in that corner of the world.

There are many things teens can do:
1. Educate yourself about Darfur. Don’t know where to start? Click here.
2. Raise awareness. Start a humanitarian group at your school.
3. Fundraise for the Genocide Intervention Network.

Click here for more ways to take action.

- Chernail Arnold | VOX Staff

Obama “Won.” So, Now What?

Summer is a tedious time for me; I find myself either preposterously busy or swamped in boredom. When I was suffering from acute boredom Tuesday night (after reading almost every political update on the New York Times Web site), I decided to mosey on down to Hillary Clinton’s Web site and see what was there. For those of you who don’t know, Hillary basically lost the Democratic bid Tuesday, and I wanted to know what her supporters had to say about it. Lud! How I rue my decision now.

What I saw was depressing. I saw so many people who were planning not to vote, or worse, to vote for McCain. I can’t understand this at all. Did Democrats know that having two incredibly strong candidates would rip the party apart?

The reason why women are so angry is because they projected themselves onto Hillary Clinton; I can understand that. We’ve never had a candidate who wore a pantsuit before, let alone a bra. But we have to remember something: anger and hatred can only get us so far. If all the Hillary supporters vote for McCain, Obama will lose, and Hillary will lose favor with the DNC. By doing this, they are dooming their favored candidate down the line.

So, say McCain wins. In four years, where will we be? (Other than Iraq, that is. Perhaps Iran.) Hillary is still young. In four years, she can run again, but we have to remember that we are a party, and that unity is key. Hillary supporters swallow your pride and wait your turn. The party needs your votes to win.

This is a year when people want something new. We want a change, even if we don’t know where it will take us. We know where we’ll be headed with McCain and Hillary, but Obama, untested and without baggage, is new. We can’t see the future until we’ve been there. In November, I want to go there, and I’ll be pissed as hell if the Lady in the Pantsuit holds me back.

- Willamae Boling | VOX Staff

Akon Lies about Criminal Past?

Violence, sex, money, jewelry, the ‘gangsta’ mentality and women are a big part of today’s hip-hop culture. Not all hip-hop music is negative or explicit, but let’s be honest, sometimes the song lyrics are simply obscenities put to a good beat. It seems, to be a famous rapper, an artist has to have a negative street image and a criminal record to get respect and be acknowledged as real. Akon has sold more than 10 million copies of his two albums worldwide and bettered himself by allegedly telling lies about his criminal past.

In April, The Smoking Gun published an article that called out the hip-hop/R&B singer for lying about being a ringleader in a 1998 car theft operation and spending four and a half years in prison. According to the article, Akon’s “claims about his criminal career and resulting prison time have been, to an overwhelming extent, exaggerated, embellished, or wholly fabricated.” The article also states that even though Akon has been arrested several times, he has only been convicted of one felony charge for gun possession. He was also convicted of stealing a BMW and was held in DeKalb County Jail for several months before being released with all charges dropped.

I’ve been wondering why Akon has felt the need to tell white lies to make it big in the industry. The Smoking Gun reports that as part of a marketing plan, Akon has filled his music with the kind of lyrics he thinks listeners want to hear. Frankly, I feel the truth always has the upper hand. He doesn’t have to lie to sell records. Just be real. When listeners appreciate music that tell harsh stories, it’s because the person rapping is telling the truth about the hard life he or she has experienced and might be using his or her life experiences to connect with people. Let's face it: no one likes to be lied to. By not telling the whole truth, I’m sure Akon has let down his fans and may have even given some of us a reason to dislike him.

From his first platinum-selling album “Trouble” to his latest “Konvicted,” Akon’s music has glorified prison and criminal life, as if being locked up in a cage like an animal is appealing. Akon has even taken his convict swag so far as to name his label “Konvict Music.” I don’t see why people go to jail and come out like they have gone to college and accomplished something. When I first think of Akon I instantly get the image of him in a video with handcuffs singing, "I'm locked up/They won't let me out," and I hear the loud closing of prison doors. I believe he portrays this negative self-image to be accepted in hip-hop culture and to get respect from rappers. But I don’t think anyone should lie just to be accepted.

It also bothers me that music promoting negativity gets more publicity than music with positive, uplifting lyrics. I’m not saying all music has to be filled with happy faces and rainbows, but when negativity is constantly uplifted, it really bothers me.

Why can’t more rappers be like Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Common, Leela James or other artists who send good messages through their music? If there were more positive messages, I think hip-hop would be a much better genre. Maybe then hip-hop would get its good name back, and people wouldn't blame the genre for some of society’s problems, like drug abuse and the disrespect of women.

When artists like Akon lie about their past to seem cool and send messages that stealing and being locked up are admirable when they’re not, it’s not cool. Artists are always referring to how much they love their fans because the fans make them who they are. I sometimes wonder if the fans are knowledgeable of some of the artists they are creating.

- By Deranda C. Butler | Special to VOX


We want to hear you! Do you think artists need to bear more responsibility and keep it real? Or is lying OK for the sake of the music? Let us know your thoughts!

Obama vs. Clinton (A Disaster for Liberals Like Me)

We are all aware (and sick) of the blood battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and I for one want it to end.

The fact is that while Clinton and Obama (yes Clinton haters, the insults have been coming from both sides) have been doing their best to bring each other down and tear the Democratic party to pieces, John McCain has had the chance to rise above this mayhem and show himself as a strong upstanding presidential leader. Obama and Clinton have shown themselves as at best, unfit for the office, and at worst, two bratty, immature 5 year olds.

Maybe I’m being harsh. It’s just that I’ve been waiting a long time for a democratic candidate who actually has a chance of winning.

As a donkey-loving liberal, the thought of a republican in office for four more years scares the sh*# out of me. And yet that seems to be what everything has come to. If they can’t unify their own party, how will Clinton or Obama have a chance against the Arizona senator who is trying to gather bipartisan support?

For a democrat to have a fighting chance, the primaries must be resolved quickly. But the question is who should democrats rally behind? Since Obama and Clinton are very similar when it comes to policy, what’s more important is who has a better chance of winning in November.

Honestly, after the North Carolina primaries, Clinton doesn’t have a chance of winning unless a miracle occurs. Whether or not she should drop out is subject to debate, but in my mind, there’s only one viable candidate in the democratic primaries.

I won’t lie; I’m not crazy about Obama. He has shortcomings when it comes to experience. His speeches discuss hope and dreams and fluffy things more often than not (though I’m happy that he’s starting to tackle the issues a bit more, and I was truly impressed by his speech about race). But he has something that Clinton doesn’t. He has the ability to inspire a crowd. He can get the new generation of voters excited about casting their votes for him. Clinton, for all her strength and “experience,” is far too polarizing to win a general election.

So my vote for Obama is based on calculation rather than pure passion. I want this fight between democratic candidates to end soon. I’m definitely ready for a strong democrat in the White House. Let’s hope that Obama shows more promise and presidential behavior as the race continues and that there are people more passionate about him than I am.

– Isha Mitra | VOX Staff