Two common cultures hide behind skin tone
By Jordan Thompson Staff Writer Every culture is rich with history and authenticity-they are legacies of humanity, yet are challenging for humanity to understand-especially young adults. It wouldn’t be a surprise for a Hindu student at Coppell High School to walk to her next class while a naïve student considers them Muslim just based off of the color of their skin. “We have all judged and been judged by our skin color,” New Tech High@Coppell junior Jane Gross said. “It is like calling a Korean person Chinese because of their physical similarities.”AP World History educates students about the values, practices and differences between Islam and Hinduism, but it does not change how students look at…
Turkey: The Strongman of Europe
By: Chris Cummins Staff Writer While all the uproar about the rise of Asia has focused on the surging dual giants of India and China, Turkey, the onetime “sick man of Europe”, has seen remarkable strides in the economic realm as well, and has emerged as a bright spot in a Middle East sorely needing one. This is due in no small part to its being a democracy, a proponent of free markets, and a secular Islamist society, in stark contrast to a Middle East known for its fervent adherence to autocracy and religious fundamentalism. This has been the case for many years, at least until recent events seem to have unknot, if not undo…
Mosque at Ground Zero: a testament to religious freedom
By Thomas Hair Staff Writer When the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution in 1787, America was envisioned as the pinnacle of freedom, where one could practice their religion without fear. Now, protestors in New York are challenging that philosophy. The reason for the commotion is because a mosque – a Muslim place of worship – is being planned near what was formerly the site of the World Trade Center. The proposed “Ground Zero Mosque” has provoked much controversy around the country – to the point that a large number of protestors have been parading the streets in the area surrounding the site of the proposed mosque. Many of the protestors defend their views by claiming…
Lecture bridges gap between Islam, teachers
by Mike Pankonien Staff Writer It can be a topic here in post 9/11 America; in a country made up mostly of Christians, knowledge of Islam can be hard to find from those who don’t follow the religion. So what better way to address the issues that spawn from a lack of information than to have an actual scholar of Islam speak on them? On May 11th, a speaker from the Islamic Center of Irving came to speak to an audience of teachers in the library. “Teacher’s have to have 12 hours of professional development hours every year,” teacher Mrs. Caussey said. “It used to be we’d get these during the first week of thanksgiving…
For many athletes, strength comes from the soul
by Blake Seitz Sports Editor Religion, no matter the creed, has the tendency to become entwined in all areas of life, from politics to personal finances. The same holds true for athletics, where faith plays an integral role in a number of things, from strengthening the believer to shaping his or her priorities. The following stories highlight a number of ways religion affects athletes on the playing field. Strength As Coppell’s running back, junior Cam McDaniel embodies physical strength: with a max bench press of 215 pounds and a 40-yard dash of 4.53 seconds, he can run around—or through—just about anyone on the football field. That’s not what makes him strong, though. “God and his…
Students celebrate Ramadan
Video edited by Bayley Zarrehparvar Story by Ellen Cameron The air is warm and sweet with the scent of foreign spices as a rich medley of English and Pakistani words plays as the soundtrack to the gathering and more friends flock to the home, ready to celebrate a feast during Ramadan. Ramadan is an Islamic religious ritual lasting a month in which the participants awaken before the sunrise to eat, and then do not eat or drink again until after the sun has set, over t12 hours later. Families come together at night to pray and break their fast in a traditional meal called iftari, and then rise early the next morning to begin the…