In honor of the upcoming holiday season, today I’m discussing two of my favorite holiday songs: “Elf’s Lament” by the Bare Naked Ladies (BNL) and “Can I Interest You In Hannukah?” of Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart (yes the political talk show hosts). The first is one of my favorites because it’s funny, pensive and sung by the enormously talented and awesome Bare Naked Ladies. The second is one of my favorites because it’s hilarious, a little non-politically correct (PC) and representative of two different winter holidays, both of which I celebrate to some extent.
Seeing as this is my last column before Thanksgiving, I’ve decided to write about what I’m thankful for right now. I think the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” at least the chorus of it, is particularly relevant.
After picking up a win on Friday night against the University at Albany, UNH clinched its fourth straight America East regular season title. They continued their hot play Sunday, as they defeated Binghamton in the regular season finale three sets to one.
Last Monday, I didn’t think I’d be sitting here still dumbfounded by the election of “Celebrity Apprentice” star and billionaire “populist,” Donald Trump to the White House. I wasn’t completely secure in thinking that Hillary Clinton would win, but pretty confident. Like 80 to 90 percent. So I am sitting here, wondering where this country can go next and it is terrifying. The actuality of a Trump presidency has become more and more looming as we hear about what Trump is planning on doing. What we don’t hear is certainly the most important. In an era when the mainstream media was what fed us this presidential monster, we must remain vigilant in not letting this cartoonish villain destroy the country.
In the aftermath of a controversial election, one that brought to the surface and produced a lot of hatred and anger on all sides, it’s important to take a deep breath, forgive and move on. A lot of people have said that they don’t recognize America right now, but I do. This country has survived through 44 presidents, and just over two centuries. I have no doubt that we will continue to persevere through, no matter what next comes our way. I’ve seen a lot of people placing blame and that’s not what an election should be about. Whatever you’re doing, whomever you voted for, as long as you’re doing your best to do what you consider right, that’s something to be proud of. That’s why I’m discussing the song “Something To Be Proud Of” by Montgomery Gentry today.
President Obama visited campus on Monday to campaign for Hillary Clinton. For the entirety of the 2016 presidential race, Obama has been constantly reminding Democrats and independents who support him and his policies that Clinton must be elected to carry on his legacy. He was right. For all of his failures as president, Obama passed some of the most progressive legislation of the last 50 years and worked both internationally and right here in the U.S. to fight climate change, the most pressing issue of our time. All of that is now lost.
Today marks the beginning of a new era for me. Until yesterday, I felt lucky to have never experienced blatant, overt racism firsthand. However, watching CNN’s coverage of the election results early Wednesday morning, as I saw state after state endorse an agenda built on bigotry and fear mongering, I felt the deep pang of true injustice hit me for the first time in my 21 years.
Annie Get Your Gun: another musical comedy to die (laughing) for! The over-exaggerated superficial love and competing business stories of this film and Broadway show are hilarious throughout and extremely entertaining. In fact, the childish tone of the song, “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better” shows the more superficial aspects of some competition, even in the adult world. In real life, we might not use those words, or react in the such dramatic ways to some of the show’s situations, but the basis for our behavior is there.
If on Nov. 28, I mean Nov. 8, Donald Trump loses the 2016 presidential election, there will first be calls to end voter fraud or declarations that the election was fixed, and then Trump will build his alt right media empire. For more than a year now, Trump has been completely manipulating the media to his advantage. Whether it is streaming his Mussolini-like speeches without interjection from media fact checkers, or CNN hiring his ex-campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, the mainstream media has failed miserably at stopping the most out of control candidate to ever run for the White House.
The past few days I’ve been sick. With classes bearing down on us, homework getting more abundant and stressful all the time, the commencement of the annual plague, and the pressure to join clubs or work until there are no holes in your schedule, it’s difficult to have a positive attitude. It can seem like each day we start out on the wrong side of the bed, put our worst foot forward, and remain in the same depressed state until we collapse into bed at the end of a trying day. My go-to song to lift my spirits never fails to give me some perspective, and a little more spring in my step.
Starting college means starting a life where your path and direction are unpredictable. The people you meet over the four years you’re on campus will start to shape your life and change you, sometimes for the better, but sometimes for the worst. College relationships are more adult-like than anything one could experience in high school. Sharing the freedoms of being independent with someone else is new territory for most students and can be wonderful, but slightly overwhelming. Now, there are no parents or school counselors to monitor behavior and becoming trapped in an abusive relationship can easily go unrecognized.
Think back to “spirit days” in primary and secondary school. The excitement of getting dressed up, walking in the halls and feeling the electric energy bounce through the corridors. The anticipation for the big game and pep rally distracting your brain in math class; memories of school spirit are some of the best.
One of the best parts about college is that a student’s schedule is mostly made up of personal interests. After declaring majors and minors, with the exception of the required discovery courses, classes are tailored to a student’s strengths and talents. It is often the case that after a student completes the required arts credit, that student will never again attend a UNH arts event. We at The New Hampshire think that’s a trend that should change.
As a senior, the first thing I have truly realized, and it dawned on me just recently, is how fast my time here at the University of New Hampshire has passed. I can remember rather vividly, with nostalgia and angst for the future, moving into my freshman year dorm room. It was horribly hot out and I had so many things to move in, not understanding how small my room was going to be. I had mixed feelings of anticipation and dread. These were momentous times. No more parents to tell me to do homework or to find a group to join. Teachers weren’t going to be there for me every step of the way. No bells to dismiss me from class. No knowledge of where to go and who everybody was. That feeling of anxiety over something so serious and new held onto me for a little while, but eventually we all learn to adapt and survive. It’s learning how to survive in an active and positive way that really makes the difference.
President Obama was the first sitting American President to visit the Island of Cuba since Calvin Coolidge in 1928. It really goes without saying that this is not because of some odd coincidence that past presidents of the freest nation on Earth have chosen to skip over the island throughout history.
"Grade 9,” by the Barenaked Ladies, is a song that was released in the early 1990s and is all about first impressions and the crazy whirlwind that is high school.
Solutions by The State News
