Posted on 04/08/2009 7:31:31 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
SAN DIEGO — Hope is the political message of the moment, courtesy of President Barack Obama.
Tell that to Lincoln High School students Jennifer Astudillo, Sakeenah Shabazz and Alex Velarde, a trio of increasingly polished political activists.
Sakeenah, 16, said hope isn't part of her political equation.
“Always go in prepared for the worst, not with your hopes up,” she said.
What they've displayed instead is persistence, as they've led a group of high school students in persuading the San Diego Unified School District board to shelve campus air-rifle marksmanship programs.
The board confirmed the decision Tuesday, although members eased off a bit and allowed the programs to continue through the end of the school year. In the initial vote Feb. 10, they declared that such programs must cease immediately.
Jennifer, Sakeenah and Alex have attended that meeting and many others since last year, although they're only high school sophomores. Trying to get the attention of elected officials and political candidates has left them seasoned, despite their ages.
Some of the lessons they would like to share:
Keep a poker face, even if someone is taunting you. Strike back and that's the clip that makes the evening news.
Don't rely on your community representative. Your interests may not align.
Politics is always a blame game.
“I learned you cannot necessarily depend on people in power,” said Alex, 15, who took a trip to Sacramento last year to talk to legislators about the state budget. “They just place the blame. It was like, 'Can you please give us an answer – what are you going to do?' ”
The teens are part of a group called the Education Not Arms Coalition, which opposes marksmanship programs because its members believe allowing students any access to guns on campuses contradicts zero-tolerance policies.
The group, which has recruited students from other high schools and middle schools, also believes that allowing the programs to persist shows an insensitivity to students who have seen three peers – from Lincoln, Point Loma and Mission Bay high schools – killed in street shootings over the past two months.
Xavier McGregor, a sophomore at Lincoln High, told the board Tuesday that “the simple symbol” of guns on campus is too much for him to take.
The cause has drawn criticism from Junior ROTC supporters, who have accused opponents of trying not just to eliminate marksmanship but the entire program because of its military affiliation.
Alex, a former ROTC member, said that's not the goal. Yet he; Jennifer, 16; and Sakeenah believe San Diego high schools log more visits from military recruiters than college recruiters. Changing that may be their next campaign.
The sophomores credit one of their teachers, Eduardo Ochoa, with guiding them as they pushed to end the marksmanship program. He's their “receptionist, chauffeur, teacher, friend,” Alex said.
Sakeenah quickly added, “Educator, therapist.”
Ochoa, who taught the three during a freshman social-justice class, said he has stepped out of the way as they put their lessons into practice – picking a cause, creating a plan and building constituencies. He said their poise comes from their experiences, not his instruction.
“They're working,” Ochoa said. “They're part of the democratic process.”
Bang!
Unbelievable.
My country has a death wish.
Fixed it.
Shrug
Generations of pampered brainwashed youth with a public education. I bet this kid could not give you you a single reason why the World Wars were fought or what the Bill of Rights is about. I bet his parents are really proud of what they have raised.
They want marksmanship gone because three of their peers have seen people killed on the streets?
Piece of advice.
Put on you Big Girls Undies and Deal with IT!
I’ve seen alot of my “peers” blown away by ,Muslims, and I can’t get them bannned. The Muslims that is.
You forgot the MAJOR BARF ALERT!
What a sickening article.
There's your problem.
I was on my JROTC rifle team in high school. We used .22’s and several times I was left alone on the range with 30+ rifles and thousands of rounds of ammo. It NEVER crossed my mind to do harm to anyone at anytime with those weapons. The difference in my country in just 20 years is heartbreaking.
Look at the difference between their stances on this issue and sex. On gun issue they are total prohibitionists where it has been shown that proper education and training reduces the incidents of gun related death and injury.
With the other issue they advocate “education and non judgment”. Yet all evidence has shown that approach as led to massive rates of out of wedlock births, and an STD level that could be call epidemic.
By the way, I’m a social studies teacher. Just what the *&^%& is a “social justice” class.
Just the liberals. Someday, it'll make them easier targets...
An alternate, and far more sensible solution to that contradiction would be to eliminate the zero tolerance intelligence polices.
“The sophomores credit one of their teachers, Eduardo Ochoa, with guiding them”
It is now time to start playing hardball with people like Ochoa. I’m tired of these creeps and think we should give them a dose of their own medicine.
“He’s their “receptionist, chauffeur, teacher, friend,” Alex said. Sakeenah quickly added, “Educator, therapist.””
Sounds like brainwashing and I consider that child molestation. Using kids for your own purposes is WRONG.
Is this even legal? Training little commissars in Alinskyist agitprop and letting them loose to spread the joys of chicken-shit zero-tolerance among their peers, whether they want it or not. This whole story has a soviet flavor to it that does not belong in this hemisphere.
Lincoln High School in Brooklyn > Lincoln High School in CA.
I know, I spent 5 years at mine.
“I’d bet a box of crackerjacks”
After BO and WS that’s about all some of us have left. I have to agree with you so both of our boxes are safe.
Marxist Indoctrination.
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