Friday, February 1, 2008

Young Republicans of W.H.S.

Name the most right-wing students at W.H.S... Steven Allard and Beth Caron, two seniors taking AP Government and Politics, probably didn't come to mind. Yet it is these two who are leading a new Republican movement at the school, the second one this year.
But unlike that Radical Republican incident, which was, as Atuyla Prateek puts it, "An attempt to piss people off," the club Allard and Caron are trying to start up just might be...well, legit. See that sign outside Ms. Fredrick's room telling you to vote for McCain? How about that message on Mr. Cresta's chalkboard advertising a meeting of the club in his room?
While other teachers keep their politics to themselves, Mr. Cresta sees no reason to hide the facts. A bonus question on his midyear asked what political party he was affiliated with. This week, he answered the question: not only does he vote Republican, but he donates to their cause.
Naturally, Allard and Caron went to him, their English teacher, to serve as the Young Republicans Club's adviser. He accepted their offer, and the students, with help from fellow AP Government student Edelisse Nelson, started making posters. But this group still faces a hurdle in the middle of the road to legitimacy: Ms. Freedman denied them approval.
That didn't stop the club from holding a meeting at 2:15 Thursday in Mr. Cresta's room. I attended with my notebook, making clear that I was there not to join the club, and certainly not to serve as stenographer. I also told them that the piece would appear not in Spin but on this site. This prompted something of a threat from Beth: "We don't want any slander. We will sue."
The other attendees were all seniors: Rachel Kaye, Elisabeth Hurley, Steve DeCosta, and Jason Parad. With a great turnout and the unexpected bonus of media coverage, the meeting began with the club's co-founders speaking at Mr. Cresta's podium and writing on the chalkboard. The meeting's other attendees felt the need to write on the board as well.
Hurley responded, "We all know how you make money, Beth." This was followed by Parad's writing of profanity on the board, quickly changed by Caron.
Talking with Parad after the meeting, as we both headed to Jazz Ensemble practice, he was under the impression that this was all a joke. I can understand.

But to Allard and Caron, this club is no joke. Mr. Cresta offered some advice to the two, regarding the further legitimizing of this club. He suggested the club members "get in touch with the Wakefield Republican Committee."
"I'll e-mail him [Al Turco, chair of that committee]," Caron assured Mr. Cresta, who said Turco "would be a good one to help."
"I would suggest getting this club some official...paperwork," Mr. Cresta continued.
"You can't be a club without paperwork."
Caron appeared to show a light attitude towards this venture, giggling throughout the speaking and writing.
"We should get tie-dye T-shirts just to mess with people's minds and make them think we're Democrats," she joked.
However, Mr. Cresta seems to see the idea of a Young Republicans Club as much more than a joke. He explained that all the other clubs and extracurricular activities of the school are "recognized by the contract." He told Allard and Caron that if this club becomes an official one, "you wouldn't have to worry about paying the dues."
"Your first step in this quest is to pay this club legitimate."
Mr. Cresta had a few more suggestions to the group's leaders.
"What I would suggest in pitching your club...stress kids getting involved, participating in the political process. They may ask what projects you would do, say you would be working with the Republican Party in Wakefield, learn to appreciate the political process. I would talk to Ms. Landers first."
Allard is confident that Ms. Landers will lend a hand.
"She likes Giuliani because she's a New Yorker."

14 comments:

  1. I'd first like to say that I like the intentions of this group. Political advocacy is a great thing. Now, why didn't Ms. Freedman accept them as a group?

    I don't particularly like the party association. Nowadays, some don't like to be involved in two party politics. Instead of Young Republicans, why don't you guys reach out for a larger audience...Young Conservatives maybe?

    I would definitely come down and check it out. Again, the Republican tag kind of annoys me. Even though I probably agree with most of the Party's views, there is corruption just like any other party.

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  2. I could say some of the things that first crossed my mind when I heard of this, but I wont because I don't think it will make any difference. But here's a suggestion: "Young Libertarian Club" or simply a club devoted for students interested in politics/philosophies, so this way we can see everyone's point of view.

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  3. I think that the Young Republicans of WHS is a fine name Glen. I think naming it Conservatives or something other would just make people have biased opinions. I personally don't mind republicans, I'm just not fond of those who are too conservative.

    Anyway, I think that if there are just republican poster around, that isn't far. There needs to be some sort of representation on the democratic end. There are plenty of views there that many people are for, and against as well. Mainly just ying and yang really.

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  4. A political debate club now that would be something.

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  5. First of all, I strongly do not care what others think. The YRC is all for helping to start a Young Democrats Club. Secondly, if I wanted to call it The Young Conservatives Club I would have done so. Let’s face it, third parties do not get anything done so one should just grow up and realize that Republican is the inevitable way to go. Beth and I will schedule another meeting to discuss the upcoming agenda.

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  6. Yeah, third parties don't get anything done. That's why the Democrats and Republicans in power have used the Green Party's ideas to help the environment. And why do you think it NECESSARY to join a political party?

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  7. Who wants to be linked to a militarist/nationalist/corrupt party? Remember in 1975 when Gerald Ford sold arms and invaded the colony of East Timor? Each party is marred with scandal - past and present. In the end, I will be voting Republican, but why suppress third parties?

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  8. 143 YRC


    chicka chicka yeaaaaaahhhhh

    yeah i be REPPIN yrc!!!

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  9. Well, if you use logic, don't be afraid to, you would realize that the reason why third (independent) parties have not had much effect is simply because the two main parties, Republican and Democrat have far more money and mass media support. American politics is a joke. I will leave all of you with two words: MANUFACTURING CONSENT. Do some research and make your own decisions.

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  10. Whoa, whoa, Chris, calling American politics a joke is a stretch. Sure, there's lots of problems, and I hate the two-party system just as much as you and Glen. But let's put it this way: our system of government is much, MUCH better than Myanmar's.

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  11. The mass media has way too much control, its unreal. And sure if you compare it to other countries it might be better, but if you go by that rational you could also say Mussolini wasn't such a bad guy, sure he killed some people, but not as many as Hitler.

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