First Place: Princess Walsh

First Place: Christmas Songs by Princess Walsh (Grade 12)

Picture you and your family or a loved one sitting by the fire, drinking hot chocolate, reminiscing over previous Christmas eves: children anxiously waiting for Santa Claus to appear, leaving the milk and cookies on the table, stockings hung over the fireplace, the Christmas tree lit with enough lights to power New York. Remember those ye olde Christmas carols you used to sing, and how they never die?

Remember when you were "dreaming of a white Christmas"? Or couldn’t wait for Santa Claus to be "coming to town"? Or those "chestnuts roasting on an open fire"? Christmas caroling was a good way to show your holiday spirit. And Christmas songs never die out. They are "reinvented," or to use more updated slang, "remixed." Just when you thought "Jingle Bells" was played out, an artist like Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, or even 50 Cents revives it.

However, there are times you hear that one Christmas song that you just can’t stand. What do you do? I simply wait for it to be over and hope the next Christmas carol is in my "top five." During those horrible five to seven minutes, Christmas songs are much, MUCH longer than regular songs. I plan my wedding, decide on what to eat for dinner that night, or even that entire week. I make weekend plans, count to one thousand, say the alphabet front and backwards ten times, and once my headache settles down after the second verse of "Drummer Boy," I go into a mental hibernation and wait for "Silent Night" or "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" to make its way into the caroling rotation.

I love the upbeat melodies. They make the Christmas season seem endless. Once you hear "you better not shout, you better not cry" or "dashing through the snow," you cheer up and get into a holiday mood that you just can’t shake. Even the calm of "Silent Night" or "White Christmas" just might bring a tear to your eye. ‘Tis the season . . . for Christmas music. What’s ye favorite olde Christmas tune?

Second Place: Hip-Hop Culture by Candice Howcott (Grade 12)

Many African-Americans, including Stanley Crouch and Bill Cosby, have recently written criticism of hip-hop culture, saying that it demeans women, glorifies a criminal lifestyle, and promotes very poor, superficial values. I agree with their criticism. However, I do not believe that the issue is just black and white. I feel that there are some grey areas.

Hip-hop culture may be most influential to young people, including my generation. I acknowledge that the topics most rappers write about are not positive. I definitely agree that they demean not only women but the African American race. Rappers and hip-hop figures should be more conscious of the message they are sending to their fans and audience. The more rappers use the "N" or "B" word, the more they teach that it’s okay to use these words. Right now the majority of rappers promote criminal lifestyles. I feel that this influences younger children the most. For example, I work at an after-school program which many African American children attend. Last week a few boys were playing and rapping about the violent things they could do to each other. I believe they picked this up from the hip-hop culture.

Although hip-hop culture has its faults, people should not blame it for all our problems. When the boys were rapping about negative things, I told them to stop, and I started singing another song with them. When negative songs are sung, people need to step in and show young people what is right and what is wrong. If adults spent more time showing the next generation what is appropriate, then we would not have to worry about a rapper teaching them the wrong things. My family has always taught me that using the "N" word is not cool, by not using it themselves.

Hip-hop culture could be improved in many ways. However, there are positive rappers and figures in it. For example, people like Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Russell Simmons, P. Diddy, and Jay Z can all be good role models. When hip-hop culture does positive things like the Vote or Die campaign by Diddy, or the Water for Life by Jay Z and the U.N., they can impact many people.

In conclusion, hip-hop culture has both negative and positive aspects. The negative aspects can be combated by positive role models outside of the culture. And the positive aspects can effect change in many people’s lives.

Third Place: Hip-Hop Culture by Dreia Parker (Grade 12)

I am a very big fan of music, especially hip-hop. Music is very important in my life. It gets me through bad times, and makes me feel better. Unfortunately, a lot of people, particularly older people, don’t agree with our hip-hop generation. They say it’s disrespectful to women, and sends the wrong messages to children. And honestly, I would have to agree.

Compared to a lot of older music, our music sounds like trash. We no longer talk about the positive and beautiful things in life. Instead, we’re degrading females and talking about killing and sexual acts. I still love the music, but I feel if rappers could take a different approach to their lyrics, it would be a lot better. For example, instead of women being called out of their names, they should tell women how beautiful they are. Instead of telling kids that shooting is okay, tell them to stay in school and off of drugs.

Another reason I think people disagree with our music is the influence it has on children. Whether we want to admit it or not, we look up to hip-hop artists. But the videos they create aren’t the best choices. In current videos, women wear little-to-no clothes. That’s why you see young girls walking around with as little clothing as possible. These videos also praise females who have nice shapes and petite bodies. There’s only one video that I know that lets big-boned women know that they are just as beautiful as skinny women. Most make bigger girls feel as if they aren’t beautiful because they are big. It makes them feel bad. Videos also show drugs, shooting, fighting, and alcohol. This tells our young men it’s okay to do illegal things, and if you do them, you will have all the girls. This explains why many of our young men are in jail. They were trying to imitate what they saw on videos, and got caught.

Music has made big transitions over the years: some for the better, others for the worse. I can only imagine what music will be like in the future. Maybe I will be the one who disagrees with it then!

Writing of December: Juniors

Robin Blagman Emma Eke Lester Mahon

First Place: The Draft by Corinne Figliuzzi (Grade 11)

Considering that most of the males I know are a huge part of my life, I am definitely going to be biased entirely against the draft, which is rumored, if put into effect, to begin after 2008. A "draft" is, in essence, forcibly recruiting men for the military. Men across the nation, 18 years and older, are put on a list and, whenever the military needs them, called on and sent to specified military destinations to be true patriots and fight for their country. In simple terms, a draft is the military having its pick of our brothers, fathers, cousins, and boyfriends so that they can fight in a war, whether or not they agree with it, and possibly die, like the former disposable soldiers they are replacing. It’s as if the government is a spoiled five-year-old and the population is its toyshop: they’ll take that one, that one, and that one.

But why, exactly, would they need to recruit more soldiers? Is it because of the many lives lost during the recent wars? Or is it because people no longer wish to join the military after so many lives have been lost because of a war that really had no apparent cause? Whatever the case, on behalf of the decent men that I do know and love, I believe that the draft violates a man’s freedom. Being "required" to do something, whether by the present government or by Abraham Lincoln’s great-great-grand-daughter, violates your freedom of decision, which I believe is a given when you’re a human being. I have seen my fair share of war movies, and even to imagine someone being forced into that is just horrific and disgusting on the government’s part. Truthfully, I don’t know how far they expect to go with this if it is ever passed. Call me crazy, but if I were midway through college, engaged, and had a vast future ahead of me, I wouldn’t drop it to switch my comfy lifestyle for a pair of combat boots, no matter what the consequences.

I think that the whole idea of a draft makes it easier for the government to have a no-cause war, lose soldiers like addictive gamblers lose their paychecks, and be able to come back home and do it all over again. I think that it’s unfair, unjust, and thoroughly immoral. Now, as for drafting women . . . do you really want to get me started? If they even THINK they would get away with that without a protest, they’ve definitely lost it. And trust me, I’ll be out there, rain or shine, with a sign in my hand and my opinions on the tip of my tongue.

Second Place: Hip-Hop Culture by Richéz L. Dyer (Grade 11)

I am a big fan of hip-hop, but I must agree with the many African Americans who have criticized its culture. Hip-hop does indeed degrade women, glorify a criminal lifestyle and promote very poor, superficial values.

Almost every male artist in the hip-hop industry uses negative words to describe females. But what’s even worse is when women are in videos half-naked, shaking their butts to the lyrics in which men disrespect them. Most hip-hop has nothing positive to say; everything is about sex, drugs, and cash. Because of hip-hop, many men look down on women. To them all women are whores, etc.

Hip-hop culture also glorifies a criminal lifestyle. In hip-hop lyrics, everyone’s killing and robbing each other. This allows young kids to think it’s good to do what they think the artists do just because they rap or sing about it. Crime has risen, in my opinion, because of hip-hop and all its negativity.

Last but not least, hip-hop also promotes very poor, superficial values. Hip-hop has a lot of slang. And now so many people use slang that it sticks in their vocabulary. They begin to write it in their school work papers, and use it when they have interviews. It’s a part of their everyday lives. Hip-hop would have a nice vibe to it, if the music was just instrumental, but the lyrics cause controversy. They have a lot of negativity and inspire the children of our future to become corrupt.

First Place: Christmas Songs by Elizabeth Rivas (Grade 10)

Christmas songs make me itch. Yes, I know, they are played to help spread Christmas cheer. But they are on the radio non-stop from November on.

When you hear the first Christmas song of the year, you get a soft, warm feeling. It’s comforting to know you have made it through another year and it is holiday season. But around the second week of these non-stop radio holiday songs you think, okay, I get it: it’s on the radio, and the TV, and the only place I felt safe – at the mall!

After a while you can’t hide! Every few seconds you are reminded that some stupid kid saw his mother kissing Santa . . . and I HATE that little drummer boy song. I swear if I hear it again I’m going to find him, take his drum, and break it a million times over his dumb head.

I also want to know why we are celebrating a fat man that doesn’t exist -- even though my sister Pat is 100% sure that she saw him when she was little. Isn’t Christmas about Jesus being born? All the songs seem to revolve around Santa, his friends, and his pet deer. I think I’ve heard about three songs about Jesus.

I know I sound bitter, but these songs seriously get on my nerves. I like Christmas – just not the music we are forced to listen to for a month and a half before it.

I love to eat. Unfortunately, I’m a picky eater, so I don’t eat everything. I eat a few vegetables, like chick peas, spinach, cauliflower, and potatoes. I also eat meat and chicken, my favorite dishes. Anything with chicken in it, it’s gone. Junk food or "unhealthy" food is the best. My treats are chocolates, ice cream, gummy worms, and the list goes on. Since the holidays are coming up, I love a particular dish: pie.

Pie is so good, and has so many varieties, from apple to blueberry to cherry and so on. There are some crazy pies out there, like maple-bourbon-pecan or apple-pear-chardonnay. I wouldn’t try them. Maple and pecan scream "Ew"! I’m not really a pie fanatic, so I really don’t try new flavors. If I could make up a crazy pie, it would have apples, maple, bits of grapes, and a zest of lemon juice. Now that sounds good to me: a perfect dessert, both sweet and sour – yup, my idea of a good pie.

Besides my made-up pie, I love APPLE PIE! Apple pie is the best, especially when it’s warm. Mmmm . . . I love the bits of apple and the maple syrup in it. Good thing my whole family likes it -- but then again, it’s not, because it means less pie for me.

In conclusion, pie is my favorite holiday dish for dessert. It’s kind of hard to stop eating it once you get a piece, but then you get yelled at. Apple pie is the best pie, and I’m glad it was invented. Yummy pie!

Honorable Mention: Anthony Giocondo James Gonadakis

First Place: Hip Hop Culture by Blessing Eke (Grade 9)

I strongly disagree that hip-hop culture demeans women, glorifies a criminal lifestyle, and promotes very poor and superficial values. I feel that hip-hop culture is about freedom of speech and expression, using rap, clothing and other means to get a point across.

Many people confuse hip-hop culture with hip-hop music. I will definitely agree that most of the music portrays bad values that many people seem to think are okay in today’s society. If you turn on BET or any other hip-hop station, you can clearly see many women being demeaned. Most hip-hop videos you see show girls with their bodies exposed, shaking their "money-makers" for fame, money or celebrity status. It leaves a bad impression in the minds of viewers about the way women should be treated and the way women should behave. On the other hand, there are quite a few songs that do the exact opposite.

In those songs, women are portrayed as beautiful, unique and lovely. In Bow Wow’s song "Shortie Like Mine," he talks about his girlfriend’s uniqueness and beauty and about all the wonderful qualities she has. He portrays her as smart, caring, and loving. He talks about the way she makes him feel whenever she’s around.

Another aspect of hip-hop music that’s controversial is the criminal lifestyle depicted. Many feel that the criminal lifestyle scenes shown in music videos are there to praise or even justify the life of a criminal, or to say that it’s the social norm. I totally disagree. In Aken’s song "Locked Up," he tells about the dangers and hardships of being incarcerated to warn people, especially kids, about jail. In his song he says that his life has changed for the better after facing the harsh realities of gangster life and jail.

There have been complaints that hip-hop is all about superficial things. I truly believe that they are dead wrong! Hip-hop is about self-expression. It’s about the mood, feelings, and story that an artist is trying to show. The message given relies on the artists and the kind of lyrics they create. Some artists are all about the "glamor" and superficial things in life, while others are trying to convey a message that will touch someone’s heart and change it for the better. Some artists are trying to show mistakes made, and experiences and knowledge gained.

In conclusion, I feel that hip-hop culture is quite good, though it is too often mistaken for the corrupted hip-hop music.

Second Place: Hip Hop Culture by Rebeca Valescot (Grade 9)

My view on hip-hop culture is in agreement with Stanley Crouch, Bill Cosby, and other African Americans. Most kids I know would like to be hip-hop stars, but for all the wrong reasons. They want to become stars because of what they can have, not because it is something that inspires them. In my opinion, some hip-hop songs and videos should not be displayed on television or radio.

When people see women in videos dancing half-naked, they blame the artist. It is true that the artist may have hired them, but it is the women’s choice. The women in these videos do not have to do what they are doing, but choose to be half naked and dance. Most hip-hop stars have been to jail. Some have been there for fights or for using drugs. They write songs about being thugs and gangsters, and kids who watch their videos want to be gangsters too, which is very bad. My mother told me people from jail wear their pants hanging down because they are not allowed to use belts. So when I see hip-hop artists with their pants hanging down, it makes me think that they just got out of jail. Rappers usually talk about how much money they make and how many girls they can get in their songs. They make it seem that money and girls are the most important things in life. I don’t necessarily think it is wrong to talk about how rich they are, because if I were rich, I would want to gloat about it too. However, when they rap about how women would do anything for them, it disgusts me. I think some songs belittle all women. Some rappers view women as chairs they can use over and over again.

In conclusion, I do agree that the hip-hop culture demeans women, glorifies a criminal lifestyle, and promotes very poor, superficial values. Before, music used to be a beautiful thing to listen to, but now it sounds like garbage you find on the street.