Feature

Letter to the Editor
Rudy Pivaral
Winterline
Small Lockers

By Linda Brown, Contributor

Hi editorial staff,

I wanted to respond to Mr. Rick Sabosky's "Letter to the Editor" in the December 17, 2008, Bay Eagle. Mr. Sabosky mentions morality in relation to gay marriage several times in his letter. The implication here is that gay marriage is somehow immoral and by default that gay people are immoral. Mr. Sabosky also makes several mentions of his Christian faith and seems to suggest that, as a Christian person, he is morally superior to gays and should be granted a right that they are not allowed. In my own life experiences I have found some hypocrisy among those Christians who say they are "called by God to love all people." Indeed, it can be noted in history that Christians have been involved in some of the most appalling acts such as the terrible torture and killing during the Spanish Inquisition and the brutal conversions by missionaries in Mayan Mexico (and, yes, let's face it, most Nazis were practicing Christian Protestants). Perhaps we should remove altogether arguments pertaining to religion from the discussion.
Mr. Sabosky also compares the marriage of two gay people to a marriage between you and "your sister, a dog, or a tree." This comparison clearly highlights for me the disdain to which Mr. Sabosky holds gay people. Does he not realize that to compare gays to a dog is extremely insulting? To think that Mr. Sabosky is teaching children who know they are gay, or are potentially gay, is saddening to me. How must they feel to be in his class knowing his feelings? As has been mentioned numerous times in the media, "the will of the people" for many years said that it was a sacrilege for a black person and a white person to marry. The majority of people now agree that such a view was wrong. Clearly California and much of the United States is not yet ready to see the issue of gay marriage in that same light, but I do have hope that at least our young people will see how misguided the Proposition 8 vote decision was in the future.
I do agree with Mr. Saboksy that there have been ugly behaviors exhibited by some of the Proposition 8 protestors, and they have not necessarily supported their cause. However, I understand the anger those protestors feel when a basic human right to marry a loved one, with all the legal rights that entails, has been removed. Who would not be angry when their lover is compared to a dog?

Linda Brown

Senior Spotlight: Rudy Pivaral

By Varun Roperia

Rudy Pivaral is known around campus for his bright smile and unique personality. His contributions to the school, especially the drama department, are numerous and he represents an important stitch in the tapestry that is the rich and varied culture of ESHS.
Rudy brings with him an interesting history: Birthed on March 5, 1991 in Hollywood, he lived with his grandmother in Guatemala from the age of 10 months until he was 9 years old. In 4th grade, he lived with his godparents for a year in the San Fernando Valley. He once again moved, and started the 5th grade in Hawthorne, before going to middle school in Dana, and finally coming to El Segundo for his freshman year. Interesting information from his past include the fact that he survived a motorcycle accident while visiting Columbia, and that on a personal level although Rudy doesn’t find himself very religious in an organized sense, he considers himself very spiritual.
He says his family and friends are an important part of who he is, and they are a source of inspiration for him. He takes pride in his heritage, with both his mother and father being from Guatemala. He currently lives with his mother, Ingrid, sister, Katherine, and Columbian step father. In regards to his friends, he says that having “Clowns for friends, but at the same time they are a very big inspiration" and further that "my motivation every day to see the fearsome foursome for being such an exciting group of people."
In addition to friends and family, Rudy cites other role models as having a pronounced influence on him, “at Dana I found my original inspiration to pursue drama in Ms. Abby” and further asserts that “Mrs. Hedayat and the drama family inspire me.” He is very fond of Amy Lee and Chris Evans, and an “insanely and embarrassingly” big fan of the Joker.
A focused individual, Rudy’s short term goals include performing well in the Fullerton Festival (an acting competition) with a scene from Richard III, as well as in Little Shop of Horrors, the upcoming musical here at ESHS. With college preparations including applying to Cal State: Fullerton, San Diego, and Long Beach, but he has yet to hear back from them. For the future, he really wants to go to New York, a decision influenced in part by the praise he has received. Praise has also motivated him to further try his hand at directing, “because of what people tell me, I’ve been motivated to be a director, and it is something I want to try out in the future.” A goal he has kept more of a secret is an aspiration to try his hand at writing, hoping that he produces something “worth people’s time.” On a grander scale, he one day wants to adopt two kids and be a single dad with a house somewhere in California.
As far as drama goes, Rudy began his involvement in the ESHS drama department because he was, and still is, considering it as a career path. It was while here at ESHS that he also found that he had a passion for singing. The list of works Rudy has been involved is extensive: Macbeth at the Fullerton Festival in 2008 (which is also the first time our school has won first place with a student directed scene), DTASC (where we once again won first place for the student directed scene “I Never Saw Another Butterfly”), and the recent ESHS production of Noises Off “the most fun he has ever had on stage,” Parade (a memorable production in which he was covered in make up in order to play a black man). His acting dream is to play Sweeny Todd or the Phantom of the Opera.
Rudy clearly represents a varied and unique individual with much to offer his peers. He has had a great career here at ESHS, and it is assured that he will continue to prosper in his future endeavors.

Winterline

By Jack Li

The holiday season has come upon us once again, and we find ourselves faced once more with the age-old juxtaposition between the forces of good and the forces of evil. This is no melodramatic statement, somewhat of a cliché though it may be. Christmas is the perfect time of year for looking at the interplay between hope, love, courage, heroism, fear, avarice and corruption. Santa himself embodies the ultimate physical manifestation of karma, and the idea that somehow, justice is served. This season brings him together with the forces of American capitalism, as well as religious devotion and family bonding. The spirit of the holidays encompasses love, hope, family and, most of all, faith
This year in particular, the season has specific importance. The year has been an eventful one to say the least; from a historic election, to the deeply divisive Proposition 8 here in California, and even away from the political stage, where an economic crisis hit and continues to hit home with millions of Americans each and every day. These times have proven themselves of great import. Even in recent times, the corruption continues: governor of Illinois, Rod R. Blagojevich, was just accused of heinous deeds that have been described by his federal prosecutor as causing “Lincoln to turn over in his grave.” These events are constant reminders that the forces of hate, corruption, and deceit are all around us, but the holiday season is unique in that it brings to the table, in direct contrast to these oppressive forces, all that is good in society: the hope of a child who waits anxiously to open his presents the following morning, or the love between family and friends in front of a fireplace. We hope that you find the joy in the world, even in these troubled times.

Small Lockers

By Emma Smith

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