The Current Online

by Abby Huff

The Longview Lakers baseball team received their World Series ring November 20 in the Campus Education Center. The team won the 2007 NCJAA World Series in June and finished with a 41-18 record.

The ring ceremony included a motivational speaker, a picture montage of the team at the World Series in Memphis, and the passing out of rings. The head coach Clint Culbertson handed the rings to each individual player, telling the audience of their stats, and personal stories about how they won the series. Pitcher Jeremy Tate said, “I was so excited to just get my ring.”

The Lakers were all staring at their rings once they received them, pitcher Brian Speck said, “It’s got to be bigger than a Super Bowl ring.” The size of the rings has caught the eyes of students all around campus, and as third baseman and shortstop Zak Berislavich said, “They are awesome. We were all really excited. We have a really good chance of winning next year, and we all want this again.”

The 2007 Lakers all came to the ceremony, some traveling back from their universities. Coach Culbertson gave hope to all the guests that next seasons team would be full of more big wins, and hopefully take the 2008 World Series.

by Abby Huff
Missouri College Media Award: Third Place, Special Section

It takes a lot of work and patience to become a vegetarian. The meat products that are provided in grocery stores are pumped full of hormones and chemicals making it difficult to eat healthy. Hy-Vee and Nature’s Pantry are two of the closest, most affordable grocers that provide soy meat. Pasta and salads are not the only foods available, these foods would not provide enough nutrients for a person to live off of permanently. Soy meat is quite delicious, despite the automatic gag reflex people have before trying it.

The three different types of vegetarians are: Ovo vegetarians, Ovo Lacto vegetarians, Lacto vegetarians, Vegans and Pescatarians. Ovo vegetarians they do not eat meat or dairy products, such as milk and cheese, however they do eat eggs. Lacto vegetarians, they eat dairy products but not eggs or meat. Ovo Lacto vegetarians, eat eggs and dairy but no meat. Vegans do not eat meat or animal products, such as dairy and eggs. A more unconventional non-meat eater is a Pescatarian, they eat fish, and sometimes dairy and eggs, but do not eat chicken, cow, pig or other meats.

Becoming a vegetarian or vegan is hard work, and requires a person to consider alternatives to McDonald’s or Applebee’s. While most restaurants offer salads and pastas, that can be specially ordered to not have meat, there are few other options available. A vegetarian must consider the other foods being consumed. Many places use the same grill to cook everything on, if the juices from meat are still on the grill, the chemicals and hormones in the meat are still being consumed. However, this does not mean that a vegetarian can never again eat at a restaurant; they just must consider what they are consuming.

Another consideration a vegetarian or vegan must make is candy and chocolates. Most gummy candies and jell-o contains gelatin, which is made of animal by-parts including hooves, animal skin, and other undesirable animal parts. Many candy bars such as snickers, Reese’s and more contain milk chocolate, this is something that neither an ovo vegetarian nor a vegan can consume. This makes Halloween a difficult holiday for some. Nature’s Pantry offers a large variety of vegan chocolate, using soy milk instead of animal milk to make their sweets.

Quorn makes a fabulous chick’n, the grillers can be used in pasta, sandwiches, fajitas and more. The taste is very similar, and with other flavors there is absolutely no taste difference. Quorn also makes a substitute turkey, perfect for Thanksgiving. Quorn uses texturized vegetable protein and soy protein and they frequently use eggs.

MorningStar makes great meat substitutes as well. Most people can not differentiate between their “chick’n” and real chicken, same with their veggie burgers. A favorite for many is the tomato and basil veggie burger and the Portobello mushroom veggie burger.

The general consensus of vegans/vegetarians is that upon becoming one, energy levels have increased, and an overall better health is noticeable. Doctors agree that if done correctly, a vegan/vegetarian diet is wonderful. There are plenty of websites available to help a new vegetarian/vegan, hopefully Kansas City will have vegetarian restaurants opening soon to cater to the lifestyle.

Special Section: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

by Abby Huff

PJ’s Grind is a little coffee house located off 50 Hwy and Little Blue Parkway next to Baskin Robbins in Lee’s Summit. The only PJ’s Grind around, they are open Monday through Saturday. PJ’s offers a large variety of flavored cappuccinos that are to die for. The taste of the delicious drinks will leave patrons craving more. For days after a purchase the sweet flavors hang around and the addiction begins.

PJ’s also offers a large array of pastries, baked goods, breakfast sandwiches and soups, all available at a great price. The goodies are baked fresh and are large enough to fill up customers for the rest of the day. The coffee shop also offers convenience, with a drive-thru and a punch card for caffeine-aholics. The punch card is good for one free drink after nine purchases.
~ Abby Huff

by Abby Huff

Never, in the history of America, has there been a president outside the Christian circle. The three main connectors among the 43 presidents are male, caucasian and Christian, with one Catholic, John F. Kennedy. The idea of a non-Christian president should not be such a stretch for the American people, this being a free nation. However, when voters consider a president with no religious affiliation, they turn away from the idea. The voter who has personal beliefs in their own God does not understand the person without a belief in a higher power and cannot accept an atheist, agnostic or other non-believer as a possible candidate. As Longview student Kenny Taylor, said, “I probably would not [vote for an atheist]. A Christian leader has to hold their self to extra authority.”

Looking at the past administrations, are they holding themselves to an extra authority? They have declared their actions to be done for God, but these actions constantly trample the rights of the minorities. The voters and their representatives have banned gay marriage, based primarily on their religion. They have tried to ban abortion, based primarily on their religion. They have halted the stem-cell research movement, based primarily on their religion. Despite the fact that these issues will remain, that no religion will stop people from loving each other, whether it be men and women, women and women or men and men. Religion will also never dissolve the need for abortion, or the improvements in science.

When taking away the rights and liberties guaranteed to all the citizens of the United States, they feel legitimate because of their God. The leader can ask for forgiveness when discriminating against a group, because they did it in the name of God. They can turn to their beliefs, their religious doctrines, and find comfort in mistreating the citizens.

According to the Pew Research Center, 61 percent of Americans are less likely to vote for a non-believer, broken down into political party followers: 44 percent of Republicans believe religious beliefs of the president to be important, while 26 percent of Democrats find the religious status of their leader to be important.
Despite this study, many students at Longview see things differently. Robbie Grant said, “As long as they separate church and state it wouldn’t matter [the president's religious affiliations].” Grant, who calls himself agnostic, points out that he sees the importance of how religion can personally affect him and his beliefs, if it is strongly connected to politics.

Other students say that politics and religion are naturally separated. Sydney Marten said, “It’s not like they are going to force their beliefs on us, so I wouldn’t care. I vote based on their stances.”
Recently, though, religious beliefs have been forced on many people. Those who notice it are the ones not affiliated with any religion. In the 2004 elections, voters witnessed the candidates frequently debating religion. Voters have observed an increase in religion being portrayed in the Bush administration.

Arguments still exist that religion is closely entwined with school district lessons. For instance, Kansas recently banned the teaching of evolution, a scientifically accepted theory. The opposition between evolution and creationism is not one that should be portrayed in our schools because schools are a government institution, and our government and the church are to be separate.

When our representatives blatantly show their religious beliefs and immobilize the progress of students and society, we must reconsider why we vote for a religious representative. The voters need to step back and consider the opposite – having their beliefs destroyed by someone who willingly states that citizens of the United States are not citizens because of their differences.

Atheists are not amoral, self-righteous people. In fact, the opposite is more accurate. I, as an atheist, use reason, logic and empathy to determine what is right and wrong, as do most people. We struggle for equality and recognize the indisputable fact of diversity.

For a country that flaunts all of its freedoms, personal rights and public ability to choose its government, why would an atheist be the line voters draw against a possible candidate? Is it inconceivable to share the same morals, ideals and political stances with an atheist?