5. Spaghetti 2025

When was the last time you ever questioned information told to you? Was it when you were doom scrolling at 2 AM in the morning? Or was it when you did that extensively long research project? Or was it when you were watching the news on TV? Chances are, the answer is probably not recently.  Yet, this never became truly evident to me that people take things and run with it until recently, especially with all the political news in recent months. Recently with the uproar of coverage, many of my friends have flocked to me with news they heard while scrolling on social media. And oftentimes, the news they share are reiternations of things that could’ve been fact checked within minutes, but with the fast paced culture that social media has brought about many just can’t be bothered. For example, on Tik Tok I’ve noticed an uproar of Daily Mail stories, a news source that has little to no fact checking mechanisms. Or even looking at the rise of fabricated news through AI , a cycle that no on...

When discussing which group has the most power in American society, many look to politicians, who create laws, control budgets, and shape the government in various ways. While politicians arguably have some of the greatest influence on America, they are not the only ones responsible for shaping public opinions. Celebrities, having extensive platforms, also play a crucial role in American politics and general culture as a whole. But, why is this? Celebrities often utilize their massive social platforms to call attention to societal, environmental, and political issues alike. Oftentimes, celebrity opinions go viral, resulting in an even larger audience reach across all platforms. The rapid spread of influence from our favorite celebrities can make us question our own values and opinions. For example, if Zendaya were to post about the environmental crisis, it might inspire fans of hers to also take on activist roles regarding the environment. Additionally, celebrities have the power to i...

Power Dynamics in the US Power has an influence all over the world. Where I see power take the influence in the world is politics. Politicians have the ability to have power over most things in America. The way they phrase things has power to change things over every aspect of every citizens life. Their power has also been used to exclude groups out of it. An example of this is Donald Trump’s way of deporting innocent immigrants from all over the United States and forcing them out of their hard built lives.  Power is not just about who speaks, but also about who controls the meaning of words. Politicians, media figures, and corporate leaders shape events and groups by framing issues in ways that serve their interests like gaining money or even more power. Words like "welfare" and "entitlements" carry connotations that shape how government programs are perceived. Even some immigrant are documented as “illegal aliens” that flood our society in America and politics ha...

Leadership is often associated with power. Off the top of my head, I can think of several examples of this in fictional works. For example, in Star Wars, Yoda is the leader of the jedi because he was the most powerful. Or in the Harry Potter series, Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard and therefore leader of the "good guys." Gandalf, the powerful wizard, is leader of the fellowship in The Lord of the Rings. Now in fiction, this all works out well and fine because the most powerful person is also somehow always just coincidentally  super wise and smart.  the green guy himself link Unfortunately, this is pretty much not the case in real life though. For example, Elon Musk and Donald Trump recently gained a ton of power, but they aren't exactly the optimal people to lead. Other powerful people, like those tech CEOs, are exploitive of their workers which does not seem to indicate suitability to lead either. On the other side of the political spectrum, the Democrats are ...

Although political power is seen as being in the hands of politicians for the most part, that is not necessarily the case any longer, especially with the advent of the digital age. Social media has become a method for people to be exposed to varying opinions and perspectives, showcasing ideas that are not necessarily supported or condoned by those in power. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok have been a way of people taking back the power that mainstream media, such as news channels which ensure not to share views that go against those of politicians, has had over the ideas and knowledge of current events of the American people. A recent example of this amidst the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, raids to arrest undocumented immigrants is singer and actress Selena Gomez using social media to empathize with those who were arrested . Due to her celebrity status, Gomez’s views attracted attention from many, more often negative than not (leading her to delete both posts she...

                   Graham once thought he was dead. Or, at least, in the midst of his second divorce, undergoing a bout of severe depression, Graham woke up in a hospital believing to have met his end. What tipped him over the edge, we will never know. Graham vehemently claims to hate thinking about how he got to that state of depression, a place “so low” that he had no clue how he reached such a point in his life in the first place ( Thomson ) . Recounting his unclear memories, Graham only remembers calling his brother, panicked. It was that call that brought him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with severe depression. It would also be the call after which he would think himself dead for months to come. “I was convinced I didn’t have a brain,” Graham claims during his hospitalization. “It was blank. Just a blank mind ( Thomson ) .” You would think him to be in a coma during such an experience, in a dazed state, s...

The founding principles of the United States revolved around liberty, freedom, and democracy for the people of the nation. However, over the 250 years since the founding of the nation, the power structures and role of the government have changed; more often than not, the changes empowered the government to take more control of the people and the country. Now that we are on the 47th President, the changing power is apparent as a flurry of executive orders left the Oval Office within the last week. The outward showcase of power sets a clear precedent for what the nation can expect in the next four years, and it is a mixed bag.  Right from being appointed president on the 20th of January, President Trump spent his time live streaming his signing of tens of different executive orders for the entire day. Some of these orders included altering the 14th amendment , redacting an act he worked to pass previously that banned TikTok, declaring an energy crisis, exiting the World Health Organi...

The U.S dollar stands as a powerful symbol of power, not just in the U.S but globally too. In The New York Times, morning post I read an article written by Patricia Cohen, titled "Dollar Flex". Cohen describes President Trump's two divergent thoughts on the American currency, "He wants a strong dollar" the one that is likely to be worth more compared to other countries, it's not just about pride, it's practical. It lowers the cost of borrowing money, especially with trillions of dollars in debt. While "On the other hand, he also wants a weak dollar" as this makes American products "cheaper" to buy abroad, which can help the manufacturing at "home". But it is not that easy.  A strong dollar makes American goods overpriced for buyers abroad. I don't think I would but, why would you buy a $50 American-made gadget when there is a $30 option elsewhere? Meanwhile like I mentioned before, imports get cheaper for us, hence good ...

In recent times, social media has become a powerful force in shaping peoples' opinions across the globe. Platforms such as Instagram, Meta, X, Tiktok and so on have grown from simply being a hub for relatable and comedic content--they now entail political takes backed by misinformation, ever changing trends which fuel overconsumption, all while harboring the inability for an original thought to ever be formed by their users.  And yet, we can’t seem to get enough of it. Social media platforms are designed to be addictive, which is what poses them as such a threat to our society. The term “doomscrolling” has been picked up by many platformers on social media lately, and it is defined as the excessive amount of time spent consuming large quantities of negative media; so it is, essentially, scrolling to one’s doom. Research shows that doomscrolling can lead to several psychological issues, including depression due to the brain’s lack of naturally produced dopamine, as well as high lev...

  It has its own designated shelf in the library with an accompanying week dedicated to honoring it. Over the years, it has transformed into a marketing label, driving its profits beyond what it would have sold for otherwise. Those of its kind are celebrated by the masses as masterpieces, carrying the legacy of literature on their shoulders. Indeed, some of the most treasured books to date, ranging from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, to 1984 by George Orwell, to even Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, have once been stamped by that infamous label ( Polk ). Banned books have become a goldmine for readers across the nation. The censorship of such books and the prevention of their societal consumption is often justified as a means to "protect" the order of society and the minds of impressionable children. Yet, the weak reasoning is nothing more than a façade, masking a deeper fear. After all, what makes these books so unique, what differentiates them from "normal" ...

It’s 2 AM and after a long day of school and work you’ve found yourself doom scrolling for the past hour with no intention to stop. This is the reality of millions of Americans, whether it be Youtube Shorts or Instagram reels or, most likely, Tik Tok, these specifically catered short form videos have become highly addictive and easily consumable in the last few years. As such, with these platforms, Tik Tok especially, have opened the gates for millions of Americans to start businesses, create original and relatable content, and inform, or misinform, others all through word of mouth.  Yet in recent events, the US government has decided that a Tik Tok ban is what is most important to current legislation. The reason being…China. The US government has long been speculating that Tik Tok specifically, has been saving and selling data of American users' to China, in such creating a “national security threat.” However, it is not the “national security threat” that is angering Americans, ra...

Politics are intertwined with everyday life for most people, but blatant disregard for human emotion causes these political schemes to veer from untimely to simply hurtful. While I was searching for an article for my second current event critical summary, I found one that captured my attention right from the title: “Their Son’s Death Was Devastating. Then Politics Made it Worse.” This article, by Eli Saslow for the New York Times, was published on October 27th, 2024 and updated on November 1st, 2024. As I read the article, I became invested in using it for an AP English Language assignment at some point, although I deemed the article too long to use for a C.E. With the current news of politicians and others using disastrous events such as the Palisades Fire to further their political agendas , it felt fitting to return to this article at long last.  The article details how a couple lost their son, Aiden Clark, to a car crash, but the fact that the crash (which “was ruled an accide...

  In my POAS research on Andrew Carnegie, much of it revolved around money. In Carnegie’s time, the gap between the American rich and poor was the greatest it had ever been (with the exception of modern day) and the enormously wealthy and powerful people like Carnegie were called robber barons. In reading his autobiography, these millionaires did all sorts of corrupt things like lobbying the government or making secret deals. Carnegie himself had lots of connections with the railroad companies as he was a former worker and also knew a lot of other really rich guys. What I found really crazy is his philosophy on distribution of wealth. He was sort of a believer in Social Darwinism, thinking that rich people are just born naturally smarter and better leading to their wealth, yet since he himself was born as a poor Scottish boy who immigrated to the US it sort of contradicted this belief. Apart from that, he thought that rich people “deserved” to have all the power and money concentra...

Kaden Khau 9 - Wealth Influence  January 15, 2025 For me, money has always been a source of power I saw when growing up. Phrases like " money can't buy happiness " or "true wealth is not measured in money has always been sort of wrong for me. In most societies, especially America, the surplus of control over resources and being able to exploit that and gain profit from it has always separated our society.  Wealth isn't just about how comfortable you live or just social status. The difference of wealth has dictated access to education, healthcare, and housing. Families with money could navigate challenges without falling apart. Those without it are left to face impossible decisions that they need to sacrifice something just to pay their rent, food or even medication. As I got older, these contrasts became surprisingly more clear. As our society changes over the years, the differences between how wealth and money controls things and makes you powerful by giving mor...

I love having debates with my mom. It does not matter what kind of topic it is, it is always entertaining and interesting to argue, helping me gain more perspective on various topics. Sometimes my dad joins in, bringing his views on the matter. We debate about all kinds of things from, religion and society to food, education, and even to the point where we discuss complex and darker topics like spiritual beings and suicides.  One of our recent debates was on equality versus equity. What is the difference? Equality is " the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities .” Equity on the other hand “ refers to fairness and justice and is distinguished from equality ”. I argued for equality, focused on its importance and necessity in cases like individual rights and access to resources. while my mom focused on equity. Our main argument revolved around to what extent does equality or equity apply? My mom claimed that justice is more powerful than equality, that...

It is said that money cannot buy happiness . And while that is true, an unsaid clause that comes with a capitalist economy is that economic power gives you the power to purchase the happiness of those below you. In any society with limited resources, any edge that one can hold to gain a greater access to resources provides them with a share of control over the lives of others. For the past millennia, since the development of commercial activity, a single aspect continues to separate society in a way of classes: wealth.  It is difficult to understand the power money gives one over their life until you experience both sides of the coin. While I have not myself, I have seen this experience through the stories of my father, who came from a small village in southern India, growing up at a time where his 4 older siblings were making it to secondary school and college as his father was laid off from his job as a chemist in the local paper factory . Being the youngest in a family now on th...