The Student News Site of the Latin School of Chicago

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The Student News Site of the Latin School of Chicago

The Forum

The Student News Site of the Latin School of Chicago

The Forum

Are Disasters More Chic If They’re Made in Japan?

Rachel Stone Co Editor in Chief In the midst of the CNN headlines and disaster relief advertisements popping up on my computer browser, something struck me strangely this past week. The East Coast has just been pretty horribly ravaged by a freak storm that weather reporters referred to as “Frankenstorm,” leaving thousands left to wade through flooded streets and pick up the pieces, and it hasn’t really seemed to faze us Latin students. Granted, we’re midway across the country from the devastation. Granted, this wasn’t as high profile of a storm as a Katrina, and it didn’t involve nuclear reactor drama like the earthquake in Japan. It was just a hurricane that turned into a super storm that left millions without power and resources and homes. But unlike years past, during which Latin students have rallied together to create tremendous amounts of aid through creative means (such as weekend clean up trips and the Red Cross relief juggernaut talent show), the student body hasn’t done as much this time around. Why is that? Truthfully, I can’t say for sure. I also can’t speak for personal donations on the parts of individual families, I can’t speak for people whose family’s income prevents them from providing aid, and I can’t speak for the students who have family members on the east coast and for whom these events could have resulted in unspeakable tragedy. And truthfully, aside from donating a meager sum from my personal finances (read: piggy bank) to add to my family’s donation, I can’t say I’ve done much better. I’m also an income-less high school student who neither needs to pay taxes nor raise a family. But whether or not storms seem more scandalous when they’re halfway across the world, or whether this year’s student body decides to provide aid in a much less ostentatious manner (through anonymous winter coat donations to the warm clothes drive), it is obvious that this year has marked a deviation from the typical Latin student response. ]]>

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The Student News Site of the Latin School of Chicago
Are Disasters More Chic If They’re Made in Japan?