The Brave News

by Kyle Moats

America… Home Of The Free… Because of the Brave. Free to do many things, but especially To Vote…

It says great things about us and, of course, our founders insistence of checks and balances when we face the current outcome of our midterm elections.

This year’s midterm elections were labeled by the modern media as one of the most important midterm elections ever. Maybe so, but what are we really looking at?

Depending on the political party, “important” was either maintaining, losing, or increasing control.

This midterms were a chance for, by their current admission, “an embittered but re-energized” Democratic party to regain control of the House and the Senate. If they were able to, they would be able to stop what they have labeled as “President Trump’s conservative campaign.” 

Interestingly identifying this election as one that is a direct affirmation or rejection of Presidential policies, rather than party politics. This was especially huge for the Democrats, as they now worry that the Supreme Court leans in Trump’s favor with two additional “conservative” appointees being sworn in during the President Trump’s administration.

Despite the fracas, the voting was actually on par with historical voting tendencies in the past. Midterm elections traditionally benefit the the party who lost the presidency. In this case, substantial losses for the Republicans in the house.

It is also interesting to note that the same constituency voted in a record number of Senate Republicans. As an observer, one would think the party line would hold. What is apparent for this election is that people are turning out to vote – individually – for those they think will help their current environment.

Blue Wave, Red Wave, for us as young citizens, what does that even mean? For this report, after studying the political maps, nothing is definitive. Our America remains a great melting pot of ideas and opinions. Either side cannot report complete dominance currently.

Many hard-line Republican strongholds have fallen, and yet traditional Democratic areas are now dominated by conservatives. Opinions vary of course… This election was not a rejection of the “right or left.”  

Moreover, it was a rejection of the political status quo. While writing this article, I thought about how it applies to our experience as students here at St. John Bosco High School. Although all of our parents, teachers, and administrators made every effort to teach and counsel, without pushing their personal feelings this November, it has been “the vote,” rather than the “elephant” in the room. We still were fortunate enough to get up the day after and continue life as we know it.

People are angry, policies will change, and we will either reap the benefits as a country or endure the consequences depending on which “side” we are on.

St. John Bosco Families Cross Party Lines Every Day To Make Us Great

The midterm elections once again represent, whether your party won or lost, what makes America great. For many of the class of 2019, this was our first year to vote. If you did, you were able to experience the process firsthand. If you were not satisfied with the results, you now have the opportunity to make a difference.

by Samuel Rodriguez

George H.W. Bush, the 41^st president of the United States and decorated World War 2 veteran, died Friday, November 30^th, at the age of 94.

According to CNN, his casket sits in the US capital until a state funeral will take place on December 5^th at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC. From there, Bush will be flown to Texas to be buried at his Presidential library.

On Monday,  current President Donald Trump honored the lost hero at the US capitol and ended his visit with a firm salute to Bush’s casket. Trump will attend Bush’s funeral Wednesday along with Prince Charles of Wales, who will be representing his mother, Queen Elizabeth. 

George H.W. Bush was born on 1924 in Massachusetts to his mother, Dorothy Bush, and his father, Prescott Sheldon Bush. Once he turned 18, Bush enlisted in the Navy and was commissioned at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi before his 19^th birthday, making him one of the youngest aviators in the US Navy.

According to The Washington Post, on September 2, 1944, Bush flew an air attack over Chichi Jima, a Japanese island 500 miles off the coast. This island was a communications center for the Japanese and had great importance to their military forces. Upon reaching the island, Bush’s plane was shot, and flames engulfed its wings.

The Washington Post continues, saying, “Choking on smoke, Bush continued to steer the plane, dropping bombs and hitting the radio tower.”

Of all the soldiers who escaped their planes that day, Bush was the only one to survive. In his years of service, Bush received the Distinguished Flying Cross, three air medals, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Post World War 2, Bush graduated from Yale and took a job in an oil business for Dresser Industries. According to BBC News, within 3 years Bush started his own oil firm – the Bush-Overbey Oil Development Company – which became highly successful.

In 1964, Bush was elected into the House of Representatives where he served two terms and marked the beginning of his political career. Bush went from the Representative of Texas (1967-71), to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations (1971-73), then became the United States Director of Central Intelligence (1976-77) and went on to become the Vice President to Ronald Reagan (1981-89).

Finally, he became the 41^st President of the United States to cap off his career, with his term lasting from 1989 to 1993. Throughout his presidency, Bush made critical decisions that would greatly impact our nation’s future, signing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, according to History.com. 

George H.W. Bush stood as a testament to what a model American is capable of. His life story inspires people to pursue their dreams despite how hard they may seem. Bush’s legacy will forever bring honor to what it means to truly be an American. The loss of such a strong and admirable leader brings sorrow throughout America, but continues to bring strength for future generations.