Phil Roach- Military:
Oil.
That sums up junior Phil Roach’s feelings on why America entered Iraq.
“We went in just for the oil,” Roach explained. “If we look around at all the problems going on in other countries that don’t have oil, we don’t go and help them. It was just for our own personal gain that we went in.”
A number of things have shaped Roach’s interest in the war. He loves American History, especially war history. He has friends in the military. He and his family regularly discuss current events. And he takes Reserve Officers’ Training Corps class at East.
During ROTC class, Roach said that students do anything from exercise on the track to class discussion of military protocol.
“It broadens your outlook on different opinions of the war,” Roach said.
Roach’s plans for the future include attending college and then joining the Marine Corps, a decision he made before enrolling in ROTC.
“Nothing is going to make me not want to join [the Marine Corps],” Roach said. “I hope I don’t get sent over there, but if I do get sent over there I know it’s for my country and I won’t say ‘I’m not going.’”
Now that the United States are in the Middle East, Roach thinks that a total recall of every soldier would be irresponsible. He favors a slow pullout of troops that would leave a few thousand troops permanently stationed.
“If we pull out immediately, it’s going to be shoved back into an anarchy-type state where somebody like Saddam [Hussein] could get power,” Roach said.
According to Obama’s web site, he has been against the War in Iraq since day one, and has a strategic plan to bring the troops home. McCain’s web site states that he wants to achieve victory as soon as possible before leaving Iraq.
Roach is not supporting a presidential candidate this November because he feels neither candidate has taken a stance and stayed with it.
“They [John McCain and Barack Obama] both flip-flop on their ideas,” Roach said. “And I, for once, would like a straight-forward candidate expressing his ideas no matter what the political community thinks, no matter what the media makes of it.”

Andrew Sweeney- Abortion:
Senior Andrew Sweeney did not utter a single word last Monday, his voice suppressed by the red “LIFE” tape worn over his mouth. This “humbling” event is called the “Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity,” and Sweeney has led and organized it the past two years.
“We lose our voice for one day to signify the 4,000 babies that have their voice taken away every day,” Sweeney said.
Sweeney’s strong feelings about abortion come from his religious beliefs. His parents brought him up as a Christian, which instilled in him the belief that conception marks the beginning of life.
“The issue of abortion to me, because it is a religious belief, it is more important than a lot of issues,” Sweeney said. “It is very important because I believe that we, the government and the voters are supporting the homicide of all these children.”
Sweeney made it clear that there is only one way to stop abortion.
“It is very, very, very important for us to vote against that and vote that down,” Sweeney said. “So then we are not just killing our own children.”
Aside from leading the “Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity” at East, Sweeney regularly volunteers to help campaign for pro-life politicians. He is a major proponent of the pro-life McCain ticket (Obama is pro-choice). The choice of Sarah Palin as McCain’s running mate only boosted his support for the presidential hopeful, because her pregnant 17-year-old daughter recently decided against abortion.
Raising awareness is important to Sweeney. He thinks many kids don’t factor abortion into their thinking when filling out a ballot.
“A lot of people consider abortion to be a petty issue, it shouldn’t be involved in politics, and it’s not really a big deal,” Sweeney said. “I think the ‘Day of Silence’ really worked against that and showed that it really does matter, and that it is a big deal, and it should be considered when voting.”

Carl Cornwell- Stem Cell Research:
Junior Carl Cornwell’s joints are stiff each day as he rolls out of bed. Sharp pains constantly shoot throughout his body during the day, keeping him from playing sports.
Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in joints, is what limits Cornwell. Stem cell research could drastically improve his situation (which he normally alleviates by wearing knee braces), but because it is no longer federally funded, he must suffer through this condition.
“It should be legal because it can help many people, including myself, who have problems that can be potentially cured by stem cells,” Cornwell said.
Stem cells are cells taken from human embryos. They can divide and develop into specialized cells, like red blood cells, brain cells, or bone cells, and then be used as replacements for damaged cells. Stem cells’ ability to treat a vast number of debilitating medical problems is what makes them so exciting to scientists.
Moral issues are what keep stem cell research from being federally funded. Many people across America have problems with taking cells from human embryos.
“People think that it’s killing babies, but it’s really not, because it’s just an embryo,” Cornwell said. “It’s not an actual child yet.”
Cornwell does not campaign in support of stem cell research, but still remains interested.
“Whenever I see it on the news I always like to listen to it, see what people think about it,” Cornwell said.
In 2006, President George Bush vetoed an embryonic stem cell bill that would have given federal funding to the cause. Things are looking up for Cornwell and others with diseases that can be aided by stem cells. Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama both support federal funding for stem cell research.
“If [Obama and McCain] support it then obviously more people will think about it,” Conwell said, “Hopefully, [the government will] get more involved in it and accept it more, because a lot of people don’t.”