Level M Reading

(1) Each year, western nations like the United States of America and countries in the European Union participate in Daylight Saving Time. While different countries treat Daylight Saving Time differently, they generally all follow the same idea. During the summer season, everyone adjusts their clocks so that there is an extra hour of sunlight in the evening that normally would have occurred in the morning. As strange as this practice is, what’s even stranger is that most people have no idea why Daylight Saving Time exists. Every March, people set their clocks forward an hour, only to set them back again in November for potentially no reason at all.

(2) The most that the average citizens know about Daylight Savings Time’s history is that it was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin. While he did propose the idea in 1784, Daylight Saving Time wasn’t adopted by America until 1918 (over 100 years after Franklin’s death), after several European countries had already started the trend. Many Europeans had like Franklin’s idea, but no one seriously considered it until an English builder named William Willet proposed it in a pamphlet in 1907. The other thing that people seem to “know” about Daylight Saving Time is that it was created to help farmers. How that exactly works no one seems to know. The real truth of how Daylight Saving Time is much simpler than that, and really quite innocent.

(3) The real reason that Daylight Saving Time was adopted was so that people would have more time in the evening to spend outside in the sunlight. Why waste that beautiful sunlight on the mornings when people are asleep? Since the inception of Daylight Saving Time in America 100 years ago, experts have tried to justify its merits. Many experts assert that it saves the country on energy costs. This is true, though the amount of energy that we save during this time is fairly minimal (maybe 1%). Others posit that more daylight during the evening makes us safer and less likely to suffer in accidents. Studies have shown, however, that the adjustment of our internal clocks is not a smooth one, and leads to a spike each March in incidents like heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents. So, why do we still do it every year?

(4) The answer to this question is once again a fairly simple, and rather endearing, one: We like it. Daylight Saving Time was originally created to give people an extra hour of daylight in the evening, and that’s exactly why it’s still done today. As long as people enjoy that extra hour in the evening, Daylight Saving Time isn’t going anywhere.

(1) Each year, western nations like the United States of America and countries in the European Union participate in Daylight Saving Time. While different countries treat Daylight Saving Time differently, they generally all follow the same idea. During the summer season, everyone adjusts their clocks so that there is an extra hour of sunlight in the evening that normally would have occurred in the morning. As strange as this practice is, what’s even stranger is that most people have no idea why Daylight Saving Time exists. Every March, people set their clocks forward an hour, only to set them back again in November for potentially no reason at all.

(2) The most that the average citizens know about Daylight Savings Time’s history is that it was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin. While he did propose the idea in 1784, Daylight Saving Time wasn’t adopted by America until 1918 (over 100 years after Franklin’s death), after several European countries had already started the trend. Many Europeans had like Franklin’s idea, but no one seriously considered it until an English builder named William Willet proposed it in a pamphlet in 1907. The other thing that people seem to “know” about Daylight Saving Time is that it was created to help farmers. How that exactly works no one seems to know. The real truth of how Daylight Saving Time is much simpler than that, and really quite innocent.

(3) The real reason that Daylight Saving Time was adopted was so that people would have more time in the evening to spend outside in the sunlight. Why waste that beautiful sunlight on the mornings when people are asleep? Since the inception of Daylight Saving Time in America 100 years ago, experts have tried to justify its merits. Many experts assert that it saves the country on energy costs. This is true, though the amount of energy that we save during this time is fairly minimal (maybe 1%). Others posit that more daylight during the evening makes us safer and less likely to suffer in accidents. Studies have shown, however, that the adjustment of our internal clocks is not a smooth one, and leads to a spike each March in incidents like heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents. So, why do we still do it every year?

(4) The answer to this question is once again a fairly simple, and rather endearing, one: We like it. Daylight Saving Time was originally created to give people an extra hour of daylight in the evening, and that’s exactly why it’s still done today. As long as people enjoy that extra hour in the evening, Daylight Saving Time isn’t going anywhere.

(1) Each year, western nations like the United States of America and countries in the European Union participate in Daylight Saving Time. While different countries treat Daylight Saving Time differently, they generally all follow the same idea. During the summer season, everyone adjusts their clocks so that there is an extra hour of sunlight in the evening that normally would have occurred in the morning. As strange as this practice is, what’s even stranger is that most people have no idea why Daylight Saving Time exists. Every March, people set their clocks forward an hour, only to set them back again in November for potentially no reason at all.

(2) The most that the average citizens know about Daylight Savings Time’s history is that it was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin. While he did propose the idea in 1784, Daylight Saving Time wasn’t adopted by America until 1918 (over 100 years after Franklin’s death), after several European countries had already started the trend. Many Europeans had like Franklin’s idea, but no one seriously considered it until an English builder named William Willet proposed it in a pamphlet in 1907. The other thing that people seem to “know” about Daylight Saving Time is that it was created to help farmers. How that exactly works no one seems to know. The real truth of how Daylight Saving Time is much simpler than that, and really quite innocent.

(3) The real reason that Daylight Saving Time was adopted was so that people would have more time in the evening to spend outside in the sunlight. Why waste that beautiful sunlight on the mornings when people are asleep? Since the inception of Daylight Saving Time in America 100 years ago, experts have tried to justify its merits. Many experts assert that it saves the country on energy costs. This is true, though the amount of energy that we save during this time is fairly minimal (maybe 1%). Others posit that more daylight during the evening makes us safer and less likely to suffer in accidents. Studies have shown, however, that the adjustment of our internal clocks is not a smooth one, and leads to a spike each March in incidents like heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents. So, why do we still do it every year?

(4) The answer to this question is once again a fairly simple, and rather endearing, one: We like it. Daylight Saving Time was originally created to give people an extra hour of daylight in the evening, and that’s exactly why it’s still done today. As long as people enjoy that extra hour in the evening, Daylight Saving Time isn’t going anywhere.

(1) Each year, western nations like the United States of America and countries in the European Union participate in Daylight Saving Time. While different countries treat Daylight Saving Time differently, they generally all follow the same idea. During the summer season, everyone adjusts their clocks so that there is an extra hour of sunlight in the evening that normally would have occurred in the morning. As strange as this practice is, what’s even stranger is that most people have no idea why Daylight Saving Time exists. Every March, people set their clocks forward an hour, only to set them back again in November for potentially no reason at all.

(2) The most that the average citizens know about Daylight Savings Time’s history is that it was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin. While he did propose the idea in 1784, Daylight Saving Time wasn’t adopted by America until 1918 (over 100 years after Franklin’s death), after several European countries had already started the trend. Many Europeans had like Franklin’s idea, but no one seriously considered it until an English builder named William Willet proposed it in a pamphlet in 1907. The other thing that people seem to “know” about Daylight Saving Time is that it was created to help farmers. How that exactly works no one seems to know. The real truth of how Daylight Saving Time is much simpler than that, and really quite innocent.

(3) The real reason that Daylight Saving Time was adopted was so that people would have more time in the evening to spend outside in the sunlight. Why waste that beautiful sunlight on the mornings when people are asleep? Since the inception of Daylight Saving Time in America 100 years ago, experts have tried to justify its merits. Many experts assert that it saves the country on energy costs. This is true, though the amount of energy that we save during this time is fairly minimal (maybe 1%). Others posit that more daylight during the evening makes us safer and less likely to suffer in accidents. Studies have shown, however, that the adjustment of our internal clocks is not a smooth one, and leads to a spike each March in incidents like heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents. So, why do we still do it every year?

(4) The answer to this question is once again a fairly simple, and rather endearing, one: We like it. Daylight Saving Time was originally created to give people an extra hour of daylight in the evening, and that’s exactly why it’s still done today. As long as people enjoy that extra hour in the evening, Daylight Saving Time isn’t going anywhere.

(1) Each year, western nations like the United States of America and countries in the European Union participate in Daylight Saving Time. While different countries treat Daylight Saving Time differently, they generally all follow the same idea. During the summer season, everyone adjusts their clocks so that there is an extra hour of sunlight in the evening that normally would have occurred in the morning. As strange as this practice is, what’s even stranger is that most people have no idea why Daylight Saving Time exists. Every March, people set their clocks forward an hour, only to set them back again in November for potentially no reason at all.

(2) The most that the average citizens know about Daylight Savings Time’s history is that it was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin. While he did propose the idea in 1784, Daylight Saving Time wasn’t adopted by America until 1918 (over 100 years after Franklin’s death), after several European countries had already started the trend. Many Europeans had like Franklin’s idea, but no one seriously considered it until an English builder named William Willet proposed it in a pamphlet in 1907. The other thing that people seem to “know” about Daylight Saving Time is that it was created to help farmers. How that exactly works no one seems to know. The real truth of how Daylight Saving Time is much simpler than that, and really quite innocent.

(3) The real reason that Daylight Saving Time was adopted was so that people would have more time in the evening to spend outside in the sunlight. Why waste that beautiful sunlight on the mornings when people are asleep? Since the inception of Daylight Saving Time in America 100 years ago, experts have tried to justify its merits. Many experts assert that it saves the country on energy costs. This is true, though the amount of energy that we save during this time is fairly minimal (maybe 1%). Others posit that more daylight during the evening makes us safer and less likely to suffer in accidents. Studies have shown, however, that the adjustment of our internal clocks is not a smooth one, and leads to a spike each March in incidents like heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents. So, why do we still do it every year?

(4) The answer to this question is once again a fairly simple, and rather endearing, one: We like it. Daylight Saving Time was originally created to give people an extra hour of daylight in the evening, and that’s exactly why it’s still done today. As long as people enjoy that extra hour in the evening, Daylight Saving Time isn’t going anywhere.

(1) Each year, western nations like the United States of America and countries in the European Union participate in Daylight Saving Time. While different countries treat Daylight Saving Time differently, they generally all follow the same idea. During the summer season, everyone adjusts their clocks so that there is an extra hour of sunlight in the evening that normally would have occurred in the morning. As strange as this practice is, what’s even stranger is that most people have no idea why Daylight Saving Time exists. Every March, people set their clocks forward an hour, only to set them back again in November for potentially no reason at all.

(2) The most that the average citizens know about Daylight Savings Time’s history is that it was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin. While he did propose the idea in 1784, Daylight Saving Time wasn’t adopted by America until 1918 (over 100 years after Franklin’s death), after several European countries had already started the trend. Many Europeans had like Franklin’s idea, but no one seriously considered it until an English builder named William Willet proposed it in a pamphlet in 1907. The other thing that people seem to “know” about Daylight Saving Time is that it was created to help farmers. How that exactly works no one seems to know. The real truth of how Daylight Saving Time is much simpler than that, and really quite innocent.

(3) The real reason that Daylight Saving Time was adopted was so that people would have more time in the evening to spend outside in the sunlight. Why waste that beautiful sunlight on the mornings when people are asleep? Since the inception of Daylight Saving Time in America 100 years ago, experts have tried to justify its merits. Many experts assert that it saves the country on energy costs. This is true, though the amount of energy that we save during this time is fairly minimal (maybe 1%). Others posit that more daylight during the evening makes us safer and less likely to suffer in accidents. Studies have shown, however, that the adjustment of our internal clocks is not a smooth one, and leads to a spike each March in incidents like heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents. So, why do we still do it every year?

(4) The answer to this question is once again a fairly simple, and rather endearing, one: We like it. Daylight Saving Time was originally created to give people an extra hour of daylight in the evening, and that’s exactly why it’s still done today. As long as people enjoy that extra hour in the evening, Daylight Saving Time isn’t going anywhere.

(1) Each year, western nations like the United States of America and countries in the European Union participate in Daylight Saving Time. While different countries treat Daylight Saving Time differently, they generally all follow the same idea. During the summer season, everyone adjusts their clocks so that there is an extra hour of sunlight in the evening that normally would have occurred in the morning. As strange as this practice is, what’s even stranger is that most people have no idea why Daylight Saving Time exists. Every March, people set their clocks forward an hour, only to set them back again in November for potentially no reason at all.

(2) The most that the average citizens know about Daylight Savings Time’s history is that it was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin. While he did propose the idea in 1784, Daylight Saving Time wasn’t adopted by America until 1918 (over 100 years after Franklin’s death), after several European countries had already started the trend. Many Europeans had like Franklin’s idea, but no one seriously considered it until an English builder named William Willet proposed it in a pamphlet in 1907. The other thing that people seem to “know” about Daylight Saving Time is that it was created to help farmers. How that exactly works no one seems to know. The real truth of how Daylight Saving Time is much simpler than that, and really quite innocent.

(3) The real reason that Daylight Saving Time was adopted was so that people would have more time in the evening to spend outside in the sunlight. Why waste that beautiful sunlight on the mornings when people are asleep? Since the inception of Daylight Saving Time in America 100 years ago, experts have tried to justify its merits. Many experts assert that it saves the country on energy costs. This is true, though the amount of energy that we save during this time is fairly minimal (maybe 1%). Others posit that more daylight during the evening makes us safer and less likely to suffer in accidents. Studies have shown, however, that the adjustment of our internal clocks is not a smooth one, and leads to a spike each March in incidents like heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents. So, why do we still do it every year?

(4) The answer to this question is once again a fairly simple, and rather endearing, one: We like it. Daylight Saving Time was originally created to give people an extra hour of daylight in the evening, and that’s exactly why it’s still done today. As long as people enjoy that extra hour in the evening, Daylight Saving Time isn’t going anywhere.

(1) Each year, western nations like the United States of America and countries in the European Union participate in Daylight Saving Time. While different countries treat Daylight Saving Time differently, they generally all follow the same idea. During the summer season, everyone adjusts their clocks so that there is an extra hour of sunlight in the evening that normally would have occurred in the morning. As strange as this practice is, what’s even stranger is that most people have no idea why Daylight Saving Time exists. Every March, people set their clocks forward an hour, only to set them back again in November for potentially no reason at all.

(2) The most that the average citizens know about Daylight Savings Time’s history is that it was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin. While he did propose the idea in 1784, Daylight Saving Time wasn’t adopted by America until 1918 (over 100 years after Franklin’s death), after several European countries had already started the trend. Many Europeans had like Franklin’s idea, but no one seriously considered it until an English builder named William Willet proposed it in a pamphlet in 1907. The other thing that people seem to “know” about Daylight Saving Time is that it was created to help farmers. How that exactly works no one seems to know. The real truth of how Daylight Saving Time is much simpler than that, and really quite innocent.

(3) The real reason that Daylight Saving Time was adopted was so that people would have more time in the evening to spend outside in the sunlight. Why waste that beautiful sunlight on the mornings when people are asleep? Since the inception of Daylight Saving Time in America 100 years ago, experts have tried to justify its merits. Many experts assert that it saves the country on energy costs. This is true, though the amount of energy that we save during this time is fairly minimal (maybe 1%). Others posit that more daylight during the evening makes us safer and less likely to suffer in accidents. Studies have shown, however, that the adjustment of our internal clocks is not a smooth one, and leads to a spike each March in incidents like heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents. So, why do we still do it every year?

(4) The answer to this question is once again a fairly simple, and rather endearing, one: We like it. Daylight Saving Time was originally created to give people an extra hour of daylight in the evening, and that’s exactly why it’s still done today. As long as people enjoy that extra hour in the evening, Daylight Saving Time isn’t going anywhere.

(1) America has always honored its heroes by erecting monuments to their greatness. You’d be hard-pressed to find any town in America that doesn’t have at least a small statue memorializing an important figure. In the last few years, however, people have started questioning some of the monuments we have erected. Should we tear down monuments that honor people with a controversial history?

(2) The most controversial monuments in America right now are monuments that honor leaders and soldiers from the Confederate Army during the Civil War. To what degree should America honor people who seceded from the country in an effort to protect their right to own slaves? Slavery is America’s great shame and the blame for such a travesty doesn’t fall only on the south, but the Confederate Army was so resistant to the idea of freeing slaves that they were willing to go to war over it. Opponents of these monuments argue that this is not the type of person we should be honoring, and doing so is a constant insult to people of color who now live free in our country.

(3) Defenders of these monuments argue that tearing down these monuments would be an attempt to forget our country’s history. They argue that it’s important for us to remember heroes from both sides of the Civil War. However, groups advocating for these monuments are often the ones who argue that slavery was only a minor part of the Civil War, a fact which is wholly refuted by history.

(4) The debate over Civil War statues also sheds light on the 600 or more monuments and memorials to one of America’s most important and controversial historical figures. For those who love his statues, Christopher Columbus is the man who discovered America and made this country possible. To those who oppose his memorials, Christopher Columbus invaded America and committed genocide (whether intentional or through negligence) in order to gain control of new land. Is a man who caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people worth memorializing?

(5) America is struggling with its identity right now. The country is trying to decide how best to remember our past without honoring the negative aspects of it. People who fight for these monuments argue that taking them down would be trying to forget history. The truth is, though, America should take down any monuments to people who have acted with hate and violence, like Confederate soldiers and Christopher Columbus, because monuments are meant to honor role models. These figures are important parts of American history, so we should make sure we discuss them in our history books. But our monuments should be reserved for our true American heroes.

(1) America has always honored its heroes by erecting monuments to their greatness. You’d be hard-pressed to find any town in America that doesn’t have at least a small statue memorializing an important figure. In the last few years, however, people have started questioning some of the monuments we have erected. Should we tear down monuments that honor people with a controversial history?

(2) The most controversial monuments in America right now are monuments that honor leaders and soldiers from the Confederate Army during the Civil War. To what degree should America honor people who seceded from the country in an effort to protect their right to own slaves? Slavery is America’s great shame and the blame for such a travesty doesn’t fall only on the south, but the Confederate Army was so resistant to the idea of freeing slaves that they were willing to go to war over it. Opponents of these monuments argue that this is not the type of person we should be honoring, and doing so is a constant insult to people of color who now live free in our country.

(3) Defenders of these monuments argue that tearing down these monuments would be an attempt to forget our country’s history. They argue that it’s important for us to remember heroes from both sides of the Civil War. However, groups advocating for these monuments are often the ones who argue that slavery was only a minor part of the Civil War, a fact which is wholly refuted by history.

(4) The debate over Civil War statues also sheds light on the 600 or more monuments and memorials to one of America’s most important and controversial historical figures. For those who love his statues, Christopher Columbus is the man who discovered America and made this country possible. To those who oppose his memorials, Christopher Columbus invaded America and committed genocide (whether intentional or through negligence) in order to gain control of new land. Is a man who caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people worth memorializing?

(5) America is struggling with its identity right now. The country is trying to decide how best to remember our past without honoring the negative aspects of it. People who fight for these monuments argue that taking them down would be trying to forget history. The truth is, though, America should take down any monuments to people who have acted with hate and violence, like Confederate soldiers and Christopher Columbus, because monuments are meant to honor role models. These figures are important parts of American history, so we should make sure we discuss them in our history books. But our monuments should be reserved for our true American heroes.

(1) America has always honored its heroes by erecting monuments to their greatness. You’d be hard-pressed to find any town in America that doesn’t have at least a small statue memorializing an important figure. In the last few years, however, people have started questioning some of the monuments we have erected. Should we tear down monuments that honor people with a controversial history?

(2) The most controversial monuments in America right now are monuments that honor leaders and soldiers from the Confederate Army during the Civil War. To what degree should America honor people who seceded from the country in an effort to protect their right to own slaves? Slavery is America’s great shame and the blame for such a travesty doesn’t fall only on the south, but the Confederate Army was so resistant to the idea of freeing slaves that they were willing to go to war over it. Opponents of these monuments argue that this is not the type of person we should be honoring, and doing so is a constant insult to people of color who now live free in our country.

(3) Defenders of these monuments argue that tearing down these monuments would be an attempt to forget our country’s history. They argue that it’s important for us to remember heroes from both sides of the Civil War. However, groups advocating for these monuments are often the ones who argue that slavery was only a minor part of the Civil War, a fact which is wholly refuted by history.

(4) The debate over Civil War statues also sheds light on the 600 or more monuments and memorials to one of America’s most important and controversial historical figures. For those who love his statues, Christopher Columbus is the man who discovered America and made this country possible. To those who oppose his memorials, Christopher Columbus invaded America and committed genocide (whether intentional or through negligence) in order to gain control of new land. Is a man who caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people worth memorializing?

(5) America is struggling with its identity right now. The country is trying to decide how best to remember our past without honoring the negative aspects of it. People who fight for these monuments argue that taking them down would be trying to forget history. The truth is, though, America should take down any monuments to people who have acted with hate and violence, like Confederate soldiers and Christopher Columbus, because monuments are meant to honor role models. These figures are important parts of American history, so we should make sure we discuss them in our history books. But our monuments should be reserved for our true American heroes.

(1) America has always honored its heroes by erecting monuments to their greatness. You’d be hard-pressed to find any town in America that doesn’t have at least a small statue memorializing an important figure. In the last few years, however, people have started questioning some of the monuments we have erected. Should we tear down monuments that honor people with a controversial history?

(2) The most controversial monuments in America right now are monuments that honor leaders and soldiers from the Confederate Army during the Civil War. To what degree should America honor people who seceded from the country in an effort to protect their right to own slaves? Slavery is America’s great shame and the blame for such a travesty doesn’t fall only on the south, but the Confederate Army was so resistant to the idea of freeing slaves that they were willing to go to war over it. Opponents of these monuments argue that this is not the type of person we should be honoring, and doing so is a constant insult to people of color who now live free in our country.

(3) Defenders of these monuments argue that tearing down these monuments would be an attempt to forget our country’s history. They argue that it’s important for us to remember heroes from both sides of the Civil War. However, groups advocating for these monuments are often the ones who argue that slavery was only a minor part of the Civil War, a fact which is wholly refuted by history.

(4) The debate over Civil War statues also sheds light on the 600 or more monuments and memorials to one of America’s most important and controversial historical figures. For those who love his statues, Christopher Columbus is the man who discovered America and made this country possible. To those who oppose his memorials, Christopher Columbus invaded America and committed genocide (whether intentional or through negligence) in order to gain control of new land. Is a man who caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people worth memorializing?

(5) America is struggling with its identity right now. The country is trying to decide how best to remember our past without honoring the negative aspects of it. People who fight for these monuments argue that taking them down would be trying to forget history. The truth is, though, America should take down any monuments to people who have acted with hate and violence, like Confederate soldiers and Christopher Columbus, because monuments are meant to honor role models. These figures are important parts of American history, so we should make sure we discuss them in our history books. But our monuments should be reserved for our true American heroes.

(1) America has always honored its heroes by erecting monuments to their greatness. You’d be hard-pressed to find any town in America that doesn’t have at least a small statue memorializing an important figure. In the last few years, however, people have started questioning some of the monuments we have erected. Should we tear down monuments that honor people with a controversial history?

(2) The most controversial monuments in America right now are monuments that honor leaders and soldiers from the Confederate Army during the Civil War. To what degree should America honor people who seceded from the country in an effort to protect their right to own slaves? Slavery is America’s great shame and the blame for such a travesty doesn’t fall only on the south, but the Confederate Army was so resistant to the idea of freeing slaves that they were willing to go to war over it. Opponents of these monuments argue that this is not the type of person we should be honoring, and doing so is a constant insult to people of color who now live free in our country.

(3) Defenders of these monuments argue that tearing down these monuments would be an attempt to forget our country’s history. They argue that it’s important for us to remember heroes from both sides of the Civil War. However, groups advocating for these monuments are often the ones who argue that slavery was only a minor part of the Civil War, a fact which is wholly refuted by history.

(4) The debate over Civil War statues also sheds light on the 600 or more monuments and memorials to one of America’s most important and controversial historical figures. For those who love his statues, Christopher Columbus is the man who discovered America and made this country possible. To those who oppose his memorials, Christopher Columbus invaded America and committed genocide (whether intentional or through negligence) in order to gain control of new land. Is a man who caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people worth memorializing?

(5) America is struggling with its identity right now. The country is trying to decide how best to remember our past without honoring the negative aspects of it. People who fight for these monuments argue that taking them down would be trying to forget history. The truth is, though, America should take down any monuments to people who have acted with hate and violence, like Confederate soldiers and Christopher Columbus, because monuments are meant to honor role models. These figures are important parts of American history, so we should make sure we discuss them in our history books. But our monuments should be reserved for our true American heroes.

(1) America has always honored its heroes by erecting monuments to their greatness. You’d be hard-pressed to find any town in America that doesn’t have at least a small statue memorializing an important figure. In the last few years, however, people have started questioning some of the monuments we have erected. Should we tear down monuments that honor people with a controversial history?

(2) The most controversial monuments in America right now are monuments that honor leaders and soldiers from the Confederate Army during the Civil War. To what degree should America honor people who seceded from the country in an effort to protect their right to own slaves? Slavery is America’s great shame and the blame for such a travesty doesn’t fall only on the south, but the Confederate Army was so resistant to the idea of freeing slaves that they were willing to go to war over it. Opponents of these monuments argue that this is not the type of person we should be honoring, and doing so is a constant insult to people of color who now live free in our country.

(3) Defenders of these monuments argue that tearing down these monuments would be an attempt to forget our country’s history. They argue that it’s important for us to remember heroes from both sides of the Civil War. However, groups advocating for these monuments are often the ones who argue that slavery was only a minor part of the Civil War, a fact which is wholly refuted by history.

(4) The debate over Civil War statues also sheds light on the 600 or more monuments and memorials to one of America’s most important and controversial historical figures. For those who love his statues, Christopher Columbus is the man who discovered America and made this country possible. To those who oppose his memorials, Christopher Columbus invaded America and committed genocide (whether intentional or through negligence) in order to gain control of new land. Is a man who caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people worth memorializing?

(5) America is struggling with its identity right now. The country is trying to decide how best to remember our past without honoring the negative aspects of it. People who fight for these monuments argue that taking them down would be trying to forget history. The truth is, though, America should take down any monuments to people who have acted with hate and violence, like Confederate soldiers and Christopher Columbus, because monuments are meant to honor role models. These figures are important parts of American history, so we should make sure we discuss them in our history books. But our monuments should be reserved for our true American heroes.

(1) America has always honored its heroes by erecting monuments to their greatness. You’d be hard-pressed to find any town in America that doesn’t have at least a small statue memorializing an important figure. In the last few years, however, people have started questioning some of the monuments we have erected. Should we tear down monuments that honor people with a controversial history?

(2) The most controversial monuments in America right now are monuments that honor leaders and soldiers from the Confederate Army during the Civil War. To what degree should America honor people who seceded from the country in an effort to protect their right to own slaves? Slavery is America’s great shame and the blame for such a travesty doesn’t fall only on the south, but the Confederate Army was so resistant to the idea of freeing slaves that they were willing to go to war over it. Opponents of these monuments argue that this is not the type of person we should be honoring, and doing so is a constant insult to people of color who now live free in our country.

(3) Defenders of these monuments argue that tearing down these monuments would be an attempt to forget our country’s history. They argue that it’s important for us to remember heroes from both sides of the Civil War. However, groups advocating for these monuments are often the ones who argue that slavery was only a minor part of the Civil War, a fact which is wholly refuted by history.

(4) The debate over Civil War statues also sheds light on the 600 or more monuments and memorials to one of America’s most important and controversial historical figures. For those who love his statues, Christopher Columbus is the man who discovered America and made this country possible. To those who oppose his memorials, Christopher Columbus invaded America and committed genocide (whether intentional or through negligence) in order to gain control of new land. Is a man who caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people worth memorializing?

(5) America is struggling with its identity right now. The country is trying to decide how best to remember our past without honoring the negative aspects of it. People who fight for these monuments argue that taking them down would be trying to forget history. The truth is, though, America should take down any monuments to people who have acted with hate and violence, like Confederate soldiers and Christopher Columbus, because monuments are meant to honor role models. These figures are important parts of American history, so we should make sure we discuss them in our history books. But our monuments should be reserved for our true American heroes.

(1) America has always honored its heroes by erecting monuments to their greatness. You’d be hard-pressed to find any town in America that doesn’t have at least a small statue memorializing an important figure. In the last few years, however, people have started questioning some of the monuments we have erected. Should we tear down monuments that honor people with a controversial history?

(2) The most controversial monuments in America right now are monuments that honor leaders and soldiers from the Confederate Army during the Civil War. To what degree should America honor people who seceded from the country in an effort to protect their right to own slaves? Slavery is America’s great shame and the blame for such a travesty doesn’t fall only on the south, but the Confederate Army was so resistant to the idea of freeing slaves that they were willing to go to war over it. Opponents of these monuments argue that this is not the type of person we should be honoring, and doing so is a constant insult to people of color who now live free in our country.

(3) Defenders of these monuments argue that tearing down these monuments would be an attempt to forget our country’s history. They argue that it’s important for us to remember heroes from both sides of the Civil War. However, groups advocating for these monuments are often the ones who argue that slavery was only a minor part of the Civil War, a fact which is wholly refuted by history.

(4) The debate over Civil War statues also sheds light on the 600 or more monuments and memorials to one of America’s most important and controversial historical figures. For those who love his statues, Christopher Columbus is the man who discovered America and made this country possible. To those who oppose his memorials, Christopher Columbus invaded America and committed genocide (whether intentional or through negligence) in order to gain control of new land. Is a man who caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people worth memorializing?

(5) America is struggling with its identity right now. The country is trying to decide how best to remember our past without honoring the negative aspects of it. People who fight for these monuments argue that taking them down would be trying to forget history. The truth is, though, America should take down any monuments to people who have acted with hate and violence, like Confederate soldiers and Christopher Columbus, because monuments are meant to honor role models. These figures are important parts of American history, so we should make sure we discuss them in our history books. But our monuments should be reserved for our true American heroes.

(1) America has always honored its heroes by erecting monuments to their greatness. You’d be hard-pressed to find any town in America that doesn’t have at least a small statue memorializing an important figure. In the last few years, however, people have started questioning some of the monuments we have erected. Should we tear down monuments that honor people with a controversial history?

(2) The most controversial monuments in America right now are monuments that honor leaders and soldiers from the Confederate Army during the Civil War. To what degree should America honor people who seceded from the country in an effort to protect their right to own slaves? Slavery is America’s great shame and the blame for such a travesty doesn’t fall only on the south, but the Confederate Army was so resistant to the idea of freeing slaves that they were willing to go to war over it. Opponents of these monuments argue that this is not the type of person we should be honoring, and doing so is a constant insult to people of color who now live free in our country.

(3) Defenders of these monuments argue that tearing down these monuments would be an attempt to forget our country’s history. They argue that it’s important for us to remember heroes from both sides of the Civil War. However, groups advocating for these monuments are often the ones who argue that slavery was only a minor part of the Civil War, a fact which is wholly refuted by history.

(4) The debate over Civil War statues also sheds light on the 600 or more monuments and memorials to one of America’s most important and controversial historical figures. For those who love his statues, Christopher Columbus is the man who discovered America and made this country possible. To those who oppose his memorials, Christopher Columbus invaded America and committed genocide (whether intentional or through negligence) in order to gain control of new land. Is a man who caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people worth memorializing?

(5) America is struggling with its identity right now. The country is trying to decide how best to remember our past without honoring the negative aspects of it. People who fight for these monuments argue that taking them down would be trying to forget history. The truth is, though, America should take down any monuments to people who have acted with hate and violence, like Confederate soldiers and Christopher Columbus, because monuments are meant to honor role models. These figures are important parts of American history, so we should make sure we discuss them in our history books. But our monuments should be reserved for our true American heroes.

(1) Since it opened its doors in 1959, SeaWorld has been fraught with controversy. The company was founded as a new source of entertainment for theme park visitors. Patrons would have the opportunity to see something they had never seen before: a killer whale swimming around in a tank right in front of them. In many people’s eyes, however, this experience was coming at a price; a price that was being paid by the very creatures everyone was coming to see. Many have called into question how humanely these animals are being treated, both in the process of their capture and in the periods of their captivity. These beautiful creatures who were once free to roam the ocean with their families are being torn from their habitat and stuffed into tanks that don’t give them the freedom they need.

(2) People have always marveled at what they don’t understand. In the eyes of the company and its shareholders, SeaWorld is a place where people can come to safely observe these animals swimming around right in front of them. People want to be able to see these wonderful orcas, and SeaWorld is making it possible. The cost of this convenience, however, has activists from all over the world boycotting SeaWorld and trying to expose their poor treatment of whales to the viewing public.

(3) One of the biggest complaints that activists have about SeaWorld is the way orcas are treated as a commodity rather than as animals. SeaWorld is a company who is trying to make a profit, and activists believe that their myopic focus on making a profit consistently gets in the way of their need to care for the whales and treat them humanely. Orcas are ripped from their homes, separated from their families, sold off to parks around the world (some of which are only loosely regulated), and shoved into tanks that are way too small and contain few if any stimuli for the animals. Once in captivity, activists argue, these whales live a depressing life that consists mainly of eating and performing in an environment that constantly stunts their growth.

(4) While it is a great novelty to be able to go to a theme park and see a beautiful killer whale in person, the struggle that these whales have to go through just to entertain us is inhumane. For SeaWorld to treat these orcas fairly, they would have to spend a lot of money to improve their capturing methods and to improve the conditions in which the orcas live when they are in captivity. These kinds of changes are expensive, complicated, and would seriously reduce the company’s ability to make a profit. If SeaWorld can’t survive in a marketplace where they are forced to treat their animals humanely, however, then they deserve to fail and need to be shut down.

(1) Since it opened its doors in 1959, SeaWorld has been fraught with controversy. The company was founded as a new source of entertainment for theme park visitors. Patrons would have the opportunity to see something they had never seen before: a killer whale swimming around in a tank right in front of them. In many people’s eyes, however, this experience was coming at a price; a price that was being paid by the very creatures everyone was coming to see. Many have called into question how humanely these animals are being treated, both in the process of their capture and in the periods of their captivity. These beautiful creatures who were once free to roam the ocean with their families are being torn from their habitat and stuffed into tanks that don’t give them the freedom they need.

(2) People have always marveled at what they don’t understand. In the eyes of the company and its shareholders, SeaWorld is a place where people can come to safely observe these animals swimming around right in front of them. People want to be able to see these wonderful orcas, and SeaWorld is making it possible. The cost of this convenience, however, has activists from all over the world boycotting SeaWorld and trying to expose their poor treatment of whales to the viewing public.

(3) One of the biggest complaints that activists have about SeaWorld is the way orcas are treated as a commodity rather than as animals. SeaWorld is a company who is trying to make a profit, and activists believe that their myopic focus on making a profit consistently gets in the way of their need to care for the whales and treat them humanely. Orcas are ripped from their homes, separated from their families, sold off to parks around the world (some of which are only loosely regulated), and shoved into tanks that are way too small and contain few if any stimuli for the animals. Once in captivity, activists argue, these whales live a depressing life that consists mainly of eating and performing in an environment that constantly stunts their growth.

(4) While it is a great novelty to be able to go to a theme park and see a beautiful killer whale in person, the struggle that these whales have to go through just to entertain us is inhumane. For SeaWorld to treat these orcas fairly, they would have to spend a lot of money to improve their capturing methods and to improve the conditions in which the orcas live when they are in captivity. These kinds of changes are expensive, complicated, and would seriously reduce the company’s ability to make a profit. If SeaWorld can’t survive in a marketplace where they are forced to treat their animals humanely, however, then they deserve to fail and need to be shut down.

(1) Since it opened its doors in 1959, SeaWorld has been fraught with controversy. The company was founded as a new source of entertainment for theme park visitors. Patrons would have the opportunity to see something they had never seen before: a killer whale swimming around in a tank right in front of them. In many people’s eyes, however, this experience was coming at a price; a price that was being paid by the very creatures everyone was coming to see. Many have called into question how humanely these animals are being treated, both in the process of their capture and in the periods of their captivity. These beautiful creatures who were once free to roam the ocean with their families are being torn from their habitat and stuffed into tanks that don’t give them the freedom they need.

(2) People have always marveled at what they don’t understand. In the eyes of the company and its shareholders, SeaWorld is a place where people can come to safely observe these animals swimming around right in front of them. People want to be able to see these wonderful orcas, and SeaWorld is making it possible. The cost of this convenience, however, has activists from all over the world boycotting SeaWorld and trying to expose their poor treatment of whales to the viewing public.

(3) One of the biggest complaints that activists have about SeaWorld is the way orcas are treated as a commodity rather than as animals. SeaWorld is a company who is trying to make a profit, and activists believe that their myopic focus on making a profit consistently gets in the way of their need to care for the whales and treat them humanely. Orcas are ripped from their homes, separated from their families, sold off to parks around the world (some of which are only loosely regulated), and shoved into tanks that are way too small and contain few if any stimuli for the animals. Once in captivity, activists argue, these whales live a depressing life that consists mainly of eating and performing in an environment that constantly stunts their growth.

(4) While it is a great novelty to be able to go to a theme park and see a beautiful killer whale in person, the struggle that these whales have to go through just to entertain us is inhumane. For SeaWorld to treat these orcas fairly, they would have to spend a lot of money to improve their capturing methods and to improve the conditions in which the orcas live when they are in captivity. These kinds of changes are expensive, complicated, and would seriously reduce the company’s ability to make a profit. If SeaWorld can’t survive in a marketplace where they are forced to treat their animals humanely, however, then they deserve to fail and need to be shut down.

(1) Since it opened its doors in 1959, SeaWorld has been fraught with controversy. The company was founded as a new source of entertainment for theme park visitors. Patrons would have the opportunity to see something they had never seen before: a killer whale swimming around in a tank right in front of them. In many people’s eyes, however, this experience was coming at a price; a price that was being paid by the very creatures everyone was coming to see. Many have called into question how humanely these animals are being treated, both in the process of their capture and in the periods of their captivity. These beautiful creatures who were once free to roam the ocean with their families are being torn from their habitat and stuffed into tanks that don’t give them the freedom they need.

(2) People have always marveled at what they don’t understand. In the eyes of the company and its shareholders, SeaWorld is a place where people can come to safely observe these animals swimming around right in front of them. People want to be able to see these wonderful orcas, and SeaWorld is making it possible. The cost of this convenience, however, has activists from all over the world boycotting SeaWorld and trying to expose their poor treatment of whales to the viewing public.

(3) One of the biggest complaints that activists have about SeaWorld is the way orcas are treated as a commodity rather than as animals. SeaWorld is a company who is trying to make a profit, and activists believe that their myopic focus on making a profit consistently gets in the way of their need to care for the whales and treat them humanely. Orcas are ripped from their homes, separated from their families, sold off to parks around the world (some of which are only loosely regulated), and shoved into tanks that are way too small and contain few if any stimuli for the animals. Once in captivity, activists argue, these whales live a depressing life that consists mainly of eating and performing in an environment that constantly stunts their growth.

(4) While it is a great novelty to be able to go to a theme park and see a beautiful killer whale in person, the struggle that these whales have to go through just to entertain us is inhumane. For SeaWorld to treat these orcas fairly, they would have to spend a lot of money to improve their capturing methods and to improve the conditions in which the orcas live when they are in captivity. These kinds of changes are expensive, complicated, and would seriously reduce the company’s ability to make a profit. If SeaWorld can’t survive in a marketplace where they are forced to treat their animals humanely, however, then they deserve to fail and need to be shut down.

(1) Since it opened its doors in 1959, SeaWorld has been fraught with controversy. The company was founded as a new source of entertainment for theme park visitors. Patrons would have the opportunity to see something they had never seen before: a killer whale swimming around in a tank right in front of them. In many people’s eyes, however, this experience was coming at a price; a price that was being paid by the very creatures everyone was coming to see. Many have called into question how humanely these animals are being treated, both in the process of their capture and in the periods of their captivity. These beautiful creatures who were once free to roam the ocean with their families are being torn from their habitat and stuffed into tanks that don’t give them the freedom they need.

(2) People have always marveled at what they don’t understand. In the eyes of the company and its shareholders, SeaWorld is a place where people can come to safely observe these animals swimming around right in front of them. People want to be able to see these wonderful orcas, and SeaWorld is making it possible. The cost of this convenience, however, has activists from all over the world boycotting SeaWorld and trying to expose their poor treatment of whales to the viewing public.

(3) One of the biggest complaints that activists have about SeaWorld is the way orcas are treated as a commodity rather than as animals. SeaWorld is a company who is trying to make a profit, and activists believe that their myopic focus on making a profit consistently gets in the way of their need to care for the whales and treat them humanely. Orcas are ripped from their homes, separated from their families, sold off to parks around the world (some of which are only loosely regulated), and shoved into tanks that are way too small and contain few if any stimuli for the animals. Once in captivity, activists argue, these whales live a depressing life that consists mainly of eating and performing in an environment that constantly stunts their growth.

(4) While it is a great novelty to be able to go to a theme park and see a beautiful killer whale in person, the struggle that these whales have to go through just to entertain us is inhumane. For SeaWorld to treat these orcas fairly, they would have to spend a lot of money to improve their capturing methods and to improve the conditions in which the orcas live when they are in captivity. These kinds of changes are expensive, complicated, and would seriously reduce the company’s ability to make a profit. If SeaWorld can’t survive in a marketplace where they are forced to treat their animals humanely, however, then they deserve to fail and need to be shut down.

(1) Since it opened its doors in 1959, SeaWorld has been fraught with controversy. The company was founded as a new source of entertainment for theme park visitors. Patrons would have the opportunity to see something they had never seen before: a killer whale swimming around in a tank right in front of them. In many people’s eyes, however, this experience was coming at a price; a price that was being paid by the very creatures everyone was coming to see. Many have called into question how humanely these animals are being treated, both in the process of their capture and in the periods of their captivity. These beautiful creatures who were once free to roam the ocean with their families are being torn from their habitat and stuffed into tanks that don’t give them the freedom they need.

(2) People have always marveled at what they don’t understand. In the eyes of the company and its shareholders, SeaWorld is a place where people can come to safely observe these animals swimming around right in front of them. People want to be able to see these wonderful orcas, and SeaWorld is making it possible. The cost of this convenience, however, has activists from all over the world boycotting SeaWorld and trying to expose their poor treatment of whales to the viewing public.

(3) One of the biggest complaints that activists have about SeaWorld is the way orcas are treated as a commodity rather than as animals. SeaWorld is a company who is trying to make a profit, and activists believe that their myopic focus on making a profit consistently gets in the way of their need to care for the whales and treat them humanely. Orcas are ripped from their homes, separated from their families, sold off to parks around the world (some of which are only loosely regulated), and shoved into tanks that are way too small and contain few if any stimuli for the animals. Once in captivity, activists argue, these whales live a depressing life that consists mainly of eating and performing in an environment that constantly stunts their growth.

(4) While it is a great novelty to be able to go to a theme park and see a beautiful killer whale in person, the struggle that these whales have to go through just to entertain us is inhumane. For SeaWorld to treat these orcas fairly, they would have to spend a lot of money to improve their capturing methods and to improve the conditions in which the orcas live when they are in captivity. These kinds of changes are expensive, complicated, and would seriously reduce the company’s ability to make a profit. If SeaWorld can’t survive in a marketplace where they are forced to treat their animals humanely, however, then they deserve to fail and need to be shut down.

(1) Since it opened its doors in 1959, SeaWorld has been fraught with controversy. The company was founded as a new source of entertainment for theme park visitors. Patrons would have the opportunity to see something they had never seen before: a killer whale swimming around in a tank right in front of them. In many people’s eyes, however, this experience was coming at a price; a price that was being paid by the very creatures everyone was coming to see. Many have called into question how humanely these animals are being treated, both in the process of their capture and in the periods of their captivity. These beautiful creatures who were once free to roam the ocean with their families are being torn from their habitat and stuffed into tanks that don’t give them the freedom they need.

(2) People have always marveled at what they don’t understand. In the eyes of the company and its shareholders, SeaWorld is a place where people can come to safely observe these animals swimming around right in front of them. People want to be able to see these wonderful orcas, and SeaWorld is making it possible. The cost of this convenience, however, has activists from all over the world boycotting SeaWorld and trying to expose their poor treatment of whales to the viewing public.

(3) One of the biggest complaints that activists have about SeaWorld is the way orcas are treated as a commodity rather than as animals. SeaWorld is a company who is trying to make a profit, and activists believe that their myopic focus on making a profit consistently gets in the way of their need to care for the whales and treat them humanely. Orcas are ripped from their homes, separated from their families, sold off to parks around the world (some of which are only loosely regulated), and shoved into tanks that are way too small and contain few if any stimuli for the animals. Once in captivity, activists argue, these whales live a depressing life that consists mainly of eating and performing in an environment that constantly stunts their growth.

(4) While it is a great novelty to be able to go to a theme park and see a beautiful killer whale in person, the struggle that these whales have to go through just to entertain us is inhumane. For SeaWorld to treat these orcas fairly, they would have to spend a lot of money to improve their capturing methods and to improve the conditions in which the orcas live when they are in captivity. These kinds of changes are expensive, complicated, and would seriously reduce the company’s ability to make a profit. If SeaWorld can’t survive in a marketplace where they are forced to treat their animals humanely, however, then they deserve to fail and need to be shut down.

(1) Since it opened its doors in 1959, SeaWorld has been fraught with controversy. The company was founded as a new source of entertainment for theme park visitors. Patrons would have the opportunity to see something they had never seen before: a killer whale swimming around in a tank right in front of them. In many people’s eyes, however, this experience was coming at a price; a price that was being paid by the very creatures everyone was coming to see. Many have called into question how humanely these animals are being treated, both in the process of their capture and in the periods of their captivity. These beautiful creatures who were once free to roam the ocean with their families are being torn from their habitat and stuffed into tanks that don’t give them the freedom they need.

(2) People have always marveled at what they don’t understand. In the eyes of the company and its shareholders, SeaWorld is a place where people can come to safely observe these animals swimming around right in front of them. People want to be able to see these wonderful orcas, and SeaWorld is making it possible. The cost of this convenience, however, has activists from all over the world boycotting SeaWorld and trying to expose their poor treatment of whales to the viewing public.

(3) One of the biggest complaints that activists have about SeaWorld is the way orcas are treated as a commodity rather than as animals. SeaWorld is a company who is trying to make a profit, and activists believe that their myopic focus on making a profit consistently gets in the way of their need to care for the whales and treat them humanely. Orcas are ripped from their homes, separated from their families, sold off to parks around the world (some of which are only loosely regulated), and shoved into tanks that are way too small and contain few if any stimuli for the animals. Once in captivity, activists argue, these whales live a depressing life that consists mainly of eating and performing in an environment that constantly stunts their growth.

(4) While it is a great novelty to be able to go to a theme park and see a beautiful killer whale in person, the struggle that these whales have to go through just to entertain us is inhumane. For SeaWorld to treat these orcas fairly, they would have to spend a lot of money to improve their capturing methods and to improve the conditions in which the orcas live when they are in captivity. These kinds of changes are expensive, complicated, and would seriously reduce the company’s ability to make a profit. If SeaWorld can’t survive in a marketplace where they are forced to treat their animals humanely, however, then they deserve to fail and need to be shut down.

(1) Since it opened its doors in 1959, SeaWorld has been fraught with controversy. The company was founded as a new source of entertainment for theme park visitors. Patrons would have the opportunity to see something they had never seen before: a killer whale swimming around in a tank right in front of them. In many people’s eyes, however, this experience was coming at a price; a price that was being paid by the very creatures everyone was coming to see. Many have called into question how humanely these animals are being treated, both in the process of their capture and in the periods of their captivity. These beautiful creatures who were once free to roam the ocean with their families are being torn from their habitat and stuffed into tanks that don’t give them the freedom they need.

(2) People have always marveled at what they don’t understand. In the eyes of the company and its shareholders, SeaWorld is a place where people can come to safely observe these animals swimming around right in front of them. People want to be able to see these wonderful orcas, and SeaWorld is making it possible. The cost of this convenience, however, has activists from all over the world boycotting SeaWorld and trying to expose their poor treatment of whales to the viewing public.

(3) One of the biggest complaints that activists have about SeaWorld is the way orcas are treated as a commodity rather than as animals. SeaWorld is a company who is trying to make a profit, and activists believe that their myopic focus on making a profit consistently gets in the way of their need to care for the whales and treat them humanely. Orcas are ripped from their homes, separated from their families, sold off to parks around the world (some of which are only loosely regulated), and shoved into tanks that are way too small and contain few if any stimuli for the animals. Once in captivity, activists argue, these whales live a depressing life that consists mainly of eating and performing in an environment that constantly stunts their growth.

(4) While it is a great novelty to be able to go to a theme park and see a beautiful killer whale in person, the struggle that these whales have to go through just to entertain us is inhumane. For SeaWorld to treat these orcas fairly, they would have to spend a lot of money to improve their capturing methods and to improve the conditions in which the orcas live when they are in captivity. These kinds of changes are expensive, complicated, and would seriously reduce the company’s ability to make a profit. If SeaWorld can’t survive in a marketplace where they are forced to treat their animals humanely, however, then they deserve to fail and need to be shut down.

(1) Since it opened its doors in 1959, SeaWorld has been fraught with controversy. The company was founded as a new source of entertainment for theme park visitors. Patrons would have the opportunity to see something they had never seen before: a killer whale swimming around in a tank right in front of them. In many people’s eyes, however, this experience was coming at a price; a price that was being paid by the very creatures everyone was coming to see. Many have called into question how humanely these animals are being treated, both in the process of their capture and in the periods of their captivity. These beautiful creatures who were once free to roam the ocean with their families are being torn from their habitat and stuffed into tanks that don’t give them the freedom they need.

(2) People have always marveled at what they don’t understand. In the eyes of the company and its shareholders, SeaWorld is a place where people can come to safely observe these animals swimming around right in front of them. People want to be able to see these wonderful orcas, and SeaWorld is making it possible. The cost of this convenience, however, has activists from all over the world boycotting SeaWorld and trying to expose their poor treatment of whales to the viewing public.

(3) One of the biggest complaints that activists have about SeaWorld is the way orcas are treated as a commodity rather than as animals. SeaWorld is a company who is trying to make a profit, and activists believe that their myopic focus on making a profit consistently gets in the way of their need to care for the whales and treat them humanely. Orcas are ripped from their homes, separated from their families, sold off to parks around the world (some of which are only loosely regulated), and shoved into tanks that are way too small and contain few if any stimuli for the animals. Once in captivity, activists argue, these whales live a depressing life that consists mainly of eating and performing in an environment that constantly stunts their growth.

(4) While it is a great novelty to be able to go to a theme park and see a beautiful killer whale in person, the struggle that these whales have to go through just to entertain us is inhumane. For SeaWorld to treat these orcas fairly, they would have to spend a lot of money to improve their capturing methods and to improve the conditions in which the orcas live when they are in captivity. These kinds of changes are expensive, complicated, and would seriously reduce the company’s ability to make a profit. If SeaWorld can’t survive in a marketplace where they are forced to treat their animals humanely, however, then they deserve to fail and need to be shut down.

(1) Since it opened its doors in 1959, SeaWorld has been fraught with controversy. The company was founded as a new source of entertainment for theme park visitors. Patrons would have the opportunity to see something they had never seen before: a killer whale swimming around in a tank right in front of them. In many people’s eyes, however, this experience was coming at a price; a price that was being paid by the very creatures everyone was coming to see. Many have called into question how humanely these animals are being treated, both in the process of their capture and in the periods of their captivity. These beautiful creatures who were once free to roam the ocean with their families are being torn from their habitat and stuffed into tanks that don’t give them the freedom they need.

(2) People have always marveled at what they don’t understand. In the eyes of the company and its shareholders, SeaWorld is a place where people can come to safely observe these animals swimming around right in front of them. People want to be able to see these wonderful orcas, and SeaWorld is making it possible. The cost of this convenience, however, has activists from all over the world boycotting SeaWorld and trying to expose their poor treatment of whales to the viewing public.

(3) One of the biggest complaints that activists have about SeaWorld is the way orcas are treated as a commodity rather than as animals. SeaWorld is a company who is trying to make a profit, and activists believe that their myopic focus on making a profit consistently gets in the way of their need to care for the whales and treat them humanely. Orcas are ripped from their homes, separated from their families, sold off to parks around the world (some of which are only loosely regulated), and shoved into tanks that are way too small and contain few if any stimuli for the animals. Once in captivity, activists argue, these whales live a depressing life that consists mainly of eating and performing in an environment that constantly stunts their growth.

(4) While it is a great novelty to be able to go to a theme park and see a beautiful killer whale in person, the struggle that these whales have to go through just to entertain us is inhumane. For SeaWorld to treat these orcas fairly, they would have to spend a lot of money to improve their capturing methods and to improve the conditions in which the orcas live when they are in captivity. These kinds of changes are expensive, complicated, and would seriously reduce the company’s ability to make a profit. If SeaWorld can’t survive in a marketplace where they are forced to treat their animals humanely, however, then they deserve to fail and need to be shut down.

“Whose is this?” Mrs. Price says, and she holds the red sweater up in the air for all the class to see. “Whose? It’s been sitting in the coatroom for a month.”

“Not mine,” says everybody. “Not me.”

“It has to belong to somebody,” Mrs. Price keeps saying, but nobody can remember. It’s an ugly sweater with red plastic buttons and a collar and sleeves all stretched out like you could use it for a jump rope. It’s maybe a thousand years old and even if it belonged to me I wouldn’t say so.

Maybe because I’m skinny, maybe because she doesn’t like me, that stupid Sylvia Saldivar says, “I think it belongs to Rachel.” An ugly sweater like that, all raggedy and old, but Mrs. Price believes her. Mrs. Price takes the sweater and puts it right on my desk, but when I open my mouth nothing comes out.

“That’s not, I don’t , you’re not…Not mine,” I finally say in a little voice that was maybe me when I was four.

“Of course it’s yours,” Mrs. Price says. “I remember you wearing it once.” Because she’s older and the teacher, she’s right and I’m not.

Not mine, not mine, not mine, but Mrs. Price is already turning to page thirty-two, and math problem number four. I don’t know why but all of a sudden I’m feeling sick inside, like the part of me that’s three wants to come out of my eyes, only I squeeze them shut tight and bite down on my teeth real hard and try to remember today I am eleven, eleven. Mama is making a cake for me tonight, and when Papa comes home everybody will sing Happy birthday, happy birthday to you.

But when the sick feeling goes away and I open my eyes, the red sweater’s still sitting there like a big red mountain. I move the red sweater to the corner of my desk with my ruler. I move my pencil and books and eraser as far from it as possible. I even move my chair a little to the right. Not mine, not mine, not mine.

In my head I’m thinking how long till lunchtime, how long till I can take the red sweater and throw it over the school yard fence, or even leave it hanging on a parking meter, or bunch it up into a little ball and toss it in the alley. Except when math period ends Mrs. Price says loud and in front of everybody, “Now Rachel, that’s enough,” because she sees I’ve shoved the red sweater to the tippy-tip corner of my desk and it’s hanging all over the edge like a waterfall, but I don’t’ care.

“Whose is this?” Mrs. Price says, and she holds the red sweater up in the air for all the class to see. “Whose? It’s been sitting in the coatroom for a month.”

“Not mine,” says everybody. “Not me.”

“It has to belong to somebody,” Mrs. Price keeps saying, but nobody can remember. It’s an ugly sweater with red plastic buttons and a collar and sleeves all stretched out like you could use it for a jump rope. It’s maybe a thousand years old and even if it belonged to me I wouldn’t say so.

Maybe because I’m skinny, maybe because she doesn’t like me, that stupid Sylvia Saldivar says, “I think it belongs to Rachel.” An ugly sweater like that, all raggedy and old, but Mrs. Price believes her. Mrs. Price takes the sweater and puts it right on my desk, but when I open my mouth nothing comes out.

“That’s not, I don’t , you’re not…Not mine,” I finally say in a little voice that was maybe me when I was four.

“Of course it’s yours,” Mrs. Price says. “I remember you wearing it once.” Because she’s older and the teacher, she’s right and I’m not.

Not mine, not mine, not mine, but Mrs. Price is already turning to page thirty-two, and math problem number four. I don’t know why but all of a sudden I’m feeling sick inside, like the part of me that’s three wants to come out of my eyes, only I squeeze them shut tight and bite down on my teeth real hard and try to remember today I am eleven, eleven. Mama is making a cake for me tonight, and when Papa comes home everybody will sing Happy birthday, happy birthday to you.

But when the sick feeling goes away and I open my eyes, the red sweater’s still sitting there like a big red mountain. I move the red sweater to the corner of my desk with my ruler. I move my pencil and books and eraser as far from it as possible. I even move my chair a little to the right. Not mine, not mine, not mine.

In my head I’m thinking how long till lunchtime, how long till I can take the red sweater and throw it over the school yard fence, or even leave it hanging on a parking meter, or bunch it up into a little ball and toss it in the alley. Except when math period ends Mrs. Price says loud and in front of everybody, “Now Rachel, that’s enough,” because she sees I’ve shoved the red sweater to the tippy-tip corner of my desk and it’s hanging all over the edge like a waterfall, but I don’t’ care.

“Whose is this?” Mrs. Price says, and she holds the red sweater up in the air for all the class to see. “Whose? It’s been sitting in the coatroom for a month.”

“Not mine,” says everybody. “Not me.”

“It has to belong to somebody,” Mrs. Price keeps saying, but nobody can remember. It’s an ugly sweater with red plastic buttons and a collar and sleeves all stretched out like you could use it for a jump rope. It’s maybe a thousand years old and even if it belonged to me I wouldn’t say so.

Maybe because I’m skinny, maybe because she doesn’t like me, that stupid Sylvia Saldivar says, “I think it belongs to Rachel.” An ugly sweater like that, all raggedy and old, but Mrs. Price believes her. Mrs. Price takes the sweater and puts it right on my desk, but when I open my mouth nothing comes out.

“That’s not, I don’t , you’re not…Not mine,” I finally say in a little voice that was maybe me when I was four.

“Of course it’s yours,” Mrs. Price says. “I remember you wearing it once.” Because she’s older and the teacher, she’s right and I’m not.

Not mine, not mine, not mine, but Mrs. Price is already turning to page thirty-two, and math problem number four. I don’t know why but all of a sudden I’m feeling sick inside, like the part of me that’s three wants to come out of my eyes, only I squeeze them shut tight and bite down on my teeth real hard and try to remember today I am eleven, eleven. Mama is making a cake for me tonight, and when Papa comes home everybody will sing Happy birthday, happy birthday to you.

But when the sick feeling goes away and I open my eyes, the red sweater’s still sitting there like a big red mountain. I move the red sweater to the corner of my desk with my ruler. I move my pencil and books and eraser as far from it as possible. I even move my chair a little to the right. Not mine, not mine, not mine.

In my head I’m thinking how long till lunchtime, how long till I can take the red sweater and throw it over the school yard fence, or even leave it hanging on a parking meter, or bunch it up into a little ball and toss it in the alley. Except when math period ends Mrs. Price says loud and in front of everybody, “Now Rachel, that’s enough,” because she sees I’ve shoved the red sweater to the tippy-tip corner of my desk and it’s hanging all over the edge like a waterfall, but I don’t’ care.

“Whose is this?” Mrs. Price says, and she holds the red sweater up in the air for all the class to see. “Whose? It’s been sitting in the coatroom for a month.”

“Not mine,” says everybody. “Not me.”

“It has to belong to somebody,” Mrs. Price keeps saying, but nobody can remember. It’s an ugly sweater with red plastic buttons and a collar and sleeves all stretched out like you could use it for a jump rope. It’s maybe a thousand years old and even if it belonged to me I wouldn’t say so.

Maybe because I’m skinny, maybe because she doesn’t like me, that stupid Sylvia Saldivar says, “I think it belongs to Rachel.” An ugly sweater like that, all raggedy and old, but Mrs. Price believes her. Mrs. Price takes the sweater and puts it right on my desk, but when I open my mouth nothing comes out.

“That’s not, I don’t , you’re not…Not mine,” I finally say in a little voice that was maybe me when I was four.

“Of course it’s yours,” Mrs. Price says. “I remember you wearing it once.” Because she’s older and the teacher, she’s right and I’m not.

Not mine, not mine, not mine, but Mrs. Price is already turning to page thirty-two, and math problem number four. I don’t know why but all of a sudden I’m feeling sick inside, like the part of me that’s three wants to come out of my eyes, only I squeeze them shut tight and bite down on my teeth real hard and try to remember today I am eleven, eleven. Mama is making a cake for me tonight, and when Papa comes home everybody will sing Happy birthday, happy birthday to you.

But when the sick feeling goes away and I open my eyes, the red sweater’s still sitting there like a big red mountain. I move the red sweater to the corner of my desk with my ruler. I move my pencil and books and eraser as far from it as possible. I even move my chair a little to the right. Not mine, not mine, not mine.

In my head I’m thinking how long till lunchtime, how long till I can take the red sweater and throw it over the school yard fence, or even leave it hanging on a parking meter, or bunch it up into a little ball and toss it in the alley. Except when math period ends Mrs. Price says loud and in front of everybody, “Now Rachel, that’s enough,” because she sees I’ve shoved the red sweater to the tippy-tip corner of my desk and it’s hanging all over the edge like a waterfall, but I don’t’ care.

“Whose is this?” Mrs. Price says, and she holds the red sweater up in the air for all the class to see. “Whose? It’s been sitting in the coatroom for a month.”

“Not mine,” says everybody. “Not me.”

“It has to belong to somebody,” Mrs. Price keeps saying, but nobody can remember. It’s an ugly sweater with red plastic buttons and a collar and sleeves all stretched out like you could use it for a jump rope. It’s maybe a thousand years old and even if it belonged to me I wouldn’t say so.

Maybe because I’m skinny, maybe because she doesn’t like me, that stupid Sylvia Saldivar says, “I think it belongs to Rachel.” An ugly sweater like that, all raggedy and old, but Mrs. Price believes her. Mrs. Price takes the sweater and puts it right on my desk, but when I open my mouth nothing comes out.

“That’s not, I don’t , you’re not…Not mine,” I finally say in a little voice that was maybe me when I was four.

“Of course it’s yours,” Mrs. Price says. “I remember you wearing it once.” Because she’s older and the teacher, she’s right and I’m not.

Not mine, not mine, not mine, but Mrs. Price is already turning to page thirty-two, and math problem number four. I don’t know why but all of a sudden I’m feeling sick inside, like the part of me that’s three wants to come out of my eyes, only I squeeze them shut tight and bite down on my teeth real hard and try to remember today I am eleven, eleven. Mama is making a cake for me tonight, and when Papa comes home everybody will sing Happy birthday, happy birthday to you.

But when the sick feeling goes away and I open my eyes, the red sweater’s still sitting there like a big red mountain. I move the red sweater to the corner of my desk with my ruler. I move my pencil and books and eraser as far from it as possible. I even move my chair a little to the right. Not mine, not mine, not mine.

In my head I’m thinking how long till lunchtime, how long till I can take the red sweater and throw it over the school yard fence, or even leave it hanging on a parking meter, or bunch it up into a little ball and toss it in the alley. Except when math period ends Mrs. Price says loud and in front of everybody, “Now Rachel, that’s enough,” because she sees I’ve shoved the red sweater to the tippy-tip corner of my desk and it’s hanging all over the edge like a waterfall, but I don’t’ care.