How many of you support war? We don't think there are too many people who would say yes. But really, what is war if not violence, innocent people getting hurt, hate, envy ‑ especially hate ‑ hate with really no cause? Is that an acceptable definition of war? Sound like any activity around here? Like maybe the Maine South‑Maine West game tonight?

We know what reaction that we'll get, "There goes the Westerner, 'voice of the administration,' trying to make us into goody‑goodies again." But if you take a good look at the situation it's ridiculously childish.

Maine South has a good team. We lost our last game with them; they are our rivals for our place in the conference standing. These are good reasons to hope we win, but not to hate Maine South. The game tonight should be one of the most exciting all season, but it is the desire to see a good game between two equal opponents and the hope to see us win, or is it the mutual hatred felt between the two schools that makes it exciting?

Sure everybody likes a fight; it's just that no one likes to get hurt. The fights, though, are not the most important aspect of our relationship with South. The students won't be diswayed by what we say as to whether they fight or not. It is something far more important.

The game tonight and the attitude that the students take, even though it may seem unimportant and small, reflects on our whole generation. "Sure," you say, but think about it. We strive to make our generation better than the last; we condemn their wars, their prejudices, their pollution, and we say we will be different. We will love; we will bring people together and treat everyone equally; we will not pollute. We certainly have a long way to go if we start hating people because they go to this certain school. How can we hope to bring people together if we tear them apart first?

We wonder how shocked a big tough Maine South M‑Club member would be if a big tough M‑Club member from West gave a smile and said, "Hi, how are ya," instead of a glare.