VHS Riptide Online

Although Volker and some of the other veterans had a problem with the play, some of the cast members felt that they did a very good job on their production and interpretation of The War Plays.
Drama II and American Studies teacher, Stephen Floyd was the director of The War Plays.
“I think it’s perfectly appropriate for people to have an opinion on what students do in the high school because they are paying taxes, my salary, they’re supporting the school. I felt like that what we were doing is well within the bounds of school policy, that not only allows but encourages us in classes to deal with controversial issues.
“I felt like the veterans had two main objections to the play, one of them was based on the idea that it was defaming the military, and that it was more anti-military than anti-war. I saw it as an anti-war play specifically an anti-nuclear war play. Their second objection was that some people were concerned it was too violent, but the violence that was done in the play was highly stylized.
“I also felt like the cast members reacted with eloquence and passion and I was very proud of them. Even though soldiers do bad things in this play, so do civilian people, and the mothers do horrible evil things as well. We don’t see this play as an anti-mother play, so why is it considered an anti-military play?  I thought the play was fairly clear in that it wasn’t condemning the soldiers, but condemning the concept of killing innocent people,” said Floyd.
Sophomore Nelle Horsley was one of the main characters in the play and found the interpretation of the script very difficult.
“It was really hard to read into what the script was saying and we had to look to Mr. Floyd to understand what was going on. We had to put our own thoughts and opinions into everything we did,” said Horsley.
Senior Noah Greene also had a major role in the play, and felt that it was great having the veterans at the last performance.
“Although I felt having the veterans at the last performance was great, I feel that the veterans came into the play with a preconceived notion of what the play was going to be like. It seems our biggest complaint was a little pin on a Marines cusp or shirt that they felt was a misrepresentation of the U.S. military. They thought it wasn’t appropriate for a school setting. If this isn’t appropriate for a school setting, than what makes what you see in the news and the television appropriate,” said Greene.
Greene thinks the message was one that should be understood beyond the mind-numbing news reports on TV. Volker disagrees.
“The message that they were trying to get across was how horrible war is. I didn’t need the play for that to be brought across and that wasn’t the way I would do it,” said Volker.
Greene felt the opposite on the message they were trying to communicate.
“I didn’t feel it was offensive; it was more a clearing and broadening of the spectrum. What we were trying to portray was that kids in the high school are actually politically active and that we are trying to get our ideas across and that we actually cared. It’s important for kids, especially if they are interested in politics, to know what’s going on and for others to know that we are active, and in that world. I think we did a good job,” said Greene.
Before the forum on Sunday, Volker wrote a statement addressing the students in the cast and also the student body of VHS. Volker had the statement approved by his commander, and was representing the Vashon American Legion Post and Vashon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, when he read it at the forum.
“We are not going to comment directly on the play or the playwright. They are what they are. Rather, let’s check on history to guide us to something that we can learn from. To begin with, we would not have the freedom to even put on this pay were it not for our great grandparents, grandparents, and parents fight against the evils of their day. They gave their all so that we could sit here today doing what we are doing. They achieved peace for us. Peace is not something that you just wish for. It is something that is worked for,” said Volker in part of his 600-word statement.

“The pilgrims did not introduce the tradition; Eastern Indians had observed autumnal harvest celebrations for centuries. Although George Washington did set aside days for national thanksgiving, our modern celebrations date back only to 1863. During the Civil War, when the Union needed all the patriotism that such an observance might muster, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday. The pilgrims had nothing to do with it; not until the 1890s did they even get included in the tradition. For that matter, no one used the term Pilgrims until the 1870s,” said James Loewen in Lies My Teacher Told Me (95).
Since the common belief of the origins of Thanksgiving doesn’t match up with the historical facts, there are a lot of Americans misinformed about our country’s past.
“It’s one of those harmless things that, over time, takes on a life of its own and what we don’t recognize is that the facts of the matter are very different than what we celebrate. We simplify it, [because] we want it to teach a message of honoring other cultures and being diverse. According to historical record, the Indians were doing it before the settlers ever came, but the way it’s taught to little kids is as if the pilgrims came up with the idea, which detracts from the historical record and gives the Pilgrims this exaggerated importance which they otherwise wouldn’t have,” Zecher said.
The consequence of teaching a tampered with history is the perpetuation of the idea that “Americans are exceptional and that the way we [have been treating] Native Americans has been in this exceptional way when the truth of the matter is completely different. We’re told that this is the foundation of America’s special role that it plays in the world; these were Pilgrims, these were people who had escaped religious persecution in Europe and had come to a new world where they forged a new community in the wilderness. It’s a big part of our identity,” said Zecher.
So, who cares? It’s a Thanksgiving tradition and it holds little conscious meaning to most people. However, whether or not Thanksgiving’s history occurs at all amidst celebration, it is the perpetuation of an false myth.
“I think it’s important that people understand their past. These stories, when they’re told long enough, become factual even though they’re not and now people are resistant to changing them because to change them you have to critically examine your own past and people aren’t willing to do that. They prefer the myth,” said Zecher.

Junior streakers Lisa Boehm, Angela Chapmen and Ezra Blake felt the same way.
While Blake understood White’s point of view and Boehm was able to sympathize with his concern for the small children at the game, neither saw anything particularly vulgar about streaking.
“Every part of our bodies considered inappropriate by modern standards was covered up,” said Boehm. “I saw no lap dances, there was nothing sexual about it.”
All three streakers felt that White’s accusations crossed a line by disrespecting Vashon traditions.
“Had we been the visiting team, I would expect every single cheerleader, fan and player to accept and tolerate any homecoming rituals the opposing school carries on,” said Blake.
Chapman agreed saying, “It’s like visiting a country and telling them that their customs are wrong, that their traditions are wrong and that they need to stop. I don’t think streaking is wrong. We were wearing shorts and sports bras, not bras and panties.”
While the students have their opinions, it’s Hanson that’s been dealing with the aftermath of streaking. Hanson received complaints from the parent of a Charles Wright football player and was informed by the Vashon superintendent, Dr. Mimi Walker, that the complaint was not the only one.
Hanson met with students, parents and staff at a Site Council meeting, and still needs to meet with the high school’s ASB to determine the final status and possible consequences of streaking should it occur next year.
However, in an apology letter to Hanson, White suggested a meeting to “discuss the issues and develop a better understanding of how [he] can work with members of the Charles Wright Academy community to be more gracious and understanding.”
“I have no doubt that the intentions of the people involved were nothing but honorable. They were keeping a tradition alive,” said Hanson. “The big thing is not our intent, but what’s being perceived by the community, and if our community is embarrassed or offended, then we need to think about changing our traditions.”
What began as a harmless prank may have run its course. Perhaps next year, a new tradition will be born.