CSULB Online 49er: v9n122: Roman's empire comes to a close

Editorial Staff

Lyndsey Shinoda
Editor in Chief

Michael Watanabe
Managing Editor

Alex Roman
News Editor

Alisha Gomez
City Editor

Greg Smith
Opinion Editor

Christine Shin
Diversions Editor

Mike Haubrich
Sports Editor

Cara Garcia
Photo Editor

Chris Burnett
News Editorial Director

Raul Reis
News Operations Director

William Mulligan
Publisher

Gerard Greenidge
Webmaster

Edmond Ngai
Assistant Webmaster

Roman's empire comes to a close

I have no idea what to write. I don't know if I'm melancholy that it's finally over or excited, relieved, perhaps even confused. Wait, on second thought it is definitely the latter. I am so confused right now that I have no words to honestly express it, which is amazing because "words are my life."

But seriously I don't know whether to use this space to take some final potshots on some political phenomenon that has me fed up, or to share a debt of gratitude for everybody who means something in my life.

So I'll do both. I would first like to use this space to urge all Americans to put pressure on our elected officials to end the "war" on terrorism for the simple fact that we don't even know who we are fighting. Meanwhile, the U.S. has killed many women, children and innocent bystanders in the name of vengeance and freedom.

The reality of it all is that two wrongs don't make a right. While what was done to the World Trade Center was an atrocious act, killing innocent people in retaliation is not the answer. Like the great pacifist Mohandis Ghandi used to say, "An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind."

Now that I've somewhat said my peace, I would like to take the time to thank some people who have made my LONG journey through college memorable.

I would like to first of all thank my parents who gave me birth and raised me to be an independent person. While they never really forced me to go any one way with my life, I appreciate their patience in allowing me to find my path and remaining supportive throughout the various stages of my life. From hyperactive cowboy spaz, to star of stage and basketball court to detention and parent/teacher conferences and finally through my conversion to Buddhism, you have always tried to understand and have remained there for me so thank you and I love you.

I would like to thank Cara Garcia, for being one of the most beautiful and talented people I have ever met. We both know that I always take the time to let you know how much I appreciate you and vice versa, but I'll take more time to say that I know that great things are ahead of you and that all your dreams will come true. I hope to be there to see all of it.

I would also like to thank my friends and faculty in the journalism department. Especially Phil Witte for coaxing me to write my first column and for being such an intellectual person that challenged me to go deeper inside myself so that I wouldn't look like an idiot by writing about things that I didn't know about.

I would also like to thank Se J. Reed and Wes Woods for having the honesty to tell me when my stuff sucked or in Se's case telling me when I was wrong...even though I still believe that I was right in every case.

To the editorial staff this semester, I would like to thank everyone for the headaches and misery that were our long days and nights here were. Seriously, it was an interesting experience working with you all, even though I was the one prone to boil in anger, you all put up with me, so thanks.

To Lyndsey Shinoda, I know you never remember this story, but you were the first person that I ever spoke with when I started in this department and I would like to thank you for being one of the sweetest people I've met in my time here.

I'm seriously feeling like I'm winning an Oscar and they're about to cut me off for my speech being too long. So a little more rapidly, I would like to thank Lisa, Terry, Jesse, Danielle, Garrett, all my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, Dr. Mulligan, Julio Laboy, Derrick Sullivan, Julie Davey, Gerald Padilla, Eric, Gabriel, Ryan May, Jen Taylor, Don Kwon, Michelle, Will Swaim, Jon Gonzales, Bob Martinez, anybody who has given me the opportunity to write, anybody I might have forgotten, people I don't yet know, the P.R. people who gave me a chance to interview people like Chris Rock, Modest Mouse, William H. Macy and Penelope Cruz, anybody who has passed through my life for better or worse, those who have pushed me, stood by me or have some sense of pride for my accomplishments thank you all for caring, sharing and loving.

This is it, I'm still a bit confused, but I hope to find a job soon and have the opportunity to pursue my dreams and make an impact on the world somehow. Goodbye.