The Cat and the Watergate Crisis

In the early 1970s, during President Nixon's re-election campaign, someone broke into the Watergate Hotel, and put listening devices in the room where the Democratic Party was having its National Committee. Nixon tried to cover it up and pretend it never happened... but once he was chosen to serve a second term as President, his involvement in the whole thing was exposed. When Republican senators told him he'd probably be impeached for trying to influence the election, Nixon resigned.

Today, we enjoy many more freedoms, because of laws that restrict the executive branch and prevent the President from abusing his power. The Ethics in Government Act, which was passed after the Watergate scandal, controlled public officials' lobbying efforts, and gave the public access to the financial and employment history of government members. Another Federal law, the National Emergencies Act, allowed Congress to put limits on the President's power in emergencies. Finally, the amendments to the Freedom of Information Act let citizens of the United States see records about themselves, change the records if they're incomplete or inaccurate, and sue the government if it violates this right or shows the records to someone else without permission.

The Cat Shares His Ideas With the World

The Oxford American Dictionary defines culture as "The customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group", or "The attitudes and behavior characteristic of a particular social group". 

I think that the culture of Rock Bridge is student-oriented. The rules are designed to give us lots of freedom. For example, last year at Gentry Middle School, the teachers tried to control each move we made. They even gave us assigned seats at lunch when we got "too loud", and they wouldn't listen when we tried to protest against them. Here at RBHS, it feels more like the students are trusted by the administration. We're allowed to eat lunch almost anywhere in the school, do almost anything we want during passing period, and sometimes leave class to go work in the halls. 

But that freedom comes with responsibility. Students still have to follow the rules. We're expected to  get to class on time, get our assignments done, respect others and the building, and be leaders in our community. At Rock Bridge, we have a voice, even if we're not in student government. 

In the U.S., checks and balances (the responsibility) keep the branches of government from abusing their power (which is like freedom). Every citizen also has his/her share of freedoms (all the rights we have from the Bill of Rights) and responsibilities (we must obey the laws).