Speak

[Perry Winkle]

Today is a first for TAS.

Today, a newspaper written by students, run by students, and most importantly overseen by students, begins its first run.

Today, the administration no longer controls our media. Today, we are exercising our rights, not as human beings, to a free and open press.

Today, we begin a new chapter for Taipei American School.

Speak is an independent newspaper founded, in protest, upon libertarian and free ideals to provide an alternative to the school-run media.

Speak is not an anarchist newspaper. Speak is not a punk propaganda magazine.

Speak is a free and open forum to which any Taipei American School student, teacher, or administrator may contribute. Speak is an internationally-aware, rational, mature libertarian newspaper meant to appeal to both student and faculty. Speak is an outlet meant to provide a way for students to express themselves through art, creative writing, political discourse, school-oriented journalism, and through graphic design.

Speak is not just a newspaper. Speak is a community. Anybody may submit, anybody may join the staff, anybody may give their two cents.

Speak is a newspaper for you.

Speak is, above all else, free. Speak is not my newspaper. Speak is your newspaper. It is our newspaper. Speak is for all of us to write and create for, and for all of us to read. And it is censored by nobody.

Do you smell that? That’s the smell of freedom.

Just a little editing. . . it could use more.