“One, we are the orange team, two, a little louder, three, I still can’t hear you four more more more”! Today is Color War and excitement is everywhere. I am in a wave of colors. Purple. Orange. Our faces are painted for war and our clothing matched for battle in the colors of our regiment. We are filled with a spirit greater than any other day of the year.
At Shalhevet, Color War has always been a part of our great traditions such as the Yom Ha’atsmaut daylong festival to Senior Ditch Day. It is an eagerly anticipated annual event of enormous expectations replete with competition, camaraderie, and fun. Its one day out of our intense school year where we get to be crazy and creative as each team strives to figure out to improvise its win over the other.
In all of my five years, including middle school, of participating in Color War, I have not won a single one. So what makes me keep coming back? Clearly winning isn’t everything when it comes to this game. I love it because of the entire atmosphere I experience. You will never see kids more happy. It is a truly unifying experience when we give one hundred percent to our team over our own interests. In the process, our point of view changes, and we learn much about friendship as well.
This year, I co-authored a skit. I tried to cast a freshman that I believed could play a particular part perfectly. She protested my decision because she lacked the confidence necessary. After convincing her to accept the challenge, she proved to be a major success. She drew many laughs, and got the confidence she needed. Now she sees she is not just the new freshman, but an integral part of the school.
As you can see, Color War is a day where our school can actually bond together. This is the time where our entire school unites as two, all four grades. On this day, I talk and work with people that I usually just pass in the hallways. It is nice being able to make new friends and share memories with them.
Some say Color War should be similar to debate, drama, and other after-school activities and involve only people who want it. It’s not a day for everyone, and people can’t really enjoy this day if they are forced to participate. But Color War is designed so everyone can find at least one activity to connect with; there’s competition in writing, dancing, acting, drawing, cheering, trivia, and much more.
Others claim that color war is racist. They are wrong. First off, we are not “hating” the other team. We are having a competitive spirit just like any sport or game. Do you hate the opposing team at a basketball game because they wear a different color? No you don’t. You’re just simply rooting for your team, and I don’t think anyone believes that playing sports promotes racism.
Others are just saying it’s a waste of a day. Many would rather stay at home. It’s not real school anyways, right? Not true. Attendance for Color War this year was around 61 percent, according to register Muriel Ohana, and that was right coming back from a long Pesach break. This is pretty close to a normal school attendance of about 73 percent, so clearly students do care.
At Color War, we laugh, play, and just get to be kids. Is it wrong to grant us a few days out of the year to do this? Instead of taking what we have for granted and complaining, we should realize how much we really do need this day. Color War is a day that most enjoy immensely. Can we really take that away?
