Posted on 09/17/2001 3:16:15 PM PDT by watsonfellow
Local teens shrug off terror attacks
Many say they feel little loyalty as they can't rely on government
By Paul T. Rosynsky and Jane Rochmes STAFF WRITER
OAKLAND -- While much of America is uniting to fight the evils of terrorism, many East Bay high school students said Friday a war is not theirs to wage.
As hundreds gathered on the steps of City Hall Friday to remember those lost Tuesday during the dev astating terrorist attacks in New York City and the Pentagon, high school students came together in stead to talk of weekend plans and the latest gossip.
The wave of patriotism across the country hasn't reached many area teen-agers who questioned Friday the need to retaliate and vowed not to fight if called upon for duty.
With the terrorist attacks occur ring more than 3,000 miles away, teen-agers had trouble making a connection to the tragedies and a harder time finding a reason to care.
"It didn't happen in Oakland, it could have but it didn't, so I don't feel scared or nothing," said Hieu Le, 15, a student at Castlemont High School. "Why should I go fight in a war and die for nothing."
Similar feelings were echoed throughout the blacktop courtyard of McClymonds High School and corridors of Berkeley High.
Although many said they felt sym pathy for the victims and those who had lost loved ones, when it came to risking their own lives to fight for America, most said they would try to find a way out.
"I'm not risking my life for that, I love myself too much," said Amir Kellogg, 17, as he sat with friends during lunch. "If they came after me I would have to run."
Their lack of desire to defend freedom comes, they explained, from a lack of confidence in the government to help their own communities. Many blamed the U.S. relationship with the world as reasons for the attacks and said they don't want to help because they have not received help in the past.
"How are you going to defend a nation if that nation can't defend against things like homelessness," asked Jamaal Germaine, 15, a sophomore at McClymonds High School. "I'm not in a rush to help our country because our country is already messed up."
Students instead said any war waged by the country against ter rorist states of the world would only worsen the situation, setting off an infinite series of retalia tions.
"I think the United States deserves it," said Berkeley High senior Pat rick Rizzo. "It's pretty sad for the poor people, but the United States does the same thing. We're prob ably going to do the same thing after this. We're not going to send anybody into the country, we're just going to bomb them like they did us."
Added senior Phillip Chan: "I don't think that going and attacking a specific country is going to solve anything."
And with the only exposure to war coming through television high lights of the Persian Gulf War, teen-agers said they see no need to risk human life when the country can instead depend on technology to fight evil.
"If there is a war, it won't be a war like we're used to in the past," said Antwonn Smith, 17. "We got too many missiles to use. We're not even going to have to send people out there."
Jane Senemen is news editor of the Berkeley High School Yellow Jacket.
Actually I'm a beer fiend and a Unitarian. Do you want to call me a traitor too?
Kids watch too much MTV, vile, licentious, and vulgar. They think that in order to be a man one must their pants down to their rear end with their underwear exposed. I guess being vile and rude is OK since it's their MOTHERS who buy their clothes and allow them too look like that.
Rap music is ruining the youth of today. Teaches kids to be rebellious, hate and mistreat women, to kill cops, etc.
But these lily-white MOTHERS allow their children to listen to rap music. Bring back the draft and have every little brat who turns 18 serve 2 yrs in the military, no exceptions.
As I was driving through the center of our town last night there was a group of bikers at the edge of the road waving flags and motorists were honking away! And tonight when I went by, it was a group of high school kids! It was great they were holding flags and candles. Tomorrow night, our town is having a candlelight service at the Town Hall. Our youngest son's Scout Troop will be taking part in it.
I got an e-mail today urging folks to put a candle in a window (like the ones we use at Christmas) to show that God's light cannot be extinguished by hatred and terrorism. I'm going to go ahead and put them in all the windows as if it were Christmas! Let our little lights shine!!
That will bring the relevance of terrorism into focus for these arogant young fools.
So9
Not only is this kid a moron, but his mother was too damn stupid to even know how to spell "Antoine" when filling out the (welfare?) forms.
You know, as a Libertarian (albeit a conservative one) I'm used to not only permitting, but fighting for people to have whatever outlook they wish on life. I shall continue to do so. But this sort of thing is awfully damn depressing. Some Americans just need to be slapped. Hard.
-PJ
Probably, in addition to filling the ample backside of their oversized trousers.
What does this have to do with your argument? Rule #1 in regards to debating...only put in information that is relavent to your argument if you wish to in any way, articulate your opinions in a way that other people will understand.
It was written in response to several people who accused me of being drunk or high or a "liberteen" or a whinger. I think they were "ad hominem" attacks but I'm not sure of the latin used in informal logic. In other words my comments on why some young people might not feel as if the WTC crime has anything to do with them were dismissed with disparagement of my imagined character. I thought of reporting abuse to the sysadmin but concluded that would be kinda wimpy.
I responded, "You would do better with a smaller brush."
nmh wrote: "Nope. A BROAD brush is quite appropriate. OPEN YOUR EYES. Unclog your ears and notice the indoctrination of "Imagine" by John Lennon is their ideal. They want to believe that this will happen all by itself. Look at what universities and colleges teach and the stances they take on issues. You are naieve to think that a "smaller" brush does the job. No sir - A LARGE BRUSH paints the picture properly".
"Cowardly selfishness is the theme amongst out youth".
Sorry buddy, but naive I am not. And there is nothing wrong with my ears and eyes Jim. You must be referring to your own offspring when you mentioned cowards. As my kids and their friends are nothing like what you are describing.
Sure there may be some out there that may be cowards or are selfish, but I can assure you sir that the majority of our young people in our military, and in our nation today are not the cowards you may think they are. And remember pal, that many of those selfish and cowardly youths as you describe are probably heading down the road to war as you sit there and beat your gums.
You know what you can do with your wide brush.
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