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.
What the hell kind of stupid statement is this? So what you are saying is that if you aren't raised in the mid west you don't have proper morals or values. What a stupid ass statement. Totally pathetic.
"Thanks for the thoughtful and mature comment".
Your welcome, as your response to me, should have been addressed to yourself. Just think about what you wrote, and I am sure you will agree that where you live in this nation or grow up has nothing do do with having proper values or morals. Geezzz.
I strongly disagree.
It's true that the WOD has eroded personal liberty a lot more than I would like but I don't share your level of despair. America is still the freedom capitol of the world. What I do find discouraging is your readiness to abandon America on this pretext. The biography you volunteered makes your position even sadder but if you wish to align yourself with the arrogant, 'self-loving' teenagers quoted in this article, that's your choice to make.
Thanks for letting us know who we can count on in the days to come and who thinks America isn't worth having.
Someone mentioned that if this had happened on the West coast, they wouldn't lend a hand. On Tuesday, facing all the horror and not knowing if there was an end in sight, I moaned to my husband that if this had happened on the West coast, I wouldn't be nearly as upset. So the entertainment industry gets waylaid for awhile . . .what's so bad about that?
Thank goodness - and thanks for reminding us.
Excellent point about the media giving a few anti-American teens more exposure than they should have, just to make some liberal point. They are the minority.
SHAME!
What do we expect? Their parents (if they can be identified) are just commies themselves.
The children of the blues have been totally indoctrinated by the left. Their time will come and I believe that 8 weeks with a desensitized Drill Instructor will bring most of them around.
FReegards,
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