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.
I almost hate to admit how liberal I was (Harvey Milk was a friend), but even then I knew the Bay area was way toooo beyond even moderate Democrats.
I don't think they teach this anymore...
I coulsn't agree more. Worse yet they are oblivious to that fact.
This pathetic little worm should keep in mind that China has repeatedly threatened to nuke SanFrancisco and the Bay area.
Dumb-a$$ pukes.
Pat, you are lucky I'm 2000 miles away asshole.
I'm not going to say anything, because I don't want to get banned from Free Republic.
I'm sure that these attitudes are commonplace even in my upstate New York town, as the teachers and professors in the High Schools and Universities have been self-selecting a bunch of marxist, cultural relativist, ideologues for years.
Our kids have been propagandized to be little clients for the socialist welfare state for years. They have no knowledge of history, little appreciation for the sacrifices of blood made by their forefathers, and an abiding sympathy for all "victims", a class they willingly appply to themselves.
Any war on terroism needs to start here in the United States with a top-to-bottom clean out of the education system.
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.
Looks like possible buddies to our enemies . Chinese and Muslims etc .
Hey, I think it's worth pointing out . View it as bigoted or anything, that's your judgment . I just don't trust much of anyone now . It's not meant to be towards any race, simply the names could be suspect .
Cheese.
Blah blah blah blah .. ..
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