Local Teens Shrug Off Terror (Lee's District...apples not far from tree)

Alemeda Times Star ^ | September 16, 2001 | Paul T. Rosynsky and Jane Rochmes

[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.

[Joe Hadenuf]

You would do better with a smaller brush.

[pray4liberty]

"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."

Maybe he'd feel worse if it was Disneyland?

[B Knotts]

I can only blame the kids to a certain degree; they've been indocrinated with anti-Americanism by their NEA-dues-paying teachers for most of their young lives.

The question is: will they ever grow out of it?

[Wrigley]

You had a lot to due with that. Thanks

[Publius6961]

I guess MTV will have to go off the air and Nintendo will have to go bankrupt before this imbecile finds something worth dying for. I have no use for these little spoiled brat bastards. They can all go rot in Afghanistan as far as I'm concerned. In fact, before we send REAL Americans to die, let's just airdrop these little pissants behind the lines with rifles. Then they can either use them or die. I don't particularly care which.

C'mon, Rogue.
Tell us how you really feel.

BTW I Agree with you

[moonman]

^5's :)

[Joe Hadenuf]

"I am so glad I live in the Mid-west so my kids grew up with values and morals that made this country great".

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.

[Publius6961]

Any American not willing to fight for their country if called to duty should not be able to take advantage of the benefits offered by being an American.

ROBERT HEINLEIN FOR PRESIDENT!

[WIMom]

Thanks for the compliment. It's not just my kids, but the kids from the local community college and HS in the area. For too long, the Mid-west has been considered a bunch of backwards, un-progressive, red-necked, bumbling idiots. It only takes one look at the vote by county map from the national election to see where the real anti-americans live.

A major FReep of NCCI happened this weekend to allow employees to display flags on their desks. The company is now buying the employees flags. If it can be done there, why not FReep this too?

[motzman]

The war on drugs has hit some neighborhoods harder than others. The war on drugs isn't about drugs when the police can take your car and your house and all your other stuff without having proved that you did anything "wrong". When a paid snitch puts your brother away for ten or fifteen years by perjuring himself, when the police testi-lie and the judge knows they're doing it, you might start to feel a little disaffected and might wonder when you'll get to enjoy a little of that "freedom" everyone keeps talking about. If you can go to prison for growing the "wrong" flowers in your garden you're not free.

You are correct in your analysis...bad laws cause a disrespect for all laws, and eventually the society and country you live in. These kids are obviously idiots, but they are just reacting to their enviornment.

Don't worry, you're right, and the WOD fools still have no clue of the whirlwind they have reaped...

[tenderstone jr.]

"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."

Maybe we should just give California to Mexico right now. Didn't Oakland recently pass a law saying anyone the city hired would have to be bilingual in either Spanish or Chinese? They can openly discriminate against English speakers, but these high schoolers think the rest of the country is the problem. Unbelievable.

A country that has homelessness doesn't have a right to defend itself? These children are the product of the liberal California school system. We shouldn't at all be surprised.

[Pettifoggery]

Just agreeing with some further thoughts. This is the touchey-feeley NEA and AFT personified. Its not the sixty's radicals running the show. Its not even the parents. Its a bevy of sociology and psychology professors teaching the lowest common denominator of our nation's colleges (the declared education majors)the proper methods of indoctrinating our youth in "self-esteem" "diversity" "social conscience" "environmentalism" ad infinitum. I have three kids living through this tripe. 'The Constitution is flawed because it only counted slaves as 3/5 of a person'. 'Thomas Jefferson was a slaveholder.' 'Terrorism is an outlet for revolution, and we must understand the perpetrator's point of view.' Don't give grades in primary schools, it injures self-esteem. Don't study Descartes, Loche, Smith, Machiavelli or other political philosophers because its too much for the young minds, and anyway the teacher never heard of them. (This last part is literally true if only anecdotal). It may be that we've already lost because we left the battlefield a generation ago. I can only be heartened by the contrary posts, and pray that I, and this article, are dead wrong.

[jothamdorn]

yeah, it's all about drugs

I said the war on drugs is not about drugs. The war on drugs is about property, privacy, and states rights. Property, privacy, local autonomy, freedom from the establishment of religion, and the right to self defense are all qualities of Liberty. If this war is about anything except Liberty then I'm out of here.

My ancestors came over on the Mayflower, fought in the Revolution and the Civil War. Grandpa served in the Navy during the 1st World War. Dad served with the Marines during the 2d World War and was twice wounded. I did 4 years with the Army (11B-1P) (1983-1987) (CCo. 2d BN 504th PIR 82d ABN Div.). I am named after my Grandfathers' Great Uncle who died of wounds received in battle in March of 1863 almost exactly one hundred years before my birth. If the federal police state continues to grow at the expense of personal liberty then there is no reason for the United States of America to continue to exist.

[Rightwing Canuck]

"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."

Samuel Adams

Although I myself am not American, if called I shall offer my life for liberty. Anyone know if it is possible to enlist in the U.S. military on a Visa?

[Publius6961]

I can now state with uneqivocal certainty that if any terrorist attack ever occurs in the Bay Area - SF, Oakland, Berkeley, anywhere in that hate-America zone - I will not be stepping in line to help. No rushing to the scene to help with disaster relief efforts. Not even donating a single dime to victims' funds,

After last Tuesday I began to ponder the unthinkable and came to the same conclusion.

The people you describe believe in fairies: turn the faucet and the water fairy makes water come out.
Flip the switch and the electricity fairy makes electricity appear.
Go to the supermarket and the grocery fairy has filled the shelves.

Demand your rights no matter how self centered you are and the government fairy will back you up with guns.

Well, should the unthinkable happen, and I find myself in the venue classically described as nasty, brutish and short, I will view these parasites exactly as I will view the enemy.

[From The Deer Stand]

Great post! I, too, am proud of your son. As for these little jerks in California, a few months in a Marine boot camp maybe would jog some patriotic sense into their brains filled with mush.

[WIMom]

Thanks for the thoughtful and mature comment.

[E.Allen]

As much as I agree with your sentiment, he's been gone for about 10 yrs. I do believe that the Berkeley Yellow Jacket should be renamed the Berkeley Yellow Streak

[Huck]

"I think the United States deserves it," said Berkeley High senior Pat rick Rizzo

Maybe he should go to Lynchburg and start a congregation.

[billbears]

Added senior Phillip Chan: "I don't think that going and attacking a specific country is going to solve anything."

I agree with you, Dave. These little left wing teen RATs need to go home, tell their parents there's a special PTA meeting, collect the whole lot in one place, and ship them to the country of their choice. Maybe a free thinking place like Cuba.

Or shoot, let them exchange places with those poor immigrants that come over hidden in boats from China. I can't believe Chinese men and women, risking their lives and some their life's savings, would ever want to leave such a state as China where the government takes care of one so well< /sarcasm>

These leftist children should be made to talk to their grandparents of the Greatest Generation that fought in WWII and learn what hardship and patriotism really is. This makes me sick!!