I Ain't Marching Anymore
By littlegreenguy
2002-08-30 03:00:01

These are just the ramblings of a kid from New Jersey.

15 years old.  I look at the other "young adults", if that is what you choose to call us, and realize that I am not like them.  I've known this for quite a while.  Most of them have no personal political views.  When it comes time to vote, they will vote for whom their parents would have, and not think twice.  They don't realize what their rights are.  They have never read the Constitution, Bill of Rights, a government web page, or the newspaper (mind the sports section and comics).  Yet they feel that we have to fight to protect these rights allotted to us.  When I try to voice my opinion in class they shoot down any bit of truth that may leak through my lips.  "If you don't like this country then get the hell out", they scream at me.  It is this time that I explain to them that I love democracy, when practiced correctly.  They ignore me.

Some people in my school claim to have radical views on things.  I fear that these views were only formed after listening to hours of mindless MTV propaganda.  They say "Fight for your rights!", but do they know what that means?  Do they realize that waging war is not always about using an oppressive force to subdue a group? No. Do they know of S-21? No.  Do they care? No.

And then there are the few of us, and the teachers who actually give a damn.  We realize that our school's administration is corrupt, and that our new "resource officer", is actually a cop used to keep us in line through continuous fear.  We get the game of government, realize the subtle nuances in the world around us, and want to change the world for the better.  We all have individual beliefs whether they deal in theology, economics, or social and human rights.  One thing binds us; we are all fighting for a cause.  Because we know itŐs the right thing to do.

I turn 16 September 8th.  I hope it will be a better year....