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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-12-03, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3,1997. For Teens, By Teens Teens say violence more prevalent today By Amy Crawford "I'm going to kill you". We've all heard that one time or another, whether directed at ourselves or another. Few ever really take those five words seriously — until now. In the news recently stories have indicated that maybe we'd better. In London a 13- year-old girl stabbed a nine-year- old boy in the neck. A youth killed his 90-something grandmother after she gave him some money. And in B.C. a 14-year-old teen was murdered by eight other teens, seven of whom were girls. And this is just the recent stuff! Many teens have been threatened but most don’t take it too seriously. The few that feel the threat is real, Live show a good show By Mark Nonkes Usually when I’m writing about entertainment it concerns going to the movies. This time however, J’m going to tell you about live entertainment which could be found at Central Huron Secondary School, last Thursday, Nov. 27. This Coffee House at CHSS cost less than a trip to the movies and by far was more entertaining. It even included coffee and tea with the price of admission. The night featured local talent from our high school students in the form of singing, acting, poetry reading and instrumental music. The evening began with Dan Hammill on the piano. Following were solos by Erin Roulston, Cappy Onn and Mike Mullen. Duets were perforTV'f’d hv Rachel Bokhout and Briana blown, then Shawna Walker and Jen Kuntz. Several other performances were very entertaining, especially Jon Kochis, Dustin Steckle and Mike Mullen's bgnd. If you're looking for something different from the same old movies, try live entertainment. It is highly recommended. Although the next Coffee House at CHSS is not until January, the drama club will be performing their fall production of Bombs al 7 p.m. this Thursday, Dec. 4 at CHSS. Bombs is about the degradation we face in our everyday lives. It begins with several scenes of mental abuses. It continues until eight students, each with their own problems have a substitute teacher who possesses a grenade. Come and see it! Try something different for a change. transfer to different schools, or some even lay charges. Some don't get the chance. Today, many teens are involved in violence. Some may want to beat someone up for taking their girlfriend or boyfriend, some may just want to fight to prove themselves, and some just despise another person and feel a good beating is in order for them. When a person feels they have to prove themselves by fighting another they are usually very self conscious and may have been teased and bugged a lot during their life. Some teens today feel that violent behaviour is influenced by TV and movies which glamorize violence. Others feel that it is ignorance, territorial boundaries and drugs that are the main causes. When a person is on drugs the little things that bother them when they are sober, magnify and become a reason for the person to fight. Some teens think it is caused by stress, depression or if a person is drunk they often become violent. People who were brought up in violent, abusive households often grow up to be violent and abusive. The child sees it in their home and thinks it must be alright if their parents do it, so in turn grows up with the belief it is OK. Another reason for violent behaviour would be revenge. The teen feels he/she has to get back at others for what they have done to them or someone they care about. It's also frustration, and just getting tired of other's stupidness. Violence in the media can affect real life and the way teens perceive their surroundings. When we are young we could watch TV and see the coyote trying to kill the roadrunner, or the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and other violent shows. All that is ever published on the news is negative and some people believe many are now becoming immune to violence. Along with all teens' reasons for violence they also have some solutions. Nancy said, "It has to start with yourself. Love yourself, believe in yourself and think before you act." John's solution was to be tougher on all criminals, especially people who have killed. "Rather than lock them up we should put them on death row. As the Bible says, 'eye for an eye'." Some teens thought that was a drastic solution and said we should go to church, love one another, Commercializing Christmas Erin Roulston. A little while ago I heard a comedian on the radio. He was talking about the commercialization of Christian holidays. "What, the birth of our saviour isn't enough?" he asked. "No, we need a fat guy in a red suit." And how about Easter; Jesus dies and is resurrected. "Not enough, you need a rabbit. Should this rabbit give something away? Eggs, of course. I think of rabbits, I think of eggs." I am not a religious person. I do not go to church, I have not read the Bible, I do not even know the story behind Easter, yet I celebrate these holidays just like the rest of the country. It's really quite hypocritical when you think about it. The food, the presents, the days off school, all to celebrate something that I don't even think I believe in. The other day I was talking to a friend who says she goes to church on Christmas Eve and on Christmas morning. Yuck! I thought, why would you ever want to go to church on Christmas. Christmas is about family, and presents, not about God ... in the middle of my sentence I realized how ridiculous that is. Christmas. The birth of Christ. Where did this guy in the red suit come from? Why do we get presents? What does a decorated tree have to do with any of it? Jesus wasn't even bom in December. Yet to most of the world, myself included, these are exactly what Christmas is about. Jesus Christ has nothing to do with it. So what are we supposed to do? Stop celebrating it if we don't believe it? Pretend we believe even if we don't? Forget that Jesus was ever involved? I think that over time that will happen anyway. Last year I read a seven-year-old the real Christmas story. He had never heard it. I later found out that his parents did not want me "preaching that religious crap." I think that is wrong, an entire generation that celebrates a holiday that they do not understand. I suppose that the media is partially to blame. All the TV shows, the ads, and the stores all contribute to the de­ Christianization of Christmas. Most malls will have a Santa display, not a nativity scene. All the stress they put on buying your kids the right toys, yet no mention of Jesus. And then there are the movies: Jingle All the Way, The Santa Clause, Miracle on 34th Street, and many others. They are wonderful, happy, and non-Christian. The moral of these movies is: "believe in Santa and the goodness in yourself" not "believe in Jesus". The only modem Christmas movie that even remotely alludes to Jesus is those obnoxious Home Alone movies. So what are we supposed to do about it, a Christian holiday which has become a selfish gift grab for pagans? Are we supposed to give up the holiday? Are we supposed to -just forget about the entire Jesus origin? No. We can't do anything. We can sit and complain. And maybe, just maybe, we can stop for a second and think about why we should even care in the first place. MICROTECH COMPUTERS CANON - HEWLETT PACKARD 10 KING STREET CLINTON ONTARIO 519-482 3363 AUTHORIZED IPC DEALER Check us out! We’ve got wonderful gift ideas Toys • Christmas Towels Candles • Candle Holders • Lots of Stocking Stuffers including sachets, ornaments, figurines, bath aroma, chocolates, lottery tickets & Christmas candy Film - 3 packs & single rolls - Sale priced this week THE BLYTH GENERAL STORE Queen Street North Blyth 523-9785 forgive all wrongs, help friends if they feel violence is the only way, try to make them see the opposite and get a hold on life. Most feel that violence is no different here than in the cities; the only difference is that in the cities they use weapons, around here teens fight with our fists. Many admit teens have become more violent than in the past. "A lot of it stems from society and what we are shown from the media and also our home lives," said Mike. "Teens rebel against their parents and their rules and some take the violent route. Just the other evening a teen decided he wanted to fight, for no other reason to fight. This shows how common violence is to us, and also how most times we just don't care anymore," said John. Violence in teens needs to be combated in some way, especially in schools. We need to be taught that violence is the wrong way to solve a problem and new ways to work things out. MDL DOORS nn887-6974 "Keep the (Doors to the (future Open Beautiful Styles to Make your House a Home Available through your local MDL Dealer RADFORD'S HAS WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE HIS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL! 2^] devaTr TEMPO 2204037 Circulation COLO WlATMtR STARTING PRODUCTS *69995 radfqrcTauto j Save 20% 299 PC1560 5 HP Compressor Reg. $789.11 ■ HEATER 1500W Reg. $82.77 $62w» 10 Drawer Top Chest i Reg. IS*374-32 *FARM AND INDUSTRIAL PARTS Brussels 887-9661 Public Bowling Tinies Mon. - Thurs. 1-4 p.m. 6-10 p.m. Frl. - 7:45 p.m. -12:30 a.m. Sat. - Noon -12:30 a.m. Sun. 1-10 p.m. & Special Times By Reservation Moonlight Is A Glow! 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