[Prev|Next|Index] Thu, Feb 22, 1996 John Lubetich

Cold Winds

     By John Lubetich

     Times are tough. 10 year olds commit suicide. 13 year olds deal
     crack and kill each other with guns and knives. It wasn't like
     this once. At least I don't remember it being like this.

     I remember fist fights in school to settle an argument. Nobody
     died. I remember feeling bad about taking a 5 cent candy from the
     store without paying for it. I remember wishing I could die when
     my parents wouldn't let me do something, and then forgetting
     about it when I'd go out with my friends.

     I wish things were better. I wish I could make things better.
     Everybody wishes they could make things better.

     But I get this feeling that some people KNOW how to make things
     better. All we have to do is be just like them. They are good
     people so it's only natural that we'd want to be like them. They
     are compassionate people with only the good of others at heart.

     At least if you're like them. If you're thoughts are too far from
     theirs, you're wrong. If you support gun control, you're wrong.
     If you support Pro Choice you're wrong. If you won't spit on a
     homosexual, you're wrong. And you need to be changed and
     protected for your own good. What you don't know won't hurt you.
     What you can't find out, you won't miss.

     Freedom of speach is an interesting thing, and fragile. I don't
     want my daughter to look at 10 different views of anal sex, but I
     want her to read "Catcher in the Rye". I guess I'll love her as
     much as I can, teach her the things I believe in by living and
     acting what I believe. I hope I can be a positive force in her
     life so she can sort the crap from the truth and value the
     difference. She needs to be able to make the choice for herself
     with all the information. She shouldn't be afraid of what she
     thinks. She shouldn't be afraid that SOMEONE ELSE won't like what
     she thinks.

     That could happen now, this isn't playtime anymore. People are
     looking at what I'm writing. Could I break a law by saying fuck?

     Cold winds are blowing, somebody's behind me. I don't have the
     answers but I don't think killing the NET is it. Live what you
     believe. Be an example. People were, I wrote this. I hope my
     daughter won't be ashamed.

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