Since they can't vote, politically speaking, teens have very little power. This is true in all nations of the world. Yet, ironically, they are the
ones put in the line of fire by those who DO have the power. It is an impossibly unfair, cruelly vicious circle --
teens are thought to be too young and immature to be given any real political punch and yet, they are so able bodied
and easily taught that they make ideal soldiers. So what's a teen to do? It all seems so hopeless and so
predetermined, what can possibly be done to turn the tides? Despite the previously noted realities, there are actually
quite a few things that teens can do to be heard and taken to heart. While it is easy to get caught up in the doom
and gloom of the war statistics of the young, it should not be any teens' primary focus. Empowering yourself, making
yourself feel as if you are actively doing something, is your best possible answer to looming war stress. Know that
as a member of the youth population of the world you do matter, and you will be heard with or without the added punch of the
vote.
The first thing you must do is decide where you stand on the issue of war. Do you support the idea of this war or do you
oppose it? This is not so much a right or wrong situation as it is a personal one. Yes, there are moral
arguments, but they exist on both sides of the fence with the real moral position falling in that foggy gray area
called reality. There are sensible reasons to go to war and there are just as many sensible reasons to rally for
peace. How do you decide where to stand?
First, educate yourself. Know the facts of the situation. Don't focus on the emotional pressures brought on by
memories of the toppled World Trade Center or thoughts of the innocent children in the proposed war zone. While
these are very important parts of the equation, they are not the entire picture. Is it about oil? Is it about
anti-terrorism? Is it about liberating an oppressed people from a dictator? Is it about controlling the Middle East?
Will the human costs be too high regardless of any valid reasons to go to war? What about North Korea -- the wild
card? Know as much as you can and then make your decisions. Decide based on how you feel about one or all of the
issues. Then act accordingly.
Next Page - War: Where do you Stand? - Pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
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