Wednesday, April 20, 2005
SWOP homepageWhat's Wrong With Kids These Days?
A recent mock City Council meeting, created as a program of Common Cause New Mexico, saw Albuquerque high school students imposing a curfew on themselves.
What?! I suppose even young people are affected by all the fear mongering going on these days.
In my day (just a few years ago) we would have passed a bill to lower the drinking age or to kill the party patrol. Something rebellious. Anything.
But a curfew? Never.
With a vote of 4-3 in favor of a bill, the mock council imposed a children's blackout between 11:45 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Sunday evening through Thursday morning, and 1:30 to 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Celia Fraire, an intern at SouthWest Organizing Project, played the part of an ACLU spokesperson and participated in a similiar program at Valley High School.
Celia has also played a leadership role in organizing a rally to stop a change in the Children's Code of NM's state constitution at the roundhouse.
Above: from rally at round house this year - the rally
featured a curfew battle and breakdancers against the curfew
"I tried to get a bill passed for free college education for everyone in my government class at Valley," she said. "It didn't pass."
She did say that the main debate at Valley was about lowering the drinking age. That's a relief.
What about anti-war legislation? Livable wages? Lowering the voting age? What about being able to make a living in our poor state?
"Nope."
"I think we're concerned about those things, but no one listens to each other," she said. "We're just like everyone else."
Celia will be working at SWOP over the summer creating a pro-youth platform with other young people for the city's October elections.
A curfew isn't likely in that platform. Seriously folks, curfews won't solve our problems. I understand the impulse to protect young people, but come on. Empowering and investing in the potential of young people is our only hope.
As Jeanne Gauna, SWOP's late co-director (and my mom), used to say: "There's genious in the 'hood."
What?! I suppose even young people are affected by all the fear mongering going on these days.
In my day (just a few years ago) we would have passed a bill to lower the drinking age or to kill the party patrol. Something rebellious. Anything.
But a curfew? Never.
With a vote of 4-3 in favor of a bill, the mock council imposed a children's blackout between 11:45 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Sunday evening through Thursday morning, and 1:30 to 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Celia Fraire, an intern at SouthWest Organizing Project, played the part of an ACLU spokesperson and participated in a similiar program at Valley High School.
Celia has also played a leadership role in organizing a rally to stop a change in the Children's Code of NM's state constitution at the roundhouse.
Above: from rally at round house this year - the rally
featured a curfew battle and breakdancers against the curfew
"I tried to get a bill passed for free college education for everyone in my government class at Valley," she said. "It didn't pass."
She did say that the main debate at Valley was about lowering the drinking age. That's a relief.
What about anti-war legislation? Livable wages? Lowering the voting age? What about being able to make a living in our poor state?
"Nope."
"I think we're concerned about those things, but no one listens to each other," she said. "We're just like everyone else."
Celia will be working at SWOP over the summer creating a pro-youth platform with other young people for the city's October elections.
A curfew isn't likely in that platform. Seriously folks, curfews won't solve our problems. I understand the impulse to protect young people, but come on. Empowering and investing in the potential of young people is our only hope.
As Jeanne Gauna, SWOP's late co-director (and my mom), used to say: "There's genious in the 'hood."
