“Marijuana
I really enjoyed the article “What’s So Cool About Marijuana?” It gave me a lot of information that really helped me. I always told myself that I wouldn’t try marijuana or any other drug. This article gave me reasons why I shouldn’t. I was against smoking marijuana only because it was illegal. Now I know that marijuana can damage you physically and mentally. I also did not know that smoking marijuana is equivalent to smoking 5-7 cigarettes. I now know for sure that I will never try marijuana.
John Webb, Taft HS
I think that your article on marijuana was uncalled for. I think that if you’re going to write the negative part about it, then you should have to write the positive too, like the way people could use the oil it releases for cooking instead of using that fat cooking oil like Crisco or butter. Marijuana can also produce paper so we don’t have to cut any trees down. And most importantly, [it creates] thread. If we didn’t have thread, we would be wearing nothing.
Andres Garcia, Alhambra HS
In the article he writes “Why would an emotionally healthy person even desire to do it at all?” I find this to be an insult and a contradiction. The majority of teenagers end up having a lot of built up angst. Most teenagers just want to be cool and admired. So they will do a lot to achieve that. So isn’t that healthy? Also I doubt that anybody has a completely healthy mind.Jason Lass, Taft HS
I was really grateful that you published an article on marijuana. I myself have never tried it, but I have many friends who are constant users. I know how dangerous marijuana is and that’s why I don’t smoke it, but I care for my friends deeply and I don’t want to see them get hurt. I try to talk to them but no matter what I say they still do it anyway. I feel helpless sometimes and I think that the only way that they’ll realize that marijuana is harmful is if something bad happens to them because of marijuana.
Gloria Diaz, Taft HS
It is scientifically proven that hemp can help the environment and THC can help people ill with glaucoma and cancer. But I feel that one thing the youth of today needs to know is how to handle the drug and take responsibility for their actions. If you decide to smoke it, do it out of your choice and not out of peer pressure. And if it’s a big part in your lifestyle, be in control of it, don’t let it be in control of you. Try and be responsible when you’re stoned—one mess up can ruin it for the rest of us.
Regina Galvan, El Camino HS
I strongly believe pot should be sold in the deli section of most supermarkets because I believe this would stop street dealing and cut down on the smoking of bud by poser wannabe potheads. If reefer was legal it wouldn’t be “cool” anymore and kids wouldn’t want it if it wasn’t cool.
Anonymous, Taft HS
I was somewhat surprised there wasn’t a pot smoker’s point of view in the article. Some non-smoker is writing about how bad pot is and how dull it makes users and he hasn’t even had experiences with it himself.
Jordan Warrick, El Camino HS
Female genital mutilation
What I read in this article was horrible. I can’t believe people actually do this to little girls. I can’t imagine the pain they must have to go through. It’s a good that California has passed a law against this practice. Hopefully some time in the near future a law will pass in the remaining countries and states that still allow this practice to go on.
Lynda Jiron, Alhambra HS
I knew there was such a thing as female circumcision, but I didn’t know that it was so horrible that it would have to be banned and considered child abuse… This article just made me feel glad I wasn’t born a female, especially in Africa.
Robert Garcia, Alhambra HS
In response to the statement “It prevented the girls from ending up like those American girls”: True, we might not have all of those wholesome family values right now, but not all American girls are sluts or whores. That is a stereotypical generalized statement. I feel this is a major injustice to the little girls of today.
Michelle Brown, El Camino HS
There is no comparison to male circumcision. For males, it’s just the extra skin that doesn’t need to be there. For females, it’s a whole different story. It’s just a power thing for males to do it to females, but I don’t understand the females that do it. They know the pain, so why would they pass it on?
Rachel Lovy, El Camino HS
I have read your “Exploring the Horrors of Female Genital Mutilation” and I must say, at first I was shocked. But after a while my mind became more open and I realized that this practice, although seemingly barbaric, is culturally significant and should have a little respect. Although I have never heard of such a practice before reading your article, anything lasting 4,000 years should at least be slightly understood.
Steven Withawski, Taft HS
New Teen Driving Laws
I think that the senator who authorized this law was only thinking about how many teenagers get into driving accidents. He wasn’t thinking about our freedom, our needs and wants. As a teenager, I can’t always depend on my mom or dad to take me where I want to go when I want. I need to be able to be a little more independent. By having a driver’s license, I could be able to do this… I’m definitely against this law.
Ben Ziff, Taft HS
I feel this law is unreasonable and there are better ways of solving it . . . Instead of making laws to be 18, they should make teenagers take more hours practicing driving. They should also make it harder to pass the test so the good drivers pass but the bad drivers will need to practice more. Someone should make a law to make drunk drivers think twice or senior citizens should also be tested for a new driver’s license because they drive even worse than teens.
Idean Ettekal, Taft HS
I think the law should really go into effect because of the death rate of teenagers. Not to make teens angry because of this law, but to make them aware of what’s going to affect them when they’re ready to drive… It’s just to benefit the society we live in and to provide teens with better driving skills.
Jeremy Coons, Taft HS
In my opinion, by passing this law, teenagers will be more tempted to drive alone and recklessly. Many teens already drive with their permits only. No matter how the law is enforced, people will find a way around it… I believe that if this law is passed and enforced, society and youth with rebel. They will do all they can to remove this law.
Jennifer Chen, El Camino HS
The Great Escape
I never knew what I wanted to do with my life, so I can really see her point of view… As a kid, the worst possible question a teacher or anybody could ask me was what I want to be when I grow up. I would spend hours a day thinking about the question but never got an answer. Sometimes I would wish that I don’t have to be anybody and just run away to a far place where nobody is. I just wanted to let Nadine know that she’s not alone and that there are many people out there that are exactly like her.
Leesa Mac, Verdugo Hills HS
I truly believe that from the minute we’re born, we have certain expectations. Our mothers and fathers envision us becoming these doctors or famous actors. Life should not be based on what you’re going to become, or how we’re going to be based on enjoying life and living it. We go through school being constantly reminded of what’s going to happen to us if we don’t get to the top.
Regina Zietal, El Camino HS
I think that publishing articles like “The Great Escape” in youth newspapers that are sent to many schools gives [youth readers] the idea that running away is okay. Instead, I think you should show how bad it really is and how dangerous it is.
Erick Novik, Taft HS
The article “The Great Escape” I think is really related to the problems that I have and wish were gone. At one time I ran away from home and felt like I was totally free… but I knew I had to go back because there were people at home who loved me so much. I went back home after two days of being on my own and got closer to my mom. Now I know that running away is not fun, it is scary and you have no one to love you as much as your parents do. I hope that if there is anyone who even thinks of running away thinks of how the people that are in their lives would be without them being there.
Paula Hyman, Taft HS”