Basic Rights

Basic Rights

When the Declaration of Independence was written over 200 years ago we

called ourselves free. Then came the issue with black people being

slaves. Then after Abraham L. signed the emancipation proclamation, we

again called ourselves free. But then women were banned from voting,

after that was fixed we once again call ourselves free. But one

minority still is not and they are America's young adults. The problem

is that youth in America have fewer rights than adults and have their

rights violated more often. They are violated more because children

for one don't know many rights they have and two, they can't stand up

to it. Most of these right violations occur within the public school

system. Although there are many others driving and curfews are a

couple.

On Jan. 7 1998 judge sentenced a 14-year old person who admitted to

firing a gun at his principal to 19 years in prison, which is the

maximum sentence for attempted murder. Prosecutors said that the

person shot a .22 caliber pistol at the principal at the beginning of

the school day. Politicians claim that the drinking age and the

driving age are necessary because teenagers are not aware of the

consequences of their actions. If they actually believed teenagers

were immature, then they would not allow them to be sentenced to 19

years in prison. This type of sentencing reinforces our belief that

Republican and Democrat politicians know that teenagers are aware of

the consequences of their actions. These politicians merely use age as

an excuse to take away the rights of teenagers. One solution to fix

this problem, which would only work if millions of people did it, is

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...the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. The principal suspended

the student because the student was "showing disrespect." School is

supposed to be a place where you learn how to think, not what to

think. This event shows you that the government will not allow

different viewpoints. Students are brought into the school system at

an early age to guarantee that they instantly adopt the government's

opinions on every topic. Any original thoughts or actions will result

in a lower grade or, if necessary, a suspension.

Young adults in America are fighting a war, a war on there basic

rights being violated. This war can be won just like all the other

injustices in the past were won, but it takes involvement. Only you

can protect your rights and your children rights because maybe if

children allow it long enough it may spread to the adults.