The journey from there to here
Published on August 7, 2004 By Gideon MacLeish In Misc
There are a few threads popping up by teen bloggers in which they are feeling a little bit bashed. One of the subjects on the thread of one of the posts, led me to blog on one of the biggest lies we tell teens: "These are the best years of your life".

Frankly, if I'd have thought the teen years were the best years of my life, I would have offed myself before the age of twenty. They're not the best years, and for a number of reasons. Most teens have not-quite adult minds; that is, they have all the intelligence and reasoning skills it takes to be adults, but they don't have the life experience (sorry, teens, I hate to break it to you, but life experience DOES count for something). Now, this is not true for ALL teens; I do know of a few who are working full time, paying all of their bills and still trying to be good students, and I commend those individuals for working very hard when the deck is stacked against them.

The majority of teens, though, have rather limited life experience and their knowledge consists largely of what they've been told (an example of this are some Christians who are still told that AIDS is God's punishment for homosexuals, who have yet to see the tragedy of children and babies infected with AIDS who aren't even old enough to CARE about their sexuality). When you add in life experience, there is much about your beliefs you will question. You won't necessarily come to a different conclusion, but you WILL question them.

Many teens are preparing to go on to college. In college, they will encounter a whole new world, and choices they never even considered. They may hold different opinions when they leave college, they may hold the same. But many will leave with a good deal more life experience and knowledge to firmly cement their position. And their position will change over the years; 10 years ago I was a dyed in the wool socialist. Now, after treks through the US Constitution Party and the Republican Party, I am a dyed in the wool Libertarian (I started out a Democrat; I voted for Dukakis in my first presidential election [hangs head]). I am pretty sure the LP is where I will remain; however, I have learned one can't speak in absolutes about their future.

So, blog on, JU teens. We respect and appreciate your posts, and we're glad you're here. Don't look at the bloggers that bash you; look at the bloggers who support you. Don't blindly believe everything an adult tells you, but don't disrespect us either.

signing off,

Gideon MacLeish

Comments
on Aug 07, 2004
Excellent article, Gideon.

I've seen the articles about the teen bashing. I wrote one of the the first ones myself.

Believe me, all that I was interested in when writing that article was to say that most of the teen crowd is real, not fake. It kinda got out of hand from there.

(an example of this are some Christians who are still told that AIDS is God's punishment for homosexuals, who have yet to see the tragedy of children and babies infected with AIDS who aren't even old enough to CARE about their sexuality).

I don't think I've ever been told this. And I do see the tragedy of the young children who die every day because of AIDS who will never get to be adults, who won't get to experience life like most of us will. Every life lost is a tragedy; what if one of those children could have grown to be an excellent doctor or a pharmacist who helps create new methods of treating cancer, AIDS, Alzheimers, and many other diseases. That child could have been a marvelous artist, a great leader.

Like I've said before, Christians are the worst advertisement for Christianity.

So, blog on, JU teens. We respect and appreciate your posts, and we're glad you're here. Don't look at the bloggers that bash you; look at the bloggers who support you. Don't blindly believe everything an adult tells you, but don't disrespect us either.

Right on! If you listen to the bad comments all your life, where does that get you? You have to think positive, yet remain open for criticism.

Well written article. A lot of people could be better for reading it.

Peace,

Beebes
on Aug 07, 2004
Thanks Beebles

As to the AIDS subject, fortunately most churches have stopped teaching it. There are, however, some holdouts (that do not, I must mention, fairly represent Christianity as a whole).
on Aug 07, 2004
A while back I saw a bit on TV about how our brains are still developing at the age of 20. If I remember right it's the part of the brain that helps us determine right from wrong.
on Aug 07, 2004
The majority of teens, though, have rather limited life experience and their knowledge consists largely of what they've been told (an example of this are some Christians who are still told that AIDS is God's punishment for homosexuals, who have yet to see the tragedy of children and babies infected with AIDS who aren't even old enough to CARE about their sexuality). When you add in life experience, there is much about your beliefs you will question. You won't necessarily come to a different conclusion, but you WILL question them.


I've never been taught this in my church before. Even though my church is strongly against homosexuals. That's supprising.

So, blog on, JU teens. We respect and appreciate your posts, and we're glad you're here. Don't look at the bloggers that bash you; look at the bloggers who support you. Don't blindly believe everything an adult tells you, but don't disrespect us either.


Yes, I've been doing a lot of thinking about this lately. I'm just trying to ignor all the negative things being said towards me and looking more towards the bright side! And I know I'm not trying to disrespecta any of you adutls on here at all. I'm just trying to get a better understanding of things, that's all.

I've seen the articles about the teen bashing. I wrote one of the the first ones myself.Believe me, all that I was interested in when writing that article was to say that most of the teen crowd is real, not fake. It kinda got out of hand from there.


Yeah It kinda did get out of hand from there Alex. But I guess you can kinda blame me and Capt. for that one. So yeah, sorry about that. We were so totally lost big time. You have no idea. I get on and all I see is this article about people bashing on me and capt. So I was confused and curious all at the same time. So things kinda got out of hand. But I don't think it was really meant to turn out this way. Who knows, maybe we'll all learn from this, eh?

~carebear~
on Aug 08, 2004
I've never been taught this in my church before. Even though my church is strongly against homosexuals.


Fortunately, the number of churches that continue to teach this has dropped sharply (Ryan White taught us ALL a lot, may he rest in peace), but the fact that ANY still teach it is appalling.