Happy New Year!

Do you think that the new year means a fresh start?

Well, Happy New Year!

Thought of the Day

"If being an egomaniac means I believe in what I do and in my art or music, then in that respect you can call me that... I believe in what I do, and I'll say it."~John Lennon

Slipping From Authority's Grasp

As I blink..

Seventeen nights of violence and unrest. Over 4,000 cars burned and 700 people arrested. There is no control.

In France, the early weeks of November were a living nightmare. Youth ran wild in the streets, burning cars and destroying public and private property. The French government declared a state of emergency and began enforcing curfews in many of the devastated towns and cities. The participants in this violence are said to be French-born, but of foreign descent, a key factor in the motivation for this violence.

Headlines depict the stories of death, racial tension, and the hatred towards authority. During the weeks of violence, news corporations, such as Fox News and USATODAY flashed headlines such as, "More than 30 police hurt has French riots reach over 300 towns. French PM Acknowledges Racial Divide." and "Kids: We hate the police." Even without reading the full story, it is easy to see the fuel behind the fire.

The curfews and constant efforts exerted by government officials and police have calmed the majority of rioters and the violence is drastically decreasing in magnitude. But only half of the questions are answered and only the surface problems have been solved.

Violence due to racial issues only seems commonplace in some countries, but with this new idea of youth involvement and sole leadership comes new struggles in the fucked up government of those few countries. With every generation, new ideas are presented and new standards and methods of existing are practiced. Although seen as controversial and unacceptable in the beginning, society eventually welcomes these new concepts as a way to improve.

It is now a question of what will be this generation's contribution to the evolution of our culture. As students and young adults, they present new challenges for the rest of the world every day. There is no hesitation to share their thoughts, but in this display of courage and determination, they want to be heard and have others actually listened. You see, not every country practices free speech as often as America, Canada, and the UK.

Clearly evident in the French riots, students are crying out for understanding and are exhibiting their disregard for archaic ways of reprimand. Being looked upon with disappointment and disfavor does not break them. It does not make them want to turn around and right every wrong, apologizing for their actions, whether they are viewed as noble or foolish. This seems to be one of the most concerning issues with the riots in France. For days, the French youth were on a rampage and the authority could do nothing. The arrests and calls for tranquility, if anything, caused and even deeper feeling of resentment.

Maybe if someone would have say down and listened to what they had to say instead of only disciplining, the rioting would have ended sooner. Maybe we as citizens of these great, free nations need to look towards these riots as guidance of a possible future with no free speech, only direct action and paths of violence to gain political support. The authoritative figures in our society will not be able to fall back on the rule book from years past. This generation is paving its way through uncharted territory and the authority attempting to keep the peace must follow in their footsteps.

That is not the say that the effort should be completely one-sided, but this generation is stubborn, as all have been at some point. They will not cease if people are demanding it of them, it is not their nature. They are taught to be independent and with that in mind, they ask that you listen to them. Only then will everyone understand each other.