We Have a Voice, Now Use It

It amazes me sometimes how teenagers today hide their voice when they disagree with things or issues. Teens, don’t be. We’re not afraid to give our parents a piece of our mind sometimes, why be afraid of giving others that same voicing opinion to? You should be proud of yourself when you take that plunge and speak up.

I recently encountered an issue at my new school. An issue concerning prom and where it was to be held at. I listened to a lot of bickering between students on how unfair it was to get their prom at what we call a ‘Officers Club’ on the Air Base here in Germany when they spent a lot of time and fundraising on getting last years prom to get it on a cruise boat. Here juniors plan the prom, the fundraising for it as well. But the only issue was, juniors this year weren’t doing a very good job as the seniors did last year.

All in all, even with prom around the corner, nobody said anything to anybody except the bickering between themselves. When I stepped up and finally said something, even being new to the school and the issue, I was amazed to see people actually scared to step up and say what they’ve said behind the scenes. Nobody wanted to step up because they believed in the short amount of time to prom, there was no changing it. Then why waste time bickering? If you want something changed, last minute or not, stand up and fight for that change. If you don’t agree with juniors running YOUR senior prom, whether it’s the day before prom or after prom, say something. Maybe in years to come, they can change it for other seniors. But if your going to sit there and bicker, but not voice your opinion to challenge change, what’s the point of bickering then? What’s the point of using your voice if your not going to stand up and actually use it? We were given this right were we not?

Whether you may think the issue is small, whether you think nobody will listen or understand, whether it’s an issue that’s been stuck on your mind for months or just something you want to express your concern about..use your voice and say it. Never be scared to voice your opinion or concern, you never know, the guy next to you may be thinking the same thing and grateful you said something.

Drinking Age

The basic towns in Germany. Very pretty at night. Also a great site at the common festivals they have (i.e. this night picture in one town was at a wine festival).

As you all know, I’ve spent the last 7 months here in Germany. I’ve failed to keep my articles running, due to the busy senior year and exploring I’ve encountered here. Once you’ve lived in a different country, you come to see things differently than you would just passing by on vacation. Things like, how there aren’t many police officers driving around, but speed signs with cameras to keep your speed in check. The fact that ALL stores are closed on Sundays because it is considered ‘Gods Day.’ No exceptions. How taxes in Germany are so outrageous, but many benefits come from it. How Germans focus more on the economy, such as recycling and green energy, that no matter where you go you’ll see a solar panel, wind mill or three different types of recycling garbage cans. (They take it seriously too, if the garbage truck guys find food in the ‘plastic’ bin, they’ll be sure to let you know the next morning!) What catches my eye the most though is the drinking age.

In America the legal age to drink is 21, although most teenagers don’t follow that law and I know, the anticipation of reaching that age is just too much that in turn, we have underage drinking. Why is that? In Germany, the legal age to drink beer is 16 and for liquor 18. Germans grow up with the idea that drinking is just that, drinking. It’s just another drink that quenches your thirst. Not a big thing, not a party when you reach 16, not excitement when you reach 21, not a drunken night when you reach 18; it’s just that, a drink. You walk in the airport, grocery store or even Church, you’ll find people with a beer in their hand. Like I’ve said, it’s just a drink to them. When you go to the bars here or the clubs, what you see is the Americans here that visit or from around the area who can’t seem to handle their drink and go crazy because well, their legal here! What I see when I go to high school parties here, is the same exact thing. Why is that? Why is it that Germans seem to have it under control, not have too many ‘DUI’s’ or problems with people drinking? Is it the philosophy they seem to have discovered that America is missing out on? Should we lower the drinking age, not put such a concern on it and let teenagers drink at the age 16? Do you think the anticipation and rebellion will stop then? Would teenagers stop looking forward to it if we stop making it a big deal? Germans seem to have it under control, can we follow in their foot steps and get America under control as well?