Letters to the Editor: Student letters

The following letters are from students at Lake Hazel Middle School. The Statesman welcomes letters from students, but due to space constraints, some letters may be published online only. Teachers planning a letter-writing project are invited to contact Assistant Editorial Page Editor David Bomar at 377-6441 or dbomar@idahostatesman.com.

Listen, don't judge

Almost every day, you have to talk with someone who can't agree to disagree. Many people are blinded by their own opinion so much that it can be quite difficult to get your reasoning across. Not everyone agrees with me all of the time, but it is OK to not always agree.

Everyone has different opinions, and in this country we can share them. I think it is not OK to judge, disregard or shoot down someone's opinion just because it is not the same as yours. People need to grow up and listen to what others have to say.

CHAYSE CARSON

U.S. isn't achieving its greatest potential

Why is America being bested by other countries? I always thought that America is the best at everything. We were always the ones who made up new ideas and came up with the best new thing. I have noticed that it has changed drastically. Japan is about to construct the world's largest structure; Dubai is also building the world's tallest building; and France (of all countries) has built the world's largest and tallest bridge.

Sadly, we used to possess all those titles. We just don't seem to have the drive to be the best anymore. Who really wants to be beat by France? We are the pinnacle of the world; why not stay there? Is it because we are so focused on things that don't matter? Instead of sending billions of dollars to a country that hates us, why not use it for the better of mankind? We are America! We are capable of great things!

DYLAN WADE JAQUES

Put down the gadgets

What if we didn't have computers, TVs, video games and movies? Kids today don't want to learn about how life was in the past, before electronics. It's like a history lesson without the books. If we stopped, listened and paid good attention to what our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents had to say about how they lived, worked and played, it would probably make us stop and think about how good we have it, instead of complaining about not having the latest games, movies, computers and cell phones. We would probably learn how to do things without spending so much money and take better advantage of our time.

People before us lived a lot simpler than we do today, and yet I bet you never heard them say they were bored. They made up games, they spent more time with their families, they appreciated what they had and took care of it so it would last longer. Imagine turning off the electronics and paying attention to your family.

TAYLER LIERMAN

Teens want to help

I hate how adults never appreciate what we do to help out. They always think that we don't do anything right. Why do we have to take the blame when we are trying to help? Why don't they ever think that we are more than just teenagers?

I know that there are some of us who do not deserve good treatment. I know that those people make us look like we all do that, but that is so not true. I think that we could do a lot if people would just let us.

I definitely think that we are sometimes very obnoxious, but it is just because we are going through certain time in our lives that we cannot avoid. Thank you for listening to me.

KATIE DOUGAL

Everyone is beautiful

We all know that teen girls are worried about this "look" that magazines and trendy clothing stores put pressure on them to look like. I hear people talking all the time about how they wish they were taller, skinnier and, sadly, more beautiful. These girls need to forget about this "look" and just be themselves.

There is one good thing going around that I am so proud of - the body peace treaty, sponsored by Seventeen magazine and trendy designers. They pledged that they will make sizes bigger, so that real people can actually fit into them, and that they will help you love your natural body instead of fighting it. They made all of us girls pledge to never to compare or judge your body, and just think of yourself as beautiful. So just remember that everyone is beautiful, no matter what shape, size or color.

HAYLEY NAYLOR

Good or bad, divorce changes you forever

Many lives are affected by a divorce. No one likes to hear that someone is in a divorce. If you are thinking about getting a divorce over an argument, stop and think if it is really necessary. If not, give it some time and thought. If it is, well, you got to do what you got to do.

Divorce can be difficult because it decides your whole future. You could stay with the person you are with, or start a whole new life. The children are put in a difficult situation also, because their lives are split into separate parts. They have to face this whole new life whether they want to or not. Divorce can be good or bad, but it changes your life forever.

TIANA GYLLENSKOG