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Show 2008, groups such as Military Families Speak Out and Iraq Veterans against the War gathered at the Veterans Memorial Park to honor the 4,000 fallen troops. There are also several websites on the web that allow you to adopt a soldier. Soldierangels.orgprovidesthe opportunity to adopt a soldier and to send them care packages and letters. Of the many excuses heard today about why people dont vote, Fogo finds the most ridiculous to be that people believe their vote wont count. Even if you vote blue in a red state, or if you vote red in a blue state, it is important to vote for the local issues. Here in Utah, there aue so many important things on the ballot that are on a local level, Fogo said. There are congressmen to vote for and local propositions to pass. These are the kind of things that might affect your life more than the national stuff. Cottier believes that voting provides you with a sense of empowerment. Her parting words? VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! Empower yourselves! ALCOHOL AND ITS NOT SO OBVIOUS SIDE EFFECTS After Prohibition, almost every state in the nation designated 21 as the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA). It was during the 1970s that 29 states lowered their MLDA to 20, 19 or even 18. However, scientists began to study the effects of the lowered MLDAs and noticed that the amount of motor vehicle accidents increased after the MLDA was lowered. After this research came to light, and many advocacy groups were campaigning for increased drinking ages, the federal government was involvement effect had students an on political seemingly forced to put pressure on the states. in recent years. Since all states had the jurisdiction to decide what the Another attitude that has changed with time is that drinking age in their state was, it was at this time the govCarr Vietnam said were our during you regarding troops. ernment threatened to take away road funding if the states either for the war and for the troops or against the war did not comply with the new age. While some states, and against the troops. I had a friend who was a tank including Utah, had a drinking age of 21, states such as commander in Vietnam, said Carr. He was a marine, Colorado did not. Students were getting killed after they very proud of his service. On the first day of class at San had crossed the border to get alcohol. Cottier said that Francisco State a professor identified him as a Vietnam growing up in Vermont, where the drinking age was 21, it vet and refused to be in the same classroom as him, a was easy to take a ferry to New York where the drinking killer." baby age was 18, to drink legally. There are ways to be for the troops even if you opProfessor Siegler grew up in New Hampshire, where Anti-w- ar evhold the war. candlelight vigils groups pose the drinking age was 1 8 until 1979, when it was then raised the school and from to college campuses erywhere high to 20. It was finally raised to 21 in 1985. Siegler doesnt roads in front of hospitals. In 2005, the local branch of recall ever having an issue with the drinking age. Though School in River International Wood at High Amnesty it wasnt difficult to get a drink if one wanted, many teenHailey, Idaho lit 1,000 candles for the fallen troops on agers in the 1970s were more drawn to marijuana. We the football field. In 2007, 175 people gathered in front of just didnt drink much in high school, Siegler said. Balboa Naval hospital in San Diego. In Orange County in ALCOHOL IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM Today, Siegler is an advocate of a lower drinking age 3te in 2004? ote in 2008? and believes that it is the job of a parent to teach their children how to drink before they send them out on their own. Additionally, she thinks that student life would benefit if there were bars closer to campus, thus eliminating the need to drive after a night of partying. Our culture is a little prudish, Siegler said. Compared to that of Europe, where kids grow up drinking a glass of wine with dinner. She also describes a conversation she had with a Winter at Westminster student last year. She talked about how on the east coast there is tremendous pressure to drink while in college. But in Utah, there is less pressure on a student to do so. Cottier also agrees that the drinking age should be 18, if only to offer, some standardization as to when you become an adult. Cottier thinks the age requirement of 21 to drink is a bit foolish seeing as how one is considered an adult at age 18. You can get married at 18, you can drive at 18, you can vote at 18 said Cottier. You should be able to drink at 18. She also finds the idea of co-e- d dormitories to be a contradiction in this setting. You can see a member of the opposite sex in the shower, but they dont consider you mature enough to drink?, Cottier asked. Student Garrett Carter agrees with Cottier and Siegler. A drinking age of 21 really doesnt stop kids from drinkwants alcohol they can ing, said Carter. If a get it. All the age requirement does is make it harder for young kids to get booze. Even though Carter doesnt think its very effective, he says the drinking age being set at 21 is fine. If the drinking age were lowered a lot of immature people would abuse it, said student Lauren Van Os. If it was raised there would be even more problems with underage kids drinking. I dont know if theres a solution. According to students, it would appear the drinking age faces problems with limiting accessibility. Its stupid, even at 21 most people arent responsible, said Carter. Im really not sure what can be done to fix the problem. Though it might look grim, the lack of interest in voting and problematic drinking age may share a solution. I think if the drinking age really was lowered, parents would have to step up, said Van Os. Parents would need to teach their kids what it means to drink responsibly. I dont think all would do that, but I think most would and that would help the situation. A middle ground must be found, but whether that is to raise, lower or maintain the drinking age is yet to be seen. is found, the Until some sort of solution, or core of the problem remains. Whether its a alcohol can be difficult to handle, said or a Van Os. It will always be abused, and theres no way around that. 17-year-- semi-soluti- on old 46-year-- Where did your interest in politics come from? ParentsFamily Not old enough TeacherSchool Self-intere- st Other NOVEMBER I 4, 2008 |