I am writing in response to Shawna D. (Dec. 19 Backtalk). I totally agree with you. “Party of Five” is a great show and I love to watch it. I’m sure many people would agree. Since the show is so realistic, it is fun to watch. I think Fox should reconsider before cancelling the show. Just watch one episode and you will fall in love with the show.
– Ali O., 11, Naperville
Dear Editor:
I am very disturbed about the article on Nebraska’s football team (Jan. 9 Sports). I understand that they have the title of the National Champs, but what you don’t read about Nebraska’s starting lineup is that (lots) of them are awaiting trial for everything from rape to murder!
Personally, I don’t think that they should be publicized as good role models or idols for the people reading the section. As far as I’m concerned, to represent a school or a title as national champs is a privilege, not a right. And in my opinion, (Nebraska) hasn’t earned it, champion or not!
– Nora C., 12, Chicago
(Editor’s note: Five players from the Nebraska team, starters and non-starters, have been accused of or confessed to crimes ranging from sexual assault to second-degree murder. Several are awaiting trial.)
Word crazy
About your fire hydrant story (Jan. 2 Tough News), what that parent said made me laugh out loud! I mean, people get upset over the silliest things, but this really takes the cake. Why weren’t there any arguments about “adoption” before? Why didn’t parents say, “My son is no lion,” or “My daughter sure isn’t a whale”? Why is it that when fire hydrants are involved in a good way to help people if their homes are on fire, that people get mad?
I think the 7-year-olds are the smart ones.
– Kathy D., 15, Fox River Grove
Word crazy, too
This letter is in res-ponse to the criticism KidNews has been get-ting from readers about the edited version of “The Night Before Christmas” (Dec. 19 Tough News). The PC (politically correct) version wasn’t meant to offend anyone, it was just poking fun at our modern society, where if the origi-nal poem was published it would be rejected be-cause of its non-PC ideas.
– Abigail H., 11, Chicago
I’m writing in response to your version of the poem, “The Night Before Christmas.” I am Jewish and as I was reading the poem I noticed it wasn’t perfectly politically cor-rect. This just goes to show that no matter how hard you try, you can never be perfect in everyone’s eyes. Even if you were to totally re-write the entire poem, there would still be some-one, somewhere, that would find it politically incorrect. You can’t please everyone.
I think people should just take the article at face value. It was just for fun; it’s nothing to get so excited about!
– Nicole D., 14, Naperville
Jobs needed
People need jobs this year because they have kids and needs, like having to go to the doctor. Some people don’t give jobs to people because they’re pre-judiced. And why do people have to be a certain age (to work), even if they really need a job?
There are a lot of people who go out job hunting everyday because they didn’t find a job the (day before). So, stop playing around and make more jobs and give them to people who really need them, please.
– Sonia B., Chicago
Not easy being green
I don’t know why peo-ple are always criticizing Dennis Rodman. He’s just a regular guy. People are always saying how his looks are a disgrace. But looks don’t matter, it’s what on the inside that counts. Dennis has a radio show and once said, “When I was with the Spurs, I wanted alot of money just to make me look good to the fans of San Antonio. But with the Bulls I don’t need or want as much money as I’m getting because being on such a great ballclub is a great honor.”
After every home game, Dennis takes off his jersey and gives it to a fan. Without Dennis Rod-man the Bulls wouldn’t be near as close to the championship as they are. Sure, they have Pip-pen and Jordan, but Dennis is the leading rebounder on the Bulls.
I don’t care how many people don’t like Dennis Rodman, I’m going to be one of the few (who) will always be a fan.
– Adam R., 11, Orland Park
Painful popularity
I think that being pop-ular is starting to be highly overrated. It is going to an extreme where kids are starting to take drugs, because they think they will be popu-lar. Also, for gangs and clubs there are initia-tions that can be highly dangerous.
I wish kids who do these things would stop and think about what they are doing. Is it worth it to do something dan-gerous just to get into a gang or club? And if they wanted you in the first place, would they ask you to do an initiation?
– Annie B., 11, LaGrange
Enough is enough
I can understand why “The Night Before Christmas” is called politically incorrect. I totally agree with Catie G. (Dec. 26 Backtalk), who said that the author wrote his poem in 1822, when women were the ones cooking and clean-ing, sewing and washing. When he wrote his poem, it was not politically incorrect; he probably had no idea what that meant! And we expect him to look 174 years into the future and change his poem?
OK, so we’ve labeled his poem politically in-correct, now what? Are parents supposed to not read it to their kids because of that? Should we change the poem? Should we rewrite his-tory? Frankly, I don’t care that the poem is politi-cally incorrect. I like it.
– Liesel B., 12, Kenilworth
Make peace
I totally agree with Daniella M. (Dec. 12 Backtalk). I am also Serbian. But I have Mus-lim and Croatian friends. We all think troops should not go to Bosnia. If we can get along, so can people in the former Yugoslavia.
– Irena B., 11, Chicago
Regarding the article, “The Price Tag of Peace” (Dec. 5 Tough News), I support Presi-dent Clinton’s decision 100 percent. In order to keep peace, NATO must send a significant (number) of troops to the Bosnia area. Without the support of the U.S., NATO wouldn’t be able to keep peace and order and more massacres and more hunger would result.
In my opinion, when Central Europe is stable and when NATO is convinced that there is not a threat, NATO troops should slowly, but gingerly, pull out. This will give the Bosnians, Serbs and Croats a reasonable chance to realize what harm and pain they have inflicted on each other and the rest of the world. Once they comprehend (this), hope-fully they will work out their disagreements using their minds instead of acting barbaric and savage.
– Akhil N., 13, Crystal Lake
Lend a hand
I’m responding to Christy H. and Maria K. (Jan. 2 Backtalk). Go, Maria! I totally agree with you. But to Christy H.: Have you read Zlata’s diary? It’s a very touch-ing book about Zlata. She really lived through the war (in Bosnia) until she got to Paris. She could compare it with before the war started.
And you don’t want to send troops to help these people? Think about it Christy.
– Joy W., 11, Carol Stream
Close to home
I was surprised (to see) the short article about Cambodia (Dec. 19 Tough News). I have an 8-year-old sister (who was adopted) who is from Cambodia and my mom knows 5 – 6 people from there.
I hope they reach an agreement.
– Claire K., Wauconda
Live each moment
I couldn’t agree more with Micki M. (Dec. 5 Backtalk). When Sergei Grinkov died it made me realize how fortunate I am. I mean, you think here’s a guy whose got it all and nothing like this could ever happen to him. And then look what happens. Now, I’m a huge skating fan and have been skating for three years. Ever since this happened I think we should live every day to its fullest.
– Toni K., 13, Schaumburg
Confusing threads
About the Chicago Bulls new uniforms: I thought the Bulls colors were originally red and white with a little bit of black? The new uniforms are all black with red and white stripes. I really don’t know why they changed the uniform colors.
– Shawn D., 11, Crete
———-
Write letters or send editorial cartoons to Backtalk, Room 567, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 60611. We won’t use your last name, but you must include your full name, age and phone number (we may call to make sure you wrote it). You can also contribute by computer (screen name KidNews) if you subscribe to Chicago Online. Call 1-800-922-0808. P.S. If you are hooked up online, don’t forget our KidNews Chat every Wednesday from 4 to 5 p.m. on the Windy City Chat II board.
