I am answering Wendi’s question (Dec. 17 Ask Anything): I agree that Barbie’s face and body shape are very unrealistic, but whoever said she was created to represent the female body for all humans? I mean, really! Give her a break! She was created for young girls to play with and dress up and do her hair. She’s not trying to say that she is the perfect woman. I think people who are threatened by this doll are insecure. Of course you can accept yourself and still love Barbie. Nobody is Barbie, that’s the point! Just like nobody is a Cabbage Patch Kid.
Liesel B., 12 Chicago
Kerri-ing on
I am writing in response to “Adding insult to injury” (Dec. 17 Sports). I can see why the team might be mad at Kerri Strug. I would too be mad at her, because she’s getting all the publicity and the other six are getting squat!
For instance, when the team knew they won the gold, no one interviewed the team or asked them questions — they wanted to interview Kerri.
Katie P., 13 Orland Park
I’m really glad Kerri helped the U.S. gymnastics team win gold, but I don’t think it’s right that she is meeting all the movie stars and being on all the talk shows. She wasn’t the only person on the team who won the gold medal; the whole team did.
Colleen G., 12 Palos Heights
Learning matters
In response to Lola P. (Dec. 10 Backtalk): I think you are totally wrong about teachers saying it’s more important to be athletic than educated. In my school, the school board added on an hour of learning time. We miss gym at least once a week for health class, and all the orchestra and band lessons are during gym. Our lunch is even shorter.
So, don’t think that teachers think we need to be more athletic.
Adri M. Lake Forest
Personal faith
In response to Julie R. (Dec. 10 Backtalk): Cardinal Bernardin was a good man. He touched a lot of people as well as a lot of faiths.
He was a leader for Catholics, but also for other people and their different faiths. He deserves to be remembered. If another rabbi, pastor or preacher touched as many people as Cardinal Bernardin, they would have just as much attention paid to them.
Cardinal Bernardin led a good life, and millions of people loved him, no matter if they were Catholic or not.
Bridget T., 11 Geneva
Sporting chance
In response to Natalia (Dec. 17 Backtalk): Both boys and girls have every right in the world to play any sport they want. I think what you’re trying to say is that there shouldn’t be mixed teams. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s better than not letting girls wrestle or boys play lacrosse.
Brooke M., 10 Skokie
Toycott
I’m responding to “Toy boycott” (Dec. 17 Tough News): How could anyone work a little kid under poor working conditions?
I know the little kids could starve if they don’t work, but I don’t think the conditions they’re working under are much better than what they were living under before.
I think I would accept working children if they had better working conditions such as higher wages, enough food, warm clothes, a home or boarding house to live in and an education.
Kelly J., 12 Palos Heights
I think it is a good idea about boycotting toys that could be made by child labor. However, people don’t think about these things. If it is a hot item like Buzz Lightyear, parents just think of how much their kid wants that toy. Toy manufactures should make (the print of) the place it was made larger. Also, this issue should get more publicity.
Natalie B., 13 Palos Park
I agree with the toy boycott totally. Children should not be forced to slave over toys just to earn pennies a day. I am glad the toys are being boycotted because maybe it would bring people to their senses. It should be a voluntary job with a maximum wage.
Monica H., 13 Palos Heights
Teach us well
I think the way adults are trying to keep kids from learning about the world is deranged. They are trying to rate television shows so that only people over 17 can see a gun or hear a swear word, and telling kids they can only read happy little stories about nothing of importance.
What, may I ask, is their point? Are they trying to keep children from asking the questions they them-selves can’t answer? Are they getting revenge on the people who didn’t tell them about “the birds and the bees” until they were 16?
Well, I’m sorry, people, but this is the ’90s. You cannot keep your kids innocent little babies forever.
My idea is, if they are smart enough to ask the questions, they are intelligent enough to receive the answers. Also, if a kid learns about drugs through a book, he or she will be more careful about drugs in real life.
I was told that people censoring books only count the swear words instead of reading the book. How is anyone supposed to judge a book and what it holds by that?
The best book in the world with lifesaving ideas in it might be counted “smut” and censored forever because it had a swear word in it. Yet a book on how Hitler was wonderful might have no swear words and be hailed as a wonderful book across the country.
Tell me, parents, which would you rather have your child learn about? You might think the world we live in unacceptable reading material, but it’s as real as anything, and as soon as we kids grow up, we’ll be learning about it anyway. Why not let us start now?
Monica N., 13 Naperville
Smurf ‘n’ turf
I’m responding to “Smurf ‘n’ turf” (Dec. 17 Cover), because I used to LOVE watching those Smurfs. I’d wake up early just to watch it. I’m glad that they’re coming back into style so my younger brother can watch it just as I did.
Sarah C., 10 Skokie
I think Smurfs are really cool! I call them “little blue dudes.” Pierre Culliford had an excellent idea about making Smurfs.
Kevin S., 10 Skokie
Lazy bones
I’m responding to Ula M. (Dec. 17 Backtalk): Ula, you sound like a really lazy person to me.
I’m in the 7th grade also, and I have homework too. Reading for 30 minutes a day is not a big deal.
Everybody else who goes to school has all the subjects you do. Sure nobody likes homework, but you have to learn responsibility while you’re a kid. When you’re an adult, then you can take responsibilities like having a job or taking care of a family.
I have a lot of friends, and I like to spend time with them, but I don’t need to spend every minute of the day with them.
Elisa F., 13 Rockford
Bear it
I love the Chicago Bears. However, I hate their management personnel. If it wasn’t for Michael McCaskey, the Bears would be the dynasty of the 1990s.
Michael McCaskey, president and owner of the Chicago Bears, is in an ideal situation, but does not do good for our city.
After inheriting a great family tradition from his father and grandfather, Michael McCaskey has ruined the masterpiece.
He spends very little money, for owners’ terms, which handicaps the Bears’ chance of gaining franchise players.
Because I’m such a die-hard Bears fan, I would love to see a young superstar join our team.
Why would McCaskey care more about money than the Bears’ playing ability? If he was to have a Super Bowl caliber team, he would make a lot of money. I would like the Bears to be playing during the end of January.
To accomplish a Super Bowl victory, McCaskey has to leave.
Aaron H., 13 Northbrook
Too young to vote
In response to Chris R. (Dec. 24 Backtalk): Who do you think you are? I agree with you that little kids shouldn’t run the country, and 18 is a good age for voting. But I don’t think you should put down 9- and 10-year-olds! A lot of my friends get into politics and the news, even the boys.
I pay a lot of attention to the news. On the night they said who was elected, I watched every minute of it, and a lot of my friends called me to inform me it was on. Don’t you see? When they called me, they must have been watching it too. So get a LIFE!
Erin J., 9 LaGrange
Change is necessary
I’m responding to Natalie B. (Dec. 17 Backtalk): She says that things are all right the way they are, which tells me that she believes change isn’t necessary.
If everybody believed this, then we wouldn’t even be a free country, let alone be in this country! I also think girls should be able to do whatever they want if it’s their goal.
Stacy K., 11 Buffalo Grove
Wake up
I’m responding to “Night owl” (Dec. 17 Tough News). Obviously the people who fined the mother haven’t had kids. They make it sound so simple: “Tuck him in and make him go to sleep…” Do you know how hard it is to get a little kid to go to sleep? I don’t think they should blame being late for school on the mother.
Kerry L., 12 Palos Heights
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