I think if Ditto the pig could talk, he’d be thanking the animal rescue group that saved him from a horrible life as a freak show attraction (April 21 Tough News). These good people have arranged for Ditto to live out his life on a California ranch. On behalf of Ditto I’d like to say thanks to these people. What they have done is noble, honorable and kind. If more people cared, so many animals would not be in bad situations.
Matthew P., 11 LaGrange
Oasis no poser
Do you know the brothers Gallagher? I doubt you do. So how do you know what they hope for? In your April 28 issue (Oh, yeah) you wrote that (the Gallaghers) “hope their antics hide that embarrassing lack of originality.”
Onto the originality thing: How many of their songs have you actually heard? We’ve heard practically all of them, and we can’t think of any bands they sound like. For those of you who think they sound like the Beatles, you’re wrong. They have one or two (Beatles-type) songs, but most of them are quite original. Just listen to them! KidNews, we are heinously disappointed in you.
Lindsay M., 13 Moonda M., 14 Chicago
Daughters deserve day
I’m writing in response to Kyle K. (May 5 Backtalk) about Take Our Daughters to Work Day. For years, men had so many more rights than women. I think one day out of the year is not the end of the world. Maybe you don’t know the history of Take Our Daughters to Work Day. It was created to try to get women to get jobs and not just let the husband work and the wife stay home to do chores! I think boys are being selfish, and they should not have changed it to Take Our Kids to Work Day. It’s not gender discrimination! For once, girls get something.
Sarah T., 11
Boarder discrimination
I don’t like the rule (at my school) that you can’t bring your skateboard to school. Plus, kids are making it even worse, because all of them don’t skateboard, so they don’t even care. It’s the same thing as Rollerblades, and the poser Roller-bladers get to bring skates to school. I don’t get it. Why does every-body hate skateboarding? It seems like everybody hates me because I board. We boarders don’t wreck everything. I just want to skateboard home from school.
Jack W., 13 Bartlett
Bus drivers with ‘tude
I’m writing to you about buses and bus drivers. I want to know what their attitude is. They may drive us to school every day, but can’t they be a little nicer about it? They don’t have to be the nicest people in the world, but they can show some courtesy to kids.
Some drivers need to take their driving test over. I see buses all the time not stopping at railroad tracks or (cutting off) other cars. They’re not the only people on the road.
On a day the bus came early, a few kids at the stop, including me, were still walking to the bus stop. I was literally a few feet from the bus when the driver just drove away to the next stop.
I’m not saying bus drivers don’t do a lot. They just need to sleep more or take some chill pills before they come to work. Just because they have a bad day, they shouldn’t take it out on kids.
Shannon W., 13 Carol Stream
Who’s the jerk?
J.H. (May 5 Backtalk), we know a lot about Michael Jordan. Just because we made one mistake about him doesn’t mean we know nothing. We meant to say he wasn’t ejected from the game. We don’t know where you get off saying that Mike is one of the biggest jerks in the NBA. If you want to see a couple of jerks, look at Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson. You can’t tell us that MJ is a bigger jerk than them. And if you’re going to say that stuff about Mike, then let’s see a little proof, OK, macho man?
And to C.C. (May 5 Backtalk), we never said that it was right that Michael J. shouldn’t have gotten the technical, because he should have. He just doesn’t constantly use dirty play, so the refs are more lenient on him.
Dane H. and Kyle M. Wheaton
No way out
I’m writing to give my blessings to the family and relatives of the two Mokena teenagers who committed suicide. I think it’s tremendously sad when people solve their problems by killing themselves.
Michelle R., 13 Matteson
Dream on
In response to “You must be dreaming” (April 28 Cover), I have always wanted to know what dreams meant, and I appreciate you writing about it.
Molly R., 11 Skokie
A stuffy dress code
I think the dress code should be reduced. Shirts, shorts, hats and tank tops not allowed under the dress code don’t hurt anybody. What we wear doesn’t offend anybody unless it’s sexist or racist. Girls and guys should be able to show a little skin if they want to.
If you have uniforms, you will be uncomfortable and stuffy, and you won’t be able to concentrate or pay attention in class. What is the point of the dress code anyway? If our parents let us wear this stuff, we should be able to wear them to school. After all, they aren’t our parents. They can’t rule our lives!
Jonathon L., 13 Carol Stream
A matter of choice
I feel that decisions regarding abortion should not be up to men or to the courts. If a women thinks she can’t carry a baby, she should have the choice to end her pregnancy. Abortion is better than a lady putting her child in a Dumpster. So I say let all the ladies have their choice.
Michael C., 13 Richton Park
Left hanging
I’m responding to “Glitch leaves coaster riders hanging” (April 28 Tough News). Six Flags blamed a loose nut for why the roller coaster stopped and left the riders hanging upside down. I think that Six Flags should do two things. One, they should run every ride before they open, if they don’t already, and two, they should give either some money back to the people (caught on the ride) or give them a pass for a day or two.
Jenny B., 12 Chicago Ridge
Editor’s note: According to Connie Costello, spokeswoman for Six Flags, “We have 100 mechanics and maintenance people who test every ride every single day” before the park opens. “We’ve given 33 million rides on the Demon since 1976 and only had one mishap.” Costello said riders were compensated, but she didn’t say how.
Tough teachers
I think that 9 out of 10 teachers are strict. I think teachers are mean because they want their students to learn. The second reason is because teachers are just like that. They probably just want the money. To me, you can probably get more money with a better job. Finally, some people just hate kids, and I know a few teachers who are like that. Who knows why they would pick a career with kids when they despise them?
Michelle F., 12 Hanover Park
Senseless
There’s been much talk about violence in the U.S. I’ve heard of so many outrageous issues I can’t believe what the world has come to. We as a country need to stand up and make a change. What we need is to come together as a whole, stop being enemies and separating ourselves from the world. We can achieve this by selling guns only to people who have a license, helping prevent gang violence and having a march for justice and peace.
Georgette B. Chicago
Where’s the love?
I agree with Hilary H. (May 5 Backtalk) regarding Leo DiCaprio. I know we live in a society where more than 90 percent of the people are incredibly shallow, but this is ridiculous. Don’t people get tired of “loving” someone they will never know, who will never love them back, and who they only “love” because of the way he looks? I would never love, or even like, someone just because of the way they look. I have not been obsessed with any celebrities since 6th grade. I just hope I can find someone who will like me for who I am.
Anonymous
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Go by the book
If you haven’t done it yet, please sign our digital yearbook page at www.chicago.com/go/yearbook. Plus, you can peek at what other kids have written. (Psst: So you know, we’re deleting anything foul, so just don’t go there.) So, sign on, then sign off on who rules!
Write letters or send editorial cartoons to Backtalk, 5th Floor, 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 send us letters by e-mail (screen name kidnews@aol. com).
