In response to the Backtalk letters in the June 20 issue, wow. Lots of stuff going on there. I’ll see what I can dig up. To H.: You’re absolutely correct, the big stars shouldn’t be role models, but, unfortunately, they are. So when they perform wearing, ahem, minimalistic outfits, it sends the message to all the youngsters out there who look up to them that this is what you wear to be cool. This is reinforced by clothing manufacturers mass producing and selling these styles. What we end up with, forgive the generalizations, are the girls in tight tube tops and short shorts and the boys wearing enough fabric to equip a fair-sized sailing ship. I must say I am offended by what some of the girls I’ve seen wear. Of course, this sounds absolutely loony coming out of the mouth of a guy, but still, I’m appalled by what I see. Some of the fashions seem to send the message “All I’ve got is my body, and I want everyone to know that!” People can look beautiful without looking like, excuse me, a tramp. And, finally, I hate the idea that little kids are growing up into this society where the only concept of beauty is how much skin you can show. So, getting back to that distant point I started from, the “big stars” need to be aware of how their status affects those who look up to them Niles E.
ILL-SUITED
STOP THE INSANITY. It has gone on long enough. The particular insanity which I am addressing is the lawsuit-minded world in which we live. I read in the Tribune that many school districts have to review the school plans months ahead, not to check for state requirements but to make sure there is a minimum chance of them being sued for what is taught. An excellent example of this problem would be this (true story from my uncle, who taught at this school): There was a girl who never showed up for class or did the assignments. Of course, regarding the fact that there was nothing to grade, the girl was given a zero for that quarter. Her parents would have none of that: They sued the school for the “severe emotional trauma” their daughter received as a result of the zero. The school was too cash-strapped to fight the lawsuit, so it had to give into the demands: full course credit. Excuse me, but that is just STUPID!!! If you aren’t going to do the job, you shouldn’t be able to use a lawsuit to get your way.
But there is one thing that appalls me even more: Minors (people under 18) can’t sue. In the above case, parents had to back the suit, which they did. This worries me because of the kind of lesson this must be teaching.
— Kris J.
GIMME AN H . . . GIMME AN A
I’m writing in response to Mallory (June 13 Backtalk). Hanson isn’t exactly gearing toward an audience that likes rock. Trying, maybe, but they will never have a rock audience. Maybe they made the mistake of coming out four years ago as pop singers. That is how I’ll always see them, I don’t care how much their music changes.
In response to Jenna M. (June 13 Backtalk), punk bands do last a long time. Look at Bad Religion they have been around since the ’80s, and they are still awesome. Punk bands just never get very famous though, other than Blink-182. The thing is. Blink-182 sold out a little. Their old stuff was a lot better, in my opinion. I do agree that if Hanson turned punk, that would be a huge mistake. They wouldn’t make it for a day.
— Maura L., 14
I like KidNews; you guys have some well written articles. But you are lacking variety in the music department. An entire Backtalk section on Hanson (June 13 Backtalk)? Gimme a break. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bashing Hanson, and it’s sort of obvious that you have a lot of readers who like Hanson, but there are so many more music groups out there. You could write about punk (please, please, please not Blink-182), alternative, hard rock, blues, jazz, the list goes on and on. You had an article about B-Bash, but there was nothing about the Q101 Jamboree. So, please, try to write to more of your audience, or you might lose some of it.
— Mary B., 15
KidNews note: We hear you on the need for variety, Mary. We’re Hanson fans, but we didn’t run an entire Backtalk section on the band for that reason (and we didn’t do it to diss any other musical groups) — we did it because those were basically the only letters we got that week! Those of you who are into other bands, write us about ’em, and we’ll print those letters too!
I just wanted to say that when I read last week’s Backtalk, it made me so proud to be a Hanson fan. And when I saw the statistic, that 98 percent of all the letters the week before were about Hanson, I choked on my food. 98 percent! That’s AMAZING. It really shows how when enough people feel strongly about something, they can make others see it too.
For the Women’s World Cup last summer, Hanson sang the national anthem and it wasn’t going to be aired on TV. But because so many Hanson fans wrote in, it was aired, due to an overwhelming demand by Hanson fans everywhere. Keep the pride comin’, Hanson fans! And to everyone else: See? You CAN make a difference by putting forth your opinion.
— Jenny K., 14
———-
Write letters or send editorial cartoons to Backtalk, Chicago Tribune, 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 (ctc-kidnews@ tribune. com).
