Eminem got nominated for four Grammys. Maybe now the public will give him some respect. He is raw! Unlike groups like N Stink, he says what other people are afraid to but want to.
— J., 11
Gimme shelter
In response to Jennifer’s article [Dec. 19 Cover], you’re exactly right in saying that there are thousands of animals left at shelters. So why not adopt a pet from a shelter for Christmas? As long as you know the person you’re giving the animal to would provide a happy home, why shouldn’t you? That way, the animal lover gets a pet, and the pet gets an animal lover to take care of it. A perfect Christmas present both ways.
— Melina, 11
KidNews note: Your heart is certainly in the right place, Melina! Still, the Anti-Cruelty Society and other animal shelters say that many animals inside their walls had been given to someone as a gift. Picking out a pet is like picking a friend — no one else can do it for you. It’s very personal. If you want to give friends a shelter pet, we suggest you go with them to the shelter so they can pick one out (and then you can pay for it too).
Don’t slam others
My hat’s off to Elisa M. and Aileen C. [Dec. 12 Backtalk] for supporting one of the greatest bands of this era, the Smashing Pumpkins. While many of us Pumpkinheads don’t support the popular choice of music, we can hardly justify our own by slamming it. This is a hotheaded, foolish and almost vain action to take and makes other Pumpkinheads, as well as our music, look narrow-minded. Many of us would probably puke before admitting it, but I grudgingly acknowledge that Britney and the boy bands (etc., etc.) work hard to put on a show. They may not have much musical talent in the areas of composing, writing and producing a song, but that’s not why they’re popular. They are popular because they have a decent mug (in some cases), nice voices and can sing 14 different songs, all written along the same guidelines that appeal to the impressionable heart. Let’s remember that these young, popular people are performers. They probably love performing more than they love the music and are ever ready to change their style to fit popularity’s latest mold.
Please don’t fret about the current musical scene. As time has told, all things come to an end, and I predict a quick demise to these Barbie dolls.
— Amelia, 16
Save the Earth
To Bill C. [Jan. 2 Backtalk]: Isn’t that being selfish? I mean, the Earth gives us food, water and everything else we need to live. So now some dumb people decide to litter and ruin it for other people to enjoy — that is what I call being selfish. Plus, what about people in the future? If others keep an attitude like yours, the Earth will be destroyed.
Without a healthy, clean Earth, there can’t be healthy people. I will use pollution as an example. There is so much of it in the city of Chicago and in many other major cities that many kids have developed asthma — like me. I guess you want people to suffer.
By the way, I do kick or at least teach people who litter a lesson they won’t forget.
— Aimee, A, 12
Hey, hey
I agree with Peter S. [Jan. 2 Backtalk], who said we should appreciate “The Boys,” who are the Beatles, not the Backstreet Boys. Music especially has changed a lot over the years, and also the standards that people come to expect from it. Now, it seems, all the girls today care about are a handsome face and an OK voice. Who cares if they don’t write their own music? Who cares if they don’t play their own instruments? Well, in the 1960s, they certainly did.
In 1964, the Beatles came to the U.S. and became an immediate hit with their first classic movie, “A Hard Day’s Night.” This movie was so successful that a TV producer decided to start something on his own. He created a TV show about a comic rock quartet. Four boys were chosen to play the parts of the musicians. The TV show became quite popular, but soon the “band” began to get ridiculed. “They’re fakes! They don’t play their own instruments! They only write three songs on their albums!” They were a TV SHOW! One member couldn’t take this. He spearheaded to let the band play their own instruments and become a real band. Soon, the others joined him, and they were finally allowed to play. However, not much changed, and many thought of them as clowns. Soon, after their movie bombed, their two-year career came to an end. This is the shortened story of the Monkees. The reason I’m telling you this is because now no one is going around saying, “The Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync are not real bands! They’re fake! They don’t play on their records!” and stuff like that. Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith and Mickey Dolenz were not a real band — they played one on TV. However, they were literally forced to become one because of all the ridicule and labels like “The Pre-Fab Four.” The Monkees were not the Beatles. And the Backstreet Boys, ‘N Sync and most other boy bands today certainly aren’t either. Keep “The Boys” reserved for a band from Liverpool that really deserves it: the Beatles, please.
— Crystal P., 14
Gripping quiz
Thanks for the wrestling quiz [Jan. 9 Cover]. I knew four of the answers and my friend knew two, but that’s because we watch wrestling every chance we get! Anyone who didn’t know the answers, they would if they watched more wrestling. “SmackDown” rocks!
— Avery P., 11
Protect minority
I agree with both Anonymous [Nov. 28 Backtalk] and Emilia [Jan. 2 Backtalk]. Prayer can be a positive thing, but only for those who believe in it. I am between atheism and Buddhism, and I don’t think that many Christians realize what people of other religions deal with. Because we have freedom of religion in the U.S. and the Constitution clearly states that the government cannot support any religion over another or prevent people from practicing their own, then it doesn’t matter if the majority of people belong to some branch of Christianity, because not everyone does, and their rights must be respected the same as everyone else’s. Also, it is true that there have been reported incidents of prayer in public schools, but many have been stopped because they were seen as unconstitutional. The problem is that the people of the favored majority often view equality as a loss. I am not saying this to insult Christians or people of any other religions, it is simply something that I have witnessed in people many times and therefore believe.
Anonymous 2
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