Controversial? Sure: the lifestyle, the trend, the tattoos, the scene. But the claims are simple and the belief grounded. Even though many kids who claimed to be straight edge at one time (when they weren't even at legal drinking age) have "changed their minds" and accepted smoking and drinking, there is still an international movement to be true to the "edge". Straight edge is simple, they don't drink and they don't smoke. The once major movement in the hardcore scene is today seen as a cheesy trend, but I think individuals who stand up for something they believe in are awesome and should be admired. I don't claim to be straight edge, and I don't alienate myself to people who hold the same beliefs like many edge kids do, but I don't drink or smoke. I believe that those things influence your life in a negative way: it inhibits your ability to think clearly, it causes you to act differently, its addictive, and its unhealthy. I have seen too many lives destroyed by alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. My friends make fun of me for "being straight edge" and they joke about straight edge tattoos. I would never get a straight edge tattoo, but I know that I could get one and not regret it or want to cover it up because if I believed in something enough to tattoo it on myself I better be a person who can back it up with my lifestyle.
Straight Edge is not "cool" and it's not what 21-25 year olds are into. People at this age are at the bar. Does this mean you alienate yourself? No. A belief, like believing in redemption through Jesus Christ, does not mean you alienate yourself from those who do not believe what you believe, in fact it draws you closer. I don't drink or smoke and I've never been closer to people who do. I believe in straight edge and I want to influence others with it. I hope that people will see the stand that I've made and that it would at least cause them to consider what they are doing in their own lives. I dont turn my back on it, like my stand for Christ, I am a Christian and I would never deny that or live otherwise, people don't question whether or not I love Jesus, in the same way people don't wonder if 'tonight will be the night that Rachel drinks' because I'm not going to. I've made a decision to live a certain way and because I so strongly believe this way I can't live otherwise. It has nothing to do with three x's, music, or a scene. I do things for myself. I live how I want to live and if that makes me something, than fine, but something doesn't make me who I am.
XXX
