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| among inner city youth, First Lady Nancy Reagan had offered the typically simplistic response, Just Say No!, an anti-drug policy that sank like stone. For many young punks, though, the drug addiction and violence around them was just as alienating as the corporate future sold to them in the early-to-mid 80s. The rallying point was not the banal Reagan message but a song by the D.C. punk band, Minor Threat, "Straight Edge" in which singer Ian Mackaye sounded off about having "better things to do" then pass out at shows an leasn on drug use as life's puropose. The symbol for identifying yourself as a "straight-edger," someone who was commiting themselves to a life free of reckless indulgence, became a black X drawn on the back of the hand. In clubs where underage kids mix with drinking crowds, the black X has often been the mark for the underaged. Upon reaching drinking age, it's said, many sXe'ers continued to voluntarily mark their hands with the X as a statement of solidarity with the non-drinking crowd. The X also has become part of the typographic acronym, of course. |
| "Straight Edge" by Minor Threat im a person just like you, but i got better things to do then sit around and fuck my head Hang out with the living dead Snort white shit up my nose Pass out at the shows I dont event think about speed Thats something i dont need IVE GOT STRAIGHT EDGE! Im a person just like you But i got better things to do Than sit around and smoke the dope cause i know i can cope Laugh at the thougt of eating ludes Laufh at the thought to sniffing glue Always gonna keep in touch Never want to use a crutch IVE GOT STRAIGHT EDGE! |
| The origins of straight-edge culture are generally traced back to Washington, D.C., in the 80s punk and hardcore scenes throbbing in the backyards of the Reagan Presidency. In response to the complex problems of increasing violence and drug use among inner city youth, First Lady Nancy Reagan had offered the typically simplistic response, Just Say No!, The origins of straight-edge culture are generally traced back to Washington, D.C., in the 80s punk and hardcore scenes throbbing in the backyards of the Reagan Presidency. In response to the complex problems of increasing violence and drug use |