Kotsopoulos 1 Cody Kotsopoulos Mrs. Baker English 21 February 2006 Straight Edge Contrary to some beliefs, being straight edge is a good thing. Straight edge represents a healthy lifestyle and forms of unity, not violence and gangs. One who is straight edge does not smoke, do drugs, or consume alcohol. There are no dietary or religious beliefs that are involved with being straight edge, contrary to media coverage (What is Straight Edge 1). But to understand straight edge one must know of the history of straight edge. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the straight edge movement began. Groups of musicians and kids that were growing tired of the “down with establishment” anger in punk rock’s scene wanted a change. In the 1980s, the hardcore music group “Minor Threat” coined the term “straight edge” in a song on their self-titled demo. The symbol of the straight edge movement is the X. When people were too young to drink, bartenders would use this symbol to identify the people as being too young to drink. Now a days the straight edge X is used in numerous amounts of straight edge band names such as xLooking Forwardx, xDeathstarx, and xFloor Punchx. Straight edge became synonymous with the hardcore and punk music scenes in the later 80s and early 90s. Although straight edge in itself is a lifestyle, it comes almost hand in hand with music. Bands such as Bold, Side By Side, Gorilla Biscuits, Judge and Kotsopoulos 2 Project X were some leaders in the hardcore straight edge music scene in the 1980s and 1990s. At straight edge hardcore shows a sense of unity would exist. Tons and tons of fellow straight edge kids, teenagers, and sometimes even adults would attend. At these shows there would always be a sense of fun and unity. Fun and unity in the sense that, everyone at the show is just like everyone else. The unity of everyone having almost the same exact lifestyle is a strong and powerful thing. (What is Straight Edge 2006). However, to some, the straight edge lifestyle doesn’t seem so pure. Although the people who claim edge are drug free, alcohol free, etc. there is much opposition to the straight edge movement. The view that some of society has on straight edgers is that of a militant one. The clean and healthy lifestyle seems to be a false façade to a violent, badly tempered, and dangerous lifestyle. To a lot of outsiders, straight edgers appear to be malicious and violent to all of those who oppose their beliefs. While in some cases there are militant straight edgers like that, they are only the minority. The majorities of straight edgers do not press their beliefs on top of others and do not use physical harm in any way to intimidate others into turning edge. In an ABC’s 20/20 interview, the “bad” side of straight edge came to the forefront. A deputy with the gang unit of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Brad Harmon, said that straight edgers are “politically correct terrorists”. A straight edger, Andy Maunch, is on trial for murder. Maunch and some of his other straight edge friends jumped a group of fraternity brothers after one of them asked for a “light”. The straight edger’s attacked the fraternity members with brass knuckles and other various weapons. Sure there have been some violent instances in the history of straight edge, but this is Kotsopoulos 3 definitely a small percentage of the straight edge society. Mostly all of the straight edge members are not militant in any way, shape, or form (Interview in Straight Edge 2). The amount of good that being straight edge can bring by far outweighs the amount of bad that being straight edge can bring. For example, straight edgers will never be causing drunk-driving accidents on the highways, because they never drink. Straight edgers will never be involving in a drug ring, or drug related shootings, because straight edgers never do drugs. Also, some other aspects to being straight edge involve morals. Straight edgers rarely have promiscuous sex; this is very good on the standards of morals because they stick with their respective partner and very rarely cheat on them in any way, shape, or form. Lastly, many straight edgers are vegans or vegetarians. This is also something that leads to a very healthy lifestyle because they are free of some of the bad things that eating meat can bring to the table. While sometimes the messages are expressed in a different fashion, in the end they all mean the same thing. Here, is an excerpt from the song “Straight Edge” by Minor Threat. I’m a person just like you. But I’ve got better things to do. Than sit around and smoke dope. ‘Cause I know I can cope. Laugh at the thought of eating ‘ludes. Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue. Always gonna keep in touch. Never want to use a crutch. I’ve got the straight edge (“Vegan PUNK’D” 3). From Minor Threat to modern day straight edge bands like With Honor, the message is still being preached throughout music. Messages of living life the right way, Kotsopoulos 4 the moral way, and the clean way. Now a days music has a more powerful meaning than ever before. Music can often be one’s escape from the outside world and be somewhat of a personal cleanser. Modern day anthems for straight edge teenagers like “The Mirror” by With Honor embody the very meaning of today’s straight edge music. The following is an excerpt from “The Mirror” by With Honor. I’ve let tomorrow be a good excuse for not changing today. Looking over our lists of to-do’s routines have gotten in the way. Day in, day out it becomes the same. I’m tired of standing for nothing and sleepwalking our time away. Leaving our questions unanswered. Or never asking at all. Could we be something more? Than we are right now? Eyes closed, shut tight. Apathy has us by the throat. Loosen the ropes and let our dreams take flight! So often we let our dreams fall away but not this time. Let’s Go! I feel like I’ve never wanted something so bad as this. Stand up and be something more! We’ll make a change. Stand up. No time to waste. Right now. Straight edge (What is Straight Edge 4). If being straight edge is a bad thing, then I don’t really think that there is a good thing in the world. In this world there are a ton of kids that are lost and have nowhere to go, many people look for a direction in life. And claiming edge can be the thing to set certain people back on the right track. If someone becomes straight edge then immediately you become part of a straight edge brotherhood (or sisterhood).It can finally give someone a sense of never being alone and always being a part of something that’s Kotsopoulos 5 meaningful. Being straight edge leads to a clean and healthy lifestyle, not one of violence. Kotsopoulos 5 Works Cited C, Joey. Interview. Joey C & Righteous Jams. 8 February 2006 . Ceton, Greg. “Vegan PUNK’D.” Vegetarian Times. October 2005. Ebscohost. Pocono Mountain H.S. Lib. Swiftwater. 7 February 2006 . In My Eyes. Nothing to Hide. Revelation Records, 1999 Interview in Straight Edge. Writ. John Quinones. With Hugh Downs, Brad Harmon, Michael Larson, Andy Maunch, Joe, and Dave. ABC. 26 March 1999 Mackaye, Ian. Interview. Fugazi. 8 February 2006 . What is Straight Edge. 8 February 2005.