High Life A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Beliefs, Rights That Are Worth Standing Up for

It’s hard not to form an opinion--or even take action--when faced with the abortion issue. And animal rights activists have everybody talking and a lot of fur flying and wings flapping.

Hot Topics wonders, “For what cause or belief would you be willing to participate in a public demonstration?”

“Pro-choice, literacy, anti-oil drilling on the seashores, AIDS rights and anti-Medfly spraying.”

Sunny Winkler, 17,

senior, Connelly

“Abortion, because I think it’s wrong to kill people.”

Brian Hauke, 17,

sophomore, Santa Margarita

“Anything that’s important enough to have an effect on saving natural things.”

Thu Thai, 17,

junior, Santiago

“Killing of dolphins in tuna nets.”

Diana Finck, 17,

junior, Cypress

“Against anything that leads to the complexification of our bureaucracy.”

Martin Mason, 17,

senior, Los Alamitos

“AIDS discrimination because people with AIDS have feelings and need our help just as much as any other person.”

Amy Milunas, 15,

freshman, Santa Margarita

“The disappearance of nuclear arms.”

Kari Deni, 17,

junior, Woodbridge

“I would be willing to stand up and stop people from burning our American flag.”

Tonu Vinson, 15,

freshman, Bolsa Grande

“For better teachers. It’s not that our teachers are not good, but we need more good teachers.”

Tran Tu, 14,

freshman, Saddleback

“Pro-choice, against book censoring, United States involvement in Cambodia--we owe it to them.”

Jean Selden, 17,

senior, Connelly

“For the belief that abortion should be outlawed.”

Kristin Smith, 14,

freshman, Bolsa Grande

“Definitely animal rights because I feel it is unjust and cruel to research these poor defenseless creatures.”

Elizabeth Huerta, 14,

freshman, Saddleback

“For stopping the pollution in the ocean.”

Andrea Stein, 15,

sophomore, Cypress

“Child abuse and health welfare because I strongly feel for children who have been abused.”

Shannon Valdez, 15,

freshman, Bolsa Grande

“I’m Jewish, so I would defend the rights of Israel.”

Andy Eiser, 17,

senior, Los Alamitos

“I would stand up for pro-choice because I personally believe abortion is wrong, but one of our rights is freedom of religion and that seems to be the issue--if unborn babies are people. Abortions will still happen if they are illegalized and it will only make them less safe.”

Heather Stoltzfus, 15,

freshman, Santa Margarita

“To acknowledge women’s rights. Women should have a place in society and have a place in politics.”

Maria Pulido, 17,

senior, Saddleback

“War against drugs, or for people being able to express themselves however they want.”

Shannon Robison, 15,

freshman, Bolsa Grande

“I have participated in a pro-choice rally, and since I have already done that, I would be willing to do it again.”

Adina Nack, 17,

senior, Los Alamitos

“Democracy, such as the demonstrations that took place in China.”

Pearlie Lim, 17,

senior, Connelly

“For anti-war.”

Hong Vu, 16,

junior, Santiago

“Nuclear disarmament.”

Eric Gozlan, 14,

freshman, Santa Margarita

“To help the homeless and the poor with welfare and housing.”

Nancy Tham, 14,

freshman, Saddleback

“Pro-life.”

Shelby Roznos, 18,

senior, Woodbridge

“Anti-abortion.”

Emily Smartt, 17,

senior, Connelly

“I would participate in the Animal Rights foundation to help save those helpless animals from being tested in labs or experiments.”

Vicki Stewart, 16,

freshman, Santa Margarita

“For how drugs can destroy your life and what smoking can do to your lungs.”

Roger Basurto, 15,

freshman, Bolsa Grande

“The importance of giving spare time and volunteering. Also, to help the homeless and hungry people in America. Not only that, but to give a helping hand and shape up our city.”

Oly Hernandez, 16,

junior, Saddleback

“Environment; to stop polluting.”

Andrea Buzyn, 17,

senior, Connelly

“Abortion.”

Tom Richins, 16,

junior, Cypress

“I would go to a pro-life demonstration because I am adamantly against abortions.”

Jay Coffman, 17,

senior, Los Alamitos

“No cause or belief would ever persuade me to waste priceless time.”

Lam Q. Nguyen, 17,

senior, Santiago

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

What quality do people most like about you?

Hot Topic responses gathered by Brandi Winemiller (Bolsa Grande), Jennifer Chen (Connelly), Blythe Latimer (Cypress), Jennifer Vineyard (Los Alamitos), Nguyen-Hong Hoang (Saddleback), Suzanne Zamoyski (Santa Margarita), Tam Vuong (Santiago) and Tomarra Wilds (Woodbridge).