They’re Straight-Edge, Clean and Proud of It

I wanted to compliment The Times in its handling of the straight-edge article (“They’re Clean-Cut--But With an Edge,’ April 7).

I’m 16 years old, attend Dana Hills High School and am very proud of being straight-edge. In a world where drinking is more acceptable, almost expected, among teen-agers, straight-edge sounds like a freak cult. Almost every day I have to try and define straight-edge to someone, or try to explain that just because someone doesn’t do drugs, it doesn’t mean you’re straight-edge. Many don’t understand the straight-edge lifestyle. I was happy that the newspaper can help get the word out without making us out to be snotty little kids.

I also want people to see that straight-edge and hard-core isn’t just a Southern California thing. Much of the best hard-core comes out of New York, but there are bands from almost every area of the U.S., from Cleveland to Seattle to Atlanta. Straight-edge has a very strong sense of unity and brotherhood.

Many could call us a modern cult with a good message, which is fine as long as everyone understands what we stand for. Now more people do understand, thanks to you.

MIKE BURTON, Dana Point

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I commend you on article about straight-edge. I have been straight-edge for 4 1/2 years (I fell for six months during my senior year in high school ’93.) I am 19 years old and poison-free.

I was impressed with the article’s depth. Many publications, such as Seventeen magazine, have covered the straight-edge scene but in superficial ways (i.e. clothing trends, cute band members, etc.). I was also impressed that you spoke to Ray Cappo. He is one of the only surviving (still straight-edge) leaders of the scene. Despite his religious biases, Ray still is very respected in the scene.

Unfortunately, as in any culture, or subculture, people are beginning to lose sight of what straight-edge means. It isn’t about carrying a baseball bat and oppressing everyone who disagrees with you. It’s not a religion; it is a personal commitment, and those who preach conversion through force are lost. Straight-edge is about caring. Caring what happens to your body, your mind and the lives of all beings around you.

We all live in a society, therefore every action creates a ripple effect, and this ripple effect touches everyone in the society. When a person lights a cigarette, gets drunk, takes drugs, engages in promiscuous sex, eats meat, they damage themselves. They also create the ripple effect that transfers the damage onto all creatures who are innocent of these ills.

When a person drinks, their lack of control places their life in the hands of alcohol. The person also places the lives around him at the mercy of his alcohol-blinded behavior. When a person smokes, they force the people around them to smoke.

When a person engages in promiscuous sex, they are inevitably harming those around them whether it be directly or indirectly. AIDS, unwanted pregnancy and destroyed trust are just a few of these damages.

Self-destructive behavior does not exist. It is always societal destruction. That means you, me, your parents, your dog, everyone. “Fun” is sought at everyone’s expense. We are straight-edge because we want our ripple effects to be positive, not destructive.

WILLIAM BRANDON III, Costa Mesa