Still Hoping for Change | Teen Ink

Still Hoping for Change

November 10, 2008
By naomid SILVER, Richmond Hill, Other
naomid SILVER, Richmond Hill, Other
8 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Boredom:the desire for desires"
-Tolstoy


I’m Canadian, but I was glued to the TV last Tuesday when Barack Obama became the first African-American president of the United States. Obama’s win was a step in the right direction, but for the step America has taken forward; two steps have been taken back. The passing of proposition eight, amending the constitution in California to again restrict same-sex couples from marrying saddened me.

I’m young. Compared to the people I look up to, I’m pretty young, but compared to the world and its history; I am but a speck on the screen. Maybe my youth is the reason I can’t understand why anyone could ever take away rights from another human being, or why anyone would want to deny love.

My lack of naïveté and utter lack of experience do not make me able to support hatred and bigotry, nor can I understand the discrimination that occurs everyday in a country that is supposed to give everyone a chance.

Arkansas’ decision to stop same-sex couples from adopting children angered me further. There are so many children that need love all over the world, and preventing a capable and loving parent from raising a child just because of their sexual orientation is an irresponsible decision.

It’s sad to know that despite the changes that have occurred, and that what happened last Tuesday couldn’t have happened any other time but now, so much is yet to be done. We are slowly wrecking our world. Not just the planet, but also each other.

In my heart, I know that someday America, and the world will get there, the there where everyone is accepted and recognized as humans first. Even though we all know it, we so easily forget that essentially, we are all the same. It kills me to think that we will never progress to a state where differences are truly accepted.

I am young, but I know that some things transcend age, race, or gender. The need for humans to be accepted by others, the need to love and be loved, and the hope for change that survives through it all.

The author's comments:
Naomi is a fifteen year old student from Canada. She was inspired to write this piece after watching the election coverage, Barack Obama's speech, and the struggles humanity has in store.

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This article has 10 comments.


on Feb. 18 2009 at 1:52 pm
AineMachine BRONZE, Dublin, Other
2 articles 1 photo 5 comments
Those warped ideas in the U.S come from a tradition of puritanism. I completely agree with you that everyone should have the right to marry if they are in love. Some people dont seem to understand that you never choose who you fall in love with. If only life was that simple. I think discrimination because of sexuality is old-fashioned and frankly, pathetic. I live in Ireland where we also do not have same-sex marriage, however from time i spent in the U.S i am thankful that were a little closer to it than some corners of that country are. The belief that same-sex marriage is 'wrong' is hypocritical of everything the U.S clain to stand for. How many wars have they fought in the name of 'freedom' and you do not have the freedom in their own country to marry a person you love. It saddens me to think how our generation will be looked upon in years to come.

tweedle dee said...
on Dec. 4 2008 at 2:15 pm
well, i dont agree with same sex marrige. i think man was made for woman and woman was made for man. and i think that if you really love eachother but cant marry, deal with it and consider yourself married. you dont need a piece of paper to make you married, that's just for the govornment. if two guys or two girls want to call themselves a couple fine but if they cant leagally marry that shouldnt make them love eachother any less. but i still dont think it's right for couples of the same sex to be like that together though. well written article though!

rakesh said...
on Nov. 28 2008 at 12:42 am
Excellant effort for a first timer. keep it up.


Tomorrow belongs to your generation and it is good to see thoughtful compassion for others in this article as world needs to be more compassionate towards others needs.

SanjeevMalik said...
on Nov. 23 2008 at 2:38 am
This is a very good article written by a 15 year old. I hope this will publish.

Herbs said...
on Nov. 21 2008 at 3:11 pm
A sensitive issue written very well ---

Marcello said...
on Nov. 20 2008 at 7:02 pm
It makes me think just how "irresponsible" it is for existing parents to deny others the right to adopt, in the name of social responsibility. This is extremely well written and deserves merit.

Trupti said...
on Nov. 20 2008 at 3:46 pm
Yes, absolutely right you are in saying that "I am young, but I know that some things transcend age, race, or gender. The need for humans to be accepted by others, the need to love and be loved, and the hope for change that survives through it all." This should be the real thing that one should understand first. This will make the world much better place to live. Very good thought to ponder over. Keep it up.

on Nov. 20 2008 at 2:51 am
This is wonderful mesg she is passing all around ...this artical should definatly print on the magazine.

naomidesai said...
on Nov. 19 2008 at 10:22 pm
I realize there might be bigger issues in the US right now. Canadians have certainly felt the trickle down affect of the economy, though healthcare is not large concern here, I know there are bigger things to worry about. However, the financial crisis is not rotted in hate, whereas Proposition 8 is. The economi problems will eventually pass, but hatred and discrimination will be last for generations to come unless we stop it.

Sunny said...
on Nov. 16 2008 at 10:29 pm
Well,If it makes you feel better, the State of Connecticut just legalized it. I personally feel people just gotta have equal rights, and the legal title of "marriage" is trivial. I don't know if you know, since you live in Canada, but we kind of got alot of bigger stuff to worry about fixing, Like our wars, and our economy, and our healthcare and such. Good article though!