Wise Monkey News is here to provide young people an opportunity to discuss the issues that affect their lives. We hope that, through your participation, this website serves as a forum for the development, exchange, and expression of ideas that will prepare us to assume our positions as the leaders of tomorrow's world. Have something to say?
Argentina: More than an economic crisis
by: Santiago Montalvan - printed on 02-06-2002
I would like to explain, from an Argentinean point of view, what is really happening in my home country and why. Throughout my entire life, the country?s economy has had its ups and downs, currency devaluations, and many corrupt political leaders. Today?s economic crisis in Argentina is by far one of the most serious I have seen. It is sad to know that the only way Argentina makes into the news is because the country is falling apart and not because it is a beautiful place.
The “Good Life”
by: Heather Burns - printed on 01-31-2001
“Where are you from?” People often ask me.
“I’m from here, Oregon.” I answer. It’s part of the truth.
It’s too difficult, most of the time, to explain that part of me is from Africa. I’m white and don’t have any sort of “strange” accent so I can usually pass for a typical US American (if such a thing exists). But, the truth is that I spent six years of my life before the age of 18 in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), West Africa.
In search for all the news that’s fit to print
by: Casey O'Connor - printed on 11-28-2001
I spent the first four months of my time in El Salvador reading the right wing Spanish language newspaper La Prensa Grafica. Shortly after the attacks of September 11th, however, my housemates and I decided to look for another, possibly more complete, version of the news, and so we ended up with the The New York Times on our table every morning. After my initial euphoria due to the presence of a credible English language periodical wore off, I realized that a significant portion of the news seemed to be missing from the paper that claims to publish “All the news that’s fit to print.
America fights, Europe funds
by: Felix Tismer - printed on 02-20-2002
It was the father of the current US President who, in the early nineties, proclaimed the beginning of a new world order. Today, George Bush Jr. seems determined to back up those words with actions. Since singling out Iraq, Iran, and North Korea as the ?axis of evil? during his state of the union address, the world has become increasingly concerned about this superpower engaging in a policy of self-justice.
The Gift of Conscience: A Blessing and a Burden
by: Candace Cook - printed on 03-28-2001
When considering military service from a Christian perspective there is a tendency to dichotomize between pacifism or nonviolent resistance and military participation. In fact, Christianity has historically considered both positions licit at various times.
The Jewish people viewed fighting for a just cause as acceptable, and God would be with the people in the fight. The early church, from the death of Jesus until the advent of Constantine in 312 CE, was largely pacifist however, and martyrs like Maximillian of Theveste died because they refused to don the military garments of the legions.
Hope for natives...but can society's attitudes change?
by: Kathy Kenny - printed on 02-14-2001
“They’re different, just not the same as us. They aren’t capable of achieving our standards. They’re backwards alcoholics…”
These are some explanations given to me as to why Native Americans have so many poverty problems and face such stern racism throughout the country. Once a population between 6 to 20 million, the Native American people have been eliminated to only a population of 2.4 million, although they began the century with a population of only 200,000.