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?
Are the two Koreas ready to shake hands?
by: Boo Yoo - printed on 10-18-2000
Korea is the only country that is divided into two different governments, economic systems, cultures, and militaries. It was portioned along the 38th parallel, with the Soviet Union occupying the north area and American troops occupying the south area ever since it was independent from Japan in 1945. The North and South fought a fierce war from 1950 to 1953 and have never singed a permanent peace treaty.
Where did hope go?
by: Hank Smith - printed on 02-06-2002
"Okay. The story is about a little wave, bobbing along in the ocean, having a grand old time. He?s enjoying the wind and the fresh air ? until he notices the other waves in front of him, crashing against the shore.
"'My God, this is terrible,' the wave says 'Look what's going to happen to me!"
"Then along comes another wave. It sees the first wave, looking grim, and it says to him, 'Why do you look so sad?'
"The first wave says, 'You don't understand! We're all going to crash! All of us waves are going to be nothing! Isn?t it terrible?'
"The second wave says, 'No, you don't understand.
Struggles in the European Union - Farms
by: Mono Vergara - printed on 02-20-2002
With the introduction of the euro in January of 2002, the European Union has been cast into the spotlight once again. Though the development and implementation of the euro was a big step towards the unification of Europe, the EU still struggles over questions of funding and policy, searching for consensus among its economically and culturally diverse members and prospective members.
The EU squabbles over funding for farmers
The main problem the prospective members are facing is coming from the farms.
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.
Our Ugandan Sister
by: Sister Catherine Mukimba - printed on 01-31-2001
American Poverty vs. African Poverty
In America, the real poverties are loneliness and isolation. This poverty stems from society’s individualism and materialism. I do like the independence in the U.S., for it allows any hard-working citizen to reach the heights of one’s hard labor. People in Africa can work equally hard but the social environment doesn’t favor individual development. In Africa, much of poverty is material.
Who is in charge?
by: Chris Graham - printed on 09-12-2001
At the center of the debate over stem cell research, the value of human life is being debated from both sides of the issue. On one hand, stem cells are believed to potentially have the ability to regenerate damaged organs and tissues which would prove extremely valuable in the fight against diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. The opposition stems from the fact that these stem cells are taken from embryos grown in fertility clinics.