Restore pool
By Carly Shoupe
to properly
pay respectTHE subject of the Natatorium is like any issue in Hawaii, constantly debated by long-winded and opposing organizations.
I don't think this debate should be one of the state's main concerns. Efforts should be concentrated more on, say, the economy (which is in worse condition than the Natatorium!).
But, if you want one more opinion, count me in favor of the Natatorium. It is a memorial to brave Hawaii-based brothers, husbands and sons. I am surprised that people who continue to give us reasons not to restore the Natatorium, do not want the Mighty Mo moved to France!
Memorials should be respected, out of love. Opponents of the Natatorium would respond to my viewpoints with something about health, or how they have no way of knowing what is living in there. They don't have to swim in it, and they don't have to swim in the ocean either, it's the same stuff in both places. And don't even complain about sand moving, trust me, it doesn't stay still!
People should support the Natatorium, not as a pool, but as a wonderful memorial. Otherwise, all memorials of the wars that Hawaii sent her soldiers to may end up like the Kole-Kole cross, gone due to complaints.
Ask yourself if you feel ashamed to live in a state with people who have little or no respect for objects of emotional or sentimental value. It seems that many have lost sight of what should be important. They think that owning TVs, radios, computers and earning a lot of money make life worthwhile, which could not be more wrong!
What matters are things like religion, respect, family, friends, and personal values. If today's adults teach their children the habits they have been practicing (especially in the past year, i.e.: Bishop Estate) then our generation may be doomed to a life where no one cares about anything but themselves.
A friend of mine brought up an interesting point, saying, "People call us Generation X. Why? Because we are a bunch of lazy teens? We need to change that reason. X can also mean buried treasure, and this generation can be a treasure that will turn things around."
Isn't that true? Every issue that faces the adults of today, whether it is local like the Natatorium, or national like Clinton, is an obstacle for our generation to overcome.
So, before you condemn the fate of a memorial or decide your view on an issue, begin with the end in mind. Think about how it will affect the future of your children and the rest of Generation X.
Carly Shoupe, 15, is home-schooled.
Rant & Rave is a Tuesday Star-Bulletin feature
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