Trust
Innocent until proven guilty. Alongside other such mantras, such as freedom of speech, this rule has, for more than two hundred years, governed how our nation functions, from the most mundane matter imaginable to rulings in the highest courts. Innocent until proven guilty. This means that every citizen of the United States is given the right to be trusted, and this trust is assumed to be valid and whole until it is proved otherwise beyond any reasonable doubt.
Why, then does this seemingly God-given right not exist for those under the age of eighteen? At this moment, I am on the campus of George Mason University; I am here to participate in a youth conference regarding journalism. Most of my group is around sixteen years of age. Last night, we were told a set of rules that we were to obey while on campus. These rules, taken by themselves, are set down for noble and decent purposes; they involve the prohibition of lewd or inappropriate behavior. However, the means and actions, and the set of prohibitions, by which these rules are enforced is dishonorable and unacceptable. None of us is allowed to venture outside of our dormitories, or even our rooms, after the hour of eleven. To ensure that we do not break this inane regulation, video cameras are trained on our doors, and pieces of tape are stuck to the door-frame and the door, so that if we leave our rooms at any point after eleven, there will be additional evidence. If we are found outside of our rooms for any reason, it is assumed that we have carried out some serious misdeed, and will be immediately sent home in the most expensive manner possible, without a refund. Because we are young, we will be assumed guilty until proven innocent.
Does America truly mistrust it’s young adults this much? Because, let me tell you – there is no magic button, no metamorphosis, no sudden and drastic change that will take place on our eighteenth birthdays. The same people that you think you have to lock up in small rooms after nightfall to stop them from running wild, these people will be the leaders of the future; we will be your mayors, your governors, and your senators. Extend to us, extend to all young adults, the rights that you so highly prize. At least give us the chance to prove ourselves trustworthy before you assume that we’re not.
3 comments so far
11:00 am - 7-16-2009
Well, you know I agree with you wholeheartedly, but I’m bored and like to argue so there.
Firstly, time and experience have proven that the average teenager, when given the chance, WILL do things they really shouldn’t. They WILL drink and party and, if the opportunity arises, they most definitely will, as you put it, go out and screw under the new moon. That’s what we do. Perhaps there are some exceptions, but how are the people in charge of you supposed to know that you’re the exception to a very universal rule? And given the fact that you’re under 18, technically aren’t they responsible for you and any mischief you happen to get into? So if they have to take responsibility for your actions, then they are going to make damn sure they won’t have anything to take responsibility for. If that means locking you in a little tiny room with a pillow that feels like a diaper, well, apparently they’re soulless bastards who have no problem with it.
Add to this the fact that you’re a minor. Yes, it’s true, when you’re eighteen you’ll be just as stupid and irrisponsible as you are now. However, when you’re eighteen the people running the conference won’t have any legal right to tell you what to do. They won’t need to, either, because if you do wind up, say, in jail for having run around naked with a rubber chicken tied around your neck and reciting shakespeare, at least the only one in trouble for it will be you.
And let me end by saying that anything I stated as fact was pulled out of my ass with no actual like, research on the subject but I’m reasonably sure I’m right. Also I still agree with you and think that it’s bloody stupid to keep you locked up when you really should be in the computer labs typing. I mean, what, aren’t there security cameras there too? They’ll be able to tell you were in there being perfectly innocent if they need some evidence of it. I mean, seriously. That’s really stupid.