Imperial Valley press., 1945-04-01
PEOPLES FORUM

Editor:
In the evening paper last
month there was an article about the
building of a new club house for re-
turned veterans of World War II
ana veterans Of World War I 7
agree that this is a grand thing.
Anything any of us can do for these
returned Servicemen is commend
able. But, and there is a but, WHY
can't we do something fer our teen
age boys and girls, too? They are
our future citizens. Why can't thev
nave teen-age center or canteen?
I have talked to many teen-age
boys and girls. have two and an
other nearly teen age. The ones I
have talked to are agreed that the
churches in the valley are banded
together against a youth center.
they want all the teen-agers TO
come to the chul ches for their rec
reation and entertainment Is this a
fact?
"Teen-age boys and girls are
young adults. Would one think of
telling an adult that he couldn't
dance unless under religious juris-
ciction? Surely not in the United
States. How about the freedom Of
religion and the pursuit of happi-
ness? Are they not just as impor-
tant as freedom OF speech or the
right to work? One cannot force
anyone to go tC one place simply by
not having any other place to go.
I'm sure that none Of these peo-
pie who are against a youth center
would go tc night club in Mexicali
So, OF course, they couldn't believe
boys and girls under 18 go there.
Dldnt they try to enforce a law TO
keep them out? The only ones ad-
mltted are tmall children acccmpa-
MED by their parents who are there
to eat only. any 13-year-old girl
with high heels and enough war
paint may enter. Any boy over IL
II he seems tall enough You people
who are SO against a youth center,
would you like a list of the names
of the boys and girls I have seen
there drinking and dancing and un-
chaperoned? 1 don't believe you
with boys and girls would like to.
Especially if your boy Or girl had
the car last Saturday night or the
week before. Two CT the girls / taw
1 know to- be l3 and ID. Their home
life is definitely unpleasant. They
are lonely. No religious background
and wouldn't accept it if availaS Slc.
Is that any reason they shouldn't
have a place to 60 where they cculo
meet Boys and girls of their own
age? Would they contaminate some
of your boys and girls raised in the
church? I hardly think &C. I've
seen come under-18 boys and girls
raised under strictest religious in
fluence just as drunk as quite
raised youngsters! Most adult men
refuse to go tC church Oh church en-
tertainment. Can you expect their
teen-age boys to do differently?
You can't force a teen-age boy to
go to church. have seen groups of
these Boys pile in cais in Ell Centre
and have seen them go TO MeXicali.
On occasions 1 have suggested that
they come to my home with my
youngsters instead and have party
and dance. I have never been re-
fused yet. l have been told repeat
cdly and earnestly that they never
had better time.
I'm only one person. I'm not
wealthy. I can't do much by my
self. But I lcve young people, There
must be many other mothers the
same as I. All I can offer is my
time, the use of my hands and what
ideas I may have. What does one
have to do to get this youth cente.
project under way? Is the Old Fox
thcater building still availabler
THE young people feel beaten be-
fore they start because of the Sc
vere criticism and opposition Of the
very people who should be helping
their teachers and principals. Not
all of them, but the majority.
What can we do? The teen
ayers wont is simple. A place fci
teen-agers only, to drink soft drinks,
eat ice cream, play juke box, ana
dance. Supervised by an older per-
son and chaperoned at all times.
Open to Imperial Valley teen-agers
only. Can't we help these boys ana
girls to a better cleaner way of life
and still not force way en- them
that they don't want? Won't they
have more faith in adult ways If we
keep faith with them? Can't we
mothers and dads of Imperial Val
ley help our children, tomorrow S
citizens?"
A MOTHER.