Where I Stand — Johnny Amiri: High schoolers make some surprising decisions

Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006 | 8:43 a.m.

About 1,000 students from high schools throughout Southern Nevada participated in the 50th annual Sun Youth Forum on Nov. 22. The students were divided into groups to discuss a variety of topics. A spokesperson was chosen from each group to write a column about the students' findings. Johnny Amiri of Foothill High School writes about issues covered in his group, "Law and Crime."

Gathering a group of high school teenagers in a room and asking them if the drinking age should be lowered and if marijuana should be legalized (the two outstanding topics of discussion), one would assume that most teens would answer "yes" and "yes." However, surprisingly, the "Law and Crime" group's decisions at the Sun Youth Forum were the exact opposite.

Although some teenagers in the 30-plus group of students admitted to drinking and smoking at some point, the majority still agreed that legalization would have detrimental effects on the future of our children and, consequently, for the future of our country.

On the drinking age, the room quickly began to heat up as many students in the room gave strong, convincing speeches -- and all equally passionate.

One student declared that if a person is old enough to serve and die for his country, he should also be considered old enough to drink and to toast his country. In response, other students claimed that lowering the drinking age will lead to an increase in teen drinking and, in consequence, alcohol poisoning and teen drunken driving will rise as well.

Some students introduced the "forbidden fruit" theory that says people lust after the unattainable and discard it once it's been attained. Therefore, allowing 18-year-olds to drink, in theory, may lead to a decrease in teen drinking.

However, most of the students rejected this theory after another student and I explained the true reason for the current drinking age. The human brain does not complete its development until a person's early 20s, and alcohol consumption could lead to irreversible brain damage. Upon hearing this fact, the majority of the group agreed that lowering the drinking age to 18 would be a mistake. Surprised?

On marijuana, the topic that stimulated the most controversy, a student contended that it is a gateway drug, and legalization would only lead to people experimenting with other, more severe drugs. Another student added by saying that legalization would set a terrible precedent that could lead to the legalization of many more drugs in the future.

In contrast, however, a disagreeing student brought up the compelling argument that the government would be able to tax the sales of marijuana and put this influx of money toward our schools. Also, he claimed that legalization decreases drug smuggling and, thus, crime will begin to decline.

I responded by explaining that taxing money spent on substances that destroy brain cells -- marijuana -- and putting that money toward institutions that help stimulate brain cells -- schools -- is counterproductive. When asked to vote, the majority decided that marijuana should not be legal, but the minority in this decision was a large one, consisting of more than one-third of the room.

Also throughout the day, we had a split decision regarding whether Internet music downloading should be legal, and we agreed that minors should be tried as adults depending on the severity of the case and the age of the accused. Most agreed that abortion should be legal, and that it's solely the woman's choice as to whether she will have the abortion, not the parents' or the father's.

Discussion after discussion, decision after decision, when the day was said and done, we had discussed a vast variety of legal issues that our state and country are currently dealing with today. And, remarkably, the opinions and suggestions of the 15 to 18 year olds presented feasible, logical solutions for many of these issues.

Over the past 50 years the Sun Youth Forum has reinforced our faith in the future leaders of our country. Watching so many young adults discuss such complex issues is truly inspiring. Enabling youths to work with peers, exchange opinions and listen to other ideas, the Forum has taught thousands of students, including me, how to collaboratively achieve real-world solutions.