Teens Talk - To Vote or Not to Vote

The Grand Rapids Times
9-26-2008
By Marcel Gamble

Many of my readers may wonder why “Teens Talk,” is devoting an article to the subject of, voting or not voting, in this historical Presidential election.
Well, my answer is to the point of no return.
Voting is very important in any election whether it is for national or local leaders. Voting is a privilege extended to all law abiding American citizens of our fifty states.
I personally believe that voting is an obligation for all who desire to challenge our leaders into implementing laws which would enhance the quality of life for the citizen body of this great nation.
The many noted failures in a Democracy form of government appear when people become compliant and transfer their powers to others.
In exercising the right to vote, the voter is engaging in the sharing of power with his/her elected leaders.
In the last few weeks, and even days, our national and local newspapers and television news media have disclosed the bailing-out of financial sectors and homeowners with troubled mortgages.
These bailouts don’t just have preliminary consequences, they have long range disadvantages that you and I, as young Americans, will have to pay for from our first pay check until retirement.
This is why “Teen Talk” has devoted this article to the question: “To Vote Or Not To Vote?”
How can we as a generation of young Americans not seriously exercise our right to vote?
This is my first year of college, however, I don’t think so kindly of being burdened by my portion of $700 billion rescue of the financial sector.
When I graduate from college, I hope to enter graduate school, and assist my community, and possibly have a family down the line.
I don’t want to have this $700 billion bailout, and other mistakes that our present national leaders have made, to limit me in providing well for my future family.
We must, as young and older adults, educate ourselves about the issues that will leave lasting impact on our generation and future generations.
We need to keep check on the leaders that we elect into office.
I think it is a good practice for all of us to let these leaders know that American citizens will be handing out report cards during their tenure in office.
“To Vote Or Not To Vote,” is not the question in these times of national security, financial problems, high unemployment, high oil prices, and bailouts of General Motors, Financial sectors, and mortgage foreclosures.
The question should be: Who is the right man or lady, to be elected, to release us young Americans from “Juvenile Bankruptcy?”
My generation and your children are headed for “Juvenile Bankruptcy,” and we have not even had a chance to make our own debt yet.
If you are not registered to vote and you are age 18 and above, or will be 18 on or before November 4, 2008, please register to vote by October 6, 2008. Go to your nearest Secretary of State Office.
If you are not 18-years of age, yet, and you have brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles that are old enough to vote, please plead with them to cast their vote this November 4, 2008.
If the masses of Americans exercise their right to vote and take back their personal political power, the term “Juvenile Bankruptcy” may never commence on this and future generations.
There is a wise saying: “If you do the same thing all the time; you will get the same results.”
So, if we did not exercise our vote last election, do so this time. If you voted last time, continue to exercise your vote this time.
Change is a powerful and scarce commodity in our government, but we can assist by being one of the change agents if we go out and vote. Let us vote for Change.
I’m going to leave you all with this, Ecclesiastes 3:1; “To everything there is a season, and time to every purpose under the heaven.”
Now is the time for our generation to make a difference and vote.

Teens Talk - Let it Go

People who have sexually transmitted diseases or multiple sexual relations, those who have been incarcerated, and those who have committed horrific crimes are the individuals that are looked down upon in today’s society.
Well, many may disagree and may even despise me for it, but I look up to the people who commit sins and take full responsibility for the sins that they commit.
It’s one thing to commit a sin and take ownership for the sin, but it’s another thing when a person commits a sin and lives in denial.
Don’t get it twisted. I don’t give individuals praise for doing wrong; I commend them for opening up to God and admitting that they do sin.
We live in a world that won’t let it go.
A majority of the people who claim they are Christians run from the truth.
A sin is a sin, how can someone repent for his or her sins and not admit to committing them?
It’s crazy how some of us will sit up in church all day and look down upon people who are in the streets.
Truthfully, the people in the streets probably have stronger relationships with God then we do; do you know why?
Because maybe the people in the streets don’t hide, maybe they tell God about their sins.
In reality, I believe some Christians are afraid to let it go.
A majority of the Christians in the world won’t let it go because they are confused.
They want strong relationships with God but they are afraid of what their peers would think if they discovered that they sin.
Some of us are so caught up on our reputations that we fail to realize that the only judgment that matters is the judgment from God.
If I disrespected and demeaned women in the past, I’m not afraid to tell you all because what everyone thinks of me doesn’t matter. I live my life for my homie above and Him only.
If I had pre-marital sex, don’t you all worry about it God and I already had this conversation my sin is washed away.
LET IT GO.
If loved ones around you hate on you because you let it go and choose to give your sins to God, then just smile at them.
Smile at them and tell them just let it go.
You’ll discover that most of the time people are mad at you for letting it go because they don’t have the courage to do it themselves.
As Christians, we have to learn to grow some muscle and be bold.
I’ll say what everyone else is afraid to say, you know why? Because I don’t answer to anyone on earth I answer to my God.
You can call me a thief because I have stolen before.
You can call me a liar because I have lied before.
You can call me a cold- hearted person because I have beaten people down in the past with no remorse.
You know what you really can call me; you can call me a CHRISTIAN.
I let it go, and I encourage everyone who is reading this to do the same.
What ever baggage you are holding on to grow some muscle and let it go.
Once you let your sins go, you have to realize that you are walking with God.
You have to let your sins go and not go back to them.
I’m going to leave you all with this; before people can get closer to God they have to let it go.
Marcel Gamble, a graduate of Kellogsville High School, is a freshman at Calvin College.

Teens Talk - Wise Streets Is What I Call Home

Dark alleys, broken glass, fatherless children, drug addicts, drug dealers are all images of things many people have to wake up to every morning.
Some people refer to the aforementioned setting as the ghetto; well I refer to it as home.
It’s offensive when I hear my home being labeled as the ghetto, because my dwelling is the greatest environment in which an individual can live.
My so - called ghetto or trashy streets, as some would say, are very wise.
Wise streets are what I call home because on wise streets you aren’t able to place a blindfold over your eyes and shield yourself from everyday life.
I call wise streets home because in wise streets you learn what it’s like to struggle to obtain the necessities in life.
In wise streets, one gains the wisdom to value the gifts that he or she receives from God.
So, when you call my home ghetto, I smile because I know that no one is referring to my residence as the ghetto, because I rest on wise streets.
Some people are able to stay in the streets their entire lives without gaining an ounce of knowledge; others are able to move beyond the wise streets to receive an education in order to spread more wisdom within the streets.
Well, currently, I can say now that I have been on both sides.
I have lived my life in very wise streets; now I am pursuing an education in order to spread more wisdom within my community.
Just because an individual leaves their home doesn’t mean that they are divorcing their community.
Everyone has to leave their wise streets at one point in time in order to gain knowledge to spread more wisdom to upcoming generations.
Everyone has to branch out from his or her comfort zone in order to experience life.
There is a whole world filled with mystery and adventures, and people can never experience that if they stay within their wise streets.
God did not create the green earth we live on just for us to stand on one corner everyday.
He did not give us thousands of acres of land for us to fight over little territories within our wise streets everyday.
If people honestly want to make change within their communities, they have to leave their communities to gain knowledge on how to bring about change.
It’s amusing to witness people change into a variety of different outfits for a number of different events just to look their best.
When it comes to an individual changing their ways then change is simply labeled as being impossible.
My entire life, I have complained about the living conditions in my community and now that God has given me the opportunity to get an education at a luxury college, I understand.
I understand that I was complaining, and no change was being made because I am a part of that change.
People in all are the change.
If we refuse to change our actions, ignorant ways, and hatred towards others, then we will live in what some people call the ghetto and not wise streets.
I’m going to leave you all with this; It’s not about where you come from it’s about where you are going in life.

Teen's Talk - Home Away From Home

The Grand Rapids Times
9-5-2008
By Marcel Gamble

I find it humorous when other species have no problem adapting to their surroundings while some species such as humans find it difficult to adapt when stripped from their normal environments.
For example, there are forests that are ripped apart on a daily basis. Animals are forced to relocate and build a home away from home. Even though they are forced into a new environment, they have the capability to adapt.
Unfortunately, sometimes it can be difficult to adapt when your surroundings become unfamiliar.
Like birds there are many people who have to be pushed out of the nest, to be able to fly. Meaning sometimes we have to leave home in order to see the world.
Well, this week I’m that bird; and I had to leave the nest to be introduced to the world of college.
With my eyes I have seen people from all over the United States.
So far I have seen people with morals that I’m not use to, but I’ll hold on to my morals and I will adapt.
Already, I have meet people with different religious views. I will continue to praise the Lord the way I do, and I will adapt.
Adapting is not about forcing people to give up their way of living; adapting is about standing firm in your individual beliefs and also compromising with others.
I never thought that I would ever see myself at a private school such as Calvin College; but in the midst of it all, God has placed me here, and I will adapt.
College is not my normal habitat because I am a freshman. However, thanks to all of the other students at Calvin with their warm personalities I find it easy to adapt.
People would live better lives if they would learn to adapt to theirs and others environments.
I’m going to leave you all with this; Matthew 13:43:
“Then the ones right with God will shine as the sun in the holy nation of their father. You have ears then listen!”