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To be Straight Edge is to keep one's mind, body, and soul free from self-destructive behavior, including drug abuse, alcohol addiction, and smoking. Straight Edgers see the harm that substance abuse can cause to individuals and choose to free themselves of any crutch that may be used to synthesize temporary happiness. Drugs and alcohol inhibit the ability to think clearly and are used as an escape, to temporarily hide from and mask one's daily problems. Straight Edgers are strong enough not to hide from their problems and strive to make their lives better and themselves stronger by passing up the easy way out of situations.
When attending a hardcore punk show, Straight Edgers can be easily spotted in the crowd due to the giant X's that are drawn on their hands, usually with a black magic marker. The X has become the symbol adopted by Straight Edgers because of the practice in clubs where bouncers would mark an X on the top of the hands of anyone under the age of 21 who attend a concert so that they would not be served alcohol. A true "edger" who follows the lifestyle is extremely proud to be Straight Edge and wears the X to show his or her choice to be free from impurities. Another common symbol that has been adopted by Straight Edgers is the triple-X (XXX). The triple-X symbol signifies the abstinence of drugs, alcohol, and promiscuous sex from a person's lifestyle as well as the purity of mind, body, and soul.
There are different reasons for which people choose to become Straight Edge. Some have had family or friends succumb to the disease of drug or alcohol addiction or some just see the harm that substance abuse can cause and choose not to use them. I chose to be Straight Edge because of my desire to keep my lifestyle pure and to keep my body clean from the things that can easily destroy it from the inside. I also felt that it was foolish how many young people would go out to get drunk simply in the name of "fun" and a "good time." I never did nor do understand such people's mentalities. I could never see why people would want to impair themselves so that they couldn't even remember what they were doing the night before.
Obviously, I have heard of the many horror stories of drinking deaths on college and university campuses, but I made the choice to be Straight Edge long before I even entered university. I have never been drunk and have never used any drugs other than prescription medications given to me under the direct supervision of my personal physician. I have vowed and pledged never to use drugs or drink any form of alcoholic beverages, because I have never had the desire to do such things. When a person chooses to be Straight Edge, they choose it for life. It's not one of those things that you can be one weekend and then not the next. It is a lifelong commitment to yourself and your future.
When anyone chooses a rebellious path, such as that of any Straight Edger, they are subjecting themselves to ridicule and question. That is why the deviants must be well educated on the subject. Oftentimes I know more about the affects and harmful consequences of drugs and alcohol than the people that are using them. Many Straight Edgers, such as myself, are very well educated on the topics of drugs and alcohol, because it is this knowledge that makes them strong, it adds to and contributes to their system of defense.
Most often, however, Straight Edge has appeared in a negative light. When an article appears in the media about Straight Edge, it is unfortunately because of violent intercessions on the part of a Straight Edger against a non-follower of the movement. There are members of the scene that are ultra-violent and not only oppose the use of drugs and alcohol, but will verbally and sometimes physically attack people seen smoking a cigarette or drinking alcohol. This is not being Straight Edge. A true Straight Edger will respect the choices of others even if they don't agree with them. We only promote knowledge on the subject and true Straight Edgers are not violent towards others.
Despite some of the negativity against Straight Edge, it is good to see that the scene is growing. Before I graduated from Concordia University in 2005, I helped to establish and form the first Straight Edge club on campus, which we christened "The A-Team." Our numbers are increasing and our movement is growing stronger. More and more young people are choosing to go against the norm and make the right choice to be in total control over their bodies and minds at all times. As the Grammy nominated melodic metalcore band Killswitch Engage states in their song, This Fire Burns: "Never more to held down; By the ways against me; Never more to be cast aside; This day is mine."
