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What is Straight Edge? Straight Edge is what people who choose not to consume alcohol, use tobacco, or any drugs call themselves. A non-promiscuous sex life is also favoured by most Straight Edge followers. Straight Edge ethics are a choice made on a personal level, for instance, some people choose a vegan lifestyle in addition to their Straight Edge commitment. Some choose not to ingest caffeine and some even go as far as to abstain from as many legal prescription medications as possible. Another choice many Straight Edge people opt for is that of environmental awareness, which, in effect, could be involving oneself in recycling, awareness of power usage, involvement in environmental organizations like Green Peace, and primarily any kind of environmental aid. Straight Edge is, in effect, a non-violent movement, usually built on self-preservation or self-abstinence. It is a discipline, but for others it is a simple choice with no interest from the products in question. All of this really depends on why one chooses to become Straight Edge.
Why be Straight Edge? The reasons behind people choosing a Straight Edge lifestyle can be traced to many different factors. Since living a Straight Edge lifestyle is a personal choice, it is difficult to say exactly why individual people go the Straight Edge route, but here are a few factors for making such a crucial lifestyle decision.
Most people who choose to follow the Straight Edge ethos, however, is to promote their own personal health. Because of this reason, there are a lot of vegan Straight Edgers. But the vegan lifestyle does not have a lot to do with being Straight Edge. There are masses of Straight Edgers who have nothing to do with veganism. But because the Straight Edge society usually has a lot more thought for their personal and environmental futures, veganism seems an appropriate affiliation to the overall ethic of the movement.
Usually when a vegan becomes involved in veganism, he or she will in turn become involved in animal rights to further their beliefs in their principles. In all integrity, veganism is, in a sense, the boycotting of animal produce. Although this depends on how far the individual takes the veganism process in their lives. Many vegans will take veganism to a far extent if they intend to take the ethic to a serious level, as most do. This usually involves the abstinence of all animal products and products which are tested on animals, from the vegans point of view, including clothes, footwear, and cosmetics. In effect this is actually a lot easier then it sounds. The main reason vegans will tend to push the boundries of veganism, if they are serious about it, as most are about their cause, is becasue it becomes hypocritical to stop eating meat, but still use cosmetics which are tested on animals. This is especially relevant to vegans who turn vegan primarily for animal rights focused principles. The environmental issues of the vegan ethic lie in the undertones of the overall Straight Edge ethic. Self-preservation, which is the ethical relationship between the two lifestyles, and also another of the reasons the two ethics work in tandem.
One of the most common legal drugs that many Straight Edge people recognize as an addictive drug and therefore abstain from in their daily lives is caffeine. You may be thinking, "What is so bad about drinking coffee, tea, Coca-Cola, or Pepsi?" Caffeine, just like any drug, has addictive qualities and also has many other detrimental effects on our health. Caffeine aids in the loss of sodium, potassium, calcium, and other essential nutrients from our body, including the absorption of Vitamins B and C. This, in turn, increases our bodies' need for vitamins from other sources, such as vitamin and mineral supplements. Caffeine ingestion greatly increases the risk of bladder cancer, especially in women. There are also high risks that large daily consumption of caffeine in pregnant women can increase the risks of miscarriages, still births, or birth defects. These are just a handful of the unhealthy side effects of caffeine.
People who choose to live a Straight Edge lifestyle primarily do it for what I consider all the right reasons. They will eventually opt for for a vegan diet also. There is a lot more to being Straight Edge than simply choosing a alcohol, cigarette, and drug free path in life. The Straight Edge lifestyle is based on a strong foundation of ethical social principles. To some people, this is understood before they even realize that they are labeled as being Straight Edge. They have been following the path of the Straight Edge movement for a long time before they actually know that there is a Straight Edge following.
The historical roots of Straight Edge is an interesting development. There are a few different stories as to where the name originated, but most followers of the movement believe that the name came from the title of a song by the punk rock band Minor Threat. Another part of the Straight Edge ethic is music, primarily hardcore punk rock. The occasional punk band also gets a bit serious about Straight Edge in their lyrical undertones from time to time. That is not to say that being Straight Edge has anything to do with being a hardcore fan of punk rock, although it does have some sides to it. The main ethos about music and Straight Edge is the fact that one is listening to music which is encouraging their lifestyle. One of the best known vegan Straight Edge bands is Earth Crisis. Their songs are among some of the best written as far as ethics are concerned. Another interesting band who base their songs around ethics is Blood For Blood. They have been known to base many of their lyrics around the destruction of modern day society.
There are many abbreviations, acronyms, and other ways of representing Straight Edge. Some of the most common include: sXe (this is commonly used on the Internet and also on some Straight Edge CD music compilations); XXX (this is a favourite symbol used on T-shirts, other clothing, and jewelry); X?X (where the question mark '?' becomes whatever word is desired, for example, XcultureX); and X (used on the top of someone's hand, usually at a concert, to show allegiance to Straight Edge).
Another element of the Straight Edge ethic is aimed at the entire culture as it interacts within the community it is based. These interactions are usually based within a group usually known in Straight Edge terminology as a "crew." Crews are primarily a base group of friends, all Straight Edgers, but usually more often than not they are based on an impartial group of friends. Some crews may consist of primarily hardcore Straight Edge members or even Straight Edge vegan members. This is mainly because there usually are not many Straight Edge friends in the usual Straight Edge persons' freinds base. Unfortunately, this is because there are not a great deal of Straight Edge people around in a given community, so Straight Edgers usually either have non-Straight Edge friends or very few friends at all.
It is obvious that without any unity of Straight Edge followers, the movement would not survive very long. That is why the development of Straight Edge crews are essential for the overall survival of the scene. This is even more relevant when it comes to Straight Edge ethics being put into practice. The reason why Straight Edge crews interact with the surrounding communities comes from a variety of purposes. It may come down to introducing other Straight Edgers into a crew or other Straight Edge crews organizing activities within their area. This may be done to increase Straight Edge awareness in the area to people who have no idea about the Straight Edge movement. This may also include Straight Edge positive actions, the supporting of human rights or animal rights organizations, for instance. In general these crews try to interact with their surrounding society for its own benefit.
Overall, the Straight Edge movement is based on positive actions towards all involved and their surrounding. To an extent, this may involve a great deal of differing principles. But in an overall effect, it is always for the better of society. If more people were to become Straight Edge, the world would be an incredibly better place to live. There would be virtually no AIDS or sexually transmitted diseases, no drug abuse, and no worry of stepping on a hypodermic needle walking along the beach with bare feet. There would be no drunk drivers, no alcoholics, no drug addicts or drug dealers. Of course, these are utopian ideals and the most ethical approach for the world, yet people view all of the worlds problems as inane to an extent, problems which will, in effect, directly affect the lives of future generations.
The approach of most people in this world who choose the more travelled path of self-induced unhealthiness are simply paving the road to their own untimely destruction. To ignore the social decay which our society is encountering is, in effect, the worst choice any responsible adult can ever choose to make. To recognize that we have a problem in any way and choose the Straight Edge path is a good start. At least then you can actually realize that there is a problem and that there is an option to correct it. Unfortunately, this is the less travelled path, but that can only change for the better in the future. Don't let the overall lack of social support for the Straight Edge lifestyle at its current stage curve your moral and ethical choices.
