hey
i am writing a speech on the abandonment of adolescents in society, especially north american society. it seems that traditionally in all the world's cultures there was no "teen-age", you just went from being a child to coming of age as a responsible and purposeful adult with a real community. now there is this gap but instead of having a guided path of attainment, identity, purpose, education, there is just super-animalistic media culture to worsen a dangerously confusing array of questions and unknowns with scarce answers or help to be found even from parents. teens, especially younger teens, DONT have to be confused - really they can be the spearhead of consciousness and positive energy if given the opportunity.

i know my perspective is, naturally, limited here, i'd like to find out more so IF ANY ONE would like to share any thoughts of any kind, responses or reflections on this that would be really great. i want to hear from the people who know.

>>it was Maulik Baxi's Panorama article on youth and HIV/AIDS which really got me thinking: "Words like ‘terrible teens’ are a reflection not of the approach of the adolescents towards the society, but of the approach of society towards them." and that "All the commonly prevalent teenage social problems...are all a result of the conflict between a grown-up body and mind, which is not expected and accepted as grown-up." This brilliant article really inspired this question a lot and now Im looking for more research to write a proper expositive speech/presentation (ideas welcome). love, alan