Leave The Kids Alone

I finished reading two stories and have added links for anyone who wants to read them in their entirety. The crux of the stories are that the Iowa City Council are once again "bravely" running away from issues that might lose them votes the next time they run for office.
The first is the 21-only ordinance that has been brought to the City Council after a petition was brought to them by some "fuddie duddies" called the Committee for Healthy Choices. On Wednesday, City Clerk Marian Kerr validated the petition which called for the City Council to decide whether to make it illegal for those younger than 21 to be in Iowa City bars after 10p.m. The group had 3,576 signatures and only 3,333 signatures are necessary for a petition to be considered.
The Committee for Healthy Choices next petition will be to have the City Council consider whether or not citizens can super-size their fast food meals or whether or not to regulate that all fast food shops close their doors, because they are not healthy.
For the 21 only ordnance to be implemented the City Council has to make some, but they seem to be hinting pretty strongly that they will punt and add the issue to the November 6th Election Day ballot.
Hopefully, all the 18 to 21 year olds will vote if it is on the ballot and while they are at it, they could maybe pull the levers against anyone on the City Council who supported the Healthy Choices initiative.
While we are having at the City Council you should read the second story which also deals with bars. It is about the issue of amateur bar fighting and whether or not they should stop it all together or try and regulate it.
Now I have never seen the fights which are held at 121 East College Street, which is the Union Bar, and it holds a Fight Night every Wednesday, according to the story. It stated that in order to fight you must sign a waiver and verify you are sober.
The police chief said that there have been no problems other than a few fighters having to be treated at the hospital emergency room.
They have a certified nurse ringside and a referee to oversee the fights, so why does someone have to come along and try and ruin their fun. This is just one more Big Brother issue that does not need a solution. The fighter's voluntarily get in the ring and have some "fun". Now maybe it is not your idea or mine of fun, but that can be said of many dangerous sports or pursuits and we don't do away with them just because someone gets hurt.
I think most of this is just old people being jealous of young people and realizing that they are missing out on the fun. I am getting older too, but I am comfortable in allowing people to be stupid and take risks, just like I did when I was their age. Let them have fun and get a life, instead of trying to run everybody else's.
I would venture to bet that many of the same people pushing to regulate the fights or stop underage drinking were themselves underage drinkers at one time. I know I was an underage drinker and that was when you only had to be 18, instead of now when people want you teetering on entering a rest home before you are allowed to have a drink or two with your friends.
Stop trying to be nannies to these young people and allow them some fun memories of their time in college.


Say No To 21, Yes to 18!


Fight Night