XXX Straight Edge - the discipline XXX
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An explanation written by Daniel Zander
and taken from the Cyber Edge website.
(http://xxcyberxx.xxedgexx.com)
Adapted to plain .txt format by Alex
Weinfors.
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Put very simply, Straight Edge (sXe) is a youth movement closely aligned with the
hardcore/punk music scene, but with a fundamental difference. sXe is generally refers to a
person who doesn't use illicit drugs, smoke or drink. A hardliner, will also include being a
vegetarian or a vegan. Being vegan refers to not eating meat, dairy, or any other animal
products. Another BIG part of sXe is putting some thing into the sXe community by "doing a
zine" (writing an underground magazine), being in a band, working in a collective or just doing
something for someone besides yourself to make the world a better place. The reason you
don't do inhibiting substances is they interfere with your values. sXe'ers don't want to be
complacent or ignorant so educating and sharing ideas is also be a big part of being sXe.
Thus, a lot of sXe'ers are politically active in some form or another. Casual sex is generally
not accepted because sXe'ers do not want to pollute their bodies, and it's pretty evident that
people who in this day and age choose to have casual sex are asking to get an sexually
transmitted disease that is possibly death inducing. Straight Edger's exclude all forms of drugs
from their lives, including alcohol, cigarettes,illegal drugs and often other drugs such as
aspirin. Most sXe'ers don't even "use" caffeine. Many sXe'ers become active in trying to save
the environment, or fighting for animal rights. Since many sXe'ers are vegetarian or vegan,
they adopt a cruelty free lifestyle which is good for them, the environment and the animals
themselves. Straight Edge is a more philosophical offshoot of the punk movement, a reaction
to the hedonism and self-destruction that characterized punk. The basic tenet of the
philosophy centers around the issue of self-control. The idea is to closely examine your own
life, identify what factors influence your thoughts and behaviors, assess what impact they are
having on your life and rid yourself of those factors which you deem to have a negative
impact on your life. The goal is to regain as much personal control over your own life as
possible. This goal is often achieved through the denial of gratifications, similar to the
Spartans or many religious orders, especially in Buddhism and Hinduisms. sXe is the only
youth counterculture to actively discourage drug use, alcohol use, and casual sex.

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Why/Where did it begin?

The term Straight Edge was coined by Ian Mackaye in a song called "Straight Edge" which
he wrote when in a band called in the early to mid eighties. Their music is fast, powerful, with
angry and thoughtful lyrics. Minor Threat was a part of the intense eighties hardcore/punk
scene in Washington D.C. I believe, despite some of the conversations on the computer chat
bulletin boards recently, that sXe is generally accepted to have come from D.C., and that
Minor Threat was the first band to visibly use the term "sXe" and use the X as a symbol. The
black cross became a symbol that sXe'ers would draw on their hand to indicate that they
were Straight Edge. This symbol is still used today. It is believed that is has its origins from
the under age shows, where people under 18 (or 21) had the cross drawn on their hand so
the bartender could see if they could buy alcohol.

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Why are people sXe?

Some common reasons people decide to
become sXe include 1.) wanting to control
their own lives 2.) seeing what damage drugs
can do to others 3.) being raised in an
alcoholic family 4.) identifying with the sXe
values and 5.) being with people who have the
same values. Straight Edge music follows a
ethic that excludes the corporate money
making machine. They believe music is for music sake, not for greed and profit. The basis
behind sXe is to remove all kinds of distractions to allow you to concentrate on the things
that are important to yourself, and to think for yourself, rejecting the false messages we are
bombarded with everyday from peers, elders and all forms of media. sXe Bands currently
around is Earth Crisis, Snapcase, Final Exit, Shelter, Abhinanda and Strife.

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Is sXe a religion?

No. Although sXe embraces some of the moral values held by most major religions, sXe'ers
don't necessarily believe in a God. There is no organized church or worship service.
However, some sXe'ers are members of organized churches, temples or mosques where
they feel that the sXe belief's fit in.?

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Where does veganism fit in?

Veganism has little to do with sXe pure life ideals. People generally aren't addicted to animal
products. But it seems logical to look at everything you put into your body once you start
examining external factors, and so many sXe folk logically choose to adopt a vegan life.

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What is the political impact of sXe?

Although sXe is not inherently political, politics are a logical extension of an sXe lifestyle.
Once you have regained control over your life, the desire to help others and to make a
positive contribution to your culture, society, community by addressing issues of social justice
is a very natural thing to do. Many sXe'ers join organizations like Greenpeace, Amnesty
International, and SADD (Students Against Drunk Drivers). They also encourage friends to
give up drugs, alcohol, and smoking.

The fact is sXe will never be a majority movement because the lifestyle is too demanding for
a lot of people. Many don't want to question the status quo of their lives, or the crutches they
use to get through the day. Generally, I find when there are a few sXe'ers who lead very
positive lifestyles (don't judge other people's lives, and don't preach) soon many other people
get the edge and follow their example.

Text file Source (historic): geocities.com/capitolhill/lobby/2625

geocities.com/capitolhill/lobby
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