THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509070213
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 51 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: LetteR
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
Anti-kid mentality
I am appalled by the attitude that seems to be prevalent in Dare County toward young people, which is one of rejection, lack of care and hostility.
Obviously, young people are not perfect - neither are adults. Apparently, what adults expect kids to do in this county is to be quiet, behave, shut up, walk in line and go play in the sand. Almost everything is prohibited in this county. Can't roller skate, can't skateboard anywhere. No youth center but a splendid senior center and a clubhouse in Colington that serves nearly exclusively for the stylish ``happy hours'' of a small number of members of the Colington Yacht and Racquet Club.
The only place where Colington kids can be without trespassing on somebody's property is the school bus station. This is where these kids hang out and make noise and produce emanations of life, which unpleasantly collide with some people's concept of a Sun City style community, where people are ``through with children.''
Now, the Colington Harbour Association has found it necessary to chase the kids away from this last bastion of juvenile freedom, allegedly based on complaints from homeowners. Even if they really received such complaints, it remains to be seen whether the complaints are based on fact or fiction. There are some people out on a crusade in Colington to make life miserable for those teens. The adult is always right. The kid is always wrong.
The entire attitude is one of overreaction to fears. It is also so sickening that I feel nauseous because of so much narrow-mindedness and lack of compassion and understanding.
Florian Deltgen
Colington Harbour by CNB