For those of you who are not aware – Straight Edge is a “unity” of people who have made a lifetime commitment (or what is supposed to be a lifetime commitment) to stay away from drugs, alcohol, and promiscuity. You can keep it simple, such as cigarettes, hard drugs, alcohol, and no sex in the absence of a serious relationship. Or, you can take it to the extreme and add in veganism, pro-life beliefs, no caffeine or anything with caffeine (including chocolate), and abstinence.

Like mentioned, this is supposed to be a “unity”, a group of people with one common goal, a family. So, why would they purposely attack other Straight Edge individuals because of their lives? If they broke Edge, then its understandable, but if not…its hypocritical.

I was recently one of these “other” Straight Edge individuals who was purposely attacked simply for the fact that my favourite movie is American History X. I was attacked as being “racist, fashion core, scene trash, a bitch, a liar, shooting indie bullshit out my ass, and someone who should be shot.” I was personally attacked over MYSPACE by multiple people in a Straight Edge group, one of which is a school teacher! They also attacked a person because of his religious beliefs. Wow, right? These coming from the people who are supposed to be “family”? I don’t know what kind of family they run, but mine doesn’t treat their family members this way. My friends are my family, also, and if I were racist, I wouldn’t have African American people as friends, nor openly say, “Hey! I’m racist!” Fuck that.

I took on the term “Straight Edge” as an eight year old child. Yes, that’s possible. I’ve argued this many times in my life. I’m now almost eighteen years old and after ten years, have decided to no longer carry the term. Its a cult, a term for people who can’t run their own lives. Its taken a lot to make me see this, but I’m glad I finally have. I don’t associate with people who are supposed to be family, people who are supposed to be a unity, but turn their back on someone who might be a little different. I don’t float that direction. The Straight Edge scene has proven to me to be hypocritical. Its nothing more than a cult and complete bullshit.

I will not label myself as part of something this abhorrent. I will not define my life by two words. I find it very weak that these people need this term to define themselves and their lives. I’m done and will no longer be apart of it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to be poison free and keep these things out of my life, but I won’t label myself. I’m Kari Alliah, and by sticking up for who I am, I now have over 20,000 people who hate me across the world and I couldn’t be more proud of myself, honestly.