Living on the Straight Edge | SxE Blog

I just found this somewhat interesting blog post by a tattoo artist of a cover-up tattoo on top of a Straight Edge tattoo. The part that I find interesting is that someone would make something so important in their life like claiming edge and then somehow fall to a point that they need to make fun of it. Certainly I have no idea what made this person change their lifestyle but I wonder what would make them think that it's now somehow humorous.

For me, I could never break edge, it is too important to me. Even when it's not something that I think about everyday it is something that is ingrained in my life. Like all things that take serious commitment (aside from relationships since those clearly require the commitment of two individuals) such as being vegan or a religious lifestyle choice such as celibacy it is something that at one point in your life made such an impact that you "claimed" it, that you made it known to others and in this case "marked" you own body to let others know. This claim was clearly something of value, something to be shared with others.

Everyone deserves the right to break edge, but I truly wonder if it's done for the right reasons.

Labels: breaking edge, sxe

For a project at work I needed to research diesel and it's environmental impact compared to regular gasoline. This lead me to wonder how living straight edge impacts global warming versus not being edge.

There are definitely high levels of CO₂ production from not only the production of brewing beer and other alcohols, but also in the packaging especially if it is packaged in glass. Then since any "quality" beer is imported the environmental impact of shipping adds to that overall effect. Soda has similar impacts from it's own production which is high in sugar processing and water consumption, but it typically is less than beer and is bottled in many local bottling plants all across the U.S. And if you are a SxE person that avoids caffeine then you are improving the earth, I personally only drink a soda about once a month. Source.

Some SxE people are Vegetarians and Vegans and it's a fairly effective way to reduce CO₂ which comes from methane which is produced in large quantities by cattle. I personally am not a vegetarian or vegan, but I rarely eat beef and it doesn't seem that puoltry produces the same level of methane as cows. However the impact of production of these animals into food products has a significant impact as well. Source.

Tobacco despite being a plant is not as efficient at reducing CO₂ as the forests that are typically clear-cut to make room for tobacco farms. Source.

Other impacts on the earth for not being Straight Edge are the usage of illegal drugs which affect the environment, from the effects involded in their generally unenvironmental labs and international shipping for the "good" stuff.

So it seems that being Straight Edge is positive way to live on a Poison Free Earth.

Labels: global warming, sxe

Here's a list of some SxE Merch websites i've found, some I've bought stuff from, some I haven't. If you like stuff from these shops or hate their designs comment here. If you know of other's I've missed as well, let me know and I'll update this list.

StraightEdge Merch, Clothing, T-Shirts, Hoodies, Books, Videos, Music:
Victory Records : Music & shirts
1981 Records : Shirts, hoodies & music
Until Industries : Until's main site, they have some cool drug free designs
Until on merchnow.com : Until's merchnow site
merchnow.com : merchnow.com clothing
Bridge Nine : Great music & shirts
Living on the Straight Edge ~ Clothing : My own straight edge clothing designs on cafepress
Gruesome Graphics Straight Edge Store : A nice cafepress shop
Living on the Straight Edge ~ Media : Music, dvds, books about Straight Edge and Hardcore
24 Clothing : Nice SxE clothing line
District Lines : Shirts, some are pretty ugly

Labels: clothing, shop, sxe merch

Overall the NGC documentary "Inside Straight Edge" tried to show multiple angles of our community, but I felt that despite the varying views the concentration still leaned towards the idea that Straight Edge is a gang. I understand that the documentarians didn't specify that it was specifically, but they gave focus to those that said that it was, or was becoming that.

Sure, there are those that are Straight Edge and are violent, but pretty much they only beat up drug dealers, drunks and those that start fights with them. I bet that some start fights, and probably do stupid things, most kids do stupid things (like get drunk and do drugs.) But most Straight Edge people are positive and that is the kind of focus that the documentary should have taken. Interview people that are SxE and do great things for our world. Talk about what it's like to be a part of the SxE world, how do girls feel about the community, talk to SxE kids that start drug-free programs for their schools, or SxE kids that grow up into adults that have families and love being Straight Edge.

They put a lot of emphasis on a single murder of a gang (not that I believe that any murder even just one is allowable) that didn't have to confront SxE kids that were saying stupid things. I'm sure that the gang he belonged to killed people and sold drugs.

One thing I thought was very thought provoking was the idea that there are college fraternities that are full of organized people that do very harmful things (not all, but some as in SxE and everything else.) I've read many stories about frats that gang rape women, sell drugs, commit crimes. Shouldn't frats now be targeted as gangs? Anyone with greek letters should be stopped by police and searched for drug paraphenalia. SxE kids don't drink underage or do drugs, but I know that frats give alchohol to underage kids and smoke pot. But I guess since it's done while at an institution of higher learning it's okay and everyone knows that a little drug and alchohol abuse is fine, look at our fearless Commander in Theif as a prime example of what good comes of cocaine and alcohol.

I guess it would be very fair to do a documentary that starts with the tagline "Christianity, has it gone too far? Some have now formed gangs like the KKK, and then there are those church going Catholic mobsters in New Jersey, the Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades, look at how many people have died at the hands of the Christian Gang!"

Labels: documentary, sxe

Late last year I was contacted by a guy working on a documentary for National Geographic on the subject of Straight Edge. At first I hoped that they would take it in a positive direction. After dealing with the lies and subterfuge with Rolling Stone covering SxE I knew it wouldn't be a positive story either.

So next Wednesday, April 9th @ 10pm, National Geographic will be airing "Inside Straight Edge" to cover the darker side known as Hate Edge. Sure it exists, sure it is a dark and rough side to the story, but it has been done so many times with never a real mention to the positive and enlightening aspects of a culture that has enriched and empowered so many. I won't make any specific judgments about how biased or open-minded their coverage may be until I actually see this.

They will apparently cover Straight Edge from the point of view of an Ex-Edge Cop in Reno on the gang beat, Ronen Morris the director of “Boston Beatdown" and a soccer-mom that is struggling with the idea of her child embracing the lifestyle of Straight Edge.

I always hope that things like this will shed positive light on a lifestyle that is very important to me, but I always know that it's not the case when the press gets involved. But we'll see.

Labels: documentary, sxe

Without shame I'll put this black
X on my hand
Without shame I'll speak up and
Make my stand
In the end will use this
Use this for my voice
Spread your rumors about me
Because it's my choice
What the fuck do you know?
About me?
Why the fuck do you care?
What I do?
Who the fuck are you?
You ain't fucking shit
You think I care about you or what you say about me?
Keep talking shit
You think i care what you write or what people read on me
I am still edge
Carry these words high
Straight edge
I am still edge

No Donnie, These Men Are Straight Edge ~ Casey Jones

Labels: casey jones, lyrics, sxe

It's not for everyone. If you are not Edge, that's fine. I accept and respect that, so respect my choice.

It's not about people that are not straight edge. I don't care what you do with your life.

It's not a label, it's a lifestyle. It's not a style or clothing, it's not about what you listen to or where you live or work. It's about how you think and act. We might provide a name for it, but the name is not lifestyle, it's merely a way to identify the act of being.

It's not from California. It's from D.C., from Minor Threat, from hardcore.

It's not about what I don't do, it's about what I DO! I do keep my body clean, I do care about my mind, I do abstain from mind altering drugs. I do listen to hardcore!

It's certainly not anything like not raping or not murdering. I recently read this post online and have to say something about it for the sake of people understading not only what SxE is but simple concepts like similarity and difference, that are apparently being lost on the youth of the public school systems these days. SxE is about being free of posions that normal people find acceptible in everyday life. Drinking, smoking and drugs are common and accepted by most Americans. Rape is not accepted by most Americans. What's wrong with identifying one's self by what they don't do? Vegans and Vegitarians do this. And like the last point it is simple enough to say I am SxE by what I do, and just what I don't do. And yes, SxE with saying so is about not raping and murdering as I hope most able minded people are.


It is about MY LIFE, MY CHOICE, MY PRIDE!

Labels: not, sxe

The Blender Theater was host to an awesome display of hardcore last night. Earth Crisis, Terror and Sworn Enemy proved their worth on stage and if the size of the pit meant anything the crowd was completely excited.

When Earth-Crisis played Gomorrah's Season Ends the crowd was insane.
"I am straight edge. I am straight edge. I am straight edge."

I picked up and awesome Shai Hulud shirt with a sketched worm rider on it and two great worms in the background. Gotta love Dune. My friend's and I arrived late to the show and apparently missed Shai Hulud's set which sucked. I guess I'll have to wait or travel to see them again.

The Blender Theater is an nice venue, I really liked the layout of the floor and the downstairs areas had enough room for merch tables and two small bars that were nice to hang out at during band changes.

Labels: earth crisis, hardcore, shows, sxe

Oddly enough I just found out that I'm the perfect body type for the fashion runway. Well not exactly, but this is rather funny. It seems that male models that are super skinny are in. So I looked up and found out that one of these so called skinny male models is 6 foot tall and 145 pounds with a 28 inch waist. Damn that's so fat, I'm 5'10.5" and 115 pounds with a 26 inch waist.

I guess like most things in fashion or art that imitation of life is the true muse. Emo geeks have been skinny for years, wearing tight body accentuating clothes. Soon enough emo-hair and emo-guys-kissing will be the in thing for the "normals."

Labels: emo, fat, models, skinny

Is that an oxymoron? With a sound fairly remenisicent of the Postal Service, PlayRadioPlay has a nice mellow electronica sound. The band is just made up of one guy, Dan, who has claimed Edge since 04. Some of his music reflects on his past drug abuse. Apparently he had been sent to rehab and came out Edge. I haven't really checked out all his lyrics yet to see what kind of SxE meanings may exist; but I wonder as more musicians claim edge outside of Hardcore will they feel the need to scribe lyrics of their drug free life? Do they understand what it means to be Edge?

Labels: softcore, sxe

King Dork has been one of the best books I've read in a while. The ending felt a little vague and without a solution but I feel that this was the effect that Frank Portman was going for. Frank "Dr. Frank" Portman from the band the Mr. T. Experience is certainly an author I want to read more from as well as read some of the other books referenced by Tom, he main character. I'm especially interested in reading Brighton Rock now. King Dork reminded of the experience I felt when I was younger and read Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume as it ellicted the emotions of a young boy and all experiences you go through so well. I related a lot to how Tom felt, his alienation from the other kids, his isolation inside his own mind and how things sound much better inside than when spoken. When I was Tom's age I wasn't as in to music as he was, but I was definately into D & D (as most young dorks & geeks were, i prefer the term geek myself,) and never understood how to talk to girls either and was interested in codes and Dr. Who. The story tended to drift around as the thoughts flowed from Tom's mind, and it seemed sporadic at times, which helped give the impression of a young kid trying to explain the events of his 10th grade year. The book was a quick read, and by that I mean that I didn't want to put it down ever, except towards the end when I didn't want it to end and wanted to delay that a bit. I can't say enough great things about this book and hope that everyone checks it out.

One great part in the book that I want to mention without spoiling anything is that Tom is always coming up with or thinking about great band names. Along the way he mentions that "Most Precious Blood" would be a great band name. Well of course it would, since MPB is already a great Straight Edge band.

Labels: books, dr frank, most precious blood

Recently I started watching Intervention on A&E and tonight I saw an episode where a woman was so addicted to alcohol that she was drinking mouthwash. This woman was like a typical PTA type mid west soccer mom (at least before she went down the drain.) How can people let themselves go that far, especially when they have children. It's sad to think about how many people are like this in America. I seriously hope that this show will open people's eyes and get more people into rehab, whether through interventions or on their own.

I think I would like Straight Edge to move beyond the community and beyond the music to give more people the chance to choose a lifestyle that will give them the opportunity to be proud of living a life that is poison free. I know that the special community that exists for us now is awesome and I'm extremely proud to be part of it, and I know that the music is the reason it exists today, but I think that SxE has so much to offer the world around us. No soccer mom would truly understand what this means, but if more American youth would leave behind the crutch of drugs and alcohol and make the choice to be themselves then it would benefit everyone in our world.

Labels: intervention, tv

New York restaurant chains (with more than 15 restaurants) will have to post calorie counts for everything on the menu including all drinks. I wonder if all the drunks at TGIF will stop drinking when they realize that their white russians are the reason they can't walk without weezing.

Labels: drinking, health, nyc

So I got picked today to sit on a Grand Jury for the next two weeks (thankfully 2 of the days are court holidays and you won't be called for jury duty again for eight years if you serve on a grand jury.) They also have free Wi-Fi so I can keep up on my email and work over the hour lunch break we'll get.

On an unrelated note I started reading King Dork (which comes out in paper-back next week) by Frank Portman today figuring that I'd have time while sat in the jury assembly room waiting around to be called. I'm really impressed with the book so far and it really reminds me of my own youth in so many ways. I plan to write a more in depth review of the book when I finish, along with some other neglected reviews of the Out of Step book and some new (well new to me) CDs I recently picked up.

While sitting there in the jury room I started wondering how I'd be able to handle being unbiased when a case could involve drugs or alchohol. I know I'm smart enough to not judge someone outright by those things, but sometimes our choices and judgements are hidden to us. I guess that's part of the reason why we have a jury system, so I can judge people for the ills of their lives, I'm only kidding =)

Labels: dr frank, jury duty, king dork, sxe

This year I will be getting married. My fiancé is not Straight Edge, but she has been extremely acceptive of my choice. She doesn't smoke but occasionally has a drink when out with friends. When I chose to be Straight Edge I found it difficult to date, especially in New York, as many girls here drink and find it odd when a guy doesn't drink.

I try to eat very healthy and try to be completely poison free when I eat. I don't eat fried foods, I am lactose intolerant, and I won't eat any food that has been cooked with alchohol (even if it has been cooked off completely.) My fiancé has always been helpful whenever we are out someplace or visiting people to make sure that there is something I can eat and that it doesn't contain alcohol.

Being Straight Edge with someone that is not could lead to a difficult relationship with some people; I have read instances online of other Edgers that have had to leave partners because they weren't accepting enough or that they didn't completely understand.

I'm writing this post mainly to just speak to the fact that being SxE and marrying someone that is not SxE can work. I'd like to know about other SxE people that have had good and bad experiences with non-edge partners as well as those that have found a SxE partner and feel that that has been best for them.

Labels: non-edge, relationships, sxe

I find it completely hilarious when people feel the need to anonymously attack others for their beliefs. It is even funnier when it's done by proxy; someone who doesn't even know me felt it was necessary to have his "friend" send me a message over MySpace. I thought this message was funny so I posted it here (name withdrawn to protect the ignorant):

how can you possibly consider yourself human? when i am absolutely positive you gargle semen....you so called straight edged pussy...i can smell the burnt trojans from here you fucking fudge packing receptacle...i wish you nothing but clamidia for 2008.... go ahead and try to be somthing your not cause you can't fuckin deal. try to be different "straight edge" cause the norm has no problem to deal with life the way they do. Stop living in high school and at your parents ideals cause you can't seem to deal with life on your own "oh life is so hard when ur different" grow a pair of bulls pussy, your just fuckin sad...... tee heee heee teee heee heee heee

What is most amusing is that those that spout the most homophobic crap are typically gay, and those that hate Straight Edge people the most are typically the ones that end up failing out of rehab or dead in a gutter. I've never said my life was hard or I can't deal with the norm, if normal means being drunk and stupid then I don't want to be normal. In fact I think I have a great life and being Straight Edge has only made it better. I have an amazing woman in my life, a terrific job and lots of great friends.

I wouldn't typically respond to this kind of message but I just thought it was pretty funny how pathetic someone's life must be to write that kind of crap.

Labels: stupid

Legendary metalcore band Earth Crisis have announced a few 2008 dates for a Reunion Tour. No New York or New Jersey dates are listed thus far, but hopefully they'll add a few more dates.

Labels: earth crisis, reunion, sxe

Sarah Pike, a professor at Chico State in California is working on a book titled "Youth Culture and Radical Activism" which will contain a chapter on Hare Krishna Straight Edge. She has interviewed and focused on people that have become quite radical in their beliefs. One person she interviewed was released from prison after freeing minks from six fur farms.

Unfortunately she won't be finished for three years and the book will not focus on just Hare Krishna or Straight Edge. But I am pleased to find more authors diving into our world. Typically it seems that professors take a more unbiased position when they document the lives of Straight Edge people as opposed to that of television journalists. So I hope that her book will be an enlightening and educational experience.

Labels: krishna, sxe

So this isn't exactly SxE, but like the Tesla Roadster I wrote about last year, I'm all about electronic devices that (maybe not 100% of the time) help the environment. The Amazon Kindle is a cool new electronic reader, that's wireless and can download blogs (like this very one) and let you read it on the go with no waste of paper. I like the fact that it has a lot of features and is fairly small. I don't know enough about the battery, but would like to know how environment friendly or unfriendly it is.

Labels: electric, poison free

Straight Edge record label Seventh Dagger was in talks with Warner Bros. for a distribution deal but decided to not go forward. I agree whole heartedly with Danny's decision. The big labels always try to find the next best thing and then over do it, drainthe life from it, and move on. They'd end up oversaturating hardcore and straight-edge with new artists that probably aren't even true to hardcore or SxE like they did with Avril (she was a little Shania Twain wanna-be that they turned into a pop-punk grrl, with no real punk attitude.)

It does make me worry though that Warner or another label is possibly looking to turn hardcore and straight-edge into something it's not. Let's hope for the best and if they screw with the genre, we will all be here after all the posers have come and gone.

Labels: anger music, record labels, Seventh Dagger, sxe

I just found out that October 17th is National Edge Day. I had no idea this existed. I find the idea intriguing as I do feel it is important to promote this belief (so long as it's done apporpriately.) I aptly celebrated the day by not drinking =) Edgefest in Boston was this past weekend in what I assume was to coincide with the closest weekend to the date. Did anyone do anything special on this day or past weekend?

So many people seem to think that letting other's know you are edge is a way of bragging or proving we are better than they are. But it's just another way to tell others about your beliefs and to give them the opportunity to discuss it and possible learn something new. I guess wearing a christian cross, a shopping bag that says "I'm not a plastic bag", or some other symbol or belief should be considered wrong and hateful by that standard. I'm only saying this as I came across a post about National Edge Day that was followed by people saying these type of things about people that are Edge. I honestly don't understand why someone that doesn't care about SxE would even click on a link that has Edge in the title.

Labels: edgefest, national edge day, sxe

A film and television production company called Overboork Entertainment, formed by Will Smith, is working on a TV series for FX that will be a drama focused on a straight edge crew. Jada, Smith's Wife, came up with the idea; I guess her stint in the music biz has given her a lot of insight in what it means to be Straight Edge. The show is untitled and will revolve around Courage Crew an SxE crew from Ohio. I have no idea what to expect, and I don't want to assume the worst, but I doubt that it will be posi considering that most news and info about Courage Crew revolves around them allegedly beating up people that aren't edge.

Labels: sxe, tv

Some people I meet that don't drink, smoke, or do drugs wonder if they are SxE even though they don't like hardcore. Sure you can be Straight Edge without listening to the music, I do recommend though that you learn the history of Straight Edge and understand that it is not a fad and something to be taken seriously. It should be a lifelong commitment, along with the understanding that it's your own commitment and that you should not condemn those that fail to keep their personal claim.

You don't have to listen to hardcore or go to shows to be Edge. Edge is about a promise to yourself to be poison free. It is a commitment to keep yourself clean forever. I never eat any foods with alcohol in them, like Jack Daniels steak sauce, but someone that simply doesn't drink most likely will not object to consuming it. Its like someone that doesn't eat meat but is not a vegetarian/vegan, you may not like the way it tastes, but you may not make an objection to a meat sauce lasagna and you probably will wear leather.

I personally believe that my choice to be edge has improved my life, has made me a clearer thinking person and has given me a stronger conviction towards all my beliefs.

Labels: sxe

At my current job everyone knows I'm Straight Edge and I know that a few people there don't like it. It's caused a few issues with some. They felt I didn't like being around them when they drank or that I didn't like going out to bars with them. Honestly I don't mind it as long as the place is cool. I've never said a bad word about anyone there that drinks.

I'm starting a new job soon and I'm considering not even telling anyone unless it comes up in a very specific situation. It could be like the typical rule that you don't discuss religion and politics at work. My Edge is my own personal decision, but I don't want to feel like I am in any way ashamed of my beliefs because I am not discussing them with others that I will be spending a lot of time with.

Labels: sxe, work

I usually don't comment on videos or lyrics when I post them. But this is one of my favourite Throwdown songs! I always get pumped up and energized when I hear this song. When people say hardcore is dead or Straight Edge is dead, they need to wake up and realize that it's bigger than it ever was. "You dont know me/So dont judge me." Just because it's not '88 anymore and the bands have changed doesn't mean that it can't go on. There are plenty of great SxE bands and the community is larger now and global.

I think that most of the people that say negative things about Straight Edge are jealous that they don't have the same type of convictions, or they are upset that they need to have a crutch to get on with life. It always comes from the guy that smokes way too much and says stuff like "I can quit whenever I want" or "If I didn't smoke weed, I'd be Straight Edge too." I'm not here to judge you, but I am here to stick up for myself and my friends. I don't go around telling you that you need to be Straight Edge, but I always hear others saying "why do you have to label yourself, just have a beer and relax." The problem is that I am relaxed, I'm clear minded and I'm okay with it, YOU are not okay with MY choices.

"STRAIGHT FUCKING EDGE!!!"

Labels: sxe, video