Paul Andrew's blog: "Straight Edge"

For a clean lifestyle movement born in the "Just Say No" era of the 1980s, Straight Edge has received little attention since its origination. Commercial exposure for Straight Edge bands, however, has recently brought the movement a little closer to mainstream attention. This, combined with differentiating beliefs from among the ranks within the Straight Edge movement, has some of its members fearing that their life's philosophy might be lost to a trend. The message of substance-free living may be overshadowed by the fashion and music styles spawned from the movement, therefore cheapening the basic ideals of Straight Edge. The general premise behind Straight Edge is "to abstain from self-destructive behaviour." What exactly constitutes "self-destructive behaviour" is constantly debated.

Being true to one's beliefs is at the heart of what divides Straight Edgers from other people and also what divides them amongst themselves. While the original Straight Edge philosophy was simply no alcohol, no drugs, and no sex, it has grown, changed, and splintered into different directions. While abstaining from alcohol and drugs is universally at the core of Straight Edge, abstaining from sex, vegetarianism/veganism, and political and religious issues are interpreted in different ways. These differing opinions on what it means to be Straight Edge has caused divisions throughout the group.

"Clean living" is not specific and therefore widely open to interpretation. Some Straight Edgers believe in not having sex at all, some in not engaging in promiscuous sexual practices, and some do not see sex as having anything to do with being Straight Edge. Vegetarianism and veganism have recently been integrated into the Straight Edge philosophy, sometimes to the point that some people do not consider a non-vegan person to be truly Straight Edge. Some vegans consider the hormones (steroids) added to meat to be drugs, making it impure and harmful for human consumption. Others consume no animal products because of their opposition to harming animals. Activism for animal rights has also become a part of Straight Edge in recent years. Some Straight Edgers have also integrated more political and religious issues into the movement, including the rejection of abortion as well as the enforcement of woman's rights and minority rights. Their activism most often includes protests, boycotts, and publications addressing the issues.

With different people incorporating different ideals into what being Straight Edge truly means, today's definition of Straight Edge is completely dependent upon the person defining it. "Hardline" is an offspring of Straight Edge, usually considered to be separate from the Straight Edge movement itself, and, in some ways, it is a step beyond. Sometimes described as militant, Hardliners are vehemently Straight Edge and usually will not associate at all with non-Straight Edge followers, often using a condescending approach in viewing them to be on a lower level.

Straight Edge began as a youth movement in the early 1980s. The term "Straight Edge" comes from a song of that name by Minor Threat, one of the earliest and most influential hardcore bands of the era. Singer Ian MacKaye is credited with coining the term Straight Edge, as well as for much of the early Straight Edge philosophy expressed through Minor Threat's lyrics. "That's the main way the views are expressed, is through the music," says Zach Guttery, a Ball State University student from Muncie, Indiana. "I can listen to other music and say 'that's a good song,' but nothing gets my blood pumping like hardcore."

The successes of hardcore bands Earth Crisis and Snapcase have brought Straight Edge forward into the mainstream, and the movement is integrated with the music. Straight Edge hardcore music is important to followers of the lifestyle, because it reiterates the beliefs, providing a unifying agent for what they believe in and follow. Unlike grunge and alternative music -- two distinct fads combining style and music -- Straight Edge is much more than a fashion trend. Those calling themselves Straight Edge are swearing to be substance-free for the rest of their lives, which many would consider an admirable pledge for today's youth.

Though it is an important part of the movement, being Straight Edge goes beyond listening to hardcore music. It is the strong belief in a clean lifestyle that gives the movement its intensity and strength, not listening to a certain band or wearing a certain T-shirt. Someone can listen to Green Day and still be Straight Edge, as long as that person believes in and follows the core ideals of the lifestyle.

In recent years, many Straight Edgers have begun to fear the commercialization of the movement as threatening to rob them of their strength and credibility by drawing people more to fashion styles than to the basic premises of the lifestyle. Spreading the message of Straight Edge is certainly part of the movement, but the loss of respect for those claiming to be Straight Edge could hinder the practice of the lifestyle altogether.

There is no typical dress code or fashion trend for Straight Edgers, whose appearances are as varied as their beliefs and interests. Big baggy jeans, running shoes, and black T-shirts with Straight Edge slogans are common amongst followers of the movement. Short hair, tattoos, and piercings are often sported as well, as are necklaces and pins stating "Vegan" and "Straight Edge." Not all Straight Edgers look like punks or grunge rockers. Some Straight Edgers just stand out more than others do.

True Straight Edgers have mixed feelings about the movement's sudden rise in mainstream popularity. Trying to practice something that you do not really know anything about or fully understand and twisting its true meaning makes those truly involved feel violated and look hypocritical. A unique side of the Straight Edge movement is that, while its current members are intense and firm in their beliefs, there are great numbers of former Straight Edgers to attest to the movement's high turnover. Called "Sellouts" by remaining Straight Edgers, those who turn their backs against the Straight Edge lifestyle often have a different perspective on the movement.

Indiana University student Doug McClintock was Straight Edge for about a year and a half during his high school days. He adopted the lifestyle because the movement fit his already substance-free lifestyle and gave him an answer for the majority of his peers who drank and did drugs. He left Straight Edge behind because of changes within himself and changes he saw in the movement. "I realized the folly of trying to impose my beliefs on someone," McClintock says. "I think if you look at the movement as a whole and make a big generalization, you'll find that most who are straight edge disregard people who aren't." McClintock goes on to say, "As I got older and started becoming more objective, as people do, and I looked at myself, I decided that I was being very closed-minded." He felt that if he was of age and could be responsible, it should be his choice to drink, smoke, do drugs, and have sex with whomever he pleased.

Another catalyst for McClintock's rejection of Straight Edge was his chance meeting with the members of Earth Crisis in Connecticut. "They were constantly trying to live up to this image that they've created of Straight Edge and how hardline and how cool they are, and it really pissed me off, and that's when I think I first started getting disillusioned with the whole attitude of the Straight Edge scene," McClintock says. McClintock thinks Straight Edge today is absolutely and vastly different from the original beliefs and attitudes from the 1980s. "The original attitude was 'we're proud that we're this way,' and 'don't disrespect yourself by doing drugs and drinking alcohol.' But its become more of an elitist type thing now, they just want to be better than other people," says McClintock. "Straight Edge is great, as long as you're not intolerant. Anything is great as long as you're open-minded."

The reason some Straight Edgers leave the lifestyle is the interest in experimentation. As some put it, "curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back." People want to know what they're missing in life. Straight Edgers are often met with contempt by those who have chosen different lifestyles, giving Straight Edge a bad name overall, because many people take the militant attitude. Conflicts are so abundant with people wanting to confront Straight Edgers about what they believe.

There is an almost tangible difference between simply being substance-free and taking the name Straight Edge. That difference caused Indiana University student Gregg Holtsclaw to reject the label "Straight Edge," despite a completely substance-free lifestyle and heavy involvement in music. "I'm not really into anyone who has a certain set ideology or a martyr complex," Holtsclaw says. Holtsclaw works in record distribution and runs his own record label. The first release off the label, Ape Records, was a four-band compilation that featured Failsafe, a local Straight Edge band in Bloomington, Indiana.

Living substance free, Holtsclaw agrees with the basic Straight Edge philosophy. He thinks as a group, however, Straight Edge is too political, too unrealistic, and has too much inner dissension to ever be a truly coherent movement. In Holtsclaw's opinion, the Straight Edge movement involves rejecting our white patriarchal society. He sees the attempt at separation from societal norms as unrealistic. But despite the recent growth in popularity of Straight Edge, Holtsclaw does not see the Straight Edge movement becoming much larger or stronger. "They can't apply everything they think to the whole world," Holtsclaw says. "How can you change anything if all you do is preach to the converted?"

While Straight Edge may be a matter of opinion and debate, it can function as a starting point for personal growth. Indiana University professor Seth Stevens has been Straight Edge for six years. "I didn't know there was actually a term for kids that didn't do drugs," Stevens says. "I was already like that, and it kind of fit me." Stevens, also a vegan, became an activist for human and animal rights after becoming closely involved with Straight Edge. He is very active in the Animal Defense League. He says that Straight Edge can inspire kids and provide direction, but often the message gets lost, leaving just music. "I expect more from kids who are Straight Edge," Stevens says. Stevens mentions self-education and being aware of the issues as being very important. "It's a political stance on things. Too many people ignore human rights," he says. "They talk a lot, but don't really do anything." Stevens sees those who leave Straight Edge behind as disappointing, but says it is an individual issue. "I think it's completely realistic to be Straight Edge forever," says Stevens.

Straight Edge may have many different sides, but the basic belief in clean living serves to unify those genuinely involved in the movement. More importantly, it can be the first step toward a more proactive lifestyle. From that perspective, Stevens was not entirely negative about Straight Edge becoming a fad. "Straight Edge, by itself, isn't much," Stevens says, comparing it to a seed. "Maybe it will plant the seed in more people and grow and prosper from there," he says.