Summary

Summary

In “Half-Criminals” or Urban Athletes? A Plea for Fair Treatment of Skateboarders” David Langley, who is a student saying that the campus of California at San Diego is a cement paradise for skateboarders. One day he was skateboarding there with his friends, and police officer stopped them and treated David like a criminal. Landley says, “Like other skateboarders throughout cities, we have been bombarded with unfair treatment” (141). He realizes that skateboarders don’t have enough legitimate space to practice their sport. He disagrees with adults, who think of skateboarders as criminal types and skateboards with antisocial behavior. David Landley makes statement, “Skateboarders are as natural to cement as surfboard are to water or skis to snow. Moreover the resulting sport is as healthful, graceful, and athletic.” (141). Author makes a point that laws regulating the skateboarding are unfair to skateboarders. The only fair cities tried to do for skateboarders is a build a skateboard parks. Then he complains about those parks, which were designed by nonskaters being unpleasant and dangerous to skate there. David agrees with some adults, who say that skating lives marks and chip cement, and proves that skateboarders help the environment by not littering so they can avoid the painful accidents. He states that skateboarders keeping air clean unlike boat drivers and car drivers.

Landley suggests to cities to treat skateboarders fairly, by allowing them to skate on the sidewalks safely. Also build more skate parks designed by skateboarders so that they are safe to ride. David Landley wants skateboarders to be treated as urban citizens and admired as athletes. He says, “We are a clean population, and we are executing a challenging and graceful sport” (143).

McNutt 3

Works Cited

Langley, David. ""Half Criminals” or Urban Athletes? A Plea for Fair Treatment of Skateboarder" Writing Arguments A Rhetoric With Readings. 8th ed. Longman, 2007. 141-43.