Quick Guide & Transcript: Surgeon General targets underage drinking, Comic book hero dies

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(CNN Student News) -- March 8, 2007

Quick Guide

Drinking Dangers - Hear the Surgeon General's report on the dangers of underage drinking.

From the Battlefield to the Playing Field - Meet a wounded Marine who's signed up to play ball in the minor leagues.

Death of a Hero - Find out Captain America's fate as the page is turned on a comic book icon.

Transcript

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

MONICA LLOYD, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Glad to have you along for CNN Student News! From the CNN Headquarters, I'm Monica Lloyd. It's easy to get, and easy to get in trouble with. And the U.S. Surgeon General says it's time to change our attitudes about underage drinking. It's a dream of millions of Americans -- to play pro baseball. And one Marine's not letting his war wounds, stand in the way. And it's the end of an era, at least for the moment. A classic comic character's killing becomes a modern "marvel."

First Up: Drinking Dangers

LLOYD: The nation's top doctor is stepping up efforts to put a lid on underage drinking. The U.S. Surgeon Genera l-- who serves as the country's spokesman on health -- says alcohol is many teenagers' drug of choice. But he's not calling for a new law; he's calling for a change in attitude. A 2005 national survey estimated that there were 11 million underage drinkers in America. Christine Romans explores what the government wants to do about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN REPORTER: The Surgeon General catalogued a list of dangerous consequences of underage drinking:

DR KENNETH MORITSUGU, ACTING US SURGEON GENERAL: Academic failure, risky sexual behavior, injuries and even death.

ROMANS: Each year some 5,000 deaths are linked to underage drinking.

MORITSUGU: Think of that entire college campuses wiped clean of the entire student body every year.

ROMANS: His exhaustive report on the problem finds quote: Underage drinking is deeply embedded in the American culture, is often viewed as a rite of passage, is frequently facilitated by adults and has proved stubbornly resistant to change. He says it is simply unacceptable that 20% of 14 year olds say they have been drunk at least once.

MORITSUGU: This needs to stop.

ROMANS: He faults society. Too often, parents are inclined to believe, 'not my child.' Pediatric health care providers underestimate alcohol use and abuse among their patients. Colleges and universities need to to take a good hard look at whether they 'encourage, support or facilitate underage alcohol use.'

As for the industry: make certain that 'billions of dollars spent on industry advertising and responsibility campaigns does not portray alcohol' as an essential element in achieving popularity, social success or a fulfilling life.

MICHELLE RIDGE, FORMER PENNSYLVANIA FIRST LADY: For too long, underage drinking has been fueled by denial, inaction, and acceptance that changes today.

ROMANS: Law enforcement needs to publicize and enforce anti-underage drinking laws. The acting Surgeon General says underage alcohol abuse needs prompt attention...It is everyone's problem, every segment of society is at fault. Christine Romans, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Fast Facts: Drinking Dangers

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Time for some Fast Facts. Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it can slow down your body's ability to function. It's classified as the most frequently abused substance by young adults...with possible side effects of impaired thinking, coordination, and over time, liver damage. Dependence on alcohol is considered a disease, and the risk for developing it can be passed down through a family. And don't confuse alcoholism with alcohol abuse: You don't need to be addicted to alcohol to drink too much or suffer the consequences.

Afghan Offensive

LLOYD: There's a battle raging in Afghanistan. That country's former rulers, the Taliban, are trying to fight a new offensive by NATO -- An international coalition that includes U.S. troops. The NATO offensive is called "Operation Achilles" and its goal is to bring security to lawless regions of Afghanistan. Yesterday, NATO announced progress with the capture of a top Taliban commander who was trying to cross a checkpoint disguised in women's religious clothing.

From the Battlefield to the Playing Field

LLOYD: From the field of war, to the field of dreams. A U.S. Marine who was permanently injured in Iraq, is about to begin a new challenge -- as a minor league baseball player. Cooper Brannan says he feels a little guilty playing, while many of his friends are abroad fighting. But Kathryn Garcia of affiliate KNXV shows us the opportunity, he couldn't pass up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER BRANNAN: Well, the middle part of the pinky - the little finger- were blown off and had to be amputated to the bottom of the bone. The thumb sewn back on - you can see the scars. And also the ring finger was sewn back on.

KATHRYN GARCIA, KNXV-TV: His pinky gone...blown away after a grenade exploded.

BRANNAN: It just malfunctioned. It went off in my hand.

GARCIA: Cooper Brannan is lucky to be alive. And it turns out, luck is still on his side....because this Marine is now a minor league baseball player under contract with the San Diego Padres.

BRANNAN: It's been a dream of mine that I've been wanting to fulfill since I was a little kid.

SANDY ALDERSON, SAN DIEGO PADRES: Cooper happens to have a good right strong pitching arm.

GARCIA: And Brannon says being one finger short hasn't been an issue.

BRANNAN: I just put my ring finger in the pinky finger slot and just adjust the other two fingers over ... and where the pointer finger would be, is empty. And I can squeeze the glove pretty good.

GARCIA: The Padres think so too...with an array of pitches and a 93-mile per hour fastball. But Brannan's still a soldier first

ALDERSON: Oh, he's still got a couple of months left, So, you know hopefully he keep that military haircut.

GARCIA: And after that, this war hero will give up the combat zone to focus more on the strike zone. Reporting from Peoria, Kathryn Garcia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Spoken Word

TIGER WOODS, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: We would love to come here, to our nation's capital, with my father's history of being in the military and serving in special forces, to come here during the nation's birthday and -- something that I want to make clear to everyone here, is that during the tournament anyone who is in active duty will get free admission to our tournament. That's something that I think is very important, they've put their lives on the line so that we're able to enjoy the lives we have today.

LOWER THIRD: Woods will host a golf tourney in D.C. in July

Shoutout

AZUZ: Time for the Shoutout! Who is Captain America's secret identity? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it: A) Steve Rogers, B) Reed Richards, C) Tony Stark or D) Peter Parker? You've got three seconds--GO! Steve Rogers is Captain America's secret identity. Reed Richards is Mr. Fantastic; Tony Stark is Ironman; Peter Parker is Spider-Man. That's your answer and that's your super-Shoutout!

Death of a Hero

LLOYD: One thing those people have in common, besides really cool powers: They're all "Marvel" comic book characters. And some real-life readers are marveling at the company's decision to kill Captain America. After nearly 70 years of his heroism. But fiction has many powers over fact. And Ali Velshi explains how Captain America's death doesn't necessarily mean the end of the character.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALI VELSHI, CNN REPORTER: In the comic, Captain America: war hero, secret agent - the man behind the mask, is to stand trial. His crime? Defying a new law calling for those with super powers to register with the U.S. government. A law that came into being after a superhero's tragic mistake causes a fictional 9/11.

DAN BUCKLEY PRESIDENT, MARVEL COMICS: 9/11, every child knew about it. If you could see a TV, he knew what 9/11 was. It's just part of storytelling - every popular fiction storytelling thing does reflect these things.

VELSHI: The storyline was intentionally written as an allegory to current issues like the Patriot Act and the War on Terror. Captain America - or Steve Rogers - eventually surrenders to police. But he's mortally wounded as he climbs the courthouse steps - a violent and strange end for an American icon. Captain America first appeared in 1941, as America entered World War II. He was a symbol of American strength and resolve in fighting first the Axis powers, and later communism. So, if the current storyline is an allegory for the post 9/11 social and political situation, what does the death of Captain America represent?

JOE QUESEDA, EDITOR IN CHIEF MARVEL COMICS: There is a lot to be read in there. But I'm not one who is going to tell people, this is what you should read into it, because I could look into it and read several different types of messages.

VELSHI: One clear message: Captain America is dead. Or is he?

QUESEDA: There was period in comics where characters would just die and then be resurrected. And the death had very little meaning and the resurrection had very little meaning. So, when I took over the helm, there were certain characters that were dead and had meaningful deaths. And all I ask of my writers is first of all, if you are going to kill a character, please let that death have some meaning. What happens with Cap? More importantly, what happens with the costume? And what happens to the characters who were friends and enemies of Cap? You're going to have to read the books to find out.

VELSHI: Ali Velshi CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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Before We Go

LLOYD: Before we go, every class has a clown. But ever wonder what he'll do, when he grows up? Here's one possibility. Bicycles are a passion for one German eccentric. His latest creation -- well, you can pretty much figure it out. It took him more than four months to build, and it's not exactly what you'd call high-performance. But imagine the looks he got when he parked it in front of-- you guessed it --a fish restaurant.

Goodbye

LLOYD: And that's our catch of the day! For CNN Student News, I'm Monica Lloyd. Dive in to more headline news, after the break.

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