Youths and the past, present and future [Archives:2007/1109/Community]
By: Maged Thabet Al-Kholidy
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In many developed countries, youths are paid much attention because they the pillars of the present and future prosperity. While Yemen also considers them as such, what youth actually receive indicates something opposite, mostly reflecting their role as good listeners of speeches, promises, advice and sometimes, the courtesy of high-ranking personnel and authorities.
Good education, good health, suitable job opportunities, good living standards, etc., are the basics to be offered to youths. However, comparing these things with those offered to youths in Yemen, neither all nor even some of them are basic demands. Rather, they are the utmost wishes and unreachable ambitions of Yemeni youths.
I don't deny that the authorities offer youths nothing because they do – especially at festivals. They offer them courtesy speeches, lifelong promises and above all, interesting stories from the past. Of course, all of these improve youths' listening skills, which is the only quality they have to build only a good present and future.
Compared to Yemen, youths in other countries are offered facilities in which to study, work and create. Consequently, they study not just for diplomas and work not only to earn money and create not only for reward. Rather, they do all of these things to offer something to their society and their country as a whole.
In contrast, the only facility Yemeni youths receive is a hall with good acoustics and microphones, speakers and amplifiers. Such a hall helps them, their elders and even the deaf hear the speeches delivered by high-ranking personnel at festivals and on national holidays.
They really do hear and understand well at the same time. The purpose of such speeches is to direct youths to become more productive and creative in society. This really is a significant aim and we hear about it daily in the media.
If any youth from any other countries were invited to hear such speeches, they'd be interested immediately.
Such guests would hear these speeches well, doing their best to understand them as well. Daily, they may request attending such speeches anywhere, even if the acoustics aren't well-prepared. If we drew closer to such individuals to discover their interest in such speeches, they'd reply, “They narrate a nice story.”
Respecting their desires, they may have many chances to attend festivals, at which such speeches usually are delivered. By the time they leave, those who are curious may ask their impressions of Yemen, particularly the speeches that interested them and which they specifically asked to attend.
Such guests may or may not have a good impression of Yemen, but we don't care about that! What we care about are their impressions of the speeches by such high-ranking personnel. Of course, we know why they liked them in the beginning, because, as they said, “They're like a story.” However, after hearing more and more speeches, their reactions may surprise us when they observe, “They repeat the same story!”
If we discuss the details with them further, we'll realize that most speeches have the same content, which is narrating the past and the achievements of some individuals. I really wonder what would be the harm if such high-ranking personnel didn't narrate such stories of achievement repeatedly. Would Yemenis and history itself forget them or attribute their acts to others?
While it's ok to remind citizens of past achievements, this could be done once a year or even every two to three years.
If this happened with the older generations, there would be no objection because such people praise their lifetime achievements, considering this a matter of good memories. However, youths should concern themselves more with the present and the future so that they may be able to praise their achievements when they become the elders in the future.
Stories from the past can be used as models for a better present and a better future, but Yemeni youths must be offered more than to think about building a similar glory to those of the past.
This advice isn't meant for the authorities to change their policy, but rather to exhort Yemeni youths not to be paralyzed, doing nothing in their lives. They should abandon the old routine of listening to past stories and request new, practical solutions and advice in order to become aware of their roles as pillars in their society.
Only by doing this will Yemeni youths take their future seriously, considering it through their mind's eye.
Majed Thabet Al-kholidy is a writer from Taiz, currently doing his M.A. at English Dep, Taiz Uni. He is an ex-editor of English Journal of the University.
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