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Youth Ambassador Think Tank: Participation and the “Generation Gap”

30 Jun 2008 in

MEYI is launching the Youth Ambassador Think Tank: a forum to encourage active discussion on topics of timely relevance to Middle Eastern youth. Our first topic deals with concepts of participation and the "generation gap."

The Think Tank shares brief perspectives from MEYI's Youth Ambassadors on a current issue or topic relevant to MEYI's research. The primary goal is to stimulate an exchange of ideas between youth in the region and the wider public, and for emerging research concepts to be defined and evaluated by youth – the very population whose lives this research hopes to impact. Youth Ambassadors will provide initial responses to the topic, which will rotate on a regular basis.

We encourage you to submit your comments through the "Write to the Editor" form below.

 

 

Think Tank Discussion #1: Participation and the “Generation Gap”

To participate in one’s community is to attempt to address issues of collective concern and to influence outcomes for those other than yourself. Individuals are faced with a variety of avenues for participation, including: community service, training and education, mentorship, advocacy, voting, petitioning, council membership, volunteering, online activism, etc. As a young person in the Middle East, what form of participation do you think is the most effective way to influence outcomes in your community? Do your values or opinions on how you participate differ widely from those of your parents and older generations in your community? Feel free to provide anecdotes from your own experiences.

 

 

 

ABDULLAH AL-THAWR (Sana’a, Yemen):
 

Below, I share with you my experience on April 24, 2008, after attending an official national meeting of the “Children’s Parliament,” an initiative of the Democracy School to create awareness and knowledge among children on the practices of democracy and to enable children to practice these processes themselves.

“Democracy, Huh!” shouted the old man with glaring eyes. He was sitting in a public café when he heard me chatting with a friend about the Children’s Parliament project, administered by the Democracy School. The old man added, “You are misleading the children and youth to achieve what the adults couldn’t achieve.” These words didn’t come as a surprise. He continued: “Democracy is just a lie, politician’s useless talk, and all I can see is when I vote people tell me that I participated in the democratic process, but in the end we stay the same and Yemen remains poor.”

I replied, “My dear father, democracy is not just a box with a hole on top of it. It is a system in which we can shape the decisions that affect our lives. It allows citizens to participate in decision making in order to improve the country.” I continued explaining to him the meaning of citizen participation and the available channels for participation other than elections, such as meeting with the local councils and parliament representatives, lobbying, and advocacy. I told him that Yemen is still poor because of the many obstacles and problems we are facing, including weaknesses in the educational system which don’t allow citizens to become aware on how to participate. He listened to me and, after a few moments of silence, he suddenly said: “Are you crazy young man? Do I look like someone capable of participating and meeting with those people you talk about? Why don’t you say this to those people in the government instead of children? And your children’s parliament, what is it that those kids do? Who are they?”
 
“My dear father, first of all, it is your right and responsibility to participate, and it is also the responsibility of those people in the government to make it possible for you and everyone else to participate. It is also my job and the job of others in this field to help people like you to participate. As for the Children’s Parliament, imagine that you are building a new house using cement, so how would you use the cement?”
 
“I would mix it with small stones, sand, water and use it before it dries”, he said easily.
 
“Well then it is the same, imagine these children and youth are the cement, so we mix them with right knowledge and experience before they dry and grow up, because it is them who will build our country. One of the important tasks of the Children’s Parliament in their national meetings is to invite senior officials and even ministers from the government to be questioned by the children themselves regarding the extent to which the government has acted on their promises to improve the lives of children in areas such as education, children’s rights, freedom from imprisonment, and limiting child trafficking. So do you think that this is one form of democracy? Would you vote for these people in the future because they have had experiences, values and principles they have practice since childhood?”

He said to me, “You are right, son. That is democracy. I believe I will vote for them in the future when they grow up. That depends if I am still alive, of course,” he added jokingly.

Read More: Abdullah's Point of View

 

 

 

JOULAN ABDULKHALEK (Beirut, Lebanon):

The generation gap is becoming an increasingly serious issue today in the Middle East. The strong current of globalization and the new trends it brings to the region are sweeping new generations quickly and forcefully into a lifestyle governed by a different set of values. To be specific, a crucial aspect in this new set of values is the notion of liberalism. This is not the political liberalism for which, or with which, some wars in the region have been waged. Instead, by liberalism we mean something that is more basic and rooted. It is related to the change in matters ranging from lifestyle, way of thought, dress code and food to political association, social interaction and the structure of the economy. The advancement of technology and increased global integration is forcing Middle Eastern societies into an era of rapid change, and is driving increased participation among the youth.

Some might argue that this liberal outbreak is not being manufactured at home but rather imported from abroad. They are right in thinking so, but we are sometimes forced to accept the status quo as reality and work from there toward improvement.

 

Now what about youth participation and the exponentially increasing “generation gap?” With this increased trend toward liberalism in the region, participation has become more common among younger members of society. And, as previously discussed, this trend is sweeping the youth far away from the older generations, thus we find parents and grandparents unable to adapt to this new idea of civic awareness and participation.

 
With a youth being pulled towards participation and the older groups being pulled away from it, does the very fabric of society crumble? The answer is yes. This is one reason why the region remains in a static state of languor: because the generations of yesterday hamper the progress of the children of today! We are tugging the rope of development in opposite directions.
 

Some would argue that liberalism is the gateway towards a more enlightened future because it enforces civic participation – that is an optimistic view.  To be realistic, rather, we can say that at least this liberalism is a one way ticket toward definite change, be it good or bad. Given the option between change or no change at all, I would choose change even though it introduces the risk of becoming worse off than before. Ultimately, no change can be proposed for the region as long as there is such a large gap between generations. Much effort must be made to fill this gap so that the dreams and aspirations of the younger are not drowned by the uncomplimentary nature of the older.

Read More: Joulan's Point of View

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments on Youth Ambassador Think Tank: Participation and the “Generation Gap”

From Samar on 23 June 2008, 17:45

I like your post dear.. It made me smile at the end!! :)

I have to agree with you that usually old people in our countries do not believe in such initiatives. I would say this happens probably because they are fed up. However, it is so inspiring when young people give them more energy to believe in such cases again and fight for them more.

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