Reconcile and support the youth!

HERE is the UK Archbishop Rowan Williams’ New Year Speech on the British Youth: In reflecting on the events of the summer in UK 2011 — which showed us “a face of our society we don’t like to think about — angry, destructive, lawless”, Archbishop Rowan Williams urges us to recognise that this destruction was the work of a minority — and that most of the young people of their generation “strongly shared the general feeling of dismay at this behaviour”.

“When you see the gifts they can offer, the energy that can be released when they feel safe and loved, you see what a tragedy we so often allow to happen. Look at the work done by groups like the Children’s Society or by the astonishing network of Kids Company here in London, and you see what can be done to wake up that energy and let it flourish for everyone’s good.”

Finally, the Archbishop urges us to recognise how our own actions can make a real difference to society:

“... being grown-up doesn’t mean forgetting about the young. And a good New Year’s Resolution (2012) might be to think what you can do locally to support facilities for young people, to support opportunities for counselling and learning and enjoyment in a safe environment. And above all, perhaps we should just be asking how we make friends with our younger fellow citizens — for the sake of our happiness as well as theirs.”

Nelson Mandela of South Africa and The TRC — Truth and Reconciliation Commission — From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopaedia: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was a court-like restorative justice body assembled in South Africa after the abolition of apartheid. Witnesses who were identified as victims of gross human rights violations were invited to give statements about their experiences, and some were selected for public hearings. Perpetrators of violence could also give testimony and request amnesty from both civil and criminal prosecution.

The TRC led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Nobel Peace award) was set up in terms of the South African Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation. The mandate of the commission was to bear witness to, record and in some cases grant amnesty to the perpetrators of crimes relating to human rights violations, as well as reparation and rehabilitation

The TRC, the first of the 19 held internationally to stage public hearings, was seen by many as a crucial component of the transition to full and free democracy in South Africa. Despite some flaws, it is generally (although not universally) thought to have been successful

Our own youth in reflections: Though we did not escape from the aftermaths of the Arab Spring uprisings — Allah is Great — we in Oman were able to escape mainly and largely unscathed. We were able to pragmatically, dynamically and wisely sit to talk and solve our own problems, admittedly too with mainly some few elements of the youth that went overboard. Majority of our youth remain in the mainstream of being concerned with getting jobs and their perceived rights in peaceful and meaningful ways.

However, we still do need to change our outlook and perceptions to make our own decisions, chart our own course and path and do the ethical and professional things required of us for our own legacy, destiny and future. Our future history and generations will judge us by what we do now — or not do!

Bottomline everyone is responsible for one’s actions and actions.

We need to sit and talk with our youth. Any parent with teenage children, be they Omani or otherwise, will tell you almost the very same things of the difficulties, pains and complexities of dealing with the youth now. Seen as mainly rebellious and independent in their ways, traits and behaviour. We need to think outside the box, to see the bigger picture and be more appreciative, sympathetic and understanding per se!

Truthfully, we do need to wake up from this deep slumber some of us are still in now before it is too late for everyone!