CONTRADICTING VOICES HOPING FOR ONE DREAM

Mary Jane M. Manuel

“Father, Mother, listen to your children! Do not put them down! Believe in them! Keep their hopes burning!”

Most of the citizens blame Today’s Youth for the mess of the nation. They also perceive that the young generation is worse than the older one and it will be even worse for the future generation. Some with pessimistic mindsets drag them down instead of lifting them up. They also call the youths as 'trash', 'mess', 'ignorant' and some other bad tags.

Little did they know, youths bring the light of hope for the country. They even have the power to change the current and future social circles of the world. Though they are deemed as the nation’s hope, it is undeniable that they still face a lot of problems; some of these make them blind and deaf. Some of them stand and fight for what is right. Although some are in the cage of despair and even some choose to close their mouths, most of them still shout for justice and fairness. While some are asleep because of ignorance, some youths are brave enough to risk their lives.

How does the torch blaze when there is no fire? How can the youths boost their morale when the older generation do not give them hope? W hile parents keep telling their children to study hard, get high-salary jobs and live their lives with full of money in their pockets, more often than not, they fail to tell them to help the community. They neglect to remind them that the nation is counting on them for a better system. Hear their tone and crescendo shouting and asking for your help.

However, as Today’s Youth resounds their clamor of hope, the older generation may respond, “Children, do not merely speak of your troubles alone. Listen! For it is in listening that you learn!”

There is an ultimate task for adults to do and that is to guide the younger ones to walk through the road of betterment and innovation. Though the youths have their own concerns, the older generation also have voices wanted to be heard, telling younger generation not to rush and consider their advices. The older generation is trying their best to call those bringers of hope to wake up, put a vision on those blind eyes and exonerate the prisoners of despair. The older ones listen to their voices, but do the younger ones do the same, too? The adults are not the enemy of the youth. Instead, they are their accomplices to reach the better future.

The author is Teacher

--o0o-

II at Iba National High School.