The YOUTH IS THE CONSCIENCE OF THE
MASSES-IBRAHIM ANWAR.
INTRODUCTION
The
above quotation by this astute Malaysian politician with unimpeachable moral
character got me thinking when I first read it.
My
conscience begun to prick me. In fact I was amazed by this short but
thought-provoking statement by this statesman.
But
reading of his exemplary show of courage and integrity while as a Deputy Prime Minister
put to rest my uncertain about what could prompt him to impose such an onerous responsibility
on the youth.
I
don’t intend to narrate the ordeal that the man I celebrate today faced as a frisky
young and intelligent man at the helms of affairs. The mudslinging and politics
of calumny that characterized his ousting from governments is not the purpose
of this piece.
My
intention is to peruse his quote within the ambit of the realities of the
Ghanaian youth while I assess whether we the young ones today can live by the
bill this statement imports.
I
am normally not judgmental on issues. In most of my articles, I have tried so
hard to restrain myself from placing value judgment on the topics that I choose
to interrogate. In this occasion, however, I have so much difficulty in putting
on my seemingly modest and charitable cap.
Particularly,
because I am a young man, I think I am morally bound to state my views on
issues that matter to my generation without mincing words or being apologetic.
It
is to this extent that I shudder to state that our youth today may not be able
to stand up to the test of conscience and responsibility Anwah’s statement
demands.
WHY?
The
answer is self-evident. Evidence abounds in our attitude and disposition
towards issues of national and developmental concerns. Some of us are
absolutely indifferent towards pressing national issues that are core to the
development we all envisage. We barely read, monitor issues or even question
the rationale behind certain decisions that are made by our leaders. For the
few who get involve, they are in most cases motivated by selfish and
self-serving interests.
In
many instances, we are rendered as mere stooges doing the biddings of our political
pay masters without due regard to the tenets of decency and integrity.
Worse
of it is our inclination to hide behind religion and make God assume a
responsibility that he has already given us what it takes to discharge. Are we
more religious than Jesus Christ who on many occasions questioned the
corruption and dishonesty that prevailed in his time? Can we compare our religiosity
to that of Martin Luther King, who in a legendary function, rose against the clutches
of racism and undue injustice?
Can we compare our level of restrain to that of
Mahatma Ghandi, who will starve himself to death until a wave of independence
is achieved? Are we more modest like Anwah Ibrahim of Malaysia who will resign
and face the harassment thereof rather than to condone wanton corruption and
disrespect for human rights?
Where do we stand when subjected to strictest
religious probe? Do we think God is happy with the kind of social ,political
and economic justice that we allow to fester?
Who
inspires us? Who do we look up to as young people? Is this some of the jokers
we call celebrities? Nowhere are comedians celebrated as we do in Ghana.
When
we have the chance to do National service, it becomes a picture snapping expedition
periods of our life. The tendency is to flood social media with pictures. Only
few questions the status quo in their offices. Only few write about the ills in
society. We don’t create a vacuum where we can fit into, except for the self-inflicted
deception of occupying spaces that is but ephemeral.
In
schools how do we stand out? What remarkable action of change to do we express
by the way we do our Politics and lead our colleagues? Are we able to
sacrifice, are we able to be frugal financially? Don’t we equally abuse the student
leadership positions we hanker to occupy? Do we sacrifice our time to support
others or we dabble in needless competitions about who emerges the overall best
in Class? If this is what education is all about then I regret it.
Did
we keep friends or we only roped in people who could only support us, only to
dump them on completion. Can our friends vouch for a job for us when there is vacancy
at where they are? How honest did we deal with ourselves?
We
have become vulnerable. We choose to remain in our shelves with all the coyness
we can muster. Anyone who questions and speak out is either arrogant or curt. This
is a culture that has kept us in darkness and we are also contributing in
perpetuating it.
The
leaders we complain about are the same people we harass with flagitious
demands. How do they respond to the challenges we are beset with?
To
be successful, I have come to realize that one need to be both hungry and angry
for it. We questions nothing, we fumes at nothing. We only make fun of critical
issues of developmental impact and we end up bearing the brunt for our
nonchalance.
Whoever
knows Sarkodie should doff his hat out to him on my behalf. I realize he is
young, intelligent and most important a ‘’questioner’.
We
must realize our responsibility to ourselves, society and the nation at large.
We have to eschew mediocrity and act as the conscience of the society.
Samuel
Osarfo Boateng
PR/Communications/Research
0541842198/0270644157
No comments:
Post a Comment