“We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled but as candles to be lit.”

During the general election campaign Jared Newbery, a member of Independent Socialists in Wellingborough and a pupil at Wrenn School made the following speech at our public meeting. I thought it worth reproduction so that a wider audiance could read it.

Paul

“History does nothing; it does not possess immense riches, it does not fight battles. It is people, real, living, who do all this. It is not history which uses men as a means of achieving its own ends. History is nothing but the activity of men in pursuit of their ends.” (Karl Marx).

A combination of taught history, hearsay and exposure to the media, has taken the youth of this country, and fed them with solely capitalist ideas.

I was always told that the ideas of Socialism, and Communism were wrong. American Cartoons told me this. The television and the news told me this. School and word of mouth taught me this.

I grew up, like so many others, in arrogance, taking at face value that socialism was wrong, it was impractical, and was the cause of death and destruction during the Second World War and the Cold War.

Only now do I realise my blindness, only now do I see that socialism has, at its heart, the interests of the people, of the working class, of all mankind.

Oscar Wilde said “Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes”

As a product of our school system, I have had drilled into me the importance of equality, diversity and respect. I, and many other young people, took this peaceful message to heart. This is the foundation of a socialist ideal.

There is another problem with the young people of today, they are apathetic, they couldn’t care less about politics, their community, or anyone but themselves. They care about possessions, self image.

This is a direct result of the current, and historic, capitalist ideal, every man for himself, without a single thought for the welfare of others.

Is this an ideal we want the youth of this nation to possess?

This is the root of antisocial behaviour, a disregard for society, because society as it is supports selfishness.

“Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can not eat money.”

“We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled but as candles to be lit.” 

It has to change; the youth need to be given the facts, straight, and allowed to voice their opinions. They should be given a meaningful role within the community, instead of possessing the barren land between childhood and adulthood.

Give then the chance and the youth can be moral, they can be good, they can see that equality and respect can create a better, friendlier, more wholesome society.

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

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