The Coil: Youths and the burden of politics
By Vidya Kissoon
The young Catholic man plans to engage others in making the New Evangelization relevant to social justice in Guyana. He is conscious of the historical injustices of the Catholic Church against his people. “I don’t mind being expelled” he said with a smile. He knows the complexity of his people’s history and that he has to acknowledge it while moving forward. Sweet memories of when young and thinking that you could do anything.
A woman of my generation sighed when she saw the launch of a youngish people NGO Blue Caps – ‘Over to the youth’ she said. I then realised thought, what the hell, over to what youth? And then realised that oh shoots, we were supposed to be the future a decade or so ago, time went by and then next thing we already passing on responsibility to young people and expecting them to do better than we did.
There is heavy demand on young voters this elections season. From deep analysis like this from GHK Lall to the admonitions by not so young Cheddi (Joey) Jagan Jr , young people are being instructed and cajoled.
When people talk young, there is a diversity in the ages which they mean. The UN uses 15 to 24 without prejudice to local definitions, some persons talk about 18 to 35 , others say 10 to 29, and the political parties have not confirmed the ages yet though one display from the PPP seems to indicate that their youth age is 18 to some arbitrary number (old time communists apparently used to say 18 to 40).
There are apparently demands on the youth to forget. The old heads are quarrelling – Ms Rhyaan Shah, Mr Jerome Khan , Mr Barrington Braithwaite . The focus of their quarrel is a letter written by a young first time voter, Saieed I Khalil in which he talks about his past and his future. Well I think that is what it was about anyway, because the language seemed to be inspired by Dr Luncheon and I realised on Facebook that it resonated with a lot of older smart people (is he really 21 many asked?) and one or two young smart people and was not too much discussed by the young people on my Facebook who get active on many other notes shared by many other writers.
But maybe he did not write for young people to read.
Sara Bharrat’s piece resonated with a lot of old people and young people as well.
Young Terrence Isaacs cusses up the #iamapolitical young people who seem not to be encouraged by the politics. I wonder if he confused being apolitical with being apathetic. One of the most frightening things about this youth voting thing is that there is silence on what other things young people can do. I mean, what if young people who not voting and who voting have to have a study-in – air-condition, no mosquitoes, no blackout – at that legacy of the youthful Bharrat Jagdeo – the Marriott?
Other bright young people are engaged in politics. One young smart young woman I admire has joined forces again with the PPP. She had told me that she is objective and she speaks out when she sees wrong doing. I have unfollowed her on Facebook until after the elections. It is painful to watch how the brainwashing works. I wondered if her posts were meant to be sarcastic but it seems she is serious. The other young people on my Facebook who I’m still following and who are supporting the PPP are not bothering with any political discussions or party lines. They will vote as they intend, not post anything on Facebook and get on with their lives.
I keep following the other young handsome black man in the business suit but also feel saddened because since he walk out with that black business suit to City Hall his Facebook wall is now only things which I myself could cut and paste from Party things and quotation websites – is like some robot has taken over. Unlike the bright young woman who crafts her own propaganda messages which were in her own beautiful writing style and which makes them even more terrifying. He is on the list but she is not.
Kudos to Blue Caps for writing a manifesto. The launch of the manifesto has been written about but at the time of writing this column, an electronic copy is not available on their website and an enquiry on their Facebook has gone unanswered. I am sure the manifesto would be available electronically before the party manifestos come out.
The reports from the well attended Women and Youth issues forum with APNU+AFC were focussed on the comments about the University of Guyana, tax reform, special police units to respond to domestic violence and separating gay partners when they are posted in the Army.
There might have been other key issues for youth in the forum which the reporters did not think it worthwhile to report.
Other youths might be working on other issues. The youths who will not make it to University or who have no interest in a University education might have their expectations of the parties. The parties’ youth platforms seem to push the ‘young professionals’. What about those other young people who not interested in University?
The young Catholic man, Sara Bharrat, Saieed Khalil represent what I remember about being young – challenge the status quo. I remember also aspiring to some parts of the status quo which appealed. There are others who have followed the arc to preserving the status quo with different language. Some are interested in transformation, some want a piece of the same pie which is out of their reach.
Never mind about young people being the future of Guyana, young people are very much part of the present. And no one should be expecting any more or less of young people than they ever expected of themselves.
The young Catholic man plans to engage others in making the New Evangelization relevant to social justice in Guyana. He is conscious of the historical injustices of the Catholic Church against his people. “I don’t mind being expelled” he said with a smile. He knows the complexity of his people’s history and that he has to acknowledge it while moving forward. Sweet memories of when young and thinking that you could do anything.
A woman of my generation sighed when she saw the launch of a youngish people NGO Blue Caps – ‘Over to the youth’ she said. I then realised thought, what the hell, over to what youth? And then realised that oh shoots, we were supposed to be the future a decade or so ago, time went by and then next thing we already passing on responsibility to young people and expecting them to do better than we did.
There is heavy demand on young voters this elections season. From deep analysis like this from GHK Lall to the admonitions by not so young Cheddi (Joey) Jagan Jr , young people are being instructed and cajoled.
When people talk young, there is a diversity in the ages which they mean. The UN uses 15 to 24 without prejudice to local definitions, some persons talk about 18 to 35 , others say 10 to 29, and the political parties have not confirmed the ages yet though one display from the PPP seems to indicate that their youth age is 18 to some arbitrary number (old time communists apparently used to say 18 to 40).
There are apparently demands on the youth to forget. The old heads are quarrelling – Ms Rhyaan Shah, Mr Jerome Khan , Mr Barrington Braithwaite . The focus of their quarrel is a letter written by a young first time voter, Saieed I Khalil in which he talks about his past and his future. Well I think that is what it was about anyway, because the language seemed to be inspired by Dr Luncheon and I realised on Facebook that it resonated with a lot of older smart people (is he really 21 many asked?) and one or two young smart people and was not too much discussed by the young people on my Facebook who get active on many other notes shared by many other writers.
But maybe he did not write for young people to read.
Sara Bharrat’s piece resonated with a lot of old people and young people as well.
Young Terrence Isaacs cusses up the #iamapolitical young people who seem not to be encouraged by the politics. I wonder if he confused being apolitical with being apathetic. One of the most frightening things about this youth voting thing is that there is silence on what other things young people can do. I mean, what if young people who not voting and who voting have to have a study-in – air-condition, no mosquitoes, no blackout – at that legacy of the youthful Bharrat Jagdeo – the Marriott?
Other bright young people are engaged in politics. One young smart young woman I admire has joined forces again with the PPP. She had told me that she is objective and she speaks out when she sees wrong doing. I have unfollowed her on Facebook until after the elections. It is painful to watch how the brainwashing works. I wondered if her posts were meant to be sarcastic but it seems she is serious. The other young people on my Facebook who I’m still following and who are supporting the PPP are not bothering with any political discussions or party lines. They will vote as they intend, not post anything on Facebook and get on with their lives.
I keep following the other young handsome black man in the business suit but also feel saddened because since he walk out with that black business suit to City Hall his Facebook wall is now only things which I myself could cut and paste from Party things and quotation websites – is like some robot has taken over. Unlike the bright young woman who crafts her own propaganda messages which were in her own beautiful writing style and which makes them even more terrifying. He is on the list but she is not.
Kudos to Blue Caps for writing a manifesto. The launch of the manifesto has been written about but at the time of writing this column, an electronic copy is not available on their website and an enquiry on their Facebook has gone unanswered. I am sure the manifesto would be available electronically before the party manifestos come out.
The reports from the well attended Women and Youth issues forum with APNU+AFC were focussed on the comments about the University of Guyana, tax reform, special police units to respond to domestic violence and separating gay partners when they are posted in the Army.
There might have been other key issues for youth in the forum which the reporters did not think it worthwhile to report.
Other youths might be working on other issues. The youths who will not make it to University or who have no interest in a University education might have their expectations of the parties. The parties’ youth platforms seem to push the ‘young professionals’. What about those other young people who not interested in University?
The young Catholic man, Sara Bharrat, Saieed Khalil represent what I remember about being young – challenge the status quo. I remember also aspiring to some parts of the status quo which appealed. There are others who have followed the arc to preserving the status quo with different language. Some are interested in transformation, some want a piece of the same pie which is out of their reach.
Never mind about young people being the future of Guyana, young people are very much part of the present. And no one should be expecting any more or less of young people than they ever expected of themselves.
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