Let's Join The Power to Change - Youth Power

I like the motto of YOUTH POWER – Leadership, Philanthropy, Volunteerism, which “gives young people the opportunity to voice their opinions and make important decisions on issues that affect them. The program helps youth discover and understand the greatest needs in the community and allows them to decide how to respond”.

p.s. Based on my Latin Online Dictionary, age of youth or “Juventus” is between 20 to 40 years old, so I am still a YOUTH J because some defined youths as those between 16 to 24 years old.

I thought I want to attend “New America, One Malaysia” Forum organised by Asia Society 2 Wednesdays ago but I couldn’t find one who could ‘stomach’ Yang Berkhidmat KJ, who was one of the panel speakers.

While I read Yang Berkhidmat Tony Pua’s humble write up on the said forum, I found Andrew’s feedback as very exhilaratingly interesting, as produced here verbatim: -

***********************************************************
Thursday, June 04, 2009

New America, One Malaysia

So I went to the Asia 21 "New America, One Malaysia" Forum at the JW Marriot.

I'm gonna go on record to say that Khairy Jamaluddin and Tony Pua should appear together at more conferences, because their charismatic and brilliant combination is lethally hilarious.

The tension, the energy, the chemistry, the electricity!

The jokes, the wisecracks, the scathing one-liners. Mmm mmm yummmy.

Khairy: "And on this panel we have a US hegemon (Jamie Metzl), an UMNO hegemon (himself), a Chinese opposition member (Tony), an Indian businessman (Premesh Chandran), and a dan lain-lain reporter (Jacqueline Ann Surin)!"

And they were great, I think, mainly because they were mutually forced to step up their game; all debaters know that you do your best when you have to, when victory is not assured, when your rival is damn good.

This was but the second time they've appeared together -- the first of which was at the Malaysian Student Leaders' Summit II, which was the highlight of the entire conference.

So good, so good.

And again, one cannot help but revisit Shanon Shah's write up on MSLS II, which also perfectly describes the situation yesterday.

1. "I think today I just witnessed an incredible snapshot of what a real Malaysian democracy would look like".

2. "It was amazing how civil and - Heaven forbid - fun the discussion was. And it was amazing how the crowd - consisting mostly of students - responded enthusiastically. With applause, laughter and even boos (again, done more in humour than to seriously humiliate the speakers onstage)".

What is also cute is that Khairy bothered to type up a huge-ass reply to Khoo Kay Peng's take on the Asia 21 Forum. Khairy is the only hope for BN lah.

I ask you this: which other BN leader has firstly the guts and secondly the ability and eloquence to spar with other civil society leaders and the opposition, and also insert himself into cyber discourse? Which other BN leader can engage, mesmerize, and inspire the youth? Which other BN leader has seen the writing on the wall and knows that if they don't change, they will die? 一个也没有。

Well, maybe Shabery Cheek and Shahrir Samad lah. Alas, they are but a distinct minority in UMNO.

*********************************************************

Just to let you know, i chanced upon Andrew's post on his visit to recently concluded PAS Muktamar. He must be one well-balanced Youth I've ever come across. Yes, Andrew is a also chinese lad.

p.s. Dear Andrew, if you are reading this, you are an angel my dear! My best wishes to you!

The very reason why i want to raise this matter is that society, most of the time, look down on us youths, thinking we could only talk and show our angers. They don't take us seriously when we share our views. They are reluctant to listen to our new ideas of doing things or handling people. They still treat us like kids, where you are not allowed to speak your mind for they know best.

This syndrome infects not just our political scenes, it never fails to dominate our corporate world too (maybe not to some where youth is associated with great, viable ideas). Perhaps, this explains why we are so way behind The Little Red Dot, where the old wise men work hand in hand with the young guns.

"It is the youth who sees a great opportunity hidden in just these simple services, who sees a very uncommon situation, a humble position, who gets on in the world" - Orison Swett Marden

Well, i am not saying that our senior citizens are not up to the challenge to make changes nowadays but they are, of course, are physiologically and psychologically challenged, which makes it difficult for one to embrace changes.

Over last weekend, Pak Busu shared a conversation he had with his Italian patient (so Godfather-like he seemed) - "For a smart (old) man like you, you forgot to apply your business acumen when dealing with your health". In other words, he (the patient) is not innovative enough to apply certain rules of life - in total - for fear of failing. We, the young guns, take challenges as if they are to be taken on in order to survive and move forward by making changes, where necessary, instead of 'sweeping them under the carpet".

Marcus Tullius Cicero says that "Rashness belongs to youth and prudence to old age". Yes, I do agree but that doesn't mean we should be neglected. Why don't we 'walk hand in hand' through this road less travelled?

I would love to see youths are being appreciated for what they see in the present, what they wish for the future and what they are willing to do. And yes, I wish for YB KJ and YB Tony Pua to have their own talk show, just like the lively, open forum they had 2 weeks ago.

When we open the channel for healthy exchange of opinions and ideas like that, we would realise that we are not that different after all - differences are for us to embrace, understand and go for a win-win stand. It doesn't take ages to make you wise and more humane, all we, youths, need is our Moment of Truth.

"Don't make excuses. Make things happen. Make changes. Then, make history" - Doug Hall