Category: Youth

The youth embody the dreams and hopes of a nation and therefore represent the most valuable asset in any country. In the course of their development, young people shape and sustain economic and social growth. Young people are active participants in both governmental and non-governmental organizations, civic groups, and private sector enterprises. Kuwait is a nation that has unique demographic characteristics with the median age of the population of just above 29 years.

Hence, a new paradigm that places the youth at the center of national issues is crucial for future growth and development. Young people have the power to influence all spheres of the country, including cultural, educational, artistic, political, and intellectual spheres, among others. Thus, their active participation in all political, social, and economic aspects of Kuwait is critical. This essay outlines youth activities in Kuwait their role in country development with specific attention to their involvement in social, economic, and political spheres of the country and explores the challenges they face.

Overview of Demographic Setting

The youth population profile in Kuwait is experiencing a steep growth (World Economic Forum). The number of young people defines the population structure and has a direct impact on future development. However, during their transition to adulthood, young people are faced with challenging economies, unemployment, political uncertainties, pressure from societies, and frustration caused by possible failures.

Source: “Kuwait Demographic Profile,” CIA World Factbook.

According to the Kuwait Demographics profile, the median age is 29 years whereby most females are approximately about 27 years while males have a median age of 30 years (“Kuwait Demographics profile 2016”). The youth account for a significant portion of the Kuwaiti population and in their development, activities, and advancement, they play a significant role in the long-term growth of Kuwait. About 33% of youth live in cities.

Civic awareness brought along by social and cultural change, rising level of education, youthful population, globalization, new social forces, and increased social network enhances advocacy for their rights. Additionally, while the awareness of government mismanagement, lack of financial transparency and heightened level of corruption lays additional burden on youth, it also forces them to be an instrument of change in Kuwait.

Participation in Political Life

Kuwaiti youth are actively involved in political matters. They actively participate in political restructuring. For instance, Kuwaiti youth activists played a role in the landmark 2011 resignation of prime minister and in 2005 electoral reform law. Youth leaders collaborate with parliamentarians, which boosts their chance of influencing the government. Kuwaiti youth continue to assert leadership in political change by pressing for a full parliamentary system. Concisely, the youth political movement has the mandate of holding the government accountable for their actions. Youth movements characterized the 2011 protests against election law (Ghabra par. 1).

The demonstrations aimed at pushing the government to rationalize political process, develop the country’s democracy, and introduce more freedom. The ruling family and the National Assembly typically collaborate to prevent political turmoil. However, the status quo held by the ruling family fails to nurture a democratic culture. There has been a stalemate between the royal family and the parliament for ages while the political system has been deteriorating with no formal political party. The youth takes the initiative to advocate for radical reforms and break the impasse between both authorities.

Progress in Reaching Democratic System

In 2011, some youth groups led unparalleled pro-democracy protests and later formed a single party that intensified their reforms. The Democratic Civil Movement (DCM), the only movement party, called on all youths to participate in the changes (“Kuwaiti Youth Groups Merge Into One Party”). The reforms aimed at advocating for parliamentary system change that allowed the prime minister to be appointed from the ruling family, Al-Sabah. Besides, they advocated for changes in the election laws that would transform the Kuwaiti political system into a single electoral constituency (“Kuwaiti Youth Groups Merge Into One Party” par. 3). Remarkably, the youth groups played a significant role in the subsequent resignation of the Prime Minister. The youth proved to be organized, active, eager, and ready for change. The participants showed consistency of actions and understanding that political movements are based on initiatives that are necessary for the whole nation. Therefore, with most of the people in Kuwait being under 29 years, the youth are expected to play a significant role in shaping political processes of the future (Dickinson par. 18).

The changing political environment requires the youth to fight for their rights and engage in initiatives that would lead to the path of democracy. Combating corruption, transforming authority and tackling the issue of enfranchisement are some of the areas Kuwaiti politics center upon. Youth movements try to get things moving in Kuwait by strengthening the parliament and advocating for the constructive national building. The youth have the power to change the regime of Kuwait into a constitutional monarchy. While the move will likely be faced with setbacks, the growing recognition of activist groups and the increasing influence of parliament, it could be possible. A youth with shared vision can lead Kuwait to necessary changes. The next generation of leaders stems from the young people who appear to be stronger in their pursuit for full democracy. Ghabra affirms that partial freedom of Kuwait breeds crises and stresses the need for political reforms (par. 16). He exemplifies it with the active youth involvement in voting system in 2005, where it was agreed the country would be divided into five districts and four equal votes (Ghabra par. 23).

The mixed youth movements comprise of parties such as Hadam, Nahj, Muslim Brotherhood, Salafi movement, Tajamu, and Salafi group. The above youth parties have slowly gained experience in politics with a party like Hadam having its own platform that pushes for constitutional amendments. In addition, many of the said groups have already proven their worth by organizing a number of effective non-violent protests and events, although it should be acknowledged that some encounters with authorities ended in traumatic clashes and acquittal of the activists. Nevertheless, with the short-term goal of holding the government accountable for its action, the youth movement has its impact on the government to promote full democracy.

Extremist and Terrorist Activities

Kuwaiti youth fight extremism and terror activities of the country (“Terrorism, Extremism Threats to Society” par. 1). Remarkably, there is youth panel supported by the ministry of information and youth affairs that decries extremism and violence (“Terrorism, Extremism Threats to Society” par. 1). The responsibilities of youth panel include discussion, development, and adoption of anti-terrorism mechanisms, which also helps in adopting youth related policies. By extension, such activities help preventing the young people from engaging in terrorist and extremist activities. The youth are actively involved in fighting terrorism and extremism by volunteering and coming up with innovative ideas. Terrorism and extremism are critical threats to global peace and security.

While every nation in the world is susceptible to this risk, Kuwait’s geopolitical location in the Middle East makes the eradication of these vices a first-hand priority. Kuwait is committed to fighting extremism in the Gulf region by implementing security measures to prevent terrorist attacks (“US State Department Report on Terrorism 2014 – Kuwait” par.3). In this fight, the youth play the role of enforcing security measures and reporting suspected terrorist activities. For instance, the broadcasts by Kuwait Radio contribute to countering radicalization and prevent violence and extremism by spreading information (“US State Department Report on Terrorism 2014 – Kuwait” par. 8).

Governmental Impact

Youth leagues advocate for financial disclosure and transparency of information in the government sector. In addition, youth leagues advocate for fair political practice and fight political intolerance and a culture of intolerance. The members of such pro-social organizations as Kuwait Graduates Society (KGS) and Kuwait Transparency Society (KTS) pursue the promotion of transparency in politics, development of a more integrated society, and equal access to information. The particular efforts towards the enhancement of democracy undertaken by KTS include the refinement of law and establishment of the General Anti-Corruption Authority that is responsible for the protection of whistleblowers and victims of corruption, as well as enabling disclosure of financial statements at the higher organizational levels (Alghazali par. 9).

At the same time, KGS is responsible for the organization of training seminars aimed to improve political literacy and enhance electoral monitoring practices in the country (Markakis 171). The activists aim to combat corruption through networking and establishment of partnerships with legislators and government (Alghazali par. 5). The targets which KGS and KTS try to contribute to the development of democratic state and demolition of unjust and unethical practices at both political and social levels. As mentioned by Alghazali, without pursuing integrity and combat corruption, there is no possibility for a sound national development (par. 5).

Role of youth in Economic Domain

Kuwait has a dynamic economic environment with its youth aspiring to pursue their career pathways and contribute to well-being of society. Kuwaiti government is committed to supporting the youth’s spirit with a special emphasis on development of private enterprises. The emergence of private sector in the country’s economy is important as means of diversifying the economic landscape and, by extension, improving its integrity and stability. For this reason government issues strong support for youth engaging in economic activities through providing incentives, structural and technical assistance, and modifying existing policies to create a more welcoming economic climate.

Governmental Support

According to Booz and Company, the current economic conditions still pose barriers to entry for young participants, including regulatory issues, high cost of living, inadequate education, and comparatively restrictive policies (5). Therefore, the government actively supports the youth involved in entrepreneurial activities. The National Fund for SMEs Development enacted in 2013 assists the population in economic affairs to minimize unemployment and enhance economic growth through the expansion of the sector (par. 1). The fund significantly helps feasible businesses as well as builds an innovative environment for young people. The government input to the national fund (KD25.6 billion or $7 billion budget) boosts an economic environment that becomes supportive to youth startups. Besides, Kuwaiti tech industry is booming and social media penetration in society provides an ecosystem for entrepreneurialism. The combination of these factors contributes to the youth’s capacity of shaping an economical landscape, which can be seen in their desire in creating new opportunities in entrepreneurship.

The Ministry of State for Youth Affairs adopted a slogan “Don’t worry, be an entrepreneur” in their movement of promoting entrepreneurship. The campaign fostered by the Entrepreneurship Center aims at supporting innovative youth in their ambition of creating their own businesses. Specifically, the Center offers training, technical assistance, and enactment of intellectual and professional standards (“Ministry Youth Promotes Entrepreneurship” par. 3). Economic Empowerment is a national duty and the ministry of youth affairs, National Youth Association, the ministry of information and media society are collaborating to ensure creative works in all Kuwaiti communities. The public and private sector actively fund and support entrepreneurship activities and spirit. The decline in unemployment can be attributed to the government efforts in enhancing entrepreneurship and in providing funds to assist the development of small and medium enterprises.

Oil Industry Issues

The involvement of youth can change the current economic instability resulting from over-reliance on oil. Significantly, the Kuwait banking sector offsets both the social and economic development of the region. The investment offers employment and new opportunities for youth personal growth (“Kuwait’s Economy Extends Beyond Oil” par. 1). Admittedly, the current progress is still relatively minor as the industry still lacks innovative advancements and inventive solutions; however, the youth participation has a perspective of intervening and building of stronger institutions.

This, in turn, visibly depends on the current bureaucracy level and restrictions on the private sector which, while not favorable, show some improvements. One such way to promote Kuwait long-term growth is the diversification of economy. Booz and Company note that Kuwait as oil dependent nation needs to diversify its economies (7). This can be achieved by the introduction of progressive ideas and innovative strategies by young specialists. Notably, “BLOG: Youth in Kuwait Advocate for Entrepreneurial Economic Growth” notes that youth community throughout the sector are being engaged in promoting home businesses (par. 1).

As mentioned above, the Kuwait public sector remains the primary employer, and this has driven the youth to enter markets with low risks. To create the workforce which can operate within this unfamiliar environment, the community projects train the young entrepreneurs to think critically, harness their skills, and transform their ideas into actions. Importantly, such setting also demands the climate favorable to innovation, free from excessive restriction and with relevant monitoring tools. This mode of the system gives the youth entrepreneurial freedom. The collective effort in encouraging small business growth is expected to create a dynamic economy that does not rely on oil as a sole resource. Besides, with an educated youth Kuwaiti is at an advantage in diversifying the economy.

Role of Innovation

Along with the diversification of entrepreneurial activities in the country, the government and some large business actors in the private sector emphasize the importance of increased innovativeness in youth. Innovation is an essential quality of productive entrepreneurship, and is key to any favorable changes in the economy. In 2015, Information and Youth Affairs Minister Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah launched the national award for youth excellence and innovativeness, which covers many fields including entrepreneurship (“Minister Launches Kuwait’s Award for Youth Excellence” par. 1). The large Kuwaiti private enterprises, such as Zain, encourage youth’s business creativity and enthusiasm towards entrepreneurial activities by sponsoring the promising projects developed by young people (“Zain Key Supporter of Youth Innovation Initiatives” par. 2). In this way, both private and public sector support the development of youth and may contribute to the positive change within the society and economy.

Social Activities

Youth social activities range from volunteering activities and community outreach to charity. Lothan Youth Achievement Center (LoYac) is among the organizations working towards youth development in Kuwait. The youth aged 6-30 are supported by LoYac through programs that enhance personal growth and professional standards (“LoYac” par. 1). Young people are trained in schools and given opportunities that guide them into the professional world, with the primary vision of preserving the environment for future generations. The LoYac program increases personal awareness, enhances teamwork, communication skills, and humanitarian service.

Notably, the organization has a mission of reaching out to the community through volunteering activities. The young children engage in community outreach and help others through charity. The youth initiatives range from entrepreneurship to supporting the innovation by assisting the young people in turning their ideas into actions. At the same time, the youth identify social challenges and develop real solutions. LoYac through their program engages the youth in advocating for peace and finding a sense of purpose. The youth are presented with the opportunity to engage in drama, performing acts, and physical activities to improve their well-being and unleash their creativity.

Al-Nakib noted that in 2013, at a conference titled al-Kuwait tisma or Kuwait Listens was held by the National Youth Project (14). In this regard, the project encouraged the young people to participate in state issues and thus strengthen their national identity, promote social cohesion, improve tolerance and diversity, inhibit extremist activities, and acknowledge universal freedoms such as freedom of speech.

Youth association of Kuwait is a notable movement that has had significant strides in its activities. The association aims at building a generation of youth that can achieve their full potential, participate in community service, and meet their goals. Moreover, the movement focuses on youth activism, education, and unemployment issues. The association central slogan is social democracy as well as improving the social and cultural situation of Kuwaiti young people.

Youth support can help the nation eliminate divisions and inequalities, shape national identities, and offer new opportunities for growth. Thus, the social movement aims at seeking equality and reducing alienation and deprivation. Some political groups such as the National Alliance, Democratic forum, and certain Islamic groups recognize the power of the youth and continuously advocate for reforms on their behalf (Ghabrapar. 12). Despite the government spending on socioeconomic systems, youth aspirations are yet to be met particularly for those who seek economic empowerment and social recognition.

Women Leadership Activities

Kuwait appreciates the role of young women in economic development. Remarkably, young Arab women leaders’ eighth forum was held in Kuwait in 2016. Ministry of state for Youth Affairs and other international bodies supported the conference with the aim of empowering young women entrepreneurs in public life and their leadership role. The meeting highlighted success stories, prospects for growth, challenges in the business world, and widening of the roles of young women, and the youth on the whole. Young women leaders were encouraged to take advantage of technological opportunities and social media. The 2015 Global Gender Gap Report ranks the Kuwaiti women as the highest working among Arab states (“AIWF Holds Successful Young Arab Women Leaders” par. 4).

It should be acknowledged that despite notable progress there exists a gender gap in Kuwait that still limits the economic development. There are discrepancies in gender expectation whereby young women desire to be supported but there is still reluctance from men to support their initiatives. Thus, to achieve the desired goals in the development of the country, the government should encourage greater women representation in the political and public life of the country.

The Kuwaiti government should promote greater social empowerment of women by strengthening their rights in politics and providing them with opportunities to influence the decision-making activities. Since the youth will determine how gender is perceived and can help break the existing stereotypes that interfere with equal representation of women in leadership and many other professions, the national authorities must continually show their commitment to educating girls and young women on the equal and non-discriminatory basis. Moreover, the government should also be committed to appointing the highly educated Kuwaiti women to leadership roles in all sectors including education. In this way, it will be possible to attain gender equity inherent with democracy.

Improvements in Education

The Kuwaiti education is another sphere requiring positive changes. Education plays a vital role in providing youth with opportunities to become successful and dispelling the existing social stereotypes. The educational reform is in the interests of the young people because learning and teaching serve as the basis for forming a highly professional workforce. Nowadays, the Kuwaiti educational system cannot meet the contemporary requirements imposed by the ever-changing global environment and, therefore, the substantial changes are needed (Winokur 121). In order to improve educational outcomes, many higher institutions in the country enhance their quality culture and transform the academic programs to increase their capacity of developing the 21st-century skills in students.

Creative and critical thinking, organizational behavior, leadership, communication, technology knowledge are among the essential traits which every graduate should have (Winokur 121). Moreover, these skills are tied to successful entrepreneurship which, as was mentioned above, contributes to improvement of the economic situation in the country. Over time, the Kuwaiti policy makers managed to demonstrate significant progress in developing knowledge among youth. However, there is still a lot they need to do to sustain the positive changes made in the education system.

In addition to the efforts oriented towards the increase of innovativeness in entrepreneurship, the government encourages creativity in other spheres including architecture, design, arts, sports, voluntary activities, culture, and media (“Minister Launches Kuwait’s Award for Youth Excellence” par. 1). By launching the annual reward for excellence among 14-34 years old Kuwaitis, the authorities strive to boost the development of younger generations and increase their contribution towards national sustainability.

Youth Trends

Sports

A combination of conditions created to support youth development and creativity can be traced in several trends observed in the country today. A growing trend of engagement in sports activities is among the most prominent. Organizations such as the Premier Sport Academy get strong financial and organizational support from major sponsors including Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company, Sports Direct, and cooperate with Everton F.C. to ensure safe and involving environment (“Nothing But The Best For P.S.A. Rising Soccer Stars.”).

In addition to supporting physical development and provide motivation for young population, the trend also has visible influence in social sphere. Most notably, it offers opportunities for female population to promote gender equality. The recent women’s soccer tournament, Footb(ball) for All, hosted by a social enterprise 80 Percent, provided an opportunity for more than 100 female athletes to participate (Hurd). This is an important step forward, as the female population is known to experience difficulties in accessing sports domain. In addition, according to Najat AlSayegh, who works for the Kuwaiti public authority of youth, greater interest in sports is expected to improve public health, mostly by decreasing the high rates of obesity among the population (Hurd).

Charity

Another trend is a significant shift towards charitable events and humanitarian activities among Kuwaiti youth. One example of such events is the humanitarian and voluntary initiatives award launched and maintained by the Arab forum launched (“Arab Forum Launches Youth Voluntary, Humanitarian Initiatives Award” par.2).

Another notable initiative that supports the trend is Operation Hope, which conducts grassroots charity and provides material and social aid for the impacted segment. The intended audience includes jail inmates, immigrants, and shelter wards (“7 Charitable Organizations” par. 1). Another organization run primarily by the enthusiastic youth is Equait Kuwait that promotes social equality and respect for all residents of the nation irrespective of their lifestyles. The youth-driven organization aims to make the Kuwaiti environment safe, open, and accepting to all by personifying respect (“7 Charitable Organizations” par. 3).

Alnowair, on the other hand, plans events that enlighten the youth particularly the importance of adopting a positive attitude in life. The primary purpose of the project is the promotion of positive social attitudes and vital values such as kindness, gratitude, and truthfulness among the young Kuwaiti people (“Alnowair” par. 2). Alnowair launches multiple conferences and parades in which anyone can participate. Alnowair activities emphasize the importance of mindfulness and positive thinking in any endeavors aimed to bring positive changes in the community or the world as a whole.

Travel

In accord with global trend of internationalization and diversity, Kuwaiti youth also formed OXadventure, an organization which provides opportunities for young people to go abroad with educational purposes. Currently, OXadventure has developed accredited internship programs in several Kuwaiti universities. The program increases familiarity of Kuwaiti youth with global issues and solutions, diversifies their knowledge, enriches worldview, and, most importantly, provides them with necessary leadership skills necessary for further development of the country. Ultimately, such approach offers the opportunity for youth to fulfill their aspirations while at the same time providing their country with relevant global experience.

Environmental Activism among Youth

Youth also plays a considerable role in activities which address environmental issues. These activities include participation in existing government and internationally funded projects and forming activist groups. For example, Kuwait water Association (KWA), a non-profit non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting the water resources in Kuwait, cooperates with young people who are interested in raising awareness about the state of water resources and guiding a series of local-level projects (“Paid Internship at Kuwait Water Association (KWA) in Kuwait”).

The organization is responsible for promotion and eventual adoption of international water and environmental standards, cooperation with policymakers to support sustainable practices with relevant policy updates, and establishing communication channels between economic and environmental sector to ensure the synchronicity of practices without the introduction of setbacks. In addition, some of the projects are aimed at education of the younger audience and involve cooperation with school educators to modify the existing curriculum as well as developing additional educational events and workshops (“Paid Internship at Kuwait Water Association (KWA) in Kuwait”).

In accord with the KWA’s projects, some of the youth activities are aimed specifically at education. According to the consensus, the outdated information about the environmental protection measures and the technology’s impact on the ecological state usually leads to poor understanding of the importance of environmental issues, and the teachers do not usually help students to obtain direct experiences and develop critical thinking skills needed to question the traditional practices and reflect on the values of environmental protection (Winokur 119). For this reason, several civic youth-oriented programs include environmental considerations as a part of their activities. For instance, Kuwait Critical Thinking Project (n-mu) lists environmental protection among the issues which are to be prioritized by the Kuwaiti youth.

According to the n-mu team, the development of critical thinking skills and civic literacy adds to the youth’s potential for improving the environmental situation in the country. (“Creating a Community of Change in Kuwait” par. 2). Their efforts contribute to the creation of an engaged Kuwaiti society and promote positive practices such as recycling and redistribution of waste. Among the n-mu achievements is a recently launched Green Bag Q8 project, aimed at distribution and promotion of reusable bags in local community. Another project by n-mu, Sustainable Youth Q8, promotes active lifestyle by organizing events such as recent 5K marathon – the first event of such kind in Kuwait (“Creating a Community of Change in Kuwait” par. 4).

Some of the groups take a more direct approach, such as the Green Line Environmental Group Kuwait. It is an independent group of activists organized by Khalid M. Al-Hajeri in 2001 (“Green Line Environmental Group Kuwait.”). Its goals include promotion of interest in environmental questions, raising public awareness, and increasing participation in events beneficial for environmental protection (“Green Line Environmental Group Kuwait.”). The reported achievements by the group include the uncovering of several major violations of environmental regulations which pose serious threat to the health of local residents and successful establishment of communication with government officials (“Green Line Environmental Group Kuwait.”).

Finally, the Kuwait government offers strong support to youth environmental activism through the UNDP Program, the goals of which include the development of institutional capacity for environmental management, improvement of ecological services, and control of pollution and waste (UNDP 13). Both the established youth activist groups and the potential young participants are regarded as key players in the realization of the formulated objectives. Notable contributions of youth to the realization of UNDP strategies include the successful organization of Earth Hour, during which local businesses and households were encouraged to turn off unessential lights, thus reducing energy consumption and raising public awareness (). The event was promoted and directed by the Kuwaiti Team for Global Warming, formed by the students of Kuwait University, which also organizes lectures and seminars on the causes and effects of global warming and climate change (“Kuwait Celebrates Successful Earth Hour”).

Conclusion

Kuwait is currently experiencing a number of changes in economic, political, and social spheres, with many issues still remaining unaddressed. These include the economic risks of economic over-reliance on oil industry, the pursuit of democracy, existing gender inequalities, and environmental issues. On the other hand, Kuwait’s unique demographical background offers unprecedented opportunities for development. The country has a relatively young median population age of 29 years. The conducted research confirms the suggestion that younger population is more likely to engage in progressive actions, innovative practices, and active participation in social activities. The current political landscape of the country demonstrates strong involvement of youth organizations and movements which strive towards full democratic system.

The economic sphere, which is experiencing an influx of enterprises founded by youth, becomes gradually more favorable for the emergence of SMEs in the private sector which are expected to strengthen and stabilize the economy. Most importantly, the social sphere displays numerous signs of involvement of young citizens, such as the emergence of charity and humanitarian organizations and activist groups initiated and run by students. Most of these organizations have overall positive effect on the well-being of the community and allow for modernization of the country. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that youth already demonstrates visible contribution to the country’s development both by individual and collective means of influence. Under the condition of continuous support from the government it is possible to predict this trend to persist. Kuwait is experiencing dynamic changes, youth is currently its best way to sustain and expand the rate of achievement.

Works Cited

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is faced with a serious problem of the high unemployment rate and low political participation of youth. To address the problem, the authorities offer a wide range of opportunities to its young people to acquire and develop their potential. The UAE seeks to increase civic responsibility and leadership skills of youth because young people are considered to be an essential resource for the development of the country. It is the government’s responsibility to provide its young citizens with healthcare, housing, jobs, education, as well as opportunities to participate in decision- and policy-making processes.

Around 40 percent of the UAE’s population are young people, and the authorities understand that youth is a significant resource in driving the UAE forward. There are various platforms and programs which are available for the UAE’s young people to become leaders and be involved in the policy-making process. One of them is the UAE leadership development program that is designed to help young citizens get knowledge and experience to become political leaders (Kamali, 2018).

Young citizens have the opportunity to participate in various workshops, seminars, and training. Capacity-building is needed for long-term sustainability; therefore, the country seeks to engage the young generation in the policy-making process. The programs aim to encourage UAE youth to take ownership of assigned actions and tasks, drive governmental initiatives, enable collaboration, and analyze global trends. Another significant governmental initiative to inspire youth to become leaders is called “Youth Circles,” which are forums enabling youth to express their opinions on political, cultural, social, and economic issues.

Each Youth Circle participant has the right to voice his/her opinion to shape a policy or solution. Participants of the circles are young citizens of different genders, ages, and fields. Researchers note that Youth Circles are designed as a means of transmitting recommendations from inspired young citizens to the UAE authorities (Al Saleh, 2018). The main purpose of Youth Circles is to help both current political leaders and future leaders among youth to find the best solutions for specific issues.

There have already been many achievements through Youth Circles, including positive results in solving the problem of UAE youth unemployment. Researchers note that Youth Circles resulted in “partnering with Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai to develop youth enterprise support initiative” and “launching of Kafa’at Internship Fair, a partnership with Emirates Foundation to provide internship opportunities for students” (“Youth Circles – UAE”, 2017, para. 6).

The partnership and internship offer significant opportunities for career development to young people of the UAE. Through the internship, a young person can improve his professional skills. Moreover, it is an excellent opportunity for networking with future employers. Also, the UAE authorities help young citizens to become a part of the decision-making process by opening youth hubs and centers.

According to Alowais (2017), youth hubs aim at creating “strategic partnerships with public and private sector entities to create tangible data that could guide youth policy” (p. 33). The places are focused on maximizing the passion and potential of youth and encouraging their talents by creating an empowering space. The UAE Youth Programme, Youth Circles, and youth hubs empower young citizens to participate in the decision-making process. The active participation of youth in forums and programs fosters a new generation of leaders who will be capable of moving the country forward.

References

Al Saleh, A. (2018). Leisure activities among Emirati youth. (Zayed University Working Paper No. ZU-WP 2018-02). Web.

Alowais, F. (2017). Youth engagement: A case study of the Youth Circles Initiative in the UAE. Paper presented at the 3 rd International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP3), Singapore. Web.

Kamali, A. A. (2018). Leadership Development Programs (LDPs): Factors Impacting on Learning Transfer in Dubai Government Organisations. (Doctoral Dissertation, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia). Web.

Youth Circles – UAE. (2017). Web.

Research Process

Precise statement: the lack of studies about the influence of macro-level factors on youth political engagement.

“Civic and political engagement in youth” by Xenia Chryssochoou and Martyn Barrett.

This article analyses several reports from studies on the participation of the young population in political activities across the world. The paper stays partially Western-centred because the democratization process in other parts of the world is still lagging behind Western civilization. Chryssochoou and Barrett (2017) argue that “the claim that youth are not sufficiently engaged either civically or politically” is based on either outdated or insufficient information (p. 291). The author review correlations between various macro-level factors, such as cultural features, political situations in countries, available technological means of communication, and economic factors with political knowledge of the young generation and their political activity.

The authors discuss the main ways that the young population uses to convey their political activities, and how these means can be used to connect politicians with the young audience. Chryssochoou and Barrett (2017) demonstrate that youth social and political maturity is “significantly associated with their country’s score on the United Nations Human Development Index” (p. 296). There is a communication gap between those in power and young people, which is currently neglected and creates an illusion of the apathetic behavior of youth toward political issues (Chryssochoou & Barrett, 2017). This paper signifies the need to find common ground for interaction between young people and politicians in order to promote democracy.

“Youth political participation in the EU: Evidence from a cross-national analysis” by Magdelina Kitanova.

This research paper is based on comparative data obtained from 28 European Union countries and analyses the link between the political context in these countries and youth engagement in political activities. Kitanova (2019) argues that while “youth are perceived as increasingly disengaged and disconnected from traditional political processes in Europe,” their interest in politics is similar to other age groups. Findings suggest that instead of formal participation in politics, young people use alternative forms of engagement, such as demonstrations, protests, petitions, and online debates (Kitanova, 2019). This article depicts how the democratic maturity of each country varies due to macro-level factors, and there is a direct correlation between it and the percentage of young voters. Kitanova (2019) provides a novel contribution to the issue that “while social and educational factors (at individual-level) matter, age of democracy influences patterns of political participation among young people in the EU.” The paper highlights the lack of research on the political context and alternate means of civic engagement used by the young generation.

Conclusion

Both articles provide meaningful information on the issue that has been addressed in “Youth-led activism and political engagement in New Zealand: A survey of Generation Zero” by Giles Dodson and Evangelia Papoutsaki. This paper also finds similar trends in the political activities of young people in New Zealand, as they pursuit political information outside of formal means (Dodson & Papoutsaki, 2017). The data provided by Generation Zero suggests that it is not the issue with apathetic youth that is responsible for declining vote counts (Dodson & Papoutsaki, 2017). Having this information confirmed by multiple sources, it is only logical to assume that political studies are in need to reform their current approach. The decline in the participation of youth in politics is a direct result of miscommunications between politicians and younger generations. To empower young people, governments need to involve alternate ways to share information and be more available for informal communication.

References

Chryssochoou, X., & Barrett, M. (2017). Civic and political engagement in youth. Zeitschrift für Psychologie, 225(4), 291-301.

Dodson. G., & Papoutsaki, E. (2017). Youth-led activism and political engagement in New Zealand: A survey of Generation Zero. Communication Research and Practice, 3(2), 194-211.

Kitanova, M. (2019). Youth political participation in the EU: Evidence from a cross-national analysis.Journal of Youth Studies.

War is one of the most horrific events that could possibly happen to our world. It is feared and avoided by generations of people. Even though the modern generations of humans growing up in the Western countries and on the territory of Global North have never faced real war, they are well aware of its terrors and scary consequences. The First and Second World Wars have taught people a memorable lesson. The events of the past still haunt some of the countries, the relics of the war are still being found in the places of former battlefields, the veterans are being honored and the films about the war times are still popular.

Of course, the modern humanity knows about the Wars not only from the history books and classes. The First and Second World Wars were massive events that caused horrible destructions and had millions of victims. Lots of people were enlisted in the army and fought at the front lines. Many of these people were poets and writers. Their works outlived the creators in order to serve as reminders of the awful and shocking circumstances these men and women had to witness.

Wilfred Owen was one of such poets. He was born in 1893 in England. He was a highly intelligent man and worked as a language tutor in France, until his patriotic duty sent him to the front line (Wilfred Owen, par. 3). All of the poems of Wilfred Owen are collected in a single volume. There are not many of his works, because this brave man died young.

He is a typical example of his generation, a young man with proper values that fought for his motherland and died at the battlefield as a hero, crossing the Sambre canal and leading his men (Wilfred Owen, par. 4). Owen’s style and works were strongly influenced by another great poet of the First World War times, Siegfried Sassoon (Biography of Wilfred Owen 2014, par. 2). Wilfred Owen was deeply touched by the scenes he observed during the war.

This is why many of his poems are tribute to the war times and reflect the pain and horror the young man had to experience every day. The descriptions of war in literature and poetry are much more striking than the dry facts from the history books. The art of using right words and comparisons in order to create the brightest associations in the minds of the readers requires a lot of talent and skills. Wilfred Owen possessed both, and this is why he is considered one of the greatest First World War poets in the world.

The poem called “Anthem for Doomed Youth” was written in 1917 in fall. The poet begins asking his readers a question about the young soldiers that are killed like cattle at the battle fields all over the world. Owen wonders what kind of “passing bells” (1) will say farewell to these boys and girls that barely saw the life. The poet describes the sounds of shooting guns and rifles and compares them to the prayers because these are the last and only sounds the young fighters hear before dying.

The author mentions that there are crowds of soldiers with such sad destinies that die together from both sides and remain forgotten and lost among the hundreds of other victims of the battles. The author answers his initial question saying that there are no “voices of mourning” (6) prepared for the unknown heroes. In the next lines of the poem Wilfred Owen says that the candle light that is always a part of the holy ritual will only shine in the eyes of the doomed young boys.

The poet mentions that these boys will remain lost in the battlefields, yet the memories about them will always live in the hearts of their loved ones and close people, and this is the only farewell ritual they will ever have. “The tenderness of patient minds” (13) will become the flowers on their graves. The last image the poet shares with his readers is the blinds being drawn down at dusk; this comparison is designed to remind of the civilian people at their homes during the war times grieving about the relatives and friends they lost. This last image also serves as a finalizing phrase that makes the poem complete and finished.

Wilfred Owen compares the routine of the front lines that surrounds the soldiers at the moments of their death with the only holy ritual they will have because under the circumstances of the war most of the soldiers that died at the battlefields were just forgotten, some of them never were properly buried.

The poem is called “Anthem for Doomed Youth” because Wilfred Owen got to personally observe the horrific conditions that were killing thousands of young soldiers every day. Most of these soldiers were under the age of twenty; they arrived to the front lines and were doomed. The ones that survived were called “the lost generation” because after they saw the realities of the war it was impossible for them to adjust to the normal life.

Works Cited

Biography of Wilfred Owen. Poem Hunter. 2014. Web.

Owen, Wilfred. Anthem for Doomed Youth. 2014. Web.

Owen, Wilfred. BBC. 2014. Web.

Owen, Wilfred. War Poetry. n. d. Web.

Revisiting the past through the lens of a side character is an unusual yet very powerful technique for telling a story that belongs to a different time period. In “Friend of My Youth,” Alice Munro takes the specified approach even further and introduces the story as experienced by the narrator’s mother. By portraying her mother through a series of reverse descriptions, the narrator depicts as she would like to remember her, namely, lively, strong, and opinionated, erasing the damage done to her mother by the disease.

The attempts at using negations as the means of defining the main characteristics of the narrator’s mother speak volumes of their relationships. For instance, the first descriptions that emerge in the text define the mother as “not exactly youthful” and “not entirely untouched by the paralyzing disease” (Munro 9). Namely, it becomes evident that the narrator strives to reconnect with her mother by creating a positive image of her. The narrator seeks to capture her mother in action, thus juxtaposing the image to the one that remained with her after her mother’s death. She portrays the mother as “rolling out piecrust” and “washing the dishes,” maintaining the impression of unceasing movement and activity (Munro 9). The specified description allows the readers to change the perception of the narrator to that one of a grief-stricken woman, and her mother as that one of a formerly active person crippled by disease.

The use of the reverse descriptions of the narrator’s mother in the second paragraph of the story helps the storyteller to keep the memory of her as a strong and supportive individual, thus using it as a means of coping with the grief of her loss. The narrator’s attempts to portray her mother as an active member of the community and tell the story through her eyes indicate a close connection between her and the storyteller. Therefore, these brief yet accurate details provide an insight into the nature of the narrator’s relationships with her mother.

Work Cited

Munro, Alice. “Friend of My Youth.” Friend of My Youth, Vintage Books, 1991, pp. 9-37.

Introduction

This Is Our Youth is a play by Kenneth Lonergan, an American screenwriter and dramatist. The play was first presented in an Off-Broadway theater in 1996, after which it was shown by many countries all over the world. The plot of the play takes place in New York in 1982. There are forty-eight hours of the life of three teenagers, each of which has certain opinions and social issues. Nineteen-year-old Warren stole fifteen thousand dollars from his business magnate father, Dennis, his charismatic friend and drug dealer, is ready to “usefully” invest money, and seventeen-year-old Jessica observes these events with anxiety. The piquancy of the situation lies in the fact that these teenagers have only one night to spend money. The exploration of the difficulties that occur during the transition from adolescence to adulthood is the key message of the play.

Exploring Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood

The eternal topics of adolescence and maturity compose the core ideas of This Is Our Youth play. It begins with the presentation of Dennis, the son of the abusive tycoon, who stole $15, 000 before being kicked out of his house by his father. Dennis has a plan for Warren to get laid with his girlfriend and enjoy cocaine. Along with using drugs, the guys also think about selling them to keep the money they have. Such plans might seem credible, but the characters of the play are teenagers who are seeking their place in the world and have a tendency to self-destruction. They are authentic and emotional, which makes both Dennis and Warren quite impulsive, with assertive motions and the defeated inner self.

The play expressively speaks about the end of the 1980s as Lonergan wittily expressed a timeless generational conflict and a moment in US history that continues to affect people’s feelings today. The growing alienation destroying the social fabric of civil society was a consequence of a long period of consumerism and the desire to achieve the highest degree of comfort. In the 1950-1960s, consumer values ​​occupied a dominant position in culture (Gale 38). The most obvious manifestation of the counterculture was the change in lifestyle. Demonstrating distaste for consumer standards, young Americans began to grow long hair, mark clothes in all colors of the rainbow, and wear them to the holes.

In This Is Our Youth Play, the viewers observe the radical manifestations of counterculture, such as the active passion of young people for smoking marijuana and the use of stronger hallucinogens and other drugs. It served as a social accelerator, helping to radically change feelings, and strengthening the belief that generally accepted social norms and institutions are controversial, irrelevant, and corrupt. The market’s emphasis on competitive individualism created a culture, in which self-interest and personal gain are more important than feelings of interdependence and connection between people. The dialogues between the characters of the play are full of the denial of these social values. However, they also know little about what they want to change to feel better. A lack of understanding of their own future makes the characters quite passive and frustrated, which is expressed in their escapist behaviors.

The play shows the period when an adolescent becomes an adult, which is, in many cases, associated with painful emotions, rejection of social norms, and self-destruction. The exploration of this process is one of the key messages of the play. One may assume that the author wanted to state that any person has to pass through these thoughts, losses, and failures, which strengthens and makes the person change. The progression is an inevitable outcome of any tendencies that are related to self-reflection, the interaction with others, and philosophical discussions. Even though it seems that the play begins and ends almost similarly, there is a significant change in the characters.

Jessica, for example, should be noted for her views of existentialism which was characteristic of the society of that time. Compared to Warren, she becomes more aware that reality and momentum are much more important than living in pseudo-reality. Nevertheless, she is also confused likewise other characters, having a need to link the emotional element to her life. In this connection, Jessica can be regarded as a more realistic person, who manages to control her feelings and thoughts to structure them and better understand herself.

In terms of existential psychology, it is not just a philosophical movement, but also a cultural, which integrates the deepest spiritual and emotional aspects of people’s viewpoints. It depicts the psychological condition, where a person finds himself or herself, namely, the presentation of the authentic psychological challenges. Speaking about the ideas that are included in existentialism, a person should find himself or herself in some borderline situation, for example, in the face of death, with the aim of realizing oneself as existence. As a result, the world becomes intimately close to a person. In the play, the characters do not face death or any other related experience, but their situation can also be called a borderline as they have to ponder over their current and future behaviors.

Intuition is regarded as a unique way of cognition, serving to penetrate into the world of existence. The intuitive actions and ideas of characters take a significant place in the given play. Namely, an important role is given to the identification and solution of freedom-related issues, which are defined as the choice of a person of one of the innumerable possibilities. The animals and objects cannot acquire freedom as they immediately possess the essence. Human beings, however, comprehend their essence throughout their lives and are responsible for every taken action, where the mistakes cannot be merely explained by circumstances. Thus, from the point of existentialism that is integrated into the play, a person as a “project” builds itself. Ultimately, it is possible to state that Dennis, Warren, and Jessica come to some extent of understanding that ideal freedom is the freedom of an individual from society.

The topic of privilege is discovered in the play based on the progression of Warren, who steadily gets rid of Dennis’ domination. In their relationships, Dennis was an alpha, controlling everything and generating new ideas (Gale 56). This alpha perfectly manipulates others, he is quick-witted and creative, which makes him a leader, but the last scenes show that Warren stands up to his friend and requires explanations about why Dennis has such a negative attitude toward his family. This step represents that two adolescents are equal now as they can speak without dependency. After the conversation, Warren reveals that Dennis is a hero to him, which makes Dennis cry and talk about the failures of his father. Even though it is only a little step to break free from Dennis’ control, one may suggest that Warren would move in the chosen direction.

The monologue of Dennis that is given at the end of the play is probably the most representative part that helps to better understand the message of the play. Warren answers Dennis’ question about what he is going to do: “I don’t know, man. I guess I’ll just go home.” These words reflect that he is still on his way to adulthood from adolescence since this is a long journey that takes much effort and time. Nevertheless, the progress made in the given period of time seems to be contributing to the process of transformation.

Conclusion

To conclude, it should be stated that This Is Our Youth play presents a range of human portraits, each of which has unique experiences and goes along the way towards adulthood. Dennis, the leader of the company, decides to return home and recognize his behaviors, Warren becomes less dependent on Dennis, and Jessica realizes the value of momentum. While these characters still need to grow as personalities to enter adulthood, the play shows their thoughts and interactions that help in understanding the progress they made.

Work Cited

Gale, Cengage Learning. A Study Guide for Kenneth Lonergan’s” This Is Our Youth”. Cengage Learning, 2016.

Introduction

Literature, whether it is a long novel or a short story, has a way of exploring some of the most difficult issues faced by people today. This is true even if the story is based on events that happened long ago. The benefit of stories set in other times, though, is that they also offer some insight as to how everyday life was affected by events we learn about in history class. This is the case with Charles Chestnutt’s short story “The Wife of His Youth” in which the significant disruption of life experienced by the institution of slavery and the Civil War is illustrated through the story of the husband, the story of the wife, and the events in the period of the story itself.

The story of Mr.Ryder

Rather than being told chronologically, the story of Mr. Ryder is told backward beginning in the present when he decides to throw a ball as a means of building up to a marriage proposal to a very refined woman he has grown to admire. The struggle he went through to attain a position of respect and responsibility is revealed in the first section beginning with his arrival in the city is told as if this is when his life began. He remembers how he “had come to Groveland a young man, and obtaining employment in the office of a railroad company as the messenger had in time worked himself up to the position of stationery clerk, having charge of the distribution of the office supplies for the whole company.” He is described as being very industrious as if he is distracting himself from something. These hints only become clear at the end of the story as he is explaining himself to his guests.

Just as Mr. Ryder has finally overcome the grief and guilt he felt as a young man after having lost his first wife, she shows up at his door attempting to put her own life in order as he had been doing. As she tells her story, it becomes clear that her life also suffered a great disruption not once but twice, and resolving this disruption was her life’s goal. The first was caused by slavery as her husband had to run away, although he was already free, to avoid being sold. The second was a combination of slavery and war as Liza Jane’s hint to her husband was discovered and her master first beat her and then sold her further south. However, through it all, she knew her husband was out there, trying to find her and always loving her. “I know he’s be’n lookin’ ferme. Fer he sot a heap er sto’ by me, Sam did, an’ I know he’s be’n huntin’ fer me all dese years – ‘less’n he’s be’n sick … er out’n his head, so he couldn’ ‘member his promise.” Even though she expects she’ll have to work to support him, she envisions their reunion as the happy days to come.

Conclusion

The great disruption that caused Mr. Ryder to adopt a new name and dedicate himself so strongly to intellectual pursuits rather than remember a love he lost and left Liza Jane with only one hope in life is emphasized by the great disruption that occurs in both people’s lives at the end of the story. When Mr. Ryder acknowledges the wife of his youth in front of the entire literate and somewhat snobby members of his community, he not only gives up the future he had hoped to share with Mrs. Dixon, he also gives up the life he has worked for the past 25 years to achieve. At the same time, Liza Jane is brought from the ignorant world she has struggled and survived in for so long into a world of much greater material comforts but one that she can’t yet understand and perhaps never will. Both character’s worlds are changed in an instant and cause the reader to reflect on how sudden and significant great disruptions can happen in life at any time.

Works Cited

Chestnutt, Charles. “The Wife of His Youth.” The Wife of His Youth and Other Stories of the Color Line, 1899. New York: Houghton Mifflin and Company, 1898.

Anthem for Doomed Youth is a sonnet in iambic pentameter, with war, its atrocities and its traumatic consequences as the theme. The poem focuses on how soldiers become nameless pawns in a struggle controlled by invisible hands, and how civilians are unnecessarily put through violence and devastation upon senseless orders (Par 1 Elite Skills Classic). Onomatopoeia is the sound device used in the first stanza, when the battlefield was being simulated. Metaphors on familial grief over death and mortal pains were used across the lines in the first verse, while the irony that each killer is also a victim resounds throughout the entire poem. In the second stanza, the rhyme pattern shifts from ABAB to ABBACC, but its striking imagery was unwavering at depicting clearly the bitterness, depression and psychological trauma undergone by the civilians and particularly by the soldiers who ceased to be human and became domesticated animals (Par 3 InspiredWritingResearch), mere numbers in doomed conflict.

The title is, in itself, ironic, for anthems have always meant to sing praises about grand things like love and patriotism, and so at first glance the poem seems to praise the damnation of the youth through war, but once read it will be clear that Owen meant for the exact opposite – it is a reminder of the horrors war brings, and a warning to never let it happen again.

Dulce et Decorum Est is another poem on the atrocities of war, yet this one is more graphic, more vivid and more precise than Anthem. From mustard gas chambers to simple methods of torture, it mostly embodies Owen’s disenchanted view on the horrors and vices of violence wrought by maddening and bloody warfare.

Owen’s fascination with war stems from his time as Captain of the British Army; he “witnessed the atrocities of war first hand”, so he wanted “to dispel the notions associated with patriotism and nationalism that were propagated by the media during his lifetime; thus his poetry portrays war as a dehumanising and horrific event (Par 1 Andonopolus).” Probably the most noted anti-war poem of Wilfred Owen is Dulce et Decorum Est, which is “the most famous poem to emerge from World War I” and “can stand unbowed beside Erich Maria Remarque’s novel “All Quiet on the Western Front” (Par 1 Wood).” The poem was written while Owen was “receiving treatment for shell shock in Craiglockart”, and therefore contains the bitterness he felt, as well as his negative sentiments towards propagandists, particularly on Jessie Pope (Par 1 Mcintyre).

In both poems, it is evident that Owen voices the sentiments of his literary predecessors; as Hemmingway once said: “They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country. But in modern war, there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason (Par 40)” and Owen believes that as well. All wars, regardless of the nation and the reason for quarrel, are the same – what matters is not who won or who started it, because there is no victory as all sides lose, and the only figure that people will ever remember is the body count. As Agatha Christie has once said, “One is left with the horrible feeling now that war settles nothing; that to win a war is as disastrous as to lose one (Par 12).”

Works Cited

Andonopolus, Angela. “Literary Analysis: “Dulce et Decorum Est,” by Wilfred Owen.” Helium. Web.

“Anthem for Doomed Youth Analysis.” Elite Skills Classic. Web.

Christie, Agatha. Antiwar.com. Web.

Hemingway, Ernest. “Ernest Hemingway Quotes.” Goodreads. Web.

InspiredWritingResearch. “Poetry Analysis: Understanding fatalism in Anthem for Doomed Youth, by Wilfred Owen.” Helium. Web.

Mcintyre, Stella. “Literary Analysis: “Dulce et Decorum Est,” by Wilfred Owen”. Helium. Web.

Wood, Kerry Michael. “Literary Analysis: “Dulce et Decorum Est,” by Wilfred Owen.” Helium. Web.

The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program is a unique opportunity for many American students to learn the language that is usually less commonly taught. I would like to participate in this program to improve my knowledge of the Russian language and develop my writing and reading skills. There are three main reasons why I choose this program: the possibility to learn the host culture and traditions, the necessity to improve my understanding of the Russian ideology, and the opportunity to develop my communication and critical thinking skills.

Today, American-Russian relations are complicated indeed, and it is necessary to have enough information about the countries, their histories, and cultures. This program helps to study the language through understanding its culture, traditions, and social norms, as well as its history and development through different epochs. The differences between American and Russian ideologies are impressive. I wish to comprehend this gap and identify the strengths and weaknesses of both countries in comparison to each other. Finally, this program aims at developing students’ writing, reading, and communicative skills. My participation is my chance for self-improvement and the development of the required academic skills.

Respect for history, culture, and traditions is what people should strive for. The NSLI-Y program proves that the process of language learning is actually many-sided. It is not enough to learn the peculiarities of the language. It is necessary to explore the cultural impact on the language and consider the social ideologies of the country.

It now represents a commonplace assumption that, in order for young people to be able to attain a social prominence, they must be capable of understanding how the matter, in which they address life-challenges, will affect their future. Unfortunately, that is not something they may expect learning in schools and colleges – the places where students are being simply exposed to the professionally relevant knowledge, often without given the chance to reflect upon this knowledge’s discursive significance.

Therefore, in order for young people to learn how to act wisely, as something that has the value of a ‘thing in itself’, they are usually being left with no other option, but to socialize with individuals that happened to be much older than themselves, such as their grandfathers and grandmothers. As practice indicates, this kind of a socialization, on the part of the representatives of younger generations, often proves beneficiary, in respect of encouraging the latter to act wisely – hence, increasing their chances to make proper choices in life.

The validity of this statement can be well explored in regards to the essay Inspired Eccentricity by Bell Hooks, in which the author expounds on her memories of its grandparents Baba and Daddy Gus. It is well worth noting that at the essay’s very beginning, Hooks suggests that her own individuality has been formed by what happened to be the individualities of the two earlier mentioned persons: “Reflecting on the eclectic writer I have become, I see in myself a mixture of these two very different but equally powerful figures (Baba and Daddy) from my childhood” (Hooks 291).

As we are well aware of, despite having been raised in the impoverished Black family, during the course of the fifties, and despite having been forced to deal with White people’s racism, Hooks was nevertheless able to overcome the impossible odds and to become America’s famous female writer. Therefore, given the author’s admiration of her grandparents, stated early in the essay, we can well assume that there is nothing accidental about it.

Apparently, the very manner in which Hooks reflects upon her childhood memories of Baba and Daddy, implies that the author’s possession of certain psychological qualities, which allowed her to attain a literary fame later in her life, came about as a direct result of Hooks have been taught ‘wiseness’ by its grandparents.

For example, while talking about her grandmother Baba, Hooks points out to the fact that, despite having been an essentially illiterate person, she was nevertheless smart enough to recognize the sheer fallaciousness of the idea that, in order for just about anyone to be considered an upstanding citizen, he or she has to attend church on a regular basis.

As the author noted: “Baba had no use for church. She liked nothing better than to tell us all the ways it was one big hypocritical place: ‘Why, I can find God anywhere I want to – I do not need a church’” (293). It goes without saying, of course, that Hooks’ exposure to Baba’s anti-religious attitude helped the author to recognize an organized religion, as to what it really is – the tool that the rich and powerful use, while striving to keep the society’s unprivileged members in the state of an intellectual arrogance.

In its turn, this created preconditions for Hooks to become a feminist later in her life – a person who is being perfectly aware of how, throughout the course of history, the religion of Christianity has been used to legitimize men’s patriarchal oppression of women (Comaroff and Comaroff 10).

Hooks’ intellectual progressiveness can also be partially explained by the fact that, due to her fondness of grandpa, she learned early enough to remain critical to the claims of the officially sponsored ideology – especially if the latter promotes the idea that young men should be happy serving as a ‘cannon meat’, during the time of war.

According to the author: “It was my grandfather who taught me to oppose war… I saw him as a man of profound beliefs, as a man of integrity… He was not gonna let anybody tell him what to do with his life” (292). Apparently, Daddy was wise enough to understand that there can be very little ‘glory’ in risking the chance of being killed, while killing other young men, who happened to be ‘enemies’, so that the weapon-manufacturing companies on both sides would able to increase their profits dramatically (Barkey and Parikh 527).

Had those young men, who volunteer to join the army, while facing the ‘opportunity’ come back home in coffins or armless/legless, been fortunate enough to have a chance to socialize with the person like Hooks’ Daddy, they would have thought twice, before rushing to prove the sheer strength of their patriotic feelings.

As it was mentioned earlier, by having succeeded in becoming the America’s famous female-writer, Hooks did manage to beat the impossible odds for this to happen, in the first place. In its turn, this can be partially explained by the fact that, ever since her young years, the author affiliated herself with the virtue of self-reliance.

In this respect, the author’s close affiliation with her grandparents came as a particularly valuable asset, because by listening to their life-stories, Hooks grew to realize the fact that, allegorically speaking, one’s endowment with the strongly defined sense of a will power can move mountains. As Hooks noted: “In their own way my grandparents were rebels, deeply committed to radical individualism.

I learned how to be myself from them. Mama hated this… (world) where folks made their own vine, their own butter, their own soap…” (294). This, of course, contributed rather substantially towards the author’s emotional comfortableness with the existential mode of a fully self-reliant individual, who in fact likes addressing life-challenges.

Consequently, throughout the course of her life, Hooks was able to tackle hardships in the particularly courageous manner, without referring to ‘world’s injustices’, as such that deprived her of a rationale to even try making the best of its life – quite unlike to what it happened to be the case with many of today’s young people of color.

Thus, what has been said earlier, does confirm the soundness of the paper’s initial thesis – young people are indeed in a position to learn much about life, in general, and about what may account for life-challenges/opportunities, in particular, while remaining in close touch with their elderly relatives.

In its turn, this will help them to act wise in times when they make important decisions that will affect their future. Apparently, even one’s illiterate grandparents are much more capable of giving him or her the ‘lessons of wisdom’, as compared to what it happened to be the case with the concerned individual’s parents or teachers. I believe that this conclusion fully correlates with the paper’s original thesis.

Works Cited

Barkey, Karen and Sunita Parikh. “Comparative Perspectives on the State.” Annual Review of Sociology 17.3 (1991): 523-549. Print.

Comaroff, Jean and John Comaroff. “Christianity and Colonialism in South Africa.” American Ethnologist 13.1 (1986): 1-22. Print.

Hooks, Belle. “Inspired Eccentricity”.