Youth day is a very special
day that brings back memories and a history that shapes our country. We should
be proud of what our parents fought for. However, I question what’s there to
fight for today. It was 36 years ago when enthusiastic and eager young people
demonstrated their rejections to the new policy of apartheid.
Still, I question what’s
there to fight for today? It seems as if our youth have relaxed, and have
rather settled for the growing culture of entitlement – being dependent on the
government for jobs, subsidies and other incentives. This has resulted in the
nation becoming consumers rather than producers.
We preach social inequalities,
the high rate of HIV and crime, but instead of coming up with solutions for this
“young nation” – we should realize that the mindset and willpower of the youth today
tend to exacerbate the problem. Let us all refuse and reject to sit back, but
rather stand up and have the zeal to make something of our lives .We cannot
wait for the government to provide solutions to all our challenges, the onus is
on us to help one another through the spirit of Ubuntu which encourages sharing
and unity.
By: Tsholofelo Mosala
