Young People Celebrating a Decade of Freedom and Opportunities by Lance Greyling
2004-06-22. Honourable Chair and Members, yesterday I turned thirty one years old. This means that I was only two days after three years old when the tragic events of the Soweto Uprising took place. I was obviously too young then to appreciate the significance of that event or the tragic loss of life that occurred.
When I voted in my first general election in 1994, however, I was very
aware of the impact that those students had on delivering democracy to
our country. It galvanised the world's attention and graphically
depicted the horrendous nature of the apartheid state. On another level
though, it also showed the outrage that students felt over having their
independence of thought oppressed. It is a vivid reminder for us in
this new era to ensure that young people are never constrained from
freely expressing their opinions and acting as watchdogs over our new
democracy.
It is often said that young people are our future, but we in the Independent Democrats believe that they are our present as well. In many spheres, young people are taking up the challenges of our new society and succeeding where others have failed. The ideals of reconciliation and racial integration are being brought into being by the young people of our land and I would suggest that we treat them as the leaders in this regard and learn from their efforts. Young people also possess an amazing optimism about this country and its future and I would challenge all young people, including myself, to break down the negativity that so many South Africans feel. Young people are also independent minded and thrive on critical debate. Us in this house need to make sure that we are keeping pace with these attitudes and mindsets of the young or else we will be at risk of alienating them from our political landscape. I believe that the voices of young people need to be urgently given a platform to speak from in our new democracy and I therefore applaud President Mbeki's use of those schoolgirl's insertion in his speech a few weeks ago.
It is also an unfortunate reality that many young people in our land are not given the opportunity to be truly young. They are forced to confront the realities of poverty, abuse and HIV/AIDS from a young age. As political leaders we need to be doing more to ensure that our young people are protected from such scourges so as to allow their ideals and optimism for the country to develop. It also speaks to the need to consult with young people on these issues, so we can develop new perspectives and solutions to these problems.
As a young parliamentarian who is a member of a young and growing party, the Independent Democrats salutes the young people of our country and their continued achievements.
Thank you.
It is often said that young people are our future, but we in the Independent Democrats believe that they are our present as well. In many spheres, young people are taking up the challenges of our new society and succeeding where others have failed. The ideals of reconciliation and racial integration are being brought into being by the young people of our land and I would suggest that we treat them as the leaders in this regard and learn from their efforts. Young people also possess an amazing optimism about this country and its future and I would challenge all young people, including myself, to break down the negativity that so many South Africans feel. Young people are also independent minded and thrive on critical debate. Us in this house need to make sure that we are keeping pace with these attitudes and mindsets of the young or else we will be at risk of alienating them from our political landscape. I believe that the voices of young people need to be urgently given a platform to speak from in our new democracy and I therefore applaud President Mbeki's use of those schoolgirl's insertion in his speech a few weeks ago.
It is also an unfortunate reality that many young people in our land are not given the opportunity to be truly young. They are forced to confront the realities of poverty, abuse and HIV/AIDS from a young age. As political leaders we need to be doing more to ensure that our young people are protected from such scourges so as to allow their ideals and optimism for the country to develop. It also speaks to the need to consult with young people on these issues, so we can develop new perspectives and solutions to these problems.
As a young parliamentarian who is a member of a young and growing party, the Independent Democrats salutes the young people of our country and their continued achievements.
Thank you.
