Written by Farooq Kolawole
esq. & Ayo Morakinyo
In days of yore lie the handy hints, salubrious
stories and looming lessons that illuminate our living and unclose its window into
the faintest future. ---Morakinyo A.J.
Some, out
of the many times, I have asked myself “why peer into the past to seek distinct
pointers? “, the common response has been,
“Why not?” If growing up was fun and
it’s all we have as evidence, why take our minds off it? Though we are still
growing and learning, our lives are now upon the wings of time, ticking off with
the clock’s cockiness, at the rate of each man’s breath...
We
were either born lefties or righties and did learn with time that what we do is
either bad or good. We learnt it is good to share with others, to return lost
items to their owners, to obey our parents and respect older persons. We were
also told not to: pick what belonged to others, lie, steal, cheat or hurt
others. We were told many other things too which altogether form the foundation
of our future. And it makes me believe that we have learnt all we need in life
right from our kindergarten days. Everything you need to know has been taught
to you somewhere or sometime in the past. Maybe in simpler words and plainer
pictures, but they’ve all been taught. What we learn today are their complex
syntheses.
I
believe we were born to live simple and not complicatedly. What are the things
we really need to live? What makes up a good life? Being happy with what you
have, sharing your joy, playing fairly, being sorry when you do wrong, making
peace, preventing violence, respecting other people’s views, properties and
privacy and maybe, cleaning up your own mess. They tend to grant us a good
life. But oftentimes, we complicate things for ourselves. Life’s complications
start when your wants or desires exceed your needs; when you chase things just because
you want them; not because they improve your life or other’s welfare. Many times,
we focus on our wants and not our needs. Usually, it’s about the latest fashion,
the newest gadgets and every other thing that’s up-to-the-minute. And, that’s where
the entire world is heading to.
Today,
the world is complicated. It is an evolving place where:
good is > or = bad and good
+ (bad) 2 = good,
A world where people only care about their
neighbours as time (t) → o.
Friends = people who are yet to hurt you and where immorality
= what the wrong majority says rocks.
It’s a new world where “smartness” =
cheating others + not getting caught and if you return a lost-but-found item, then
you’re said to be quite dull.
In the present world, the fact that you’re a virgin could
get you scorned at by “so-called” friends. Drinking, drugging and smoking are
what makes people call you a “tough guy” otherwise, you're called "old-school". If you’re
slapped on the face and choose to walk away, they say you are a weakling. Indecent dressing
and fornication is fun, if you’re not doing it, you need to speak to a
psychiatrist. Those are just a few of the beliefs people use to complicate life
in this age group. Our grandparents think they have seen the worst that could ever happen in our own time. But perhaps, the next generation will render us awestruck in our
own old age.
Ultimately, dramatic steps should
be taken if the youths of today or, as they are often called, the leaders of
tomorrow will not miss it completely. Many of us are lost in a world that is
not ours. We live in fantasies and chase the shadows of reality. But
governments, our parents and the elders of our societies must be involved in curbing
this evolution. In nurturing the youth, the truth must be spoken and remarkable
examples are necessary. Our leaders must strive to show good examples to the
youth. If the youths have no heroes to emulate in this era, the next era will
conjure a wonderful disaster. Misguiding the youths is tantamount to an
effective plan for extinguishing the nation’s future. On the other hand, the
youths too must accept change and become solution providers. They must be
conscious of their roles in a world that is subject to the forces of nature and
humanity. If the world will become better, we must all demonstrate individual responsibility
concerning the future in thoughts and actions.
And maybe we should keep learning because we'd never know enough. The easiest way to do that is to build on existing knowledge. Or at least, challenge existing knowledge.
And maybe we should keep learning because we'd never know enough. The easiest way to do that is to build on existing knowledge. Or at least, challenge existing knowledge.
