PHOTO: The Author
By Austin S Fallah- A True and Nationalist Son of Planet Earth Soil:
The fabric of any society is woven through the collective actions, attitudes, and aspirations of its youth.
Indeed, the future of a nation lies in the hands of its younger generations.
Yet, when these young individuals succumb to the venomous culture of peer envy, spiteful bad-mouthing, and unwarranted degradation, the entire fabric risks unraveling.
This is the present dilemma plaguing the Liberian youths a challenge that, if left unchecked, may obstruct the nation’s progression from the gutters of poverty to the pinnacle of socio-economic renaissance.
In this adda, I will dissect the issues at hand, understand their implications, and chart a roadmap for transformation, all with the conviction that supportive camaraderie and celebrating one another’s successes are indispensable for Liberia and its youth to emerge as constructive contributors to both national and global well-being.
Liberia, a nation nestled on the West African coast, has a storied history marked by trials and tribulations.
Emerging from the shadows of many years of civil strife and economic downturns, it stands today at a crossroads, with its youth central to the direction it may take.
Entrenched within some segments of this demographic is a culture of peer envy.
Individuals begrudge their contemporaries’ accomplishments rather than drawing inspiration from them.
This mindset corrodes the spirit of enterprise, discouraging the pursuit of excellence due to the fear of becoming targets of envy.
This jealousy is further compounded by malicious gossip and character assassination.
Bad-mouthing peers is not merely an act of unkindness, but it is a cancer to the collective morale of the youth.
It engenders a climate of mistrust and rivalry, in stark contrast to one of camaraderie and collaboration, where synergies could otherwise be exploited for collective benefit.
Moreover, such behavior sows seeds of disunity, deterring the sort of cohesion that is necessary for a nation, aiming to lift itself from economic despair to galvanize the mass energy of its citizens.
Concurrently, the scourges of peer envy and bad-mouthing often align with an inclination towards degradation, the act of belittling the efforts and achievements of others.
This toxic trait nips ambition in the bud and fosters a culture where mediocrity may flourish unchallenged.
Worse still, it discredits the noble pursuit of success, alienating those who would dare to rise above the ordinary and aspire to make meaningful contributions to society.
Yet another contributing factor to this malaise is the prevalence of a lack of competitive education.
Education systems that fail to cultivate critical thinking, innovation, and competitiveness inadvertently nurture an environment where mediocrity is the norm and excellence an outlier.
A competitive educational system is a bedrock upon which nations build a knowledgeable, skilled, and discerning citizenry capable of driving economic and social change.
Discernment, or rather, its absence, is palpably felt within the Liberian youth.
Without the ability to critically analyze situations, to differentiate between constructive criticism and unchecked envy, individuals are left vulnerable to being influenced by negativity.
It emboldens the cycle of envy, degradation, and strife, thereby undermining any efforts to create a better society.
The consequences of such attitudes and behaviors are profound, not only for the individuals directly involved but for Liberia as a whole.
A community marred by jealousy and backbiting is ill-suited to identify and tackle the challenges it faces.
It cannot offer the solidarity required to forge a united front against poverty and underdevelopment.
It cannot foster an environment in which innovation, entrepreneurship, and ethical leadership would thrive.
To rectify this, there must be a concerted effort from all facets of Liberian society, individuals, organizations, and the government.
The bedrock of this initiative should be a radical cultural shift; an overhaul of societal values that places the collective good above the narrow interests of the individual.
Support for one another must become a creed by which every Liberian lives.
There must be an unspoken agreement to uplift, motivate, and inspire peers, not to suppress their spirit or achievements.
Education must also reflect this change.
It should go beyond the traditional confines of literacy and numeracy to instill values that promote societal wellness, respect for success, and the aspiration to achieve.
A competitive academic structure coupled with a curriculum that encourages critical thinking, camaraderie, and leadership will ensure that the future leaders of Liberia are well-equipped to handle the demands of a rapidly changing world.
Adults and societal leaders play a pivotal role in modeling appropriate behavior.
Young Liberians are products of their environment, mirroring the attitudes they observe in older generations.
Therefore, adults must exemplify unity, respect, and mutual support, setting the tone for succeeding generations to emulate.
Furthermore, it requires a proactive attempt to foster unions and groups that incentivize solidarity over rivalry.
Programs should be instituted that recognize and reward collective achievement as well as individual merit, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and cooperative efforts toward common goals.
A transformation of such magnitude is not merely aspirational but an existential imperative.
The soul of the Liberian youth must be reclaimed from the clutches of negativity if Liberia is to elevate itself from its current plight.
It is a journey from the divisive to the inclusive, from the self-centered to the collective-minded, and from petty rivalry to mutual upliftment.
Let me say that to forge an era of growth and progress, a sea change in attitudes and values among the Liberian youth and the whole society is essential.
Envy, bad-mouthing, and degradation must yield to a new ethos of support, appreciation for one another’s achievements, and belief in the collective good.
Liberians have a deep well of strength from which to draw, and the potential in its youth is boundless.
If channeled through a prism of constructive attitudes and actions, this potential is the key to elevating the nation from the gutters of poverty into a force of positive contribution to both national and global arenas.
Only then can Liberia’s dream of a better future become a living reality.