Social/Teen Issues

http://newslink.asiaone.com/user/OrderArticleRequest.action?order=&_sourcePage=%2FWEB-INF%2Fjsp%2Fuser%2Fsearch_type_result.jsp&month=12&year=2006&date=08&docLanguage=en&documentId=nica_ST_2006_5272713

I got this article from newslink. This article gives a brief description of the AIDS Conference that 120 students had taken part in. It tells us how more and more youths want more openness towards aids and the importance of spreading the message about aids. Most youths believe that aids should be discussed more widely. I personally share the same view as them.

The word ‘Aids’ invokes a myriad of feelings in different people. Some associate it to death and the loss of life. They think of how one’s life can be extinguished in a matter of seconds. Others are reminded of the suffering and humiliation of contracting the disease. However, it is saddening or even disturbing to note that Aids has become a tabooed subject in some societies. In today’s world, youths are constantly bombarded by the message that aids should not be talked about. Both the media and parents, bar their children and youth from discussing or even mentioning the topic. This is extremely disturbing as it lays the groundwork for ignorance. The youth are not aware of the subject and end up indulging in the wrong things. Ironically, traditional parents believe that they are spinning a protective veil around the children by shielding them from the knowledge of Aids.

There have been many cases of occurrences of death due to the contraction of Aids. Most people acknowledge the fact that Aids is a serious disease and it comes down to the individual. However, they fail to realise that the seeds are sown in the home environment. As the parents shield the youth of the community too much, their inquisitiveness and curiosity slowly evolves to obsession. As a result, the parents and media should be held responsible for the occurrences. The boundary between curiosity and obsession is very thin. Curbing the youth’s curiosity can result in the breaching of the boundary.

However, lately both the media and some parents have changed their ways for the better. They have started to discuss with the youths about Aids and are becoming more ‘open’ towards the ‘tabooed topic’. This is rather pleasing to me as it helps to empower the youth of today. It helps to address the questions that stem from curiosity. This process is helped by the initiatives that the government deploys.
There is an interesting quote in English that depicts the importance of learning the finer things in life. "It is amazing how quickly the kids learn to drive a car, yet are unable to understand the lawnmower, snow blower or vacuum cleaner." This quote summarises the importance of empowering our youth. Often youth learn the more complex things in life than the finer things. These initiatives and encouragement of the parents and media paves the way for the youth to understand the complexities and finer details involving Aids. This shift in mindset is a welcome change. It has been heralded with much enthusiasm by youths. Even though it was only a slight change in mindset, it has yielded desirable consequences. "If you think something small can't make a difference, try going to sleep with a mosquito in the room."