The power of young people

CEBU, Philippines – Just after a few days, the current protest action in Hongkong has now begun to draw mixed reactions from the Hongkong people themselves. Certain businesses have complained that the planned restriction on

mainland Chinese from traveling to Hongkong is going to badly hurt business in the former British colony, especially tourism. Not even to mention that the establishments around the protest venue find it very difficult to conduct business as usual.

But the toll is just too little a price to pay for full democracy, the protesters and their sympathizers say. They feel glad that civic consciousness is catching on among the young generation, proudly citing 17-year-old Joshua Wong, one of the protest's leaders. And the huge number that takes to the street consists mainly of young people.

While Hongkong parents probably worry about the bravado their protesting kids display, social scientists agree that such youthful assertiveness can really work in ensuring the upholding of common rights. They contend further that popular civic consciousness is necessary for social order and justice. It takes number and boldness to effect significant changes and enforce a new order.

But civic consciousness doesn't always have to be a gesture as big as confronting the government. Malaysian Dr. Goh Ban Lee, a senior research fellow at the Penang Institute, specializing in urban governance, housing and urban planning, writes in www.thesundaydaily.my of a story that also exemplify civic consciousness:

"By the time the Rapid Penang bus reached Gelugor on the way to Komtar and the jetty in George Town, all the seats had been occupied. There were also a few standing passengers. At Jelutong, among the passengers boarding the bus was an elderly lady with an aluminum walking paraphernalia. A young mother with a toddler sitting in a front seat got up and offered her place. As the senior took the seat, the toddler cried and wanted her mother to sit beside her. Although the elderly lady offered to return the seat, the mother declined.

Ultimately, the mother, standing nearby, was able to calm her daughter down. It was a heart-warming scenario to witness.

But the above was only part of the scenario. Just behind the seat offered to the senior were three seats for disabled persons, with a sign clearly printed on the window panel behind the seats which face the aisle. These were occupied by a young man and two young women. No one stood up to offer his or her seat to the elderly lady.

As more passengers boarded the bus, it happened that another elderly lady ended up standing right in front of the young man. Although it was clear she was having a hard time maintaining her balance, no thanks to the braking system, the young man remained seated. It was clear that his personal value system did not make him feel that he should give up his seat. The exemplary conduct of the mother earlier obviously did not have an influence on him either."

Situations like that related by Dr. Goh Ban Lee are quite common in our country too. Although there are those among our young people who exhibit admirable civic consciousness, there are just too many who do not. In our own city itself, especially during rush hours, we see young people racing for a jeepney ride, unmindful of elderly people who like them also have to go somewhere. The elderly often loses, of course, given their characteristic slow pace and weakness.

Today's youth have better education than their elders. But who are often rowdy in places and situations that call for reserved demeanor? Who often talks on their hand-phones in meetings and at a church service? Who would throw away their trash indiscriminately? It would seem that school makes the young aware of their rights - but not their responsibilities.

But it is also clear that young people now have values and traits their parents and grandparents did not have in their time. Again, if the older Hongkong citizens were to decide, there probably would not have been this massive protest action at all. At a certain age people become content with just trying to keep the order of things.

By their sheer number, the youth is becoming a great power indeed. The older generation needs to acknowledge that. And the youth themselves must realize that it is time for them to take the lead - not only in rallies and mass actions, but, most importantly, in consistently setting good examples in everyday life.