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The increasing complexities of life today impose great challenges on nations struggling to manage their internal and external affairs without outside interference or influence; this is a harsh reality of our world. We show our indignation and we remind ourselves of the flagrant realities of our nation. Looking around, observing, reflecting, and analyzing the catastrophic events that surround us in every corner of our land, while listening, reading, and discussing the state of our society, force us to the depths of despair and futility.
The relentless attacks on our nation should have opened every eye and sharpened every mind to the negligence, deviation, and failure of the contemporary generations. Our involvement in modern inventions and the development of new systems does not measure up to any degree of decency. Our participation in scientific progress and the production of goods does not compare favorably with some small, advanced countries. We were the ardent and eager consumers of what others invented and produced during the last century: the century that enriched human heritage, and life in general, to the highest level known by any people in any age: the century of amazing developments in science and technology, which took place alongside terrible wars, destruction, and atrocities.
In retrospect, however, we cannot forget the positive aspects: those milestones that left indelible marks on all our endeavors. We cannot fail to acknowledge the progress made in the last hundred years. This was a remarkable era that witnessed the invigoration of ideas, innovations, inventions, and discoveries, which exceeded all the achievements made during the ten or twenty previous centuries. The progress made in the information technology (IT) and the computer industry, for example, expanded knowledge in every field and introduced systems to speed up work and services, accelerate the mass production of products, changing all the processes and operations in commercial, industrial, educational, medical, military, and governmental activities. Consequently, it changed the way things are done and produced in every sector in the advanced countries. The transmission, storage of information and documents, and the surge in communications has reached a speed never experienced before.
Thinking of us, what have we contributed to the twentieth century, besides wasting time, missing opportunities, corrupting standards and traditions, spoiling the last few generations, and exposing our inability to match talk and dreams with action and productive work. Did we help our children participate constructively in the advancement of knowledge and in the development, construction, and improvement of our communities? Did we prove that we are among the good citizens of the world, active custodians and builders of the earth throughout this wonderful, progressive century? Did we realize our collective responsibility in destroying the potential of our new generations, to rise and rebuild our countries?
Do we acknowledge our awful insistence in depleting the finite resources that God created in our land and how we are participating in leading our children to the abyss of futility?
We cannot continue as spectators of the crucial events confronting us every day and play indifferent to the corrupt history being written on our backs in defeat after defeat and humiliation. We have to go back to basics, examine our shortcoming, our lack of action and negative participation, our careless behavior, and terrible habits. There is no other way. We have to take a positive attitude and identify every action—or lack of it—and change what needs to be changed and what has hindered the progress of our nation.
A good starting point would be to help our children move towards a new revival: a promise of a better, progressive future with new visions. We should guide them to adopt strong and positive attitudes. We must introduce modern methods and different approaches for every problem and obstacle plaguing our progress. We must develop new systems, procedures, and programs in every sector. We must enhance and foster what is good in our culture, and introduce useful elements from other cultures; adopting principles, systems, and programs that embrace the universal values that everyone needs and we can approve of, support, and advance.
To begin with, let us consider human rights and integrity, respect of work, focus on excellence and high achievement, support of innovation and exploration, commitment to responsible freedom of expression, discussion, movement, and organization, acceptance of responsibility and accountability, tolerance, openness, and fair dealing.
With the right approach and open mindedness, we can overhaul our educational, economic, civil, justice, and administration systems. Every one has to contribute according to his/her ability and place in life; working for the real strength that begins with the educational, technological, cultural, economic, and scientific fields, and then proceed to every other area that needs to be changed. This has to be the challenge of our life, for every one of us. |
