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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

YOUTH SPEAKS OUT

13 July, 1999 - 00:00

A phrase rang out a decade ago that became the motto of a generation: Is
it easy to be young? The young people of today, forced to become more pragmatic,
cannot but try to solve the question of what is to be done. Our reality
by no means offers them a plethora of well-trodden paths from school to
old age. Hence they think it better to choose what helps them assert themselves
in earnest, including in intellectual terms by debating the most acute
problems of today.

Kseniya Khelemska, 17, president of the school parliament at Kyiv Lyceum
№. 77, last spring took part in the World Debates Tournament in London.
Together with the Ukrainian organizers of this program, Ella Lamakh and
Vlad Halushko, she was hosted at The Day's editorial office and
talked to our journalists about the choice of paths facing young people
who will very soon be determining Ukraine's public fase in the next millennium.

"Kseniya, you deal with public life problems both as a Debates Program
participant and president of student government at Kyiv's linguistic Lyceum
No. 77. And how do your peers, classmates, and friends react to this kind
of activity?"

"Very positively. All my friends are from the school-based Pandora Club
organized by Zoya Hoiko, one of the trailblazers of this movement in Kyiv.
None of my acquaintances outside the club are surprised with or skeptical
of our competitions, where we debate various subjects. For it is extremely
interesting to develop your opinion according to certain rules of the game.
When I had just joined the club, we did the topic "Can women create a better
world than men?" And we switched from one side to the other, affirmative
and negative. Now we have many topics connected with NATO's eastward expansion."

"What is your attitude to the aspiration of some of our politicians
to expand the union of Russia and Belarus?"

"My attitude toward these ideas is very negative, for Russia will again
dominate and impose its will on us. I think we must work for self-sufficiency,
remaining independent economically and politically."

"Politicians show certain differences between what they really think
and what they say. How do you think they can resolve this dilemma?"

"This could be very difficult. In a debate, you keep doggedly to a certain
viewpoint, and, once the game is over, you start to consider your real
position. It is the Debates Program that inspired in me with the desire
to become a politician and solve problems so that my own views coincide
with those required for victory."

"And which of the Ukrainian women politicians appeal to you most?"

"I do not see any yet. Because I do not accept totally the women Communists
and their manner of speech in our Parliament's sessions. I would like to
see something different. In general, I regard Madeleine Albright as a perfect
example in this respect, though she steadfastly supports the NATO actions."

"Do you often watch or listen to the sessions of our Parliament?"

"No, I can't watch them, for our lawmakers' behavior simply depresses
me. Not only because I cannot follow their train of thought, but also because
they lack elementary skills in the culture of debate, communication, and
defending their point of view. Our Parliament is not exactly what I would
like us to have. Unfortunately, we, members of Debate, still cannot visit
the assembly room and see everything as a whole, rather than in short video
footage. We would not even refuse to debate some points there."

Emma LAMAKH, coordinator of the Debates Program in Ukraine:

"There is a worldwide Debates movement network already supported here
by the Soros Foundation for four years. For in democratic countries no
decisions are made without prior debates, and all politicians, lawyers,
and business people have gone through this learning process. Participation
in Debates is a normal social practice in Europe. The tournaments are regarded
as events shaping the future, and it is a great honor to sponsor a national
team. Unfortunately, the attitude toward us in Ukraine, where there already
are about 300 clubs of this movement, is rather cool. Our competitions
are treated as something of no use. In reality, this is an important trend
which makes us part of the world democratic process."

"It really is very difficult to enter our Parliament. But you may
conduct a session of your school parliament at our editorial office on
the topic of your choice. You could also maintain a kind of dialogue with
your foreign debate colleagues on various points via our English-language
digest and Internet site. For example, we hold a youth contest on the topic
'What would I like to change in Ukraine?' How would you answer this question?"

Kseniya KHELEMSKA:

"I would like to change the people. I saw a more caring and open attitude
among people toward those around them in other countries, such as Denmark,
Canada, and Great Britain. It seems to me we must gradually raise the cultural
level. And this is why I want to become a politician."

"Do you think the adult world of Ukraine has hope in your generation?"

"I'm not sure. There are people who need us, for our generation is interested
in a normal future for Ukraine, so that we could make some concrete changes.
But not all politicians would like to see our generation become conscious
citizens."

"Kseniya, almost 30% of our population would like to go abroad, where
good living conditions already exist. But there is a kind of real dignity
in working and making life better here. What do your peers think about
this?"

"The current well-being of many countries results from the work of very
many generations. To live better, we must first of all see to our own country.
Take education, for instance. I would like to have a system of education
where we had a wider choice of disciplines in culture, history, ethics,
and esthetics, which promote people's multifaceted development. In most
countries, higher education is free of charge, for it embodies the right
to a free acquisition of knowledge without any financial obstacles. And
if there is a tuition system, one can count on various grants and scholarships
awarded to good students by endless foundations and non-governmental organizations."

Vlad HALUSHKO:

"When we were launching this program in my home town of Zhovti Vody,
it seemed to be a game that only gave satisfaction and a feeling of greater
self-confidence. Many people now engage in debating to develop themselves,
to gain more information, become a good player, and go places, while in
normal democratic countries debates are as much subject of instruction
as is mathematics or physics in this country. In this country, debates
are as yet, in a way, a place to develop friendly relationships even outside
one's own school or city. For the regional tournaments in our clubs in
all Ukraine's oblasts create an excellent atmosphere. Likewise, in our
head office bought by George Soros for Ukrainian debaters, teenagers can
gather to get the information they need and learn to express their opinions."

Ella LAMAKH:

"The college students' Debates Program has also encountered specific
problems. We saw at the Pan-American Debates representatives of many universities
who were looking for their future students at those tournaments. But in
our native Institute of International Relations students told us, "What's
the use of this? Our parents have done everything, we know even now where
we will work." Or this example. We are now launching a new program, The
Legal Clinic, also funded by the International Renaissance Foundation.
This is practical law, where we teach teenagers the philosophy of law -
not jurisprudence but the ethics of human rights. We also teach teachers
how to approach children, talk them, rouse their interest, and explain
what peaceful settlement of conflicts is. Hence the dean of the Law Department
at Ukraine's leading university says his students do not need this, while
students take part and establish various contacts behind his back. Such
attitudes toward the important problems of young people hinders us and
runs counter to students' basic needs."

"And what place does love hold in the life of your friends?"

"One of the foremost. It is sad and boring to live without love."

By Larysa IVSHYNA, Valentyn PUSTOVOIT, Diana KLOCHKO, The Day

 

 

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