Young hoping for a better tomorrow
15.09.2001
`IT MAKES me so sad to hear of people talking about how America is going to bomb Baghdad or Afghanistan into submission as if that is a good thing. They don't see the terrified people, the children who cower from the bombs and bullets.
``They make it sound as if it is a movie where if someone punches you, you punch back. It's no good lashing out at other innocent people due to frustration or revenge.
``The people of Baghdad are victims of a cruel regime. They are not the people behind the evil things that have happened. There is talk of Palestinians rejoicing at the news. These people are not evil. They are just deluded and are the victims of propaganda.
``I feel sorry for them, especially when I see pictures of a 10-year-old boy firing a Kalashnikov rifle into the air in celebration. It is far easier to seek revenge than to seek answers, but revenge will not stop this. It will lead to more civilian deaths and bitter resentment.''
Those words were written yesterday by Paul O'Callaghan, 19, of Britain. He was one of 400 teenagers selected from 150 countries of the world to attend the month-long Olympic Youth Camp (OYC) at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. These young people, many of them top athletes from their own countries, formed a terrific bond and now network via e-mail. They truly represent the world of tomorrow.
In contacting their Australian OYC colleagues, they expressed their views and fears in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Washington and New York. We are privileged to share them:
Missy Rickley (Miami, USA) is a trainee firefighter who lost two firefighter friends in the World Trade Centre: ``I live by a bridge that is being secured right now by a lot of cops. They believe these guys (Arabs) are going to try to blow up our bridge and contaminate our water. If I die in all of this, I just want you all to know that I love you all and yes, I am crying right now.
``I am scared. I wish this were a dream. I once had a dream that the world was one -- and that dream came true when I went to Australia and met all of you. I saw people smile in Australia -- people you would probably never see smile in their own countries, but it came true at the OYC. I once had a dream but now my dream is dying because of a revenge on us.''
Emma McIlroy, 20, Northern Ireland: ``I have lived day in, day out with terrorism in N. Ireland and although it's not on the same scale as happened in New York, it hurts just as much as if it's someone you know in the bomb or crossfire.
``I don't agree with the innocent people of the Middle East who are the same as us and are normal everyday families being targeted and slaughtered, but this is a time when terrorism can't be tolerated and I have no fear of World War III because this is something which the whole democratic world must stand against.''
Alex Bletel, 19, weightlifting champion, Israel: ``I hope now all you know how it is to live in Israel when every day there are acts of terror. To all you guys in the US, I just hope you are all OK and your families are fine. I hope that our generation can make a difference. From Alex, the big guy in Israel.''
Zhiyan Yan, 19, Singapore: ``We hold close to our hearts the memories we shared at OYC and always remember that no reason would ever justify the taking of a life. An eye for an eye makes the world go blind. Don't let what has happened change what we already learnt from OYC.''
Ryan McKenzie, 19, Canada: ``One year ago North and South Korea walked into a stadium filled with 112,000 welcoming fans. We all met, and not a single difference mattered, and we did not even need to be able to speak the same language to communicate. Nobody should be celebrating the suffering in the USA as I saw this afternoon. And do not be proud of any equally horrific retaliation anyone might take. Peace -- for real.''
Stephanie Langer, 19, Germany: ``Today, at 10am, the whole of Germany stopped for a few minutes to pray to God and think that innocent people had to die because of people filled with hate. I am really scared about what happens now.''
TRAVIS Saunders, 20, Canada: ``A friend of mine has parents who had tickets on the flight which struck the Trade building. I feel sick because people like Missy lost friends and because people are being stereotyped and lashed out against because of their religion or nationality.
``Sydney taught me we are all the same. I love my country -- so much that I get chills thinking about it and I get chills thinking about the Aussies when Cathy Freeman won or when the counsellor started jumping up and down because Cameroon won the soccer gold medal. But as much as I love my country I would denounce it in a second to win the life of another person. You taught me that. Innocent people were killed today so does that mean that in retaliation more innocents should be killed? I'm scared, guys, it's scaring the hell out of me. In the end, winning a war means nothing because who are you fighting against? Evil? Oppression? What if it spirals out of control?
``We have to have a big party after this -- rent out Malta or something. I love you guys with all my heart.''
Kareem Hull, 20, British Virgin Islands: ``My sympathy to anyone who might have had a family member fall victim in this tragedy. I do hope America rises up and lives out the contents of its creed and demonstrates the power of the most powerful nation in the world.
``Missy, God bless you and God bless America, your home sweet home.''
