Dear Mr. Editor,
Adults, Do You Really Want Young People to Speak Out?
As a young person, I just wanted to ask you to send this message to the people ofAnguilla. You adults place all the blame for whatever is bad and wrong in society on us, the young people. You say that we are the ones that are responsible for all the crime and violence. Most of the people in the jail are young people. You ask us to come forward and talk so that crime and violence can stop.
Well, I just want to say, that adults must stop being hypocrites. When we do come forward, if it something that you do not want to hear, you accuse us of being crazy, of telling lies and as being bad.
Tell me, do you know how hard it is for a young person to come forward? Do you know how many of us are suffering in silence because we are so afraid? Do you know how many of our parents and family and friends know the truth but won’t listen to us or do not want to hear us? Do you know how many of us will continue to suffer in silence because if, and when, we come forward you make us into criminals and liars? Is this the kind of society that you want – For us to come forward depending on what crime it is or who it affects?
Let us think hard and long about the kind of society we are building and please stop blaming the young people. Please accept your own part in wrecking our society.
A disappointed young person.
