“You are like a dementor; you chased away my cheerfulness with your depressed look.” That was the comment I got from a young relative as we sat together in a restaurant having dinner. She had joined me and another friend who, basically, was having a bad day. Having just finished reading all the Harry Potter books, she applied that term to my character — a dementor is like a jailer who does away with all happiness and cheerful thoughts on the part of his prisoners.
“A dementor is not a very good thing to be,” I told myself. The only thing I could come up with as an answer was what Shirley MacLean said in “Steel Magnolias”: “I’ve been in a bad mood for the past twenty years.” Even so, what would make a person give off those kinds of vibes? I asked myself and looked around me, searching for other “dementors” with grumpy looks on their faces to keep me company. Luckily enough I found companions in the restaurant and on the street. It struck me that our generation has become a grumpy one, with lots of frustrated dreams.
This line of thought took me back to a discussion the other day with a group of young Saudis. The subject was their hope of a better future for themselves and their generation. Hope for a better life involves hope for better jobs, better work ethics, a better atmosphere and better social attitudes. But does hope stop there? Actually that is only part of the picture; what we lack here is more than just hope for a better life. We also lack the drive to be creative and productive. How has this happened? I cannot think of any single reason to hold responsible; rather it has come about because of a combination of reasons which have sucked cheerful anticipation out of our lives.
Looking at my generation, it seemed we have all acquiesced in the fact that things will not get any better so we might as well accept the way things are. Someone said that our generation has nothing more to expect and that what is important is the younger one. Somehow this spirit of defeat runs through a whole group of people. Are we supposed to give up all hope of a better future?
An enthusiastic young man who was talking about the brave attempt by one of Jeddah’s private schools to change its curriculum attracted my attention. He talked about how this school wants to make a difference, create more curious minds, teach children to ask and explore and research. For a start, if every private school in Jeddah stimulated this kind of thought and this kind of character building, that would surely bring about some needed changes.
Yet commendable as this effort is, the majority of our students are not getting a good education. We are still arguing about whether a second language should be taught in primary school, or whether girls can have PE classes in government schools! We are talking about a change in the curriculum but that is not, by a long shot, all that is needed. A change of mindset is of vital importance. We must have teachers who encourage students to ask questions rather than simply memorize. We need parents who teach their children how important education is, parents who teach children that taking advantage of education is their first responsibility so when the children grow up, they can accept other responsibilities. What is required must begin in the home and it should not end at school. Society must be more open to curious minds and inquisitive spirits. It must not judge by outward appearances and repress individuals whose only fault is to have a different idea or opinion.
If we want a better future for our society, we must start with young people so we do not end up with just another grumpy generation.
