EDWARD DE BONO'S MESSAGES - 10th July 2000

Political thinking amongst young people

I was sitting, at dinner, next to the person who is organising a Youth Parliament at the time of the Sydney Olympics. There are to be 300 youngsters (19 to 28 years old) from 156 countries. It is a magnificent undertaking. I may be giving a talk at some stage.

I mentioned to this person two rather prevalent modes of 'political thinking amongst young people. The first mode is the blame mode. If you can identify the villains (monsters etc) then it is enough to blame them. There is no need for further thinking. If only the bad guys went away all would be well. The bad guys could be multi-nationals, oil companies, big banks, globilisation, corrupt government etc.

Often the blame is justified and some blame is certainly useful. But that is only part of the thinking needed. Where the blame is directed at the past (apartheid, colonialists etc.) then blame is not going to undo the past.

Complaint itself is a vote of confidence in those being complained about. You complain - they can put it right.

Young children have no power, so complaint and blame and 'fairness' are the only tools. At some stage, however, it is necessary to become more constructive.

The other mode is to mimic adult politicians extremely well and to come across with all the usual noises and clichés. What then is the point of being young? There are already enough adult politicians.

 Edward de Bono nmt
9th July 2000
Darwin