Our reality is weaved from the same fabric as our dreams
(Original)

Joanna Pietrzak
(Age 17, Poland)
Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Adama Asnyka w Łodzi

Before I started my essay, I had surveyed two groups of teenagers to find out what information they remembered after listening to news on TV or from the radio. It turned out that LITERALLY 0% of the surveyed students who were fifteen and sixteen had ever heard and taken into their hearts the information concerning peace campaigns and voluntary work!

The mass media are the biggest power in the world, it seems to be "the global king". The role of this "king" should be to spread peace, harmony and brotherhood among all "his" "subjects", namely us. Frederick II of Prussia was very famous for his motto: "I'm the first servant of my country". I believe this should be the message from our "global king" to our "global country".

Firstly, the mass media should respond to the needs of everyone. Once I had a lesson at school about the international conflicts. And I thought: Basques want their own country – why no one hears them? It reminded me of the history of my country. For 123 years Poland wasn't on the map – we wanted to be an independent nation with the rights equal to the other nations. Why hardly any newspapers all over the world spoke for us? Now there are some nations who also want to be heard – they need assistance to be given a chance to speak loudly. Why don't the mass media give them a helping hand?

While the TV floods us with political news, gossip about celebrities, every single minute there die 57 children because of starvation. They have been desperately waiting to say something to us, to cry for help. "The global king" should let them appeal to the public to move the hearts of those who lead a life of abundance. That is why mass media should show it to make people from developed countries help these children.

I am deeply interested in history and I'm positive it plays a very important role in building every person's consciousness. One can shape new history without committing the mistakes of the past only if one knows the past. In the future the media ought to devote much more time and attention to historical problems. Once heard the worlds of a politician who claimed on TV that nowadays we live in a better world, free from the mistakes of the past centuries. So I dare ask: what is the point of the war in Iraq? How do the civilians live there? Why are their civil rights being violated? Both state and independent media should show and explain true history. The moral duty of media is to teach how conflicts may be prevented, how to become humane, compassionate and altruistic.

The most important targets of all sources of information should be the youngest children. They are the future brave activists, who will shape our world in 20-30 years' time with the full respect for human rights and for human dignity. "The child is the father of the man", convinces us an old proverb. The media are expected to speak to them in clear and understandable way. Journalists should be a real moral authority. Whey don't the mass media reach and stimulated the thoughts of these little dwellers of our globe? I am convinced that there should be "Children News", where speakers are children themselves, expressing their own opinions about the global problems. Let's not moderate their ambitions, ideas. Let's enable them to broaden their knowledge to create a better world!

Owing to the knowledge of different languages we can communicate with peers all over the world and exchanging our thoughts. That's why different TV channels should broadcast the educational programs teaching every teenager foreign languages. OSCE endorsed The Year of Knowledge of Foreign Languages (2001). John Paul II initiated The World Youth Day – the day when the teenagers from all over the world meet. "The global king" should be inspired by such ideas, which unite young people.

I think that on the TV there should be more programs showing and explaining foreign habits, traditions, outlooks upon life, ways of thinking. "… The piano keys are black and white… But they sound like a million colors in your mind…" – sings Katie Melua in her song. And that's the punch line. People in different countries vary but they need to exchange their experience. All nations together form a wonderful inseparable oneness.

Once Marcus Tullius Cicero shouted out: "The welfare of society is the highest law!" Let's together make our "global king" understand that. Let's take actions!! Maybe I'm a dreamer but as Władysław Stanisław Reymont – one of the biggest Polish writers wrote in his book: "Our reality is weaved from the same fabric as our dreams". Together we will fulfill our dreams of peace in the worlds.