The Diego Diaries: Callow Debate (dd8 421)
NOTE: The chihuahua was ailing last night. He has allergy itching issues and suffers a bit from a tad of dementia brought about by his medicine. SIGH! He's my lover boy and all around boyfriend. So here we go ...
=0=Debate
"I have nothing to add to that but my support. I would like to see more collaboration between Cybertron and the district here. Our kids must never forget the greatness that they embody by being Cybertronian. The more they learn about our home world the better," Sirio replied smoothly.
The debate raged on and when the bell rang it was with relief to some and disappointment to others. They shook Conn's servo and left. Passing onward to the green room, the two nodded encouragement to two kids waiting their turn.
"Now we have something special," Conn said. He grinned. "We always have a child from Intermediate School as a representative on the board for the children's voice to be heard. Its appointed by luck of the draw from those who want to be the representative and lasts a year. This year a special election by the student body was held at Intermediate Day #1 by the students in civics class where the idea of students running for the seat was posed. Along with it was the idea of them and others being elected by their youthful peers in the general election.
"The idea of this was posed by petition, the same one that asked for the right to vote. Both requests were granted by Prime. The agreement of this board for this event was given so we have the first debate of the student representatives ever tonight," Conn said as the place erupted in applause. "Please welcome Simby of Polyhex and Coros of Polyhex."
The place erupted in applause as the two kids walked out with a confident intense air about themselves. What the audience didn't know was that they were competitive in school, on opposite sides of most issues in civics and go-getters who'd be a force in the world as they grew up. They took their podiums, then glanced at Conn.
"Welcome. I would like you to tell us something about yourself and why you want to be the youth representative on the board. Simby?" Conn asked.
Simby who was beautiful, petite for her age and very intense glanced at the audience. "I want to help make a difference. My family had a lot of privilege and I know that wasn't fair. They were involved in printing and publishing including educational things. I want to help by representing the student body on the Board. I want their views and needs to have more representation. I want their input to matter."
Applause greeted that. It wasn't lost on anyone that both kids were former high castes but the crowd was good about it. These were kids and they appeared to be what everyone hoped for anymore, clear opticed and decent.
"Coros?" Conn asked. He was enjoying himself immensely.
"My name is Coros and I was born in the Diaspora but claim Polyhex as my right of name. I came here entitled and selfish," he said earnestly. "I was boorish, moody and unkind."
The room settled into a deep quiet as they listened to a kid that many knew was a giant asset and good spark.
"It took a while to understand that most of what I knew was wrong. When that happened the sky opened up and I'm flying so high now that sometimes I don't see the ground. My friends and I started a mentorship program that's attached officially to the Watch and the medical community.
"The Watch teaches us about policing, security, personal growth, community relations, how to be a resource and not a hazard to our people and career advice. We go with the mechs and learn something every time. The medical part grew out of that as we watched the medics of the Watch. We did this together, my friends and I and we have over 120 kids in the program right now, a program that is run by a student committee with a Watch and Medical adult non-voting representative.
"We did this to learn, to make friends and give back. We want to give back everything we can. Most of us were former high caste kids who didn't understand the big lie. Now we know. We love our lives, get good grades in school but most of all we serve. We serve our wonderful people and all the communities. That's why I'm here. To serve our colony and her people, to give kids a voice. Its an honor to do any of this but to serve on the School Board would be a real privilege."
It was silent a second, then huge applause greeted it. Watching from a seat near the stage, Ratchet felt a twinge of pity for Simby. She, however still looked confident and patient.
"Thank you both. We've had some issues from the survey that pertain to kids directly and some to the programs offered or are posed. I would like to get your perspective on what can be done about the gangs? Some of them are youthful in their make up. What, if anything could you suggest from that perspective? Simby?" Conn asked.
She considered the question. "I saw youth gangs in the Diaspora. They formed to protect the colonies and settlements. Genitors didn't discourage it and that's a problem. Everyone needs to take responsibility for this. Genitors especially. I also think that more organized activities for kids will help. Some kids haven't gotten past the idea that they're rescued. We all need to step up together."
She got applause.
"Coros?" Conn asked.
"Simby is right about gangs forming to help protect. I was in a gang for a short time before we moved. We needed protection and couldn't get it where we were. A lot of things motivate this. Some kids are lonely and some don't have enough to do. Some are suffering from things that maybe you can't see on the outside.
"Having activities is great. Counseling is great. Maybe hooking kids up with adults, mentorships would be great. I want to suggest that to the Board if elected. There's a lot of great adults out there with skills and time. Having kids mentor with them, maybe making clubs around things they like to do like the Civil Air Patrol club that we have now … that's all important. This would include groups both inside and outside of the schools.
"We have to address the underlying issues before they can find a better way to go. Kids have suffered a lot. We formed the Watch and Medical Youth Auxiliary to address that. We also want to offer it to all Intermediate students from Level 1-3. Its driven by kids for kids. Include us more. Give us responsibility and opportunity and nothing will stop us from becoming the best and biggest asset that this colony has. We love it here. Let us help, too."
Huge thunderous applause greeted that.
"Thank you both," Conn said as he organized his questions. He grinned, then looked at Simby. "What's the biggest deficit that the School District has from your youth and participant perspective?"
Simby gave it a thought for a moment. "Activities. I think more are needed. We have a lot of clubs. We get to do a lot but there's a need to include kids more into groups that have the same interests. Some go home to an empty apartment. Its a prescription for trouble."
"Coros?"
"I think that's a fair view. But there's also literally dozens and dozens of clubs, mentorships and other things to do. I'd like to see more sports and have competitions between schools. We have 15 Intermediate Schools now. We can have inter-school sports and contests. Also academic competitions for those who don't like sports and sports for those who like them.
"I would also like to see more cooperative activities between us and the humans. I would like to see groups like the Knights, the Circle and the Mission come into the schools and talk about what they do and believe. It would open up more doors for kids to think about."
"Thank you," Conn said. "As you know, your age group is the one slated to learn about the less happy aspects of our history including the System of Exception. Its been controversial for some, the content and presentation. What do you know about it and what do you believe we need to do and consider? Simby?"
"The System and the rest were part of our history. We need to know and understand it. I don't want it to stir up resentment. We can't do anything about the past. But we can go forward. If its designed to be a focal point of resentment then I don't think that's a good thing. If its meant to tell the facts of what happened and only that then I think its going to be received better," Simby said.
Conn glanced from her to Coros. "Coros?"
He considered his feelings and views, then glanced at her. "We have to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. There's nothing that can be said to make what happened different or easier to take. You and I are both former high castes. We were given access to everything at the expense of everyone else.
"We can't dictate what comes from that. We can't soft pedal anything that makes us look bad when it turns out to be true. Its what happened. I would appose any attempts to downplay what happened. The System is why we're here. Castes have been banned by Lord Primus Himself. We need to look at this with clear optics and a willing spark. If we don't learn what happened then it can happen again. It always did," Coros said with conviction.
Huge applause greeted that with notable exceptions.
"You can present the facts, Coros, and I don't have a problem. What I don't want to see is a point of view that stirs up resentments over something that none of us can fix. We should be careful about the content because we can have violence if we aren't," Simby persisted.
"I have a lot of faith in people. I realize that terrible things happened at the will of our former caste. But I also think that if everything isn't aired out that it leaves room for this to happen again. Besides, when do some still get to have power over the majority?" Coros stared at Simby, his nemesis in school.
She stared back at a mech that was a thorn in her side. She was a good student, didn't cause problems even though it was obvious that if possible she didn't 'mix' and was determined to prevail at all she did. "We have to agree to disagree. I don't want violence in the colony over this."
"I don't believe we'll have it, Simby. We have to agree to disagree," Coros said.
"This is a hot topic I see," Conn said.
"It is. Not everyone has a family that's over the System. Not everyone is in complete agreement that its over. It was a shaming thing, the System and it hurt us to the point of near extinction. We're here and not Cybertron because of it. We have a duty to the dead to tell the truth no matter who is embarrassed. I want everyone to understand what happened if not for the future than for those who suffered in the past. Its the reason our mentorship program exists. We want to give back unselfishly," Coros said earnestly.
A buzz went through the room as most there nodded in agreement.
Conn checked his question, then glanced at Simby. "If you have no more comment, lets take the next question."
Simby glared at Coros. "I realize that some of us have a history that needs examination but I'm not going to be ashamed of my family because of it. I can hate the System without hating my family," she said coldly.
Coros turned toward her.
=0=TBC 4-29-2022
ESL
go-getter: (go-get-R) Someone who's self motivated, doesn't have to be prompted to do things but has goals they're willing to work to achieve. Slang expression.
