Where I Stand — Afan Tarar: Youths have wide-ranging views on global issues

Friday, Dec. 23, 2005 | 9:43 a.m.

Editor's Note: Editor's note: About 1,000 students from high schools throg out Southern Nevada participated in the 50th annual Sun Youth Forum on Nov. 22. The students were divided into groups to discuss a variety of topics. A spokesperson was chosen from each group to write a column about the students' findings. Afan Tarar of Palo Verde High School writes about issues covered by his group.

The Sun Youth Forum was exciting and full of surprises, raising some very interesting questions regarding U.S. foreign policy and world relations.

About 30 of us were in a group, with the topics of discussion ranging from AIDS in Africa to the war in Iraq. The room was full of different opinions of people from different backgrounds, and everyone had a chance to be heard.

The first question that was raised was regarding the power of the United Nations. The room had differing opinions but did agree on the fact that the biggest problem for the U.N. was the absolute authority of the Security Council and that it is only as powerful as the member nations want it to be.

Other than that, however, there were many opinions voiced regarding the fact that it seems the U.N. is dictated by the United States and that as an institution the United Nations is an inherent failure with regard to its military record.

Other people felt, myself included, that the U.N. is an institution that has all the power and structure to really change the world, but each individual nation's national interests are in conflict, which doesn't allow for the U.N. to function as it was intended.

Other participants also pointed out that the other programs that the U.N. has, such as UNICEF, were very successful. The students all agreed, however, that if there was a way to fix the power in balance within the U.N., then the world would be a far better place and the U.N. would be able to accomplish much more.

Another topic that was full of heated debate was the war in Iraq. The room's opinions differed greatly, from students saying that the war was wrong to begin with and the United States should pull out right away to some saying that it is necessary for the United States to stay and provide a democracy and a stable government for the Iraqi people.

This idea of putting in a democracy raised more issues on whether or not democracy was the best form of government for all people or whether the United States had the right to instill its ideals and morals on other nations. The question of the reason to go to war was raised and that brought up one of the few agreements within the group -- no one knew.

Another interesting point of discussion was regarding the problem with AIDS in Africa. The group discussed ways that AIDS could be stopped or at least controlled in that region of the world.

The majority of the group believed that education was the key and that throwing money at the problem, as we are doing now, will not change a thing. A smaller group of students, myself included, believed that the problem rests with the structure of African governments and the deeper political problems plaguing some countries. Unless those issues are first taken care of, education would not help to the degree that it would under more stable and less violent regimes.

Yet both sides agreed that money was not the solution, and that the course of action being taken now is counterproductive to the effort of stopping AIDS.

The group discussed many more issues, including illegal immigrants, the sex trade and youth voting in America.

The Sun Youth Forum is a wonderful place for debate and learning. In the end, all the students came out more informed and with new ideas about the world we all live in and how to make it a better place.