Describe your ideal world

My ideal world would be one in which everyones
thoughts and ideas were accepted and not judged and
everyone could live in peace as a result. That is my
greatest wish for peace on earth. I want everyone to
be knowledgeable about each others cultures, religion
and learn to appreciate them for without that there is
little tolerance and understanding which is sadly the
root of all our problems, racial, ethnic, religious,
sexual etc.My question was why people made religion such a big
deal when making friendships I've lived in different
countries and been to different schools. When I went
to some schools there was this clear ethnic
distinction and it also had a lot to do with religion.
So when I had non-muslim friends some of my muslim
friends would feel as if I were betraying them and try
to get me to stop being friends with others. Also if
one were of a certain ethnicity but had a different
religion than most of the ehtnicity one would run into
the huge problem of not fitting in. Whichever side you
chose you still let go of another part of you. I found
that extremely sad and distressing, because youth are
supposed to be the most open minded age group if their
parents have instilled so much of their behaviors and
beliefs in them then that is such a sad and sorry
loss.
I went to MIT as a participant and delegate of the
jrsummit 98. My chemistry teacher gave me the form
because I was the youngest person in my class i.s
someone who was within the age range. The junior
journal was just on of the many projects brainstormed
and created.

What do you see when you look at the youth in your country?

The problem with that is I haven't been in my country
for a long while. But from what I've seen many of them
are bound by tradition and it's hard for them to see
the world differently, but there are changes. The more
ambitious youth are trying to make a difference. When
I look at them, the thing I'm struck most with is
their strength and endurance, and their respect for
elders. When I go to any other foreign country which
isn't a third world one, the youth talk about petty
things like which shoes are in fashion. Sure the youth
in my country talk about such things, but they don't
give them as much importance. I also love seeing how
important family is in my country.
Technology has empowered me given me the ability to
talk with youth my age from all over the world and
express our ideas. It has allowed me to see problems
in other countries that I would other wise be unaware
of. The best thing about the junior journal was that
we were all in different countries and whenever CNN
reported an event we quickly asked the people in those
country whether that was true or not. WE usually got
different stories and different persepectives. We had
participants from KAshmir and Pakistan work together
and write an article on the tensions there allowing us
to see both sides of the issue. I could go on and on,
but technology is the key to youth empowerment as I
see it. Where its going I have no idea but I certainly
hope its heading towards a brighter more peaceful and
more equal and tolerant future for us all.