Search for next leaders, a quest for truth

As the deadline for submitting certificates of candidacy has passed, the search for our next leaders has begun. However, we know that there will still be surprises and drastic changes in the coming weeks due to substitutions. But one thing is certain: the information materials of those seeking election have already flooded our Facebook timelines. Opposing factions have poured in their support. And, yes, this will intensify as we approach the official campaign period.

As we are still unsure whether we will be able to conduct a face-to-face campaign, we will fight it out on social media. As a result, we anticipate out-of-control comments that will be even more difficult to control.

Once again, the search for our next leaders is critical. Every election season, we keep telling ourselves that we will never again be duped by promises. Promises that will remain promises even after these politicians step down from office. As a result, we voters appear to have a short-term memory as well. We have a tendency to forget and forgive our leaders' actions. As a result, history is only preserved in books, not for teaching but for record keeping.

My colleague at the university conducted a quick poll of her Grade 7 students to determine their preference for presidential aspirants. Though they are not yet eligible to vote, the survey only seeks to determine their level of awareness among those who have declared their intention to run for the highest office in the country. And to her chagrin, such an unexpected winner does not appeal to her.

Their decision is based on a number of criteria. One example would be a cursory overview of history in elementary school. Second, their parents, who are often in their twenties or thirties and have no knowledge of or understanding of the past, as well as social media. The popular social networking platform that allows for an unrestrained and uncontrolled flow of information, where accuracy is a big concern because users have the ability to bend the truth to their benefit.

Unfortunately, a simple survey would give us a glimpse of the type of young people we have, their exposure to both reliable and unreliable sources of information, as well as their parents' guidance in leading them to the search for reliable information. As a result, there is a need to raise the level of awareness among our youth. And doing so necessitates the collaboration of parents, trustworthy media platforms, and society at large. We cannot simply wait a few years for these young people to repeat the same mistakes of the past, as we have repeatedly stated. Never, ever again.

The search for our next leaders is a quest for the truth. Though committed in the past, it cannot be forgotten because it serves as a lesson for facing the future. And each generation must ensure that this lesson is passed down accurately to the next generation. It is therefore critical to protect the sanctity and purity of truth, as it is akin to keeping our parents' and grandparents' memories alive in our hearts. We will never forget their struggles, blood, and tears, let alone the loss of our loved ones, in order to obtain the freedom that we, including our children, now enjoy.