History and hope

Only three days ago, I was also in this room, the hemicycle of the European Parliament. I played football with an European Commissioner as a warming up before we both spoke at an event here. Apparently, they don’t really like it if you play football here, so not only I; but also the European Commissioner got kicked out by security. Why this matters, I will tell you later.

First of all. There are only two people in this world you need to make proud in your life. Your 90-year old self, and your 9-year old self.

One is a story of history, the other is a story of hope.

When you are 90 years old, you have a lot experience. When looking back, you don’t care about money or status, but what you actually did in your life. What is your heritage?

There is a Dutch saying that translates to ‘A donkey doesn’t bump into the same stone twice’, meaning that people learn from mistakes they made in the past. When you are 90 years old, you can see whether you’ve been a donkey or not.

With so much experience, you are also a history expert. You will come to the conclusion that we did not learn from history. Not because of what you studied, but just because you have been there.

If you are 90 years old today, you have been there during World War Two, you have seen the horrible consequences of discrimination, of making a particular group of people the scapegoat for all problems in society.

But, when you read the newspaper today, or look at your phone if you are a modern 90 year old, you see migrants are supposedly the reason of all problems we have, or gay people, or transgenders. You see again discrimination.

If you are 90 years old today, you have been there during the Cold War, you have had the fear of a war waiting to explode. In Eastern Europe, you have experienced how horrible it is to live in a dictatorship. But, you have also seen that hope wins from fear.

But today, you see people allowing wannabe dictators to dismantle democratic institutions. You see human rights and freedom of speech to be limited.

If you are 90 years old today, you have been there for a long time. You have seen it all. Across all protests, wars and revolutions, you have seen the dangers of marginalization. When people are being pushed towards the edge of society. With dangerous consequences.

But today, you see again that the opinions of certain people are worth less. Whether we speak about different racial groups, political minorities, or even whole generations. Like young people, who have to wait till they are older before their voice actually counts.

All world leaders deserve to have a 90 year old next to them as personal advisor. To prevent the donkey from bumping into the same stone twice.

Because, you have also seen how it does work: if you work together and respect each other. Look at where we are now, The European Union, which has the slogan ‘United in Diversity’. Where we are now, is the living proof that you can unite, not despite, but because of your different cultures, ideas, backgrounds… and generations.

When you can see that old people are not done with their lives, all grumpy and stuck in the past. No, we can use their experience.

But also when you can respect nine year olds. Because that’s the other person you have to make proud in your life.

A nine year old cares about the really important things: people, nature, the future.

Nine year olds don’t have a lot of history. But, they do have hope.

They can be naive. They can dream. They believe in things you lost all faith in.

And we have enough people saying what is not possible. We need people who can believe.

A nine year old dares to believe in world peace. Where we step up when schools, hospitals and cities are being destroyed. A world where we are not settling for anything less then peace.

A nine year old dares to believe in a world where every child can go to school. To have education. Also if their parents are poor, also if they are girls.

A nine year old dares to believe in a world where we take care of the ones that need it the most. Where poor families get support to survive. Where sick people can go to a hospital. A world where kindness is not the exception, but the rule.

All world leaders deserve to have a nine year old next to them, as a personal advisor.

Also, because children and youth can shake things up. Think about playing football in the hemicycle of the European Parliament with an European Commissioner, just to say something. To make politicians feel young again.

Having history and hope together in one room, you can create the greatest things.

So… let’s try. Please close your eyes

Think back to when you were nine years old

Dream as you dreamed

Believe as you believed

Be the hero you wanted to be

And imagine yourself as 90 years old

Judge yourself.

Would you be proud?

Would you be disappointed?

Are you a donkey who is running towards the same stone for the fifth time, or did you learn?

There are only two people you need to make proud in your life. Your 90-year old self, and your 9-year old self.

One is a story of history, the other is a story of hope.