This country of ours is flooded with idiosyncrasies. 

In more ways than one we are a peculiar community that contradicts what we say with what we do - inconsistency galore!

Let's take 'politics' and children/young people as an example.

So on one hand, children who hardly know the difference between night and day are already being told to sing, to clap or to boo as soon as they see or hear 'Joseph' or 'Simon'.  If the politician of their choice happens to be at the village patrolling the kazini be sure that the parents will make their utmost to wedge their child's head in between the crowd to get a Pope Francis style tumakka from their Leader. 

As far as I'm concerned I see nothing wrong in this. 

Young people as they grow become self-assured, confident and poised and will most certainly decide which 'Joseph' or 'Simon' they choose to endorse.  That famous tender smack in front of the kazin will do nothing to set in stone what for their parents was probably a generational choice.   

And let me add something else here - there is nothing wrong with politics! 

It is how politics is done by some that tarnishes this art of how we come together as communities.

That is why I get so excited, especially during Freshers week and during Junior College, MCAST and University elections. 

Seeing the great work that is being done by these student organizations in instigating political debate in the colors they use, the slogans they choose, the lobbying they do, the initiatives  they take to entice students to seek membership, excites me. 

That is what politics is about, creating alliance, sharing a cause, learning to live together, creating communities, instigating debates, confronting opposite groups, struggling to work to present the best candidates possible, coming up with creative imaginings and the list goes on and on. 

What is wrong with any of this?

Some would say that we are brain washing young people into tribalism. Bollocks!   

On the other hand I've had other people argue that young people are indifferent, apathetic, blasé'. Bollocks squared!

I am convinced, and I'm not saying this from the top of my head but through research and reflection, that young people if given the opportunity will not only be involved in the fun part of a student organization but their membership will breed them into engaged active citizens, enhancing social engagement, develop an interest to make or propose change, voice concerns, position themselves rather than sit on the fence, develop their own character and inject the much needed stimulus to the political system. 

For sure, we need to provide them with training on how to filter political speeches and to distinguish between rhetoric and tangible ideas, we need to guide them especially when they are still young on why some politicians might act one way and others in another. 

But, young people bring freshness to the political landscape. 

They know what they want for their communities.

Who knows, if we had the patience to listen to what they have to say and take them seriously we might be better off!

Andrew Azzopardi presents Ghandi xi Nghid and lectures at the University of Malta