What We Stand For
“My friends, I am an optimist. That means that when I look at the world, I see not through my eyes but through the eyes of possibilities, possibilities for hope and for a better world.”
Secretary General Nathan Zou delivered inspiring remarks during the Opening Ceremony to commence KUNA High School 2. He began with the history of the United Nations after World War II and used it to emphasize the monumental importance of such an organization.
“If the founders of the UN could see the world today, they would probably stand alongside our progress. They would stand with the addition of 80 sovereign nations who have won their independence. They would stand hand in hand with the 9 out of 10 children who now have the opportunity to attend school. They would stand alongside the 2.6 billion people who have gained access to clean water in the past three decades alone. They would stand beside our successes: the harvest of the seeds they planted.”
Zou proceeded to clarify that regardless of the progress the UN has made, the world is not perfect. “My friends, I am an optimist. But I am not delusional. I understand that we live in a world strife with hunger, thirst, and scarcity.” He described various critical global issues. Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, it barely scraped the surface. He ended the speech, however, with a goal: a goal for the students here at KUNA to work hard and use their experiences to give a voice to the voiceless.
“But my friends, I am an optimist. Even in this world when it seems like people don’t care for each other anymore, I know that is not true. I can look around this room, and I see optimists all around me. I have faith that we as a generation can mold a better future not just for us or our families or our neighbors, but the entire world. I have faith that we will stand for what is right and never bow down.”
It was evident at that moment that the room understood Zou’s sincerity. At that moment, it didn’t matter someone’s specialized program, high school, or political ideology. What mattered were his words. What mattered were the people who are not as fortunate, who cannot experience a conference like this and who cannot stand up for themselves.
Zou continued, “So stand. Stand for the Rohingya fleeing religious persecution. Stand for the Syrian refugees driven from their homes. Stand for the countless victims of human trafficking. Stand for those who cannot stand, for those who are not here today. Stand for free speech. Stand for clean water. Stand for access to education. Stand for cooperation, for debate, for discussion, for compromise. Stand for love, for life, and for a better world. Stand, my friends, because we are optimists.”
Zou’s speech brought people to their feet. In just 6 minutes, he undeniably inspired a room of 1,000 high school students to be ambassadors for change. To work toward a better future. To stand for what they believe in.
