Without Young People There is No Future

In the Legion of Good Will (LGW), we do not encourage an environment of conflict between generations. On the contrary, we ally the bountiful energy of young people with the wealthy experience of older people. And the people gain from this.

We are constantly reminding the youth that one day they will also have white hair. In the same way, we fraternally talk to the elderly, reminding them that they were once young. . . It is very important not to forget this. . .

Young people will also grow old. . . If you want to maintain the same spirit of hope, the same youthful features, despite the natural lines of time and the always beautiful white hair, practice Goodness. There is no other way. It is the Spirit that strengthens our vitality, which grants us the eternal beauty of sympathy. A clear conscience is the best cosmetics.

Tatiane Oliveira

It may seem to be a paradox, but the country that does not protect its elderly does not believe in a future for its youth. What is a nation other than its component parts? If young people have a future, they will grow old. They will live longer. They will retire. . . A conviction rooted in the immediate enjoyment of things is a demonstration of one’s disbelief in tomorrow. There are those who while still young think: “Let’s live now, before everything ends! And those who manage to resist longer, I don’t give a damn. . . .” There is no exaggeration here. This is what we see. It gives the impression that many of those who are enjoying the vigor of youth ignore the possibility of even reaching a decrepit old age. But they may get there. . . There is no future without young people. There is also no future without old people. A young person is someone who has not lost his or her ideals.

José de Paiva Netto is a writer, journalist, radio broadcaster, composer, and poet. He is the President of the Legion of Good Will (LGW), effective member of the Brazilian Press Association (ABI) and of the Brazilian International Press Association (ABI-Inter). Affiliated to the National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Union of Professional Journalists of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the Union of Writers of Rio de Janeiro, the Union of Radio Broadcasters of Rio de Janeiro, and the Brazilian Union of Composers (UBC). He is also a member of the Academy of Letters of Central Brazil. He is an author of international reference in the concept and defense of the cause of Ecumenical Citizenship and Spirituality which, according to him, constitute “the cradle of the most generous values that are born of the Soul, the dwelling of the emotions and of the reasoning enlightened by intuition, the atmosphere that embraces everything that transcends the ordinary field of matter and comes from the elevated human sensitivity, such as Truth, Justice, Mercy, Ethics, Honesty, Generosity, and Fraternal Love.”