The aim of this survey is to compile the thoughts of the youth of today who feel that public education is not only useless in helping to better their communities and home-lives, but who feel that it is mis-education that creates false beliefs and keeps the people down. These compilations will be designed to promote discussions about a wide variety of topics concerning the youth today, and some that the youth are concerned with.
To the ages of 16-30: It's up to us, we're the ones with the energy, awareness of the current atmosphere of society, ambition, and not-yet-polluted-completely-by-desire-for-greed-and-power thirst for truth that can raise the bar and get shit and keep it moving in positive directions. We just gotta be soldiers and step up to the challenge. Young people gotta be active agents of their own change and development. Never think we have no pull and can't make no impact.
The goal here isn't just to discuss an array of issues, the goal is to discuss ways for improvement and take action to bring improvements about. This is about diversity, diverse points of view. Mutual respect. The beauty about this project is that each participant will be teaching each other, as well as readers and viewers. It won't be like one teacher teaching a group. Teachers will be learning too. We'll all be teachers, and all be students.
As far as bringing about improvements, there should be focus directed towards more food and clothing drives, which this project will try to inspire. Also, education drives, where different media-tools (books, tapes, cds, etc.) will be collected and distributed. We want newspapers with street reporters who go out in the interests of the people, not the political structure, who talk to the people realistically and then report reality (the Truth, not trying to make ourselves look superior or innocent). A major improvement, if not the most important, would be in the way of education. This project hopes to spur classes, using movies, music, documentaries, books, poetry, and art of all styles and backgrounds. The people involved will all have a say in the curriculum. These classes can be integrated into the public school systems, and/or used in grassroots education programs. We will attempt to implement the final compilations of this project into the public school systems and learning centers in the surrounding areas, and hopefully abroad. If enough of us petition it, it wouldn't be wise of them to turn us away. However, this is not about public education, this is about real life education that tells our children the Truth and prepares them for the real future ahead. This project aims to build communities, to create opportunities and give hope, cuz though it's fucked up out here—there's always hope if you hold onto it.
The first project from Soldiers 4 Tomorrow will be a book, and possibly an accompanying documentary, that touches on the topics included in the following survey. The ages of the contributors will be widely varied, all between the ages of 16 and 30 (give or take a few years). This project is about free expression—for your benefit, the benefit of those who may read it, and society as a whole. This is an opportunity for you to give voice to things you may feel are important. There are no right or wrong replies to the topics listed. You can remain anonymous if you want to voice an opinion on something but don't want your personal business known.
Comment on as many topics as you want, say as much as you want. If you don't like to read and write, or if you feel it's hard for you to, have someone help you, come to the people compiling this survey and they will help you. If you want to record your responses with audio or video, or come and speak to the people compiling this survey (like an interview), instead of writing, that is fine. Think about if there's a good and/or bad side to each of these topics, and what they might be. Any thoughts on how these things could get better, or worse? There are no restrictions—you can say whateva the fuck you want, however the fuck you want. Say whatchu feel. Again, you can include your name or not. Think about what you're submitting to be printed and if you truly feel it and believe in it enough to stand by it no matter who may read it or see it. Also, contributors will have a say on what improvement-attempts any money produced from this project will go to.
Another project, Love is Forever, will run in accordance with the Soldiers 4 Tomorrow project, as they are both inspired by the loss of a 21 year old man to gun violence. This project is also open for submissions. On the survey included in this packet, the topic of Love will be looked at for inclusion in Love is Forever. Tell about your Love, to or from family, lovers, God, nature, animals, life, etc.
If there are any other topics, issues, people, places, etc. that you would like to address and express—a thought, a feeling, an observation, a perception, poetry, articles, suggestions—feel free.
There's no hurry, submissions will be compiled for a couple/few months (perhaps longer). Your submissions may or may not be included in the book/documentary (many people may say the same or similar things). The project may be released in volumes depending on the number and variation of submissions.