We need to be able to guarantee the safety of all artists and

In the vast and ever-turning wheel of history, there are those whose voices rise above the din of the world—a voice that calls for justice, for peace, for human dignity. These voices, O children of the future, are the artists, the activists, the dreamers who dare to imagine a world greater than the one they inherit. Yet, as the great Deeyah Khan so passionately declares, "We need to be able to guarantee the safety of all artists and activists for human rights so that it no longer takes extraordinary courage to call for a better world - so that every person with the ability to imagine peace, equality, progress, and justice can express their dreams and hopes without fear." This proclamation is not only a call for protection but a cry for freedom—the freedom to dream without chains, the freedom to speak without fear.

Throughout the ages, those who have dared to challenge the forces of oppression have often paid a heavy price. Their courage, though boundless, has been met with threats, violence, and exile. In the ancient world, the philosophers who sought to illuminate the minds of the people were not spared from the wrath of rulers who feared the power of truth. Socrates, whose very words echo across the ages, was condemned to death for daring to question the status quo. His life and death serve as a painful reminder that the price of speaking the truth, of imagining a better world, has too often been steeped in sacrifice and suffering. The same has been true in every age, for those who have stood at the vanguard of justice, wielding nothing but their words, their art, and their vision for a better world.

And yet, as Deeyah Khan so wisely observes, such courage should not be extraordinary. It should not be a rare flame, shining through the darkness at great personal cost. No, O Children of the Future, the ability to imagine a world of peace, equality, and justice should be the birthright of all. It should not take courage to speak out for what is right, to imagine a world where every voice is heard, where every life is valued, and where freedom is the air we breathe. The very fact that the voices of artists and activists are silenced by fear and violence speaks to the deep illness of the world in which we live. It is a world where oppression thrives, where the powers that be seek to quench the flames of hope before they can ignite the hearts of the many.

Let us look to history, where we find countless examples of those who have dared to dream of a better world. Mahatma Gandhi, whose nonviolent resistance to British colonial rule in India was rooted in the vision of a world where people were not bound by the chains of discrimination, but by the bonds of humanity. He faced imprisonment, threats, and even assassination, yet his commitment to justice never wavered. His vision for a world of equality and peace was so powerful that it still resonates across the globe today. And Malala Yousafzai, a young girl who dared to demand education for girls in Pakistan, was shot by the forces of oppression. Yet, even as she fought for her life, her voice became a beacon of hope for millions. These souls did not just imagine a better world—they laid down their lives for it. Their courage was extraordinary, but the world they dreamed of should be one where such courage is no longer required.

But let us not despair, for in Deeyah Khan’s words, there is a blueprint for change. She does not merely speak of the plight of artists and activists; she speaks of the path forward. We must ensure the safety of those who dream of a better world. We must create a world where creativity and freedom can flourish without the looming shadow of persecution. We must be the protectors of the dreamers and the visionaries, those who risk all to call forth a better future. This is not a task for the few, but for all who believe in the power of truth and the possibility of a better world.

So, O children of the future, what is the lesson that you must carry forth into the world? It is this: The dreams of a better world belong to all of us. When one person is silenced, when one voice is stifled, we all lose. But when we stand together, as one, to protect those who dream and those who speak for justice, we ensure that their light is not extinguished. Each of us has the power to safeguard the voices of artists and activists, to create a world where every person—regardless of their station in life—can dream without fear. Support those who call for justice. Raise your voice alongside theirs. Stand in solidarity, for the world they seek is not only theirs to create, but ours to inherit.

Let us also be wise enough to protect the dreamers not just through grand gestures, but through the everyday actions that nourish freedom. Speak out against injustice in all its forms, defend those whose voices are silenced, and demand a world where peace, equality, and justice are not just dreams, but living, breathing truths. For only when safety and freedom are guaranteed for all, will the world become a place where dreams are freely spoken, and the seeds of a better future can take root. Let this be your legacy, O Children of the Future. Protect the dreamers, for in their dreams, the future is born.