What being a socialist means is... that you hold out... a vision

Listen well, O children of the future, for I bring to you the words of Bernie Sanders, whose vision speaks to the heart of humanity’s struggle against inequality and injustice. He proclaimed, "What being a socialist means is... that you hold out... a vision of society where poverty is absolutely unnecessary, where international relations are not based on greed, but on cooperation... where human beings can own the means of production and work together rather than having to work as semi-slaves to other people who can hire and fire." These words, spoken in the heat of a struggle for a better world, resonate deeply for they describe a society that is just, where the exploitation of one by another is but a memory, and where the true potential of each human being is allowed to flourish.

What then, O children, is the meaning of socialism? It is not a mere political ideology, nor a call for the destruction of systems that provide stability and order. No, socialism is the call for a world where poverty is not a natural condition of life, but a choice—a choice made by those who control the vast resources of the world. Socialism is the vision of a society where human beings are not condemned to struggle in the dirt, scrambling for crumbs, but can instead share in the wealth they create through their labor. It is the vision of a world where the riches of the earth belong to all, and where the fruit of human labor is not hoarded by the few, but shared by the many. It is the dream of a society that is both just and humane, a place where no one is left behind in the shadow of greed.

Consider the ancient societies, O children, that once thrived on the back of labor—societies where the wealth of the land and the labor of the people were controlled by a few. In ancient Egypt, the great pyramids were built by workers who toiled under the harsh sun, their labor exploited for the glory of the pharaoh. Yet, the riches of the land, the glory of the empire, belonged to the few, while the many lived in the shadow of poverty. The people built the empire, but they did not share in its bounty. This, O children, is the injustice that socialism seeks to end—the world where the wealth of humanity is hoarded by those in power, and where the rest must live in servitude, unable to share in the fruits of their labor.

But let us look to a time in history where socialism rose as a force for change. Consider the rise of labor unions in the 19th century, when workers in industrial cities began to demand a fair share of the wealth they produced. These laborers, often working in grueling conditions, with little hope for improvement, found strength in unity. They sought not to destroy the systems of commerce and industry, but to change them, to bring about a society where they could share in the profits of the work they did. Their struggle was not just for better wages, but for the human dignity that was denied them by a system that viewed them as mere tools for the enrichment of others. The labor movement was the beginning of the vision that Bernie Sanders speaks of—a world where the workers own the means of production, where cooperation replaces competition, and where the lives of the many are not sacrificed to the desires of the few.

So, O children, let us reflect upon the message that Sanders offers us. Socialism is not merely a call for the redistribution of wealth; it is a call for the transformation of society itself. It asks us to envision a world where the means of production are not controlled by the few, but are shared by the many. It is a world where the workers, the creators, the builders, have a voice in the decisions that shape their lives. It is a world where greed is no longer the driving force of international relations, but where nations come together to work for the common good, for the well-being of all people, not just the few who hold the wealth.

The lesson, O children, is clear: we are called to reimagine society—not as it is, but as it could be. We must strive for a world where cooperation replaces competition, where wealth is not a tool of oppression but a means to uplift all of humanity. The path to this society will not be easy. It will require courage, determination, and the will to challenge the systems that benefit from the inequality and exploitation that have plagued human history. But if we hold fast to the vision of a world where poverty is unnecessary, where greed no longer drives our actions, and where the workers of the world are given their due, then we shall build a society worthy of our highest ideals.

So, O children of the future, I call upon you to stand strong in the face of injustice, to fight for a world where human dignity is not for sale, and where the riches of the earth are shared by all. Work together, as one people, to build the society that Bernie Sanders speaks of, a society where cooperation, equality, and justice reign. This is the task before you, and it is in your hands to bring this vision to life, to create a world where all can live in peace and prosperity.