The Child and the Emperor 
The advice given by Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Reema Khalaf Heneidi to Arab youth on the lectern of the American University in its celebration of the Founding Fathers Day is worth attention, and the advice gains further weight in consideration that its giver was the supervisor of the Arab human development report that stirred and settled our area when it revealed how much the liberties here are in a state of misery, how much the knowledge in our homes is in a pathetic state, and in what state of anguish the women in our country are for their loss of fundamental liberties. 
Heneidi summarizes her advice with the story of the emperor's invisible clothes, as follows: A deceiver convinced the emperor, and all his attendants and his people convinced themselves, that he wears clothes but they are invisible, except for that child who said the truth, "The emperor is not wearing clothes." 
Here is the moral in the advice: Say the truth. 
And from this advice is generated the ability to differ even with Heneidi herself. 
Why differ? 
We quickly introduce the explanation that acquires all the meanings of assurance that there is no argument about saying the truth, for it is the sun glowing with light and there is no darkness in its presence. 
But the advice must retreat its steps to children, not to youth. 
Because the start is with the innocent minds, before their pages are filled with the ink of hypocrisy. 
So where are our children in saying the truth? 
- They open their eyes to the world to find around them distinction between male and female, and obedience to those ahead of them in age, influence, status, and prestige, and considering success a matter of luck. 
- They learn since their small minds start to perceive the alphabet proverb after proverb. 
Starting with "a hand you cannot bite, kiss and pray that it be broken" to "a door that brings you wind, close and relax," passing by "lying is the adornment of men" in conjunction with "fleeing is two-thirds of manhood," appended to "a clever person dies not," all the way to "an adventurer is never praised even if he comes out safely." 
- If the boy or girl seems to be troublesome and defiant, refusing obedience and head bowing, he or she is flooded with the descriptions of insolence, rudeness, poor breeding, and the book is read from its title. 
- If the child was one of those born in tin cities, they are predestined to misery with no escape except with the miracles of crooked means. 
And if the gold spoon was settled in his mouth, then he is a dependent, spoilt creature quickly acquiring all foul conduct. 
- As to the saying of the poet, "And aspirations are not obtained with wishes," it does not mean in this world of ours diligence and perseverance on the straight path. 
Anyone who wants to continue along this thorny track must be prepared to leave the homeland and friends or otherwise prepare for all sorts of humiliation before the sight of family and brothers. 
Freedom will not land suddenly on anyone who joins university. 
Because it is a matter like the milk that is fed by mothers to their babies, and thus we believe among our proverbs in "anyone who is raised on something keeps it to old age." 
The story of the child and emperor, if we retell it, becomes as follows: 
The child said, "The emperor is not wearing clothes!" So one of the escorts quickly said in his loudest voice, "Silence, you poorly bred!" 
Then the child's father rapidly says in utmost terror, "Wipe it on my chin, our Master!" And the mother takes care of dragging the child by his ear, screaming, "I want to snip your tongue." 
Ahmad Ayyash