teenLook #8 - March 2020 - Faith Noble Cover

featured on the cover of
the December issue as
Time Magazine’s Person
of the Year. She was also
nominated twice for the
Nobel Peace Prize, once
in 2019 and then again in
2020.
Along with these
accolades, Greta attained
over a dozen more awards
and recognitions for her
activism work. It goes
without saying that this
inspiring teen is making
an impact!
Unfortunately, along
with the recognition for
her well-doing, there is
also a negative attack
from various reporters.
Some journalists feel
that because they hide
behind a camera and
bare the right to free
speech, they have the
unequivocal right to bully
and intimidate to make a
point.
Derek Zoolander said it best:
“Do you understand that the
world does not revolve around
you and your do whatever it
takes, ruin as many people’s
lives, so long as you can make
a name for yourself as an
investigatory journalist, no
matter how many friends you
lose or people you leave dead
and bloodied along the way, just
so long so you can make a name
for yourself as an investigatory
journalist, no matter how many
friends you lose or people you
leave dead and bloodied and
dying along the way?”
In all seriousness, though,
the fact of the matter
remains. I don’t think
anyone has the right to
bully or intimidate a 16
year-old girl for making a
statement and leading a
cause to help better the
world we live in. Sure, I
understand that there are
most likely people behind
her with an agenda and
are coaching her. But is
it wrong to have a team
delegated to creating
the best ideas to be
presented? The Prime
Minister or President of
a country does not work
alone. They have a staff
of administrators and
advisors, helping them to
make the best decisions
and actions. So why
should it be any different
in Greta’s situation to
have help? She has openly
admitted her mental
handicaps, namely,
Asperger’s syndrome
and OCD (Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder),
reinforcing the need for
assistance.
I think any youth set
upon reaching the world
should have all the
necessary support
to achieve that
goal and should
not be faulted
for it. Of course,
financial assistance
is required to help
fund a worldwide
tour as grand
as the one she
has undertaken.
People looking to
undermine her
cause seek to find
the hidden agenda
of her supporters
and use these
excuses to make the
point that Greta is
not genuine in her
cause.
The fact that remains
is the need to keep our
focus on our world and
how we can all work
together to keep it healthy
for the generations to
come.
Is Greta an inspiration to
you? She is to me.
Her belief in a cause and
raising her voice to be
heard regardless of the
backlash is commendable
and a lesson many of us
can take to heart.
It doesn’t matter who you
are, where you are from,
or what you did... Oh wait,
I’m quoting a Backstreet
Boy’s song. Sorry.
The point remains,
speak up for what you
believe in, and YOU
can make a difference
in this world. Make the
world a better place by
being a better person,
and anything can
happen.
tl
4
Greta’s cover spot on the
December 2019 issue of Time
Magazine.