Главная страница «Первого сентября»Главная страница журнала «Английский язык»Содержание №22/2009

Is it easy to be a deputy?

Recently, when I was an ordinary student I was interested in politics. I read newspapers and watched television news about problems in our country. I thought that the begetters of all these problems are the officials-swindlers and lazy deputies in the Duma. Maybe it was like that, but…soon I myself became a real deputy and understood how laborious this work is!

In the Moscow region of Alekseevskii, where I study, there are elections to the Youth Parliament every two years. The Parliament is quite young, it has been working for only 4 years. So, I decided to stand for election. I organized my election campaign and promoted my positions. And I won a majority of the votes. The head of the government of the region bestowed on me the title of deputy. With this I received special rights and obligations. All in all, there are about 40 young deputies (each school has three delegates).

At first, I wanted to focus on the problems of invalid children. I proposed organizing a working group, which would be in charge of social work. A lot of active and hard-working deputies began to work on the team with me.

By the way, one of the most important problems of invalids is a lack of communication. Frequently, we ignore or avoid them. Why? A fully healthy man can do everything without any effort, but invalids must often strain to do something. That is why an invalid can be more talented than an “all-powerful” man. It’s interesting and beneficial to speak with them.

The first serious event organized by our group was the concert “Мы вместе” for blind children at Special School No. 1. The most important thing is that the participants were not only students of the special school, but also their friends from other schools of the region included. The children sang songs, recited poems, and played the piano and bayan. Those who were in the auditorium joined in singing favorite songs with great pleasure and rejoiced in this atmosphere. Also, the famous singer Diana Gurtskaya had been invited to the concert. She promised to return with her own concert. Our arrangement has made a bright impression on the students of the special school, the grown-ups and young deputies.

After that, our social work began to organize subbotniks, different actions and sporting events.

So, where are the seriousness and complications of a deputy’s work? It seems that it’s so easy to organize an action. But I think it is not. At first, you must think out an event, write a plan, consider it with colleagues and amend it. Secondly, you should suggest your idea to the parliament and make a speech. The deputies then think, think… There is always opposition. Debates begin. After all, a good, kind idea would be like a hurtful mess. If you are an experienced orator, you would overcome them and prove your idea. Then (if a majority of deputies support you) you should go to officials for help. Because each, even small, arrangement must be financed. For example, you ask them for a bus for blind children. Frequently, we recieved a refusal. They say that there is nothing similar in their plan, so, they can’t help…

But in spite of all these difficulties, we organized actions with great pleasure.

Perhaps, the same situation is in the National Duma. We think that they are too lazy to do something for people and do their best for themselves. It’s probably not true. Each extraordinary actor always has foes and opponents, who want to portray this person as an enemy of the public. Political persons are worthy of respect; they assume responsibility for the state and people.

Every student knows a lot about the Day of Independence. Deputies at the Youth Parliament also have this day. At the Day of Independence all workers of the government of the region and young deputies change over! You would like to know what does the head of the government do? Become her! You’ll learn not only the mechanism of government work, but also will do some work. For example, a lot of deputies decided to head the social sphere of Alekseevskii region. They have to know why and how it works.

Actually, it was absorbing experience to the life of officials. Our working group even struggled with corruption. One spring day we decided to organize an anti-corruption raid (officials didn’t know about it). In our region we found three places with illegal production. We photographed and reported it. Then we wrote a report to the head of the government. At the next session of the Youth Parliament, a militiaman was invited to discuss this problem with the young deputies. Soon, we organized once again a similar raid. After two weeks there was no place with illegal commerce that we knew of.

During my deputy’s work I didn’t feel that this work was a burden to me. People studying it said that it’s impossible to do everything at once: to be an excellent pupil, to be busy in journalism and public work. Yes, it is possible. The main thing is a desire to work. So, the work at the parliament brought us, young delegates, a feeling of happiness from actions which help people.

It is important to note that there is a Soviet of Veterans in our region. Collective work with them also has some special aspects. At the first session, we, youth and veterans, decided to create a united newspaper which could develop in the young generation, patriotism and love of native history. Moreover, the veterans wanted to write their impressions and memories about themselves, about the war in order, to share their rich experience with the youth. We thought a lot about the headline, rubrics and the content of the newspaper together. At length, we have a newspaper “Мы Вместе”, which contains a lot of articles about the war, stories of students about their grandparents, reviews of books and films and even tales from the lives of veterans. In general, it’s interesting and beneficial to be friends with veterans!

One of the favorite actions of deputies is “Нулевой урок”. For its organization you should have not only the skills of a leader, but also the experience of work with…kids! Usually we make an excursion for preschoolers from kindergartens in our schools. This event was also in my school. I showed children the cabinet of biology and English, the training hall and canteen, where they tasted cookies and had juice, then the office of the director, where they got presents. The children said, that above all they liked the English cabinet, because, when they came in it they felt like they were in a fairy world of England.

I have acquired invaluable experience with oratory, got deep knowledge about the structure of the state, changed my opinion about polities and chose my future career during the work at the Youth Parliament. So, now I ask you: is it easy to be a deputy or not?

By Natalia Kononova ,
Gymnasium MIIT