The Hague, 5th May 2013
Dear Comrades,
Now 90 years old, your co-founder and first IUSY president in 1946, is no more able to travel. It is therefore via my computer and internet that I have to send to the Dortmund Festival my fraternal greetings and best wishes.
You are having an impressive, and in the selection of themes widespread, agenda. Perhaps I might add another item that throughout the world asks young socialists to take, both collectively and personally, effective action. We have to fight and condemn discrimination, Treaties, constitutions and laws ban discrimination. In spite of that, it is still alive. Not only in some countries still having xenophobe laws or practices, but also nearby.
Look at the Sports section of your newspaper. Somewhere a club, because of the attitude of its fans or of a player, is criticized or gets to pay. But are you sure that in your own club there is no discrimination? It not only exists because the colour of a skin is different, or because another member is known to be homosexual. It can exist simply because someone is considered to be a bit different. Why? Often nobody knows, but he or she is felt to differ from the average figure in the crowd.
Discrimination occurs because he or she is considered not to fit into the general pattern. In school, in the university, in the club, or also at work, amongst the colleagues. And bullying is being found, and felt, too often, sometimes even nearby. In this little country on the North Sea coast last year twice youngsters committed suicide as they were continuously plagued. They felt never to be safe from the attitude of other pupils. They could have been saved if other youngsters would have gone against the general trend and had taken their side. Are you sure there is no bullying in your school class, in your club, in your university faculty, in your job?
Sometimes social democracy demands not only action against authorities, against employers, against exploitation throughout the world, but in your own little world. Do not hesitate to go against discrimination nearby!
So far another theme for your Festival, and afterwards back at home. But have now a good time at Dortmund and celebrate the jubilee!
Just as at the end of our first international IUSY camp, in 1948 at Ebensee in Austria, I end this greeting with
FREUNDSCHAFT !
BOB MOLENAAR
The Hague, Netherlands
We will always remember him as a leading light fighting for social justice, human rights and international solidarity for a lifetime.
In September 1946 Bob Molenaar became our first president in our founding congress in Paris, the first congress of the International Union of Socialist Youth, which he participated as a representative of the New Course, the former organisation of the Young Socialists in the PvdA. Ever since he had played a major part in the history of international socialism, and he has influenced the lives of young socialists all over the world.
Besides from his work for the IUSY, Bob Molenaar had always been a very active member of The Hague’s Labour Party (PvdA) and the European Movement Netherlands. He had been president of the European Movement Netherlands for more than twelve years and held various positions in the International European Movement, from 1987 to 1992 as Secretary General.
For a lifetime he abhorred parochialism and stood up for international solidarity. “Solidarity does not stop at the border. It is shocking that politicians turn their backs on worldwide poverty and oppression.” On the question of whether there is a difference in the way young people used to be politically active then and now, Molenaar said: “The flags and banners have been replaced by T-shirts and caps, but the atmosphere of being critical towards the party has still remained.”
For us, he will remain forever a model of a true young socialist. A man who, in a time when it didn’t seem obvious, saw that international cooperation between youths is vital for the development for a social and democratic world. A real inspiration for many young socialists, and someone we owe a huge debt of gratitude.