WITH THE LITTLE PRINCE — TO OUR TRUE SELVES

At first glance, “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry may seem like a children’s book, but in fact, it is a story that even adults find difficult to fully understand. In short, the book tells us how we are gradually losing the purest and most precious human emotions — our most treasured values. During the time of writing, the author himself said:

“I grieve for a generation deprived of human virtues… I despise my time with all my soul. In this era, man is condemned to perish from spiritual thirst… The only real problem in the world around me is this: we must restore in people a sense of spiritual satisfaction in life. There is no joy in living without poetry, colors, or love…”

This allegorical tale uses various symbols to reveal the innocence, intellect, and pure feelings of a child’s heart, as well as concepts such as love, responsibility, life, and death — all essential parts of humanity. With its strong philosophical foundation and deep meaning, “The Little Prince” has won a place in the hearts of both children and adults and brought immense fame to its author.

The story begins with a pilot’s childhood memories. As known, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was a pilot by profession. Thus, we can say that the writer reflected himself in one of the main characters — the aviator. He contrasts the innocent thoughts of a six-year-old boy with the “serious” mindset of adults in a unique style, critiquing them. When the child draws a picture of a boa constrictor that has swallowed an elephant, the adults cannot see it as the child does — they only see a hat. They claim that drawing is useless and insist that the boy study more “serious and useful” subjects. As a result, he grows up to study geography and becomes a pilot capable of distinguishing China from Arizona at a glance. But he stops drawing altogether.

One day, the pilot’s plane crashes in the middle of the desert, and there he meets the Little Prince — a mysterious golden-haired boy who asks him to draw a sheep. None of the drawings satisfy the Prince until the pilot sketches a box and tells him the sheep is inside. The Prince is thrilled that someone can “see” the invisible. Both the pilot and the Prince could imagine the boa constrictor and the sheep in the box. This shows that the pilot has reconnected with the child he once was. We can even say the Little Prince is the embodiment of his childhood. After all, their worldviews are nearly identical.

The Little Prince, who arrived from a tiny, lovely planet, can be seen as a representation of our inner self — our true essence. On his small planet were baobabs, flowers, three volcanoes (one extinct), and most importantly, a cherished, delicate turquoise flower. This planet symbolizes our world — our body and soul. The Prince uproots the baobabs each day to prevent them from damaging the planet, as they can destroy everything once grown. Baobabs and flowers initially look alike, so one must learn to distinguish between what’s harmful and what’s beautiful. In the same way, we must identify and remove the bad qualities from our hearts before they grow and destroy us.

Literary scholars interpret the relationship between the Little Prince and his proud, vain flower as a metaphor for Exupéry’s relationship with his wife, Consuelo. The flower’s behavior — her pride, her demanding nature — reflects this. The Prince waters her daily, protects her with a glass dome, and gives her his affection. On another level, the flower may symbolize our ego — our inner selfishness.

Eventually, the Prince decides to explore other planets. His journey is a metaphor for self-discovery — a look at human nature from the outside, which is the first step toward inner change. The flower tries to prevent his departure, which symbolizes how our pride often holds us back from understanding ourselves.

The three volcanoes on the Prince’s planet could represent strong emotions. He cleans them regularly, even the extinct one, because once harmful traits have existed in us, they can always reawaken. Therefore, we must cleanse our inner selves daily to avoid being destroyed from within.

Jalaluddin Rumi once said:

“A person is like the sea. Only the surface is visible. What lies beneath is unknown and untold, though it holds great storms.”

Sometimes, diving into the depths of that sea — our inner self — helps us understand who we really are.

The Little Prince visits seven planets and meets various people. On the first planet, a king reigns over no one but still gives orders. He claims that if a general disobeys, the fault lies not with the general, but with the king himself. The moral: we must take personal responsibility for our actions — the path to understanding ourselves begins here.

On the second planet lives a vain man who constantly asks to be praised. This character represents those who seek admiration without effort and believe themselves to be great despite doing nothing.

The third planet is home to a drunkard who drinks to forget the shame of drinking. He symbolizes our desires and how we knowingly do wrong, succumbing to urges that eventually enslave us.

On the fourth planet lives a businessman too busy counting stars to notice anything else. He believes he owns them, despite them offering him no benefit. He represents people obsessed with materialism who forget the meaning of life.

The fifth planet belongs to a lamplighter — the only character the Prince admires. He performs his duty with dedication, even at the cost of sleep. The lamplighter symbolizes responsibility. He also represents those who resist change despite the evolving world around them. Though the Prince offers him good advice, he refuses to change.

The sixth planet is inhabited by a geographer who writes massive books but never explores. He relies on others for knowledge and highlights those scholars who theorize without experience.

Interestingly, the size of each planet differs. The Prince’s favorite — the lamplighter’s planet — is the smallest. This might mean that the rarest or most meaningful traits are the ones we value most deeply in our hearts.

The seventh planet is Earth, where the first creature the Prince meets is a snake — a symbol of wisdom in many cultures. The snake speaks in riddles and offers to help the Prince return home if he is ever overwhelmed by grief. And indeed, in the end, the Prince does call upon the snake when he longs for his planet.

He also finds a rose garden and realizes that his beloved flower is not unique. Then he meets the Fox. In many cultures, the fox symbolizes wisdom, and in this story, it plays a vital role in delivering its core message.

The Fox says:

“People have forgotten this truth — but you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.”

As the Prince tames the Fox, he realizes that he, too, was tamed by his rose. Though many roses exist, his is special because of the time and love he gave it. The Fox teaches him the most important truth:

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

Maintaining this clarity of heart is essential. Rumi once said:

“The mirror of the heart must be clean so that the beautiful and the ugly can be seen clearly.”

The Prince finally meets people — humans — who are strange. They rush from place to place on trains without knowing why or where they’re going. This symbolizes how people chase time and goals blindly, burdened by self-imposed worries. Only children know what they are truly looking for and can love a rag doll so much that its loss makes them cry. Only children truly know how to live and enjoy life.

The Prince meets the pilot again — the same one we met at the beginning. The mysterious boy wins his heart, and they spend several days together. The pilot grows attached to him, but the Prince must leave. The pilot says:

“Six years have passed since my friend and his sheep left me. I write this so I won’t forget. There is nothing sadder than forgetting a friend. Not everyone is lucky enough to have one. And I never want to become like those adults who care only for numbers…”

The Prince traveled far, met many, but could not stay with anyone long. Everyone has their own planet, their own flower, their own distant stars. In the end, he calls the snake to return to his planet. Whether the Little Prince died or flew away remains a mystery. But in my view, he did not die. He lives on — in the heart of every person. Some will find him; others will not.

In conclusion, this short story carries deep meanings. Everyone understands it differently, according to their worldview. The symbols and allegories used by the author are open to interpretation. What matters is that each reader draws meaningful insights for themselves.

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REFERENCES:

1. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The Little Prince. Tashkent: “Adabiyot Uchqunlari,” 2018.
2. https://kh-davron.uz/ijod/maqolalar/xurshid-davron-eng-hayotiy-ertak.html
3. https://youtu.be/O-poCRKv56o?si=kxeeY9fgicVw7tsp

O‘rolova Dinora, a11th-grade student of the Hamid Olimjon and Zulfiya Creative School

Forming a sense of patriotism through travel

Jumaniyozova Nazokat Alim kizi

2nd year Tourism and Hospitality student

Abstract: This article discusses the development of the tourism sector in our country and the formation of a sense of patriotism among the population. We all know that the future begins with history. Therefore, we need to form a sense of patriotism in the minds of young people. There are many historical places in our country, each of which holds a unique meaning. Is it possible to form a sense of patriotism through travel? -Of course, because through travel, you can explore not only historical places, but also the miraculous nature and culture of our heavenly country. This awakens a sense of gratitude in us, because our country is so peaceful and prosperous that we witness a miracle wherever we go. Therefore, we need to create opportunities for travelers in our country and create amenities for those who do not have the opportunity.

Keywords: Travel, reforms, patriotism, historical and cultural sites, youth engagement.

The article discusses the problems of forming a sense of patriotism through travel and their solutions. Today, there is a low level of deep understanding of real historical places, national heritage and values ​​of the country among young people. The concept of patriotism is often perceived as theoretical knowledge, and there are few cases of feeling it with the heart.

Also:

Young people’s travel opportunities are limited.

School and college trips are based solely on formality.

There is not enough interest in local tourism.

Parents do not travel with their children, instead they pay too much attention to their phones and social networks. Or they do not have enough money for travel. Travel depends on two things: time and money. Because working people usually do not have time to travel, or even if they do have time, they do not have enough opportunities to travel. Another problem is the lack of interest in historical places among young people. They mainly want to go on extreme and entertainment trips. Therefore, the majority of visitors to historical and cultural places are older people. Below we will find solutions to these problems:

1. Strengthening domestic tourism – Systematically organizing excursions to the historical, cultural and natural attractions of our country. In particular, annual travel plans should be introduced in schools, colleges and universities.

2. Organize trips in an educational direction – During each trip, a sense of patriotism can be awakened by sharing information about the history of the country, stories about local heroes, and historical monuments.

3. Creating a youth movement under the slogan “See the beauties of the homeland with your own eyes” – encouraging young people to promote their country on social networks, introducing tourist attractions of Uzbekistan through photos and short videos.

4. Creating a culture of family travel – Parents traveling with their children instills in them a sense of love and appreciation for their country early on.

5. The “Patriotic Path” project – Targeted trips to historical sites in each region, commemorative events, cultural evenings, and meetings with local heroes should be organized.

Through these, it is possible to interest young people in historical and cultural places and thus form a sense of patriotism through travel. Every young and old person should love and protect their homeland.

List of used literature:

1. Mirziyoyev Sh.M. “New Uzbekistan – the realization of the dream of the people and the homeland.” – T.: Uzbekistan, 2022.

2. Karimov IA “High spirituality is an invincible force.” – T.: Ma’naviyat, 2008.

3. “Tourism and Youth Education” – Publication of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2021.

4. “Domestic tourism is a source of national pride” – “History of Uzbekistan” magazine, 2023, issue 1.

5. Ziyovuddinov M. “Patriotic Education and Modern Approaches” – T.: Teacher, 2020.

6. www.ziyonet.uz – Lesson plans on patriotism and tourism

7. Resolutions and decrees of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on youth (2021–2024)

Jumaniyozova Nazokat Olim qizi was born in Tuproqqala district of Khorezm region. Currently, I am a 2nd year student at the Surkhandarya regional Denov Entrepreneurship and Pedagogical Institute, majoring in tourism and hospitality.

The Star

Noting further the progress 

hope for the widest possible adherence

Inspired by the great prospects 

opening up before mankind 

giant balls of hot gas that shine 

orbital systems 

They fall out of view.

Their envious light

How bright they shine.

The Boat

A loud horn spread through the air

Rumbling the world

Attracting everyone,

To the boat

The ships leaving right now,

With the people

waving up their hands,

Screaming goodbye to the ones left

There runs a man

In a black suit,

Running and running,

Yet the engine starts as the man sighs

The others peak their face out,

Waving goodbye,

To the fellows that are left behind

Hoping for a day to see them again

The boat swooshes,

Through the sea

Vanishing in sight

In a blink

The sound of the waves,

Starting to vanish,

With the people left behind

Sighing with a walk back 

The boat filled with pleasure

Sound of happiness and delight

The laughter and giggles 

filling up the boat.

The Lights in the Night Sky

The light of the stars

Pouring down the sky,

With the waves on the sky

Just like somebody is swimming

The mountains stay up,

High and steady,

The moon,

The lights,

Shining through the buildings

 Making the dark night shine.

There is nothing,

yet the darkness

Within the sky,

The night continues,

And never seems to end

Within the sky.

The light of the sun

Pouring down towards the sky,

The heat touching me everywhere,

Pouring my sweat out.

Feeling the white cotton candy

Floating up in the sky

With a slight comfy.

Just like a bed.

It stays high up, never falling down,

Filling the surroundings,

Blue and pale

With the beauty.

Different shapes exist,

With the different material

All there,

It stands the louds.

Dongeon is currently in 7th grade and attends an international school in Vietnam. He likes to read both graphic novels and chapter books. He also likes to play games and socialize with his friends. 

Regret

Dark, screen lit, wet hair against the pillow

Typed regret in to the blank box

like it would tell me something new

I found were pages full of shadows

‘Sadness’ ‘repentance’ ‘disappointment’ 

Nothing soft, nothing I wanted to see

I place my fingers on the keyboard again

“Does regret ever go away?”

‘Linger for years’ ‘settles deep’

I wasn’t looking for that

Between the Stings 

She eats a popsicle in the back seat

Cold enough to numb her teeth

The car seat burns the back of her thighs

The purple syrup runs down her wrist and onto her elbow

And bruises the carpet beneath her feet

At the pool, kids cannonball too close

The water splashes and stings her eyes

She floats on the water anyways, 

listening to the shrieks muffled underneath the water

While the sun toasts her shoulders 

The barbeque smells like charcoal and spilled soda

Bees hover over the juice pitchers

She watches one of them drown in the lemonade

She regrets not getting another cup

But the chips are salty and good

And the watermelon is cold enough to make up for it

The sun goes down, an orange slouch behind the fence line

The air starts to cool off and her hair is almost dry

She sits back in a sunbed laid out in the middle of the backyard

Someone left a towel bunched in the chair 

It starts to smell

But she uses it as a pillow anyway

Mosquitoes start to come out as the sun disappears completely 

Guests leave the house and the quiet of the night settles in

She heads to the old porch swing that no one ever uses 

She brushes off the twigs and rearranges the cushions 

Only to find an old lollipop melted and smothered into one of the pillows

In the dark, she walks back barefoot,

stepping on something sharp in the grass

It makes her flinch, 

but she just rolls her eyes and keeps walking

She steps on to the cold kitchen tiles and shuts the door behind her

The Silence Between Us

You came back from the hallway trying to get wifi, 

Failed, and layed on your bed 

I kept writing, but couldn’t get anything done

In the corner of my bed, the goose sat still, its neck long and upright

We stayed up till’ late at night, 

our knees on the floor and hands busy on our beds

Trying to finish our bio, history, and English homework at the same time

In the corner of my bed, the goose sat still, it’s fur soft, and an off-white color

The fight started over a misunderstanding, 

Words were said too fast, then nothing for hours

But we both knew that we were going to be okay by tomorrow

In the corner of my bed, the goose sat still, it’s plastic eyes round and black

Facing each other, sitting on our beds with our legs crossed over

We asked a million stupid, hypothetical questions

“If I were a color, what would I be?” “You would be a werewolf if you were in Vampire Diaries”

In the corner of my bed, the goose sat still, it’s bright yellow feet stretched outwards

Irene Kim is a high school student who loves visual art and writing. Her work has been recognized in local exhibitions and school publications. When she’s not drawing or writing, she enjoys reading poetry, walking in the rain, and experimenting with collage. Irene hopes to continue creating work that captures both the quiet and the extraordinary.

Unbearable Bearable 

So it began the unbearable bearable

construction on our avenue

November to April

replacement of gas pipes

started with the hushed posting

of no parking signs

Rumbling of diesel engine

air horn sounding

flashing lights

whisky voice on speaker

attention residents

move your cars or they will be towed!

Then … cutting blade grinding, motor

repetitive, a plaintive sound of destruction

staccato of the beep of the backhoe

Cement cutters up and down the avenue

shrill of the cutting blade, grinding of motor

repetitive and then the beep beep beep of the

backhoe backing up scooping up brick mortar

asphalt. Insistent scraping along curb line, dig dig

dig. Scoop up, percussive dump at end of avenue

on and on all day long up and down

Until….

The bucket picks up the pile, bit by bit

howling into the back of the dump truck

once, twice, thrice, multiple times. Trucks

grinding engine, slamming of bed door

over and over through the day, then a

dulcet sound returns until next morning

when the tow truck sounds again…

And again… day after day

Until …

Stacks of pipe placed along curb line

fill with blowing debris and autumn

leaves. Dirt and sand piles appear at the

end the street, small hills atop the

now battered avenue and in winters wind

sand and dirt batter houses and cars. Then

the pipes are placed, lawns dug up for

connection and gas turned off and after 8

hours in the cold of winter, gas turned on.

And so…

The original flyer said there would be a

community meeting and all would be

restored as it was before construction.

Until…

There was no meeting, brick lined gutters

paved over, hack cement jobs replaced

broken sidewalks and curbs, asphalt patches

and pot holes on avenue … and the lawns

left with craters and dirt.

Unbearable bearable it is over.

 g emil reutter is a writer of poems and stories. He can be found at: https://gereutter.wordpress.com/about/

In today’s digital age, misinformation has become a silent pandemic that is spreading rapidly across the globe. With the rise of social media and the internet, false information can be easily disseminated to millions of people within seconds. This has led to a dangerous situation where individuals are exposed to inaccurate information that can have detrimental effects on society as a whole.

One of the key reasons why misinformation spreads so easily online is due to the speed and ease of sharing information on social media platforms. With just a click of a button, false information can be shared to thousands of people, creating a ripple effect that can quickly spiral out of control. Additionally, the lack of fact-checking and verification processes on many social media platforms allows misinformation to go unchecked, further perpetuating its spread.

The dangers of misinformation are far-reaching and can have serious consequences on society. For instance, false information about health and medical treatments can lead to individuals making harmful decisions that can impact their well-being. In extreme cases, misinformation can even incite violence or political unrest, as seen in instances of fake news being used to manipulate elections or stoke social divisions.

So, what can society do to fight the spread of misinformation in the digital age? One approach is to educate individuals on how to identify and critically evaluate information they come across online. Teaching media literacy skills can empower individuals to discern fact from fiction and make informed decisions about the information they consume.

Furthermore, social media platforms can play a role in combating misinformation by implementing stricter fact-checking processes and algorithms that prioritize accurate information over sensationalized content. By holding users accountable for the information they share and promoting credible sources, social media platforms can help stem the tide of misinformation online.

In conclusion, the spread of misinformation in the digital age is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. By understanding how false information spreads online, recognizing the dangers it poses, and taking proactive measures to combat it, society can work towards creating a more informed and responsible digital landscape. Only through collective efforts can we hope to mitigate the impact of the silent pandemic of misinformation and protect the integrity of information in the digital age.