E·N·Q·U·I·R·Y
DEMAREE J.B. RAVAL
DEMAREE J.B. RAVAL
The evil that cold neutrality poses
Sunday, 09 03, 2006
The very presence in our nation of a plurality of self-centered thinkers, dreamers of many kinds, politicians of every sort and soothsayers of many forms hinders our nation from proceeding toward the right — and bright — direction.
A sweeping statement such as this makes it necessary for us to look back to history — not on the many facets of our cultural discrepancies, or the vestiges of a fierce colonial mentality, but on the sole factor that many of us have yet to embrace a nationwide identity change.
An unashamed assessment of both our physical and mental behavior would surely show that a vast majority of us are just passive and silent on the many ills that our nation faces. Many people in government make a show that they are in public service because they want to serve the people and help the poor. The truth is, they see it as the shortest way of acquiring more material wealth. Businessmen say they want government to push through its goals, yet are opposed to raise the minimum wage and abhor any new taxes because they do not want any further cut to their incomes. Many people in the church do not want to be involved, because they want to play it safe, and thus avoid the repercussions that plague those who fall out of favor from the government, aside from losing the respect and support of their followers — although most of them will not mind if they continue to receive various favors and assistance from the government.
At bottom, the majority of us are simply disinterested in voicing out our concerns for ourselves and for our nation. Our lethargic and pessimistic attitude has brought the nation to a standstill. We are not moving forward at all.
Even as I agree with the observation made by Paul Samuelson that “no new light has been thrown on the reason why poor countries are poor and rich countries are rich,” yet I see that our nation must not only survive but prosper as well, for the interest and dignity of us all. We have our common dream, a dream not only of survival, but of existence with dignity. But we are separated and divided by an attitude that hinders our growth and development. What dominates us is our attitude toward self-interest and our silence in meeting our responsibility as active cooperators and citizens of our one and only nation.
An illustrative example of this nonchalant posture is apparent in our policy toward macro-economy and poverty alleviation. Our government continues to apply the old and traditional approach on uncontrolled foreign borrowings and government spending beyond our means. History tells us that the most successful cures for poverty come from within. True, foreign aid can help. But, like windfall wealth, it can also hurt when it starts to discourage effort and plant a crippling sense of protracted dependency. As the African saying goes, the hand that begs is always below the one that gives.
What really matters is hard work, thrift in government spending, honesty, patience and tenacity. But how explain the selfish indifference of a people, when they have first to free themselves from the grip of misery and hunger? I have always believed that no empowerment is as effective as self-empowerment. This miserable problem of our country can be cured if many of our people would voice this concern and people in government will address this situation properly.
The problem of political instability is a dagger to our progress and development. Of course, it is conceded that a government owes it to itself to pursue its own political ends and exercise great caution in protecting itself by all means, to the end that its own existence and interests are properly preserved. But all citizens of this country must be aware that they have to be active and vigilant to ensure that government does not exceed its limits. Without these exchanges of democratic and governmental exercises, a course of action, such as the use of force in a fragile democracy such as ours, may just be availed of, and this could lead to political turmoil and disaster to this nation.
Other than the dangerous tendency of our people in government to do things in excess, and the lethargic attitude of our people to be uncritical and remiss in doing their civic duty as responsible citizens, events elsewhere in the world are not at all heartwarming. Trouble in the Middle East is on the upsurge. North Korea has just conducted test firing of its missiles program, poking its finger on the face of the only superpower of the world. Global terrorism continues to wreak havoc to many countries. Environmental disasters bring more death and tragedy. The horsemen of the Apocalypse have arrived with dire warnings of depression, poverty, war, disease, ecological disaster!
So long as we stay frozen and immobilized by the cold neutrality that we have always been accustomed to, instead of turning around and becoming active, responsible citizens, we can only expect the worst.
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