ANAPROPOS
ANAPROPOS
The December 2014-March 2015 issue was loaded with messages for
change- for reform, for transformation. Such issue was meant to
stir or awaken our level of social consciousness to shake off
parochialism and pharisism in our midst. That article on Filipino
Value System was meant to all and sundry that was not only for our
church. So with breaking the Aquarium Glass because the aquarium
existence still permeates in our organization- whether local,
regional, national or even in divisional levels.
That was meant for us to be aware (consciously aware) of the
pitfalls of parochialism and familism, the negative side of our
value system since values are bipolar. It has both good and bad
effects. I desired that after awareness comes acceptance, followed
by release and then, transformation.
I qualified my article how contextually withpret it by defining
what culture is which constitutes the social, political, financial
and religious institutes. We can not isolate one institution from
the other because they are interrelated , interconnected and or
such, they influence each other.
But why the indifferent and negative reaction? Truth hurts, yes.
But truth, like surgery; hurts. It hurts but it cures. This truth
was addressed in a universal sense- meaning all, not some, nor
one.
It was an appeal to stop the double standard implementation of
policy, of rules, and discipline. That sauce for the goose is also
for the gander in contrast to the status quo of sauce for the goose
is not sauce for the gander| because of the culture of
familism.
When we talk of familism, it is the Extended Family System from
the single unit family, it becomes joint family of three
generations; grandparents, children and grandchildren, sons-in-law,
daughters-in-law and parents in law.
Then their joint family expands to an extension of nephews,
nieces, cousins, cousins in law, godparents-godchildren whether of
baptism or of wedding, padrinos and madrinas. So close kint that
the extended family is caught in a web, in a net that they can not
see objectively the others outside their net.
Hence, I unequivocally affirm without fear of contradiction nor
mental reservation that my pronouncements were meant as charity for
all and malice towards none.
A Cutique on JonathanLivingstone SeagullBy: Dr. Bern C.
Cortes
This is the book from where Dr. Cherry Malaque had drawn
implications in her speech Journey to Excellence.This New York
Bestseller novel, written by Richard Bach struck me so much for I
identified with the hero of the novel, Jonathan Seagull-an
idealist-reformist whose desire for radical change met resistance
and rejection from the traditionalists of their flock.The novel as
a literary genre derives its roots from the fable. A fable is a
literary piece which has animals as its characters as means to
teach a moral lesson. In this novel, the characters are flock of
birds-the seagulls, the low flying birds which feast upon the fish.
They swoop upon a fish in sight at sunrise and just before
sunset.Our hero is Jonathan Livingstone seagull who had an epihanic
awakening, a sudden flash of insight that after all his existence
is not just to eat fish- a lonely gut level existence. Henceforth
he resolved to explore the skies, fly higher where only eagles
dareThrough persistence and perseverance, he reached the high
heavens. He transcended or went beyond his lowly nature. He
attained spirituality and self fulfillment. He was transformed and
became one with the universal self-one with the creator and the
creation. His spiritual guest to attain spirituality was
achieved.He came back to earth more determined to convince the
younger flock of seagulls that they too can be transformed with
spiritual if only they would transcend or g beyond their greet
level existence of just catching and eating fish. No goals, no
higher, loftier and nobler ideals in life, but plain crass
materialism.When he shared his ideas with the younger ones in their
flock and taught them flying lessons, the elders in the flock
panicked. They felt threatened.
Jonathan, stand at the center, ordered the chief elder. To stand
at the center means to place one on trial. He was charged as a
rebel for defying the traditions of their flock of disrupting the
status quo with his novel and radical ideas. It meant facing
accusation, shame and humiliation.
Jonathan faced a kangaroo court from where a swift, hasty and
ill-considered judgment is pronounced. He faced an Inquisitorial
Court wherein he is presumed guilty unless his innocence is proven
beyond reasonable doubt. This is opposite to the settled
jurisprudence rule of presumption of innocence which states that an
accused is presumed innocent unless his guilt is proven beyond
reasonable doubt.As expected, Jonathan was condemned a rebel for
defying tradition and the rule of the thumb of the flocks. So he
was ostracized/ banished and Jonathan had no choice except to go
back to his friends in the skies flying high.
Lifting beyond the literal meaning solely on what is printed,
Jonathan is a metaphor, a symbol. He exists not just a gull as is,
but a symbol of something else. He is in reality an idealist
reformer, a pioneer, the first man to stand over the rest, hence,
misunderstood because his ideas are inacceptable though much better
and wiser. His ideas are beyond their grasp/ understanding cause
these are not within their intellectual level to comprehend.This is
the painful isolation, the loneliness of a reformer. He stands
alone although among his flock. He is so near, but far. Near in
proximity , but far in thoughts and feelings. Jonathan is a type of
the many firsts-the Reformers, Pioneers, Discoverers, Innovators in
the likes of Jesus Christ hated and crucified on the cross by the
Pharisees, of Mahatma Gandhi, Indias spiritual leader who fasted
for 91 days to gain Indies freedom from British rule, but in
return, was assassinated, of Henry David Thoreau who advocated
Civil Disobedience and sent to prison by refusing to pay the poll
tax in U.S. But his sacrifice paid because the U.S. Constitution
was revised with this provision no one shall be imprisoned for
non-payment of poll tax, of Abraham Lincoln who emancipated the
Negro slaves from slavery and assassinated because of this, of
Rizal executed in Bagumbayan for his propaganda against the Spanish
tyrants; and of Ninoy Aquino who gave up his life saying that the
Filipinos are worth dying for (or are we, really?). Yet his death
spurred the EDSA Revolution which liberated us from the Marcos
dictatorship; of Martin Luther, the protestant reformer and Martin
Luther King, the Negro Evangelist who fought against the Apartheid
policy (racial discrimination) of the whites and for this,
assassinated by the fanatical Apartheidists-the klu klux klan. The
list goes infinitum. I am writing this to create awareness and stir
our level of consciousness because many of us would prefer to swim
with current, have the bandwagon mentality-of being one with the
majority even if they are wrong, of staying put with the status quo
out of reverential fear of reprisal from the Demigods of our
organization, of compromisors, fence sitters and opportunists. This
reminds me of the immortal lines of Dante Allegheri (in his
masterpiece, the divine comedy). The hottest part in hell is
reserved for opportunists, the middle roaders and fence sitters.Why
not? Because if we do not stand and fight for the right and keep an
compromising with the wrong majority for fear of being isolated, we
have not strengthened our will to stand for the right though the
heavens will fall. We are not ready for the greet persecution
unleashed by the Beast and his minions. Habits die hard. It is hard
to break a bad habit.
So are we that strong and ready? Would we be not like Peter who
denied Jesus Christ? When just before Christ will come Sabbath
Keepers will be relentlessly pursued and tortured, would we deny
that we are Sabbath Keepers in the same way Peter denied Jesus
Christ three times?I have experienced many times the pain of
isolation for being different from the majority. I have paid the
price, but I am consoled with Henry David Thoreaus immortal lines:
any person more right than others constitutes a majority of
one.
The only people who are mad at you for speaking the truth are
those who are living a lie
Keep speaking the truth! The truth shall sit you free!
The
