Rene Recones
03/06/08, 07:43 AM
Hello coffeers,
I'm a newbie here, so please bear with me if this article is not in line with your interest. I just want to share this reflection I posted in my blog.
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The Arroyo administration is again “under seized” for its alleged involvement in the "scandalous and immoral" dealings with ZTE. ?There are so many questions yet unanswered, so many issues need to be tackled and the common "tao" is asking what happened to our government and to our society in general.
The statement of Mr. Lozada struck me when he says, and I quote: "I'm not the light but just a spark of light.” As many other Filipinos, I too am inspired by the courage of Mr. Lozada as he faced his interrogators in the senate and answered their questions.
We see that those who are investigating Mr. Lozada are also people in politics who may have acted in his or her own personal vested interest. No wonder the CBCP is reluctant to issue a categorical statement that would lead to the ouster of President, but instead promote “communal actions” for moral and social transformation of our country.?
When Erap was ousted in the second People power, we thought that we had solved a problem. However, as things unfold, we discover that again, the political situation of our country is far from being all right. On the contrary, the present administration, despite of all the embellishments of the people in administration, is considered, in the international community, as one of the most corrupt governments in the world; and the ZTE scandal would prove the point.
It is easy to point our finger to those whom we think are corrupt government officials. It is easy to blame others. But we should also look at ourselves. In the midst of all these accusations and allegations of mass corruptions, what is my personal actuation? We should ask ourselves, if given the same position as that of Neri or Mr. Abalos, what would be our reactions. Can we afford to say no to the 200 million pesos bribe offered to us just to approve a project? If I know that people in the government and no less than the president, would guaranty me of the “protection” and would facilitate the environment to hide corruption, will I not give-in in their request?
Now is the moment not just to point our fingers to the “accused”, but also a time of self-examination. In our own personal ways, lets have a check on our conscience. Let’s ask ourselves these questions: if given the same situation as that of Mr. Neri, Mr. Abalos, Mike Arroyo, or the president, will not we, also succumb to the same predicament that they are presently undergoing? These persons are also victims in their own accord. Their fault is that they are in the “ideal” situation where corruption is highly “inevitable”.
It is a Christian imperative to work for the truth to prevail; but we should not also forget that we, too, have our own weaknesses and sinfulness. We should not reach a point that we “hate” these people because of what they did. As I’ve said, if given the same situation, we too can do exactly the same things as they are doing.
Now is the time for self-examination of our conscience. As we work together for the truth to prevail, and for moral transformation of our country, we should not also forget that change should start from within.
I am always fascinated by an anecdote that goes like this: A certain man wants to change the world, so he preached to the kings and princes trying to change them for the better. But his message fell on a deaf ear. So he tried to change the community where he lives, but the same thing happened, he got no response. So he decided to change his family, and he got no result too. Finally he decided to change himself. And he realized that had he changed himself first, chances are that people around him will also change their life for the better.
:thanks:
I'm a newbie here, so please bear with me if this article is not in line with your interest. I just want to share this reflection I posted in my blog.
--------------
The Arroyo administration is again “under seized” for its alleged involvement in the "scandalous and immoral" dealings with ZTE. ?There are so many questions yet unanswered, so many issues need to be tackled and the common "tao" is asking what happened to our government and to our society in general.
The statement of Mr. Lozada struck me when he says, and I quote: "I'm not the light but just a spark of light.” As many other Filipinos, I too am inspired by the courage of Mr. Lozada as he faced his interrogators in the senate and answered their questions.
We see that those who are investigating Mr. Lozada are also people in politics who may have acted in his or her own personal vested interest. No wonder the CBCP is reluctant to issue a categorical statement that would lead to the ouster of President, but instead promote “communal actions” for moral and social transformation of our country.?
When Erap was ousted in the second People power, we thought that we had solved a problem. However, as things unfold, we discover that again, the political situation of our country is far from being all right. On the contrary, the present administration, despite of all the embellishments of the people in administration, is considered, in the international community, as one of the most corrupt governments in the world; and the ZTE scandal would prove the point.
It is easy to point our finger to those whom we think are corrupt government officials. It is easy to blame others. But we should also look at ourselves. In the midst of all these accusations and allegations of mass corruptions, what is my personal actuation? We should ask ourselves, if given the same position as that of Neri or Mr. Abalos, what would be our reactions. Can we afford to say no to the 200 million pesos bribe offered to us just to approve a project? If I know that people in the government and no less than the president, would guaranty me of the “protection” and would facilitate the environment to hide corruption, will I not give-in in their request?
Now is the moment not just to point our fingers to the “accused”, but also a time of self-examination. In our own personal ways, lets have a check on our conscience. Let’s ask ourselves these questions: if given the same situation as that of Mr. Neri, Mr. Abalos, Mike Arroyo, or the president, will not we, also succumb to the same predicament that they are presently undergoing? These persons are also victims in their own accord. Their fault is that they are in the “ideal” situation where corruption is highly “inevitable”.
It is a Christian imperative to work for the truth to prevail; but we should not also forget that we, too, have our own weaknesses and sinfulness. We should not reach a point that we “hate” these people because of what they did. As I’ve said, if given the same situation, we too can do exactly the same things as they are doing.
Now is the time for self-examination of our conscience. As we work together for the truth to prevail, and for moral transformation of our country, we should not also forget that change should start from within.
I am always fascinated by an anecdote that goes like this: A certain man wants to change the world, so he preached to the kings and princes trying to change them for the better. But his message fell on a deaf ear. So he tried to change the community where he lives, but the same thing happened, he got no response. So he decided to change his family, and he got no result too. Finally he decided to change himself. And he realized that had he changed himself first, chances are that people around him will also change their life for the better.
:thanks: