The good and the evil

Posted on August 19, 2006 - Filed Under Punch Forum |

Ms. Ric
August 19, 2006


So you want to discuss God and evil, Mr. Oriel. Like I said before, I’m not an expert on religion. I’ve also stated my views on religion and where I feel it should be. It’s in my church, my home, and most importantly it’s in my heart, my mind, and hopefully my soul. Like you, I am a Christian, and like you, I have a pastor who guides me and whom I can seek his assistance if ever I’m in need to discuss God or his teachings. So don’t take this the wrong way, but let’s discuss good and evil instead.

Good is when you can unselfishly help your neighbor without having to be reminded by anyone. Good is when you can keep a clear conscience without needing a book to show you how. Good is when you can look at yourself in the mirror and know that you’ve made a difference without asking for anything back in return. Good is never about rewards or punishments.

About evil, I witness it almost everyday. I see it in a child’s sunken eyes and bony figure because his home was either a carton or a tarp perched under a bridge. I smell it from a mother’s ratty clothes and drunken breath because she thinks life is too tough and she’s given up. I hear it from my politicians when they promise the moon around March and October, but by year-end responsibility is somehow synonymous to a four-letter word. Yes, in my world, evil lurks, but I’ve also been fortunate enough to say that the goodness in most people makes it a palatable reality.

Be it my home state or my birthplace, the basic principle is the same. I guess I’m a bit more optimistic when I say that Philippines have progressed from the days when hear-no-evil-see-no-evil was a way of survival. To speak against the government now and the fungus that’s contributing to its decay maybe suicidal but someone will certainly know something about it, and you and I are definitely going to talk about it. Filipinos are openly exercising our freedom to ruffle our politician’s feathers without being accused of demonizing law-abiding citizens or idolizing criminals. Those who are intent on accusing us of these wrongdoings, I not only question their patriotism, but I question their agenda as well.

LET’S look within ourselves and have the courage to ruffle our politician’s feathers to make them keep their promises, to challenge their self-fulfilling urges, but most of all to remind them that their ideology should only be for the people, of the people, and by the people. (Do I hear chorus of amen?)

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