The great Voltaire said, “With greater power comes greater responsibility”.
While now the said quote is being popularized by Uncle Ben in the movie Spider man, we all have to look at the very essence of the beautiful quote.
In the Philippines, the self-edifying title “honorable” is attached to the position and name of every congressman, senator and other politicians. In the United States, they don’t sugarcoat titles such as Congressman and Senator by affixing the word “honorable.” And in Canada, the Senators and Members of Parliament seldom edify themselves by putting “honorable” after their position and name, except for the ministers in Canada.
Perhaps, many of you are dumbfounded why our politicians seem to flatter themselves with the “honorable” tag while a lot of them do not even deserve this self-edification. Are they playing the game, the best defense is offense that is why our politicians are very particular about this flashy address?
With the recent ruckus that caught in the CCTV camera of the airport involving ACT OFW Partylist Representative Aniceto John Bertiz, who brags himself as a Christian and always froth with the Words of God in his speeches would show the danger of being self-righteous.
Perhaps, he is one of the many persons being referred in Matthew 23:27-28 when Jesus said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”
This is the danger when a person uses God in vain and for his personal gain, a lot is expected from him, like witnessing God in his or her life.
In the video, Congressman Bertiz refused to remove his shoes and was confronted the male security checker when he was asked to remove his shoes. Vexed, rhe honorable fool flashed something that looks like an identification card to the security checker and the poor guard who was diligently doing his job just turned away and went back to his post. Unsatisfied with the bullying, the congressman went back to the man who checked him and frisked the security man’s jacket, where the latter found the guard’s ID. His royal highness King John Bertiz snatched the security guard’s ID off his jacket.
We don’t really know what happens next. But the fact remains, this power play is totally unnecessary, done in bad taste and totally unchristian for someone who brags being a Christian.
We know a lot of Christians who became living witnesses of how to be Christians and showed the real essence of Christianity. We have Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Saint John Paul II, and even Pope Francis.
There is no faith shaming here. This is a challenge to everyone who brandish of being a Christian and at the same time to those who are anointed with power.
Power is not forever. Hence, the power play done by the lawmaker who turns out to be a lawbreaker is totally uncalled for. So much so that he was flexing his muscle to someone who is just doing his job.
Indeed, the saying from an Anonymous author that, “No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we’re looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn’t test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power” is true. And it fits to a T for someone who is stupid, ignorant and greedy like ACT OFW Partylist Representative Aniceto John Bertiz who did not even realize that he was inside a facility and structure identified as vital Installation like airport with so many CCTV camera installed.
The next time you use your power, use the power of your brain! Think before you bully!