By Dr. Dencio Acop
I wish to discuss three things in this brief monologue. First, the issue of kindness relative to what is going on in the world today. Second, the role of secular forces and institutions that have influenced the values of people away from moral standards to relativism. And third, the ultimate effects of facts from fiction.
Whenever violations of law and moral standards are pointed out in the world today as in the recent fraudulent elections in the Philippines, there are people who echo kindness that must be exhibited even against persons in violation. This is the first issue I wish to address. What exactly is meant by kindness? Google defines kindness as the ‘quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Of course, there is a point that the definition states which makes sense. But if such was applied to every offender, anytime, anywhere, the world would be a much more abusive place, wouldn’t it? Because this ‘survival of the fittest rule’ which is the rule of the jungle would actually eliminate kindness in favor of the bullies. I think what people actually mean when they demand kindness is tolerance. Because if the rule of law is no longer followed and the Decalogue set aside, then people who are corrupt, who do not pay their taxes, and treat public service as their kingdom can have their way. And there are enough people today who are alright with that. And as to why they are, well it just boggles the mind.
Which brings me to my second point. The role of secular forces and institutions that have influenced the values of people away from moral standards to relativism. Let me bring us back to a little bit of history here to better understand. While the democratic blueprint has had its positive effects on the governance of public affairs through more than three centuries now, it has also unleashed freedoms which did not recognize boundaries and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the forbidden tree. This force which began from the French Revolution on to the American Revolution and its present-day manifestations is anti-moral law. It paralleled and gradually challenged the fruits and labor of moral development and progress away from Christianity to self-idolatry. Its god is the worldly god of power, material wealth, human power, and carnal pleasure. It hates Jesus Christ who is the exact opposite of all it represents and who is the chosen of the God of the Universe and not the Fallen One cast out from heaven. It is prophetic that many of us humans have fallen for its many-laden traps in the world. It is even more tragic that we continue to be blinded by its trappings whether we are Jew or Gentile. This reality is self-evident in the craftily contrived yet clearly articulated content of where people’s hearts lie. The call for conversion of those who have eaten from the forbidden tree is courageously relentless. But so is the denial of those who have eaten believing it to be the tree of life.
And now my final point. And the recent Philippine electoral experience and its would-be aftermath is a classic case in point. People have expressed their insides from behind the political divides they hail from. A sign of a healthy democracy. So it seems anyway. Two realities have stood out in stark contrast. One is a reality contrived from goal-oriented false narratives driven by dirty money and partnered with incumbent power machinery enabling its virulence. The other is the exact opposite: one that was transparent, devoid of any manipulative power, enabled by volunteerism, honest dealings, and lots of prayer. The result of the elections speaks for itself. The dark side won perfectly. It sneers at everyone else with a ‘you know everything, you can prove nothing’ self-assurance. But it is the ‘perfect winning’ that actually unmasks its fiction. We are now embarking on a ‘reality check’ where fiction has to give way to non-fiction. Let me cite a few. One, there is the looming inflation where the peso will become increasingly valueless. Just take a look at your fuel costs. Pump-priming will only be stop-gap. Two, unemployment will rise as multinational companies depart and investments collapse due to high interest rates and costs. Three, business owners will cease operations or lie low. Four, we are still recovering from the pandemic which is not over. Five, natural and man-made disasters are on the rise impacting public resources and the economy. Six, Chinese investments will take over and bring in foreign workers competing with local manpower and industry. Seven, the local economy is now at the mercy of Pax Sina. Eight, freedoms will be lost. Shall I go on? This is fact. Not fiction. And the result of kindness. Your imagined brand of kindness.
God help us. For God and Country.
