Many of us have probably encountered a loud mouth and very opinionated friend or relative who thinks his/her ideas are the best ideas there is. This person can rattle much information yet is inflexible when questioned or challenged or when in the face of opposing or contrary ideas. When we fail to appease or reason to this person, our normal reaction is either to shut up, move away or change the topic.
The problem gets infinitely harder if you’re a talking to an older Filipino person, who thinks that going against his/her ideas is considered bad manners and a breach of cultural mores called “paggalang sa matatanda” (respect for elders); or if you’re talking to someone in a position of moral authority, say a priest, it is often seen as “walang galang” (no respect) and unthinkable to even go against an institution that is thousands of years old. Failure to show restraint and respect in front of elders and in the face of authority is a ticket to social banishment.
This in-group hostility is bad for intellectual growth because it discourages new ideas. If history is our guide, much of human progress was done through challenging old ideas and trying on new ones. Imagine if scientists like Copernicus and Galileo didn’t challenge old beliefs about the world, then most of us would still hold the belief that the earth was flat and 6,000 years old.
Much of Filipino culture now is anchored on religion: from Black Nazarene and Sinulog processions to the largest 10 commandments monument in the world in Baguio; from local town fiestas to PPCRV’s involvement in the barangay and presidential elections; from TV networks to DepEd promoting God in their vision missions; from chapels and prayer rooms in almost all government buildings to CBCP and religious groups lobbying lawmakers against RH Law - religious based thinking is the accepted way of thinking. It is no wonder that we always include God in all our social and personal activities whether its opening with a prayer before a congressional and senate inquiry; thanking God for that product endorsement and movie award; or posting on Facebook about how God inspired you to live your life to the full, or how Jesus saved you from the typhoon, or how God stopped you from punching that arrogant friend of yours in the face.
The problem with this behaviour is that we have shunned every other way of thinking about the world. For example, science has opened our minds to the evidence that there is a bigger world out there. The Hubble telescope has just captured a view of a part of the sky, about the size of a one dollar coin, of roughly 8,000 galaxies each comprising billions of stars and many of those stars with planets that could possibly harbor life like ours. Now, if you ask me, that is more awe inspiring than the revelations and unverified claims written in the Bible.
When Pope Francis came to visit the Philippines last Jan 2015, Filipino Catholics went on fiesta-mode again, so effectively shutting opportunities for conversations about the various questionable statements the Pope had; or any expression of dissent some groups may have against the Catholic Church. Imagine a US president visiting the country without the perfunctory KMU/BAYAN anti-US rally. Filipinos love to please visitors especially the Pope. They want this visit to come out pleasant and wonderful, as any host would. But there is no place for reasonable dissent. I believe that part of the visit that makes it meaningful is the engagement with disagreements, criticisms and dissent. When President Aquino criticised the Filipino clergy in front of the Pope in Malacanang, he effectively brought a good conversation. Yet many Catholics still saw this as disrespectful. What does that tell us as a people: that we are intellectually lazy.
That is why I am calling for an intellectual courage, not only from the President, but from the secular communities as well, to be brave enough to constantly challenge and bring forward avenues for fruitful conversations to the common Filipinos. The media also should not shun these conversations and stop protecting the Pope or any person from criticisms. You are not doing them or the Filipinos any favours at all in the long run.
No comments:
Post a Comment