by Kyla Relucio
Before going to bed this evening, I did my usual routine of checking emails and notifications on Facebook. This evening however, I could not help but feel very disheartened and disappointed as I scrolled through my news feeds for the only thing people are posting about are their complaints on the current situation our fellow Filipinos face and their angry comments full of discontent with the assistance of our government, most especially our President.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that there is nothing wrong. I just think that during moments like this, people online who can obviously have the time to sit in front of a laptop in their peaceful homes while other Filipinos are out there trying to survive and put together what’s left of them, should clearly just be silent.
Now is not the time to ask whose fault it is or why this is happening to us. Probably this is the time to answer how we could make things better. The answer to this question however can only be seen and given meaning through our actions.
I understand that some of us may feel angry, because we want things to get better and we feel like people who have that power to make things better aren’t doing their best. I also understand that it is very difficult to “let it go”, and to just ignore other angry comments or articles involved in criticizing the current situation we all face as Filipinos.
What must we do then?
The challenge for us is to be silent and to be peaceful. Our complaints wont do anything to make things better. It will only exacerbate the situation by putting emphasis on how unfortunate things have been. Silence does not mean we do not care or that things do not matter. Silence simply means that we do feel something yet no words can capture our emotions and sentiments.
Today, we are challenged to be human. Human, not in the sense, that it is innate for us to be angry and to react to this tragedy, but human in a sense that we can overcome and acknowledge our capability to do so.
I think you're right in saying that we have to be human in a sense that we can overcome and acknowledge our capability to do so. (with regards to this tragedy) We have to overcome our human nature of expressing ourselves online, because now is the time for action. There are truly better things to do then to be angry. It is time for love and compassion rather than anger.
ReplyDeleteIdeas are just words until they are acted upon.
It is the time to act.
I do feel the same with regard to our online ramblings of the situation in Tacloban and I would just like to add to that by sharing an experience. I saw many different facebook posts particularly about the looting of the Gaisano Mall as many people shared this video commenting how they were very disappointed with the Tacloban people. However, I came to think that if we actually put ourselves into the situation of these people in Tacloban, I am certain we too would act the same way. I mean who are we to judge these people. In moments where our only focus is to survive, we too would be brought to act this way. Sheltered in the comforts of our own homes, provided with everything we need, I think we would truly never understand what these people in Tacloban are going through. People immediately criticize them for looting but I think this is only reflection of the primary level. If we dig deeper we will see that what is sad and disappointing is not that people are looting and acting that way but the every fact that they actually forced to do so.
ReplyDeleteAs Kayla said "Today we are challenged to be human" I think we are challenged to be human by being more thoughtful of others and by actually sympathizing and understanding their situation. Instead of criticizing and bashing these people for the way that they acted. In reality, what exactly would our online ramblings do? Going back to David Foster Wallace "This is Water" this taught us to learn how to think and know what to actually think about. Instead of superficially judging the situation in Tacloban, we should bring ourselves to the point of view of these people and see the world through their eyes then maybe we will not be so quick to bash on them. Furthermore, relating this to our current reading of The Socius and the Neighbor, what does it truly mean to be a neighbor to the socius? Maybe instead of always rambling online about different things, we can actually give off our time, this precious thing that is most difficult to give away, and actually act to help these people. To practice "charitas" in the purest form.
Frenchi Baluyot (A)
Maybe we must be silent on one hand, but not silent in terms of concrete actions that we can do as human beings or neighbors. I agree to your point that rising anger and complaints on the internet does not help improve the situation at all. You keep posting. People are still suffering. So, we should keep silence, because no words can capture our emotions and sentiments, and even there are, they can't offer any help anyway. That's why instead of complaining and blaming the government for their actions, this is the time for us to unite together, to acknowledge our capability as human's neighbor, and to do something about it.
ReplyDeleteActions speak louder than words.
So, Wai Yiu
PH102 - A
I share your sentiments about this. I think that the best way to deal with challenges like this is not by wasting time to criticize people who are trying to help, but rather, to try and help.
ReplyDelete- Diane Cheng (A)