Pictographs

Unless you're a child, birthdays come and go, often without any fanfare, just some food and drinks, and perhaps a cake with a candle on top for the romantics.  And gifts are out of the picture.

The usual monotony was broken when my niece Terê gave me a simple birthday card.  It was done on plain bond paper using a pencil and an eraser (if you work near kids, you notice the eraser is busy).  Well... in short, that made my day!

Little things matter a lot, especially if you see the underlying effort and thought invested in the task.

Communication is universal regardless of age, and it's not even a human monopoly.  Other life forms use it.  Adults invariably use letters, numbers and other symbols in their messages.  Children on the other hand use drawings no matter how rudimentary they may look.  And since they are virtual pictographs, the readers understand the message.  Obviously we cannot over-analyze the drawings.

Pope Benedict XVI once said that "children truly are the family's greatest treasure and most precious good."  Especially for the parents, we should nurture the children and give proper attention to them.  The little thing you utter today may go a long way.  And because of this, people around kids should shun saying bad words.  There are many things that turns me off, and cursing is on top of the list!

Surely as children, we can remember one person in our lives who we idolized and gave us good advice and pointers growing up.  We can become such person to the young ones.  "All grown-ups were once children—although few of them remember it" (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry).

Admittedly it's difficult with this kind of media, inclusive of the Internet's dark edge, but let's preserve our little angels' innocence, and protect their dignity as human beings, sons and daughters of God above.  Our Lord Jesus Christ himself mentioned it in Matthew 18.6; 19.14 (RSV):

"...But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

"Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

Same Old Same Old

For fear of being misunderstood, or perhaps akin to going against the flow, I hesitated writing about this topic.  I'm a little fed-up by the constant promo of taking the "straight path" (matuwid na daan) not because I'm against it but because it's just a slogan, not something tangible.  It's just lip service, I'm afraid.  But it's the same old story.

It's good to prosecute erring officials but I guess the process is not ideal; I want it to be more legal than political, and nothing personal.  There should be fairness and equal protection under the law, not skewed or selective.

One issue at hand is the not so subtle attempt to purge officials of important offices whose only sin is being appointed by the previous dispensation.  There are many areas in constitutional bodies but let's focus on the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court (SC).  The administration is sending mixed signals, saying one thing and doing another.  One time they say they are hands-off to possible impeachment of justices, some other time hints otherwise.  We always hear them say the present SC is beholden to the previous president, so they want them replaced.  But unless it's not yet obvious, when they appoint new justices, aren't they beholden to the present leader if we follow the logic?  They in effect are replacing the Arroyo SC with the new Aquino SC.  That is if we follow their way of thinking.  So the SC spokesman is correct is his pronouncements; I don't agree with the palace's assessment (see http://bit.ly/igS65j if anybody is interested).  They want to have their cake and eat it too!

The case of the Ombudsman is similar but more obvious this time.  It's clear the executive wants her out.  By this time, she's already impeached by the lower house of Congress, save for a final vote by plenary.  Unfortunately for the ombudsman, the process is political rather than legal as voiced out by the Justice Committee chairman himself—at least he's honest.  Again the question may be asked, "are they removing her to give way to a friendlier ombudsman?"  Do they have friends and relatives with pending cases at her office?  They can't think differently for different circumstances.  And to add injury to this, the final judge will be the Senate—I don't know if they are fair and independent enough to give a just judgment.

But that is not my thinking.  No matter who appointed the officials (if proper procedures are met), we should let them be independent as can be, and let them finish their terms of office, unless there is real evidence of wrongdoing.

As I see the old faces in the Executive and Legislature who now are members of the majority block, I scratch my head in awe at the tyranny of the majority.  When they speak on moral grounds, I ask silently, "look, who's talking!"

This opinion is written in a positive light, pointing to some issues that need change.  I remain hopeful of having a responsive government, and as a good citizen, I am supportive of our present leaders.  But our leaders should do concrete positive service to the people, not just superficial motions that only divide the nation.  We need someone who works diligently outside of the media focus.  Leadership is not just about reading speeches, it's making the right and timely decisions that are generally fair, unitive and beneficial to all people.  Have a sense of urgency and fulfill your responsibilities and do your jobs.  Above all, the good leader is a servant, and both terms are interchangeable.

"Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations.

He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

He will not fail or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law." (Isaiah 42.1-4 RSV)

Pray If You Want To

I received the following email regarding prayer in the US and Canada, and I quoted it here entirely even though I'm from the Philippines because I guess we'll come to this stage sooner or later.  It seems faith is being marginalized in order to create a fully secular and atheistic order.  People must be free to pray and express their faith in a democratic environment where all rights are guaranteed... Prayer can't be banned!

CBS and Katie Couric et al. must be in a panic and rushing to reassure the White House that this is not network policy--re: Andy Rooney's commentary on prayer. Folks, this is the year that we retake America and Canada.  Get Ready...

Andy Rooney and Prayer

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.

But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue.

Yes, and this is the United States of America and Canada, countries founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect -- somebody chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.  If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.  If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit. When in Rome.....

But what about the atheists? Is another argument.

What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!

Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.

God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want. It is time that the majority rules! It's time we tell them, "You don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back, and we will win!"

God bless us one and all. God bless America and Canada, despite all our faults, we are still the greatest nations of all. God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.

Let's make 2011 the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions. And our military forces come home from all the wars.

Keep looking up.

Point well said!  Some folks might be curious about some details mentioned... I agree with the Theory of Evolution but Darwin is not the theory, the theory is not Darwin (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution).  Change is constant, so the term "greatest nations of all" may not be true.

"See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ~St. Paul (1 Thessalonians 5.15-18 RSV)