I was astonished and deeply moved by an email (unverified source) sent to me about an essay written by a Korean student studying here in the Philippines to take advantage of the cheaper tuition fees and to learn English at the same time. I truly felt that Jaeyoun Kim had a vital lesson for us Filipinos about love of country.
What struck me the most in his simple analysis of the situation here in the Philippines but which reverberated with truth was that --- the problem in our country is not corruption but the lack of love for the Philippines. He talks about how Korea started from scratch after the war and had no natural resources. He said that they used to talk about the Philippines which was one of the richest in Asia at that time and how much they envied Filipinos. Despite that, Korea was able to recover dramatically because of young men with hearts burning with patriotism who strived hard to work not only for themselves but more importantly for their country.
What does nationalism and patriotism really mean? How is it to truly love one’s country? I wonder if there really is a direct link to one’s childhood rearing and whether a disadvantaged childhood inevitably leads to a politically disaffected and socially disengaged adult. There are current concerns about social declines and about the elevation of individualism over nationalism among young people. Can we do something about it?
Let us not say that we can’t make a difference. Average people have been making a difference for years in this country. Our only limitations are our imagination and our fears of being different and bucking current conventions. So let us stop expecting the power structure to do everything for us but rather start by improving the little things which would help our country in the long run.
Years back, J.F. Kennedy implored people to ask what they can do for their country not just because it was a catchy phrase. It was a clarion call heeded by millions who knew that the answer to the country’s problems lies in each and every citizen. I would hazard a guess that the need for people to work towards a better society is even greater now than it was in the 60’s.
One needs only to look at the state of our environment to know that the task that once belonged solely to the government cannot be done without individual help. There are simple things we can do in our daily life which can greatly contribute to the well-being of our country. Small things or seemingly inconsequential acts that we do that can guide others especially parents entrusted with the task of molding their children into responsible and upright citizens. It is imperative each of us should serve as model of good values and help instill in the youth a sense of responsibility to the community, environment and the law.
It is an inescapable truth that lack of citizen involvement in our country is a quiet epidemic and threat to our future which may be attributed also to parents’ apathy. Increasingly, we are not living up to our responsibilities as citizens. Everyday we hear of government, media, school, judicial, or business actions (or inactions) that cause is concern, yet we do nothing about them. Special interest groups like the Save Me Movement and Haribon with advocacies for the protection of the environment, and other cause-oriented social advocacy groups have taken the lead. We, as ordinary people, can help protect the environment by making small changes in our daily life. We can start by not using our cars as often as we used to for simple errands and instead take a walk or use public transportation. We can be positive role-models for others by conserving resources and practicing the three R’s: reduce, re-use, recycle or just by simply picking up trash when we see it or just by refraining from littering.
Each nation faces economic, social, security, environmental, legal and health challenges but solutions to these challenges are far more effective if a greater number of citizens become effectively involved. To quote Edmund Burke “all that is necessary for triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.”
Thus, in keeping the democracy strong, it demands that we be vigilant and make small sacrifices everyday by doing simple yet potent actions like teaching the young and also reminding ourselves of our heritage -- of why and how we became a nation, of the mistakes we’ve made, of the individuals and events that have played major roles in shaping our country. The youth should be made to appreciate what we have -- for this is not a birth right -- but rather is a gift from the culmination of past generations and consequently, to see our shortcomings so they can be addressed.
Indeed, Filipinos need a broader view of patriotism-loving one’s country need not always be about dying for the country and it goes beyond mere voting and community service which are marks of a good citizen loving one’s country. It requires us to be positive role-models by taking responsibility for our own actions and reflecting how these actions affect the welfare of others. It requires us to take a firm stand in what we believe is right -- ”do the right thing, even when it is diffi cult” and “do the right thing even when no one is looking”. As the saying goes “if you do not stand for something then you will fall for anything!”
