Thinking big and peripherally

I’M afraid this is something we have to learn to do, and learn it quick and fast. Before some burning issues, especially those asking for legalization, we just should not look at what is explicitly said. We have to be more wary of the implications and the consequences.

These controversial issues do have a moving spirit behind them, and we just have to discern what kind of spirit it is. They are no inert, abstract concepts that hardly have any impact on our lives as individuals and societies. They are alive and are meant to influence our thoughts and behavior.

In short, they have a prominently moral impact on us. They just cannot and should not be treated as mere technical items that should be judged only in terms of the convenience and practical advantages they give.

They touch the very core of our being, and our true relationship with God and among ourselves. They can question fundamental things like who and what we are, what our purpose is, etc.

They certainly have to be assessed slowly and thoroughly. We have to read between the lines, look into their inspiration and motives, know the ideologies behind those advocating them, etc. This is not paranoia. This is prudence, foresight and even common sense.

In short, we cannot be naïve and accept things at face value. Times are now so very complicated we have to be watchful and cautious in sorting and identifying things—factors, elements, circumstances, etc.—giving each its proper value.

Perhaps, the underlying crisis that gives rise to this complication is the crisis of values. There are signs many of us are confused about what values should truly govern us. Giving proper value judgment to things seems to be missing in action these days.

We have to be wary of how things are framed and presented, the beautiful language used that’s cleverly attuned to what may be considered at the moment as being politically or socially correct. Intense and covert maneuverings are done, you can be sure of it.

Tricks are already done in this level, tricks that count on a massive support structure in terms of ideology, finances and linkage network. Besides, they can count on many prominent social and political leaders, and yes, some significant following.

There will be attempts to limit the discussion and debate within the field of economics, for example, or of social pragmatism, making any consideration of faith and morals, of religion, as taboo, or as uncalled for.

Polls and surveys are conducted to show how the people are supposed to favor certain positions. But we all know that there are things that cannot be determined by polls and popularity.

We have to be careful when these gimmicks are resorted to. They are clever ruses that take advantage of people’s current problems and difficulties to make a general rule about how we ought to behave.

We have to go into the real essence of things, plunging deep into their nature, passing beyond the made-up or even made-over appearances and their cultural and social conditionings.

To do this, we have to realize that our ultimate source of knowledge and guidance cannot be just what we see and understand. We have to go into the sphere of faith and beliefs.

We have to go past the sciences, especially the so-called social sciences that often give fluid and inconclusive findings. We even have to go past ideologies which are man-made and often biased attempts to have a world-view of things. Many of them are downright questionable and rotten.

These can be materialism that denies the existence of the spirit, liberalism that corrupts freedom, Marxism and socialism that tramples on rights of persons, unrestrained capitalism that usually spawns greed and individualistic culture.

The gospel has warned us to be clever as serpents even as we ought to be simple as doves. We have to know the hidden agenda of many activists who tend to ram their positions on all of us.

As much as possible, we should nip in the bud any attempt of these ideologies to take a foothold in our legal system, our culture and our society. We need to think big and peripherally when we discuss issues like the Reproductive Health Bill and the Magna Carta of Women now pending in Congress.