Battle to fight social discontent
As we honor today our Fathers who fought in the last war, it is fitting to look at the pages of history and reflect on their contributions to our country. We would find thereon their prodigious sacrifices and indomitable spirit as shown by their resiliency in surmounting one of the most if not the most brutal acts of violence in the history of mankind. They agonized, bled, and perished in a most inhumane manner at the hands of the enemy. All of these they suffered in their pursuit of that precious goal—liberty for us all. Today, we, too, have a battle to fight—a battle that seeks to thwart the latent feeling of discontent among many of our citizens concerning the “less than ideal” state of our country. To a large degree, they have lost faith in our system because of problems of unbridled unfairness and depravity that breed poverty, hunger, and corruption. In effect, they impart an inauspicious outlook of distrust, skepticism, cynicism—a circumstance that not only spawns turmoil, disharmony, and bitterness but hampers solidarity and cooperation, stunts innovation, and impedes the success of our people—a great loss for our country.
So what shall we do? First, we cease allowing our misgivings to get the better of ourselves to the point of inaction. Affirming the futility of our actions will not solve our problems, it perpetuates them. Second, we must endeavor to adopt a life of integrity, honesty, rectitude, and always set good examples for our children. The well-being of our nation is anchored in the formation of good character in our children. Third, I believe that there is goodness in every one of us. Let’s extend a helping hand to someone in need, let’s smile at our neighbor, and let’s speak cordially to a stranger. These simple acts of goodness build trust and help foil the proliferation of doubt, confusion, and discontent.
Most importantly, let’s be encouraged by the sacrifices of our Fathers. The battle that we face today pales in comparison to the horrors of war that they went through. Let’s take a cue and draw strength from them. Like them, we, too, can make, in our own little ways, a lasting legacy for our country. After all, they are our Fathers, and “the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Julius D. Turgano,
