Wanted: careful problem-solving

Many of us admire and are ready to support strong-willed leaders and well-meaning citizens who show genuine concern for the poor and sincerely work hard to bring about change for the better. Like President Duterte.

The trouble is, some leaders—here and abroad—in addressing a problem, become overzealous troubleshooters, meaning, they merely “shoot the trouble,” using the shotgun approach and in the process hitting more good than bad guys, or causing more bad than good, especially over time. At least, sometimes they find time, perhaps grudgingly, to apologize for the misfires. Or their poor lieutenants are left to face the consequences and to offer funny or embarrassing explanations, interpretations or justifications that only cause more harm.

Worse, a lot of people are too naive, fence-sit, or choose to be opportunistic, like those with widely known track records of human rights violations, corruption and plunder, such that they can’t even pause and take a second look at the real problems even if these have raised the concern of the well-meaning world.

We need meaningful change. Real change—change that is lawful, upright and fair to all social classes, be they rich, middle class or poor.

Reforms should not be just tactical and shortsighted, they should be far-reaching and holistic.

Case in point: the Marcos issue. There is certainly a big disconnect (to say the least) here—an administration trumpeting its anticorruption thrust as one of its main governance pillars and then espousing the burial of a tyrant—one who was found to have stolen billions of dollars from his people at that—in the Libingan ng mga Bayani no less.

Do we want our children to emulate the corrupt, to take unlawful shortcuts in doing business, to embrace arrogant politics, to be unchristian in their ways?

In many instances in the past, reformists pursued their dream of change in disregard of the adage “The end does not justify the means,” only to realize too late, to their dismay, the wisdom that animates and immortalizes it. Sooner or later, ignoble or unethical means will bring about a more imperfect world.

When we see our friends or leaders going astray or habitually overdoing their pursuit of change, let’s be a true friend and a brave citizen. Be constructive and help correct the obviously wrong, unjust or harmful words and actions. Let’s not be indifferent if we want our leaders to succeed and our beloved country to truly prosper.

Our nation does not need leaders who just “(trouble)shoot” for short-term goals. We need leaders who engage cooperative, productive, brave and vigilant citizens in the pursuit of change to make sure that the cure is not worse than the disease.

TIRSO G. SERRANO, [email protected]