- Advertisement -

Rhona Canoy

SO… Too many things and too many events over the past few weeks makes me realize that no matter how well-intentioned any mortal being may be, at a certain point one shuts down and certainly not by choice. I have been too close to death experiences not to wonder about my own mortality and the time I have left on earth. More importantly, to contemplate upon what really matters.

- Advertisement -

The Marawi war certainly has made me think that one’s focus and perspective alters when defined by one’s time here on earth. Yes, many people I know have entered into the heated discussion about martial law because Duterte actually went and did it, even if only for Mindanao. So? He isn’t Marcos. And we certainly have evolved enough not to allow the Marcos years to be duplicated. And that’s why the seeming paranoia confuses me a bit.

As far as the Marawi situation is concerned, yes, it worries me because the war is so close to home. And the cultural and historical loss of architecture saddens me. Certainly the loss of life is high on my list. But at this point, can we solve the problem without loss of life? Ponder upon that. And it’s not just the Maute/Isis that bothers me. The NDF have also taken a violent stance (but haven’t they always?). As much as I like to believe I am a compassionate being, there are times when I fall into the dark side and think “Kill them all” is the answer.

Then I realize whether we kill them all or not, we’re all going to die sooner or later. So then again, the question begs asking. Do we have it within ourselves to rise above the politics and history to find a way to emerge on the other side and be ready to build a better world for our children? For those of us old farts, we’ve seen and done enough and life at this point is certainly a bonus. But my grandson is only seven years old. What does he see? How does he interpret life? And am I doing what I can to make him a better human being who will contribute to making the world better?

We spend so much time arguing and debating (not even including the name-calling) over who is right. Maybe it shouldn’t be about who is right, but rather what is good. Martial law in and of itself is neither good nor bad. We have had experiences which give us the colored lenses with which we see. For those who experienced peace because of martial law, they will always sing it praises. For those who were persecuted and suffered, they will always curse its reoccurrence. And that is an argument which shall have no end. Hitler and holocaust analogies will surface time again. But we cannot deny the reality that for those too young to understand it, it was a historical event that although devastating does not strike an emotional chord unless their families were directly affected.

Having to deal with the daily struggles of surviving is distracting enough for us not to care about anything beyond our backyards. For Cagayanos, the Muslim evacuees can either be welcomed or abhorred. The shooting and air strikes in Marawi and its outskirts can either be feared or brushed off. Martial law can either be accepted or questioned. Such is the nature of the human being. But at the end of the day, we all have to be reminded of the one unquestionable truth.

No matter which side of the opinion fence we find ourselves on, none of us are going to escape that final hole in the ground. Ponder upon that.

Disclaimer

Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.

- Advertisement -