The Lorax

Cong Corrales

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”  -Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

I THINK the worst by-product of impunity is apathy. Unfortunately, I see it happening to our country down to the most basic unit of government.

Too many politicians, persons-in-authority, and government workers get away with the most atrocious attacks on basic human rights that people have become bitter, jaded and worse, apathetic.

I have had way too many depressing conversations with people who have espoused the why-should-I-care attitude to life. There are also people who think that as long as things do not affect them directly, it’s none of their business.

For instance, a friend asked: “If politicians get away with contract killings of rival politicians or steal from the public coffers, why should I be punished for the petty infractions I commit?” By the way, I have translated and rephrased my friend as the original quote was in the dialect and peppered with expletives.

I hear neighbors bark back at their transistor radios and TVs every time a news of a picket or rally is aired. At first, this reaction boggled my mind because I have lived the better part of my life in an urban poor community. I thought my neighbors, of all people, would understand the expressed rage of the people in the picket lines or rallies. These guys get the flack because they are fighting for higher wages, lower cost of living, and government transparency and accountability? I couldn’t wrap my head around that.

Yet, news of thieving, philandering, and genocidal politicians being outed for their crimes would not elicit the same response.

They would simply respond by saying that nothing will come out of the investigations. I certainly cannot blame them for this kind of response. When you’ve seen a number of crooked politicians waltz their way in and out of courthouses, you’d pretty much be jaded yourself.

As in the street slang: “Nothing can happen this.” I have never really grown accustomed to this type of response.

This phenomenon is also prevalent in the blogosphere especially on social media platforms. The anonymity on the Internet has emboldened netizens with a double dose of the impunity-apathy phenomenon. And why not? If crooks who have been named in investigations can get away easily, how easy can you get away with trolling and inciting physical harm to other netizens?

Like my neighbors, there are netizens who feel their silence on the growing enmity in the blogosphere will affect them as long as they stick to be in the middle.

However, democracy and governance, whether these be in the real or virtual society, is not a spectator sport. Everything is connected and everybody should participate.

Being a citizen does not end with voting. The Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections will push through this May. I enjoin you, my dear readers, not just turn up at the polling precincts blind.

Look, an apathetic response to cases of impunity is lazy. Impunity will never stop for as long as you stay jaded. Get involved in your community so you can have a truly independent and intelligent choice in leaders in the future.

I realize, of course, this is a big task to tackle. Why don’t we start small? Let’s start with our families, communities, and then eventually the society at large.