What should be done

Letter to the Editor

WE have had too many elections. Too many promises.  Elections have caused so much social division and disunity. Many are hopeful, but many think that elections are hopeless political exercises. Some think that elections in this country are designed to give false hopes to our impoverished people, and that  the candidates are supported by vested interests, landlords and big business.

Vote buying or the giving of money, food, material gifts and promises—patently illegal acts—have remained unchecked and unprosecuted. Comelec and the watchdogs have become inutile, to a large extent. Our people’s moral and political fiber has deteriorated during elections, despite the warnings and pronouncements of religious leaders. Black propaganda, electoral manipulations, and violence have destroyed electoral integrity.

We must blaze a new path. All of us are on the same boat, on the same land, on the same Earth. Even as we debate and tackle our narrow electoral issues, we should not lose sight of three things. One, the Earth is in danger of dying because of environmental degradation. Second, the world is on the verge of  mutually shared nuclear destruction. The conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, and South China Sea or West Philippine Sea are coming to a boiling point. The superpowers have increased militarization more than ever. We cannot just be pawns and passive observers and become unwilling victims. We and our leaders must insist and demand that the world powers, the US, China, and Russia must cool down and demilitarize. We cannot allow the old Lumbia airport to be used as a nuclear shield and magnet for nuclear counter-attacks and terrorist attacks. Third, we all must regain our moral and spiritual bearings. Otherwise, corruption, criminality, terrorism, and wars will ultimately consume all of humanity.

Let us all reflect. —Evangeline Tadlas-Carrasco, lawyer, 2nd Congressional District, Cagayan de Oro