Culture, common sense and criticality

We love our culture. We are proud to show it. We are so proud about it that it becomes our immediate recess when something new and different is introduced. We cling to it like dear life itself.

"Kasi ganyan na yan", "kasi ganito na talaga sa amin", "eto na ang aming kinagisnan", we become vulnerable to blind adherence.

Don'lt get me wrong, there are a lot of good things in our culture. Yes we should continue them. But for the things that's inconsistent with 21st century enlightenment, we should be critical about them. Do they have a place in our contemporary society?

Shall we continue "rido", thereby threatening the very safety of our own family and public order? Shall we continue to reason for those putting the law into their own hands for vendetta to satisfy their angst but diminishing our rule of law and public safety?

Shall we continue patronizing leaders based on familial and tribal affiliation with total disregard for competence and merit and what they can do for common good?

Shall we continue the social divide between blue-blooded and commoners that the latter will have to kowtow to the former all the time?

Shall we continue thinking of public coffer as a familial piggy bank and the institution of public service like a family enterprise?

Shall we continue rationalizing that bureaucrats stealing public funds are engaged in jihad, arguing that while rebels are fighting outside, these bureaucrats are fighting within by weakening government's public service deliveries?

Shall we continue to misuse religion for violence?

Shall we continue victimizing our sisters and daughters to polygamy and pawning them for political ends?

Without critical thought about them, we are doomed.