FOOD FOR THOUGHT

by: Chita Dela Cruz-Heap

Blowing In The Wind

Politics has been in existence ever since man set foot upon this earth. As far back as the garden of Eden man has been compelled to make political decisions such as the one that Adam had to make when Eve offered to him the forbidden fruit.

As a consequence of Eve’s actions Adam was compelled to consider whether or not he should accept the gift. If he declined then he would most likely displease Eve, who as a consequence might refuse to cook him his dinner. If he ate the apple then he would displease God. Since God was not the one who would be cooking his dinner that night he decided to accept the gift.

Man’s first political decision had been made. Nor can we blame Adam, for any God fearing Filipino would most likely have done the same, provided of course that the apple had been paid for by somebody else.

Since that time little has changed. Our technology has developed in leaps and bounds, but millions still die of starvation each year whilst others continue to live in extreme poverty. The rich continue to get richer, whilst the poor get even poorer.

Whereas once we would fight our adversaries with sticks and stones, now we are able to kill them millions at a time by the simple press of a button, or through the use of specially formulated chemical or biological agents.

Since the beginning of time man has sought a political solution, has sought to establish a political system that would create a world in which most of us would be happy to live, but time and time again he has failed. The common denominator in all of these systems has been mankind himself, and as such it is mankind that needs to change.

We look at the world in which we live, but we fail to see it. We do not see the world as it is, but rather we see the world as we are. For the world is simply a mirror in which our own condition is reflected.

The renowned American folk singer Bob Dylan emerged onto the music scene like some modern day prophet back in the early sixties, and this week I would like to quote one of his songs. Some of you will already be familiar with this song. later popularized by folk trio Peter Paul and Mary. The song is entitled ‘Blowing In The Wind.’

How many roads must a man walk down
Before they call him a man?
How many seas must the white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
And how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they are forever banned?
The answer my friend is blowing in the wind,
The answer is blowing in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
How many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
And how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn’t see?
The answer my friend is blowing in the wind,
The answer is blowing in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
And how many deaths will it take ‘till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer my friend is blowing in the wind,
The answer is blowing in the wind.

For this world of ours to change, a change must first come about within us. The kind of change that I am talking about begins within the heart, for that change which is so desperately needed will not come about through new ideas or through a new political system, but as a consequence of how we relate to each other as human beings, and upon our priorities as individuals.

We as Filipinos live in a society which is largely driven by self motivation, our predominant interest being ‘What can I get?’ rather than ‘What can I give?’ We as a people may claim to be Christian, and as such we attend church and perform the various Christian ceremonies required of us, but all too frequently our faith is not reflected in our actions. For a faith to be real it must also be put into practice. Faith cannot simply be a system of beliefs. It must be felt.

Many of us still believe that God lives in Heaven and that Heaven is somewhere up in the sky. God can do no good there, for it is only when God dwells within our hearts that real change can come about. Only then can we begin to create a better world in which to live./TE