No religious triumvirate has ever exerted a more powerful, more
sinister, more corrupt, more bellicose, more destabilizing, more global,
more encompassing reach than the emergence of three religious movements
that have made an undeniable impact in the history of Western
Civilization in particular and World History in general than the rise of
Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
All three religions
share a common denominator, that Moses received the commandments of God
in a mountain in what is today Palestine. They also rose from a region
that was essentially rural, arid and agricultural.All three are rooted
around a set of sacred text, each based on the earlier religion.
Judaism
is the earliest of the Abrahamic traditions and is based on the Torah.
The first five books of the Christian Bible. The Torah was written in
Ancient Hebrew and were written by various authors, known by some
Biblical scholars only by their one lettered initials "J," "E," "P," and
"D."
Because of these multiplicity of authors, the
Torah is actually replete with contradictions, inconsistencies and plain
impossibilities.
For example, the common authorship of the Bible is by Rabbinical tradition attributed to Moses, but chapter 34 of Deuteronomy describes the death of Moses in the third person. Of course, some would say that the last chapter could not have been written by Moses, all other books though of the Pentateuch were his work. Still others would say that chapter 34 was written by one of Moses' disciples.
Another glaring proof that the Torah could not have been written by Moses is the account of the world's creation presented in chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis. In chapter 1, god created the world in seven days beginning with (I am using the Good News Bible by the Philippine Bible Society):
First day: light
Second day: sky (which is a dome which separated the water above and the water below)
Third day: land (earth) (by commanding the water below the dome to come in one place) and plants
Fourth day: stars (actually lights which appear at night and light which appear during the day)
Fifth day: sea animals and birds
Sixth day: land animals, humans (both male and female at the same time)
Seventh day: god rested (if he is omnipotent, he does not need rest and he could have created everything just by willing it).
However, in chapter 2 of Genesis, the order of creation seems to have been re-arranged, with god creating man first (yes, without the woman), remember in chapter 1 he created man both female and male at the same time. Here, the patriarchal bent of the early Jews were letting themselves be known.
Second to be created: fruit bearing trees
Third to be created: animals and birds
Fourth to be created: woman
If Genesis were even remotely written by one author, in this case purportedly by Moses, then how the heck could he present two conflicting accounts of the same event in succeeding chapters. At least if the second account were five chapters apart, I could say Moses might have forgotten what he earlier wrote. Then again, how could he have forgotten if he were inspired by god while writing the account in the first place. Clearly this is mere rehashing of "facts."
Christianity emerged from the town of Bethlehem with the birth of Jesus. A Jew who was born to humble parents (at least that's what the Bible account says he is). He is reputed to have died at 33 years old. He was born to a virgin mother (not much different from the myth making by the North Korean regime about the sacred birth of Kim Jong-il). Not much is known about his father, Joseph, who is only mentioned in passing.
The books of the New Testament were written at least 100 years after the death of Christ. And like the old testament, is not much consistent. It seems that contradictions is the rule among the books of the Bible. This is evident, as pointed out by Christopher Hitchens in his book, God is not Great, that Matthew and Luke contradict each other on the Virgin birth or the genealogy of Jesus and their account of the "Flight to Egypt." If these were the works of men inspired by god, it seems to be either god made a mistake or the "inspired men" were at best sleepy when the supposed inspirations were being made.
Islam is probably the most militant and radical of the three religious traditions. It was founded by Mohammad, an illiterate shepherd who lived in Arabia and denied in 632 AD (using the Gregorian calendar). According to Muslims, Mohammad received the word of god as contained in the Koran verbatim, although it is known that the Koran is another plagiarism of certain Jewish and Christian works like the Torah and the Bible. As Hitchens pointed out, he was inspired to write the words of God which were already written by no less than two earlier religions. How crazy is that? To top it all, Mohammad's supposed words, known as hadiths, were written exactly hundreds of years after his demise. In fact, the first accounts of Mohammad's life were only written 120 years after his death. And the written Arabic which is now used to present the Koran was only standardized in the late 9th century. Not much needs to be said therefore as to its supposed "truths." The Koran, of all religious texts of the Abrahamic traditions, clearly is the least credible. Notwithstanding the claims it has attributed to itself, it is simply preposterous to be generous about it.
Huwebes, Pebrero 28, 2013
Miyerkules, Pebrero 27, 2013
The Invention of God: The Beginnings
God is man himself hoping for the best while living in a cruel and impersonal world.
The history of man is the history of the rise of God, propounded by man, made powerful by man, created by man. The great French philosopher Voltaire once said that "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him." And boy did man invent God. Across the centuries a panoply, indeed, a pantheon of gods rose and fell, from the intrigue ridden gods of Ancient Greece to the gloomy, vengeful, almost neurotic god of the Abrahamic traditions to the 230 million all-purpose gods of the Hindu faith, man created a concept that will shape his history and has shaped its history for the last 5,000 years and is undoubtedly continuing to shape man's history.
For all the talk about god, there is always one thing that comes apparent - god shares many characteristics, qualities, even attitudes of man. Indeed, the Judeo-Christian tradition insists that we were made in the image and likeness of god, and by that alone, then the Judeo-Christian God is a sinful , frail , weak god. Man is sinful, frail and weak. The absolutist bent of the Abrahamic god reminds me not of a transcendent, supernatural, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, omnibenevolent god but a crazed, power-grabbing, megalomaniac middle eastern dictator of the likes of Saddam Hussein or Bashar al-Assad or even the gruesomely tyrannical Joseph Stalin or the bloodletting Adolf Hitler or for a classical bent, the insanely macabre Emperor Nero.
At best, the Abrahamic god is nothing more than a vain, moody, jealous, unreasonable, really psychotic god who vacillates between giving life to the dead to encouraging genocide, the murder of prostitutes, adulterers, homosexuals and those who work on Sundays. It would be safe to say that the Abrahamic traditions is psychosis on steroids perpetuated on a mass-scale that would be the envy of Adolf Hitler.
Bertrand Russel once said that "Religion is a defensive reaction against the destructive forces of nature." At an earlier time in the evolution of man, there was a daily struggle to literally live through the night. Man can only be said to be really, really afraid of the world around him. The uncertainty of finding the next meal and the certainty that one could be some wild animals meal was paramount and governed his life, his existence and his psychological construct. There must be something that is over and above all the feebleness of life, as Shakespeare would say in Macbeth, "Life is but a walking shadow, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." The invention of god was not only inevitable, it would have been virtually necessary to make sense of the world around him, of his life, of his mental well-being.
The invention of God began with the invention of myths. Joseph Campbell in the book The Power of Myth described myths as clues to the spiritual potentialities of human life, these spiritual potentialities were the seeds that sprang the rise of the god concept. As a secular humanist, I no longer believe in a spiritual nature in the sense of being connected to a higher being or the existence of any consciousness apart from man (until of course disproved by science at a later time), but rather, I define spirituality as man's quest to make sense of the world, in a way, it is a search for meaning. However, Campbell continues to say that myths are not the search for meaning but the experience of meaning. Which I might add, is finding meaning in the experiences of life. Which goes to say that it is still a way to search for meaning. For as man searches for his meaning, he experiences life and makes meaning out of it.
The great French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre says that man is thrown into the world and that it is up to him to find that meaning. Man creates his meaning, as Sartre would put it. He alone is responsible for the meaning he attaches to his life. The invention of god is the making of meaning of man's existence. Without the god-concept and without the benefit of science and mathematics, man in his infancy had to do with myths. This is man protecting his psycho-emotional state. This is what Russell meant when he said that "religion is a defensive reaction against the destructive forces of nature."
The invention of god gave man meaning, purpose and anchor in what Thomas Hobbes called the "short, poor, nasty, brutish and solitary" life of man. God is man externalized, empowered, certain, in-control, powerful, eternal, and enabled. From a sense of utter lawlessness in the steppes of Africa from which man rose to preeminence of the world to the struggle to find a sense of meaning - the god-concept had to be invented.
A Youtube video entitled "God's God" perfectly, succinctly, and comprehensively captures the gist of what the business of god-making is all about.
The history of man is the history of the rise of God, propounded by man, made powerful by man, created by man. The great French philosopher Voltaire once said that "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him." And boy did man invent God. Across the centuries a panoply, indeed, a pantheon of gods rose and fell, from the intrigue ridden gods of Ancient Greece to the gloomy, vengeful, almost neurotic god of the Abrahamic traditions to the 230 million all-purpose gods of the Hindu faith, man created a concept that will shape his history and has shaped its history for the last 5,000 years and is undoubtedly continuing to shape man's history.
For all the talk about god, there is always one thing that comes apparent - god shares many characteristics, qualities, even attitudes of man. Indeed, the Judeo-Christian tradition insists that we were made in the image and likeness of god, and by that alone, then the Judeo-Christian God is a sinful , frail , weak god. Man is sinful, frail and weak. The absolutist bent of the Abrahamic god reminds me not of a transcendent, supernatural, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, omnibenevolent god but a crazed, power-grabbing, megalomaniac middle eastern dictator of the likes of Saddam Hussein or Bashar al-Assad or even the gruesomely tyrannical Joseph Stalin or the bloodletting Adolf Hitler or for a classical bent, the insanely macabre Emperor Nero.
At best, the Abrahamic god is nothing more than a vain, moody, jealous, unreasonable, really psychotic god who vacillates between giving life to the dead to encouraging genocide, the murder of prostitutes, adulterers, homosexuals and those who work on Sundays. It would be safe to say that the Abrahamic traditions is psychosis on steroids perpetuated on a mass-scale that would be the envy of Adolf Hitler.
Bertrand Russel once said that "Religion is a defensive reaction against the destructive forces of nature." At an earlier time in the evolution of man, there was a daily struggle to literally live through the night. Man can only be said to be really, really afraid of the world around him. The uncertainty of finding the next meal and the certainty that one could be some wild animals meal was paramount and governed his life, his existence and his psychological construct. There must be something that is over and above all the feebleness of life, as Shakespeare would say in Macbeth, "Life is but a walking shadow, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." The invention of god was not only inevitable, it would have been virtually necessary to make sense of the world around him, of his life, of his mental well-being.
The invention of God began with the invention of myths. Joseph Campbell in the book The Power of Myth described myths as clues to the spiritual potentialities of human life, these spiritual potentialities were the seeds that sprang the rise of the god concept. As a secular humanist, I no longer believe in a spiritual nature in the sense of being connected to a higher being or the existence of any consciousness apart from man (until of course disproved by science at a later time), but rather, I define spirituality as man's quest to make sense of the world, in a way, it is a search for meaning. However, Campbell continues to say that myths are not the search for meaning but the experience of meaning. Which I might add, is finding meaning in the experiences of life. Which goes to say that it is still a way to search for meaning. For as man searches for his meaning, he experiences life and makes meaning out of it.
The great French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre says that man is thrown into the world and that it is up to him to find that meaning. Man creates his meaning, as Sartre would put it. He alone is responsible for the meaning he attaches to his life. The invention of god is the making of meaning of man's existence. Without the god-concept and without the benefit of science and mathematics, man in his infancy had to do with myths. This is man protecting his psycho-emotional state. This is what Russell meant when he said that "religion is a defensive reaction against the destructive forces of nature."
The invention of god gave man meaning, purpose and anchor in what Thomas Hobbes called the "short, poor, nasty, brutish and solitary" life of man. God is man externalized, empowered, certain, in-control, powerful, eternal, and enabled. From a sense of utter lawlessness in the steppes of Africa from which man rose to preeminence of the world to the struggle to find a sense of meaning - the god-concept had to be invented.
A Youtube video entitled "God's God" perfectly, succinctly, and comprehensively captures the gist of what the business of god-making is all about.
Martes, Pebrero 26, 2013
The Masculine Bias of the Philippine Justice System
Last February 23 was a very interesting and thought inducing experience for me, and I dare say, for my entire class in Legal Logic and Technique. Using Toulmin's Model of presenting arguments, we were given cases by our professor upon which to analyze. The end-result would be a presentation of the merits of the case for and against it using Toulmin's Model.
The cases were those of Rommel Silverio versus Republic (G.R. No. 174689, October 22, 2007) and Republic versus Jennifer B. Cagandahan (G.R. No. 166676, September 12, 2008). The Silverio case is about an individual who had undergone a sex reassignment surgery and was petitioning the Supreme Court to have his name and sex changed to reflect his transition from male to female. In said case, the Court rejected the petitioner's prayer arguing, rightly unfortunately, that there is no legal basis for such endeavor. The main crux of the Court's argument is is R.A. 9048, Section 2(c) which prohibits the changing of nationality, age, status or SEX in the civil registry. On the other hand, the Cagandahan case is about a genetically female individual who has developed a condition known and certified by a medical certificate as Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). Such condition predisposes the individual to produce excessive sex hormones, in the case of Cagandahan, there was an excess of the production of androgens, the male hormone, this resulted in the petitioner developing masculine characteristics and the stunting of her breast development, the arresting of her ovarian structures, and absence of menstruation. For all intents and purposes, the petitioner thought of herself as male and adopted its corresponding social roles, she also looked more or less masculine. In said case, the court agreed with the petitioner's prayer that her name and sex be changed from female to male.
It is worth noting that in both cases, there was actually no legal basis to grant the prayers of both parties. As mentioned earlier, the governing law regarding changes in name and sex as it appears on the Civil Register is R.A. 9048 and it specifically prohibits the changing of nationality, age, status or SEX. However, in the Cagandahan case, the Court ruled in the petitioner's favor. The main reason for the Court's decision is basically on the premise that since the petitioner considered himself and lived as a male, considering also that she has CAH and that anyway her body is, although genetically female, effectively more tilted to being male as her female reproductive organs are non-functioning and undeveloped, then she should be allowed to live as a male and correspondingly, be allowed to change her name and sex as it appears in the civil registry.
R.A. 9048 speaks of no qualifiers for the grand of name and sex change in that it just prohibits the same. However, in the Cagandahan case, there seems to be a bias towards a "change" to being male. Although in the Cagandahan case the petitioner did not really do anything active towards her body, unlike in the Silverio case that a medical procedure was performed to anatomically change the birth genitalia of the petitioner, still, in both cases, the petitioner's were moving for a change to the gender they most identified with. It is worth remembering that in the Cagandahan case, the petitioner is identified to be genetically female - the court therefore is redefining what femaleness or maleness for that matter really is. In the Silverio case, the petition was rejected because there is no legal basis for the move, citing that reasons of equity cannot be basis of granting the petition. But this is exactly what happened to the Cagandahan case, reasons of equity, although not equivocally articulated, was the basis for the grant of the petition. Jennifer Cagandahan is genetically female although her female sex organs were undeveloped and ambiguous. Rommel Silverio is genetically male, although he had them changed to female though an operation.
The only difference therefore between the two cases is that one actively changed her sex while the other relied on the ambiguity of a medical condition - nevertheless, both has no legal basis yet the Cagandahan case was acted on positively. There is only one conclusion - the Court is biased towards the male sex. Once again, latent and sublime sexism reveals itself in the most auspicious and cunning way cloaked under the banner of legalistic foreplay.
It is sad that in the 21st century, the long running animosity and bias towards half of the human race is still alive and running - in a country that claims to be republican, secular and democratic.
The cases were those of Rommel Silverio versus Republic (G.R. No. 174689, October 22, 2007) and Republic versus Jennifer B. Cagandahan (G.R. No. 166676, September 12, 2008). The Silverio case is about an individual who had undergone a sex reassignment surgery and was petitioning the Supreme Court to have his name and sex changed to reflect his transition from male to female. In said case, the Court rejected the petitioner's prayer arguing, rightly unfortunately, that there is no legal basis for such endeavor. The main crux of the Court's argument is is R.A. 9048, Section 2(c) which prohibits the changing of nationality, age, status or SEX in the civil registry. On the other hand, the Cagandahan case is about a genetically female individual who has developed a condition known and certified by a medical certificate as Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). Such condition predisposes the individual to produce excessive sex hormones, in the case of Cagandahan, there was an excess of the production of androgens, the male hormone, this resulted in the petitioner developing masculine characteristics and the stunting of her breast development, the arresting of her ovarian structures, and absence of menstruation. For all intents and purposes, the petitioner thought of herself as male and adopted its corresponding social roles, she also looked more or less masculine. In said case, the court agreed with the petitioner's prayer that her name and sex be changed from female to male.
It is worth noting that in both cases, there was actually no legal basis to grant the prayers of both parties. As mentioned earlier, the governing law regarding changes in name and sex as it appears on the Civil Register is R.A. 9048 and it specifically prohibits the changing of nationality, age, status or SEX. However, in the Cagandahan case, the Court ruled in the petitioner's favor. The main reason for the Court's decision is basically on the premise that since the petitioner considered himself and lived as a male, considering also that she has CAH and that anyway her body is, although genetically female, effectively more tilted to being male as her female reproductive organs are non-functioning and undeveloped, then she should be allowed to live as a male and correspondingly, be allowed to change her name and sex as it appears in the civil registry.
R.A. 9048 speaks of no qualifiers for the grand of name and sex change in that it just prohibits the same. However, in the Cagandahan case, there seems to be a bias towards a "change" to being male. Although in the Cagandahan case the petitioner did not really do anything active towards her body, unlike in the Silverio case that a medical procedure was performed to anatomically change the birth genitalia of the petitioner, still, in both cases, the petitioner's were moving for a change to the gender they most identified with. It is worth remembering that in the Cagandahan case, the petitioner is identified to be genetically female - the court therefore is redefining what femaleness or maleness for that matter really is. In the Silverio case, the petition was rejected because there is no legal basis for the move, citing that reasons of equity cannot be basis of granting the petition. But this is exactly what happened to the Cagandahan case, reasons of equity, although not equivocally articulated, was the basis for the grant of the petition. Jennifer Cagandahan is genetically female although her female sex organs were undeveloped and ambiguous. Rommel Silverio is genetically male, although he had them changed to female though an operation.
The only difference therefore between the two cases is that one actively changed her sex while the other relied on the ambiguity of a medical condition - nevertheless, both has no legal basis yet the Cagandahan case was acted on positively. There is only one conclusion - the Court is biased towards the male sex. Once again, latent and sublime sexism reveals itself in the most auspicious and cunning way cloaked under the banner of legalistic foreplay.
It is sad that in the 21st century, the long running animosity and bias towards half of the human race is still alive and running - in a country that claims to be republican, secular and democratic.
Lunes, Pebrero 25, 2013
The Catholic Church is Politicking Again!
The passage of the "Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012" otherwise known as R.A. 10354 last December 2012 has bruised the corrupting influence of the Catholic Church in Philippine Society. Indeed, it has tarnished its already brutal legacy of misinformation, arrogance and its time-honored tradition of bullying secular leaders that think independently of its irrational, unscientific and medieval doctrines into submission and scaring the ordinary folk into the realm of hell, God's wrath and other also time honored scare-tactics.
Well, it has been recently reported that the church is at it again, this time, a Bacolod City Diocese is actively encouraging the faithful of the said city to reject and refrain from voting six lawmakers who had supported R.A. 10354. Classic, very classic maneuver of a corrupt, morally bankrupt and essentially dictatorial church! That is more than I can generously articulate when I read the irritatingly familiar but nonetheless ingrained modus operandi of a church who fancies itself and deludes itself of a lot of exclusive access to "truths." I would call them, "truthisms", these are truths for which the Catholic Church has the monopoly upon, including, but not limited to the belief that condoms actually promote the spread of HIV. Geez, the Filipino people should bury and castrate once and for all this macabre of an institution masquerading as a savior of the conscience and moral integrity of the Filipino people but at the same time replete with pedophile priests who have not only destroyed the lives of thousands of children across the world, but also a clergy that has endangered the lives of millions of people in Africa for promoting unscientific and baseless beliefs, among others, that condom is an HIV spreader!
It seems that the Catholic Church wants to control the mind and thinking of the Filipino people for as long as it can in any way it can. This is obscene and utterly ghastly, instead of pontificating about moral values - it should first restrain its own priests and the bishops and cardinals who condone them by shuffling such rapacious priests among and between dioceses, instead of committing them to serious sex therapy and most of all, defrocking them from the ranks of the clergy.
It is about time that the Filipino people wake up from this ecclesiastically induced coma of reality denial, one nation under a secular and republican system!
Well, it has been recently reported that the church is at it again, this time, a Bacolod City Diocese is actively encouraging the faithful of the said city to reject and refrain from voting six lawmakers who had supported R.A. 10354. Classic, very classic maneuver of a corrupt, morally bankrupt and essentially dictatorial church! That is more than I can generously articulate when I read the irritatingly familiar but nonetheless ingrained modus operandi of a church who fancies itself and deludes itself of a lot of exclusive access to "truths." I would call them, "truthisms", these are truths for which the Catholic Church has the monopoly upon, including, but not limited to the belief that condoms actually promote the spread of HIV. Geez, the Filipino people should bury and castrate once and for all this macabre of an institution masquerading as a savior of the conscience and moral integrity of the Filipino people but at the same time replete with pedophile priests who have not only destroyed the lives of thousands of children across the world, but also a clergy that has endangered the lives of millions of people in Africa for promoting unscientific and baseless beliefs, among others, that condom is an HIV spreader!
It seems that the Catholic Church wants to control the mind and thinking of the Filipino people for as long as it can in any way it can. This is obscene and utterly ghastly, instead of pontificating about moral values - it should first restrain its own priests and the bishops and cardinals who condone them by shuffling such rapacious priests among and between dioceses, instead of committing them to serious sex therapy and most of all, defrocking them from the ranks of the clergy.
It is about time that the Filipino people wake up from this ecclesiastically induced coma of reality denial, one nation under a secular and republican system!
Linggo, Pebrero 24, 2013
The Teacher as the Midwife of Knowledge
Walks with knowledge
As life walks by
To bring not mere facts
But wisdom too
And bring minds
Into the light of enlightenment.
Talks with calmness
Yet exuding authority
Not insisting but encouraging
To probe questions
Into life and existence
And finding meaning in life.
Lives for others
Live meaningful lives
Living life to zest
As life he infuses in others
To bring meaning
Through knowledge as midwife.
As life walks by
To bring not mere facts
But wisdom too
And bring minds
Into the light of enlightenment.
Talks with calmness
Yet exuding authority
Not insisting but encouraging
To probe questions
Into life and existence
And finding meaning in life.
Lives for others
Live meaningful lives
Living life to zest
As life he infuses in others
To bring meaning
Through knowledge as midwife.
Sabado, Pebrero 23, 2013
Does Science refute God?
There is this interesting debate sponsored by intelligence squared about the proposition "Science refutes God." The debaters were composed of two scientists and two non-scientists, one from each side. In favor of the motion was Lawrence Krauss (theoretical physicist) and Michael Shermer (author and founding member of Skeptic magazine) and against the motion were Ian Hutchinson (nuclear scientist and engineer) and Denis D'Souza (author). The side for the motion got 37% of the voete before the debate while the side against the motion got 34%. After the debate, the side for the motion got 50% while the other side got 38% of the vote. The winner of the debate was based on the side which had the highest increase of support after the debate. With a 13% increase for the positive side, the winning team went to the side for the motion. With the debate being held in New York, I had a high premonition that the positive side would win, and in fact was correct as shown by the results.
I am a secular humanist, having said this, I would say that science does not refute God. Why? Simply because the domain of science is different. Science is based on testable facts, it is experiential, it is governed by the scientific method (hypothesis, data gathering, experimentation, conclusion) and most of all, it is dynamic. On the other hand, the concept of God is based on a belief, most are unreasonable, rooted usually on a pre-existing text purported to be the "revealed truth" by its respective believers and is therefore, static and permanent.
Science teaches us about the workings of the world and as such, takes the question about everything into the realm of the world itself. In that, science works on the principle about observability, repeatability, testability and of course, intellectual honesty. Belief in God takes us to religion, which practically has the monopoly on the unknown and insists on unprovable, unconfirmable and unverifiable experiences.
Science has over the centuries provided mankind with a better understanding of the world and the things around has, has improved human life through technology and provides us greater understanding still about the reality that is existence. Religion however, has become merely a reactionary force. Gone were the days when it held sway over the life and death of man. It's monopoly over the truth shattered by the veritable facts of science. It's attempt to explain everything about the world has been, in most respects, been replaced by the reasonable and orderly workings of science. Indeed, religion has been relegated to the sidelines, at least with regards to the interpretation of reality. And unfortunately, by clinging to the idea that not all things are explained by science, it has fallen into the trap that has for long been its domain, that is, it explains those which science has not yet explained. And there is for me nothing wrong with that, as long as such religious idiosyncracies are left to the personal life of each believer.
Science is the best instrument man has in its quest to understand better the universe and himself. Although science cannot really refute God for the reasons explained above, I would adopt Stephen Hawking's assertion that science makes it nearly impossible for one to believe that there is God.
I am a secular humanist, having said this, I would say that science does not refute God. Why? Simply because the domain of science is different. Science is based on testable facts, it is experiential, it is governed by the scientific method (hypothesis, data gathering, experimentation, conclusion) and most of all, it is dynamic. On the other hand, the concept of God is based on a belief, most are unreasonable, rooted usually on a pre-existing text purported to be the "revealed truth" by its respective believers and is therefore, static and permanent.
Science teaches us about the workings of the world and as such, takes the question about everything into the realm of the world itself. In that, science works on the principle about observability, repeatability, testability and of course, intellectual honesty. Belief in God takes us to religion, which practically has the monopoly on the unknown and insists on unprovable, unconfirmable and unverifiable experiences.
Science has over the centuries provided mankind with a better understanding of the world and the things around has, has improved human life through technology and provides us greater understanding still about the reality that is existence. Religion however, has become merely a reactionary force. Gone were the days when it held sway over the life and death of man. It's monopoly over the truth shattered by the veritable facts of science. It's attempt to explain everything about the world has been, in most respects, been replaced by the reasonable and orderly workings of science. Indeed, religion has been relegated to the sidelines, at least with regards to the interpretation of reality. And unfortunately, by clinging to the idea that not all things are explained by science, it has fallen into the trap that has for long been its domain, that is, it explains those which science has not yet explained. And there is for me nothing wrong with that, as long as such religious idiosyncracies are left to the personal life of each believer.
Science is the best instrument man has in its quest to understand better the universe and himself. Although science cannot really refute God for the reasons explained above, I would adopt Stephen Hawking's assertion that science makes it nearly impossible for one to believe that there is God.
Biyernes, Pebrero 22, 2013
Tidbits of Wisdom from Chanakya
I have come across a facebook "share" about an ancient thinker known as Chanakya. According to Wikipedia he lived between 370-283 BCE in India and was a philosopher and royal advisor int he court of the emperor Chandragupta.
All are great thoughts for reflection. However, I find number 14 quite confusing, it seems, and I hope this is just a mistake of typing or something, improper analogy. How is for example, a mirror useful to a blind person? Without a doubt, a book is helpful to an ignorant person as it can help me cure his ignorance. However, a mirror would be useless to a blind person simply because the primary function of a mirror requires the use of eyesight, which is obviously absent in a blind person. I hope this is just typographical error. The actual source of these quotes would have been really helpful in clarifying said matter.
15 GREAT THOUGHTS BY CHANAKYA
1) "Learn from the mistakes of others... you can't live long enough to make them all yourselves!!"
2)"A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and Honest people are screwed first."
...
3)"Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous."
4)"There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth."
5)" Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead."
6)"As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it."
7)"The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman."
8)"Once you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest."
9)"The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction."
10)"God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple."
11) "A man is great by deeds, not by birth."
12) "Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness."
13) "Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends."
14) "Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person."
15) "Education is the Best Friend. An Educated Person is Respected Everywhere. Education beats the Beauty and the Youth."
All are great thoughts for reflection. However, I find number 14 quite confusing, it seems, and I hope this is just a mistake of typing or something, improper analogy. How is for example, a mirror useful to a blind person? Without a doubt, a book is helpful to an ignorant person as it can help me cure his ignorance. However, a mirror would be useless to a blind person simply because the primary function of a mirror requires the use of eyesight, which is obviously absent in a blind person. I hope this is just typographical error. The actual source of these quotes would have been really helpful in clarifying said matter.
15 GREAT THOUGHTS BY CHANAKYA
1) "Learn from the mistakes of others... you can't live long enough to make them all yourselves!!"
2)"A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and Honest people are screwed first."
...
3)"Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous."
4)"There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth."
5)" Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead."
6)"As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it."
7)"The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman."
8)"Once you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest."
9)"The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction."
10)"God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple."
11) "A man is great by deeds, not by birth."
12) "Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness."
13) "Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends."
14) "Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person."
15) "Education is the Best Friend. An Educated Person is Respected Everywhere. Education beats the Beauty and the Youth."
Huwebes, Pebrero 21, 2013
Mining Disaster in Itogon, Benguet, Philippines
The August 1, 2013 mining accident of Philex Mining Corporation's Padcal Mines in Itogon, Benguet Province is another reminder of the dangers of mining and similar activities. Personally I oppose mining especially when it irreversibly destroys the environment in which the mining takes place, does not in any way uplift, improve or elevate the standard of living of its inhabitants or has substantial, long-term benefits for the Philippines.
Although Philex Mining would be paying the government P1.034 billion in fines, this is not enough considering that environmental studies with regards to the long term effects of the leakage of its mine tailings has yet to be conducted, if ever it will be conducted. Philex Mining contended that the leakage of its Pond No. 3 was due to greater than expected torrential rains, this is no excuse. Indeed, mining companies have to virtually ensure that the environment, weather or any force majeure are least likely to impact its operations. In other words, they have to plan for the worst case scenario, at all times, every time. That is the responsibility they have to fulfill, that is their sacred undertaking, for one mistake can and will irreparably impact the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
If I had my way, I would altogether ban mining in the Philippines. Over the years, mining accidents have been the norm and has not significantly improved the lives of the people in its surrounding vicinities. I do not even believe that the taxes these mining companies pay the government are enough and adequate for the destruction of the environment that it inevitably brings - however careful and accident free such mining operation is.
There is nothing wrong with exploiting our natural resources, but it should never be at the expense of the long term destruction of the environment, the continued poverty of the places in which most of these mining operations take place, and its sustainability.
NO TO MINING IN THE PHILIPPINES!!!
Although Philex Mining would be paying the government P1.034 billion in fines, this is not enough considering that environmental studies with regards to the long term effects of the leakage of its mine tailings has yet to be conducted, if ever it will be conducted. Philex Mining contended that the leakage of its Pond No. 3 was due to greater than expected torrential rains, this is no excuse. Indeed, mining companies have to virtually ensure that the environment, weather or any force majeure are least likely to impact its operations. In other words, they have to plan for the worst case scenario, at all times, every time. That is the responsibility they have to fulfill, that is their sacred undertaking, for one mistake can and will irreparably impact the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
If I had my way, I would altogether ban mining in the Philippines. Over the years, mining accidents have been the norm and has not significantly improved the lives of the people in its surrounding vicinities. I do not even believe that the taxes these mining companies pay the government are enough and adequate for the destruction of the environment that it inevitably brings - however careful and accident free such mining operation is.
There is nothing wrong with exploiting our natural resources, but it should never be at the expense of the long term destruction of the environment, the continued poverty of the places in which most of these mining operations take place, and its sustainability.
NO TO MINING IN THE PHILIPPINES!!!
Miyerkules, Pebrero 20, 2013
Eternal Rose
You are a bright red apparition
In the greenery that is life
Pulsating with radiance
Basking with beauty
Food for the eyes
Comfort of mine weary heart.
Graceful in the dance of life
Pure and magnificent is your presence
Life it brings to me
Hope it springs from me
Bliss it envelops me
Caressing wind in the shoulders of burden.
Let me touch you
Let me bring you to mine heart
Let me hold you in my dreams
Let me kiss your lips
Let me hold your hands
Let me be in your side.
Eternal Rose indeed you are to me
Forever in my longings
One with my mind
Time has brought has together
Time will part our ways
Eternal Rose bring me into the eternal embrace of your love.
In the greenery that is life
Pulsating with radiance
Basking with beauty
Food for the eyes
Comfort of mine weary heart.
Graceful in the dance of life
Pure and magnificent is your presence
Life it brings to me
Hope it springs from me
Bliss it envelops me
Caressing wind in the shoulders of burden.
Let me touch you
Let me bring you to mine heart
Let me hold you in my dreams
Let me kiss your lips
Let me hold your hands
Let me be in your side.
Eternal Rose indeed you are to me
Forever in my longings
One with my mind
Time has brought has together
Time will part our ways
Eternal Rose bring me into the eternal embrace of your love.
Martes, Pebrero 19, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW: The Love of Siam
Although released in Thailand in 2007, I have just come to watch this movie this week. I think it was one of the best movies I have seen lately. The cinematography was very good, although it was a little bit long for a drama, the sequences were never boring and actually infused a sense of excited anticipation as to what would happen next.
It was a movie of many themes. It talked about independence as shown by Tang's eventual disappearance from the life of her family, a struggle with alcohol abuse as shown by Korn's chronic drinking after Tang's disappearance, a steely, quite determination as shown by Sunsee's character as she handles work, Korn's lapse into drunkenness and the conflicting struggles of teenage life as shown by Tong's infatuation with Mew, and of course, Mew's feelings of connection and attachment, dare I say love, for Tong.
June represents that drive in young people to search for their place in the world, and this would sometimes involve leaving behind their families. In Asian societies,the family is central to the person's life - major decisions always involve the family, and June represents this modern Asian dilemma to leave the confines of the family and to find one's meaning in life - to be free and unencumbered to pursue one's potentials in the smorgasbord of modern Asian life.
The life of June is like the life of Tang in reverse and at the same time in synchrony. Tang was lost in the jungles of northern Thailand after traveling from Bangkok while June lost her family when both her parents died while she tried to make it in Bangkok. Korn saw June as his long lost daughter Tang and June's story of how she became "lost" from her family echoes Tang's adventurous spirit, free from the confines of the family and its sometimes constricting rules.
It was also about friendship as shown by Mew's August Band's coming together to support Mew about his real person. In the end, the band decided that if they were really the friend's of Mew, then they should be ready and willing to support Mew, and more than that, to accept Mew without judgment about who he really is.
Family is another theme of the movie and how important it is in one's life. The family served as a stabilizing force Tong's and Mew's life. One of the most beautiful scene of the movie is when Tong and Sunsee were decorating the Christmas Tree in their house and Tong was asking his mom whether he would put on a male or a female elf in one spot of the tree, after asking whether she would prefer the male or the female elf, Sunsee would say to put both on, then Tong says she might get angry if he places both. Eventually, Sunsee realizes that this is more than just a choice about a tree decoration, Tong was communicating something much deeper and more profound, and Sunsee got the message and told Tong to choose which he would most feel would make him happy - and Tong chooses the male elf. Sunsee accepts with a smile of approval and understanding. At this instant, Tong understood that no matter what, his mom would be there to support him.
Tong and Mew's friendship develops into something much deeper, and they knew this while they were still young. Somehow, Tong and Mew had this inner connection with each other since they got to speak with each other in that bathroom incident in which Mew was almost brawled bloody had it not been for Tong's intervention.
It was a love for each other that transcended words, they understood each other by mere look and presence. They actually felt comfortable, at ease and at peace with each others presence. Although Sunsee had communicated to Tong that she would support him regardless of his decision whom to love, Tong decided in the end to follow the conventions of society but not without affirming his love for Mew. Mew was of course hurt but nevertheless, he too understood that in the society they were born to, decisions are always taken in consideration of its impact on the family and its far-reaching implications to one's future - yes, even in a society as open and as liberal as Thailand.
It was a painful ending to a story of beautiful and pure love - a love nurtured and nested since childhood. But that is love, so beautiful but at the same time stings in its grasp of reality. Then again, love is always about letting go, as the old adage would say, and living life hopeful of its eventual return, sometimes in another form, sometimes in that most unexpected moments, in that most uneventful circumstances, there, we will find that love that completes our persons.
Best line from the movie: "As long as you love you still have hope."
It was a movie of many themes. It talked about independence as shown by Tang's eventual disappearance from the life of her family, a struggle with alcohol abuse as shown by Korn's chronic drinking after Tang's disappearance, a steely, quite determination as shown by Sunsee's character as she handles work, Korn's lapse into drunkenness and the conflicting struggles of teenage life as shown by Tong's infatuation with Mew, and of course, Mew's feelings of connection and attachment, dare I say love, for Tong.
June represents that drive in young people to search for their place in the world, and this would sometimes involve leaving behind their families. In Asian societies,the family is central to the person's life - major decisions always involve the family, and June represents this modern Asian dilemma to leave the confines of the family and to find one's meaning in life - to be free and unencumbered to pursue one's potentials in the smorgasbord of modern Asian life.
The life of June is like the life of Tang in reverse and at the same time in synchrony. Tang was lost in the jungles of northern Thailand after traveling from Bangkok while June lost her family when both her parents died while she tried to make it in Bangkok. Korn saw June as his long lost daughter Tang and June's story of how she became "lost" from her family echoes Tang's adventurous spirit, free from the confines of the family and its sometimes constricting rules.
It was also about friendship as shown by Mew's August Band's coming together to support Mew about his real person. In the end, the band decided that if they were really the friend's of Mew, then they should be ready and willing to support Mew, and more than that, to accept Mew without judgment about who he really is.
Family is another theme of the movie and how important it is in one's life. The family served as a stabilizing force Tong's and Mew's life. One of the most beautiful scene of the movie is when Tong and Sunsee were decorating the Christmas Tree in their house and Tong was asking his mom whether he would put on a male or a female elf in one spot of the tree, after asking whether she would prefer the male or the female elf, Sunsee would say to put both on, then Tong says she might get angry if he places both. Eventually, Sunsee realizes that this is more than just a choice about a tree decoration, Tong was communicating something much deeper and more profound, and Sunsee got the message and told Tong to choose which he would most feel would make him happy - and Tong chooses the male elf. Sunsee accepts with a smile of approval and understanding. At this instant, Tong understood that no matter what, his mom would be there to support him.
Tong and Mew's friendship develops into something much deeper, and they knew this while they were still young. Somehow, Tong and Mew had this inner connection with each other since they got to speak with each other in that bathroom incident in which Mew was almost brawled bloody had it not been for Tong's intervention.
It was a love for each other that transcended words, they understood each other by mere look and presence. They actually felt comfortable, at ease and at peace with each others presence. Although Sunsee had communicated to Tong that she would support him regardless of his decision whom to love, Tong decided in the end to follow the conventions of society but not without affirming his love for Mew. Mew was of course hurt but nevertheless, he too understood that in the society they were born to, decisions are always taken in consideration of its impact on the family and its far-reaching implications to one's future - yes, even in a society as open and as liberal as Thailand.
It was a painful ending to a story of beautiful and pure love - a love nurtured and nested since childhood. But that is love, so beautiful but at the same time stings in its grasp of reality. Then again, love is always about letting go, as the old adage would say, and living life hopeful of its eventual return, sometimes in another form, sometimes in that most unexpected moments, in that most uneventful circumstances, there, we will find that love that completes our persons.
Best line from the movie: "As long as you love you still have hope."
Lunes, Pebrero 18, 2013
Time
Time is man's experience of reality
Man in reality experiencing
Experiencing the moments of advancing energy
Flowing like water in the stream of space-time
Into the eternal realm of movement
Reality of his own existence
Is what time is
All description of reality by man
Is man's perspective of reality
Absolutes are nonsense
For to say of absolutes
Is to know everything there is to know
But alas man cannot ever know everything
Wisdom is to understand
That to say one knows what is the truth
Is to say it is the truth of the moment
And hence is but a view from a perspective
Limited by man's place in time
And to insist there are absolutes
Is to place oneself as a God
And indeed in religion
Man, though not admitting,
Has effectively made himself God
Invented God, invented himself
As its own absolute, unthinking mind
Man becomes and is in fact the God of religion.
Man in reality experiencing
Experiencing the moments of advancing energy
Flowing like water in the stream of space-time
Into the eternal realm of movement
Reality of his own existence
Is what time is
All description of reality by man
Is man's perspective of reality
Absolutes are nonsense
For to say of absolutes
Is to know everything there is to know
But alas man cannot ever know everything
Wisdom is to understand
That to say one knows what is the truth
Is to say it is the truth of the moment
And hence is but a view from a perspective
Limited by man's place in time
And to insist there are absolutes
Is to place oneself as a God
And indeed in religion
Man, though not admitting,
Has effectively made himself God
Invented God, invented himself
As its own absolute, unthinking mind
Man becomes and is in fact the God of religion.
Linggo, Pebrero 17, 2013
MOVIE COMMENTARY: World War Z
I am actually looking forward to another zombie movie, this time, one that is fast and really, really the furious type. The wide success of the television hit show, The Walking Dead has made me look at fast zombies in a little more open-minded way. Indeed, I used to scorn fast zombies. If there were to be a zombie outbreak of sorts in real life, they most likely would be the slow, nimble type. In fact, rabies victims could be the closest we can have to a sort of a zombie-like phenomenon. Their fear of water, erratic movements, quirky mannerisms attest to the loss of basic neural functions commonly associated with zombies.
Unfortunately, World War Z will not be released until June 2013. The producers seem to have adopted a strategy of immersion, ensuring that the movie will gain a wider audience acceptance and popularity by a slow yet concerted effort to slowly saturate the media with its trailers. The only problem with fast zombies is that it makes them look more "thinking", in-control types, whereas the traditional movie portrayals of such creatures is one of mindless, rapacious and bloody monsters. This is pretty much au contraire to the supposed loss of cognitive functions that comes along with being infected by the "zombie virus." Yes, I guess if there were to be a real-life zombie outbreak, the culprit would most likely be a virus as they are easily transmissible, mutates very fast, and is of course difficult to eradicate. If a zombie moves fast, we have to discard the traditional paradigm of a brute and gut-driven creature, we have to construct a new worldview, a zombie that actually thinks - moving fast requires some sort of "thinking" capacity. No creature can move fast if there is no sort of a cognitive capacity, for example, to decide within a split second on which direction to move and how fast requires mental functions, however primitive.
It goes without saying that a movie with a fast zombie is a movie that somehow redefines what a zombie is all about in the first place - a creature that scares us precisely because it has lost its human capacity for discretion, control, thinking and coordination. I am afraid that what World War Z is presenting is not really a zombie, but something else in-between.
But then again, its just a movie. And movies are supposed to bring us, even for a fleeting time, into the world of fantasy and dream - in this case, a fantasy outside of the fantasy we have been used to seeing, at least where the concept of zombies are concerned. I just hope that the movie presents an entertaining, visually stimulating and cinematographically decent piece of work.
Unfortunately, World War Z will not be released until June 2013. The producers seem to have adopted a strategy of immersion, ensuring that the movie will gain a wider audience acceptance and popularity by a slow yet concerted effort to slowly saturate the media with its trailers. The only problem with fast zombies is that it makes them look more "thinking", in-control types, whereas the traditional movie portrayals of such creatures is one of mindless, rapacious and bloody monsters. This is pretty much au contraire to the supposed loss of cognitive functions that comes along with being infected by the "zombie virus." Yes, I guess if there were to be a real-life zombie outbreak, the culprit would most likely be a virus as they are easily transmissible, mutates very fast, and is of course difficult to eradicate. If a zombie moves fast, we have to discard the traditional paradigm of a brute and gut-driven creature, we have to construct a new worldview, a zombie that actually thinks - moving fast requires some sort of "thinking" capacity. No creature can move fast if there is no sort of a cognitive capacity, for example, to decide within a split second on which direction to move and how fast requires mental functions, however primitive.
It goes without saying that a movie with a fast zombie is a movie that somehow redefines what a zombie is all about in the first place - a creature that scares us precisely because it has lost its human capacity for discretion, control, thinking and coordination. I am afraid that what World War Z is presenting is not really a zombie, but something else in-between.
But then again, its just a movie. And movies are supposed to bring us, even for a fleeting time, into the world of fantasy and dream - in this case, a fantasy outside of the fantasy we have been used to seeing, at least where the concept of zombies are concerned. I just hope that the movie presents an entertaining, visually stimulating and cinematographically decent piece of work.
Sabado, Pebrero 16, 2013
The Poems of Jose Garcia Villa
If there is one favorite Filipino poet I like, it would be none other than the sublimely cantankerous poems of Jose Garcia Villa. Indeed, one of his poems about coconuts I once orally recited in a Speech class way back when I was a nursing student, and boy did I get the warmest applause from my classmates and the nodding approval of my bemused speech instructor. Here it goes:
The coconuts have ripened,
They are like nipples to the tree.
(A woman has only two nipples,
There are many women-lives in a coconut tree.)
Soon the coconuts will grow heavy and full:
I shall pick up one…many…
Like a child I shall suck their milk,
I shall suck out of coconuts little white songs:
I shall be reminded of many women.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I shall kiss a coconut because it is the nipple of a
woman.
The aforesaid poem was composed by Jose Garcia Villa when he was only 17 years old!
This is another poem of Villa's that speaks of the wonders of the procreative process:
Now lies she quiet, quiet,
Like moonlight by him.
Quiet. Quiet. Knowing
His jewels are in her.
Quiet. Quiet. Knowing
He is quiet but will
Arise again. Quiet. Quiet.
But he will arise again.
And this poem that is probably the most verbally insane incarnation of the rudiments of sex:
But of course, Villa delved even into the domain of the saints:
Yes, Jose Garcia Villa is the poet that titillates as much as he impregnates one's imagination with the seeds of verbal chicanery. Naughty poet indeed!
The coconuts have ripened,
They are like nipples to the tree.
(A woman has only two nipples,
There are many women-lives in a coconut tree.)
Soon the coconuts will grow heavy and full:
I shall pick up one…many…
Like a child I shall suck their milk,
I shall suck out of coconuts little white songs:
I shall be reminded of many women.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I shall kiss a coconut because it is the nipple of a
woman.
The aforesaid poem was composed by Jose Garcia Villa when he was only 17 years old!
This is another poem of Villa's that speaks of the wonders of the procreative process:
Now lies she quiet, quiet,
Like moonlight by him.
Quiet. Quiet. Knowing
His jewels are in her.
Quiet. Quiet. Knowing
He is quiet but will
Arise again. Quiet. Quiet.
But he will arise again.
And this poem that is probably the most verbally insane incarnation of the rudiments of sex:
Curve of gold above her
In the golden night,
Seventeen times I rose
Creating our child.
Seventeen kisses she gave me
In that golden night,
Seventeen times I rose
Creating our child.
Seventeen times I sang her
In that golden night,
Seventeen times I rose
Creating our child.
Seventeenth lift of gold,
Seventeenth fall of love,
in her golden soil
Sown sweet our child.
But of course, Villa delved even into the domain of the saints:
All saints are naked (how
terribly true) they sit on
grass and play with mice
(how terribly, terribly nice)
All saints are naked (how
terrible wicked) they sit
on grass and play with mice.
Delight is such a little term
for such a lovely view!
Yes, Jose Garcia Villa is the poet that titillates as much as he impregnates one's imagination with the seeds of verbal chicanery. Naughty poet indeed!
Biyernes, Pebrero 15, 2013
Bertrand Russel's Ten Commandments
1. Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.
2. Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.
3. Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed.
4. When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavour to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.
5. Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found.
6. Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you.
7. Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
8. Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent that in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter.
9. Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it.
10. Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness."
Bertrand Russell in "A Liberal Decalogue", from "The Best Answer to Fanaticism: Liberalism", New York Times Magazine (16/December/1951); later printed in "The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell" (1969), vol. 3: 1944-1967, pp. 71-2.
2. Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.
3. Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed.
4. When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavour to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.
5. Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found.
6. Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you.
7. Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
8. Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent that in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter.
9. Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it.
10. Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness."
Bertrand Russell in "A Liberal Decalogue", from "The Best Answer to Fanaticism: Liberalism", New York Times Magazine (16/December/1951); later printed in "The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell" (1969), vol. 3: 1944-1967, pp. 71-2.
Huwebes, Pebrero 14, 2013
Telling Heart
Tell a heart to love
And it will if it wills
And for no reason it does
Even if fire consumes itself
For love does not think
It feels as it goes
And moves with the moments
To capture the beloved
It pains, it soothes, it calms, it confuses
It confounds, it mystifies, it ebbs and flows
It is that time
Held up to eternity
And tell a story
Time itself cannot tell.
And it will if it wills
And for no reason it does
Even if fire consumes itself
For love does not think
It feels as it goes
And moves with the moments
To capture the beloved
It pains, it soothes, it calms, it confuses
It confounds, it mystifies, it ebbs and flows
It is that time
Held up to eternity
And tell a story
Time itself cannot tell.
Miyerkules, Pebrero 13, 2013
A Good Time
Last night I met some good old former colleagues from a school I previously worked for. It was a simple gathering around a few drinks and the time tested karaoke session, it doesn't fail to conjure fun and always, always, makes for gatherings that are laid back and relaxing.
I miss my former colleagues. I think what makes for a truly satisfying work environment is not the money, rather, it is the people you work with. When one enjoys the people around you, all challenges that come your way is a mere anecdote worthy to be immortalized in the recesses of our personal memories. Work then becomes a journey and not a tedious endeavor to be turned over as the day winds up.
We met people by accident. But when we do find people who are attuned to the beauty of the human experience, who in many ways reflect your one quirks, who accept your own idiosyncracies, then you find your place in the pantheon of friendships. It is, a gold mine stumbled upon.
So it goes that the only way never to regret things is to enjoy things while it lasts. To savor the moment and to share it with others. Time moves and does not look back, we look back. And those moments gone by are nothing but mere blips in the consciousness of man, eternally stored in the memories of our own human experiences.
A good time is a time spent with the people who touched your life, and who continues to do so, for in those moments shared and lived, they have made us a lot more better and a lot less cynical that life is what indeed we make of it.
I miss my former colleagues. I think what makes for a truly satisfying work environment is not the money, rather, it is the people you work with. When one enjoys the people around you, all challenges that come your way is a mere anecdote worthy to be immortalized in the recesses of our personal memories. Work then becomes a journey and not a tedious endeavor to be turned over as the day winds up.
We met people by accident. But when we do find people who are attuned to the beauty of the human experience, who in many ways reflect your one quirks, who accept your own idiosyncracies, then you find your place in the pantheon of friendships. It is, a gold mine stumbled upon.
So it goes that the only way never to regret things is to enjoy things while it lasts. To savor the moment and to share it with others. Time moves and does not look back, we look back. And those moments gone by are nothing but mere blips in the consciousness of man, eternally stored in the memories of our own human experiences.
A good time is a time spent with the people who touched your life, and who continues to do so, for in those moments shared and lived, they have made us a lot more better and a lot less cynical that life is what indeed we make of it.
Martes, Pebrero 12, 2013
Pope Benedict XVI Resigns!
On Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, Benedict XVI announced his intention to resign from the papacy effective Feb. 28. When I saw the news on CNN cable, I was very surprised to say the least.
I am actually not in favor of the pope resigning as it would make for a very tumultuous precedent. To start with, the new pope may reverse some of the previous pope's edicts, and if said pope is still alive, it would make for an awkward scenario indeed. Not to mention the fact that it would only highlight his "mistakes", and that is just one of many unpalatable possibilities that may happen. This would not be good on the faithful and may in fact discourage, confuse, and arouse resentment among the previous pope's supporters and admirers. The Church may be in for a tumultuous transition.
The current pope should reconsider his decision and take on the mantle he was entrusted to carry. The papacy is an office for life, there is supposed to be no abandoning it unless absolutely necessary. All popes eventually experience the ravages of time on the body, and that is part of being human, Pope Benedict XVI must bear that until death.
THE POPE SHOULD RECONSIDER AND SHOULD NOT RESIGN.
I am actually not in favor of the pope resigning as it would make for a very tumultuous precedent. To start with, the new pope may reverse some of the previous pope's edicts, and if said pope is still alive, it would make for an awkward scenario indeed. Not to mention the fact that it would only highlight his "mistakes", and that is just one of many unpalatable possibilities that may happen. This would not be good on the faithful and may in fact discourage, confuse, and arouse resentment among the previous pope's supporters and admirers. The Church may be in for a tumultuous transition.
The current pope should reconsider his decision and take on the mantle he was entrusted to carry. The papacy is an office for life, there is supposed to be no abandoning it unless absolutely necessary. All popes eventually experience the ravages of time on the body, and that is part of being human, Pope Benedict XVI must bear that until death.
THE POPE SHOULD RECONSIDER AND SHOULD NOT RESIGN.
Lunes, Pebrero 11, 2013
One of Asia's Most Stylish Cabin Crew
It's good to note that a recent survey conducted by Skyscanner revealed that Philippine Airline's cabin crew ranked in the top 10 of the most stylish cabin crew's in Asia. This is a welcome news indeed and should encourage all other Philippine based carriers to improve on their cabin crew services.
Cabin crews not only give face to the airline's service and spirit, it presents an introductory story of the carriers country of origin. Of course, Philippine carriers should not just stop on maintaining high standards of training for its cabin crew, they should also focus on providing a better, reasonable and decent service that will really impress upon the mind's of the traveling public their ultimate commitment is to customer comfort and satisfaction.
I hope to see in the future Philippine carriers providing the best airline service, from the ground to the sky, that can proudly be proclaimed as world class with a Filipino flavor, wouldn't that be the best tourism slogan?
Cabin crews not only give face to the airline's service and spirit, it presents an introductory story of the carriers country of origin. Of course, Philippine carriers should not just stop on maintaining high standards of training for its cabin crew, they should also focus on providing a better, reasonable and decent service that will really impress upon the mind's of the traveling public their ultimate commitment is to customer comfort and satisfaction.
I hope to see in the future Philippine carriers providing the best airline service, from the ground to the sky, that can proudly be proclaimed as world class with a Filipino flavor, wouldn't that be the best tourism slogan?
Linggo, Pebrero 10, 2013
Keeping the Peso above 40
The Philippine peso has been steadily rising over the past few weeks, as of February 8, 2013, it was valued at 40.6 to the U.S. dollar. Eventually, this rising trend will eventually bite on the competitive edge of Filipino exporters. Such scenario will undoubtedly force companies, especially companies whose main source of income is export, to shed some jobs, adding more unemployed to the economy. An economy that can barely provide adequate and reasonable jobs, much more good paying jobs.
It is paramount therefore for the government to do something about this phenomenon. Personally, I would prefer the peso be pegged at PHP 45 to the USD. Yes, "pegged" is the keyword here. During the financial crisis that gripped Asia in 1997 precipitated by the collapse of the Thai baht, the then government of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad adopted a policy of cutting spending and raising interests rates, policies which caused more suffering to the people of Malaysia and which were urged upon by the International Monetary Fund. Eventually, in 1998, Mahathir reversed this policy, and in addition, pegged the ringgit to the dollar at a fixed rate, this as of course opposed by the IMF as well as his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, such policy turned out to be a boon for Malaysia as it helped the country recover faster than its neighbors, including the Philippines, which to begin with, never really had that much economic luster in the first place.
The government of President Aquino should address this issue with speed. Indeed, we may one day wake up to find that call centers in the Philippines have eventually closed shop. These companies will be the first to go in any further destabilization of the peso's value. BPO's are like vendors, they come and go as the economy ebbs and flows, if they do go, thousands of Filipinos will lose jobs that cannot be easily replaced by more traditional brick and mortar companies. Of course, not to mention that the Philippines has a dearth of such companies.
In order to save the capacity of the economy to grow and support the needs of Filipino's who are not OFW's, the government has to conduct some serious thinking about the need to rein in the volatility of the peso. What the government does in this regard will determine the ability of the Philippine economy to sustain itself for the foreseeable future.
It is paramount therefore for the government to do something about this phenomenon. Personally, I would prefer the peso be pegged at PHP 45 to the USD. Yes, "pegged" is the keyword here. During the financial crisis that gripped Asia in 1997 precipitated by the collapse of the Thai baht, the then government of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad adopted a policy of cutting spending and raising interests rates, policies which caused more suffering to the people of Malaysia and which were urged upon by the International Monetary Fund. Eventually, in 1998, Mahathir reversed this policy, and in addition, pegged the ringgit to the dollar at a fixed rate, this as of course opposed by the IMF as well as his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, such policy turned out to be a boon for Malaysia as it helped the country recover faster than its neighbors, including the Philippines, which to begin with, never really had that much economic luster in the first place.
The government of President Aquino should address this issue with speed. Indeed, we may one day wake up to find that call centers in the Philippines have eventually closed shop. These companies will be the first to go in any further destabilization of the peso's value. BPO's are like vendors, they come and go as the economy ebbs and flows, if they do go, thousands of Filipinos will lose jobs that cannot be easily replaced by more traditional brick and mortar companies. Of course, not to mention that the Philippines has a dearth of such companies.
In order to save the capacity of the economy to grow and support the needs of Filipino's who are not OFW's, the government has to conduct some serious thinking about the need to rein in the volatility of the peso. What the government does in this regard will determine the ability of the Philippine economy to sustain itself for the foreseeable future.
Sabado, Pebrero 9, 2013
USS Guardian: Harbinger of Destruction
The Philippine government has to make the U.S. military pay dearly for its wanton disregard of the patrimony of the Filipino people. Last January 17, 2013 it entered the Tubbataha Reef marine park after a refueling stop at Subic. Park rangers are reported to have warned that USS Guardian that it was entering restricted area, apparently, the ship radioed back arrogantly, stating to file their complaints with the US Embassy in Manila, a few minutes later it ran aground.
This insult to the Filipino people, its disregard for our own rules and laws, is not only unforgivable but crass racism. The Aquino administration should make the US government pay for this, financially and otherwise, indeed, recent reports indicate that the destroyed reef was as big as six basketball courts and that it would take until December 2013 for that bastard ship to be removed from Tubbataha.
The Filipino people should not let this insult pass by. Make America pay!
This insult to the Filipino people, its disregard for our own rules and laws, is not only unforgivable but crass racism. The Aquino administration should make the US government pay for this, financially and otherwise, indeed, recent reports indicate that the destroyed reef was as big as six basketball courts and that it would take until December 2013 for that bastard ship to be removed from Tubbataha.
The Filipino people should not let this insult pass by. Make America pay!
Biyernes, Pebrero 8, 2013
Eternal Now
Life is but a fleeting show
Of struggles and finite successes
In a bowl of human desires
That stirs passions and fears
But always there is that sting
That drapes upon us all
And opens vistas of emotions
Frees thoughts but captures hearts
In fields of uncertainties and apprehensions
It is that feeling of connectedness
With another human being
That is as close as eternity itself
At least as long as it lasts
The eternal is now.
Of struggles and finite successes
In a bowl of human desires
That stirs passions and fears
But always there is that sting
That drapes upon us all
And opens vistas of emotions
Frees thoughts but captures hearts
In fields of uncertainties and apprehensions
It is that feeling of connectedness
With another human being
That is as close as eternity itself
At least as long as it lasts
The eternal is now.
Huwebes, Pebrero 7, 2013
What is Faith?
To believe the unbelievable
To seek the unsoughtable
To hope against reason
To reason without meaning
Meaning without reason
Meaningless belief
Belief that there is a better something
Greater something
Powerful something
It is a journey
A journey to understand
What has not been understood
But only seeks to understand
What one wants to understand
Faith it is.
To seek the unsoughtable
To hope against reason
To reason without meaning
Meaning without reason
Meaningless belief
Belief that there is a better something
Greater something
Powerful something
It is a journey
A journey to understand
What has not been understood
But only seeks to understand
What one wants to understand
Faith it is.
Miyerkules, Pebrero 6, 2013
Speaking Walk, Talking Eyes
What is in a walk?
But a man with a story
For he that hunches is but amiss with confidence
And one that strides fast is hurried by chores
While one that stoops is in deep thought.
What is in the eyes?
That swerves from side to side
Is rife with suspicion
That which stares into space
Is bugged by worries
Indeed that one which looks
Is one which aches to connect.
In mystery is the walk so telling yet subtle
But in the eyes of a person
Is the thoughts of the mind revealed.
But a man with a story
For he that hunches is but amiss with confidence
And one that strides fast is hurried by chores
While one that stoops is in deep thought.
What is in the eyes?
That swerves from side to side
Is rife with suspicion
That which stares into space
Is bugged by worries
Indeed that one which looks
Is one which aches to connect.
In mystery is the walk so telling yet subtle
But in the eyes of a person
Is the thoughts of the mind revealed.
Martes, Pebrero 5, 2013
Lullaby to a Nut
The Coconut Tree is like a majesty in the land
Rising to the sky, but looking down below
With its outstretched leaves swaying like a cogon grass
To beckon those beneath of its tasty big fruit
Hanging up above, waiting to be plucked
As its shapely trunk meanders through the sky
Like vine grasping tightly as it climbs
And stare at the sky like a jewel in the sand
My coconut tree is the life of my land
By its leaves our heads are sheltered
With its body, our houses rise,
But its fruit, ahh, is the food, the livelihood, and the sustenance
Of us children of the land
This is but a fitting lullaby
To a nut, more than a nut
And that indeed is none but only
That which is the Coconut!
Rising to the sky, but looking down below
With its outstretched leaves swaying like a cogon grass
To beckon those beneath of its tasty big fruit
Hanging up above, waiting to be plucked
As its shapely trunk meanders through the sky
Like vine grasping tightly as it climbs
And stare at the sky like a jewel in the sand
My coconut tree is the life of my land
By its leaves our heads are sheltered
With its body, our houses rise,
But its fruit, ahh, is the food, the livelihood, and the sustenance
Of us children of the land
This is but a fitting lullaby
To a nut, more than a nut
And that indeed is none but only
That which is the Coconut!
Lunes, Pebrero 4, 2013
The Wisdom of Silence
Murmuring whispers of early dawn
Caressing thy ears, daintily touching
Sleepless nights, teary eyes
Of weary days and tiring weeks
And now resting, needed respite
Beckoning sun, slowly rising
Yet another day, yet another day
But in the early dawn of quiet nights
Hear in thy heart the wisdom of silence.
Caressing thy ears, daintily touching
Sleepless nights, teary eyes
Of weary days and tiring weeks
And now resting, needed respite
Beckoning sun, slowly rising
Yet another day, yet another day
But in the early dawn of quiet nights
Hear in thy heart the wisdom of silence.
Linggo, Pebrero 3, 2013
Weekend Dinner
Sometimes a dinner with friends can actually be a time to cool down, to reflect and to renew bonds of friendship. I had a good, delicious and happy night tonight. It is fun to discover new things, explore new possibilities and essentially just have a good time.
It's been awhile since I had this kind of experience, especially at a time when more and more of our energies are devoted to work and study. Relaxing, renewing once energies and having a good old time in the tested tradition of getting together with people you share common experiences can never be overestimated.
It's been awhile since I had this kind of experience, especially at a time when more and more of our energies are devoted to work and study. Relaxing, renewing once energies and having a good old time in the tested tradition of getting together with people you share common experiences can never be overestimated.
Sabado, Pebrero 2, 2013
Me Alone
I define my life
I am its essence, its worth, its meaning
I judge no one, for I do not know their story
I am attuned to the universe around me
I am its caretaker
I share this responsibility
I owe it to the future generations
I believe in man
I believe in man alone
I believe his science, his philosophies, his wisdom
I receive no dictates from imagined deities
I am here
I am the decision
I am man, with other men
I am a community with humans
I am the source of its morals, its message, its struggles
I am free and life indeed is for me to define
Me alone.
I am its essence, its worth, its meaning
I judge no one, for I do not know their story
I am attuned to the universe around me
I am its caretaker
I share this responsibility
I owe it to the future generations
I believe in man
I believe in man alone
I believe his science, his philosophies, his wisdom
I receive no dictates from imagined deities
I am here
I am the decision
I am man, with other men
I am a community with humans
I am the source of its morals, its message, its struggles
I am free and life indeed is for me to define
Me alone.
Biyernes, Pebrero 1, 2013
A Pebble in the the Hands of Time
I am here
In this world I exist
I am here
In this world I live
To search for my meaning
To make of myself
To marvel at existence
To savor existence.
I am here
Thrown into being
Free and unencumbered
To build myself
To understand myself
To create my self.
I am here
An anomaly of wonders
An enigma of proportions
But I am here
And when I am gone
Then I am gone no more
But lives only
In the memories of those I touched.
I am here
A pebble in the hands of time.
In this world I exist
I am here
In this world I live
To search for my meaning
To make of myself
To marvel at existence
To savor existence.
I am here
Thrown into being
Free and unencumbered
To build myself
To understand myself
To create my self.
I am here
An anomaly of wonders
An enigma of proportions
But I am here
And when I am gone
Then I am gone no more
But lives only
In the memories of those I touched.
I am here
A pebble in the hands of time.
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