The Power of the Weak

Many years ago, Norman Vincent Peale said that if we can change our thoughts and we can change our world.

This is similar to the statement of Dr. Rana P.B. Singh of Cultural Geography and Heritage in Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India when he was here in Manila recently delivering a lecture on Hinduism. He said that if the problem begins in the mind, therefore the solution should also start in the mind.

This maybe similar to a problem of perception especially for individuals who cannot express their humanity freely just because they are slave of their own prejudiced driven system, unjust rules and perceived fair but often lead to unfair judgement.

This is the sickness not only of our own society but of individuals who are socialized and formed by institutions who project that they are caring yet in fact what is more institutionalized and rationalized within their social organization was the systematic coercion, prejudice and insensitivity to the needs of their people and misinterpretation of whateverthey think that is not similar to their own deduction.

In our time, social and psychological problems assumed to be resolved through dialogue and tolerance yet on the individual level, through a series of process and realization, each can have an opprtunity to see a larger picture with an open mind regardless of a codified belief and systems that can be consider as a world view of blind obedience, enslaving our own ability to ask, make questions, provide options, give alternative solutions without any harm or the danger to be condem.

Our world is a world full of constant problems. What is important is a constant hope. As Vaclav Havel said that hope is a state of mind, not of the world. Hope, in this deep and powerful sense, is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously heading for success, but rather an ability to work for something because it is good.

In Isaiah 40:29-31, Hope is something that gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Our own Domingo Landicho, a multi awarded Filipino writer here and abroad, said that Hope must be lived. In fact, we our selves must be that Hope.

For in this, we become strong whenever we are weak. As Paul of Tarsus have said, when I am weak I am strong.

So start re-constructing a new concept of your self and a new point of view of the world by starting in your mind...

For if you have a problem in mind, the solutions will always start in your mind. By changing our thoughts, we can improve our world.

albert

manila

Feb. 1, 2008

On Fairy Tale and Sacred Things

I was attracted to reflect to a poem of Nicholas Roerich on Fairy Tale.

To him, fairy tale are legend's and have become life for we live it again many times.

As we go along to live it again, we change it over again and again. And as we touch the earth if not the earthly life, from the present in the process today will become part of the forgotten past.

Just like in life, Roerich said that sacred signs are there and often re-appeared but unseen. However, when it is greatly needed no one can really see it.

Perhaps, because we are not ready to see it.

Only for the sacred things to re-create life and the meaning behind it because we are too busy with our own legends.

We may not be able to see what is sacred for now since we continue our own fairy tale and wonder on how we can construct a new legend only to be forgotten?

albert banico,
manila
philippines.

Confronting Evil

On Jan 28, 2008 12:33 PM, banico albert wrote:

Dear Atty,

Allow me start from your own words:

Pardon per se is not wrong.

In fact, I believe in it as a necessary in restorative justice. But when there is a victim who has not been restituted to his or herloss,the granting of pardon without the victim's knowledge or consent could erodethe people's trust and reliance in the judicial system. We cannot afford the specter of a people taking the law into their own hands all because theycannot trust the system in delivering justice.

There has to be guidelines which must be applied with uniformity to all who would be pardoned, allowing only a reasonable window for executive discretion.

I believe in justice.

There is a saying that there is no genuine peace or reconciliation without justice. I think you are correct in saying that there should be guidelines to all who would be pardoned. I guess thre is a legislative if not a constitutional need for this.

However, the problem of forgiveness and delivering justice in this country is that it is a paradox.

Perhaps, in more serious sense, it is very hypocrite in nature. Criminals often are determined by how power is related between those perceived victims and the accused. This is the same with the one that we discuss before on the case of smith and nicole and feminism, remember in 2006? On the brighter side, the act of forgiveness in biblical term is very broad.

For me, forgiveness must be given to those who really experienced a change of heart, one who already suffer and willing to correct their ways. In fact Jesus or even Paul in the New testament encouraged the idea that God forgives and that our God of love pardons absolutely if we receive him in our heart. Yet, it is easy to say that an accused change her heart after realizing his crimes or all of her mistakes.

That is the beauty of pardoning despite of its uglyside. We pardon from the eyes of God and not from the premises of the human opinion. Our judgement is determined by our willingness to be open to the other side.

I believe in justice. But we are not God. I believe in humility but I also believe that everyone should have the courage to forgive even if it is very difficult. If we believe in God, in life and in justice, we must also develop the courage to forgive.

I am not a priest nor a moralist, but i think we must consider that every perceived victims and offenders alike are struggling to be good. We cannot confront evil by an act of another evil or becoming an Incarnated evil...

I think this a point of reflection and an act humility that a guideline you are talking about must be consider.

albert

_____________________

On Jan 28, 2008 12:33 PM, banico albert wrote:

Dear Albert:

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I truly appreciate our exchange of ideas.

Linda Jimeno, manila standard

Our Human Collective Responsibility

Posted by albert banico on May 28, 2003 at 24:34:13: On The Spiritual Work of the United Nations and the Liberation of Humanity Discussion Area, Implementing the Four Freedoms on a Planetary Scale

Human Rights has been a long enduring document of our faith to human equality and freedom above gender, sex, religion, beliefs, economic status, race and nationalities.

However, it is imperative to review AND STUDY OUR HUMAN COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY as inhabitant of the planet and take into account our responsibility into planetary scale.

We always articulate our rights and our needs in sustainable development, peace initiatives and cultural sensitivity but we never declared and shared our responsibility or better write it as accountability as resident of this planet. all of us have responsibility to our selves, family, community, society, nations and the planet as a whole in what ever fields yet what we see is human irresponsibility and negligence of rights and duties.

We need to declare this even if it is a bizarre proposal.

-albert banico, manila,Philippines

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In Reply to: Universal Declaration of Human Accountability posted by albertbanico on May 28, 2003 at 24:34:13:

Dear Albert,

Your point is well taken. Thank you for expressing this very important truth.

However, I also think that not enough attention is paid to Article 29 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which *does* refer to the "duties" each of us has to the community and to insure that everyone's rights are respected and honored. Perhaps it could be stated more explicitly and forthrightly.

Article 29 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 29

(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.

(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

The full Declaration can be found at the following address: http://www.aquaac.org/un/declare.html