La Belle Indifference

Photo from www.ads-ngo.com

Destruction does not kill – it is apathy. For in destruction, there exists an opportunity for growth and development – a seemingly non-existent idea in apathy. Amid the chaos and turmoil brought by the day, there is that silver lining that always makes up for the commotion. “Ordo ab chao”

Disparities happen because people have already been tired of their own indifference. They rally to right for their inherent rights that have been violated, their valid causes that seek to be heard and acted upon. Nations wage wars against another to settle political disputes, religious persecutions, and territory advancements. 

As in any conflict, there is always a neutral ground that maintains the balance which should always be respected. I’m talking about the noble journalists who would risk their lives to climb Abu-Sayaff infested mountains, those who witness or may play an active role as the victim in a massacre spree, and those who receive countless death threats coming from anonymous callers. 

Writers as part of their job is to expose political and social issues as they deem necessary for the general public to know. This selfless service allows the masses to think for themselves and carefully discern the truth of the matter. Journalists write facts and evidence-based conclusions eliminating every hearsay, allegations and other malicious intention. This is a writer’s responsibility – to propagate the truth, shun the black propagandas while still grounding their feet and pens on neutral grounds. For a person in a high office to say that a publication is taking sides in a hullabaloo as dirty as politics is plainly objectionable. Journalists, even those writers in a college publication, are well oriented and firmly grounded on the virtues of neutrality, justice, and respect for all parties. 

Now, to criticize something that you do not entirely know is unmistakably irresponsible. I, being a writer in a student publication, happen to observe how each article pass through editings and revisions from a minimum of three editors just to ensure a neutral stance for the article before it is published. What scrutiny there is even in a student publication! 

In an event, say for example, as small as a Miting de Avance for a local student council, where student candidates “propose” their platforms, proper consultation must be done with those whom they mention in their speeches. You cannot just say something out of the blue while the people involved are left dumbfounded. This is plainly a matter of respect. Should a candidate propose to collaborate with a student publication, I seriously have doubts if the editors of that paper would agree to such a term. Again, this is to maintain neutrality – an inherent nature of any publication. 

Journalists have been victimized by these political aspirations for countless of years, their names tainted with accusations more than they can handle, their integrity as a publication stained by self-serving motives. Let us help and respect them for their righteous works. 

A world that is full of controversy and debate is far better than a world full of all-smiling people and peaceful coexistence. Because when you have the latter group, the people become satisfied with what is presented in front of them, become passive in addressing their problems, function less optimally, and in time, may be too used to the situation up to the point where their conscience becomes indifferent to wrongdoings.

Someone recently said to me that when someone scolds you, it means that they care for you and it is when they stop talking that they also stop caring. If that is the case, shall we stop talking?

***

By the way, my first literary piece which I posted earlier in my blog was published in our college literary folio. :) You can check the entire poem here