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(September
15 – September 21, 2008) Analysis Fr. Roy Cimagala Regarding culture WE
sometimes need to think big to see if
the little, fine things are properly in place. We need to look far to see if
items near us are in the right direction. Same with thinking abstract, to see
if the concrete, tangible things are according to plan or design. These are dimensions
of our life and behavior, ignoring which unavoidably brings us to some
trouble. Among the big things
we need to consider is culture. Yes, it’s kind of abstract and intangible,
perhaps too invisible for us to derive any practical use from. But it’s
actually like the air we breathe, the water we drink. Culture is
inevitable and necessary, and yet this combination of qualities makes it
prone to be taken for granted. We have to be more aware of it to be able to
have greater control and direction, in short, sense of responsibility for it. Even the air we
breathe now cannot anymore be ignored. We have to contend with relevant
issues like pollution, etc. As to the water we drink, just consider the
mushrooming purified water business, to drive home the point. We cannot
sideline culture. Culture is our
collective quality of life. It is our abiding self-knowledge, the continuing
accumulation and purification of our collective wisdom, the flowing consensus
of our attitudes, mentalities and practical ways. There are a lot of
varieties of elements involved, differences and even conflicts of views and
positions, and yet there appears also to be a unifying element in it. It’s so important in
our life that we ought to exercise greater responsibility for it. Especially
if we consider that it’s also a living thing, capable of growth and
development as well as deterioration, decay and death. Thus, when we speak
of culture, we should not just think of our traditional dances, arts,
historical items, etc. At best, these are only reflections, snapshots, rich
or poor, of our living culture. They are important, but they don’t capture
the essence of culture. When we speak of
culture, we have to enter into our collective soul which, in itself, is
already a tremendous effort. No matter how daunting, we just have to do it.
Anyway, we always have some ways and means for this purpose. Some basic
principles to follow are that culture is more spiritual than material, that
it connotes a necessary linkage between what is internal and external in us,
and among our thoughts, words and action. Thus, it’s capital
that we find regular ways of checking how this connection is maintained,
adjusted, attuned and updated, as well as strengthened and enriched. It also involves all
of us, obviously in varying ways and degrees. Leaders and those in position
of power and influence, like the media, should sharply feel their
responsibility of shaping it as best as it can get, given the concrete
conditions of our society. The rest of us should learn to follow and do our
part. As a living thing,
it needs constant renewal, purification, and an increasing capability to grow
and to cope with changing conditions. Though it can have a stable identify
and character, it is and should never be rigid, inflexible and stuck to a
certain place and time. A very crucial
element in it, one that I consider its life-giving germ and its integrating
agent, is its attitude toward faith and religion. These provide us with our
basic and abiding sense of values supposed to guide us, giving us meaning and
direction to the different things in our life. Thus, it is
important to take care of our faith and religion, making it as strong and vibrant
as possible. Problems surrounding this area should be duly attended to, using
the proper means and always respecting the freedom of all. In developing our
culture, we should be constantly guided by certain absolute laws and ideals.
Using them as criteria, we should have a running knowledge of our strengths
and weaknesses, and see what practical strategies we can have as a nation to
attain a good and rich culture. Everyone should feel
free to help and contribute in this collective endeavor. In fact, everyone
should be generous in doing so, not counting the cost and only thinking of
the good of our people, for the greater glory of God. Email:
roycimagala@hotmail.com Ilocos
Times copyright 2008 |
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