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Saturday, July 29, 2006
Libre: Imperfect world
By Mel Libre
Seriously Now
We think we live in a civilized society. We impress upon ourselves that we are better than past civilizations when emperors and kings fought savage wars, pillaged cities, raped women and enslaved nations. We deem the people of this age as far advanced and more refined than those who inhabited such ancient societies as Greece and Rome or the empires of Britain and Spain.
Do we call ourselves civilized:
l when Israel bombs Southern Lebanon targeting the Hezbollah and Hezbollah returns the compliment with missiles resulting in collateral damage to properties and loss of civilian lives?
l When we see horrific images of wrapped bodies thrown into vans like carcasses of dead animals and we hear an injured child plead: “We are not all terrorists”? When we grit our teeth when neither of the warring parties listens to calls of other nations for a ceasefire?
l When the United States continues to detain indefinitely suspected terrorists in Guantamano Bay without charges being filed, thereby declaring itself exempt from Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related documents? When we just swallow the stupid argument that by doing so, the US has made the world a safer place to live in?
When women and children are smuggled to the First World to feed on the lust of men seeking recreation and to sustain the businesses of criminal syndicates? When with the aim of protecting the dignity of prostitutes some governments legalize prostitution to the extent that, say, one can invest in a brothel publicly-listed in Australia?
When illegal drugs continue to proliferate and transform our young and even mature individuals into living zombies? And because it is difficult to contain its use, marijuana is declared legal by some liberal states?
When same sex marriage becomes acceptable as civil union? When media banners the union of Elton John and his partner and friends and other celebrities wish the newly weds a blissful life together? When others follow suit and people simply shrug their shoulders, sold to the idea that even odd couples deserve to be happy, too?
When procreation of babies become more of a commercial transaction than the product of love. When “superior” males give their sperms to banks that in turn sell these to women wanting babies without husbands or engaging in sexual relation with the opposite sex?
When hunger and starvation alter African men, women and children into breathing matchsticks while in developed countries the populace combats obesity because of super-sized diets?
Perish the idea that we are better than our ancestors. Greed, immorality, exploitation and godlessness are as prevalent today as it was when the Biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed with fire and brimstone.
We live in an imperfect world.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 29, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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