THE LATE British Prime Minister Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874-1965) famously said: “You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.”
This should be the guiding principle of our political leaders and policy makers — to not be distracted in their task in the face of this health emergency that we are facing today.
This crisis is bringing us many “barking dogs” to deal with. If we pay attention to them all, they will easily distract us from our priorities. Staying calm in a crisis and connecting with what matters most is the first step. Making clear sense of our situation is essential.
Knowing which dogs matter and which do not will keep us focused. Knowing the strategies we can employ to deal with “barking dogs” will help us find solutions faster.
Being clear about our destination enables us to stay focused longer and we can get back on track quickly when things change. Choosing the best way forward for you now helps us to avoid getting stuck. Creating a vision that inspires will help you and the people around you to keep going. Do you know which “barking dogs” to ignore and which to pay attention to, and how to handle them?
I was amused watching the press conference of Gov. Gwen Garcia last Friday on the Capitol Facebook Page “Sugbo News.” Literally, she was fuming mad. She lambasted those people who were responsible for spreading fake news and misinformation about the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on social media. She vowed to run after them.
Likewise, she fired back at those netizens who posted negative comments about the way she is handling the Covid-19 issue by setting up policies and restrictions as a sort of precautionary measures to avoid the spread of the virus in our locality. In fairness to the honorable governor, she handled the matter well. She has a command and she is a trailblazer of many ideas and policies now in place to fight Covid-19.
But this is just an unsolicited advice to the lady governor. I hope she will not get distracted on these “minor and side issues” in this entire real-life drama amid this health emergency we are facing today. We cannot please everybody. Besides, that is the essence of democracy and freedom of expression where everybody has the right to express his/her thoughts and opinion, no matter how stupid and crazy these may be.
As French writer Voltaire said: “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say.”
Gwen has to separate the grains from the chaff on social media. Purveyors of fake news, trolls and bashers should be treated separately. Those responsible for spreading fake news should be pursued and we should teach them a lesson. They should be charged based on our cybercrime law and ordinances. On the other hand, there are also netizens who are posting sound and brilliant opinions that can be considered good inputs.
But trolls and bashers who express their “stupid and crazy ideas” and sometimes raise personal issues should be ignored. Just a friendly advise, Madam Governor, so that you will not be emotionally affected, focuse on your real mission. Just ignore them. Just laugh at them and say, “Thank you for making me a part of your day.” Don’t be too sensitive. Ayaw na hatagi og igong gibug-aton. Makadisguapa na Gov. Mao nay gi-ingon nila nga “pildeng maglagot.” Simply ignore them.
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In Cebu City, Mayor Edgardo Labella is also handling the Covid-19 situation well. While other local chief executives were scrambling on what to do, Labella acted with dispatch and was very decisive. The day after the national government declared a “general community quarantine” in the National Capital Region, Labella also came up with his own version in his city.
Without any second thought, he came up with executive orders imposing some restrictions on the movements of the city’s residents and visitors and set up policies that even affect the city’s business community as precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Well, I know there are a lot of people who were inconvenienced because of the decision, but it is for the welfare of the greater majority. Besides, this is only temporary. We will entrust everything to the Lord.
In Exodus 15:26: “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” Amen.