Sir Manny and Sir Dennis,
I wish there are others in our Order, that I consider untapped resources of inquiring minds like Sir Zane Thirwall of Belgium who last week posted a topic on Rizal's quotable quote from his NOLI and FILI novels inviting members to share info and personal interpretation on : What good is independence if the slaves of today are the tyrants of tomorrow?"
I think it will open a new vista where controversial or seldom mentioned subject matters about Rizal's writings and philosophy need clearer and better meaning and explanation for the benefit of others. This act itself is pure Rizalism in highly intellectual approach. More than that it will start a FORUM OF IDEAS for shared information.
I admire Sir Zane for initiating a good beginning of ASK and SHARE posting. I ask others not to withhold your need for explanation on certain terms, cliches encountered on Rizal and Rizalism. In fact, Rizal and Rizalism remains to this day a BIG minefield to explore. And also a good mental exercise for creative writing experience and a noble idea and Rizalian in context too.
Gentlemen, what are your Opinion or Option, or Opposition?
Jose Sison Luzadas
Scarborough
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Sir Joe,
I can only agree with what you said in your email below. If I may add I think it'll also give some new flavors and change of sceneries from the many emails we received in recent past. NOT that I don't want to receive bad news that were or are happening in the KOR. I believe it is part of a long process to achieve change and progress. However, perhaps your suggestion of a FORUM OF IDEAS on Rizal writings may be the catalyst of the change and progress that KOR truly needs.
For a start, how about expounding on the brief statement Rizal said through one of the characters in the FILI: "The end justifies the means."
NOM
Lino Reyes
San Ildefonso Chapter
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TO THE MAN WHO STARTED IT ALL
O Nicolo Machiavelli, that little book, "the Prince" you wrote in the 15th century for the powerful Medici family of Florence became the handbook for bullies, advising incumbent rulers how effectively to grab and maintain power through direct control over the people once the reins of government apparatus is seized to insure perpetual control.
The LITANY you teach begins "THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS" is repeated over and over again to blind followers until brainwashing takes effect in their minds that "MIGHT MAKES RIGHT”.
And so our concept of democracy, fair play equal opportunity lost luster of its meaning and words like putsch, coup d’état, golpe are dreaded names so disturbing to people who are accustomed to live in peace.
Jose Sison Luzadas
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Sir Joe,
Nicolo Machiavelli was a poor man who wanted to make it. So he set out to ingratiate himself with Lorenzo di Medici, ruler of
One of his advices is for the Prince to avoid being soft with his subjects. That while forgiveness is a Christian virtue, when faced with a man who betrays him, such a man should be executed, not exiled. While this may sound really harsh, it was the only way to resolve the issue, because the man can cross to his enemies and cause more troubles later.
Being harsh with his subject would do well with the Prince, because if he is soft, then when the enemy who is well known to be cruel approaches, the subjects would be forced to choose between a feared man or a kind man. Knowing the kind man will be merciful, they would side with the cruel man because they know if he wins then they are at his mercy.
Machiavelli's principle is that if the Prince has to choose to be loved or feared, he should choose to be feared if he can't be both.
His principle of acquiring power at all cost may be interpreted as "The end justifies the means" or exercising brute force to keep power might mean "Might makes right", nevertheless, Machiavelli never actually said those words.
Cheers,
Manny Bade
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Sir Joe & Sir Manny,
Your stories and knowledge of history fascinated me. Sir Joe mentioned Nicolo Machiavelli's teaching that "MIGHT MAKES RIGHT." If I may say, in contrast, Abraham Lincoln said: "Let us have faith that RIGHT MAKES MIGHT, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it." Of course as Rizalists we know how wrong is the former statement and how right is the later. Please correct me if I'm wrong in my assumption here.
RIGHT MAKES MIGHT sounds very palatable to me. In my keen observation, I believe KOR can improve a lot, only, if we all adhere to this advice of Abraham Lincoln. From top to bottom from bottom to top, it really doesn't matter. What matter is who is right. I think Lazir will agree with me on this one.
George Bernanos, in his quote about corruption said: "The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies the means." Reading EL FILI, I was amazed to know Rizal's keen observation of this kind of happenings in the Philippine society during his time over hundred years ago. Today's society in the
About 4 years ago I attended a FORUM on "How To Stop Corruption In The Philippines". It was sponsored by group of Filipino writers and reporters in
Thank you Sir Joe for initiating this FORUM OF IDEAS. I sincerely hope others will share their ideas, observation and/or comments for the benefit of the KOR in particular and our beloved Motherland in general.
Lino Reyes
San Ildefonso Chapter
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Sir Lino,
Good start.
In my studies of Philosophy, I have always been taught that the end never justifies the means. Even in this day and age, when we see people blow up other people in the name of their beliefs and freedom, we still feel that that is not right.
If most theologians believe that God used Judas as a means of fulfilling His great plan for mankind, then can we then say, that Judas being an instrument of God was justified in his action?
Manny Bade
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Sir Manny,
I find Sir Manny's logic well reasoned to justify the gesture and act of Judas that many would sympathize than abhor. But there are still other people who seem "strange and unique" on how they intrepret events and happenings. Like "ME" for example. I do admire one man in history, Marcus Brutus and one character in the Bible, Judas Escariot.
Like Plutarch who wrote PARALLEL LIVES of great ancient Greeks and Romans, his main interest is to explore the character of the MAN and not the number of battles he won or enemies killed in the battlefield.
Were it not for Shakespeare putting words in the mouth of Julius Caesar with "etu Brutus" as the last words he uttered when we read Shakespeare's Tragedy, "Julius Casar", the English speaking world won't know this populur phrase attributed to Caesar! Without Shakespeare's history of the Ide of March Caesar assaination, Mr Noah Webster may not include the word "brutal" in his dictionary.
When Brutus spoke to the stunned Romans why their beloved Caesar was killed receiving 23 stabbings from the hands of conspiratorial senators, Brutus justified their evil deeds in simple words: IT IS NOT THAT I LOVE CAESAR LESS BUT I LOVE ROME !" He cannot bear to see the end of the old
It's no wonder why Shakespeare and a host of historians and writers consider Brutus, "The noblest Romans of them all!
AS to my man Judas, well, he is a human being after all with true characater and clean conscience. Many would rather run away, change or disguise identity trying to fight out regrets and shame for betraying Jesus, his master and friend. He could have run away with that 30 pieces of silver, live comfortably or join the other camp. But not Judas with a bad conscience. He is aware of Jesus trust appointing Judas his treasurer for his knowledge in budgeting and both spoke Aramaic, tha language of the learned men.
Gravely aware of a grave sin and a heinous crime he had committed, suicide by hanging is the logical answer rather than living a life everyday looking at himself a mirror of untold misery and regrets. I'ts better to be dead than be slave to a miserble life!
Jose Sison Luzadas
Scarborough Chapter, CANADA
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Sir Joe,
On July 22, 1946, Irgun, the Jewish terrorist organization (let’s call a spade a spade, right Sir Lazir, Sir Barry?) under the command of Menachim Begin who later became prime minister of Israel bombed the King David Hotel which housed the British Secretariat in Palestine. 91 people died in that attack.
Haganah, the main organization fighting for the establishment of the Jewish State, under whose command Irgun carried out the bombing justified it as necessary step for obtaining a homeland for the Jews - in fact affirming that the end justifies the means.
What do you think?
Manny Bade
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Sir Lino,
Thank you for that observation. The genius of Abraham Lincoln is again evident.
Corruption as indemic in the
So we can say, there are no corrupt officials if there are no bribers. In the same way that Manila Mayor Sir Alfredo Lim proposed to jail alms givers to the beggars.
Problem is that people are so used to the convenience of getting instant results by greasing the palms of the officials to get what's needed to be done. If we stop to do it and patiently wait for the result, even if it takes a while, then we can stop corruption. If Congress can pass a law jailing bribers, corruption will be eradicated. But that will be asking them to pass a law to stop their bribes, right?
Manny Bade
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