Justice, Vengeance, and Avarice: The Balance of Life

Justice, Vengeance, and Avarice: The Balance of Life 

      

    In the real world, since antediluvian eras and moments in time which can hardly be organized chronologically; balance has always existed. However, this truth may be contested when the ‘yin and yang’ take so long to shift sides; as when generations of various peoples fell under the rule of the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans and other ancient, ‘superior’ cultures in history; possibly never realizing that their long line of descendants would witness the period when an old man-(with a colotrful wardrobe and an extended index finger)-stomps his foot and says “MY TURN”.

    At present, the self-proclaimed “universal uncle” may seem to take forever to relinquish his reign, or lose it, to another potential omnipotence. Those who are non-conformists to rock n’ roll, basketball, and junk food would begin to wonder if their succeeding kin will ever know a different influence. Yet, because nothing lasts forever; that reality will inevitably come…if the world does not come to a cataclysmic end, first.

    From a historical perspective, balance is attained by what is proverbially known as “the world’s turning”, or simply, alterations in the passing of time. But, it is also achieved by man’s fabricated concepts; which, in the words of Philippine National Police Deputy Director Leonardo Espina are branded as “fairness and justice”. These are what the latter requested during his speech at the House of Representatives with regards to the January 25-Mamasapano massacre of his men at the hands of MILF and BIFF rebels. His delivered oration, in its foremost sentences, present narratives of inhumane actions carried out on a number of his wounded soldiers; and his entreaty for an explanation concerning the incident. But it concludes thus: “Dapat fair play lang ho lahat. (Everything should be‘fair play’). That’s what I want, that’s what I request: Fairness and justice for my men.”

    It would be unavoidable for some who had the privilege to be spectators of his delivery, and witnesses to his emotional demeanor, to assume that he wanted ‘revenge’; a contradiction to his earlier announcement that he and his faction were “all for peace.” Perhaps the director’s closing words would be less misconstrued if he said he wanted, and was requesting for, ‘balance’?

    “Justice, fairness, fair play…”, these are abstractions men have construed, with the intent to make battles, self-centered aspirations, and even vengeance, seem virtuous realities in life; all concerned with relative views and ambitions. In the middle ages, crusaders and Jihad warriors even used the name of their gods as precepts to attaining political motives against those who stood in their way.

    The notion called ‘peace’ is an ironical idealism to itself. There must be war for peace to be realized. Before serenity or solitude, there must be disorder and dissent. Yet, how will peace be achieved if EVERYBODY is given the opportunity to demand; to insist; to disagree or to contest for their own interests? If the Mamasapano conflict presented an opposite outcome, though it may not be given the opportunity to be telecast over the media; there might just be an officer of the Muslim cluster asking his superiors for authorization to retaliate; with a conduct as moderate or more aggressive. Should President Benigno Aquino III ever overcome his indifference to the current issue, and give the PNP commander his blessing to precipitate his notion of “justice”; the supposition above may just become a consequential actuality; and then the figurative ‘see-saw’, which has existed for over a century, continues.

    And thus, here is the idiotic impotency of the peace process. It is a session of hypocrisy: conflicting assemblies with representatives shaking hands and embracing one another; acting like two class bullies intimidated by their teacher to be good examples to their respective fraternities. Outside of the school; there shall be an inverted atmosphere.

   At present, the temporary victors are the Muslim elements in the Philippines. Hopefully, or probably, after the 2016 presidential elections; Filipinos will be treated to a new and fresh political circumstance. A more determined head-of-state may dissolve the Mindanao issue; or a feebler one might just forfeit the country’s reputation as the sole Christian nation in Asia.

     When one side of the scale teeters in its favor; the other must counter in order to prevent an imbalance. If the latter fails to do so; there will always be another to take its place; as a fictional version of Marcus Aurelius corrected a fervent and loyal general: “There is always someone left to fight.”

    Even white doves have to die some time, to be replaced later on; and so goes the perpetual cycle.

Online source:

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/433412/news/nation/full-text-pnp-dep-dir-general-espina-s-emotional-testimony