Modern-day Goebbels

An American medical doctor – I will not mention his name so that he will not be harassed once he revisits the Philippines – has a most thought-provoking commentary on what is going on in the Philippine political landscape. Some politicians, particularly those belonging to the opposition, may get hurt by what this M.D. says, but let the axe fall where it may. So here goes the timely article:

You wrote today about divisive politics and mourned the lack of devoted public servants. I think there’s much more involved here.

My grandchildren laugh at jokes and stories so old they think them to be new. They’re too young to recognize them for what they are, recycled, time-worn relics.

Some members of the political opposition have adopted an old tactic of Joseph Goebbels, the Director of Propaganda for Hitler’s Nazi Party: "A lie repeated often enough to enough people becomes the truth."

On a daily basis, they flood the media with unsubstantiated accusations against individuals in government and against government institutions. When officially confronted, the accusers retract or modify any accusations to cover their retreat.

By the time these accusations have been investigated and shown to be baseless, the credibility of those accused has been eroded. In the meantime more false accusations are published. I’m sure you can supply sufficient specific examples to establish the pattern. It’s a diabolically clever and effective stratagem, requiring only that the perpetrators be devoid of any moral or ethical principles.

The barrage of accusations dissipates the time, energy and attention of the accused, distracting them from the real issues of government. The biggest losers, of course, are the Filipino people.

One of the things I most admire about the Filipino people is their ability to import anything and make it uniquely their own. Sometimes, this ability is applied to malevolent purpose.

The Nazi tactic of systematic lying becomes uniquely Filipino because the people who are behind the lies are the very ones who have destroyed the faith of the Filipino people in their government officials. By their own corruption and by their perversion of public service to their own ends, they have laid the foundation on which to build their lies. The horrific beauty of their strategy is that it requires no intelligence or creativity. All they need do is accuse others of offenses that they themselves have committed. Their own misdeeds make their lies more plausible because they have an element of truth, however distorted.

It is said, "Those who do not know history are condemned to repeat it." In Ecclesiastes we read. "There is nothing new under the sun." Seventy years ago, the Germans were deceived by this same tactic and millions of people died. Will the Filipino people also be deceived? No!

Goebbels was dead wrong. Propagated truth is infinitely more powerful than repeated lies. Truth triumphs over falsehood as naturally as light abolishes darkness. By naming the evil and exposing its history, you bring it into the light. When their perfidy is revealed in the light of truth, false accusers will scurry like rats when light floods their dark cesspools.

In the truth, you in the media have an awesome power; with it comes the equally awesome responsibility to discern and disseminate it I pray that God gives you the strength and the vision for the task.

Filipinos are perceptive and intelligent. If they have the information, they will recognize that these accusations are part of a cynical strategy, a shameful, recycled obscenity that has been exhumed, like a rotten and desiccated corpse, from an unconsecrated graveyard of history.

Although their opposites get most of the notoriety, honest and dedicated public servants still exist, thank God. Unhampered by a barrage of false accusations, true public servants will surmount the challenges facing the Philippines.

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It is inspiring to see groups, such as the Ignis Men’s Chorale, teaming up with non-government organizations like the AY Foundation and the YGC HR Council, stage events during this Christmas season that benefit our country’s less fortunate in life. On Tuesday, December 18, a "Christmas Concert for a Cause" will be held at RCBC Plaza’s Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, with the Ignis Men’s Chorale taking center stage. The concert aims not only to bring joy and cheers during the Yuletide season but also to raise funds for the benefit of the Good Samaritan Foundation and the Pope John Paul II Foundation for Prisoners’ Welfare. By the way, the Ignis Men’s Chorale is made up of former Kundirana singers, that well-known group of La Sallites who drew raves and cheers from appreciative audiences both here and abroad.

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The December 18 Christmas Concert at RCBC Plaza is not just an ordinary gathering. It brings together prominent personages like Ambassador to the United Nations and AY Foundation Chairman Alfonso T. Yuchengco, former Prime Minister Cesar E.A. Virata, Sr. Christine Tan, RGSD, Ms. Susanne Y. Santos, president of AY Foundation, and Grepalife president Alfredo C. Antonio. and the presence of these VIPs is an indication of their strong sense of sharing in the lofty mission of reaching out to the disadvantaged sectors of society.

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May the joy of this season always be with the following kindhearted and thoughtful people who have been lending a helping hand to the Good Samaritan Foundation:

• Civic leader Maring Feria who, in the name of the Good Samaritan Foundation, donated 100 sacks of rice for the urban poor, through Sr. Christine Tan

• An anonymous medical practitioner from Legaspi City, Albay, P1,000 (BPI 000535)

• An unnamed donor from BF Resort Village, Pamplona, Las Piñas City, P1,000 (Globalbank 0008773)

• Elena C. Monzon of Imus, Cavite, P1,000 (Metrobank 0970057)

• Andy Fernandez of Project 2, Quezon City, P500

• Rustom and Winnie Adan of Filinvest Homes, Antipolo city, P500

• An anonymous lady donor from Antipolo City, P5,000

• An anonymous lady, a regular donor, from V. Luna, Quezon City, P3,000

• Another lady with the initials R.A., also a regular donor from Quezon City, P2,000

• Arthel B. Caronongan and his wife, who donated 365 copies of the coloring book, "Filipino, Lahing Dakila," for the Operations Christmas Joy project. The donation, which was facilitated by Ramon Alfonso A. Fuentes, was made in lieu of holding a joint celebration of birthdays of family members like their late father Arturo Caronongan, mother Thelma, wife Dana, and nephew Arturo III.

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Thoughts For Today:

Don’t simply thank God
for the blessings you receive,
but thank Him because He has chosen you
to be a blessing to someone else.

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God never promised us
an easy journey in life,
only a safe arrival.

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My e-mail addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]