Lessons from anonymity

Many years ago, after being brought to my knees by a great personal tragedy, I was forced to give up writing a column for a while. I dreaded the possibility that I might write something offensive to the many anonymous people who provided light to a very dark time in my life.

I am writing today about anonymous people because so many of them have again appeared to provide light to those upon whom a great darkness has descended. You see them as volunteers and donors to the great relief effort that has seized this country in the wake of the storms.

I am not trying to make any distinctions between those who choose to remain anonymous and those who find it necessary to be identified or acknowledged. Sometimes processes work better and to the greater interest of everyone if names and acknowledgements are part of the effort.

But I find a certain affinity with the anonymous not only because of my own personal experience with tragedy, but because of the many anonymous victims of Ondoy and Pepeng, and the many anonymous people who responded with no reservations to their great need.

There is also another reason why I need to bring up this matter of anonymity in times of tragedy, and I do so in the hope of shaming those who are now standing up to be recognized for no other purpose that to lay blame for the tragedy on everyone else.

Some blame a virtual “all-star cast” of offenders for the floods — squatters, fishpen operators, real estate developers, and the government officials who ignored or tolerated the offenses or excesses they committed and which all contributed to the great deluge.

And then from there they moved on to blaming the government for not being there when the flood happened, for not being there after it happened, and for probably not being there when it happens again.

They are also blaming the dam keepers for releasing water to ease pressure on structures that can only hold so much water, and probably would have blamed them still if they did not do anything to relieve the pressure and risked far greater endangerment to more people.

Some are blaming suppliers for shortages, and dealers for high prices. And yet again the government for not ensuring surpluses, as well as for not enough quickness to bring the high prices down.

They are even blaming the relief workers, rescuers and other volunteers for not having gone far and wide enough and as quickly as they can to minister to the needs and interests of every Tom, Dick and Harry who has so much as gotten his little pinkie all wet.

I enumerated all these finger-pointing in the hope of contrasting them with the silent, unbidden and spontaneous response of the thousands of nameless people, not just from this country but from abroad as well, who donated money, goods and services at a time of great tragedy.

I am making these comparisons to underscore the fact that no matter how pained and inconvenienced we have been from the tragedy, this is simply not the time to make a cottage industry out of finger-pointing..

Instead of laying the blame on anyone, no matter how guilty we have presumed them to be, it is not the call of the times to find fault with anyone. The times call for us to stand up, pick up what pieces there are to pick up, and then move on.

Let us take it from the anonymous responders from all over the world who came when they were needed without any other thought than to help and serve. Let the stirring example of humanity in action provide us the discernment on how to become better citizens.

Let us all be ashamed of ourselves. Here we are, receiving so much kindness from people we do not even know, who came without being asked, and all that we can show in return is to bitch and curse instead of making the most of the help we are getting.