Respect not imposition

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it.” – Mark Twain

I’m glad I have Mark Twain’s wisdom to bank on as I deal with the recent announcement from Malacañang that the Duterte Administration, particularly the members of the Cabinet, have agreed to the re-imposition of ROTC or civilian military training for students in Grade 11 & 12 “in order to develop their sense of duty and patriotism.” Are they doing it because we seriously need to or simply because they can? That to me is not patriotic, rather it is myopic and arrogant.

I was just about to write a column where I was going to point out that friendship, loyalty, or “political utang na loob” are the worst possible basis for hiring someone or giving them a job whether in the private sector or in government. Familiarity or friendship does not automatically infuse competence or intelligence. When the job or position is in government, there is a greater standard and demand for competence because a position in the Civil Service is a public trust where the public expectation must be met. Judging from the decision of the cabinet to revive ROTC, it is obvious that PDU30 did not get the memo about friends and incompetents.

What scientific medical or military journal did those cabinet members read to arrive at the position that military training for two years at the height of a child’s teen years will result in a tangible sense of patriotism and sense of duty to country? Did the geriatric council of lolos and lolas in Malacañang even bother to consider that in today’s extremely tough and competitive academic environments, a child and their parent’s priority in the final two years of High School is for the student to get high grades, perform well academically in order to pass entrance tests so he or she can be admitted to a college or university to pay excessively high tuition for a run of the mill education?

The idea of “ROTC equals Patriotism” is so weak and stupid that I sincerely suspect it’s another dry bone that Malacañang spin doctors threw at the public just to distract them from all the bad news about the Korean kidnapping- Murder, the Jack Lam – Aguirre controversy, and of course the attacks on the Chief PNP by political critics. If the Cabinet members want to waste time deliberating on Patriotism at a Cabinet meeting, the least they should have done was to sew it together with the failed peace talks and the misguided patriotism or false type of patriotism waved around by extortionists and terrorists pretending to have love for country. I’m tempted to ignore the whole idea but, Malacañang is a breeding ground for bad ideas that become a national curse or institutionalized idiocy.

Patriotism is learned through a lifetime, first through lessons taught and explained to a child, not in short courses, not by merely memorizing and reciting the national anthem, the pledge of allegiance required at school or because of peer pressure. People young and old must know and understand our rituals, their significance and why we observe or perform them. The youth must see and know examples of patriotism and meet true patriots; not just war veterans or soldiers. They must meet, hear or read about people who gave up careers and creature comforts to serve in government (as cabinet members), philanthropists who shun glamor and recognition but invest in raising people and competence in the Philippines through technology, training and job creation.

We must place value on patriotism and not demand it or treat it as “required of you.” People must see, read and hear about Patriots being recognized, honored and rewarded by government and society for their sense of duty and service to the country. If a news cable organization like CNN has an annual program that honors “CNN Heroes,” why can’t we have our “National Patriots Day” or its Tagalog equivalent. This takes intentionality and process, not just an idea over coffee. It must be in the heart and not through rote. The reason why warriors and leaders always use the term: “Hearts and minds” is because they know that for people to support an idea, a cause or a struggle or a way of life, it must be about something they love and is intellectually clear to them and not imposed upon them regardless of age.

Don’t disrespect young people just because they are kids and by making them “zombies.” That is tantamount to “Bullying” because we demand and force it upon children who cannot defend themselves. If we are going to raise patriots then we must show them what patriots and patriotism is about and why. Young people need to see and learn models of patriotism; People no longer appreciate or admire be-medalled and crippled “Old Soldiers” at Independence Day parades and the likes, but they are there as the example we seriously need to revisit and appreciate. They are the people who set the ultimate example of patriotism, to serve at risk of life and limb because they love their country and everything it stands for. Celebrate our heroes not just from the World Wars but those who have suffered or died protecting the people and the country against rebels and criminals. Go beyond giving medals by their hospital beds; that is so weak!

It’s not just about dying for country, it can also be about playing for our country, giving to our country, performing to our country and marking this with a special expression of our love for the Philippines. It can be as fun as cheering Gilas Pilipinas, being part of the “More Fun in the Philippines” campaign and perhaps honoring and celebrating our men and women in uniform not just in the battle field but also those who serve with excellence and pride in government offices. Patriotism grows from Pride of Place and People, how can we have a sense of patriotism or sense of duty to country when politicians heap abuses and accusations against government officials while grandstanding in front of TV cameras!

Patriotism begins with respect, honor and pride. Not imposition.

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