Moral Fiber, Anyone?

No one would win a boxing match without a referee. No debater would be proclaimed winner if he has not impressed the adjudicators or the judges. But unlike a boxing match or a debate where there is someone who would act as a mediator, in any argument most of the time no one really wins. Because in an argument most of the time no one wants to lose, and if no one wants to lose and no one would be in the position to intercede, the persons involved would just continue to defend what they think is right and worse would end up bad mouthing each other.

We live in a civilized society. But sometimes we act in ways that could only be seen during the barbaric days. We do have bad days and sometimes we can’t control our tempers when someone or something upsets us. That’s a natural phenomenon among us humans. We tend to give in to our emotions without even thinking. We say what we want to say. We’re not even ashamed to curse people and dig deep into his or her past. And then what do you get? Yes, you got to prove your point and you have voiced out your concerns but don’t you think it’s a little bit a disgrace on your part to have created a chaos? Don’t you think you’d be remembered for that? In your dreams!

Our country has given us almost all the freedoms one citizen is free to exercise. Among these freedoms are the freedom of speech and expression. But these freedoms are not without any limitations. When we say or write about something or someone we must always be responsible and respectful of the subject matter.

But what is the standard we must take into consideration when we deal with the limitations of these freedoms? That I am not perfectly sure.

Our standards depend on our orientation and the standards set by the society we are into. It depends on the level of maturity we have, our age perhaps and the prejudices we have. Standards likewise evolve, either by time, custom or usage. Having said that, our standards are relative. In no absolute terms that any standard of right and wrong has ever been written in any book.

Freedom of speech and expression has always caused a lot of controversies in the past and it continues up until now. No wonder there are a lot of unresolved cases on the issue. And it’s because we do not have absolute terms definitive of the extent of these freedoms.

I guess I’ve said too much already so I’d like to go to the matters I’d like to give emphasis. What I just want to point out is that we shouldn’t be too harsh in judging what others are doing for he or she does it in accordance with his or her standards. If he or she might have caused you harm or have embarrassed you in anyway, be the one with the good moral fiber. What do I mean by that? It’s like the bible passage, “kung binato ka ng bato, batuhin mo ng tinapay!”

Be the one with the good heart. Be the open-minded one. Retaliation will not do any good to you and to your adversary. Call me a hypocrite, martyr or stupid but I’m speaking from my own experience and conscience. It’s not about being true to yourselves and speaking what you really feel but it’s about looking or creating something good about the situation. Maybe it’s a wake up call. Maybe it’s time to reconsider and recognize the flaws and imperfection in what we do. By doing so, you have not only overcome the criticism but you have proven that you’re the one with the good moral fiber.