How to unite the Filipinos?
Unite for what? For a purpose.
Unity of mindset seems a likely answer.
How to unite is not the question. An exercise in vain.
Let us unite is the better approach.
Look back, see today and view tomorrow.
Trial and error approach.
Compelled by instinct, religion or by politics.
Feeling free and comfortable with each other. How to be?
"To unite the whole for a purpose," is the normal proposition as cited by our Mon, because the solution must suit the purpose. Of course Mon, the purpose may not be stated explicitly, it can be glimpsed from where the question "How to unite?" sprung.
In my view the tacit general purpose of the current unification issue is "nation building," and the particular pressing purpose is a unification for electing the right leader in 2010.
In this specific purpose, I believe Mon rightly comes in. However, the specific purpose must be in reference to the general or overall purpose. The specific plan must faithfully adhere to the overall effort to achieve the overall purpose.
If we accept the overall purpose to be "to achieve the nation we want" and the first complementary step is to elect the right leader in 2010, how is unity to be achieved, or may I be the devil's advocate and ask, is it necessary to unite the whole nation to achieve the goal?
Unity in any group's endeavor, as defined by Nelson, is essential in achieving the group's goals. As an essential it must be fairly understood by the group, but not necessarily every one in the group may understand. It is our experience that for a handful of members, consensus or unanimous consent is readily achievable; however for a greater number, such as a large population, we can only go by our democratic rule of majority rules - simple or 3/4.
Achieving the population's goals rests upon the unity of the simple majority or 3/4 majority, whatever is deemed operational.
JM's "exercise in vain" may be taken as valid if the intention is getting the whole population to be one - equal to a consensus or unanimous decision.
Working only for the majority number clearly means narrowing our focus and scope, and reducing our unification tasks. For the election contest in 2010 it may just be enough for us to work on 25% of the 48.5M registered voters [2010 NSBC estimate] or 12.125M voters, as most political analysts are saying, to get the right leader elected. This is about 12.125/90 or 13.5% of the population [2010 NSCB estimate]. Since there are 17 regions, the winner must get an average of 12.125/17 or 714,000 votes per region.
Is 12.125M or 714,000 votes per region achievable in the context of the proposed solution for unity to get the common choice be president in 2010?
Confronted with such a rather large number, many of our preconceived notions on how unity may be achieved consequently face a lot of scrutiny or critical questions that may affect a change or modification.
Okay, so I ask, for the particular purpose of unifying some 13M voters scattered throughout the archipelago [of differing ethnic characteristics, social status, political maturity, economic prosperity, etc.,] how do we proceed?
On the general question, I have to agree that a careful study must be taken as a first step on how we can achieve the essential "unity" needed for effective nation building which entails touching upon many dynamic complementary factors. Education, as pointed out by Gene, or course is of paramount importance but not the only important factor. In a few solutions it may not be the most compelling factor.
Ogie
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment