Gentlemen Among Us

I like it when two people shake hands before a match, look each other in the eye with a smile and you can feel the sense of respect being given. Then I like it better that after the match the same act of respect is also readily given.

I like it when one suddenly speak in front of a noisy crowd arguing or quarrelling on something and shouted the word "Gentlemen", then everybody stopped followed by a complete silence. This means that these people understand the importance of the word and to be worthy of being one.

I like it when one readily acknowledge mistakes or acts of wrong doings at the same time knows how to save face by doing something to correct them. The same is true if he is a member of a group.

There is one good reason why we enjoy watching movies and sports competition. Because it is there where we can see "Great Men" and/or "Champions". We see those qualities of a man that we want to see. Characters that we wished we have in ourselves and most of all how we want those who have done excesses, abuses and other bad things punished. We even applaud or let us just simply say approve it "kapag binabatukan ng bida yong kontrabida". It is simply saying doing to them what they properly deserve.

Then normally after watching good movies we go home feeling good and feel somewhat influenced by the good things we have just watched, wanting to apply them in our day to day life. Therefore I must say that we always wanted to see the triumph of good versus evil. But sometimes we don't really have to watch sports or movies. In our day to day life, we can see some people like them. These are people who make great influence and without realizing it they somewhat become role models. It is but normal not to allow or let people make abuses and make it difficult for them to take advantage. Normally the better treatment would be putting them to shame, but most of the time the general reaction would be shying away from them making them isolated. You just don't want to be identified associated with those kind of people.

Now, I am wondering if we are living in "normal times". The way things are happening right now is really very disappointing. There seems to be no sense of good values being exhibited especially among our leaders. It's the numbers game as they keep on saying. As if what is good and bad or what is right and wrong is determined by who are in your side. So the battle is between those who are supporting and those who are against. It is not "I am innocent" or "I did not do anything wrong" that is being said, but it is "there is nothing you can proved."

The situation could be likened to a game wherein there is a team whose players (maybe some) are playing dirty and of course they are also winning and would eventually be the Champion. The other teams as expected would be protesting but the committees or the officials handling the game seem to be not concerned and just let the games to proceed as it is. So the other teams can choose from playing on with the game, play it also dirty themselves or leave the game and quit.

I just hope that some few good men come to their better senses and think of the future of our country. There is really a need to repair our damaged institutions and so much repair is required. Whether we disagree on what ways to pursue for our development, the most important thing is that we should all agree that we will not allow other people to take advantage or commit wrong doings at the expense of further damaging our institutions.