The Choice

The Modern Times and the Living Past

"Every act of love is a work of peace, no matter how small." ( Mother Teresa)

  I belong to the Silent Generation and am a product of an American regime.  I am a vintage of that textbook era, Modern Times and the Living Past and The Good Manners and Right Conduct. The Filipinos were immensely taught with heartfelt sincerity by their first English teachers, the "Thomasites who arrived in the Philippines in June of 1901. They were a group of 600 American teachers who traveled from the United States to the newly occupied territory of the Philippines on the US Army Transport Thomas which included 346 men and 180 women hailing from 43 different states and 193 Colleges, Universities, and Normal Schools."

 In High School English and Literature class, we were given the assignment to read the story of  The  Lady or the Tiger written by a full-time American writer Frank Stockton which is mind-boggling. On that day the class was in a  hullabaloo.

 As the national election approaches, I surmise to have some mental exercise. for the Silent Generations,(1928-1945), Baby Boomers,(1946-1964), Generation X, (1965-1980), the Millennials, (1981-1996), and the post Millennials. (1997- present) voters.          

The author's purpose in "The Lady or the Tiger is to present a familiar fairy tale with an ending that will provoke enthusiastic discussion about which choice the princess made. We all make decisions and decisions come with consequences to explore the concepts such as justice and human nature. What actions have consequences? After all, it is the action of the princess to decide if her love is killed before her eyes or if he opens the rest of his life married to another woman." 

"The climax takes place at the end of the story. Just at the moment when the young man accused in the arena, selects the portal that the woman told about. If the accused choose the door with the lady behind it, he is innocent and immediately marries her. If he chooses the door with the tiger behind it, he is deemed guilty and immediately devoured." Now the discussion curtain is open to possibilities. What if that vicious tiger met and gained friendship with the accused? Probability!

"The mood or feeling of the story is passionate, tense, and full of suspense; a chilling and barbaric mood that makes the reader anxious. The feelings run very high, dark feelings of hatred, envy, and anguish over the lost love dominate the story of The Lady or the Tiger."

The take now comes from the voters and all those who can vote. The ball is in their court. Their choice is very important. And this is about choices and consequences. And here's a perspective.

How about a president who unites the people to a noble cause, sans revenge but with love in the heart, who builds to sustainably improve the landscape of the country; resumes the former programs and the unfinished infrastructure projects of past leaders, and rejects the dogma that is impregnating the young minds to topple the government. What about a president who wants to put an end to the destructive drug problems, prune the power of the Oligarchs' political and business clout, and continue the laudable National Task Force-ELCAC program. 

Also, the cleaning of the Augean stables (clearing away of corruption) in the government by this coming election with the likes of the Ocho Derecho phenomenon. The advent of independent and unbridled social media is a boon to the populace whose means of communication was the biased mainstream media - the radio, television, and newspapers.                                                                 

Last, but not least, the Philippines need a president who is not in love with money but with justice; not in love with publicity but with humanity. A president with a genuine love of the people through the complete support of the guardian of freedom - the Armed Forces: the Army, the Police, the Navy, and the Air Force. The president has the passion to serve, to perform, and is an authentic and not a plastic human being. However, the president must have the full backing of the vice president of the party together with the senatorial slate so the legislative body can muster enough votes to pass the measures and not spend time on non-constructive criticism only to gain visibility.                                                                                                            

Now the choice! Please vote wisely as your vote determines the next six years' scenario for the Philippines.

(Greg In Trabanca)