Fighting fire with fire

             I used to be a fiery creature.

             It used to be that when I knew something wasn't right, I'd confront that person with what I thought was a strong statement. If I was misunderstood, I'd march over to that person and set things straight. More recently, if it was a facebook status that I thought wasn't it the right place, I'd answer it. It wasn't always that I was angry. In truth I would do it because some things would just set me off. Some things can hurt - maybe its a defense mechanism. Well anyway I just wanted to put that here because its something I've learned ever so recently. Because I asked myself, "I know its right to fight for something you believe in, but is it always right to fight fire with fire?"

      

             I am an LA rep in DLSU. LA rep means Legislative Assembly Representative. We talk about laws, and as much as I hate having to resort to very heated (sometimes unnecessary) arguments and tactics, it's part of the job. and if theres anything you should know about me, I take the job very seriously. I always want to be a better LA rep because theres something MORE that needs to be done. Recently I've just been trying to change the way I would approach a certain controversial topic. When you're in an LA session with people who think differently, and you need to articulate your beliefs, the worst thing you can do is  lose yourself.  I myself admit to conduct that I'm not very proud of - and its only recently that I've realized that I have a long way to go in terms of being the ideal LA rep I'd like to be. then I realized its not just being an ideal LA rep, but even as a person - there are many things I want to change. So I'll start with myself. 

  

           My father is a lawyer, and when I told him my problem he gave me one advice: "mapikon ka, talo ka na" which I pondered on for a bit, and I realized the wisdom behind such a statement. I realized it with shame, because thats what I had been doing for some time. Fighting fire with fire may get you somewhere, but it takes strength to take such fire, and turn it into something less wreckless. Something more constructive, and in the long run I believe, something more effective. 

       I dont mean that one should no longer be actively fighting for one's beliefs. Its just that our own perception may be limited - we should be open and get to know the perception of even those who challenge our ideas. Understand where they are coming from. Only then, can you arrive at a better stand. Cooperation before controversy. Anger that translates into passion? yes, but in the proper way. In the proper time and place. 

      

     So last year there was a video of how the ombudsman purposely didn't count the votes of some people involved in the Legislative body in our very own government.  The people were outraged and started expressing their anger - a natural reaction. However the ombudsman didnt pay any attention to their cries. (stupid crap) but does that mean that the people fighting against him should go in a corner and sulk? does that mean they should post a status on facebook saying "Stupid ombudsman! stepping on my rights!" no. What it means is "lets try another way". Something constructive - Say, publicizing the video of him committing such an act. No matter how you turn it around, there are ways for the public to know. The truth will always prevail.

"Best way to clear the air is to have it all out in the open"

- Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)

       [ With that said I really hope more people would attend the LA sessions. Because if you hear it from another person, it can always get twisted. Even if you hear it from me, I can always unconsciously dump my biases there. Please if you're a student and your'e reading this, please attend the LA session. (Wednesday 2:30pm USG conference room)]

and to continue..

      I love how socrates challenged the sophists. what he did was that he would question them endlessly, never resulting to anger which the sophists always resorted to. Fiery rhetoric can never substitute genuine wisdom. I can be the most boring speaker on the planet, even the most afraid. Yet when you really ponder and approach something with wisdom and humility (I know that I do not know), not anger; you have so much more than even the greatest lawyers of the world. Not lashing out doesn't mean you're not courageous. Being silent doesn't mean your'e idle. Gandhi himself did not have a very BIG personality - yet hes not only one of the greatest lawyers who have ever walked this earth, but one the greatest human beings as well.

      So ever since, I've really tried to change. There are many things online (statuses that people post, etc etc) that I would, If it were the old me, love to answer to and just write a lengthy reply to. But I dont think it will lead me anywhere. It can just make things bigger. I know it will be harder not to result to impulse, not to approach an issue with fire, not to be "pikon", but its truly worth a shot.