IT IS not apathy as we think it is. It is a continuing state of mind in which a series of anticipated repetitions of when one catches himself in awe, to mechanically adjust, to quickly adopt, and to focus his instinct merely for survival while lessening his brain's capacity to analyze further. It brings the mind to an instinctive state and it drives the human being more to physiological and natural dictates—stunned even to accept the indignity of one's slow death.It is like being raped, robbed, and attacked.
The soaring prices of rice, gas and basic commodities puts us in such a state where all efforts of an individual or group focus only on survival. Analyzing events and the causes of crises puts you in a stagnant state. Hala... kilos, trabaho, kayod, tipid. To ask for more imperils one's reputation, makes one viewed as being greedy and one who distances himself from the inevitable collective suffering. While leaders dispense some scholastic excuse ("It’s a global phenomenon, a global crisis"), feasting on juicy slices of tenderloin as they are ferried off to official meetings on high octane gargling limousines.
The persecuted Jews during the holocaust had known more of this. Muslims in the recent Balkan war had experienced it. Tribes in Africa still suffer from it as the intolerable death toll within their ranks rises from thousands to millions through the years. Our own people are at present in a continuing state of destitution, which they tend to accept as fate, while as reality the farfetched dream that things would change.
A people in crisis will have no time to question, to join street protests, to listen to other views. Everyone will just have to make do: just bring home the bacon, just bring home the sardines, just bring home the lelut, just bring home the garbage, just bring home anything. Either by means decent or by deeds criminal, just satisfy the needs.
Grabe... There is a theory I want to prove: "The Social Centrifuge Theory."
Nothing new about this, I just want to sound intellectual and to create an impression of academic and philosophical credibility. Caught in a trendy spin, a centrifuge pressure would be hard to resist:
i.
A neighbor takes out a T.V. (full stereo surround) and sets it up in his garage, whips up a pitcher of ice tea and rolls out a liter of brandy, and calls out every guy in the neighborhood, "Pare, alas nueve ang umpisa ng boksing, naka-pay-per-view ako!"
ii.
A kid in a relatively average school for average income earners takes out his new PSP during recess time and shows it off to his classmates. Later, a classmate goes home and insistently asks his parents to buy him one, too: "Bakit sya mayroon? Di rin naman sila mayaman?"
iii.
A woman is brought by relatives to the airport to work as an OFW abroad. Later, the driver uncle talks to his niece: "Tapusin mo ang high school mo para makapunta ka rin ng abroad tulad ng nanay mo…"
iv.
Local government official at a Catholic Mass celebration announces that the NFA trucks will distribute rice at 15 pesos per kilo cheaper next Sunday at the parish compound: "Ako ang bahala kay Kagawad, sister… Pwede tayong bumili ng kahit kalahating kaban at hindi na tayo kailangan pang pumila…"
v.
Several youth organizers being herded in a military truck on suspicion that they are sympathizing with the rebels are told by a barangay tanod: "Mga tarantado kasi kayo, kaysa sa pag-aaral at trabaho ang inaatupag nyo puro panggugulo ang ginagawa nyo."
Actually, the theory is only supposed to be: "The Videoke Time Theory."
Basta may kantahan, bata, matanda, bulag, pilay, lahat ng kapitbahay ay walang hiyang hahablot, makikipag-agawan ng mikropono. Andyan na yung tawanan, kantsyawan, at minsan sa inuman na puro lalaki, mayroon pang barilan!
Ang hirap magkunwaring maging intelektwal sa panahong ito. Kung hindi ka mauubusan ng Ingglis, mauubusan ka ng iniisip, at sa araw-araw na paulit-ulit dito sa ating bansa, hindi maiwasang magiging cynical o sarcastic.
Kaya heto, lumalabas din. To maintain one's sanity, huwag nang magkunwari, huwag nang mag-atubili. Lahat naman ay mamamatay, at sa dinami-daming paraan ng kamatayan at dahilan ng kamatayan, kung anuman yun --YUN!...
In state of a calloused mind.
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