The Sick Children of Asia

In the last analysis, there is really no such thing as the “Sick Man of Asia.” I have been wrong all along. I stand corrected. What is more truthful to say, however, is that we are the “Sick Children of Asia .” Indeed, in this already 21st century, look how we Filipinos continue to have more faith, more love, and more admiration for Jesus Christ, born in a foreign country than we do even know who or what our own Jose Rizal lived and died for our country? Indeed, Rizal as the greatest of Filipino thinker-humanist-scientist. How sick are we as the Sick Children of Asia ? Look deep at Jesus Christ and his teachings. And then look deeper at our Jose Rizal and his teachings. Here is Jesus Christ who taught family values for the Filipinos: “If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26 Now listen carefully to what our Jose was saying about values for the family, and about human dignity and self-respect: “I would like the Filipino to be Brilliant, Enlightened, Intelligent, and Progressive.” Do you faitheists now understand now why Christian power and authority had to have our Jose Rizal arrested, incarcerated, and then publicly executed? Jose Rizal had been saying that Christianity thrives not on love, but on fear and guilt. They are the fundamental emotions that Christianity seeks to induce. For all of its alleged concern for the “poor in spirit,” Christianity does its best to perpetuate spiritual poverty, squalor, and social misery. Not to mention political stupidity. In the ultimate analysis, with its emphasis on punishment and reward in the afterlife, Christianity is largely responsible for the notion that morality, common human decency under social sanity are not practical, and has little to do or should have nothing to do with being “Brilliant, Enlightened, Intelligent, and Progressive.” Thus, in this already 21st century, Christianity in the Philippines carries on with so much wealth, power, and glory. Our Jose Rizal shot, dead, buried, ignored, and forgotten. - - - Poch Suzara