Reaction Paper (A Damaged Culture by James Fallows ) PDF

Preview

Summary

Digma, John Rush Set S. BSE 4 – MathA DAMAGED CULTURE by James Fallows REACTION PAPER James Fallows’ A Damaged Culture is a valiant and honest remarks which narrates the poor condition and miserable setting the Philippine had after the Marcos and during Aquino presidency. The view on the Philippine ...

Description

Digma, John Rush Set S. BSE 4 – Math

A DAMAGED CULTURE by James Fallows REACTION PAPER James Fallows’ A Damaged Culture is a valiant and honest remarks which narrates the poor condition and miserable setting the Philippine had after the Marcos and during Aquino presidency. The view on the Philippine condition was written based on the author’s experiences, observation and study about the country. Unfortunately, the article sounds degrading to the Filipino readers and to the country itself as James Fallows narrates some anomalies in leadership, his bad experiences staying at the country, some problems declining the country’s development, and lastly; the most painful of all, his remarks on the Philippines as a nation not only without nationalism but also without national pride. The article was written almost 32 years ago, and the bases of the author were the conditions and settings the Philippines had, unfortunately, Philippines was dilapidated that time; resulting to a downgrading and shameful criticism for every Filipino that time and perhaps up to now. Having a deep interaction with the article is so depressing as the author laid down the ill-fated and worst conditions the country has been suffering. Nevertheless, I still commend him for he is so fearless and frank in speaking out the degrading yet truthful critiques and allegations against Philippines. Though the commentary sounds inimical to us, Filipino readers, we can still view it as a mirror and an eye-opener of the real condition and happening the nation is facing about. And it is indeed a very good thing about his work. Being criticized and condemned by a foreign author is a sad and downgrading part for us, Filipinos. However, that’s the reality and maybe he just wanted to speak out the truth, to state what he experienced and to write and publish what he observed, since we are in democratic country. Sadly, he encountered something worst, resulting to his woeful article. But why we don’t try to think deeper of what he did, and realize that he perhaps even care

for our country more than us, Filipinos. That his writing is not just about of shaming us but to awaken everyone. I realized that he is even more nationalistic than us, as he knew more about our country and spoke fearlessly for the country, unlike us the Filipinos; ignorant, coward, deaf and blind. In his 11-page article, he stated several relevant ideas and insights about the country’s condition that time, that if were taken into account, the Philippines perhaps is not more likely a kind of country we have today. James Fallows criticized and gave his insights to some issues such as governance, country’s development, the culture and nationalism. One of these is his statement: “culture can make naturally rich country poor”, I highly concur to what he stated. Philippine is apparently a very rich country but the problem is on the culture. If we define culture, it not only means the belief and traditions we practice, but it also means ways of life, our manner and how we discipline, perhaps this is what Fallows want to emphasize. One of the examples stated is the culture of delicadeza or being careful in what to say or much worse is the avoidance of saying unpleasant topics to avoid and escape to shame. Why are we afraid to face the truth in front? Are we deaf to say what really is wrong? This Filipino ethic is a wall to transparency, verity and truthfulness. When it comes to government, why Filipinos are so blessed with so much patience that we can able to resist and tolerate those shit things that officials do against us? Are we blind for us not see them or are we afraid to speak? I think that is one of the roots why government keeps on corrupting and why the Philippines is always left behind. We just let and tolerate them to rule the way we don’t deserve. Another one is the failure of nationalism which causes weak sense of national pride and national unity, barrier among people and inequality. If every Filipino is nationalistic enough, Philippine must not be one of the top list countries of being poor, because everyone will help each other, will lift each other and will care for one another. Humanity prevails. People will create bridges instead of walls. No barrier between riches and poors. Rich won’t become richer while poor won’t become poorer. And there is no what we so called the war of every man against every man. These are just some of the problems cited from his article from which we can reflect on. I’m not totally agreeing with Fallows’ whole article since I’m not really sure about the authenticity of his words, but I’m

glad because he knocks me (us) up from being slept as he presented us the culture that is needed to be repaired, a kind of culture that hinders us in many ways. A damaged culture that if fixed, might be the answer to nation’s development and progress. Bu the question is., Why is Philippine still poor? (knowing the article is published 32 years ago) The article has full of gloomy reviews and dark remarks about us and our nation but can be used as an enlightenment for the brighter future. What is sad about this, is the fact that Fallows wrote the article 32 years ago, on 1987 and nothing seems had happened. Maybe just a little improvement between past and now. Where is the enlightenment that we call? Do we learn? Why still cannot repair the damaged culture? I realized that the “A Damaged Culture” of Fallows has been just treated as a “just a written article” without having a reflection on it. A reflection also to our behavior of being passive not only to the article itself but also to such issues and problems surrounding us. The commentary feeds us realities, and is indeed presents us the truthfulness of society, but seems we don’t care and just let time passed by together with the deteriorating problems. And see what we have now; almost same situations as the time the article was published. Likewise, what I realized from this is that Filipinos are truly lacking of effort, action and commitment. The article of Fallows and even this, my reaction paper would be just a written vision if we don’t have the effort to put them into action. Nothing will happen if we don’t move our feet. It is our mission to make these ideal visions happen. Nothing will be repaired from our damaged culture if we don’t act and just sit by the corner. Don’t let our own culture destroy and kill us. Let’s make the negativities he said about us and the negativities that really existed on the past as our lead to create better and brighter future. As what President Rodrigo Duterte said, “We cannot move forward if we allow the past to pull us back”. Moreover, Fallows remarked our country as nation not only without nationalism but also without national pride; truly depressing not because he spoke against but of the fact that it is indeed still evident in our society, nevertheless, it is not too late for us to change that insulting impression. It is not late for us to

fix our culture. “History doesn’t repeat itself. It is men who never learned from the past who repeat history”. Let us not wait for another foreign author to write again about our culture today, because undeniably, it still damaged. Be proud of the blood that flows through our veins. We are Filipino. And I believe an enough reason for us to love our country. Don’t be just Filipino who just occupies space on our beloved land, be a nationalistic Filipino, not only by blood but also in actions. A Filipino who is aware, who cares, who empowers every other Filipino and a Filipino who hopes and aims for the better fate of his country. Are we settle to the kind of life we have today? As a nationalistic Filipino, I am aiming more for our country. But that “more” cannot be attained by just me or by just few Filipinos; that’s why I am hoping and recommending that every Filipino will read Fallows article too. And still, I’m hoping that it will also cause an enlightenment for them. An enlightenment, for me, is a cure to our damaged culture and a hope of our nation. We Filipino only can fix the culture we have. And by the time it happened, I believe history won’t repeat itself, I suggest James Fallows (if he is still alive) to write again an article about our country and us. And by this time, for sure he will write about the Beautiful Culture the Philippine has....