It is not enough that government remindsusof our unity in humanity and the
demands of oursurvival to inculcate in us a sense of social commitment. But the
governmentis promoting the values of social responsibility in technocratic language.
Notcontextualized within the cultural milieuof the Filipino. Such a preaching carries
lesser appeal. It is our submission that social responsibility would only become our
second nameif it is given a Muslimface orChristian face.
As it is, however, if we may emphasize, religion has been relegated to a
personalaffair, not a community activity. It is considered an issue only between man
and God,not between man and man. Onesingsof praises to his Lord or recites verses
to glorify Him andhethinkshefulfills his obligations as Muslim or Christian. The
point is, religion is not a dry source of inspiration. It encompasses everything.
Economic principles are there in religion. And so are the ethical values that
underwrite their exercise or fruition into creative force towards the common good.
We mayinvent a namefor our system such as social market economybutits appeal
could bebetter appreciatedif it is founded onorrootedinreligion.
In the meanwhile, we are miredin social system that breeds a segmented man
and an environmentthat destroys the moralfiber and the integrity of Muslim society
in particularand the Filipino nation in general. Where there are criminals among us,
they deserve understanding and sympathyrather than contempt and condemnation.
In the ultimate analysis, society as a whole could be the culprit for their personal
circumstances. Indeed, their occasional brushes with the lawordisruption of peace
andordercould be regarded as some form of rebellion against the oppressive system.
And where the government fails to address the root cause of their rebellion, it loses
the right to enforce the law on themto the extreme.
(originally signed)
NASSER A. MAROHOMSALIC
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