Problem here, another problem there. Life would never be complete without one's own set of problems getting in the way. Minor setbacks can be resolved easily with the aid of someone or using the seeds of wisdom you have reaped along your journey.
But the real catch here is, what about major inconveniences and impediments? Issues like political injustice, corruption, pollution, and the like are difficult to solve alone. That is where change starts to appear in the big picture. To straighten out tangled knots, change must be instilled.
But for us, if hearing the word "change" is enough to make our insides tingle, it will surely turn our intestines upside down when we talk about its entire process. Sure, change is indeed scary and difficult. But let us consider the situation of those victims who are suffering at the abusive and unjust hands of their offenders. Will you raise your voice, take the situation into action, and let "change" turn the tables around, or will you keep your silence and watch them suffer?
Let us take these instances as examples.
Political injustice. The scale of justice might sometimes be unbalanced, contributing to the unfair and unjust judgment of the law, especially when there is someone shaking the respected scale, fabricating lies, and abusing the power they have in hand to get away with crime. The rich get freed, and the poor get what? Reclusion perpetua? We can all agree that freedom favors the rich and only the rich, and on the other hand, the less fortunate suffer from the wrath and reality of the law, which are sometimes not meant for them as they are only victims of lies, deceptions, and manipulations done by people that actually deserve to be put behind bars.
Racism and discrimination. The segregation of "white" and "black" and the superiority of one against the other are unfortunately being believed by people and done just because of our differences in skin colors, races, and hair types. An invisible barrier between two shades of skin was set up, with fortune and praise favoring the "white", while disregarding and cursing the "black". On the other hand, discrimination happens in our society where people of color have invisible labels on them, and people believe that those tags "enable" them to "hurt and judge" others. Segregation is shown by setting up establishments, such as chairs and comfort rooms, designed for "colored" people. And let us not forget the superiority and dominance asserted by whites over people of color. It is often believed by airheads, as illustrated in the poem written by Rudyard Kipling, White Man's Burden, that white people hold the supremacy and power to control, govern, and take charge of the lives of "uncivilized and native" people, as they are the "key" and the "way" for these people to achieve universal success, when it is just an act of narcissism, a show-off.
Homophobia. The constant fear of people against "homos", for they are "a menace to society". People fear that "these" kinds of people will spread sexually transmitted infections and diseases, such as the incredibly famous Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). As we live the best of our lives in the 21st century, a handful of people still believe the norms of love: that men are meant for women and vice versa. There is no such thing as "on the spectrum" and love between the same genders is nothing but "demonic acts", an "abomination". This kind of "fear" comes with abuse and discrimination against members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Some had been slapped, beaten, kicked, and subjected to every other abusive act that you can think of, to the extent that it led to the deaths of their victims, laying responsibility in their abusive hands, which is indeed worse than expressing your true self and loving another of the same gender without doing anything wrong. Members of the community live in continuous fear and prejudice, for they are judged on their ability to love others, on how they look, and on how they dress on the outside. People seem to believe that the members of the LGBTQIA+ community behave ungodly, when in fact these kinds of people who live with this kind of "disease" are the problems, the ones that need surgery, and never the innocent members of the said community.
Graft and corruption. Even in the olden days, when Spaniards still occupied our land, these kinds of activities were done by people who held high ranks and positions in the government and church. Up until now, it has been alive and well, and it is continuously done by most of the politicians we have today in our country, making their wallets fat, bank accounts in numerous branches active and filled, and building private establishments, all by using the people's money to make their cash flow viscously. Many enter politics not to lead and serve the community to achieve universal success but to rule and save the funds given for the improvement of the lives of the people. Family dynasties and nepotism, among others, continue to exist in our society, slowly murdering and massacring the progress and development meant for the community.
Inequality. The lack of opportunities and privileges awarded to female members of the community. Women are not given the same opportunities and chances being given to men, as seen in job opportunities. The standards of society are unknown, which is obviously unfair, for they are awarding advantages to men more than they give to women because what? They are "more masculine" and "fit and able" for the job. Up until this very moment, women have experienced inequality, ignoring their chance and possibility to work and do more for the advancement of our society. They are not given the time and ability to show that they are able and talented—far more gifted than those that most men do own—which leads to the treatment being given to them, being unappreciated and ignored in society.
Illiteracy and innumeracy. It is a problem for many otherwise educated and knowledgeable people. Members of the marginalized sector that are living below the poverty line are subject to inadequate access to education, leading them to suffer from illiteracy and innumeracy. People suffering from this kind of problem tend to have zero to few chances of having a stable job since their highest educational attainment is often included in job applications. When they are not afforded the ability to work, it will cost their lives and their families', as they will be unable to provide for their food and other amenities, which will lead to serious issues and complications like poverty, hunger, disease, and even worse, death.
Pollution. Various kinds of pollution, may it be land, water, or air, continue to exist in communities. In land pollution, improper segregation and disposal of wastes and careless industrial activities involving chemicals lead to further pollution of our lands. On the other hand, water pollution happens when contaminants coming from industrial factories and homes reach bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans, destroying natural habitats, contaminating sources of water, and killing numerous animals and creatures living in those bodies of water. And lastly, air pollution happens when there are chemicals in the air from industrial factories and cars, among others, that we breathe in that severely impact humans, animals, and plants that pose further threats to humans and wildlife.
Environmental degradation. Many members of society are aware of the different environmental issues happening around us, but people continue to do such activities anyway. In our country, the Philippines, perilous activities are done, such as the "muro-ami system", "pagkakaingin", and the like, which eventually lead to the destruction of our lands and waters.
Indeed, change is what we need in this country. These issues will continuously sprout, contributing to the inability of people to live in absolute freedom. These problems will continue to kill and murder the dreams and missions we have for ourselves and our country if we do not start to change what is rotten.
First, we must take the first step, which is to have or possess a mindset wherein we prepare ourselves for change. We wholeheartedly accept that something needs to be changed, not tolerated and celebrated, in order to attain a solution for such issues shaking our society.
We must also learn to unshackle and free ourselves from the chains of putrid, atrocious culture, traditions, and norms that lead us to nothing but shame, downfall, and destruction. We must learn to name such traditions that will be of no help and disregard the burdens we carry in our search for a solution to our present problems.
We must be knowledgeable enough about each issue we wish to resolve. Researching more about it and being aware of what we can do next to help the people concerned will be of great help to the situation, easing the pain and burden they all carry.
We must have our own advocacies wherein we advocate for certain causes that will surely benefit the silenced and disregarded. These advocacies would surely help them get the aid that they need and would surely awaken others from their deep slumber, finally opening their eyes and realizing the reality of life.
We should not be afraid; we must learn to overcome our fears, especially when it comes to change. Many of us are afraid when referring to change when we should not be. We must learn to accept that change is constant, that everything around us changes, and that we have absolutely no control over that but only to improve the situation and any effects it may pose. We should be ready and mature enough to talk about it, for our future depends on us. How we resolve these kinds of issues will surely affect the near future waiting for us ahead.
We must also amplify the voices of the unheard. We should become the channel and instrument God has designed us to be, which is to help others in need. We must let their voices be heard so that everyone will know that we are all serious about achieving and instilling change in such impediments.
We should also stand up for what is right. Would you choose to stay silent even when something is wrong, or would you dare to break the silence? Staying blind and denying help to those in need would never be of benefit in figuring out such problems. If we know that we are in the right place, we should stand and fight for what is right, true, and just.
And lastly, we must learn to break free from senseless rules. As said by Darren Rivers in the Netflix series 'Heartbreak High', "Change only comes by breaking the rules," which is true because we can only achieve change when we topple and challenge the status quo. When we are brave enough to dare shake and tremble the normal, then we can break free from everything that holds us back and achieve absolute success.
Certainly, change is something that we need in this country of ours. To create a safe space for all, we must change and modify everything that poses threats to the safety and security of every entity.
But to be part of the change, you must prepare yourselves for any instances that could occur at any moment. Do not let anything stop you from being part of the difference in creating a safe, habitable haven for everybody.
Indeed, change starts with me, but it ends with us. It depends on our hands on how will we use our power, voice, and capabilities to instill change in every rotting piece that currently poses threats and destruction to our society.
Let us do our own parts and work hand-in-hand in order to create a better planet for us in the present and also for future generations to live on. Let love and light grow on the surface of the earth, giving more room for hope and progress to thrive and reign in our minds and hearts. Let us encourage everyone to become part of the solution, and not for the near destruction of our society.
Reference: Tiwari, P. (2022, August 23). Close Up Shot of Burning Paper on Water · Free Stock Photo. Pexels. https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-burning-paper-on-water-13288547/
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