We look at one peso as a low amount of money that even in stores or in other places, when they lack change, some customers usually answer “Sige, ‘wag mo na akong suklian. Piso lang naman eh.” But this piso or one peso is very essential in our lives that it builds the large amounts of money we have such as P500, P1000 or more. It is also the one that we often use in buying candies and in paying our pamasahe in the jeepneys; an amount of money that the poor people only have – a sign of crisis, a mark of POVERTY.
In the common context of many people, poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is hunger. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time. Poverty is losing a child to illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom. It is a situation when people want to escape. It is the state of being WITHOUT. Poverty has many faces, changing from place to place and across time, and has been described in many ways. We have to be aware that that there are other types of poverty that do not only pertain to the lack of resources and money of the people. We have what we call the MORAL POVERTY. Moral Poverty refers to the lack of sense of right and wrong of each individual. It is a state where a group of people is in need of values and standards that will govern and guide the conduct of a person to recognize and perform his duties for the good of a community or a country.
Moral means of or concerned with the judgment of the goodness or badness of human action and character; the quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct. But, what is the basis of goodness in our country? I am sure that we have different way on looking goodness from the views of other countries? We can say that a certain thing is good if it is acceptable in our society. Our society dictates and defines what is good or bad. What if we did something bad but it is for the good of others, is it still morally acceptable or morally against our humanity?
It is like in Robinhood’s case. Robinhood stole for the expense of the poor people. The intention is good but the means are bad. Did the end justify the means? I see the same scenario in our politics these days. They say for you to be able to serve millions of Filipinos and occupy a government office, you have to play the game of the political arena. You will lose the battle if you don’t have money. You won’t get anywhere by losing. You must win before you can hope to make a difference. Too sad to think but this is our political culture. The language of politics is money. These things that we call gifts, donations, commissions etc. need to have a second look. These are bribes in another form. This is one indicator of moral poverty.
From Kristen Burroughs Kraakevik’s The Two Faces of Moral Poverty, an entry submitted in The 1996 Lord Acton Essay Competition, he said “…true poverty isn't a lack of money or things, or even a lack of opportunity or experience. It is a lack of love, compassion and selflessness, an inability to envision and labor for a better future, a misunderstanding of the nature of human and divine authority, a meandering obsession with the things of the present, and a blindness towards the duties and promises of faith.” It is very obvious that moral poverty is the foundation of many social problems. It is because of the different standpoint of each agent of socialization such as church, media, government, family etc. Each viewpoint does not agree with the other. The policy of the government of applying what is stated in the law causes them to neglect the spiritual and moral root causes of immoral behavior of the people.
TWO FACES OF MORAL POVERTY
There are two faces of moral poverty: the materially wealthy who are morally poor and the materially poor who are morally poor. We are always concentrated to the needy, the ones who we usually see in the sidewalks begging for money, in highways knocking on the windows of your cars, outside the church selling sampaguitas. This leads us not to notice the embarrassing truth that those who are materially wealthy are the ones who are morally poor. The remedy for these two faces must come to the people who are morally wealthy. Money is not the answer to these problems
PERSONAL OBLIGATION AND SOCIAL OBLIGATION
I believe to what Albert Einstein said that the world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it. As citizens of a country, we have a role to perform and that is to bring a difference. We have personal and social obligations. In the midst of the problems faced by our country, we have to make a move. If we think that giving money to those who are materially poor will solve the problem, we are wrong. The consequence of this action is the increase of moral poverty in both the donor and the recipient. In the case of the donor, it will reduce the sense of a personal obligation to the poor. The recipient will learn to depend always to the assistance that they receive rather than striving to achieve a prosperous life on their own feet. This will promote the rule of the minimum. They will be easily satisfied as long as they get something. Short-term resolutions will be enough for them. True poverty cannot be cured just by an inner “a change of heart” without the feeling of connectedness to others. This is related to what Randy David had mentioned. He had mentioned that in the widespread conflicts in our country, we have to deliver and fight for our sentiments as one. But this thing is hard to achieve especially many things divide us citizens. Religions, organizations, cultures, traditions etc. set us apart from one another. What I may suggest now is to fulfill our personal obligations and social obligations to our country. My personal obligation is to preserve my moral integrity and to stand strongly for my convictions. I will be a wise voter in 2010 presidential elections. It will be my first time to participate in a national election. I will remain a good student. I will not waste the money that my parents pay for my tuition fee. This is for my bright future and I certainly invest for it. And lastly, I will never ever leave this country. This is my social obligation, to serve my country. My dream is to be a part in shaping a new Philippines. I want to leave a legacy.
DANGER AND OPPORTUNITY
Crisis, just like poverty, is both danger and opportunity. Poverty is a call to action for the poor and wealthy alike. We must seize the opportunity to do something extraordinary. This may have a big impact that may very well plant the seeds for a very bright future of all Filipinos.
REFERENCES:
http://www.acton.org/publications/books/publicat_books_remedy_hmention2.php
http://www.fightpoverty.mmbrico.com/poverty/what.html
MARIA SHAINA F. SANTIAGO
POSC1-X
BA SOCIOLOGY
2008-12944
