Integrate or Segregate?

For the past few decades, the country has always relied on the opinion of the Catholic Church on implementing laws concerning issues such as “Family Planning” and “Death Penalty”. In the upcoming 2009 Presidential Election, should religious people be running?

In dark times, our government must choose even the rashest of decisions, as long as it saves the country from economic depression. This includes that the government must make its own decisions, not ones that are influenced by a single Church. The decisions must be beneficial to the whole Filipino population, disregarding each religion. The government must act according to the country, or else.

Our country has religious diversity. The Filipinos cannot be united by only a single church; though Catholics may be the majority, we cannot ignore the voice of the other Churches in our country. Therefore, we cannot let the government rely its decisions only upon the Catholic Church. Alternatively, we still cannot let the government rely its decisions on all the religions. Decisions will be very difficult, if not impossible, to be made.

Religious diversity is not necessarily an Achilles’ heel. One of the many reasons our country has a rich and living culture is because of the many religions our country has. But because religion plays a large role in every Filipino’s life, this becomes a reason for the Philippine community to divide. And when division occurs, the community starts to descend.

And so, the government has to rely on its own views. The country is in poverty, no doubt about that. The Philippines is at a crucial point, and things must be done, quickly. No more is the mañana habit. Why? Because there may be no tomorrow for our country. The people must open eyes and see the state of our country: the Philippines cannot survive a bigger crisis than this. If the government does not start to act, let’s just hope our children and grandchildren still have the Maharlika to call as their homeland.

To quote an RnB song, “what ever happened to the fairness in equality?”

Yes, what DID happen to fairness in equality?

The government is clearly disregarding the voices of the other religions. Why does the government make its decisions with regards to the Catholic Church’s opinion, and not the others? This is a clear example of bias judgement. Disregarding equality and respect for others’ religion, has the Philippines stoop that low?

Let’s say that a religious person will be elected into office. This person makes his decisions entirely on his own beliefs. What shall happen?

The country will be more divided than ever. There will be those who agree with that person’s religious beliefs. There will be those who disagree with that person’s beliefs. And there will also be those who wish to remove that person from office. The country, already at a crucial point, will fall; for the reason that unity is the strongest tool we have. And if we lose this, our country will descend into depression.

We must choose now. Do we want progress in society, or choose our own religion and beliefs? What is best for the Philippines: equality or diversity? What do we want for the Philippines economy, to rise, or to fall?