ARE YOU TOLERANT?

Do you recognize the merits
of other people around you?

Do you respect their opinions
though you think they are unsound?

Can you overlook an offense
that’s unintentionally done?

And try to mind your business
yet be helpful to everyone?

Can you accept criticisms
good-naturedly and well?

Can you argue agreeably
yet say what’s there to tell?

Do you practice the golden rule
on your rounds everyday?

Then you practice tolerance
in your own simple way.

- adapted –

We deal with people everyday. From the people we live with such as our family, our friends and colleagues at work, our neighbors to the strangers we encounter as we go about daily living. It is inescapable unless you decide to live as a hermit away from the maddening crowed. But in this time and age it is hardly a feasible life style fit for survival.

From childhood we learned the simple rules of getting along with others. As we get along, we acquire the necessary social skills to be at ease with people at every level of interpersonal relationship.

Tolerance is fundamental in any interpersonal relationship. It is perhaps the most essential element to make any relationship work. Without it, individuals shall be in constant strife with one another and collectively can bring about hatred and war between peoples of different demographic backgrounds.

Tolerance is a matter of attitude. It is not enough we know how important it is or how it is done. Ultimately, we have to practice it to be effective on our relationship with others.

To be tolerant is to be giving. The kinder among us are perhaps more tolerant than others. The kinder the person the more tolerant because these people are friendlier and can get along with others better.

Being appreciative, forgiving, respectful and patient are characteristics of a tolerant person. While we think that we have to work hard for these to be followed, they are actually easy and comes naturally to anyone. The simple gestures such as listening patiently to somebody wearisome, getting-out of your way to help despite the inconvenience, staying-out of the gossip circle or ignoring the petty annoyances of others are actual practices of tolerance that we oftentimes don’t realize.

Yes, it is essential that we each be tolerant towards one another. None of us is perfect. As individuals, we each have to bear with one another’s set of faults and vulnerabilities. If you wanted others to be tolerant towards you, then be tolerant yourself. The golden rule as stated by Confucius, “Do not do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you.” and Jesus Christ said, “Do unto others what you want others to do unto you.” Both version of this saying reflects the essential value of mutuality that fosters better interpersonal relationship and greater harmony among peoples of variation.

If you mange well being more tolerant, you will soon discover that amidst the harsh reality of life lurks a kinder realm that brings peace and joy to our world of strife and contradiction.

IDEALISM OF WORK

On Work
By Kahlil Gibran

You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.
For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons,
and to step out of life's procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.

When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.
Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?

Always you have been told that work is a curse and labour a misfortune.
But I say to you that when you work you fulfil a part of earth's furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born,
And in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life,
And to love life through labour is to be intimate with life's inmost secret.

But if you in your pain call birth an affliction and the support of the flesh a curse written upon your brow, then I answer that naught but the sweat of your brow shall wash away that which is written.

You have been told also that life is darkness, and in your weariness you echo what was said by the weary.
And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is urge,
And all urge is blind save when there is knowledge,
And all knowledge is vain save when there is work,
And all work is empty save when there is love;
And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God.

And what is it to work with love?
It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart,
even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.
It is to build a house with affection,
even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.
It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy,
even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit.
It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit,
And to know that all the blessed dead
are standing about you and watching.

Often have I heard you say, as if speaking in sleep, "He who works in marble, and finds the shape of his own soul in the stone, is nobler than he who ploughs the soil.
And he who seizes the rainbow to lay it on a cloth in the likeness of man, is more than he who makes the sandals for our feet."
But I say, not in sleep but in the overwakefulness of noontide, that the wind speaks not more sweetly to the giant oaks than to the least of all the blades of grass;
And he alone is great who turns the voice of the wind into a song made sweeter by his own loving.

Work is love made visible.
And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.
For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man's hunger.

And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distils a poison in the wine.
And if you sing though as angels, and love not the singing, you muffle man's ears to the voices of the day and the voices of the night.

THE NETHERLANDS VS SPAIN: A BATTLE FOR THE PHILIPPINES

The Dutch and the Spaniards battle it out for soccer supremacy in the 2010 FIFA World Cup today. Although the Philippines is not a participant, since soccer is not a popular sport here, some Filipino sports enthusiast won’t pass on the chance to take a piece of the action or at least the hype as the world watches the battle from Johannesberg, South Africa.

The Dutch and the Spaniards had fought each other in some other time and circumstances in history. The rivalry was beyond sports or anything to do with ‘friendly competition’. In fact it was a bitter battle for conquest and dominion. It was a war story that could gave changed the course of history in Southeast Asia. And it happened here in the Philippines.

In 1646, when the Philippines was still under the colonial rule of Spain, fifteen Dutch armed-strong fleet battled against two Spanish galleons in five naval encounters, known in history as the “Battles of La Naval.”

The attacks couldn’t have happened in more strategic timing when Manila was devastated by an earthquake in November the previous year. Moreover, it was part of the Spanish-Dutch War (1568-1648) which reached even the colonies in Southeast Asia. While the Philippines was then under Catholic Spain, Formosa (now Taiwan) and Indonesia were under the Dutch Protestants. In fact, preparations for the invasion were done in Indonesia.

The age of glory and faith went in hand with the perils of rivalry and envy. In the wide world, Catholic Spain had rivals and foes to contest her power; even destroy her mission to evangelize and civilize her land discoveries. Such were the Dutch and English privateers who were not only after the richness of the Philippine archipelago but also eager to supplant Catholicism with Dutch Protestant Calvinism. It was the age of galleon trade under the emblem of the cross and of Spain versus the age of the heretics with the banner of the skull and bones.

One such marauder, followers of Drake and Cavendish, sailed into Philippines waters and on March 15, 1646, a Dutch frigate fleet of five threatened Manila. Two Spanish galleons, veterans of the Acapulco trade, were hastily readied and sent out to defend the city.

The enemy was sighted off the coast of Bolinao, Pangasinan and was engaged in battle from three to seven in the evening. The two galleons, the Almiranta and Capitana (later named Nuestra Señora del Rosario), valiantly fought with four Dutch fleet. It was two Spanish galleons against four of the Dutch. After a fierce artillery fight, the enemy fled with lights in their ship decks put off to avoid pursuit. The Almiranta was damaged but with only two casualties.

On July 29, the second battle was fought between Baton Island and Marinduque. The two bulky galleons in their patrols met seven enemy frigates, well-armed with superior artillery, manned by some 800 men. It was two galleons of the Spaniards versus seven of the Dutch. The chronicles of these events relate that the “battle was one of the fiercest and bloodiest lasting from seven in the evening till four at dawn—at which time, seeing how grievously maltreated their ships were and one on fire, they did retreat and seek shelter, and would not give battle though we called them to it.”

Two days later, the enemy reappeared with six well-armed frigates between Mindoro and the island of Maestro de Campo. It was two of the Spaniards against six of the Dutch. The bloody encounter lasted from high noon to the Angelus (six in the evening) of July 31, 1646.

When the smoke of battle cleared up, they saw the Dutch fleet beating a hasty retreat abandoning one crippled ship and losing one. No casualty was reported in the two Spanish galleons.

Hardly had the two galleons been repaired and refurbished when news came that a fresh Dutch fleet was nearing Mariveles. The galleons once again set to grapple with the superior enemy force. For ten hours on September 24, 1646, this fourth battle was bitterly fought between Ambil and Lubang islands near the coast of Batangas. And “seeing themselves hard pressed, the enemy escaped and took flight as our ships pursued and give fire still, though one, our Capitana, had been hit in the side and was feared for and yet it did not sink.” Seven men on the defenders’ side gave their lives for the victory.

On October 3, while one of the galleons was on patrol off Mariveles and the Almiranta undergoing repairs in nearby Cavite, three of the Dutch frigates returned to the scene of their last defeat and engaged the lone galleon. It was one Spanish galleon versus three of the Dutch.

The written testimonies say that the enemy “surrounded and fiercely set on her and fired on so close that there was long a danger of their boarding the ship. But our men, calling on God and our blessed lady, rose to the contest in such a way that they inflicted a woeful destruction among the enemy, and totally destroyed one ship and scattered the others which fleeting were met and severely punished by the ship “Galera” sent to our aid.”

There were only four casualties, Filipinos among them, in that fifth and final naval battle. Only fifteen men, in fact, had been lost by the defenders in all five encounters.

As Filipinos we wonder: What impact did La Naval have in Philippine history?

Let the late National Artist for Literature, Nick Joaquin, answer these in his book Manila, My Manila:

“Imagine the Philippines as part of Indonesia! That seems incredible today— but it’s a might-has-been of our history. There was a time in the 17th century when our fate hung in the balance. Had events gone the other way, there might have been no Philippines at all.”

After these historic battles, the Dutch indeed no longer threatened the sovereignty of these islands by annexing it to the Dutch East Indies comprising then the Malayan archipelago. And never again was Catholicism threatened by Calvin’s Protestant followers in this part of the world.

With this answer I am sure you will feel a sense of national pride and profound gratitude to God for keeping us sovereign and free.

And yes, the Spaniards was victorious versus the Dutch claiming its first World Cup title shortly before this was posted.

VIVA ESPAÑA!
(simultaneously posted on http://dan-flame.blogspot.com)

WORDLY WISE: SOME ADVICE GETS BETTER WITH THE YEARS

1. Keep matters in suspense.

2. Know your best quality.

3. Never exaggerate.

4. Adapt to those around you.

5. Associate with those you can learn from.

6. Don’t be tiresome.

7. Plan for bad fortune while your fortune is good.

8. Don’t talk about yourself.

9. The wise do sooner what fools do later.

10. Never complain.

11. Do but also seem.

12. Don’t be made of glass.

13. Don’t live in a hurry.

14. Follow through on your victories.

15. Quit while you are ahead.


- by Balthasar Graciản (1601-1658)

ANYWAY

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten to tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by
the smallest people with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for some underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

- by Dr. Kent M. Keith

We each live life any way we can. Yet any way is ranged between living life in mediocrity and greatness. Within this vast expanse are the options we choose from how we shall live life. Hence, measures the degree by which determines the quality of our life.

The demands of daily living can oftentimes obscure the importance of choosing by quality. Life in modernity is too fast that many things about our humanity are taken for granted. There is a constant sense of urgency in addressing the basic requirements of living that compromises the quality of choices we make to give life the best. But what is best?

We often associate best with ‘how much’ or ‘how much more’. Our culture is to accumulate; to get more the better. As we always say, “the more the merrier.” Thus we work to get rich. We work harder to get richer still. And to expect that some day, “we live happily ever after”. Only to find at the end we have actually lost those most precious in life.

Working hard to get the life we wanted, as in get rich and successful, is very commendable. Afterall, it is what makes our world go round. Yes, even merrier! And it is not immoral to aspire for wealth. It is when we exclusively aspire for these at the expense of the most essential values in life such as loving, caring for others, making friends, being honest, fighting for what is right are what contradicts getting the most out of life. And missing out on what makes living sublime and meaningful can lead to a life of triviality and void.

Poverty, war and hatred are human tragedies that plague most of human society today. Yet these are not the greatest among tragedies that may harm anyone. These are but symptoms of an underlying cause— indifference.

Despite our age of awareness, advancement in education and intellectual pursuits we often choose to be indifferent to the valuable principles we have learned. We may have learned these academically yet we don’t have the courage to take up the challenge to actually live them. To ponder on these in written words, through the voice of the sages and as an inspiration is one thing, and to have them practice in reality is another. It could be quite a challenge to actually live these in a world filled with contradictions. And it is easier to be indifferent, to be uninvolved and detached as a means of self-preservation. We wouldn’t risk of anything of ourselves to stake for something altruistic and with a purpose beyond our personal interest.

Alas, the tragic story of people unprincipled, greedy and selfish! Their indifference had resulted to miserable lives characterized by tarnished reputation, lost of integrity, broken relationships and loneliness. At some point in each of our lives, we see ourselves partly in these situations. Perhaps not to a point of desperation and hopelessness, but no one is exempted from this plague. We however can always hope that the spirit within us will rise above this indifference.

Any way we live there is something inherent in us which longs for the sublime and the meaningful. There’ll be always a profound yearning in the human spirit to strive for what is good, assert what is right and fair, seek the truth and live life to the best we can. We may not often readily recognize the goodness in ourselves. Or perhaps we underestimate the capacity of the spirit within us to live the noble ideals that govern living life to the fullest and for us to be always at our best.

Sooner or later we shall realize the need to yield to these noble ideals. We can no longer be indifferent. Some may yield to it sooner then have the chance to live more meaningful lives. Yet to others later when perhaps it is too late. No matter how difficult the process, it would be more than worth the effort to finally discover that true happiness lies in living our life beyond ourselves. And that giving and sharing is the ultimate purpose of our existence.

Any way we live life is up to each of us. Despite the challenges we face, amidst the drudgery and the seeming triviality of our existence, “we give it our best shot— anyway”.