OBLIQUE OBSERVATIONS
By Atty. Gilberto Lauengco, J.D.
For the past week, the internet has been ablaze with netizens arguing over the issue of the celebrity father who became a guest of the bride in his own daughter’s wedding. The said father complained on social media about his alleged mistreatment because he was not allowed to walk his daughter to the altar. After his viral rant, the country was divided instantly with one side supporting the father and the other side supporting the daughter and the rest of the family.
Those supporting the father doubled down on their principle that a father should be respected and loved no matter what he does. On the other side, those supporting the daughter’s family called out the father for his allegedly narcissistic actions and his selfish stance of putting his feelings over and above the welfare of the daughter. The argument has gone so intense that netizens have been throwing bile at each other on every comment thread related to the issue at hand. The hate online from both sides have become so intense that some online arguments have become quite nasty.
It is quite amusing that even when obviously in the wrong, one side would double down and insist on the rightness of their stance while insulting those who oppose their view. Take for instance, the issue of the brother of the father of the bride who issued negative comments on the issue even though he was not invited to the wedding. Many netizens siding with the father’s family insist that coming to weddings uninvited is part of the Filipino culture and cannot be considered as something negative. This obstinate refusal to back down or admit obvious flaws in reasoning fuels more negativity and hate. On the other hand, the other side’s inability to show empathy to people who lack the ability to understand basic logic aggravates the issue. There are times when arguing with people is pointless. At the end of the day, hate and anger will produce nothing good.
With so much anger and hate dividing us, is it any wonder that our children have been lately exhibiting hate induced violence? There have been quite a few incidents lately of kids physically assaulting each other. There is even one incident where two grade 8 students were stabbed dead in Las Piñas and another incident where a female student in Parañaque City was also stabbed. In both incidents, hate played a great role.
This Lenten season, perhaps it is time for all of us to reflect on the things that drive us to hate one another. Perhaps, a little more understanding and empathy from all of us is needed, even when you are sure that the other side is stupid or idiotic. Perhaps we can ask whether or not it is worth it to be angry at people who we perceive as morons?
