EDITORIAL. Unite, Rather than Divide

“A house divided against itself cannot stand,” is a teaching that must be learned by all especially now that the very existence of mankind is under threat.

Too much strife is happening around the world and thousands are dying everyday because of division. Unity must be attained.

In Iligan, the successful celebration of the Diyandi Festival demonstrates how much a people can achieve when the majority if not all are united for a purpose. Probably the liveliest and most attended Fiesta ever happened.

It was said that when public confidence is high because peace and order is assured, people have no fear in going out into the streets. A situation like this can be achieved only by a democratic leader that inspires cooperation rather than instill fear on everyone.

A keen observer would note that in places where throngs of people gather, even pickpockets and petty criminals cannot disturb anyone. Volunteer “watchers” in ordinary attires are all around. Volunteerism is encouraged when people respond to the call for unity. In his own small way, each one strives to contribute to the attainment of the goal commonly understood and desired.

In a broader scale a situation like this could also be achieved if there is a true democratic leader who clearly defines, communicates and persuade everyone to cooperate.

In the establishment of the Bangsamoro, people must not be divided by each own personal interest but united for the common goal of self-determination.

The Bangsamoro must not also give-in to the dictates on what kind of self-determination they should have and on how they would achieve it as obviously seen in foreign and domestic organizations involved in the BBL EIC with their huge amount of money.

Too many struggles in history failed because leaders deviate from the common interest to personal aggrandizement due to outside interference.

What happened to Bonifacio, Luna and Aguinaldo must not happen again to the Filipinos, and should also serve as lesson to the Moro leaders. Independence was delayed because the first Filipino President due to his pursuit of personal glory eventually succumbed to the superior strength of the colonizer after the death of those who fought with him and the isolation of their men from the mainstream of the struggle.

The New Ranao Star