The Knights of Rizal and their Homeland: From a Viewpoint of a European Friend of the Philippines |
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Sections - DrRizal.com | |||
Monday, 21 April 2008 16:58 | |||
Bobby Reyes, being a journalist, is used to deal with words. And, indeed, he knows how to choose the right ones to the right persons in the right moments. Acting so, he helps a lot to regain honour for the Philippine civil society, especially in the view of a non-Filipino. Looking back to the 17 months when I was a Knight of Rizal, I feel ashamed about that fact. Since I see Mr. Reyes’ vision, since I sense his attitude towards the self-styled order that continues misusing Rizal's name to justify plagiarism, racism, a remarkable lack of professionalism – he convinced me that simply laughing about these parodies of knighthood is the best thing to do with them. Yes, indeed foreign friends of the Philippines are asking the same question: "How come a people that produced Jose Rizal, one of the greatest men in the world, could be, and are still, led by crooks, scoundrels and nincompoops – for majority of the time since July 4, 1946?" How come that fools and academic illiterates dressed up in costumes are allowed to dominate in a once-useful organization and to stain the reputation of Philippine civil society? You must be aware that this view does influence the vision on the efforts of the “International Society of Rizal’s Advocates (ISRA)” to revitalize the country. Maybe the OFWs must be those making a new nation since the old seems to be spoiled by the influence of 'rotten eggs'. And because the majority is silent and indifferent; their policy is focused on getting food on the table, day in, day out. But Mr. Reyes and his ISRA movement cannot present themselves as the other, the good Philippines with innocent hands. They shall be accepted and honored to represent Philippine culture only if they also take responsibility for the wrongdoings and guilt of their fellow countrymen doing to the said culture where all of you come from and which you want to renew with the Rizalian spirit. Editor’s Note: To read what the ISRA is all about, please go to Launching a Rizal Advocacy (ISRA) Today In this
way, the Rizal reformers shall regain the moral credit that has been gambled
away long since before they resigned from the ranks of the so-called Order of
the Knights of Rizal (OKR), an organization that fits no international (standard)
at all because of its purely and one-sided parochial-based view and
habits. As I know Reyes and Company resigned from the said order, I feel
proud to have resigned (also). I shall never join (the OKR) again. Maybe many
Filipino Knights will not rejoin it either. Because from the current point
of view that would mean to fall well below mediocrity – something
I never want to experience. Again, to all Rizalists I say: Jose Rizal is honoured by many Europeans as an author, as a scientist, inventor and physician. A polyglot and revolutionary thinker in his time and country. He was regular member of scientific societies. (How many so-called "Knights of Rizal" could fulfill such criteria?) Dr. Rizal truly followed international standards in terms of scientific working, moral and intellectual honesty. His human qualifications have been praised by his contemporary friends already. There is no need to repeat them here and today. But I say to all: Following the very same standards Rizal himself mastered so well is the condition to be a Rizalist. They did not change since his death. They do not make you a Rizalist but they enable you to become it. Without service there are no merits.
Editor’s Note:
Several former European members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal have
accused some members of the Order’s Supreme Council leaders of plagiarism. More
details on this accusation in follow-up articles. Mr. Reyes, being
an author yourself, you are closer to me even though we have not meet
personally. So, you know what plagiarism means and how it should be
punished. As author you are in succession of Rizal and in all that special
responsibility combined with authorship: defending the freedom of speech,
thoughts and intellectual property all over the world. Those who might believe
they can oppress these powers will be overpowered by them. Editor’s Note: Please read also The Parable that Is the Philippines (ISRA Series, Part 2)
Epilogue: Mr. Eberle replied to a posting by a Mr. Bowman. QUOTE. It has
been stated with deeper insight by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and I may quote
this philosophical author: "Language is the source of all misunderstanding."
And it is, indeed, a very special misunderstanding caused by the use of
language of the IHQ in Manila or the way language is honoured by this
Supreme Council that pretended to present itself as the heir of one of the
greatest authors in Philippine history and in the world literature of the 19th
century. How come that apart from racism even in its most sophisticated
form plagiarism, the morally worst an author can do or what can be done to an
author, how come that plagiarism beside other evil sisters is tolerated,
honoured and trivialized? The Order of the Knights of Rizal is an organization that fits no international standard at all because of its purely and one-sided Filipino-based and biased view and habits. Maybe the OFWs
must be those making a new nation since the old seems to be spoiled by the
influence of 'rotten eggs'. And because the majority is silent and indifferent;
their policy is focused on getting food on the table, day in, day out. But you
and your movement cannot present yourselves as the other, the good Philippines with innocent hands. You shall be
accepted and honored to represent the Philippine culture only if you also take responsibility
for the wrongdoings and the blame your fellow countrymen did to the said way of
life where all of you come from and which you want to renew with the spirit
from Rizal's moral fiber. In this way, you shall regain the moral credit
that has been gambled away long since before you resigned from the ranks of the
so-called Order of the Knights of Rizal, an organization that fits no international
at all because of its purely one-sided Filipino-based view and habits. As I
know you resigned from said order I feel proud to have resigned. I shall never
join (it) again. Maybe you either. Because from the current point of view that
would mean to force oneself well below mediocrity – something I never want to experience
again.
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