The Benefit of Hindsight and the Fuzziness of the Future

The demonstrated intelligence we employ as we fervently discuss issues
relating to History is a direct benefit of 20/20 hindsight. Historians,
are offered a huge amount of data from which to draw their analysis
regarding events that happened in the past, from which they draw their
conclusions/observations. Whether their views are supported by hard
facts, or uncorroborated accounts passed on through oral traditions, all
have the benefit of "historical context". The beauty in all this is
that we could conduct vibrant and dynamic discussions, agree and
disagree on interpretation, and come to personal conclusions which we
could use to differentiate our actions, or choose not to act on it.

While historians are diligent in taking into account events that
happened in the past (or during their lifetimes), we are confronted with
the challenge of a fuzzy future. In this realm, most of what we do and
how we decide, is generally made on an assumed context, or more likely,
a pretext. While we attempt to base our decisions on learning from the
past, I am not sure whether we can truly maintain a strict alignment
between what we have learned, how we interpret the events, how we take
into account the circumstances of the present, with how we will act in
the future. This can lead to a sense of helpless, which could naturally
lead to cynicism, which ultimately results to callousness. At this
stage, we are paralyzed from action. We end up overestimating risk,
lessen our expectations, and end up yielding the very "realities" we
feared--a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Over the past few days, discourses have allowed us to explore opinions
and interpretations--all of which are healthy and insightful. But we
need to quickly reach a point where providing a full account and
personal interpretation of history (however insightful and thorough)
becomes secondary only to how we will frame our actions to create "new"
history. When discussing the present disposition of the Filipino, the
hard realities of masses living below the poverty line, the popularity
of historical figures, it is easy to fall into the trap of the "why" and
completely miss out on deciding on the "what", in a manner of speaking.
Perhaps it is for the very simple reason that discussing the "why" never
really compels one to commit to an action plan whereas the "what" will
naturally force us to gravitate towards action.

The beauty and relevance of history can only lead to a personal and
collective enlightenment if action (the fuzzy part) becomes integral.
Everything else becomes an academic discussion that can go on forever.
Interesting enough, action ultimately determines the relevance and
pertinence of our discussions.

Understanding and wisdom have been stated as lacking among the masses of
the Philippines. How could one argue against statistics and personal
experience? But the more important thing is not only state the obvious,
but rather, to define action that will lead to collective progress and
the "will" to execute on it.

I hold the highest regard for those who freely express their ideas, and
demonstrate the wherewithal to substantiate those ideas. But time is of
the essence. We need to act--whether you are located in the Philippines
or in another part of the globe is immaterial. We are all Filipinos.
How then should we live? How then should we act?

We need to consider every input submitted in this forum as a potential
wellspring of context, wisdom, and action. For example, how do we
introduce new models into the way our compatriots think (at the lowest
levels of society)? How do we employ a blood-less revolution (similar
to that of Norway) that will result in sustainable change (and not the
models we vehemently detest)? How do we introduce the relevance of
historical models (their strengths and weaknesses) in a way that will
allow the masses to see themselves in those leaders? How do we
introduce incremental changes that will ultimately lead to structural
change? Is it purely through radical revolutionary campaigns,
intellectual campaigns, or economic campaigns. What are the
presuppositions that pervade Filipino life and thought? And how do such
influence the way we think? How do we refine or resign those so we can
achieve incremental progress? All of us can provide invaluable insight,
and in synthesis, may provide us with ideas from which to frame the
context of our actions.

Some could provide insight, some executable plans, some strategies, some
context, some risk awareness, some networks--together we can make that
darned African elephant move! While we need to maintain a degree of
skepticism, we need to try to avoid cynicism entirely. History shows us
how cynical attitudes (in jest or gravity) created the history we so
desperately want to change. If we can begin to re-think or re-state
what could otherwise be seen through the eyes of a cynic, we can begin
the arduous road to progress. It starts with us.

--
Dennis Reyes
+639159995263

"Learners prepare for the world for tomorrow."

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