What can make the difference

The following message was forwarded to us and it wrote that the message came from Dr. Arsenio Martin of Fort Arthur, Texas.

According to the message, “ if you love your country, let this message circulate so that many Filipinos could reflect about this, change and act!”

Here is the timely and important message entitled The Difference:

“ The difference between the poor countries and the rich ones is not the age of the country. This can be shown by countries like India and Egypt, that are more than 2,000 years old, but are poor. On the other hand, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, that 150 years ago were inexpressive, today are developed countries, and are rich.

The difference between poor and rich countries does not reside in the available natural resources. Japan has a limited territory, 80% mountainous, inadequate for agriculture and cattle raising, but it is the second world economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw materials from the whole world and exporting manufactured products.

Another example is Switzerland, which does not plant cocoa but has the best chocolate in the world. In its little territory they raise animals and plant the soil during 4 months per year. Not enough, they produce dairy products of the best quality! It is a small country that transmits an image of security, order and labor, which made it the world’s strongest, safest place.

Executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts in poor countries show that there is no significant intellectual difference.

Race or skin color are also not important. Immigrants labeled lazy in their countries of origin are the productive power in rich European countries.

What is the difference then? The difference is the attitude of the people, framed along the years by the education and the culture and flawed tradition.

On analyzing the behavior of the people in rich and developed countries, we find that the great majority follow the following principles in their lives:

1. Ethics, as a basic principle. 2. Integrity. 3. Responsibility. 4. Respect of the laws and rules. 5. Respect of the rights of other citizens. 6. Work loving. 7. Strive for savings and investment. 8. Will of super action. 9. Punctuality. 10. and of course...Discipline

 In poor countries, only a minority follow these basic principles in their daily life.

The Philippines is not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel to us. In fact, we are supposedly rich in natural resources.

 We are poor because we lack the correct attitude. We lack the will to comply with and teach these functional principles of rich and developed societies.”

What do you think? How do you think our people and our country can move on?

Of course, there are those who advocate the abolition of Congress or the change of all traditional politicians. There is just so much useless politics and ineffective politicians, not to mention the greedy and corrupt who use government funds for personal agenda.

There are also those who believe that change has to start from each one of us. If each one thinks of the good of the other, then perhaps that can make the difference?

There are also those who think that inequality within our country and throughout the global system has to change so that a genuine global home and community can take over.

What do you think? What do you think can make the difference to change our country, our people and our present world into a better world for all?

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