Fools according to Google, Oxford and Merriam-Webster dictionaries collectively, are those human beings who are imprudent, idiot, halfwit, senseless, and irrational. They are the countrymen who are impolitic, ludicrous, preposterous, incongruous, and ridiculous. In a nutshell, they are the citizens who are ill-advised and devoid of intelligence, common sense, and reason.
Moreover, fools are silly, mindless, and dopey inhabitants who lack the judgment that can cost them their jobs and other personal missions, as well as their relationship with others.
From its Latin word "follis", it means bellows or leather bag. Hence, it is a figurative idea of a windbag. A windbag, by the way, is a person who talks at length but says little of value.
The wise men on the other hand are versed in magic and are deemed categorized as sage, sapient, thinker, philosopher, intellectual, oracle and mentor.
King Solomon was considered as the wisest man who ever lived. Interestingly, he was also baptized as foolish. God gifted him with unsurpassed wisdom but he squandered this by disobeying God's commandments.
Furthermore, the wise men treat others as they want to be treated. By doing so, help can be solicited and hurt can be avoided.
Therefore, the wise men are able to use their experience and knowledge to understand more, know more, and be aware of the times that provide opportunities and challenges for sensible judgment and decision-making activities.
With the forthcoming elections on May 9, 2022, we can be either as fools or wise men. We are fools if we allow cheating, vote buying through direct cash or in envelops and be beneficiaries of disguised livelihood programs, cash for work schemes, relief goods, and raffle draws during and after visits and rallies.
We become slaved fools by availing ourselves as trolls, fake news creators and peddlers, and as taggers who wantonly accuse people without verification and due process. The bigger foolishness is when we engage in ballot switching, harassment, killings, intimidation, and disinformation.
Contrastingly, we transform as wise men if we promote truth and justice. We show the elements of compassion, fairness, volunteerism, honesty and the respect for the laws of the land, the Constitution, and the Ten Commandments. We stick to the love of our country and not as blind loyalists to shrewd politicians who have vested interests or hidden agenda.
Relatively speaking and singing, we are reminded of the following lyrics:
Fools rush in where wise men never go
But wise men never fall in love
So how are they to know?
We were fools you and I
Now we know it
We stood still as the days moved along
Love was ours but our eyes never show it
Suddenly we can see we were wrong.
Finally, come election time, vote wisely!
Lito Gador Tampus
Moalboal, Cebu