They are kids no more

Vittorio Ignatius Raagas

There is a common practice among government offices to mandate the
attendance of its personnel in its Monday morning flag raising ceremony. This
practice is aimed towards the idea that patriotism will be instilled in the hearts of
said employees. Instead of simply appealing to the General Luna within each Filipino
employee, the government took upon itself to act as though they were preschool
teachers reprimanding the little ones for not being present during the morning
ceremonies.
Setting aside my opinions about government policies such as this, let us
analyze the matter at hand in a teleological approach. Let us go beyond the words,
beyond the lines, and understand the why enshrined within this curtailment of a
right.
Let us take a step back and view this matter in a broader sense. Why does
the government deem it proper to mandate the attendance of its personnel in its
Monday morning flag raising ceremony instead of giving the employees space to
practice patriotism in a more voluntary and genuine, manner? The noble purpose of
promoting patriotism and the love of our country may be seen as the end, but it
does not justify the means. This government directive seeks to regulate ones
practice of a basic right, the right to believe.
The right to believe is absolute. The Filipino citizen is protected against the
curtailment of such right. Only actions emanating from such right may be regulated
by the government. If the government does otherwise, it creates an avenue for
them to manipulate a citizen in a very personal way. It infringes upon an individuals
right to practice his belief as long as it is well within the bounds of the law.
No matter how noble the end may seem, no greatness will arise from if
tainted by corrupt means. The government must do away with mandating their
employees to attend the Monday morning flag ceremonies and devise other ways of
instilling patriotism within the hearts of their employees. Let them practice
patriotism in a genuine and voluntary manner; they are kids no more.