7/29/2019 Beware of the Fourth Monkey

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Beware of the Fourth MonkeyBy MSGR. OSCAR V. CRUZ

Call it an allegory or a fable, a parable or a proverb or whatever.Its key feature is the realistic thought or practical lesson isforwarded by the known saying in the realm of what is right andproper what is true and real. And this is exactly the content andintent of the famous  – or infamous  – story of “The ThreeMonkeys.” The story goes that there were these three monkeyssitting down in a row  – each one making a gesture as a sign of what everyone of them is all about.

The first one has his hands covering his two eyes to mean thathe sees nothing  – nothing good, nothing bad. The secondmonkey has his two hands covering his two ears to convey themessage that he hears nothing – nothing right, nothing wrong.

The third money has his both hands covering his mouth to signify that he is saying nothing  – nothing true, nothing false. So it is that three monkeys represent the stance of people who seenothing, hear nothing, and say nothing. These are wherefore portrayed as individualspretending to be not only blind, but also deaf and dumb  – exactly like the three monkeys.

Needless to say, the likes of the three monkeys are big liabilities of society  – in terms of peopleliving in these difficult and trying times. When men are killed everyday in many places and inmany ways, when women are customarily violated in their inherent dignity and physical integrity,when children are abducted for whatever evil reason – people who play blind, deaf, and dumbbecome social liabilities themselves. When politicians rob the citizens of the continuous taxesthe latter pay, assiduously serve themselves instead of others, abuse their authority and power against the very individuals who put them in office and shoulder the costs of all their luxurious

expenses – people who pretend to be blind, deaf, and dumb lose their right to have honest andsincere public servants. When the government is precisely either really incapable of serving or in fact incapacitated from ruling – people who act as if they are blind, deaf, and dumb deservethe pathetic government they thus have.

But wait! These trying times have even brought about a fourth monkey: One that does nothing.Yes! This fourth monkey can see, hear, and talk. But act he does not. Lo and behold! He sitscomfortably, on the tall fence overlooking the fray, has his hands folded as he listens to what istaking place, merely looks at what people are doing  –  and that’s it! But when the right timecomes, when the right occasion and opportunity are present, this monkey jumps to action  – denouncing what is wrong, etc. and eventually announcing his availability to serve the people, tosave the country, etc.

Call this fourth monkey an astute one, a smart-aleck, a good opportunist or whatever. But theadvisory is the same: Beware of the “Fourth Monkey! ”