7/25/2019 They Are Kids No More

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They are kids no more

Vittorio Ignatius Raagas

There is a common practice among government ofces to mandate the

attendance o its personnel in its Monday morning ag raising ceremony. This

practice is aimed towards the idea that patriotism will be instilled in the hearts o

said employees. Instead o simply appealing to the General una within each !ilipino

employee" the government too# upon itsel to act as though they were preschool

teachers reprimanding the little ones or not being present during the morning

ceremonies.

$etting aside my opinions about government policies such as this" let us

analy%e the matter at hand in a teleological approach. et us go beyond the words"

beyond the lines" and understand the &why' enshrined within this curtailment o a

right.

et us ta#e a step bac# and view this matter in a broader sense. (hy does

the government deem it proper to mandate the attendance o its personnel in its

Monday morning ag raising ceremony instead o giving the employees space to

practice patriotism in a more voluntary and genuine" manner) The noble purpose o

promoting patriotism and the love o our country may be seen as the end" but it

does not *ustiy the means. This government directive see#s to regulate one+spractice o a basic right" the right to believe.

The right to believe is absolute. The !ilipino citi%en is protected against the

curtailment o such right. ,nly actions emanating rom such right may be regulated

by the government. I the government does otherwise" it creates an avenue or

them to manipulate a citi%en in a very personal way. It inringes upon an individual+s

right to practice his belie as long as it is well within the bounds o the law.

-o matter how noble the end may seem" no greatness will arise rom itainted by corrupt means. The government must do away with mandating their

employees to attend the Monday morning ag ceremonies and devise other ways o

instilling patriotism within the hearts o their employees. et them practice

patriotism in a genuine and voluntary manner they are #ids no more.