Viewpoints
An aristocrat governing a plebian people
By Oscar V. Cruz
THE above contradictory phenomenon is not hard to understand and thereby in addition also know its adverse, pitiful and at times even detestable consequences. Calling to mind the said reality however is not in any way intended to look down at anyone who is precisely up there lording it over the big heap of commoners – somebody who is standing high and tall over millions of common tao most of whom just recently revealed their empty stomachs and would be therefore deeply grateful even but for the crumbs that accidentally fall from the big and sumptuous table of the aristocrat.
Applied to governance, such an errant and gross mismatch was especially true in the middle ages – or sometime ago in human history. But the substance of the same sad and saddening pairing is rather relevant to the Philippines during these times. The handful of individuals reigning over millions of Filipinos are mostly aristocrats – the rich and the powerful – with dynastic origins. With due respect to all those concerned, it is futile to deny that the prime Aristocrat presently exercising the “Power of the Sword” all over the Country is not only aristocratic but also dynastic in provenance.
No wonder then that with the mind and spirit of aristocracy, it is not really surprising that the supreme aristocrat already firmly holding and wielding the “Sword”, still wants to keep the “Power of the Purse” and attempting even grabbing the “Power of the Pen”. The aristocratic personality constitution of the now reigning supreme governor can be readily known and noted in the following solid historical phenomenon. The great father died and the grieving mother held the “Sword”. The famous mother died and the son now holds the “Sword”. And this is why it is not altogether irrelevant much less disrespectful to ask: When the son is gone, is the sister not really in line to eventually inherit the “Sword” – unless drastic changes come to fore?
The immediate composite negative outcome of such social malady in terms of a big disparity between an autocratic governing authority and the ordinary citizens thus governed, is basically the following: One, the one governing either does not know and/or cares to know the simple down-to-earth needs of the governed. Two, the governed do not understand the high-class value system plus the marked nonchalance of the one governing them. Three, sooner or later, the aristocratic governor with sublime self-esteem is either removed or snatched from his big and comfortable throne by his already too long suffering and disgusted, hungry and angry people governed.
The major problem with an aristocrat governing a plebeian people is that the former is consistently distant from the latter. Oh yes! The former speaks of his great plans and projects for the latter. The former is much impressed even of himself for having done so much and so well in favor of the latter. But the worst thing about this self-adulation is that it is nothing more than but the fruit of his fertile imagination plus a good amount of daydreaming.
Poor proletarian! Miserable bourgeois! Pitiful common man!
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