Thursday 11 June 2009

Where Is The Shame?

In many ancient cultures, it was an honourable way to settle grievances for leaders or government officials to take their own lives in shame for betraying the people's trust; because it was an unforgiveable embarrassment to their rank and their family honour. The principle of losing one's face is still alive in many traditionalist countries such as those in East Asia.


Lately, former South Korean president Ro Moo-Hyun took his own life after being shamed by a large corruption scandal. I am not sure I would ever approve of anyone's death but I think that was an honourable way to go (next to facing the charges, that is).

Yung mga opisyal kaya natin, kailan mahihiya? (When do you think our officials will ever feel this sort of shame?)

6 comments:

  1. I agree. there is rampant shamelessness among todays politicians. I love the Spanish word "sin verguenza". It is an insult that should be used more frequently in the USA, where we have loads of shameless politicians.

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  2. mamiel: Oh, I love that word, too. Grandfather used to say that a lot. Our politicians over here are shameless just the same; thick-skinned. To think that the concept of "hiya" (shame) is strong here.

    Ken: Yes. And most government posts empty. Yay! We can move in!

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  3. Tsk-tsk-tsk sa mga politicians natin.

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  4. Dapat tayo ang mahiya sa sarili natin kasi pinabayaan natin mapunta sila sa kinalaglagyan nila. Simulan sa sarili. Pati ang sisi.

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  5. May punto ka. Simulan sa sarili. Sana nga lamang, lahat ganito ang pag-iisip.

    Pero paano ang mga opisyal na malinis ng pumasok ngunit marumi na ngayon? Sa atin pa rin ba ang unang sisi? Sa palagay ko, maluklok man ang bulok, mas malaki pa rin ang sisi sa nang-aabuso. Oo, sisihin ang nauto, pero mas matimbang ang sala ng taong may tigas ng mukhang mang-uto ng kapwang nagtiwala.

    At paano naman ang mga bumoto sa ibang tao? May sisi pa rin ba sa kanila?

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