Modern Day Nationalism And Heroism

Friday, 26 August 2011 00:00

Written by Aaron Benedict De Leon

This coming August 29, we will once again be celebrating the National Heroes Day, to pay homage to the people who have served our country dutifully, in the most patriotic and noble way they can. As a country, we were able to build our national identity because of the efforts and sacrifices of these people. Many would say then that this day is a perfect opportunity to relive their acts and contributions for the country.

But just like any other celebration, like a Birthday or any other special occasion, we always stop at veneration, at admiration and with greeting. We have never outlived this habit or practice, and we have paid dearly the past few years and decades, because of this mediocre value for momentous occasions such as this.

National Heroes Day is simply not a commemoration, simply not a celebration, but a reminder to all of us that each year, each generation would always be wanting of a new hero.

The essence of National Heroes Day lies in our capacity not just to prepare with lavish preparations and overly artistic programs, but also to live by all the virtues upheld by these great men in our very own lives.

Heroism should not just be a subject of the past, but must be a credo that each of us must uphold in the duration of our lives. The definition of heroism should not be enshrined in the idea of dying, in the idea of persecuting one’s self, in the idea of mobilizing unending mass or social action(s), with the notion that it shall always culminate in unfavorable and bad endings. We should all be living proofs that heroes do exist, and that heroes live in each one of us.

The culture of heroism in this country transcends stories written in the annals of history, and runs through our blood and vein as Filipinos. We were made to be heroes, and it’s not just written in the palm of our hands, but it is a scar that we will forever live with and hopefully live by.

Heroism in the 21st century Philippines is a far cry from the heroism that our forbearers displayed in the ancient past. Today, the battlefield is neither Tirad Pass nor Bagumbayan. The enemies are not just colonizers and oppressors. The issues are no longer just about sovereign freedom. We must overcome our outmoded thinking of whom and what we are up against.

Today, the battlefield is in the market, where Filipinos alike are competing for jobs and for their bane existence. The enemies have evolved to become those from within our very own, with Filipino Christians and Muslims fighting for political autonomy. The issues have become far complex, with our very own Filipino leaders committing treason against our countrymen through graft and corruption, amongst many.

Given these odd circumstances, any strategy and action must begin with the recognition of our innermost views and values, towards ourselves, others and our country. A new order of heroism must usher in, given the complexities and the modernity of the struggles we are confronted with.

A Hero during these modern times should not just be confined with mere compliance to government policies and laws. A Hero is one to ensure he expands his sphere of influence to make people follow what is right, not just what is popular.

A Hero during these modern times should have the capacity to make bold and definitive decisions, but not to the extent and at the cost of antagonizing or dehumanizing another individual or group. A hero always finds peace as the primary goal in his view of nation building, over and above interest-based partisanship, when conflicts or disagreements arise.

A Hero during these modern times must leverage on technology, and not be overly dependent on it, just so to claim that he is socially aware and conscious. Technology, like Social Networking and the Internet, is only a medium to express our support or disgust towards societal systems and practices. The real manifestation of work begins and culminates when we influence the building of habits, when we engage ourselves and others to participate in the crafting and implementation of solutions, to subsequently create a culture of positive activism, sustainable engagement and enforced action.

Lastly, a hero during these modern times is one capable of handling a major responsibility, a position in society. A hero is never afraid of any political system or institution, may that be leadership in the family or in the country. A hero will always go beyond his/her comfort zone to attempt change in his/her own backyard. A hero will go lengths at finding creative and dynamic ways to solve systemic and institutional problems, not offer excuses for undoing and failure.

In this modern age, we are in need of modern heroes. We need heroes who think not of outmoded ways of exemplifying nationalism in our country, but heroes who are capable of driving innovative and trend setting action(s), capable of not just inspiring, but mobilizing a generation needing and wanting of true leaders and provoking a new generation thought.

We have the technology, we have the means, and though our system may be backward-leaning and overly traditional, we are a generation that should not be defined by what it cannot, but more so, by what it can- to overcome, to see through, to achieve.

August 30, 2011… National Heroes Day… But today, we become heroes, by resolve, and by action.