Believe!

What do you believe in? God the Father, the nobility of mothers, the stoic heroism of fathers, the blissful innocence of a child, the lust for money, the demonic influence of the corrupt, nature’s mischief, a policeman’s badge. The list is endless.

Someone I admire once told me that he believes a person needs only to know that there is someone who loves him or her, warts and all, in good times and in bad, and already that person is ahead of life’s game. I believe in the chasing after the thrills of life – the thrill of discovery, the adventure of personal change. I believe that purpose doesn’t have to be gold-plated. It can be as simple and gratifying as giving your seat to a pregnant woman in a crowded MRT coach. Kindness is a purpose in itself.

I also believe in hard work. I believe that anything is possible if one is willing to sacrifice and work hard for it. I remember that while in my 20’s, I vowed to have a book of my own published by the time I was thirty. That dream came to pass, and my first book entitled, “Hugs, Not Drugs” was sold in all major bookstores. It was also my dream to someday be a presidential speechwriter like my father was. That too, came to pass. None of these simple, personal dreams would have been actualized had I not worked hard at my craft.

There is this book entitled, “This I believe.” It is an anthology edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman with a wonderful foreword written by Studs Terkel. It’s a book composed of little essays written by people of various fields, some known while some not, some young and some in the twilight of their years. I like the book because it’s an easy read, quite personal, and meant to be enjoyed in the serenity of one’s bedroom with the wide-eyed curiosity of an evening lamp. I recommend that you buy the book and savor the personal philosophies of its contributors.

One of the essays that I loved was written by Harold Hongju Koh, dean of Yale Law School. From 1998 to 2001, he served as assistant secretary of state for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Harold Koh said he believes in the bright lights of freedom.

Here is an excerpt from that essay:

“I believe that freedom is contagious.”

“My parents were born in South Korea and came here more than fifty years ago. They came for the education and for the freedom. They grew up under Japanese colonial rule, forbidden to speak Korean or even to use their Korean names. When their country was divided after World War II, my mother and her family were trapped in North Korea. In desperation, they hiked for days to the border to be picked up, and brought back to Seoul. But even there, they lived under dictatorship. For less than a year in the 1960s, Korea enjoyed democracy, and my father joined the diplomatic corps. But one day, tanks rolled and a coup d’etat toppled the government, leaving us to grow up in America.”

Koh went on to write about his father’s first taste of freedom and how he savored liberty like he savored fresh air. The world moved on and soon enough someone tried to assassinate Korea’s president which prompted him to declare martial law. In contrast, the United States held an election and showed the world how power can change hands without a anyone firing a shot. Amazed by this peaceful and healthy transition, Koh’s father said,” Now you see the difference: In a democracy, if you are president, then the troops obey you. In a dictatorship, if the troops obey you, then you are president.”

The writer then spoke of his own time in the US government where his work in the field of human rights led him to North Korea. And this is what he saw.

“In the eyes of everyone – children, workers, government officials – I saw the lifeless, unfocused stares I had first read about in Orwell’s 1984. I saw people whose aspirations had been crushed by a government that would not provide for their most basic needs. As we flew out of a darkened Pyongyang, I looked down to see where my mother had crossed the border so many years ago. As we approached Seoul, suddenly the landscape glowed with millions of lights. I realized that the only differences between the bright futures to the South and the dark futures of the North were the governments that ruled them. That is why I believe in the bright lights of freedom.”

Dear Reader, what do you believe in? Let me know. Write to me at toots.ople@yahoo.com. I will feature the best responses in my blog, with excerpts appearing in this column.

N.B. This Panorama column sparked a number of interesting responses from my readers which I will publish here soon. By the way, this blog is still open for your responses. Thanks!