"We are to use them in so far as [tantum quantum] they lead us to our last end, and be rid of them in so far as [tantum quantum] they hinder us in the pursuit of the end for which we were created." Tantum Quantum: So much as. The term in St. Ignatius' Principle and Foundation of the Spiritual Exercises referring to the right use of creatures [CatholicCulture.org]
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Sometimes I feel hesitant to share my views and opinions in facebook, especially as I am surrounded by very good people, some who have strong opinions (what I like to appreciate as the intensity of an AtSCAn, which I rarely see elsewhere, a reason why I am very happy to be part of an org like this -- a passion which I dearly pray doesn't fade -- which I guess is what also has been prayed for year after year by graduating AtSCAns, thus the motto: Keep the fire burning, or recently the softer Patuloy Lang), some who are very well intellectually armed, whether in the field of Political Science, Philosophy, and such.
Of course every opinion is likely to have an equal and valid counter-opinion, so I must accept that as I share mine. I realize then, that it is better to share the opinion and hear the counter opinion, discern about the opposite argument, and enrich my view on things instead of keeping my opinion to myself.
So I share my opinion, though admittedly I will not write with a vocabulary that will have you reaching for a dictionary nor will I invoke a lot of ideas from great thinkers, except maybe from St. Ignatius, St. John Bosco, Fr. Magadia, SJ, and the phrase from Theology: "Faith that does Justice."
I have perhaps spent too much time trying to defend myself before I've even presented the case. So why do I write now?
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A lot were perhaps excited when we saw our friends in TV, during the noise barrage. But upon reflecting, the question that haunts everything that AtSCAns do shows itself now, once again: "Are we making a difference?"
I have just come across a phrase in TV as I was still enjoying thinking about what I saw in TV. The phrase that disturbed me was: "Things are easier said than done" shown right after I saw the feature about the noise barrage. Of course the phrase might not be connected to the issue, but it struck me, and I cannot help but think about it in the context of the noise barrage.
Honestly,
What difference does the noise barrage make? Aren't they just sounds? What difference does the beautiful words we say in Facebook, the things we shout with conviction, the thoughts we share in prayer, the opinions we write, are we making a difference? Aren't these all just words? Are we doing these because things are easier said than done?
But then let us look elsewhere, outside of AtSCA and like student organizations. See how much action is being done. Inasmuch as our capabilities allow, the sounds we make in the streets in support of Heidi Mendoza, Rabusa, Lim, and the other "whistle blowers" is more action than you would see from most. If talking is easier than doing, then I am very sad, because not a majority do even the easier thing. Outside the idealistic (but I argue this to be much more realistic) context of AtSCA and other like student organizations, only a few talk about this, and sometimes when we do, we talk about it as if it were the latest happening on a drama series, we talk with the lightness of the happy-sad entertainment of drama "wow, did you see how mendoza cried? did you see how Miriam supported Mendoza? I wonder what's going to happen next? Lim just went out and supported Rabusa's claim!" We have been accused of being idealistic, and there is nothing wrong with it, but I argue that we have the more realistic view, because we refuse to escape the harsh reality, and we even be so foolhardy as to confront it. While others would be content to spend their hours in front of their four-foot flat screen TVs playing their PS3s, we choose to go to the streets and shout, or post facebook status messages about current national happenings, or pray about it in prayer sessions, or go to the area and share our lives with friends. While others would be content to let academics be their be all and end all (which is not wrong, but remember: plus ultra, there is always something beyond -- a reality beyond) we embrace a world wider than our own academics, our own families.
The argument is that talking makes no difference, so why waste time? The answer is in so much as (tantum quantum) talking helps us to be closer to God, then let us talk. But if it hinders us from getting closer to God, then let us stop talking. In a situation where we are not lawmakers, we do not own businesses nor do we have any kind of influence on what happens in the hearings, our influence is our voice. Our talk is our action. Things are easier said than done, but saying is also hard. Not a lot of people talk.
Talking is easier than concrete action that directly effects change, but easier still is to not waste time about it. Easier still is to ignore it, to not be aware about it.
Talking is easier than concrete action that effects change, but in a situation where talking is the most you can do, as students, then talking is indeed the concrete action that effects change. Living out an advocacy of an active awareness of social reality is action. Campaigning for truth is action. Talking in facebook, shouting out opinions about the news, inviting other people to be aware of the news, advocating social awareness, thinking about it in prayer sessions, sharing reflections during prayer sessions, praying about it in prayer sessions -- that all is not just talk, that is action. Are we wasting our time? Definitely not. Most of us while we were new to AtSCA, when asked about the Social Awareness pillar, we answer about how little we can do as students to effect change. Now that we have spent many months in AtSCA, let it be clear to us that as students, the Social Awareness advocacy is not just what we can do, it is what we ought to do. It is easier to throw statements in the air like "things are easier said than done." It is also easy to think about other excuses.
It is clear that the Spirituality of AtSCA is not a spirituality of experiencing God at the height of emotions. It is not a spirituality solely of experiencing God in the beauty of the world, in the justice and truth and fairness. The spirituality of AtSCA is finding God in all things, as Ignatius would say. A Spirituality that seeks God even in the ordinary things, even in the ugliness of the world. A Spirituality with a grounding on concrete reality, a Spirituality that leads to Action, and Faith that does Justice. An Ignatian Spirituality overflowing to the Area Apostolate, and feeding the fire of Social Awareness. A three-pillar formation that seeks to disturb people. To rid them of excuses. To shake them off their sleep. To make them awake and aware of the happenings right in front of them. To make them be so disturbed as to be compelled to act, with a fire that seeks to compel others to be disturbed as well. To be so aware and compelled so much to act as to look for different ways to effect change, beyond talking. That is why AtSCA's Social Awareness doesn't stop with awareness and talking. It is a restlessness to act and to effect change even with our humble capacities. To show our support to the farmers of far away through solidarity masses, to fight against abuse through signature campaigns, to arrange prayer rallies and noise barrages in support of truth or in condemnation of injustices.
These are all just words, but I will keep talking, so far as I think it helps me get closer to God, so far as it does not hinder us.
Things are indeed easier said than done. Even more effortless still is apathy.