Oppositors to the construction of several planned flyovers in Cebu City have resorted to putting up posters that say: “We love Cebu.” Be that as it may, it does not fairly and accurately follow that those in favor of flyovers love Cebu any less.
It has to be understood by everyone that love for Cebu is not in any way measured on the basis of one’s position in relation to the controversial construction plan. Anyone who insists otherwise is simply mouthing motherhood statements and should be unmasked as deceitful.
The right way to approach this controversy is to assume that everyone, whether oppositor or proponent, loves Cebu and that the reason why everyone is caught up in this raging debate is because of the love.
There is, however, a whale of a difference between those who love Cebu but merely talk about it, and those who love Cebu and try to do what they can to help solve its problems in order to make life a little better for all Cebuanos.
In other words, talk can be as cheap as they come as far as love is concerned. The world, after all, is full of glib lotharios as it is, regardless of whether that love is directed at a person or some concept of place or belonging like Cebu.
Arguments, no matter how forceful and convincing, mean nothing if, at the end of the day, the problem is left to fester on because nobody is bold enough to actually do something beyond just talking.
We can argue until kingdom come about who loves Cebu better, but unless somebody does something about the root of all the arguing, we may wake up one overwhelmed and unable to do anything even if, at last, we all agree to do something.
Flyovers may not be best for our woes but they buy time for our bright boys to find more appropriate and lasting solutions, which is better than just talking. In “As Good As It Gets” the Jack Nicholson character was in a similar fix: “I’m drowning and you are describing the water!”