EDITORIAL - A matter of choice

Do you know why the STC controversy does not die down easily? It is because it is a microcosm of many of the choices we make everyday, choices we take for granted on the mistaken notion that they are so common and matter-of-fact they do not make a difference. But they do.

Listen, most Filipinos love “buwad.” The strong smell from “buwad” being fried or grilled will most likely whet up the appetite of Filipinos. But not everybody is a Filipino. To most other people, the smell of “buwad” being prepared is downright offensive.

Cooking “buwad” in the Philippines is perfectly okay. But Filipinos in, say Germany, will have to be very careful because the Germans may not take too kindly the smell of “buwad” wafting through their neighborhoods.

But “buwad” is not the issue here. Choice is. Nobody is trying to deprive the Filipino of his “buwad” provided he chooses to keep it home in the Philippines. But if he chooses to go to some other country like Germany, then he must be prepared to give up the smelly delicacy.

The STC controversy is no different. To many people, girls in bikinis are a sight to see and don’t care if they drink and smoke in bars. But STC does and has rules against these things. You, like the former, don’t go to STC. If you like STC, abide by its rules. The choice is yours.

Just as it is wrong for Filipinos to insist on cooking “buwad” in Germany without regard for the sensibilities of Germans who find the smell offensive, so it is also wrong for those who approve of risque behavior and still insist on being part of an STC that has rules against it.

Germany does not force other people to come and visit. STC does not force students to enroll. It is all a matter of choice. Having made them, however, Visitors to Germany and students at STC are expected to abide by the conditions that govern their welcome.

Whether “buwad” smells or rules are strict is not relevant. What is relevant is that conditions freely accepted are binding. Just as Germany has rules that govern the conduct of its visitors, so does STC have rules that govern the conduct of its students.

If you don’t like the laws of Germany, don’t go there. Same with STC. Don’t enroll if you hate its rules. It’s as simple as that. It’s not about “buwad” and its smell or bikinis or drinks and cigarettes. It’s about the choices we face and taking responsibility once you make them.