A matter of opinion

A friend of mine from church sent me a message asking my opinion about the controversy involving Manny Pacquiao and Miriam Quiambao who have been harshly criticized by gay and lesbians as being anti-gay.

My friend expressed how sad she felt that Miriam and Pacman shared their views about homosexuality thereby alienating or hurting the feelings of gays and lesbians who would then be turned off and won’t go to church because of such opinions.

I don’t know if my friend simply wanted to know what I thought or was looking for directions to base her own opinion on. In this day and age of Blogs, Facebook and tweets, it is understandable how people can be confused between doctrine versus opinion. In fact many people spend hours each day studying and memorizing spiritual doctrines as good Catholics, Iglesias and Born-again Christians yet fail or hesitate to live out or incorporate that “knowledge” into their faith or daily life.

In contrast, many of us condemn Muslims for being zealots or fundamentalists every time they call out a death sentence for an “infidel” such as Salman Rushdie who wrote the book “Satanic Verses” thereby offending Islamic beliefs. We shake our heads at people in Korea and Indonesia who choose to reject the lifestyle, music and philosophy of singer Lady Gaga for being offensive and would undermine the cultural values of their nations. Yet we proudly proclaim that we are the “only” Catholic nation in Asia.

If we truly are the catholic nation or even Christian nation we claim to be, then how come we’re not upset or standing up against the likes of Lady Gaga? How come no one, not even religious leaders have called out for a day of prayer and divine intervention concerning our growing dispute with China?  Or are we “closet” Christians who subscribe to the philosophy that “My faith is between me and God”? Have we compartmentalized faith as a personal matter in order to be conveniently politically correct in the outside world?

No I am not trying to put people on a guilt trip, I am merely looking or asking where I may find the fruits of the tree?

Beyond “Opinion”, these controversies come to us as a question, a challenge, and a brutal reminder of who and what we really are. I told my friend that the first thing we all need to do is go back: “to the measure by which we judge others for it is by this measure that we will be judged.”   

Whether our beliefs are based on the Bible, the Koran, or the Philippine Constitution, the question before us is do we live by their provisions and conditions. Do we stand by them and confidently hold to them beyond mere opinion. Or do wimp out when confronted by the winds of public opinion or pressured to be politically correct for sake of friendship, social convenience or business concerns?

My friend surely has her heart in the right place as a person who has compassion for others. But one must never betray or deny your faith in order to convince others to join yours. In fact I told my friend that people will follow you to church when they see how your faith has turned you into a loving, caring person. But in the same breath, we cannot say it’s “OK” or it’s “alright” to live contrary to the faith and doctrines we claim or declare to live by.

When Manny Pacquiao expressed his opinion, he was asked for what he ascribed to or believed in, not what he felt towards gays, lesbians and transgenders. I share the same belief as Miriam and Pacman expressed but that never prevented me from showing respect or extending help to my gay or lesbian friends. As someone once said: “It is the lifestyle I am against, not the person.”

The irony in the matter is how some people have used these situations to promote themselves and to promote misunderstandings. In the Pacman incident, politicians or wanna-be politicians took advantage of the situation to get media attention in the guise of being offended by Pacquiao’s statement.  The fact of the matter is that Pacquiao was answering a question from media regarding President Barrack Obama’s pro- same sex stand and not about the local politician or wanna-be politician.  

But even worse is the fact that those who cry persecution or injustice actually pushed to persecute Pacquiao by calling for a commercial boycott. Was this not out of proportion for simply quoting the bible and answering a question?

Speaking of proportions, it is about time that we the silent majority woke up and stand up for what we believe because the loud and aggressive minorities representing political, religious or lifestyle concerns have started to behave much like playground bullies, a small bunch of people making us feel bad, embarrassing us and now terrorizing us.  Those who demand respect must also show respect.