When I learned that we were supposed to blog about culture for this week, I was taken aback for a moment. We use the word “culture” most of the time these days that we don’t know what it truly means anymore. What is CULTURE?
So then I consulted every student’s cure for curiosity: Wikipedia. The word “culture” teems with definitions but is most commonly used in three basic senses. It can refer to the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior. It may be associated with the fine arts and humanities. Finally, it can be the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group.
The third definition reminded me of Buddy Resurreccion’s depressing column in the May 2010 Inquirer Golf entitled “Poor Losers”. Reliable sources have told him about a disturbing thing that happened at this year’s Philippine Amateur at Del Monte. A group of losers (literally and figuratively) went out on the course and followed the Ladies Championship flight. The final match was between Cebu’s Irina Gabasa and Thai Yupaporn Kawinpakorn who flew in just to compete in the tournament. What brought about this column was that the group of girls from the national pool who represent the country in international competitions started cheering Irina’s mistakes and rooting for the Thai. There has to be some kind of disconnect here. Why are you cheering against you countryman? Why are you applauding her mistakes? This, right here, brings up a different kind of culture—the Crab Mentality culture—which Filipinos are very fond of.
Imagine a pot of live crabs being cooked in boiling water. Fighting for survival, all of them would surely try to escape. One crab could no doubt climb its way out of the pot; however, this is not easy because the other crabs beneath him would not let him escape. They will pull him down, thinking “If I can’t escape here, neither should you.” A few minutes later, all of them will be dead. Such is the curse of Crab Mentality.
Irina’s case is a prime example. Millions of pesos have been sunk into this national training pool but they only turn out as “brats who seem to think the world owes them trophies and championships and fame and fortune”. Is it possible that these girls are so desperately in need for a victory that they are willing to throw patriotism and decency out of the window?
Truly, money will never buy class. Neither will it ever buy character.
LOUISSE CATHERINE G. BORJA
ENGLCOM C31
Source:
Resurreccion, B. (2010 May). Poor Losers. Inquirer Golf, 4
No comments:
Post a Comment