The Choice Before The Country Is Between Good & Evil
By Fr Chryso Pieris –July 7, 2015
Fr Chryso Pieris SJ
Strange happenings are taking place in our country in the socio-political field at the national level. Behind the struggle between political parties for power and influence and behind the choice between the economic theories of socialism and capitalism we can clearly see another struggle taking place. It is the eternal struggle between Good and Evil, Virtue and Vice, Decency and Grossness, Beauty and Ugliness. The contention between good and evil takes place in the hearts of men and women. It could be often seen among individuals in court cases. But today it has come on to the national stage where all the citizens of the country will be challenged to choose between good and evil and be arrayed on opposite sides not according to political party affiliations, nor according to differing economic theories but according to good and honest governance against evil and venal governance.
I met a man, not very young, in his late thirties, educated, professional and working in a bank. We had a frank chat. He is discouraged with the situation in the country. He remembered the great difficulties his family underwent when both his parents were out of work due to the tragic general strike of 1980. He prefers to emigrate to Australia or Canada, where he says he may be a third class citizen but he is assured of law and order, justice and fair play. I was speechless; I had nothing to offer him to keep him in the country. Apart from the fact that losing men like him is a terrible loss to the country, the brain drain, what is more tragic is that the younger generation is losing all motivation to be loyal to the country, the nation where they were born. I should not generalize from just one example, though given a chance, I know, many will fall over one another to immigrate to a better country. They have lost faith in their country.
The above is only one symptom of a sickness in the country. And the sickness is that Evil is triumphing over Good, Vice over Virtue and Grossness over Decency. All are equal before the law only in theory. It is enough to read the “Unfinished Struggle” of Victor Ivan to realize the utter degradation our judiciary has descended to. Most of the Police were boot licking lackeys of the powerful. The financial and administrative regulations were thrown overboard and forgotten. Too many civil servants became partners of racketeers, commission grabbers and various illegal traffickers. There was no place for merit and fair play. Graft, nepotism and greed reigned supreme. Who wants to live in a country like this especially decent, good young people?Read More