Fun and discernment

I BELIEVE Dinky Soliman is a gutsy, nice lady we should have plenty of.

This very native-looking official of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration, who strikes me as strong-willed and serious but with some uncanny sense of humor -- for how else can you explain that strange blue streak in her hair -- deserves kudos for saying that dancing the "Ispageti" and "Ocho-ocho" may not be healthy.

At the helm of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and recently promoting a program to respect children's innate dignity, she might be expected to say something of that sort. But I pray that all public officials never fail to have a running concern about these matters.

That something is rotten at the core though not yet manifest, but is extremely popular, should not scare public officials. They should not be cowed to silence. All the more should they sound the timely warning.

I myself feel a little guilty for having all but abandoned clarifying the problem with these tunes and dances that are now a craze especially among the kids. But we should never -- repeat, never -- take these things for granted.

Moral corruption starts small. It grows if we allow it. It usually begins with a cover of innocence using the legitimate human needs for fun, and artistic freedom and creativity to sow its bad seed.

And the devil can easily wear the face of a comedian, an actor or actress, or any artist for that matter, whose idea of fun and creativity, sad to say, is indifferent if not hostile to moral law and even to common sense and decency.

He can easily take advantage of the different vulnerabilities of people, and of the social system, to ply his devious trade. That's why we should be extra-discerning these days, because our times are truly wicked.

The devil, an ancient liar, can be quite clever. We have to stand by our faith and our hope that evil cannot prevail over good as long as we, men, with God's grace, do our part.

With this kind of corruption, we don't need the Abu Sayyaf and the other forms of terrorism to destroy us, as persons and as a society. We have to be awake. More, we have to be on the alert all the time.

Just looking at how the "Ispageti" and "Ocho-ocho" are sung and danced, one can readily see indecency. There's so much skin exposure, suggestive sexual gyrations and other movements. Titillation is made an art. Perversion is made fun.

The least thing we can say about them is that they drip with frivolity, they spurt inanity. They trivialize a sacred thing like human sexuality.

Just looking at the Sex Bomb dance group, you instantly get an idea of what is to be cheap, their cries and moans painfully absurd and inhuman. You likely are moved both to anger and pity.

Those behind them should be ashamed, and do something to atone for it. Of course, in the mentality of many of our artists today, this language is a no-no. Still, I feel it has to be said.

I appeal to the media networks responsible for popularizing these ditties to exercise more discernment and responsibility in their work.

They just cannot be ruled by purely economic considerations in making their decisions and plans. Given how greatly they can influence society, they have to be more sensitive to moral considerations.

The advertisers should also do their part, and not blindly follow again what the market forces seem to tell them what to do. This is an irresponsible way of doing things.

Public officials should always keep an eye on disturbing events and potentially dangerous developments that can crop up anytime. They cannot look the other way just because something rotten appears to be popular.

Of course, the general public, and especially the families, should promptly react every time the slightest manifestation of frivolity comes to our attention. We have to have fun, yes, but we have to make sure it is good, safe and healthy.

It has to be a fun that is in keeping with our innate dignity as human persons who have to be treated with respect to truth and freedom, let alone our dignity as children of God who learn to knowingly and lovingly follow God's commandments.