Bitter zeal

PRESS Freedom Week was celebrated in Cebu a few weeks ago. I closely followed its activities in the papers. I was truly happy to know my colleagues were taking initiatives to infuse more ethics into it.

Reading through some of the views expressed in the forum, I could identify certain attitudes and outlooks with imprecise if not questionable moral standing. Thus, I could I understand why we have problems in the media.

Sad to say, I feel it is not yet the time to point these things out quite openly. The general mindset is not yet ready, is not yet receptive.

I feel we need time and some dramatic experiences as a people before we can open our eyes to certain realities we have been ignoring. I am praying that these lessons be not as traumatic to us as they can possibly be.

Cardinal Vidal sent in the message that we in the press should always stand for the truth. No one can question that, except that many may be wondering, like Pilate before Christ, what the truth is.

For sure, we all have our valid points of view and our reasons to say something. In the end, what the truth is that we all are with God, we uphold his doctrine and live his life always, which is what charity is all about.

But, alas, how many can relate this objective to his daily concerns and to the issues that draw his attention? Many would say, does not that sound too religious or too detached from our earthly concerns? That's the problem.

I believe it takes grace and some training for us to be able to uphold the truth amid the competing issues and conflicting opinions we have to confront. I just hope each one of us has found a way to arrive at this ideal situation.

This is no easy thing. Thus, I'd like to comment about a certain phenomenon, a sadly common malady that can afflict media practitioners, many times without even realizing it.

This is the phenomenon termed by spiritual writers as the bitter zeal, graphically illustrated in the following episode of the Gospel.

"Jesus resolved to proceed toward Jerusalem, and sent messengers on ahead of him. These entered a Samaritan town to prepare for his passing through, but the Samaritans would not welcome him because he was on his way to Jerusalem.

"When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, 'Lord, would you not have us call down fire from heaven to destroy them?' He turned toward them only to reprimand them." (Lk 9, 52-56)

Bitter zeal happens when one may pursue a valid point without taking care of the appropriate means. He may be working for the truth and for justice, but sadly without giving due attention to the requirements of charity and mercy.

It's usually instigated by anger and passion that blinds a person and robs him of objectivity. He can get entangled with one point without seeing the whole picture. He gets too attached to his views without considering those of others.

There's more self-righteousness in bitter zeal than rectitude of intention. Magnanimity is hardly known, and the worst scenario is when he wins the argument. Such victory destroys him more than builds him and others up.

Bitter zeal disables one to make the crucial distinction between the issues and the persons or parties involved. Though he may be right, or more right, he becomes repulsive because he turns into a bully, a monster.

His understanding of his profession sometimes gives him the right to debunk basic moral principles.

Bitter zeal makes a person hasty and reckless in his assessment of things. It makes him fail to consider all angles, to listen to both sides, so to speak. He is prone to imprudence.

Inflammatory, incendiary words are his main weapons. Being belligerent is his style. He relishes in rousing controversies and sowing intrigues. He's actually not interested in looking for the truth.

Refinement, delicacy and modesty in his words and behavior are not in his vocabulary. He mistakes roughness and bullheadedness with being forceful. The power he may have gives him more danger than occasion to help others.

A person with bitter zeal writes or speaks with himself and not in the presence of God. He ends up writing and speaking to himself, and not to others. Worse is when he thinks the controversy he raises gives him the idea he is effectively communicating.

We have to be careful about this disease called bitter zeal.