Truth Matters

A month ago I was in San Andres island where a youth conference was held under Colombian government’s program: prevention of teenage pregnancy. The conference started with a “cultural show”. A group of 20 teenage girls wearing glittering tight short pants and tank tops with belly buttons exposed, started dancing to Regueton. Regueton is a very popular music in Latin America with its violent, pornographic motions and lyrics. I was extremely uncomfortable and felt like leaving the place. I couldn’t believe that it was presented with the name of culture. That night I asked one of facilitators of the event how come such sensual dance could be allowed to present in front of the first lady and over 200 young participants. She said “I know. I think it is a bit too much, but it is the culture of this island. All cultures deserve some respect, no?” I became speechless.

In today’s society we are educated to be politically correct. We are taught to respect and treat all cultures on equal basis. But is that true? Lawrence Harrison said “Culture is a set of values and attitudes that guide the actions of individuals and the interaction of people within a society.” we should never swallow anything and everything uncritically.

Working in the development field for over 12 years, I am increasingly confident that what determines the state of development of a country is its culture. There is a culture we should wholeheartedly embrace but certainly there is a culture we must reject.

Colombia is by far the most exciting country I’ve ever been in. I was curious how a country blessed with vast territory, rich and fertile soil and brilliant people can be struggling against chronic poverty and insecurity. There are many factors combined but it is said that it has much to do with people’s acceptance to what’s happening around.

Among problems Colombia is facing, there are FARC & ELN guerrillas, paramilitaries, world 2^nd largest displaced population, narco trafficking, family disintegration, prostitution, drug addiction, kidnapping, bombing and schools to train paid murderers. What I found striking, in particular, is that there are parents who sell their daughters for prostitution in excuse of poverty. Also I heard about a mother who said to her son smoking marihuana that it is better that you do it at home not outside. It is widely accepted for married men to have extramarital relationships, thus the father’s day called El Día de Perro. I was told about a sicario, paid murderer, going to church to pray for the success prior to the job. As long as it promises quick and easy money, people do not mind, regardless it is morally, ethically sound or not. This constant lowering bar on ethical issues, I am sure, must have a lot to do with the current situation of Colombia.

Korea has gone through a different history.  Although Korean war left Korea one of the poorest countries in the world, we rose strong mostly because we had a great visionary leader who was committed to the long term development of country, and had strong support from good role models like US and Japan.

As the country gets affluent, however, South Korean started indulging in pleasures gradually throwing away long held moral values. We started considering our brothers and sisters in the North as nuisance and covered our eyes and ears about the famine and horror going on there. Even a group of sympathizers of North Korean regime rose in power in disguise of sunshine policy. We had two presidents who enthusiastically, secretly collaborated with evil Kim Jong Il. People didn’t mind it and even admired them because it was fashionable to be leftists. As long as the economy was fine, everything was OK. At some point North Korea was no longer our enemy.

Then, a month ago a South Korean ship sank attacked by the N.Korea and people were suddenly reminded that we were in truce, technically at war. All of sudden people are paying attention to what 20,000 North Korean defectors have been telling about what’s going on across the border and finally casting suspicious eyes to the inner enemies in the South.

Truth matters, not culture. Nothing is relative. There is clear division between what’s right and what’s wrong. If we deny the existence of evil, stop calling it evil and think everything is relative and conditional, evil will flourish. If we fail to stand against evil and stay indifferent and compromised, sooner or later we will be the victims. This is why we should be awake and constantly guard against what’s going on around us. We just cannot remain uninfluenced.

Poland has great legacy of serving the truth over the history producing a number of prominent figures, among whom John Paul II. I personally felt purified living in Poland and sincerely hope Poland will keep on moving its moral and spiritual bar higher and continue to inspire the world, which is getting increasingly lost in the politically correct relativism.    .