Saturday, August 23, 2008

Tuesdays with Morrie

I finally got a chance to read this book today because I forgot to bring a book to the hospital. Since I hate waiting in line without something to read, I had the perfect excuse to buy a book. I also thought it was the kind of book I needed because I sometimes felt empty and without a sense of purpose even if I normally accomplish a lot every day.

I finished the book in one sitting. It did not live up to the hype - probably because I have read other inspirational and self-help books - but it was a heartwarming read all the same. What struck me most was his advice to Mitch that you only learn how to live when you know how to die. That is something I need to remind myself whenever I feel in a rut. Everyday, I need to ask that little bird whether today is the day. Life is too precious to be squandered on worrying.

Surprisingly, I find that I am already applying many of Morrie's aphorisms. I know how to detach myself from what I feel and I am not too attached to material things (no ipod, no car, cable tv!). And while I would prefer living a long life, I am not afraid to die at 23 because I have loved and let myself be loved.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

A huis clos

L'enfer, c'est les Autres, selon ce piece de theatre de Jean Paul Sartre. Je suis absolument d'accord car je me sens frequemment accable par les gens qui m'entourent tous les jours, memes ceux que j'aime. Parfois, je voudrais etre seul, et n'entendent plus les soupirs et plaintes de ma femme et mon fils. C'est bien comme j'etais piege dans un salon a huis clos.

Pourtant, la philosophie de Sartre nous dit aussi qu'on est ce qu'on veut. Cela veut dire qu'on est libre. Il n'y a pas de droit naturel ou divin qui regle notre vie. On cree notre propre vie. C'est une belle pensee, mais absolument effrayante. Cela veut dire qu'on n'est jamais piege car on est libre a choisir, mais aussi que c'est nous qui determinons la valeur et le sens de notre vie. Cele me fait content normalement parce que j'aime bien reflechir a mes projets et mes reves. Mais quelquefois, je suis deprime parce que je doute la valeur de mes projets et mon existence meme, et il n'y a personne qui peux m'aider car c'est que moi qui donne de sens a ma vie.

Monday, August 4, 2008

The Soldier and the State

The professional soldier is the best soldier, especially in a democracy that seeks a balance between the military and civilian authorities. The discipline and obedience of a professional soldier will compel him to defer to statesmen in matters of national security policy. Conversely, statesmen should respect the choice of strategy and tactics soldiers make in pursuit of that policy. To allow soldiers to dictate policy, or politicians to determine tactics, is an act of arrogance, showing utter disrespect to the expertise of one's counterparts, and subjecting national security to personal whim.

Huntington's concern is that the American concept of the citizen soldier has undermined the emergence of the professional soldier. In the Philippines, the problem is with the self-proclaimed statesman soldier as exemplified by Trillanes. Perhaps driven to despair by legitimate grievances, his delusions have led him to try to seize state power to save the nation. But neither having the military genius nor the showmanship of Caesar, he has ended a miserable failure, languishing in jail, and setting back the development of Philippine institutions.

Qualitative Research Methods

I remain in awe of the quantitative methods simply because, as a science high school student fed up with math and science subjects, I decided to tune out when we were discussing linear algebra and number theory. Thus, my awe is largely due an utter lack of comprehension. Nevertheless, I am one of those who do not need to be convinced of the virtues of the qualitative methods. If social science is a quest for understanding, rather than abstract, immutable laws, then these methods are, in fact, superior in many cases as I saw in Darin Weinberg's collection of articles.

I have seen, and attempted to read without much success, difficult quantitative research that let us know more and more about less and less. And I have read articles in the collection that attack subjects not particularly suited for quantitative methods. An article on refusing invited applause as a rhetorical technique was interesting for a debater like me, but also demonstrated the value of interpretation. There are techniques to break down a speech into component parts by the second, but, ultimately, to say that applause was invited and then refused, is a qualitative judgment.

The World IS Flat

I don't understand why some of my UP classmates express so much disdain at the works of Tom Friedman when all he does is describe globalization.

I challenge any of them to argue that it is untrue that hundreds of thousands of Indians and Filipinos are now plugged into the global economy, perhaps beginning as call center agents, but progressing as managers in a global supply chain, earning a lot more and contributing value to their economies. Many of them, who otherwise would be unemployed, are now hopeful of joining the prosperous global middle class.

Too often, academics criticize students who enter the BPO industry for "wasting" their talents. I do not see that rallying in the streets and calling for a revolution is a better use of talent. Neither do I see becoming an instructor before gaining the experience and maturity that the world outside the ivory tower normally confers as a better use of talent. However, I see working hard, working one's way up, and growing the business, so more people can be hired, as a better use of talent.

The world is flat; those who do not see it should get of their ivory towers and see for themselves.

States and Social Revolutions

Social revolutions happen when states break down because of an external threat while peasant revolutions erupt. This is why Theda Skocpol called her book States and Social Revolutions, instead of merely Social Revolutions. The emphasis on the state means revolutions are seen as attempts to wrest state control to drive social transformation.

Social revolutions, however, have not happened yet in the Philippines. Peasant revolts have occurred, but no wholesale transformation of society has ever transpired. Land reform is a failure, and the landed elite, although no longer a monopoly, remains entrenched in power. I also doubt whether social revolution is still possible in the age of globalization. More likely, competition from abroad have simply destroyed the capacity of peasant movements to organize and resist.

I particularly liked Skocpol's work since I love history. She has combined the theoretical rigor of social science with the narrative richness of history in a way that is intellectually satisfying.