by Desmond Elliott

The Philippines offers new and dynamic opportunities….meeting new people and sharing knowledge in an English speaking country. What can I offer these people? I care deeply about the plight of others. It concerns me, when I hear of people waking in the morning hungry, tired and most depressing – unloved, many living in fear. Man lives by two emotions: Love and Fear. As we open our eyes each new day we seek love and safety. If love foreshadows fear we progress in a positive way. It is not important how positive or happy we are – as long as we start the day with love in our hearts.

Your immediate thoughts are, these are the words of a religious nut. Far from it; in fact quite the opposite is true. As a student of philosophy, I seek truth and the meaning of life. Love powers the soul.

I had a great mentor, my grandfather, Les Elliott. At a young age he shared his wisdom and knowledge with me. Son he said, “Always ask why – then listen”. Never be afraid to ask questions and never accept the first answer as the truth. As we ask and listen, we formulate ideas and thoughts not on the the information we receive but the way it is delivered. It is important to evaluate whether we believe what is being said. Is the story credible, are there elements of truth. Are the facts qualified, has the speaker qualified the facts with experiments or experience. Is this a credible person making these claims or just delivering here say.  Can the facts be substantiated. This helped forge my life and career. I learned to listen carefully, ask questions and research the facts. I do not believe everything I hear. If something sounds incredible it probably is, always research the facts and seek proof, seek a second opinion. Before the Internet I asked the questions of one, two or three people to test the facts for truth. The Internet is a powerful aspect in my life. I evaluate opinions and ideas very quickly, an important part of the process, when fixing new ideas and information in our minds. How often have you made a statement in public only to have it rigorously refuted by others – embarrassing to say the least.

The second important lesson I learned was debating, there is no better tool for gaining wisdom and the truth than good debate.

In debating, we make three valuable assessments:

1. Is this entertainment
2. Is this information
3. Is this doctrine.

In church we associate the Bible with doctrine. The message is subjective. The human mind is predisposed to believe. We are mentally and genetically wired to believe in “something”. Religion works in positive ways and promotes love and understanding. Caring and sharing with family, the community, the state and our fellow man. Unfortunately, many religions manipulate the original words in the Bible to suit sectarian beliefs or doctrine; control using fear, followers believing everything without question. When teaching is used in this manner the outcomes can be counter productive. This can lead to fanaticism with dangerous side effects; suicide bombings, ritual killings and other anti-social behaviour.  If nothing else, we should encourage our children to question, seek the truth and the facts, enjoying fiction but not follow blindly, believing everything they hear or see.

We should seek speakers from all walks of life who can share wisdom and truth, fact and opinion. They teach us to evaluate for ourselves. What is truth and what is fiction. Academics, community leaders, successful businessmen and women rarely find time to address their communities due to busy lives. We should engage them to share their wisdom and experience with us. We can learn from these people sharing their success whilst striving for a balanced view of life.  These people are inspirational and help us make judgement and informed decisions. Like an arm or leg, our mind quickly withers, becomes lazy and deteriorates if we fail to exercise regularly. As we share our ideas with others, the rhetoric helps us evaluate what we hear.

Education is the ultimate communication tool, transferring information from the old to the young.  Unfortunately, education is financed, influenced and controlled by the state. From the beginning of civilisation, story tellers passed on knowledge and values, the rules, the important information necessary to guide a new generation. This evolved into organised education. As populations grew, mankind needed more story tellers – these are now known as teachers. A brilliant system working beyond expectation. However, the system itself is flawed. Organised education, like organised religion is subject to bias, ideology and doctrine. The state, the church or both control what our children learn.

In many countries it is difficult, if not impossible to educate children outside the state system. We are told, it is not in the best interest of the state or the individual to provide children an alternative style of education – for individuals, lateral thinkers. Australia is one of the few country providing freedom of education, however even in Australia the guidelines are very strict to ensure the child is taught within certain “standards” including a set curriculum. There are mathematicians, scientists, artists and creative thinkers who have flourished as products of private and alternative teaching methods. State run education produces office workers, factory workers and the trades. It fails dismally where there is higher learning required – academics, individuals and lateral thinkers.

There is little or no capacity to provide a higher order of new thinking under the state system. He who controls the curriculum controls the generations who will lead us in the future. Learning by wrote, ensures linear thinking, not lateral, children are denied the opportunity to question, to think outside the square. Of course, this is intentional social engineering – controlling and indoctrinating the populous. State education dumbs down the people to a level where they are easily controlled by the state.

I see the Philippines as dynamic, proud and an open society..an obvious choice for a “sea change”.

Please note: The views and opinions expressed above are those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher; www.theissue.com.au