Sunday, September 24, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Special Pages
    • Pets
    • Tech
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • On the Road
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Cravings
    • Environment & Sustainability
    • Agriculture
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Special Pages
    • Pets
    • Tech
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • On the Road
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Cravings
    • Environment & Sustainability
    • Agriculture
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Columns

Unity is a problematic word

Adelle ChuabyAdelle Chua
April 8, 2022, 12:10 am
in Columns, Long Story Short by Adelle Chua, Opinion
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

“What are your non-negotiables?”

Unity is generally perceived in a positive light. It evokes people having a common aspiration and working together toward that goal. It brings to mind the absence of differences. Everybody is in harmony. There are no conflicts. With everyone working together, how can success be far behind?

Unfortunately, this notion of unity could be problematic — first because it is not true, and second because it is not sustainable.

That everyone would feel and think the same way is impossible. Each individual has a set of values unique only to him or her. These values are shaped by one’s education, upbringing, exposure, experiences, and preferences.

Now, some people may share some qualities and values in general. This explains the phrase “birds of a feather.” It is natural that people with the same interests and principles become friends or partners. But even best friends, the most intimate of partners, or the closest of families do not agree on everything all the time.

Disagreements are, in fact, healthy, so long as they are acknowledged and managed constructively. It gives people room to learn new things, to argue for their own preference, and to be humble enough to accept that some points of view are better or more valid than their own. They make us accountable to each other. Differences also make for variety. It is always interesting to know what the next person thinks or believes, and, more importantly, why that person thinks or believes it.

There are always different sectors or interests in a society. For example, if one is a businessman, the things that are important to him or her are definitely not the same as the things that ordinary workers hold dear. Scientists have their own discipline, as do artists. Those arguing for development may not be in agreement with those who want to protect and preserve the environment at all costs. Some people are for the legalization of same-sex marriages; some, only civil partnerships. Some want to push divorce while some believe the laws currently in place are already enough. Some believe it is morally reprehensible to terminate a life whatever the reason; some believe that such acts could sometimes be justified.

We thrive in diversity. We agree to disagree. This is the hallmark of democracy — assent and dissent. Whoever has the best argument — not whoever has the loudest voice — should prevail. Then again, the debates should never end in our constant search for what is good for our country and our people.

We do not expect people to constantly think the same way or dance to the same tune as we do. Thus, in living with this knowledge, we must also be aware of the things that are negotiable for us, and more importantly, those that are non-negotiable.

For example, we could imagine ourselves working with or being friends with people who may have views different from our own. They may have different preferences in entertainment, or in the way they dress, or even in the way they maintain their relationships. Our views on success may not be the same. We would still be friends even though we may rib or call each other out every once in a while.

And the non-negotiables? Dishonesty, violence, sloth, arrogance. These are just examples of things we will not put up with. In these cases, it would be extremely difficult for us to teach the younger generation that taking things that are not yours is wrong, for instance, or disrespecting others is a no-no, if we simply “move on” from the past and embrace that nebulous word, “unity.”

For the sake of our country, we try to work through our differences with others, acknowledging that no two people, much less groups, are ever really alike. We will only do so, however, if we operate in the same sphere of “negotiables.” Once the non-negotiable issues enter the picture — and here it is crucial for each person to determine what these are — then unity becomes meaningless. A sham.

Times have been so bad lately that we are desperate for anything that gives us warm, fuzzy feelings. The word “unity” is easy to mouth and comprehend. If we go by face value, it can make us feel good. But let us not let our desperation get the better of us. We should see through empty words and reject insinuations that some acts — past and continuing — can simply be forgotten, glossed over, and forgiven just for unity’s sake.

[email protected]

Tags: Adelle Chua
ADVERTISEMENT
Adelle Chua

Adelle Chua

Related Posts

Addressing agri sabotage

byManila Standard
September 23, 2023, 12:15 am
0
8
Addressing agri sabotage

The ball is now in the halls of the Senate. This, after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. certified as urgent the...

Read more

The Rosary as a Family Prayer?

byHonor Blanco Cabie
September 23, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
Humoring the aging brain

There are those who claim that Mary giving the rosary to St. Dominic is a pious legend without historical basis...

Read more

Decline in value of US currency

byRod Kapunan
September 23, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
Denying Villafuerte justice

The mere change in currency valuation is more than enough for the US to earn The trickiest strategy adopted by...

Read more

Fragile ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh after ‘constructive’ peace talks

byAFP
September 23, 2023, 12:00 am
0
8
Nullity of marriage: a defense in bigamy cases

Demonstrators blamed Russia, the ally whose help did not arrive, and the EU, which has relied on Azerbaijan for gas...

Read more

Beijing’s creeping invasion of WPS

byManila Standard
September 22, 2023, 12:15 am
0
8
Beijing’s creeping invasion of WPS

Did you know that at anytime, there are between 300 and 400 vessels in the South China Sea, including in...

Read more

CamSur mayor charged with illegal quarrying

byErnesto M. Hilario
September 22, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
Denying Villafuerte justice

The complainants are seeking the immediate suspension without pay of Mabulo and the five barangay chairmen Up for deliberation by...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Climate inaction slows down fight against poverty, global hunger
  • Summit cites role of forests to achieve sustainable goals
  • Transition to renewable energy must accelerate
  • Biodiversity thriving with clean rivers
  • Habitat preservation propagates more medicinal trees, plants
  • Familiar luxury and comfort in the heart of the metro
  • Elevating the Filipino hotel industry on global stage
  • New era of travel innovation

Advertisement

Latest News

Familiar luxury and comfort in the heart of the metro

byNickie Wang
September 24, 2023, 7:30 pm
0
8
New era of travel innovation

Nestled along the picturesque banks of the Pasig River, Novotel Suites Manila is the latest gem in Metro Manila’s hospitality...

Read more

Elevating the Filipino hotel industry on global stage

byBob Zozobrado
September 24, 2023, 7:20 pm
0
8
New era of travel innovation

The Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) Philippines is the country’s premier organization of hotel sales and marketing leaders. It...

Read more

New era of travel innovation

byManila Standard
September 24, 2023, 7:10 pm
0
8
New era of travel innovation

Airasia Digital announces its transformation into MOVE Digital (MOVE), a rebranding that marks a new chapter in its next phase...

Read more

Finding the right love at the wrong time

byAngelica Villanueva
September 24, 2023, 7:00 pm
0
8
Finding the right love at the wrong time

Bea Alonzo  and  Dennis Trillo  come together in an extraordinary story about lost love and missed chances in  Love Before...

Read more

The Eddys taps Piolo Pascual to host 2023 awards show

byManila Standard Showbiz
September 24, 2023, 6:50 pm
0
8
Crafting timeless melodies

The Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd) has selected seasoned actor and film producer Piolo Pascual as the host for...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
    • Young Life
  • Pets
  • Tech
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Cravings
  • Environment & Sustainability
  • Agriculture
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App