The bigger picture

Soon after breakfast this morning, I was looking for something to watch on television when I came across this documentary on the Discovery Channel that was apparently about the inventor Charles Goodyear.

Just like many other inventors during those difficult times, Goodyear struggled for years and was frequently short on funds to support his experiments with natural rubber before he came up with an invention that literally changed our lives. Sadly, it was something that couldn't improve his own family's living conditions as they also suffered together with him before he reached did a breakthrough. His wife even urged him to take on a regular job but since Goodyear recognized early on the potentials of his invention, he persevered. He knew that even if couldn't help his own family then--Goodyear himself died before the age of 60 from the effects of working with the chemicals he used--the results of his research would eventually lead to many applications of rubber that would in the future improve the lives of millions. And he knew he and his family would reap the rewards later on. Indeed, the products that results from his work include tires improved transportation (can't imagine what it would be like riding in a vehicle with wooden or metal wheels) and more importantly rubber medical gloves that saved lives by preventing the spread of bacteria. He was also finally awarded a pantent for vulcanization (although after a hard fought court trial). Goodyear saw the bigger picture.

I believe we have much to learn from people like Goodyear. I've heard and seen too many people here in this country work for selfish reasons and with little foresight, people who do something to get instant gratification and disregard the long-term consequences of their actions. These range from those who are most visible in politics and show business down to even the less fortunate. I suppose I need not mention names; anyway they are too numerous. But at least consider for instance, years ago when I heard the shocking news that someone was mining the famous Chocolate Hills for limestone and land filling. Imagine that! One of the natural wonders of our country being destroyed all for monetary gain. Don't these people ever think of how that would affect the tourism industry--not to mention the people in Bohol who benefit from the tourists who come visiting--if these unusual land formations disappeared completely? And suppose those weren't the famous Chocolate Hills but some other resource that can never be replenished or at best will take years to replenish. Like trees. Don't they ever think of what would happen if they cut or burn down all the trees growing on the hills and mountains? Even if they're not aware that the lack of trees will increase soil erosion, don't they ever think that by cutting/burning all the trees there will be nothing left for the next generation? You know, I don't think they ever stop to consider that at all. (I believe that the Filipino generally has no conscience and is KSP; but that's another long story, worth a blog or two.) Look at what happened in Ormoc way back in the 1990s. I thought by then that that disaster would open people's eyes to the potential dangers of illegal and indiscriminate logging. But nope, the same thing happened again just more than a year ago in Guinsaugon. I could go on and on about unlearned lessons and deliberate ignorance but the mere thought of wasted lives and resources just makes me boil with frustration.

It's no wonder the country has been going nowhere for the past few decades. Despite vows to be more disciplined and calls from all sectors to eliminate graft and corruption, I think our poor country will continue to go nowhere. Our people maybe hardworking, but they tend to work hard for the wrong reasons. And if the country ever does go somewhere, with people who remain stubbornly narrow-minded, the likely direction will inevitably be downwards. All because we refuse to see and acknowledge the bigger picture.