I remember my religion teacher from high school (may her soul rest in peace). She stated that rules (and laws) are placed to guide us. She equated living life without rules to being lost in the forest. You can always try to find your way out of the forest. You may actually succeed in this endeavor, but chances are you won't. Now rules are like the sign boards within that forest. You can certainly ignore the signs and continue your endeavor, but again chances are slim to none. Following the signboards can actually lead you to safety. In short, rules are made to guide us and not hinder us.
From another point of view (this time it was my English teacher), rules are placed to protect us and those we value. Incest is forbidden because it brings about a bad gene pool. Stealing is forbidden to protect our property. I'm sure I can go on with a lot more, but you get the picture.
Now onto my main point. In the recent fight of Manny Pacquiao. Martin Nievera sang the national anthem in a different tone, (I'm not a big fan of Martin, but I will admit that he is good) and for this he was charged in violation of 1998 Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines. The code states that "The rendition of the National Anthem, whether played or sung, shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe."[1]
While I applaud government officials for quickly responding to violations to our laws, I question validity of the charge. I'm not a law expert, but I can quickly say that the code was made to protect our national anthem. From what you might ask? From people who wish to defame the Philippines by making the anthem sound bad. I could not imagine Martin as a person of this description. In my honest opinion, his rendition was actually good[2]. What then is the validity of the charge, aside from blindly following the law? Is the law protecting our national anthems from artists like Martin who only seek to make it sound better (or more in tune with the times)?
I now ask you my dear readers, are we a nation of people blind followers, who will allow our laws to hinder us instead of guiding us? Or are we a nation of thinkers, who will understand the rules and their assumptions, so that they can correctly protect those that need protecting? (Feel free to leave your comments)
From another point of view (this time it was my English teacher), rules are placed to protect us and those we value. Incest is forbidden because it brings about a bad gene pool. Stealing is forbidden to protect our property. I'm sure I can go on with a lot more, but you get the picture.
Now onto my main point. In the recent fight of Manny Pacquiao. Martin Nievera sang the national anthem in a different tone, (I'm not a big fan of Martin, but I will admit that he is good) and for this he was charged in violation of 1998 Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines. The code states that "The rendition of the National Anthem, whether played or sung, shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe."[1]
While I applaud government officials for quickly responding to violations to our laws, I question validity of the charge. I'm not a law expert, but I can quickly say that the code was made to protect our national anthem. From what you might ask? From people who wish to defame the Philippines by making the anthem sound bad. I could not imagine Martin as a person of this description. In my honest opinion, his rendition was actually good[2]. What then is the validity of the charge, aside from blindly following the law? Is the law protecting our national anthems from artists like Martin who only seek to make it sound better (or more in tune with the times)?
I now ask you my dear readers, are we a nation of people blind followers, who will allow our laws to hinder us instead of guiding us? Or are we a nation of thinkers, who will understand the rules and their assumptions, so that they can correctly protect those that need protecting? (Feel free to leave your comments)
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