The Rotary Balita no. 748 (June 24, 1954)

Speech delivered at the District Assembly in Dumaguete, April 24, 1954

I would like to discuss with you a situation that could be confusing and which could be a Road Block in our efforts to carry out the fourth avenue of service in the Object of Rotary The advancement of international understanding and good will in the interest of world peace.

As we all know, the idea of internationalism was born out of men's desire to find a formula for the attainment of lasting peace among all nations of the world. Analysis of the causes of wars reveal that disputes among individuals are due principally to fear and suspicion, mistrust and misunderstanding. Therefore, if people could only be brought together so that they would be able to know and understand each other better, they could like each other more. They will find out that ultimately, every man is just like any other human being no matter what his looks are, no matter what his color is, and that differences in customs, ways of living, dressing, language and beliefs are only matters of accidental variations caused by geograph ical barriers. Opportunities for being together with the positive attitude and intention of learning more about each other will make all men from whatever elime and culture realize that men all over the face of the earth have a common denominator expressed in man's infinite capacity for good will and friendship. The United Nations fundamental principle of respect for human dignity have been born only after man has recognized that which make man all worthy of respect for they are all images of the same Creator?

No one will deny that if our efforts towards the realization of the objective to make all of the inhabitants of this globe realize the brotherhood of all mankind, to make the One World concept a reality, and all barriers to the development of understanding racial barriers, differences of creeds and culture are lifted once and for all, wars will be no more and lasting peace on earth would come to being.

All the world have accepted the workability of this solution for the attainment of this much cov eted peace for all mankind, but unfortunately there arose two diametrically opposed schemes for world unification; two different proposals for the pattern of the organization of human society. Two different ideologies for the World government Democracy on one hand and Communism on the other are on the race to enlist all nations to their respective sides. Both are using internationalism as the approach, both appeal to unification on the basis of the brotherhood of all men, and both flaunt the banner of peace as the only condition for man's survival.

A common objective, the eradication of war that brings only disaster and no profit to any one; at common aspiration for security through the unification of the whole of mankind; a common method of approach the development of internationalism: these, appropriated by two conflicting powers and interpreted in their own peculiar ways to fit different ends tend to create confusion in the mind. as it has already created confusion among peoples in the disturbed portions of Asia. On top of this, we have to consider the sudden surge advocating nationalism spurred by the realization that the lack of nationalistic sentiments and loyalties among some Asiatic nationals has been the weak spot that made it easy for Communism to establish its foothold and preach its doctrine of social revolution through the instigation of class hatred.

Dr. Ernesto L. M. Abellera, from the Baguio Rotary Club is a member of the Board of Directors of his Club and has distinguished himself in numerous civic activities. He is a fine Rotarian and a fine writer. As editor of his Club Publication "The Cañao" he prepares one of the outstanding Rotary Bulletins in our District. His reports, articles and commentaries form a very enjoyable reading and. his deep remarks are frequently much thought provoking. A good example of his keen sense of observation would be the following paragraph quoted from his report of the Dumaguete conference:

"At the end of the meeting, Angie and I and the other delegates flew over land and water to reach Manila. As we did I wondered why people had to spend time. and money, even lose their lives some times. in order to get to such meetings. Meeting friends, exchanging ideas with them no doubt help us find solutions to the dif ferent conflicts presented by Bertrand. Russell Man and Nature, Man and Man and Man and Man and Himself. That a lot of people differ in views now does not matter. Even that is a part, it seems to me, of the master plan of unifying us into one mind, one body, one soul. When I was in the high school I got these words from a speaker. It could easily embody the ultimate purpose of all civic organizations, schools and all the different churches in their aim to seek the truth and the way to life. It runs thus, "There is an ideal, ever unattained, yet never lost sight of, that shines continually before the earnest soul, beckoning it upwards to heights of supreme beauty."

This is the situation that we have to be aware of if we must in all sincerity cooperate in these strivings motivated by this yearning of the whole of mankind for the right to live in peace. Fortitude, sympathy, and an infinite capacity for understanding are demanded of all of us. We cannot wantonly abandon this crusade for the advancement of international understanding and good will because of this seeming contradictions of national aspirations and international ideals that have been brewed in the cauldron of intrigues behind the Iron Curtain. We must define our stand and keep the issues constantly clear in our minds. Is nationalism necessarily an in-group feeling antagonistic to the out-group? Are nationalistic sentiments, patriotism and loyalty developed by necessarily inspiring negative attitudes towards those belonging outside? Are fellowship, friendship and cooperation within the group developed by inspiring hatred, fear and suspicion for strangers? If the spirit of nationalism is thus, then the objectives of barrier lifting and of international understanding and good will are antithetical to it and these two ideals, nationalism and internationalism, are necessarily conflicting. They stand on the basis of either/or propositions and are irreconcilable. From this point of view and interpretation, it becomes impossible for a man to be loyal to both.

But Fellow Rotarians, this concept of nationalism belongs to a much earlier date in the history of the development of human society. Its vestiges may yet be found, however, among primitive tribal groupings that are the subjects of anthropological investigations. It is nationalism that has been built motivated by hatred as the group emotion that binds its elements together and chiefly characterized by the predominance of common feelings of mistrust and suspicion for the out-group.

There is the other type of nationalism that is more human and more desirable. It is that nationalism where the pervading group emotions are those characteristics of man that modern society have found out are real values-love, understanding, sympathy, and respect for one another. The nationals are bound together by sensitivity to common purposes and cooperation in their common achievements and aspirations. Educated and con ditioned in this atmosphere of understanding and cooperation these are the individuals amenable to and capable of extending their horizons beyond the borders because they have within them the proper attitudes that make international ideals understandable and workable. The personality traits and attitudes of a man, his point of view, his values and appreciations are formed at home, his responses beyond are dependent upon what has become part of him.

To develop and preserve our national solidarity we do not have to build great walls to segregate ourselves; nor drop Iron Curtains to shut the others out; nor dig moats around us: and to develop international understanding and good will, we do not have to shatter our national unity and cast away any part of us. We can nurture lofty sentiments of patriotism and loyalty to country and love for its traditions, the glory of its past and bright prospects for its future and at the same time extend our horizons beyond its horders to understand. and be sympathetic towards the problems of other peoples, accepting all on the basis of oneness with all humanity and the brotherhood of all men. It is possible to cherish our own, protect our common interests, and promote our common weal without prejudice to the development of international welfare and cooperation in promoting its ideals, for the way to love our own is not to hate that which is not ours. Rather, the honest situation is this: we become capable of understanding and cooperating with the outside only after we have learned understanding and cooperation among ourselves.

This defines our stand in relation with the advancement of these two ideals positively related as approaches to the attainment of peace. Nationalism and internationalism are not necessarily antagonistic when they are both founded on love for fellowmen, on freedom and respect for human dignity; but, when their foundation is hatred racial hatred to isolate nations from each other, or class hatred to break up nations and put up a portion of its population against itself by fomenting a social revolution, it would be impossible for any one to hel able to serve both.

The ideal of One World is the sublimest of man's dreams. When it will be attained, the map of the world will be presented with only two colors one to indicate the land and the other the water. The words national and international will become obsolete. The eradication of barriers will blend the races and ultimately there will be only one kind of man inhabiting this globe. Transportation and communication will be most speedy and movement most fluid so as to make possible the development of only one World Language. Man's education will be geared on the results of scientific studies on the fundamental of his nature as they fit into the perfected patterns of social, political and moral relationships. Man will have new attitudes and new values conducive to his own happiness in an atmos phere of security. This is not Utopian, because its realization in the future however remote, is a possibility. That realization hinges upon how we grapple with present problems that have bearing towards it and other problems that may yet arise.
We, members of Rotary International here in the Philippines, have this problem of clarification in the relationships between the nationalistic movement that is being spurred here and internationalism that is a facet in our ideals of service. A thorough understanding of the whole picture of the situation, the motives behind the purposes pursued are necessary pre-requisites to sincere, and whole-hearted cooperation. Observations seem to indicate that the goal of international understanding and good will culminating in the concept of One World to secure peace and security in life cannot be at tained by a sudden bound. The attitudes that enable a man to involve and merge himself into the group personality and understand how his behavior relates with the perspective and goals of the group are formed in the more personal units of groupings, like the home primarily. From there and as he matures, these attitudes irradiate to embrace bigger and bigger groups the neighborhood, the nation, the whole world. The enlargement seems to be by progression and I wonder if it would not be impairing to healthy and full development if any of the steps were skipped out.

To the question therefore, how may a Rotarian cooperate in implementing the fourth avenue of service in the Object of Rotary, my answer is this. let us begin with ourselves first by cultivating the correct attitudes and feelings conducive to friendliness and sympathy with other people. Let us encourage being together more and getting acquainted with each other in gatherings like this: trying to understand people especially those who seem to be so different from us develop that receptive attitude that makes us human. From here, we will extend the atmosphere to those who come within the sphere of our individual influences. Understanding, good will, friendliness and respect are lived and not just talked about. They are felt and can be shared with others only when we actually have them. Let us begin at home, with us, and then as soon as we have cultivated them within ourselves, we can foster growth to embrace the whole world.