Theoretical constructs

THERE are many theoretical constructs which could be the subject for debate and adoption into our social, moral, and constitutional milieu. For example, in other countries, prostitution is legal. But do we dare favor such a trade, citing progressive Western standards, or advantages in open societies? What about proposing the alteration of one Filipino sacrosanct custom? I refer to parents extending care over children even unto their adult life. Our notion of family and parental love, is of allowing the children to remain in our custody, our homes, financially supporting them, etc., even when they have a family of their own. Flip side of the coin, is of sons/daughters taking their turn at financially subsidizing and babysitting ageing parents. Hypothetically, imagine for a moment, a distinguished assembly tackling initiatives to adopt American or foreign customs to revamp above model. Such advocacy, strengthened by reciting a litany of dis-advantages, critical of our relational beliefs (as creating dependency, encouraging immaturity, etc.) and revising them with so-called tested systems where children at the age of 18 are told to leave their maternal homes to be independent, get a job, support himself, schooling, and apartment. In a corollary practice, children kicking-out geriatric parents and delivering them to “homes for the aged.” Visitations and family gatherings far in-between.

Academic discussions in the forums for change to revamp old realities in our accultured consciousness and habits is always easier in words and on paper. What is evolutionary phenomenon, reduced to convenient argumentation by an appointed few? Their proposal asserts the experience of other nations for domestic adoption. Their advocacy attempts to gain points. What they, however, fail to realize, is the unique culture, tradition, and history of other countries as opposed to ours. The clash is really all about experimentation of alien constructs vis-à-vis our exclusive experience and manifest constitution as a people. Their facile summation revamps our familiar and institutionalized practices. The dispute, to their minds, is won and finally settled, since their recommendations work in foreign models, and hence, will also work for us? Theoretically?