SALVADOR Araneta said our nationalism should not subtract from our duties to humanity and the need for an ever increasing realization of the brotherhood of man. In time, we would be under a World Federal Government and a new World Law. This vision can be justified as we try to address today’s environmental problems which affect the existence of our planet. The idea of a new World Law will not find acceptance unless the Filipino believes in the idea of the brotherhood of men.
Araneta foresaw the bleak and desolate future of the world if we do not stop abusing our environment. The tripod of civilization ā water, soil and forest ā will not be able to sustain us if we do not take care of them. In front of the US Congress, Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, said that we need to have a new World Order and New Laws.
This is what Araneta suggested in 1979 in his book āWorld Governmentā The United Nations Reborn, Charter and Supporting Views.ā Macron spoke of a New World Order and new laws for the 21st century as we need to address today’s environmental problems and because we all belong to one world and Araneta emphasized that we should not allow our nationalism to lessen our responsibility towards humanity.
Both Araneta and Macron called for multilateralism: if our treaties are drafted fairly and equitably, they will be beneficial to all in economic matters. Both Araneta and Macron also said that there is no other way but this. This is our only planet after all.
Dr. Araneta wrote this poem āSong of Universal Peaceā and a few lines are quoted below:
Ā
Peace starts with faith in man,
But, we must add
It will start with big decisions
To become small;
When people and leaders do realize
Peace is in humility, not in bigness;
When people and nations stop preaching,
Start acting,
Doing unilaterally what is right and good,
Demanding not, reciprocity for a good deed,
Thinking not, only treaties multilateral
Shall move countries forward in Peace.
Meanwhile, āthe humanist spirit must change values and institutions, to change ourselves, to change the Philippines, and to change the world!ā
The concluding lines of his poem on universal peace that are reflections of his belief are:
Whatever the roads to universal peace
The answer starts with me, with everyone of us
For each and all
To become the apostles of love for men
This, we shall be,
When we leave by the roadside our excess garments,
Greed for power and wealth,
And the pursuit of material happiness.
When we shall discover
That happiness is of the spirit,
Then we shall seek our happiness
In peace of mind, peace in our hearts,
Peace in our souls and universal peace
This is our Gospel of peace
Our message to all people of the earth,
Peace on earth, to all men
But men must be of good will.
Without this transformation, there will be no change in public life. There can be no status quo for in truth, the condition now existing in the country will simply get worse.
Once again, is Federalism the answer to solve the ills of society? Or is it a change of human values that must precede Federalism?
The voice in the wilderness is a lonely voice because he is alone. Like Jose Rizalās Pilosopong Tasio, no one is listening to him. Perhaps, no one can hear.
But time has vindicated him. He is no longer alone. Some people dream the impossible. For Araneta, nothing was impossibleā¦with imagination, with courage, and most of all, with sacrifice. (To be continued/PN)
