AHeritageofSmallnessbyNickJoaquin

SocietyfortheFilipinoisasmallrowboat:thebarangay.GeographyfortheFilipinoisasmalllocality:
thebarrio.HistoryfortheFilipinoisasmallvaguesaying:matandapakaymahoma;noongpeacetime.
EnterprisefortheFilipinoisasmallstall:thesarisari.IndustryandproductionfortheFilipinoarethe
smallimmediatesearchingsofeachday:isangkahig,isangtuka.AndcommercefortheFilipinoisthe
smallestdegreeofretail:thetingi.
WhatmostastonishesforeignersinthePhilippinesisthatthisisacountry,perhapstheonlyoneinthe
world,wherepeoplebuyandsellonestickofcigarette,halfaheadofgarlic,adabofpomade,partof
thecontentsofacanorbottle,onesingleegg,onesinglebanana.Toforeignersusedtobuyingthings
bythecartonorthedozenorpoundandinthelargeeconomysizes,theexquisitetransactionsof
PhilippinetingiscannotbutseemLilliputian.Somucheffortbysomanyforsolittle.Likeallthose
childrenriskingneckandlimbinthetraffictosellonestickofcigaretteatatime.Orthosegrownup
menhuntingthesidewalksalldaytosellapuppyoralanternorapairofsocks.Theamountofeffort
theyspendseemsoutofallproportiontothereturns.Suchfolkare,obviously,notenough.
Laboriousnessjustcanneverbetheequaloflaborasskill,laborasaudacity,laborasenterprise.
TheFilipinowhotravelsabroadgetstothinkingthathisisthehardestworkingcountryintheworld.
Bysixorseveninthemorningwearealreadyuponourwaytowork,shopsandmarketsareopen;the
wheelsofindustryarealreadyagrind.Abroad,especiallyintheWest,ifyougooutatseveninthe
morningyoureinadeadtown.Everybodysstillinbed;everythingsstillclosedup.Activitydoesnt
begintillnineortenandceasespromptlyatfivep.m.Bysix,thebusinesssectionsaredeadtowns
again.Theentirecitiesgotosleeponweekends.Theyhaveashorterworkingday,ashorterworking
week.Yettheypileupmoremileagethanwewhoworkalldayandallweek.
Isthedisparitytoourdisparagement?
Weworkmorebutmakeless.Why?Becauseweactonsuchapygmyscale.Abroadtheywouldthink
youmadifyouwentinastoreandtriedtobuyjustonestickofcigarette.Theydontoperateonthe
scale.Thedifferenceisgreaterthanbetweenhavingandnothaving;thedifferenceisinthewayof
thinking.Theyareaccustomedtothinkingdynamically.Wehavethehabit,whateverourindividual
resources,ofthinkingpoor,ofthinkingpetty.
Isthattheexplanationforourcontinuingfailuretorisethatwebuysmallandsellsmall,thatwethink
smallanddosmall?
Arewenotconfusingtimidityforhumilityandmakingavirtueofwhatmaybetheworstofourvices?
Isnotourtimorousclingingtosmallnessthebondagewemustbreakifweareevertoinherittheearth
andbefree,independent,progressive?Thesmallmusteverbepreytothebig.AldousHuxleysaidthat
somepeoplearebornvictims,ormurderers.HecametothePhilippinesandthoughtustheleast
originalofpeople.Istherenotarelationbetweenhistwoterms?Originalityrequiresdaring:the
daringtodestroytheobsolete,toannihilatethepetty.Itscoldcomforttothinkwehaventdeveloped
thatkindofmurderermentality."
Buttillwedowehadbeststoptalkingabout"ourheritageofgreatnessforthenationalheritageis
letsfaceitaheritageofsmallness.
Howeverfarwegobackinourhistoryitsthesmallwefindthenipahut,thebarangay,thepetty
kingship,theslighttillage,thetingitrade.Allourartifactsareminiaturesandsoisourfolkliterature,
whichismostlyproverbs,ordogmasinminiature.Abouttheonebiglaborwecanpointtoinour
remotepastarethericeterracesandeventhatgrandeurshrinks,onscrutiny,intonumberlesslittle
separateplotsintoaseriesoflayersaddedtopreviousones,allthisbeingtheaccumulationofagesof
smallroutineefforts(likeacolonyofanthills)ratherthanonegrandlaborfollowingonegranddesign.
Wecouldbringinherethenurserydiotaaboutthelittledropsofwaterthatmakethemightyocean,or
thepesothatsnotapesoifitlacksacentavo;butcreativelabor,alas,hassternerstandards,astricter
hierarchyofvalues.Manylittleefforts,howeverperfecteachinitself,stillcannotequalonesingleepic

creation.AgalleryfulofeventhemostcharmingstatuettesisboundtolookscantbesideaPietaor
MosesbyMichelangelo;andyoucouldstackupthebestshortstoriesyoucanthinkofandstillnot
haveenoughtooutweighamountainlikeWarandPeace.
ThedepressingfactinPhilippinehistoryiswhatseemstobeournativeaversiontothelargeventure,
thebigrisk,theboldextensiveenterprise.Thepatternmayhavebeensetbythemigration.Wetryto
equatetheodysseyofthemigratingbarangayswiththatofthePilgrim,FatherofAmerica,butaglance
ofthemapsufficestoshowthedifferencesbetweenthetwoventures.Onewasavoyageacrossan
oceanintoanunknownworld;theotherwasagoingtoandfromamongneighboringislands.Onewas
ablindleapintospace;theotherseems,incomparison,amerecrossingofrivers.Thenatureoftheone
requiredorganization,asustainedeffort,specialskills,specialtools,thebuildingoflargeships.The
natureoftheotherisrevealedbyitsvehicle,thebarangay,whichisasmallrowboat,notaseafaring
vesseldesignedforlongdistancesontheavenuesoftheocean.
Themigrationswerethusselflimited,nevermovedfarfromtheirpointoforigin,andclungtothe
heartofasmallknownworld;theislandsclusteredroundtheMalayPeninsula.Themovementintothe
Philippines,forinstance,wasfrompointsasnextdoorgeographicallyasBorneoandSumatra.Since
thePhilippinesisatheartofthisregion,themovementwastowardcenter,or,onemaysay,fromnear
tostillnearer,ratherthantofartherout.Justoffthesmallbriefcircuitofthesemigrationswasanother
world:thevastmysteriouscontinentofAustralia;buttherewassignificantlynomovementtowardsthis
terraincognita.Itmusthaveseemedtooperilous,toounfriendlyofclimate,toobig,toohard.So,
Australiawasconquerednotbythefoldnextdoor,butbystrangersfromacrosstwooceansandthe
othersideoftheworld.Theyweremoreenterprising,theyhavebeenrewarded.Buthistoryhas
punishedthelaggardbysettingupoverthemaWhiteAustraliawithdoorsclosedtothecrowded
Malayworld.
ThebarangaysthatcametothePhilippinesweresmallbothinscopeandsize.Abarangaywitha
hundredhouseholdswouldalreadybeenormous;somebarangayshadonly30families,orless.These,
however,couldhavebeentheseedofagreatsocietyiftherehadnotbeeninthatafatalaversionto
synthesis.ThebarangaysettlementsalreadydisplayedaPhilippinecharacteristic:thetendencyto
petrifyinisolationinsteadofconsolidating,ortosplitsmallerinsteadofgrowing.Thatwithinthesmall
areaofManilaBaythereshouldbethreedifferentkingdoms(Tondo,ManilaandPasay)maymeanthat
theareawaoriginallysettledbythreedifferentbarangaysthatremaineddistinct,nevercametogether,
neverfused;oritcouldmeanthatasingleoriginalsettlement;asitgrewsplitintothreesmallerpieces.
Philippinesociety,asthoughfearingbigness,evertendstoreverttheconditionofthebarangayofthe
smallenclosedsociety.Wedontgrowlikeaseed,wesplitlikeanamoeba.Themomentatowngrows
bigitbecometwotowns.Themomentaprovincebecomespopulousitdisintegratesintotwoorthree
smallerprovinces.Theexcuseofferedfordivisionsialwaystheallegeddifficultyofadministeringso
hugeanentity.ButPhilippinesprovincesaremicroscopiccomparedtoanAmericanstatelike,say,
Texas,wherethelocalgovernmentisntheardcomplainingitcantefficientlyhandlesovastanarea.
We,ontheotherhand,makeaconfessionofcharacterwheneverwesplitupatownorprovinceto
avoidhavingofcope,admittingthat,onthatscale,wecantbeefficient;wearecapableonlyofthe
small.Thedecentralizationandbarrioautonomymovementexpressesourcravingtoreturntotheone
unitofsocietywefeeladequateto:thebarangay,withits30toahundredfamilies.Anythinglarger
intimidates.Wewoulddeliberatelylimitourselvestothesmallperformance.Thisattitude,an
immemorialone,explainswhywerefindingitsohardtobecomeanation,andwhyourpagan
forefatherscouldnotevenimaginethetask.NotEpluribus,unumistheimpulseinourculturebutOut
ofmany,fragments.Foreignershadtocomeanduniteourlandforus;thelaborwasfarbeyondour
powers.GreatwastheKingofSugbu,buthecouldntevencontrolthetinyisleacrosshisbay.
FederationisstillnotevenanideaforthetribesoftheNorth;andtheMorosultanatesbehavelikeour
politicalparties:theykeepsplittingoffintoparticles.
Becausewecannotuniteforthelargeeffort,eventhesmalleffortisincreasinglybeyondus.Thereis
lesstolearninourschools,buteventhislittleisprotestedbyouryoungastoohard.Thefallinglineon
thegraphofeffortis,alas,arecurringpatterninourhistory.Ourartifactsbutrepeatarefrainofdecline
andfall,whichwouldntbesosadiftherehadbeenasummitdeclinefrom,buttheevidenceisthatwe

startsmallandendsmallwithouteverhavingscaledanypeaks.Usedonlytothesmalleffort,weare
not,asaresult,capableofthesustainedeffortandlosemomentumfast.Wehaveatermforit:ningas
cogon.
GotoanyexhibitofPhilippineartifactsandtheitemsthatfromourculturalheritagebutconfirm
threetheoriesaboutus,whichshouldbestatedagain.
First:thattheFilipinoworksbestonsmallscaletinyfigurines,smallpots,filigreeworkingoldor
silver,decorativearabesques.Thedeductionhereisthatwefeeladequatetothechallengeofthesmall,
butarecowedbythechallengeofthebig.
Second:thattheFilipinochoosestoworkinsofteasymaterialsclay,moltenmetal,treesearchinghas
failedtoturnupanythingreallymonumentalinhardstone.Evencarabaohorn,anobviousmaterialfor
nativecraftsmen,hasnotbeenusedtoanyextentremotelycomparabletotheuseofivoryintheivory
countries.Thedeductionhereisthatwefeelequaltothematerialsthatyieldbutevadethechallengeof
materialsthatresist.
Third:thathavingmasteredamaterial,craftorproduct,wetendtorutinitanddontmoveontoanext
phase,alargerdevelopment,basedonwhatwehavelearned.Infact,weinstantlylaydownevenwhat
masterywealreadyposseswhenconfrontedbyachallengefromoutsideofsomethingmoremasterly,
insteadofbeingprovokedtodevelopbythethreatofcompetition.FacedbythechallengeofChinese
porcelain,thenativeartofpotterysimplydeclined,thoughporcelainshouldhavebeenthenextphase
forourpotterymakers.TherewasapparentlynoefforttostealandmastertheartsoftheChinese.The
excuseofferedherethatwedidnothavethematerialsforthetechniquesforthemakingofporcelain
unitesinglumbrotherhoodyesterdayspotterymakersandtodayswouldbeindustrialists.Thenative
potgotburiedbyChineseporcelainasPhilippinetobaccoisstillbeingburiedbytheblueseal.
Ourculturalhistory,ratherthanacumulativedevelopment,seemsmostlyaseriesofdeadends.One
reasonisafearofmovingontoamorecomplexphase;anotherreasonisafearoftools.Nativepottery,
forinstance,somehownevergotfarenoughtograsptheprincipleofthewheel.Neitherdidnative
agricultureeverreachthepointofdiscoveringtheplowforitself,oreventheideaofthedraftanimal,
thoughthecarabaowashandy.Wheelandplowhadtocomefromoutsidebecausewealwaysstopped
shortoftechnology,Thisstoppageatacertainlevelistherecurringfateofourartsandcrafts.
Thesantoeverybodyscollectingnowarecharmingaslegacies,depressingasindices,fortheartofthe
santerowasasmallart,inanotverydemandingmedium:wood.Havingachievedperfectioninit,the
santerowasfacedbythechallengeofprovinghecouldachieveequalperfectiononalargerscaleand
inmoredifficultmaterials:hardstone,marble,bronze.Thechallengewasnotmet.Likethepagan
potterbeforehim,thesanterostucktohistinyrut,repeatinghislittleperfectionsoverandover.The
ironlawoflifeis:Developordecay.Theartofthesanterodidnotadvance;soitdeclined.Insteadof
movingontoahardermaterial,itretreatedtoamaterialeveneasierthanwool:Plasterandplasterhas
wroughtthedeathofrelaxart.
Onecouldgoonandonwiththislitany.
Philippinemoviesstarted50yearsagoand,duringthe30s,reachedacertainlevelofproficiency,
whereitstoppedandhasruttedeversincelookingmoreandmoreprimitiveastherestofthecinema
worldspeedsbyonthewaytonewfrontiers.Wehavetoberealistic,saylocalmovieproducerswere
inthisbusinessnottomakeartbutmoney.Butevenfromthebusinessviewpoint,theyrenot
realisticatall.Thetruebusinessmaneverseekstoincreasehismarketandthereforeevertriesto
improvehisproduct.Businessdieswhenitresignsitself,aslocalmovieshavedone,toalimited
market.
AftermorethanhalfacenturyofwritinginEnglish,PhilippineLiteratureinthatmediumisstill
identifiedwiththeshortstory.Thatsmallliteraryformisapparentlyasmuchaswefeelequalto.But
bylimitingourselveslessandlesscapableevenofthesmallthingasthefateofthepaganpotterand
theChristiansanteroshouldhavewarnedus.ItnolongerasobvioustodaythattheFilipinowriterhas

masteredtheshortstoryform.
Itstwodecadessincethewarbutwhatweremeremakeshiftinpostwardayshavepetrifiedinto
institutionslikethejeepney,whichweallknowtobeuncomfortableandinadequate,yetcannotgetrid
of,becausethewouldmeantotackletheproblemofmodernizingoursystemsoftransportationa
problemwethinksohugewehidefromitinthecomfortingsmallnessofthejeepney.Asmallsolution
toahugeproblemdowedeceiveourselvesintothinkingthatpossible?Thejeepneyhintsthatwedo,
forthejeepneycarrierisaboutasadequateasaspoontoemptyariverwith.
Withthepopulationwelling,andlandvaluesrising,thereshouldbeinourcities,anupwardthrustin
architecture,butwecontinuetobuildsmall,inourtimidtwostoryfashion.Oh,wehaveexcuses.The
landissoft:earthquakesarefrequent.ButMexicoCity,forinstance,isonfarswampierlandand
MexicoCityisnotatwostorytown.SanFranciscoandTokyoareinworseearthquakebelts,butSan
FranciscoandTokyoreachupfortheskies.Isntourarchitectureanotherexpressionofoursmallness
spirit?Tobuildbigwouldposeproblemstoobigforus.Thewaterpressure,forexample,wouldhave
tobeimprovedanditshardenoughtogetwateronthegroundfloorflatandfrail,ourcitiesindicate
ourdisinclinationtomakeanybutthesmallesteffortpossible.
Itwouldntbesobadifouraversionforbignessandourclingingtothesmalldenotedapreferencefor
qualityoverbulk;butthelittlethingswetakeforevertodotoooftenturnouttobeworsethanthe
massproducedarticle.Ourcouturiers,forinstance,growevenlimperofwristwhen,afterwaiting
monthsandmonthsforapin~aweavertoproduceayardortwoofthefabric,theyfindtheyhaveto
discardmostofthestuffbecauseitssosloppilydone.ForeignerswhothinkofpushingPhilippine
fabricintheworldmarketgiveupindespairafterexperiencingourinabilitytodeliverinquantity.Our
proudapologiaisthatmassproductionwouldruinthequalityofourproducts.ButPhilippinecrafts
mightberousedfromthedoldrumsifforcedtocomeuptomassproductionstandards.
ItseasyenoughtoquotetheWestagainstitself,tociteallthoseWesternartistsandwriterswhorail
againstthecultofbignessandmassproductionandthebitchgoddesssuccess;butthearguments
againsttechnologicalprogress,liketheargumentsagainstnationalism,arepossibleonlytothosewho
havealreadygonethroughthatstagesosuccessfullytheycannowaffordtorevileit.Therestofuscan
onlycravetobebigenoughtobeabletodeplorebigness.
Forthepresentallweseentobeabletodoisignorepaganevidenceandblameourinabilitytosustain
thebigeffortofourcolonizers:theycrushedourwillandspirit,ourinitiativeandoriginality.But
colonialismisnotuniquelyourordealbutratherauniversalexperience.Othernationswentunderthe
heeloftheconquerorbuthavenotspenttherestoftheirliveswhining.Whatpeopleweremoretrod
underthantheJews?Buteachhavebeenathoroughlycrushednationgetupandconquerednew
worldsinstead.TheNormanconquestofEnglandwasfollowedbyasubjugationverysimilartoour
experience,butwhatissuedfromthatsubjugationwerethewilltoempireandtheverveofanew
language.
Ifitbetruethatwewereenervatedbythelossofourprimordialfreedom,cultureandinstitutions,then
thenativetribesthatwereneverunderSpainanddidntlosewhatwedidshouldbeshowingastronger
willandspirit,moreinitiativeandoriginality,arichercultureandgreaterprogress,thantheChristian
Filipino.Dothey?Andthisfavoriteapologiaofoursgetsfurtherblastedwhenweconsiderapeople
who,alongsideus,sufferedafargreatertramplingyetneverlosttheirenterprisingspirit.Onthe
contrary,despitecenturiesofghettosandprogramsandrepressivemeasuresandracialscorn,the
ChineseinthePhilippinesclamberedtothetopofeconomicheapandarestillrightuptherewhenit
comestothebigdeal.Shouldnttheyhavelongcometotheconclusion(aswesaywedid)thattheres
nopointinhustlingandlaboringandamassingwealthonlytoseeitwrestedawayandoneselfpunished
forrising?
Anhonestreadingofourhistoryshouldratherforceustoadmitthatitwasthecolonialyearsthat
pushedustowardthelargereffort.Therewasactuallyanadvanceinfreedom,fortheunificationofthe
land,theorganizationoftownsandprovinces,andtheinfluxofnewideas,startedourliberationfrom
theruleofthepetty,whetherofclan,localityorcustom.Arewenotvexedatthehinterlanderstill

boundbyprimordialterrorsandtaboos?Dowenotsaywehavetosethimfreethrougheducation?
Freedom,afterallismorethanapoliticalcondition;andthecoloniallowlanderespeciallyaperson
like,say,Rizalwassurelymoreofafreemanthantheunconqueredtribesmanupinthehills.Aswheel
andplowsetusfreefromabondagetonature,sotownandprovinceliberatedusfromtheboundsof
thebarangay.
TheliberationcanbeseenjustbycomparingourpaganwithourChristianstatuary.Whatwasstatic
andstolidintheonebecomes,intheother,dynamicmotionandexpression.Itcanbereadintherearof
architecture.Now,atlast,theFilipinoattemptsthemassivethestonebridgethatunites,theirrigation
damthatgivesincrease,theadobechurchthatidentified.Ifwehaveaheritageofgreatnessitsin
theselaborsandinthreeepicactsofthecolonialperiod;first,thedefenseofthelandduringtwo
centuriesofsiege;second,thePropagandaMovement;andthethird,theRevolution.
Thefirst,aheroicagethatprofoundlyshapedus,began1600withthe50yearwarwiththeDutchand
maybesaidtohavedrawntoaclosewiththeBritishinvasionof1762.TheWarwiththeDutchisthe
mostunderratedeventinourhistory,foritwastheGreatWarinourhistory.Ithadtobepointedout
thatthePhilippines,asmallcolonypracticallyabandonedtoitself,yetheldatbayforhalfacenturythe
mightiestnavalpowerintheworldatthetime,thoughtheDutchsentarmadaafterarmada,yearafter
year,toconquerthecolony,orbycuttingoffthegalleonsthatwereitslinkswithAmerica,starvethe
colonytoitsknees.Werosesogloriouslytothechallengetheimpetusofspiritsentusspillingdownto
BorneoandtheMoluccasandIndoChina,anditseemedforamomentwemightcreateanempire.But
thetremendouseffortdidcreateanelitevitaltoourhistory:theCreoleTagalogPampangoprincipalia
andruledittogetherduringthesecenturiesofsiege,andwhichwouldwhichwasthenationin
embryo,whichdefendedthelandclimaxitsmilitarycareerwiththewarofresistanceagainstthe
Britishinthe1660s.Bythen,thiselitealreadydeeplyfeltitselfanationthatthegovernmentitsetup
inBacoloractuallydefinedthecaptivegovernmentinManilaasillegitimate.Fromherflowsthe
heritagethatwouldflowerinMalolos,forcenturiesofheroicefforthadbred,inTagalogandthe
Pampango,ahabitofleadership,alordlinessofspirit.Theyhadprovedthemselvescapableofthegreat
andsustainedenterprise,destinywastheirs.Ananalystofourhistorynotesthatthesunonourflaghas
eightrays,eachofwhichstandsforaTagalogorPampangoprovince,andthetheTagalogsand
PampangosatBiaknaBato"assumedtherepresentationoftheentirecountryand,therefore,becamein
factthePhilippines.
Fromthefieldofbattlethiselitewould,aftertheBritishwar,shifttothefieldofpolitics,asignificant
move;andthePropaganda,whichbeganasaCreolecampaignagainstthePeninsulars,wouldturninto
thenationalistmovementofRizalandDelPilar.Thissecondepicactinourhistoryseemedafurther
annulmentofthetimidity.AmanlikeRizalwasadeliberaterebelagainstthecultofthesmall;hewas
sovariousamagusbecausehewassetonprovingthattheFilipinocouldtacklethebigthing,the
complexjob.Hisnovelshaveepicintentions;hispoemssustainthelonglineandgoagainstGarcia
VillasmorecharacteristicallyPhilippinedictumthatpoetryisthesmallintenseline.
WiththeRevolution,ourcultureisindichotomy.Thisepicof1896isindeedagreateffortbutbya
smallminority.TheTagalogandPampangohadtakenituponthemselvestoprotestthegrievancesof
theentirearchipelago.Moreover,withinthemovementwasaclashbetweenthetwostrainsinour
culturebetweenthepropensityforthesmallactivityandthewilltosomethingmoreambitious.
BonifaciosKatipunanwaslargeinnumberbutsmallinscope;itwasarattlingofbolos;anditspost
fiascoeffortsarelittlemorethanamokraidsinthemannertheFilipinoissaidtoexcelin.(An
observationaboutusinthelastwarwasthatwefightbestnotasanarmy,butinsmallinformal
guerrillaoutfits;notinpitchedbattle,butinrapidhitandrunraids.)Ontheotherhand,therewas,in
Cavite,anarmywithofficers,engineers,trenches,plansofbattleandacomplexorganizationa
Revolutionunlikeallthelittleuprisingsormereraidsofthepastbecauseithadrisenabovetribeand
sawitselfasthenationaldestiny.Thiswasthehighestwehavereachedinnationalisticeffort.Buthere
again,havingreachedacertainlevelofachievement,westopped.TheRevolutionis,aswesaytoday,
"unfinished."
Thetrendsincetheturnofthecentury,andespeciallysincethewar,seemstobebacktothetradition
oftimidity,theheritageofsmallness.Weseemtobemakinglessandlesseffort,thinkingeversmaller,

doingevensmaller.Theairdroopswithafeelingofinadequacy.Wecantcope;wedontrespond;we
arenotrisingtochallenges.Sotinyalandasoursshouldntbetoohardtoconnectwithtransportation
butwegetcrushedonsmalljeepneys,getkilledonsmalltrains,getdrownedinsmallboats.Largerand
morepopulouscitiesabroadfinditnoproblemtokeepthemselvescleanbutthesimplematterof
garbagecancreatea"crisisinthesmallcityofManila.OneAmericanremarkedthat,afterseeing
Manilaschaosoftraffic,hebegantoappreciatehowhiscityofLosAngeleshandlesitsfar,fargreater
volumeoftraffic.Isbuildingaroadthatwontbreakdownwhenitrainsnolongerwithinourpowers?
Iseventhebuildingofsidewalkstooherculeanoftaskforus?
Onewriter,ashesurveyedthelandscapeofshortagesnorice,nowater,nogarbagecollectors,no
peace,noordergloomilymumbledthatdisintegrationseemstobecreepinguponusandgropedfor
Yeatsterrifyinglines:
Thingsfallapart;thecentercannothold:
Mereanarchyisloosed
Haveourcapacitiesbeensodiminishedbythesmalleffortswearebecomingincapableeventothe
smallthings?Ourpresentproblemsaresurelynotwhatmightbecalledcolossalorinsurmountableyet
westandhelplessbeforethem.Asthepopulationswells,thoseproblemswillexpandandmultiply.If
theydauntusnow,willtheycrushusthen?Theprospectisterrifying.
OntheFeastofFreedomwemaydowelltopondertheParableoftheServantsandtheTalents.The
enterprisingservantswhoincreasetalentsentrustedtothemwererewardedbytheirLord;butthetimid
servantwhomadenoefforttodoubletheonetalentgiventohimwasdeprivedofthattalentandcast
intotheouterdarkness,wheretherewasweepingandgnashingofteeth:
Fortohimwhohas,moreshallbegiven;butfromhimwhohasnot,eventhelittlehehasshallbe
takenaway."