When did we lose it?

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The sudden resignation of the top men of the Obama administration shortly after the United States election came as a shock, not only to the American people, but also to the entire world.

David Petraeus, director of the Central Intelligence Agency of the U.S.A., a retired four-star general, who had even been perceived to be a potential candidate for the presidency, gave up his post when it was revealed that he was involved in an extra-marital relation with his biographer.

The existence of the affair was unearthed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation who were monitoring his emails. Petraeus, confronted with the facts, promptly tendered his resignation to the president, who had no choice but to accept it, probably only thankful that the exposé had been made after his reelection.

In Great Britain, almost at the same time, the director general of the prestigious British Broadcasting Corporation also resigned immediately after it was disclosed that the outfit had aired an incorrect report that had tarnished the reputation of another official. The company quickly tried to apologize for the error, but George Entwistle believed he had no more cause to stay in the post that he had occupied only recently. The fact that he was assured that he had nothing to do directly with what happened did not stop him, he felt resigning was the honorable thing to do, both for the affected official, and for the company.

How admirable are such persons, to whom honor and what we call “delicadeza”, or sense of honor, are part of their being. Alas, for many of our own officials in our country, such things do not exist, and no matter how serious the facts against them are, they still manage to excuse themselves and insist on more proofs or evidences, and act only when irrevocably cornered.

Sadly, delicadeza was something that use to be ingrained in our forefathers. When and where along the way of our march towards nationhood and independence did we lose them?

Will they ever be revived, and who will lead the way?*