Editorial

Big word

This week?s commemoration of the first revolution in Edsa has occasioned calls for reconciliation from the President to her critics, among whom are former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Joseph Estrada.

According to Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, President Arroyo recognizes that the support of the former heads of state will help the country cope better with the economic crisis.

While the timing is suspect, the bigger issue is what exactly ?reconciliation? entails. ?If we are to find any obligation from this celebration, it?s that we should learn to rise above partisan interest,? Remonde says.

The exhortation remains vague.

Does the President?s call mean she wants her critics to stop hurling issues against her and her family? That?s short of asking for the moon.

Does Mrs. Arroyo believe that Aquino and Estrada continue to enjoy such clout among their own supporters that they would stop the attacks upon their bidding? We don?t think so, either.

Finally, does the President expect that her projects and programs would now enjoy less opposition and could proceed as envisioned? Again that does not sound realistic.

Reconciliation may refer to the healing of past wounds. It?s a good?but trite?expression often invoked in past anniversaries. The word, however, has heavy implications if the nation?s future is to be contemplated. It becomes impossible, and hilariously so.

What the administration should shoot for is an environment of mutual respect in which differences in opinion and approach thrive but do not result in malice or disdain. While Mrs. Arroyo should not even dream of having the approval of all, she should inspire, through her own example, discourses that consider only the development of the nation, not further the agenda of a few.