The three wise monkeys

(A persuasive speech)

Good morning everyone!

The proverbial principle of “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” is wonderfully expressed in the image of the three wise monkeys which is a very profound pictorial maxim. I’m here today to talk about it and how right now, most of us are becoming the irony of the three wise monkeys.

Mizaru – the monkey who covers his eyes and sees no evil.

Today, we are at a very crucial period in the history of our country. We are in an oblivion marred by the lack of peace, the lack of rule of law, and utter disrespect to our constitution. Yes, most of us have just turned blind against the injustices that pervade our society today.

To see no evil is good but to act blind and ignore what is happening in our country right now is an utter disregard for the moral and ethical standards that our nation was built upon. What is happening right now is unbecoming of a society. We are in a state of regress instead of progress.

But why are we acting blindly as if everything is okay? Why are we being quiet? Are we really being responsible citizens when we do not support dissent? When we ignore the obvious disregard for the rule of law? When we think that killing is a justified means of eliminating the menace of our society?

Most of us have become ironically like the wise monkey who sees no evil. We see no evil because we are acting blind. We have embraced the idea that these crooked ways are fine because they are what we need to instill order in our society.

Niccolo Machiavelli in his book The Prince said that the end justifies the means. But is it really okay to stick with these unscrupulous methods in order to achieve a safer and sounder society? Is it fine that we are living a Machiavellian society?  

The answer is no! Let us stop this foolishness and act. We need to open our eyes and recognize that these things are wrong. Again, we need to act.

At this point, allow me to move on to the second monkey.

Kikazaru - The monkey who covers his ears and hears no evil.

Today, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you will turn out to be monkeys - monkeys who hear no evil. We have come to a point where most of us have become deaf of the truth. We are not just acting blind but we have also turned deaf about the reality - about the truth.

We are at a point that fake news is more appealing to most than the real news that is based on facts.  Let us not become the monkey who hears no evil. Let us be open to the truth even if it is something bad. Let us try to listen to the credible source of facts instead of basing our truth on posts on social media.

Let us not be afraid to hear something evil especially if it is the truth. For it is in knowing the real state of things that we are able to better our actions and do what is right.

The last monkey among the three wise monkeys is Iwazaru. The monkey who covers his mouth and speaks no evil.

Today, the moment you voice your opinion on something that is against the current administration or about a pressing issue, you are oftentimes placed in hot waters. People would label you as someone who is anti-government as if what you are saying is pure evil.

But remember that the most dangerous threat to a democracy, to the truth, is when dissent is being labeled as evil. When public opinion is propelled by propaganda, by strategies to sow confusion and disparity, a democracy is on the brink of extinction.

I tell you. Let us not stop speaking of the evil. Let us continue to be vigilant, to speak the truth regardless if it is bad. Let us remember that dissent is an essential ingredient in a democracy. When nobody questions a decision, when nobody is there to say that something is wrong, even the evilest lie can become the most pious truth of all.

Today, I ask all of you. Let us not become the three wise monkeys. Instead, let us be wiser than them. As the youth of today, we play a pivotal role in nation-building. We are more than capable to make a change. We need to stop these absurdities that we are seeing and hearing and we need to have a voice. Remember that even small ripples, when collectively acting, could become the wave that can topple even the strongest wall.

As an ending thought, I would like to leave you this. The worst enemy of the truth is when everyone embraces a lie and accepts it. I pray that there will be no more monkeys among us. No more wise monkeys. Instead, let us be wiser. It’s high time that we make loud of our voice and fight for the truth.

Thank you.