I WILL not write about the memorandum of agreement over the Iran war as the details and timeline beyond the initial ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz (which was open before the war started to begin with) were not released as of finalizing this on Thursday. It is clear none of the stated objectives were achieved and over $300 billion spent with much death and hardship plus collateral damage caused for nothing. On markets as a result of this and SpaceX, I think it will be: buy on rumor, sell on confirmation as the end does not mean a return to conditions prior. These actions have consequences that will take months or more to reverse.
As I observe the spectacle of the train wreck that engulfed the battle for control of the Senate and the timeline and nature of the response of Ateneo to the avoidable tragedy of two basketball players drowning in very treacherous waters, I recall what irritates me most about some of the actions and responses. It is the sanctimoniousness of some of the leading actors in the Senate battle and some people of authority in Ateneo. Having spent half of my education life at Jesuit institutions, and most of that at Ateneo, I have long witnessed that sanctimoniousness over decades, besides seeing directly what being “jesuitical” means. Others have commented on the sophistry and hypocrisy behind much of what we have seen and will sadly continue to see.
Sanctimoniousness is one of the traits I find most irritating and this also happens a lot with others in media, business and politics. For me, it is a horrid and elevated mutant of hypocrisy and narcissism. From Google artificial intelligence (AI), here is the definition of sanctimonious plus some core characteristics of it.
“Sanctimonious is an adjective used to describe someone who acts as if they are morally or religiously superior to others. It often implies hypocrisy or a ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude, where a person puts on a show of intense piety or virtue but falls short of those standards in reality.
Core concepts
“– Pretense: The display of goodness is usually an affectation — a phony performance rather than genuine virtue.
“– Disapproval: It is a disapproving term used by observers to call out condescending or self-righteous behavior.
“– Hypocrisy: The behavior often overlaps with hypocrisy, as sanctimonious individuals frequently enforce rules on others that they secretly break themselves.”
When forced to listen to these sanctimonious types bloviate, I am also reminded of what Hitler’s minister of propaganda Joseph Goebbels and others are quoted to have said, “Accuse your enemy of what you are doing.” Goebbels didn’t use those exact words but at the 1934 Nuremberg Rally said, “The cleverest trick used in propaganda against Germany during the war was to accuse Germany of what our enemies themselves were doing.”
Doing that is often a very effective way to smear enemies as accusing them of what you are guilty of makes the accusation very convincing given the expertise one has in explaining what one already does. I see it in most demagogues. I can see why it is so easy. They are projecting onto others what they do themselves and often quite expertly. Examples abound.
Back to sanctimoniousness. We all have to compromise, and self-promote and understand that. It is when some are so sanctimonious as if they have a monopoly on ethics and values yet are far from a cross of St. Francis, Albert Einstein and Warren Buffett. That is very irritating.
When some senators are so fulsome in self-praise, it reminds of what critics say about President Donald Trump’s self-praise, and his lackeys need to praise him and name things after himself beyond any level of propriety and taste. Besides insecurity and narcissism, it may be fear that no one will name anything after Trump or praise him once he is out of office. Then add some people’s calls for ethics and morality, even describing themselves as representatives of deities when a quick look at their own recent record shows anything but, and they don’t even fulfill agreements they have made or stand by anyone except themselves unless it is to their self-interest.
Some educational and civic institutions (you can add some columnists, too) make lofty and even partisan pronouncements on morality, good governance and accountability, and berating the government and officials who fail their exacting standards. Yet they fall very short when it is their turn, by acting in similar stonewalling and self-interested manner. We are all imperfect, so perhaps a little more humility and self-awareness would be appropriate. I have more respect for those who are pragmatic and compromise, and admit it is what they need to do to prosper. Rather than those who act so moral and mighty but don’t hold themselves to the standard they impose on others. Often, they are so self-deluded and narcissistic they don’t even realize they are that way. Given how long it took for Ateneo’s higher ups to apologize and condole, how much was damage control versus true remorse?
I wish we practiced more of the Buddhist trait of judging yourself and living as best a life as you can and avoid being judgmental of others. Again, from Google AI: “In Buddhism, judging others is discouraged because it arises from ego, pride and an incomplete understanding of another’s karma. Instead, the Buddha taught individuals to turn that discerning eye inward, using mindfulness to honestly evaluate and correct their own actions while maintaining deep compassion for everyone else’s struggles... Instead, practitioners are encouraged to cultivate compassion, empathy and wise discernment, recognizing that all beings are subject to the same cycle of existence.”
We can learn from that and be less judgmental, intrusive, and most of all, less sanctimonious. As the Buddhists say, “Change comes from within.” Most of all, to the self-righteous, judgmental and sanctimonious, practice what you preach. Or as the saying goes, “Physicians, heal thyself.”
The author is an independent director of the state-run Maharlika Investment Corp.
