Divide and conquer is a tool for getting things done. Just like any other tool, it can produce good or evil depending on who is using it.
A hammer in the hand of a good carpenter can build a house; in the hand of a homicidal maniac, it kills. A computer in the hands of a conscientious system designer can put things in near-perfect order; in the hands of a sick hacker or prankster, it spreads chaos. An airplane in the hands of a good pilot takes passengers to their intended destinations; in the hands of terrorists it sends people to their doom. Divide and conquer in the hands of the righteous produces prosperity and well-being for people; in the hands of the corrupt, it erases a country from the economic and political map.
In the bible we find divide and conquer being used to destroy evil. The book of Judges tells us that God drove division into the ranks of Gideon’s enemies by giving the illusion that the person next to them was their foe and caused them to annihilate themselves. In the book of Genesis, God caused division among the proud people building the tower of Babel by making them speak different languages; the breakdown of human communication instantly led to the abandonment of their ambitious and irreverent project.
The Philippines can benefit from the divide and conquer rule when and only when this tool finds itself in the hands of one wise, strong, and righteous leader whose only agenda is to put the country in good shape.
People will recognize him when this leader comes. He has no track record of serious wrongs, no skeletons in his closet; but like the rest of humanity, he has his share of slight human errors. His words are sincere. His actions are good and they match his words. His vision is clear. His plan is transparent.
This person has great talent and wisdom, but his actuations are always humble. He has distaste for monkey business and boot-lickers, but he is open-minded. He has compassion for the underdog but he has a keen eye for winners. He chooses to surround himself with people like himself, and he works through them and with them.
He is not an economist, but he will attract the top economist into his team. He is not a financial genius, but he will get the best and brightest financial talent. He is not a lawyer, but the greatest lawyer he can find he will put on board. He is not a doctor but the cream of the crop in the medical profession he will charge with the health of the nation. He is not a technical guy but he will find a working partner in the most technically qualified person in the land. He is a non-military person, but he will be the greatest commander-in-chief in Philippine history.
When he shows up, the few good men and women among the divided Filipino people must not hesitate to rally behind him. He will not offer rewards, but he won’t forget the contributions of those who support him. He will be strict, yet a joy to be around with.
This is not wishful thinking. God will not create a nation without such a person existing in our midst.
In his time the righteous leader will wield the tool of divide and conquer and drive terror and confusion into the hearts of the corrupt and all their supporters. He will defeat them. He.
When the Philippines is in good shape, truly the nation will achieve, with unprecedented swiftness, true greatness. We can’t say “This nation will be great again”. We have never been there.
