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THE TWILIGHT ZONE OF TENACITY
Kathlyn Q. Barrozo
Class of 1991, University of Santo Tomas
B.S. Medical Technology
When is tenacity useful and constructive? It is good when tenacity does not allow unjustifiable acts and
questionable deeds. Tenacity is noble when the intentions are also thus. When the thing that we hold on to is
good and true in nature, such as when we stand firmly behind principles and beliefs that are shared by a
greater majority, or when our actions are unselfish and free of conspiratorial nature, then tenacity is indeed
great.
However, there are among us those who hold on to things which are inherently selfish and which cause harm
to others. Such people are blinded by ambition, greed and ill-will, harboring all manner of evil thoughts in
order to cling on to what they believe is rightly theirs.
Such are those whose lust for power and influence blind them to their neighbors’ plight, making them cast
aside all other interests but theirs alone. Such individuals have existed since the dawn of time, most likely as
passed down from the first man and woman on the planet. For wasn’t the thought of being in equal status with
the Almighty what brought down suffering to the human race?
And of course, there are those who hold on to vices. These people succumb to the weakness of the spirit and
create a number of excuses for doing so. “I can quit whenever I want to.” “Doing it once won’t really hurt.”
“Nobody knows about it anyway.” Or worse, “Everybody does it anyway.” The jury is out on whether such
people won’t readily jump off a bridge when someone says jump off. If we can not be responsible for our own
actions and cling on to the mistaken notion that there will always be a way out, then our tenacity is grossly
misplaced.
Another quite interesting case, worthy to be gossip fodder, is the tenacity to illicit relationships. Hell has no
fury like a woman (or a man—works both ways) scorned, or so they say. Those of you who have watched the
1987 thriller Fatal Attraction might remember the talented Glenn Close who played the scorned woman in the
movie. Michael Douglas played a husband (Dan Gallagher) who had a weekend affair with the character played
by Glenn Close (Alexandra ‘Alex’ Forrest). Unfortunately, for the husband, the weekend dalliance was
something that Alex didn’t want to put an end to so abruptly. Because of Alex’s tenacity—and Dan’s weakness--,
the affair continues. This results in a horrific psychological battle that escalates to violence and death. Tenacity,
in its evil form, is evil personified.
Tenacity is meant to be good and noble. But it has its ugly side; we might not notice it completely when we are
caught up with a sense of perseverance and persistence. But there is always a darker side, just as there are
always two sides of the same coin.
Questions for Discussion:
1.
Why do you think great power is intoxicating?
2.
What are some of the vices that people persistently cling to? What are the most common excuses they
have for not letting go of their vices?
3.
Who stands to lose more in an illicit relationship, the man or the woman? Or both? Justify your answer.
4.
What advice would you give to someone who persistently clings to a vice or an illicit relationship?
5.
How can a person with great influence and power not get blinded by them?