A Reflection on Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed

The existence of the oppressor is that there are people who can be oppressed. I realized

that its existence is so natural, like the day and night, the black and white symbol of

Taoism therefore, the oppressor and the oppressed. As I observe the world and its event,

there are two opposing force that always exist the positive and negative, cause and effect,

the thesis and anti-thesis, but I noticed these are the only one with two sides, like a coin, I

doubt to solve it because I never see it as a problem or an unnatural experience, I rather

observe it and see the process as it goes.

The author stated “An act is oppressive only when it prevents people from being more

fully human.” Then I asked, what is meant to be a fully human, who has the right to make

proper criteria. The theory of subjectivism and objectivism.

What if there is no positive and negative or an oppressor or an oppressed, there will be no

action on this. It will be a world of stagnant, no movement, no conflict, all are equal but

God loves variety and complexity. He made all things different.

I realized that the existence of the oppressor and the oppressed are but natural as it is.

They exist both for each other. There is nothing we can do about it. We have witnessed it

since the day of Cain and Abel, since the war in heaven between good and bad angels,

until now. I already accept it. To be truly humane is to accept the fact that it is normal

and natural.
I remember what Jesus said when He was asked by Pontius Pilate if He is a king, but

Jesus replied that this is not His kingdom and will not fight for it.

I believe that the education of the oppress is to enlighten all the individual that an

oppression is just an illusion and an oppressor are deceived by themselves and by their

ego. True liberation is to accept the truth that earth is not heaven and everything here is

an enormous possibility of evil happenings.

Jesus did not promise a happy and fulfilling life here on earth but instead he prophesied

war and tribulation that will happen. All we need is enlightenment if this reality, as long

as we are here on earth we will able to experience this phenomena. I believe we can never

solve the problem of the oppressed as long as we are here on earth, we can minimize but

we can’t dissolve it. Jesus said that he will save the people not the world. True humanity

is to accept the existence of everything and accepting it. This is the way enlightenment.

I have just prepared to live with the other world while experiencing the insanity of this

present world. Jesus said “I have overcome the world”

May the oppressed and oppressor be enlighten!

A Reflection

Jene Paul O. Gedang

III-A

Prof. Florante Delos Santos

December 7, 2009