Now, let us take a closer look at Guam's legend. You can find the story of Two Lovers' Point in this Guam website. As you read the story, notice that nowhere in the story did it say that the lesson to be learned is to get rid of forced marriage. This is what the ending of the story says (the bold is mine):
Since that day, Chamorros have looked to the jutting peak above Tumon Bay with reverence. The two lovers remain a symbol of true love--a love in which two souls are entwined forever in life and in death. Forever after, the high point on the cliff was known as Two Lovers Point.The Guam legend had always been about the two lovers. It was NEVER about "forced marriage." It focused on the two lovers and the ending says it all. The Chamorros looked at the cliff with REVERENCE. Why? Because the couple symbolized TRUE LOVE. Really? This couple committed suicide. True love is about suicide??? To top it off, they erected a statue of the two lovers at the site where it is said that they committed suicide. So, when impressionable teenagers read this in the Guam website, what message are they getting about "true love"?
If a teenager wants to know what "true love" is, he/she should look at the crucifix. Christ loved us so much that He humbled Himself in the form of a man and sacrificed his life on the cross so that we would be saved. That is what true love is. It is about sacrifice. It is not about suicide. With this kind of wrong message, is it any wonder why the suicide rate on Guam is much higher than the United States?
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.
No comments:
Post a Comment