'Who will save Filipinos from themselves?'
I am writing about the political situation in the Philippines. As a Canadian resident here, I see things somewhat from a non-partisan point of view. There is almost endless parroting in this country about the word democracy particularly in media circles and among the politicians. What stands out is the extent to which those who sing its [democracy's] praises the most are the ones most desirous of using undemocratic or illegal means to overthrow the lawfully constituted government of the people so as to gain power for themselves and their cohorts. In the Philippines, 'Democracy' is a sophisticated game played almost entirely by the professional news media, politicians, and the privileged classes, with the struggling masses just onlookers from the sidelines.
Not too long ago, my landlord who is a seaman earning in foreign currency said to me that people like us [him and me] should leave politics to the politicians as we are doing ok, meaning of course financially. He is a Filipino who has just completed construction of his fourth rental property which he rents to those with dollars, Koreans, etc. I was somewhat taken aback by this kind of attitude and pointed out to him that this country also belongs to him, his children, and future grandchildren.
This writer remembers growing up in poverty on a Caribbean Island in the 1940's and into the 1950's. I also recall how in the early 1980's when I first started visiting the Philippines that the daily lives of Filipinos here so reminded me of those long past times of my youth. But that was more than 50 years ago for heaven's sake, and I might add that the present residents of that Caribbean Island are very affluent and politically stable today. In other words, they have advanced with the times, but not so the Philippines.
Because a house divided against itself cannot stand, this country is like a rudderless vessel adrift on the ocean, while those whose task it is to steer the ship of state are endlessly bickering among themselves. With all the education and talent that Filipinos possess, in the world at large this nation can be seen as only mediocre at best. The worse thing about this is that, there appears to be many who seem proud of this. To these folks one can only say SHAME ON YOU, and WHERE IS YOUR AMBITION AND LOVE OF COUNTRY?
Returning to the matter of democracy, such a governmental system works only with the consent and will of the majority of the people. There are too many individuals in the Philippines who seem to devote their lives to overthrowing the system. Even or should I say particularly in a democracy, regardless of one's status, those who scheme, plan, or conspire together or individually to attempt to overthrow the state by force or other unlawful means should be treated as ordinary criminals. They should be charged with treason or sedition or such, and if found guilty given life imprisonment. Bear in mind that in a large number of countries such subversives would be executed by the state and rightfully so.
With reference to the news media, one notes that the treasons and seditionists are given so much prominence by way of endless air and print time so as to incite the population, and this is done under the pretence of FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. Presumably, there are some in the media who are anarchists, but for those members who are not, WHERE IS YOUR SENSE OF RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM?
The situation being as it is, the obvious question to ask is: How is it that the long-suffering Filipinos continue to tolerate this abuse, neglect, and exploitation from those they elect to govern? Here there is no division of opposition and government because there is really no difference. Why don't Filipinos get mad as hell and take back their country from the aforementioned highjackers?
So often when I read in the newspapers the comments of the opinion writers, they are lamenting the supposed erosion of freedom in this country, and of course they blame the present government. What utter nonsense! THE PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY IS THAT THERE IS TOO MUCH "FREEDOM"!
What's desperately needed in the Philippines and which will probably happen sooner than we think, is the advent of a very strong no-nonsense leader backed by the military who will put 'democracy' on ice for a while, then proceed to knock together the heads of the warring factions and others who treat politics as just a game. Hopefully, such a leader would strive to educate the people of this nation that they should work together rather than against each other for the common good of all!
(email address: extasy464@excite.com)