I support freedom of assembly and expression as enshrined in our Constitution.
But, I cannot support another 'OUST' movement. Permit me to be the Jose Rizal during the Spanish Revolution and not the Katipuneros' Emilio Aguinaldo and Andres Bonifacio. On the so-called 'Pro Democracy' 'Anti Duterte' side, we have constant grumblings on EJKs, lack of due process, investment chill (is the shift to China really good?), unjust climate leading up to fascism, dictatorship and the much dreaded martial law - which still hasn't happened by the way.
On the Pro-Duterte side, we have the various ragtag army of trolls, social media misfits that I wouldn't even care to name, the 'unholy alliance' of 'alleged criminal politicians' and the legions shouting 'death to drug addicts' and strangely enough, a lot of Christians and pseudo Christian sects.
I'm sick of both, to be frank.
The former for its hug the establishment, status quo coddling, protect the interests of the rich, blow up the trumpet of self-righteousness, while basically perpetuating what has been the 'kalakaran' of governance. Most of those involved in this side are the so called 'progressives', so called pro-Democracy, definitely pro-Business and a host of other things.
The latter for its gung ho anarchic we're macho men out to kick some badass attitude never mind due process and the law while still coddling the other 'elites' that the former side has put in jail on corruption charges. Not to mention, the chaotic exercise of power. I've met some of the staunchest supporters of this side, and I can tell that some may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - not from war, but from some definitely mind shocking crime that's been committed against them or their loved ones.
Both have doubtful moral ascendancy.
Reason 1. Anyone up for EDSA #99?
Just how many times do we have to do an 'EDSA'? This would be the 3rd or 4th, if ever.
That isn't far from the possibility as we have been racking up the number of revolts ever since the Spanish Colonial period. It's always been like that historically. People don't want the leadership, they go march with their trumpets or bolos while detailing the excesses of the leadership and installing new leaders - but with ties to just another set of the 'elites'. The truth is: the ordinary INDIO'S government, no matter who is in charge is held on the necks by multinational interests, large conglomerates with onerous contractual obligations, the traditional elites with their own interests and the constant influences of the international political climate.
There are just many things that we indios cannot even begin to comprehend nor control.
I believe that we should not take to the streets every time something happens that we don't like. We have fragile institutions that need nurturing and defending.
Reason 2. Removing PDuts from power will further embolden those who did wrong before
Granted we also cannot allow the trampling of our Constitutional rights and do away with the rule of law. Those are important and must be upheld. But fear is the only language that those who do wrong understand. They may not be afraid of the law, they may not be afraid of God, they may not be afraid of so many things - but they should be afraid of what they stand to lose if they do not follow the spirit of the law.
It's a complicated quandary, full of hypocrisies, full of contradictions - but one that 16 million people voted to answer. We are at the cusps of a pivotal time in our history, where we either change ourselves or we continue to let the structures of old continue.
The administration of PDuts is awash with its hands dipped in blood, that is true, but it is an organic reaction to the catastrophic failure of the judicial system to address flaws and concerns about how corruptible we are as a whole nation - as a people. Yes, we, in general as a people are corrupt due to tradition, due to practice, due to so many things that hold us back. Due to our own failures to own up and be accountable for our mistakes.
Moral ascendancy is a difficult theme and not as simplistic as some are trying to portray.
"There is none righteous, not even one." Romans 3:10
Reason 3. I'll just stop here, knowing that what I write will probably not be read anyway.
The gist of it all is that, yes, as far as I can read on the news, things are going to the shitter on so many fronts. That's endemic of the Filipino getting wounded, bruised, scratched from an iron grip that has existed long before PDuts or even Marcos.
We are our own very worst enemy.
Our own weaknesses lend us to mistakenly think, that one day or one week of rallying can change things.
Our own weaknesses lend us to delude ourselves into thinking that all it takes to bring righteousness back to the fore, is by removing one man, and installing another.
Our own weaknesses make us who we are, insecure brown Indios who don't take the blame for our own mistakes.
Our own weaknesses drive us to think we can take shortcuts to progress and do away with institutions and abstract concepts.
Yes, we are all hypocrites. Yes, we are all fallen. But politics has never been about moral ascendancy. It's about the authoritative allocation of scarce resources. That's the real gist of the matter.
We need a third force that can change our very culture, our very selves if we really want to transform. But as it is, all I can see is a perpetuation of a vicious cycle that has been going on for ages.
These are difficult times when it is hard if not impossible to fathom which side is telling the truth. But suffice to say, I'd rather content myself with the fact that I won't allow any side to use me for whatever their purposes.
There has to be something else.
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