Wednesday, May 12, 2004
The Multifaceted Race
Instead of the usual bellowing of politicians who clamor that the recently-concluded yet ever-haunting National Elections is a big fat lie, there's a refreshing bit of news.
On the other side of the world, there is a Fil-Am general who, though bears the standard of the stars and stripes, is very much of a Filipino. Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba(who first caught my attention because of his surname due to apparent reasons) is giving the whole of the US Governement a great deal of head-shaking. His 53-page internal report on abuses of prisoners inside Abu Gharaib prison has put the century old issue of US war ethics back in the spotlight.
Taguba's report which is backed by photos and videos seized from the soldiers deployed in the prisons reveal "numerous incidents of sadistic, blatant, and wanton criminal abuses" against Iraqi prisoners.
US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has already appologized for the abuses which occured "under his nose".
Maj. Taguba is one Filipino worth noting. He left the Philippines for the US when he was 11 years old, which meant he has already built a solid foundation based on the Filipino values which evidently lack in today's Filipinos. It takes a lot of courage to face a Senate committee and expose the blunders of the most powerful nation in the world. In a CNN footage, he displayed firm conviction by strongly disagreeing to the US Undersecretary for Defense Intelligence Stephen A. Combone who plays Pilate in this US mishap.
Maj. Taguba is a rare epitome of how strong a Filipino moral fiber should be.
Speaking of moral fiber, the election is one piece of moral circus. Cheaters are everywhere! So what's new with that? Almost everyone are crying foul and everyone's washing hands. This is just one big farce that we are forced to take part in. Personally, I don't care who wins or not. Frankly, the choice whoever get's the much-coveted seats in the front row, can never determine the fate of millions of Filipinos. They are all the same - sheeps in wolves' clothings. Life goes on even if Eddie Gil wins. I know I'm being cynical and that's the same thing that TV networks and their "Youth be aware, every vote count, pinoy ako" campaigns are fighting. But let'sface it, I'm not even in the voting age yet but I'm already fed up with all these politics crap. Who isn't?
From rantings of massive cheating to shouts of disbelief, the nation has seen it all- even a zero vote for FPJ.
And who would overlook incumbent Paranaque city mayor Joey Marquez's graceful acceptance of his apparent landslide loss to former national security adviser Roilo Golez. Even though I stood aghast last night when I heard the news (I'm not a fan of our mayor), other candidates should his stride instead of questioning the integrity of suffrage (which I don't hold against them after seeing how shameless politicians think Manuel Quezons can get their names in ballots) and bawling for an EDSA 4 (come on! give us a break!).
Sen. Ping Lacson couldn't have said it better when he stated, "There is no more use crying over spilled milk and complaining about cheating if we failed to prevent it." I just hope he won't be eating what he said.
Haayyyy... I love Philippine politics, it's one big soap opera! It even beats the h*ll out off Dugong and the leagues of tele-seryes behind her back. I just wish that like all those primetime fillers, however winding and tiring the scripts, the characters, and the plots are, there would be a happy ending for our country.
I just love my Philippines!!!
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