"There are those who don't want women in the military, and who want to rape them out. And there are those who see civilians [in foreign countries] as 'practice' and don't care what happens to them. Rape is one of the greatest tools of war, and our government is essentially saying that rape of human beings is acceptable. We are a rape nation and this is all being done in our name." - Sgt. Dorothy Mackey
"...the role of U.S. overseas bases in the world -bases in the Philippines among them-- is to "act as magnets for enemy attacks, thus dispersing and weakening his threat to our cities and fixed installations." --Hanson W. Baldwin (1903-1991), U.S. Naval Academy Class 1924, N.Y. Times Military Editor, stated in the NY Times Weekly 2/17/57 & 8/18/57 - as quoted by Claro M. Recto
"In time of peace, foreign bases serve as protection for foreign investments within the country where the bases are established." - Claro M. Recto
PLEASE DONATE CORE SUBJECT BOOKS TO OUR HOMELAND (i.e. your hometown public schools, alma mater, etc.). Those books that you and/or your children do not need or want; or buy books from your local library during its cheap Book Sales. Also, cargo/door-to-door shipment is best. It is a small sacrifice. [clean up your closets or garage - donate books.THANKS!]
***********************************************************
The following previous posts and the RECTO READER are essential about us native, Malay Filipinos and are therefore always presented in each new post. Click each to open/read.
- WHAT WE FILIPINOS SHOULD KNOW:
- WHAT IS NATIONALISM [Filipino Nationalism]?
- Our Colonial Mentality and Its Roots
- The Miseducation of the Filipino (Formation of our Americanized Mind)
- Our Filipino Kind of Religion
THE RECTO READER is presented in several postings. Click below for previous posts:
- THE RECTO READER: Nationalism,Internationalism,Ultra-Nationalism, Part 1A of 6
- THE RECTO READER: Mission of Nationalism, Part 1B of 6
- THE RECTO READER: Economic Independence,Economic Nationalism,Part 2A of 6
- THE RECTO READER: Economic Nationalism Means Industrialization,Part 2B of 6
- THE RECTO READER: Industrialization: The Alternative to Poverty, Part 2C of 6
- THE RECTO READER: The Fallacy of "Philippines First," Part 2D of 6
- THE RECTO READER: Parity Rights, Currency Dependence, Foreign Loans versus Foreign Investments, Part 2E of 6
NOTE: Recto's cited cases, examples or issues were of his time, of course; but realities in our homeland in the present and the foreseeable future are/expectedly much, much worse. Though I am tempted to update them with current issues, it's best to leave them as they are since Recto's paradigms about our much deepened national predicament still ring relevant, valid and true. In short, Recto saw the forest and never got lost in the trees.- Bert
THE FILIPINO MIND blog contains 531 published postings you can view, as of October 25, 2012. Go to the sidebar to search Past & Related Postings, click LABEL [number in parenthesis = total of related postings]; or use the GOOGLE SEARCH at the sidebar using key words [labels, or tags] for topics of interest to you. OR click a bottom label or tag to open related topics.
The postings are oftentimes long and a few readers have claimed being "burnt out." My apologies. As the selected topics are not for entertainment but to stimulate deep thought (see MISSION Statement) and hopefully to rock the boat of complacency (re MISSION).
(1) Bold/Underlined words are HTML links. Click to see linked posts or articles.
(2) Scroll down to end of post to read or enter Comments. Any comment sent to my personal email will be posted here.
(3).Visit my other website SCRIBD/TheFilipinoMind; or type it on GOOGLE Search.View/Free Download pdf versions of: postings, eBooks, articles (120 and growing). Or another way to access, go to the sidebar of the THE FILIPINO MIND website and click on SCRIBD. PLEASE Share!
Statistics for my associated website:SCRIBD/theFilipinoMind :
119 FREE AND DOWNLOADABLE documents
148,510 reads
2,750 downloads
(4). Some postings and other relevant events are now featured in Google+, BMD_Facebook, BMD_Twitter and BMD_Google Buzz. (<--- all="all" available="available" but="but" click="click" each="each" for="for" i="i" maximize="maximize" means="means" mission.="mission." much="much" my="my" not="not" or="or" so="so" socialize="socialize" span="span" the="the" to="to" try="try">
(5) Translate to your own language. Go to the sidebar and Click on GOOGLE TRANSLATOR (56 languages - copy and paste sentences, paragraphs and whole articles, Google translates a whole posting in seconds, including to Filipino!!).
(6). From suggestions by readers, I have added some contemporary music to provide a break. Check out bottom of posting to play Sarah Brightman, Andrea Bocelli, Sting, Chris Botti, Josh Groban, etc.
(7) Songs on Filipino nationalism: please reflect on the lyrics (messages) as well as the beautiful renditions. Other Filipino Music links at blog sidebar. :
BAYAN KO by Freddie Aguilar <--- class="Apple-style-span" nbsp="nbsp" span="span" style="background-color: white;">click to play song.
”Bayan Ko” by KUH LEDESMA <-- class="Apple-style-span" span="span" style="background-color: white;">click to play song.
”Bayan Ko” by a Korean choir <--click play="play" song.="song." span="span" to="to">
”Sa Kuko ng Agila” by Freddie Aguilar <-- click="click" play="play" song.="song." span="span" to="to">
”Huwad na Kalayaan” by Freddie Aguilar <-- click="click" play="play" song.="song." span="span" to="to">
(8) Forwarding the postings to relatives and friends, ESPECIALLY in the homeland, is greatly appreciated. Use emails, Twitter, Google+, Facebook, etc. below. THANKS!!
********************
“Colonies do not cease to be colonies because they are independent” – Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister (1804-1881)
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
***********************
Subic Rape Case - American Military Attitude and Behavior, VFA, etc
Hi All,
To be a poor country --with a people in disunity and possessing a damaged culture and with rulers (not deserving to be called leaders) perennially characterized by mendicant and subservient attitudes and behaviors-- is to invite only abuses, insults and disrespect from foreigners and foreign nations; in our case oftentimes from Innocent America to which we are in awe- with our usual naive sentimentality and endless "utang na loob". Our neglect of our country's history and that of the world consequently led to our deep ignorance of American hidden truths/myths.
We Filipinos never learn: that inter-national relationships are not personal relationships; that so-called friendships between nations are not personal friendships. We Filipinos do not seem to get it at all: that all self-respecting nations look only and primarily after their own national interests, i.e. its people, which is understandable. In this regard our rulers have not done their part. As for us in general, given our gullibility, we still believe that we have special relations with America. Maybe we do, that is, between Master and Slave - the plantation mentality.
The disrespect for us Filipinos and our homeland by the American military/government was again recently demonstrated by the Subic Rape Case. Even with the post-WW2 American-imposed Bases Agreement not renewed, we still are having the same problems with the US military. This time thanks to the VFA (which includes BIA and SOFA provisions) railroaded by our perennially subservient rulers.
In the original posting, I predicted --but hoped to be wrong-- that the Subic Rape Case will be a whitewash, as all crimes/offenses by US military personnel ended in the past decades. Now, after our court let go the other American servicemen who were active participants in the crime and has convicted only one, our homeland's rulers in a very anti-Filipino decision, acted to further please the Americans by returning (in the middle of the night) to the US military the convicted American soldier-rapist and thus not serving his sentence in our homeland (only a strong and bully nation can impose on willing native accomplices/rulers).
All these crimes, all these foreign insults and disrespect to native Filipinos in our own homeland will not stop until we study our nationalist history to learn and understand ourselves, to know the "how, what, when, and why" we have lost our Filipino nationalism. Thus our mendicancy and colonial mentality remain unchallenged, which have perpetually kept us without national dignity and sovereignty in our own homeland.
Our traitorous rulers allow them to occur because majority of us natives are mainly illiterate. It is only by knowing ourselves can we act to free our caged minds, to strongly require our rulers to fight for and recover our national dignity and sovereignty as a people. With knowledge, we native Filipinos can unite, demand and ensure that our rulers do their job, i.e. for the native Filipinos.
It is long overdue that we learn, realize and remember that our homeland and we the Filipino people do not count in the eyes of the American military/government. Thus in the case of military rape and any other crime committed in our homeland by American servicemen, we will only be continually taken for granted and pressured to remain on our knees, with extended hand begging and being unquestioningly conditioned to be pro-American and anti-Filipino.
In the below article, it is instructive to know how difficult it is for American military women, regardless of military rank, to pursue their rape charges against fellow American military men. What more for a Filipino woman?
It is long overdue that we destroy our Americanized minds with Filipino nationalism for the good of the native Filipino - maybe too late for our generation - but for the sake of the next generations of native Filipinos.
Click to see more postings about US military modus operandi:
http://thefilipinomind.blogspot.com/2005/11/us-military-rape-case-tests-philippine.html,
http://thefilipinomind.blogspot.com/2005/11/bilateral-immunity-agreements-so.html,
http://thefilipinomind.blogspot.com/2005/11/status-of-forces-agreement-sofa-status.html,
http://thefilipinomind.blogspot.com/2005/11/us-troops-here-to-stay-important.html,
http://thefilipinomind.blogspot.com/2005/11/u.html)
- Bert
“Nations, whose NATIONALISM is destroyed, are subject to ruin.” - Colonel Muhammar Qaddafi, 1942-, Libyan Political and Military Leader
"Upang maitindig natin ang bantayog ng ating lipunan, kailangang radikal nating baguhin hindi lamang ang ating mga institusyon kundi maging ang ating pag-iisip at pamumuhay. Kailangan ang rebolusyon, hindi lamang sa panlabas, kundi lalo na sa panloob!" --Apolinario Mabini, La Revolucion Filipina (1898)
"If it is commercialism to want the possession of a strategic point [Philippines] giving the American people an opportunity to maintain a foothold in the markets of that great Eastern country [China], for God's sake let us have commercialism." – U.S. Senator Mark Hanna,(1837-1904)
"The chief business of America is business" - President Calvin Coolidge, 1925
*****************************************************
Rape Nation
By Kari Lydersen, AlterNet
As a new officer in the Air Force who trusted the institution and the men she worked with, Dorothy Mackey didn't think she would ever be sexually assaulted by her fellow servicemen. She was wrong.
When a military ob-gyn did things during an examination that didn't seem right, soon after she joined the service in 1983, she tried to rationalize her disturbing thoughts away. When she had another bad experience with a military ob-gyn in 1986, at the Spangcahlem Air Force Base in Germany where she was stationed, it was harder to look the other way."He sodomized me," she said. "I started looking into what happens in a normal ob-gyn examination, and that is definitely not supposed to be part of it."
But when she was violated again about a year later, it was clear. Her group was on a training mission in Spain, passing some downtime by playing volleyball. By this time she was a sergeant, in charge of many of the enlisted men there.
"I had had a few drinks, but I know my body really well and I was not drunk," she said. She asked a male friend who was a first sergeant for a drink of water, but after two gulps of it, she realized something was very strange. She demanded to know what was in the drink, but soon she was staggering and losing her balance."In college everyone has had their moments, but I never experienced anything like that," she said. "I knew I had been poisoned." She staggered inside and began violently vomiting.
"He was standing at the door laughing," she said of the supposed friend who gave her the drink."When I had nothing left to throw up I passed out and he took me to his room. I woke up and there were four men in the room playing cards, I remember them laughing and saying, 'Sergeant I've never seen you like this,' like they were glad I had loosened up and was enjoying myself.
I passed out again and the next time I came to, he was on top of me, penetrating me. I remember telling him no and then passing out again. I woke up again to a loud knock on the door, someone who was concerned about me asking how I was doing. He was hiding behind the door naked with a full erection. I knew if I didn't do something I would be raped again."Despite feeling like she didn't have the energy to move she pulled herself out of the room and down the hall, she said. Later when she tried to complain to her superiors about the rape, no one wanted to hear it.
Dorothy Mackey is not alone. She and other women veterans recounted their experiences at the National Summit of Women Veterans Issues in Washington, DC June 19th and 20th. As an officer, scores of women had come to Mackey and told her about abuse and rapes they had suffered, by officers, fellow enlisted men and doctors. Many of the attacks involved servicemen intentionally getting women drunk or drugging them and taking them off base.
"When you are a new woman walking onto a military base, you are like a deer and it's deer hunting season, but you don't know it," she said. "You think you can trust these people, you believe in the mission you are on together." In 1992, Mackey quit the service, mainly because of the repeated incidences of sexual assault and domestic violence and other wrong-doing that she had seen go unpunished on the base. In 1994 she filed a civil lawsuit in a district court in Dayton, Ohio against the specific men who had assaulted her, including the superiors who abused her when she tried to report the previous assaults. The Justice Department decided to represent the defendants, so the case was moved to federal court. The Department of Justice attorney said the case should not be brought to trial on the grounds that it constituted a threat to national security, representing a "disruption of good order, morale and discipline."
After making its way through the appeals courts, it ended up in front of the Supreme Court which refused to hear the case in 1998 and again in 2000.Meanwhile Mackey founded a group called Survivors Take Action Against Abuse by Military Personnel (STAAMP) to fight the rampant rape and sexual abuse in the military and demand justice and reform. She says over 4,300 women have contacted her about being raped or assaulted while in the service, and in the vast majority of cases watching their attackers go scot-free while they are humiliated and threatened for speaking out about the attacks.
At a press conference during the National Summit of Women Veterans Issues, women cited surveys indicating that up to 50 percent of military women have experienced sexual assaults, and 78 percent have experienced sexual harassment. Because of the intimidation and harassment that women face for reporting assaults, the military's own numbers are much lower. But even so, they show a rise in assaults over the past few years.
An analysis of Army records and reports published by The Washington Post on June 3 showed that reported sexual assaults increased 19 percent from 1999 to 2002, from 658 to 753, and rapes increased 25 percent, from 356 to 445.A May 27 report from an Army task force stated that the Army "does not have a clear picture of the sexual assault issue" and lacks an "overarching policy" to deal with the problem. The report was prepared because of complaints by women's groups and lawmakers about apparently increased assaults against servicewomen in Iraq and Afghanistan.
During the National Summit, women pointed out that far from being an isolated problem, the military nurtures a culture of sexual violence and contempt for women that is linked to the rape and sexual abuse of women in occupied countries or countries where the U.S. has military bases, as well as rapes and assaults of women in U.S. prisons and jails. Rapes and sexual assaults are also often known to be high in U.S. cities and towns with military bases.
On June 28, a Nashville T.V. station reported that Fort Campbell soldier Johnathan David Loynes was arrested for violently kidnapping 10- and 13-year-old girls who lived nearby and trying to force them to perform oral sex on him."It's all connected," said Phoebe Jones, a member of the group Global Women's Strike, which is joining STAAMP and other women's groups in a campaign to "STAAMP Out Rape by the Military."
"You have prison guards here, like Charles Grainer [implicated in the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal], who go to Iraq and abuse people there. Then you have soldiers come back from Iraq or Afghanistan getting jobs as prison guards, and they rape and abuse people. The military could stop it if they want to, but they don't want to. They're socializing men into doing this." Global Women's Strike has been in contact with women's and human rights advocates in Iraq who say women detainees and civilians are regularly raped and abused there.
A press release they put out alleges that as part of the inquiry into abuses in Iraqi prisons, Congressmen have been shown photos of gang rapes and other abuses of women."They're suppressing the photos of women being raped because the public would just be outraged," said Jones.The STAAMP Out Rape Campaign is demanding that:1) an oversight body independent of the Department of Defense investigate all rapes and assaults by military members;2) that the Veterans Administration (VA) must provide benefits and care to rape and assault survivors;3) that women be allowed to choose a female health care provider; that reports of rape be treated seriously; and 4) other measures ensuring that there is accountability and that the problem is taken seriously.
Currently, servicewomen are not allowed to request a female ob-gyn or to deal with a female investigator after reporting an assault. And servicewomen who suffer post traumatic stress disorder or other physical and mental effects from being raped or assaulted report that they are often unable to obtain health care or benefits from the VA, with VA doctors and officials denying that their trauma exists or saying that it isn't service-related.One of the campaign's demands is an end to the use of the so-called McDowell Checklist to determine whether rape reports are valid.
The checklist, developed by retired Air Force Lt. Col. Charles McDowell, is made up of 57 questions that are scored with .5 to 5 points for each answer. A score of over 16 points means a woman's rape charge is "probably false," over 36 is "false" and over 76 is "overkill." If a woman is having problems with her husband or boyfriend, she gets three points. Financial problems earn one point. Even "demanding" to be given medical treatment by a female earns her a point."There is no way any rape victim can pass this test," said Mackey.
Considering the seeming irrelevance and bias of the questions, it is not surprising that the McDowell checklist turns up a 60 percent incidence of "false" rape reports, compared to a national average of about eight percent (according to FBI numbers).Other statements McDowell has made over the years show his blatant contempt for women. The book "For the Love of Country" by T. S. Nelson quotes a woman who attended a 1992 Air Force Office of Special Investigations seminar given by McDowell, in which he said women who make rape allegations fall into three categories: "narcissists, socio-paths and immature, impulsive, inadequate, types"
His apparent belief that women make rape accusations mainly to get attention is belied in some of the checklist questions, for example does the woman "describe the assault with a sense of relish or enthusiasm." While women bear the brunt of rape in the military, advocates point out that as seen in Abu Ghraib, both enlisted men and male detainees in foreign countries are also raped and abused, and these attacks are likewise hidden. Speakers at the National Summit said that there is often also a racial element to sexual attacks and harassment.
A male veteran who was sexually abused in the military said that "soldiers are trained to take whatever they want, whether from fellow servicemen or Iraqi detainees, and they know they will be protected." Mackey sees this culture of arrogance paired with misogyny and resentment toward women in the military. "There are multiple agendas to the attacks," she said. "There are those who don't want women in the military, and who want to rape them out. And there are those who see civilians [in foreign countries] as 'practice' and don't care what happens to them. Rape is one of the greatest tools of war, and our government is essentially saying that rape of human beings is acceptable. We are a rape nation and this is all being done in our name."
Kari Lydersen, a regular contributor to AlterNet, also writes for the Washington Post and is an instructor for the Urban Youth International Journalism Program in Chicago. She can be reached at karilyde@aol.com. © 2006 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved.Source: http://www.alternet.org/story/19134/
Napakaganda ng inyong mensahe para mapanatili ang hustisya sa ating bansa...pero dahil caretaker lang ang presidente natin dapat ibalik na niya ang pamumuno sa dating pangulo...malalalim ang ingles mo pero sa sarili mong bansa dapat magumpisa ang hustisya....dahil presidente natin ay peke....talunan hindi nanalo kung hindi mandadaya...alam yan ng mga leader dito sa america o kahit saang bansa...para respetuhin tayo ng ibang bansa dapat ayusin natin ang gusot sa ating bansa...kawawa talaga ang mga kababaihan sa atin napakasipag pa naman at magaganda....kawawa ang maliliit lalong inaapi pero hindi na iba ang nangaapi sa atin nandyan mismo sa harap natin,,,masakit aminin pero totoo, alam niyang mapagtiis tayo pero tama na hwag na siyang magmalinis...
ReplyDeleteHi Bert:
ReplyDeleteThe unfortunate events in the "Subic Rape Case" which
raised questions on the VFA is principally the fault
of the Philippine Senate. In the treaty between the
Philippines and the United States governing the VFA,
the Philippine Senate failed to provide adequate
provisions regarding the custody of American service
men charged in Philippine courts.
This is the second time that the Philippine Senate
failed miserably in providing adequate safeguards for
the custody of American servicemen charged in
Philippine courts. During the heyday of the American
military bases in our country, the defunct Philippine
Senate under the 1935 Constitution failed also to
adequately address this issue. Hence, many American
servicemen who were charged in our courts escape the
verdict of our local courts because the custody of
American servicemen charged in our local courts was
handled by the Americans.
One complicating factor in the "Subic Rape case" was
the incessant demonstrations of communist front rebels
demanding the conviction of Smith. Public
demonstrations in court demanding the conviction of
somebody who is being tried there is contrary to law.
However, Judge Puzon failed to stop these
demonstrations by ordering the arrest of those
responsible for these demonstrations. Since it was the
communist front rebels who were behind these
demonstrations, it is understandable why Judge Puzon
was easily intimidated by these communist front rebels
to declare Smith guilty in the "Subic Bay rape" trial
as they demanded.
The Philippine government will face a serious quandary
if Smith is repatriated to the United States without
first waiting for the appeal of Smith in our Court of
Appeals praying for the reversal of his conviction in
the Makati Circuit Criminal court.
If there should be any demonstrations against our
government, those demonstrations should be directed
against the Philippine Senate for their failure to
provide adequate measures for the custody of American
servicemen charged in Philippine courts. They are the
ones principally responsible for this legal
controversy.
Furthermore, the ones responsible for the continuous
demonstrations demanding the conviction of Smith
should face trial for intimidating the judge to
declare Smith guilty in that trial. I think this is
hard because the demonstrators are communist rebels.
When would one of our citizens risk his life in facing
these communist rebels in court to compel them to obey
the laws of the land is difficult to assess. It is
easy to accuse the government because the government
would not assassinate people who are dissatisfied with
their performance, but demonstrating against the NPA
rebels is another thing since the NPAs would not
hessitate to assassinate anybody who tells them they
are doing the wrong thing.
Very truly yours,
RAMON A. DEL GALLEGO
Disclaimer:
ReplyDeleteDear bmdrona@gmail.com, I have seen your email address in a few of emails copied me. Though I must admit, I have not had the pleasure of a more personal introduction. Needless, your email came to me unsolicited and without any indication as to whether you agreed with the thoughts expressed herein or not.
Therefore, I am not clear on the intent and purpose of your sending me these unsolicited postings from characters and persons who are obviously "secular-progressives", i.e., those who are always waging war against a culture of conservative tradition - the tradition that helped build the civilizations of the world, that these agitators and unfulfilled underachievers are now rallying and demonstrating to destabilize, because they know no better, and have accomplished and achieved, even much less.
In a democracy, there are laws. Designed to protect all. Equalize all. If you are on the "right side" (read: the correct side), of the law, you are protected by its dictum; its demands; its orders. If you are on the "left side" (i.e., wrong side), then you shall be subject to its sanctions. There is a dictum in law - "duro lex sed/est lex." Meaning, the law may be hard. But that is the law. And regardless of who, all must obey and observe the law, or face and suffer the consequences of violating the law. That is the tradition and conservatism that is discussed here.
There was a crime committed. The RTC heard the case. Decided. Found the defendant guilty. The defendant (with the help of his lawyers) appealed the decision. Deliberations are going through the judicial process. Meanwhile, a question of law arose as to the "custody" of the defendant, during the appeal proceedings. The judge who found the defendant guilty of rape, also decided that custody should be in the hands of the Philippine authorities. The Philippine government, acting with the US Embassy (representing the USA), jointly decided and agreed, that an international agreement previously agreed upon between the two governments - called the Voluntary Forces Agreement - supersedes such decision, as clearly enunciated in the VFA. Specifically, that the custody of the US military personnel found guilty of the crime of rape, which is still on appeal, belongs to the USA. The only other condition required to be met is that the custody by the USA of a USA military personnel found guilty of rape, and which case is on appeal, must be within the territory of the Philippines. And this agreement has also been fulfilled, with the further understanding that the appropriate Philippine authorities would have access to visitation and inspection of the conditions and facilities intended for incarceration.
To be sure, certain ambiguities in the Philippine laws that have been brought into conflict with the equally (if not more so) ambiguous provisions of the VFA, have been exposed, brought to light, and remain unresolved, pending Supreme Court clarifications and rulings. In due time this will be resolved, by the Supreme Court, most assuredly. As to the time when such SC decision will be forthcoming is completely outside of any and all intelligent "analysis-paralysis" by the laymen...and speculations, by specially the bloggers, who you have cited here as the authors of this "trolling and flaming" posting in the internet. Verily, these postings are bereft of any intelligent deliberations, and hinge purely on the rabid and raving rantings and emotional outbursts of fundamentalists and extremists secular-progressives. Perry Mason has a favorite redirect against these kinds of outbursts and unfounded allegations: "...irrelevant, immaterial, and inconsequential". I consider these kinds of postings trash. Hoaxes. Designed to troll and flame conscientious netizens who use (and not abuse) the right and opportunity to express one's belief through cyberspace . This posting is nothing but garbage in...with its garbage out self-serving conclusions.
I respect the right of every individual to speak their mind. But in the exercise of our basic and inalienable rights to speak freely, there are equally basic and unavoidable duties. For that is how the law operates. That's how a civilized and enlightened society is built up and developed. For every right, there is a duty. Without a duty, there can be no right. And without a law, there can be no duty.
For the law commands, or forbids. It commands: Do this. It forbids: Don't do this. Or, Avoid this. It is from this principle of law that duty is created and imposed. Upon all. Thus, if an individual is subject to a law, then he has the profound obligation to observe its commands, and to avoid what it prohibits.
By the same logic, it is from this duty, that those subject to (governed by) the law, acquires the right. This is the right to perform the duty or obligation, required by law. By logical extension, this right includes having the right to all the means, determined to be necessary, in fulfilling one's duty, or performing one's obligation, and to enable such individual to perform his duties well.
Finally, therefore, if an individual has the right to perform a duty, as well as the rights to all the means required to perform such obligation under the law, well, then it follows, that EVERY OTHER INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE THE DUTY OR OBLIGATION TO RESPECT SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT.
Take the case of the much resorted to, but unfortunately narrowly-understood (misunderstood, therefore), "freedom of expression" - as an "inalienable right of an individual". Can it possibly exist without any duty? Or any kind of obligation? Without a law, there can be no duty. So what law governs the "right to freedom of expression?" This question, alone, in and of itself, can produce a myriad of responses, legal and moral interpretations. Is there such a law to begin with? If anybody answers with "It Depends", then most assuredly, that individual is a "moral relativist".
When an individual TESTIFIES to the veracity and truth of one's testimony and conviction, how does one typically manifest such belief, under the law (under oath)? "I swear to tell the truth, The whole truth. And nothing but the truth!" One speaks freely, only when one speaks the truth. And truth must be based on facts. And what is a fact? If it happens, that is a fact. If it is, (if it exists) that is a fact. Therefore, a fact is anything that happens. Or anything "that is" (or exists). Outside of this definition, "something that appears to exist", or "something that one believes may have happened", do not qualify as facts; but as mere claims and allegations, based on (one's own individual) perceptions.
To a moral-relativist "the reality and factuality of every action-event is based on an individual's perception (and perceptive ability)." The moral-relativist declaims:
"If I look up, and you look down; Upon the biggest man in town;
I'll see his feet, his hands, his nose. You'll see his head, his knees, his toes;
And though it is one man we see, you'll swear he's A; I'll swear he's B."
(Psychiatry for the Curious - Preston)
Moral relativists promote the philosophy of relativism. Everything is relative to how an individual perceives things. Objective reality becomes a mere figment of one's imagination. Fact - what is; what happens - does not exist outside of one's perception. "Nothing is in the intellect that is not first perceived by the senses." Therefore, if I do not perceive, or "see it that way", it cannot be anything else but "not that way".
Secular-Progressives, likewise, adhere to and support moral relativism. But they go many steps further in their extreme liberalism. Leftist militancy. Fundamentalism. And anarchic activism. They are constantly attacking the tradition and history of a civilization, and expressing disenchantment for anything and everything that has been built and established through "good old-fashion traditional and conservative principles and lifestyle."
Their inner insatiable rage is understandable. For no matter how they agitate; or flame and troll (in the case of the internet media), one simple and undeniable reality is -
THEY HAVE FAILED IN ALL THEIR EFFORTS TO DESTABILIZE WHAT THE SILENT (BETTER ENLIGHTHENED POSITIVELY-DRIVEN) MAJORITY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BUILT AND DEVELOPED THROUGH THEIR LONG HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL CONSERVATISM, RESPECT AND RECOGNITION OF CREATION AND THE EXISTENCE OF A SUPREME BEING.
To be sure, these secular-progressives who spin and bloviate constantly and incessantly - fawn, feign, froth, fret and vent their frustrations against "the silent majority group of ACHIEVERS" - are really subconsciously and extemporaneously exposing - NOTHING MORE - but their own feelings of self-inadequacy and lack of self-esteem. They do make a lot of noise, and attract some-kind of attention. But thank God, they are "the noisy minority."
Indeed. A nation has no soul or conscience. It only has (economic and pecuniary) interests to protect. That's the way the world has been created. That's the way our civilization has grown, developed and matured. In the face of overwhelming evidences and facts, the "noisy minority", continue to bloviate; relentlessly spin; and speculate to no end, about their philosophy of "moral relativism". They are completely unmindful of the fact that to persuade the overwhelming silent majority to their way of "perceiving" things and events, they will have to do and offer something much, much better than their exaggerated enthusiasm and "much ado about nothing". They will have to offer something "different". Like some kind of positive and palpable achievements. They have been selling the same "virtual reality of a utopian world and society", over and over again. They have perfected, it seems, the art of 'in-breeding" - selling the same ideas and concepts to themselves. Some kind of "incest", hmm? Thank God, nobody else is buying.
Are you selling bmdrona@gmail.com?
Pepeton
Am forwarding this Comment/article from Ms. Gemma Cruz-Araneta (bold characters mine - Bert)
ReplyDeleteMakati, 6 January 2007
Dear Mr. Drona,
I have read with great interest "The Filipino Mind".
I was trying to post the following article in the Comments section but it was taking ages (systems glitch due to Taiwan earthquake).
I hope you find it useful.
May you have a spectacular 2007.
Sincerely,
Gemma Cruz Araneta
---------- Forwarded message ----
From: gemma araneta
Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2006 08:22:56 -0800 (PST)
Subject: A patriot's pain
A Patriot’s pain
Manila Bulletin, Tuesday,
19 December 2006
Landscape
Gemma Cruz Araneta
A Patriot’s pain
December should be declared our patriotic month as so many things happened to us during this month—the execution of Dr. Jose Rizal in 1896,the Battle of Pasong Tirad in 1898, followed by the ratification by the US Senate of that deed of sale known as the “Treaty of Paris”.
We should not forget the bombing of Pearl Harbor, of more recent memory. There are probably other events, many glorious and some ignoble, yet to be discovered. Filipinos have been kept in the dark about our own history.
I gave myself an early Christmas gift. I bought a book with brittle pages,unraveling at the spine,
but which cost me an arm and a leg. I felt I had to buy it as I was almost moved to tears by the author’s foreword.
Felipe G. Calderon,patriot, lawyer and author of the Malolos Constitution wrote: Mis memorias sobre la Revolucion Filipina:segunda etapa 1898 a 1901.
In his foreword,”Por que publico estas memorias”(literally- why I publish these memoirs),Calderon said he felt deep anguish when he learned that the majority of private school students who took the entrance exams to the Escuela de Medicina del Gobierno, did not even get a passing grade because they failed “Historia de Filipinas”.
Apparently, one of the questions was about the Pacto de Biak-na-Bato which most students from non-government institutions had not even heard of.
Calderon sadly observed that private schools had neglected the teaching of “la Historia Patria” and felt that was “verdaderamente desconsolador”(truly disconsolate).
On the other hand, in public schools, Philippine history was taught but from the point of view of the American colonial masters.
In 1905, three hundred students signed the audacious “Memorial de los Estudiantes Filipinos” a document prepared for US Senator William J. Bryan who came to the Philippines for a visit.
Although the First Republic had been crushed, its embers glowed as the students (future doctors, pharmacists and lawyers) denounced the atrocities of the American invasion, in no polite terms, and demanded complete and absolute
Independence. Things must have changed so drastically in two years that Felipe Calderon felt constrained to write his memoirs.
This brings to mind another book, A Brief History of the Philippines, by Leandro H. Fernandez,Ph.D. who was once head of the History Department of
the University of the Philippines.
His opus was published by no less than Ginn and Company in 1919,the year when the Flag Law was finally abrogated. As you know, in 1907, when elections were held for the first Philippine Assembly, the Filipino flag was a rallying point of the candidates who clamored for immediate Independence.
Immediately, the Flag Law was imposed, prohibiting the public display or our nation colors and emblem. Subsequently, revised editions of Fernandez’s work were published in 1932 (before the Commonwealth), and in 1951.
Published five years after our Independence was finally restored, Fernandez’s history book still carried the “disclaimer” which probably appeared in 1919: “Controversial views have purposely been omitted, on the ground that such discussions, though they may be of advantage to maturer students, serve only to confuse young pupils.”
Felipe Calderon must have turned in his grave when that came out and has not stopped doing so because generations of Filipinos continue learning abridged and fragmented versions of their history.
Many of the “controversial views” so studiously omitted by Fernandez had been meticulously compiled by Calderon in his Memorias. Before it falls apart, I am reading his book and sharing the patriot’s pain.
gcaranenta
Pepeton,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response.
No question that the VFA was agreed on by our native rulers as expected --without the full knowledge and understanding by the majority of the native Filipino citizenry.
On our larger population or to you, the silent majority, have we really wondered why they are silent here and other national issues?
Let me say that it is a common observation for us Filipinos to attack the messenger rather than the message; your comment was heavily on the former. I do not want to be drawn into or end up in such puerile and therefore useless exchange.
Actually, I have read some of your exchanges in other blogs thus I understand where you are coming from.
With regard to your query whether I am "selling", I suggest you visit my blogsite and read its header/description.
As to your getting unsolicited mail, you are in my mailing list via a mailing I get from an email buddy. Inform me if you want your name dropped.
Again thanks for reading my blog and taking time to respond.
Bert
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteMaraming salamat sa iyong pagtugon.
Bert
Hi Ramon,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your feedback.
As we know now, convicted American soldier-rapist Smith is back to his fold courtesy of the subservient Arroyo regime and therefore beyond the reach of our justice system.
However, I disagree with your seeing that those who protest are communists. I say that communists do not have a monopoly of understanding the root causes of the sociopolitical-economic predicaments under which the native and poor majority suffer. The world then and now is not just between noncommunists and communists.
Note that world communism, as in its former bastion USSR has practically failed after 75 years or so; nationalism within Russia itself and in its satellite countries ultimately won.
Let us be remind ourselves that nationalism is NOT communism; in fact the latter suppressed the former(though sometimes use it). This would be another story though.
Anyway, whether communists or not, there are valid and good reasons to stage protests-in-the-streets.
And the unpunished crime in the Subic Rape Case being a symptom or product of our caged and colonized hearts and minds(which Filipino nationalism struggles against).
Regards,
Bert
You asked:
ReplyDelete"On our larger population or to you, the silent majority, have we really wondered why they are silent here and other national issues?"
Pepeton says:
"No need to 'wonder why'. The simple fact and reality is - MOST(that means, an overwhelming majority) of citizens are not as POLITICALLY INCLINED, nor as POLITICALLY INTERESTED, or as POLITICALLY WIRED; and as POLITICALLY WANNABEE...contrary to what media, (bloggers included) characterize the citizenry to be. Actually, this mischaracterization is not limited to the Philippines.
It is a universal fact, that most of the citizens of the world (or majority of the population of the world) are not all that PREOCUPPIED, or OBSESSED-FIXATED with POLITICS or POLITICIANS, again, as media-at-large would feign, fawn, froth, rant, and rave, rabidly and incessantly, insatiably.
But media makes it its primary concern and focus. Why? Because that is how media perceives their business. That if they focus on issues other than political, politicians or politicking (influence peddling and rumor mongering), people will not subscribe or buy their "non-political news". Besides, "political news reporting, punditries and analyses-paralysis, and similar such commentaries, bloviatings and spins are easy sell." No need to prove. Therefore, no need to research.
Alleged it. Do it in pursuit or aid of legislation. How about in search for morality in governance? Etc. And so forth. And so on. Most people can only spend so much time on crap like these. As for the few who do not mind...i.e., the ones who are "political"..., why they are the ones who make most of the noises. And since media is predominantly run by EXTREMIST LIBERALS-MORAL RELATIVISTS, LEFT MILITANT ANARCHISTS, they can manipulate and slant the "news" to give it the appearance that "politics and politicians" play a major role in the daily lives of individual citizens and their society. In fact they do not.
On the other hand, on issues of BASIC and FUNDAMENTAL needs for survival, and legitimate aspirations for better quality of life, there is a DAILY GROWING NUMBER OF CONCERNED CITIZENS, who are participating in nation building...the GAWAD KALINGA WAY:
"CUT TO THE CHASE (CUT THE POLITICAL CRAP AND CRAPPING INCLUDING ALL BLOGGINGS AND POLITICAL ANALYSIS PARALYSES) The GAWAD KALINGA WAY is simple - "Just give until it hurts...until you have nothing left to share...for it is in (care)giving that a society matures...and it is in (care)sharing that a nation progresses. We're not asking for a handout (that means no political influence peddling), just a VOLUNTARY helping hand. Tulong Kapatid. Balikat Kapit Bahay."(Pepeton)
Gawad Kalinga has shown how to help in nation building efforts, WITHOUT POLITICS, WITHOUT POLITICIANS and their POLITICKINGs...civil, social or religious...
To paraphrase the inimitable "Silence is Golden ", late Senator Gene Magsaysay "Panay kudkod, panay kayod...ang bansa ay itaguyod...Kasi, big tok, big mistake...small tok, small mistake, walang dakdak, walang palpak...(no tok, no mistake)..." When asked, "Senator, How can we rally the overwhelming silent majority of the people to become concerned and particpative constituents?"
The incomparable Senator Gene, squinted, pursed his lips, took a deep breath and sighed: "NO COMMENT." (then moved on!)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Pepeton
P.S.
Bert, You added: "Let me say that it is a common observation for us Filipinos to attack the messenger rather than the message; your comment was heavily on the former. I do not want to be drawn into or end up in such puerile and therefore useless exchange. "
"Actually, I have read some of your exchanges in other blogs thus I understand where you are coming from."
Pepeton REDIRECTS:
Thank you for answering my original question: "Are you selling?" I took your invitation and visited your blog site. I noted particularly your favorite "writers-authors" are "liberals and militant left leaning", fundamentalists and anti-traditionalists and conservatives. To be sure, their "sociological and political teachings" "widely-publicized commentaries and analyses of world situations," are essentially what the "secular-progressives" advocate. That explains more obviously why you blog the way you do, and select and opt to post news, and comments the way you do. Your comment here about "attacking the messenger, instead of the message" is a bit trite and hackneyed. It's the same line that the "secular-progressives" have been using to defend their protestations, specially when "cornered".
Actually, it is quite presumptuous of you to claim that you know where I am coming from based on my other internet postings you have read. But I will grant you that.
In fact, I will let you have the final say.
Noblesse oblige,
Pepeton
Hello Pepeton,
ReplyDeleteOf course, it does not take a rocket scientist to realize the majority is typically silent in any society.
And more so under continually repressive regimes; as our society has been/is and where historically internalized conditioning from colonization, miseducation, persistent medieval Catholic beliefs and teachings, etc. still contribute strongly to avoidance and fear of critical social analysis or questioning the status quo.
Thus, as you know (I hope), in our homeland it is very difficult enough to have reform and impossible to have the needed fundamental socioeco-political changes).
World history has repeatedly demonstrated that desired long-term changes do not start without a noisy and ranting minority (to you).
"Cornered?" Quite amusing claim.
"Actually, it is quite presumptuous of you to claim that you know where I am coming from based on my other internet postings you have read. But I will grant you that" --you responded......
.... All I can say Pepeton is: step back, analyze/study your habit of thinking. Reread what you yourself just believingly wrote with highlighted and capitalized labels (which you obviously love to do)-- about me being.
And keep your cool.
Salamat ulit sa pagbasa at pagsulat. Bye.
Bert
Hi Bert:
ReplyDeleteAs I know, when a case is being tried in court, no
press comments are allowed much less demonstrations
because the case is deemed sub judice. Even the press
is not allowed to take pictures of the court
proceedings or to publish the testimonies of the
witnesses.
In the famous Dreyfuss case in France before World War
I, continuous demonstrations by an anti-Semitic public
caused the courts to declare Col. Dreyfuss guilty of
the charge of giving sensitive information about the
French Army to the German Army. Col. Dreyfuss was a
Jewish officer of the French Army who was accused of
spying for the Germans. Just before the outbreak of
World War I, Col. Dreyfuss was finally acquitted by a
French higher court and served the French Army during
the entire war.
Many commentators of the famous Dreyfuss case in
France said that public pressure caused by these
anti-Semitic demonstrators caused the lower courts to
declare Dreyfuss guilty of the charges.
These demonstrations by an irate public when a case is
being tried in court is a demonstration of the
immaturity of the people when it comes to managing
their democracy.
In Protestant nations, the populace has a high respect
for settling their disputes according to the legal
process. Hence, there are no coup d'tats in these
nations. Unfortunately, in Catholic nations, the
populace there is still learning the advantages of
living under the rule of law.
During the investigation of the Oakland Mutiny by the
Philippine Senate, the rebel officers accused the
investigating senators of being rebels themselves when
they joined EDSA II mob to demand the ouster of Pres.
Estrada even though the Senate has not finished with
its impeachment process against Pres. Estrada.
What was the ultimate result of EDSA I and II? The
political opposition created another rival for power
in government and that rival is the military. Many
politicians of the People's Power government are now
realizing their mistake in not settling their disputes
with the Kilusan Bagong Lipunan according to the law.
There was never any coup in our country until the
ascendancy of this People's Power government.
During the internment of FPJ, Pres. Estrada delivered
a speech in which he urged his countrymen to always
respect the law even if the law brings temporary
discomforts to people. Pres. Estrada is placing
himself as the example of this forbearance of the law
when the law seems to be unjust. Estrada is suffering
a jail sentence even though he has never been
convicted by the courts. Thanks now that our
leadership is showing maturity.
Many people may be dismayed at the way Smith was
whisked out of the Makati jail even though he was
convicted by the lower court of the crime of rape. The
way to solve this problem is to complain but let the
lawful authorities handle it and never to take the law
into our own hands.
Ramon del Gallego
Hello Ramon,
ReplyDeleteI do not know what your age is. I do not mean to be condescending or insulting but if you have not lived through martial law/dictatorship, you can not truly appreciate how it was dealing with the "KBL" or whatever "legal" means at your disposal (in such a political-militarized atmosphere).
Furthermore, it is a mistake to assume/compare our so-called democracy vis-a-vis with those of western nations, especially during the start of the 20th century (your Dreyfuss case and remember, the Filipinos were just about 2-4 years prior to revolt against Spain and the Americans will intervene in it 5-6 years thereafter).
And for the sake of discussion re Dreyfuss case, the world is not and never will be perfect, that's reality. The mood of the times can affect decisions of courts, or any other institutions.
Going back to your issue, the opposition to the Marcos regime did not create the military as another contender for political power; it was/is a natural outcome of a military dictatorship aka "constitutional authoritarianism" or any other euphemistic label.
Regards,
Bert