Monday, August 8, 2011

Forewarned Is Forearmed

Razor’s Edge
By Jose Mari Mercader
This column can talk with glowing colors about our “fabulous society” right after waking up in the morning. I can describe the exquisite sceneries in our country and the people; and about our sweet and delicious fruits, and a lot of more positive things that would amaze the world. In much the same manner that we marvel at the rich history and ancient civilization that is kept almost in their pristine forms in European countries including those in Greece, Egypt and Turkey. Razor’s Edge can also talk about the Filipinos’ legendary congeniality and hospitality, especially to foreigners whom our people spoil to ad nauseam.
So it is not a question of hammering on the negative or positive aspects of our country that matters, as for the truth that should be discussed for the enlightenment and guidance of people.
For example, there is our admirable character, which is too well known to foreigners, especially to those who visited the Philippines. This is precisely one of the reasons why visitors to the country are ecstatic to live there and do so by marrying local people.
But this column does not have the stomach for hypocrisy that’s why it explodes at the things it sees wrong without holding punches. We want it clearly understood that Razor’s Edge criticizes corrupt officials and rotten politicians, not their victims – the suffering nation. And if the press does not expose the evils in officialdom, who will? Leaving them unchecked will throw the country back to the Stone Age. Our fabulous infrastructure and tall buildings that form the country’s impressive skyline does not translate to ascendancy or progress in full gear. No sir, it does not necessarily follow. Far from it and to hide the truth from ourselves, would be insane!
In America where the newspapers are read by peoples of different countries, columnists and broadcasters sound as if they are deliberately trying to destroy the image of the United States to the world. American journalists are so vocal and even more ruthless in discussing the anomalies of visible public officials such that many of those exposed are forced to step down as senators and congressmen or quit politics altogether. I do not have to recite here the litany of names that scurried out of their public offices for good while the scandal of their perfidies raged in the media.
Why should Filipino critics be in a straightjacket talking only about positive things and skirting the glaring anomalies in the government to keep the world ignorant about our dark side? Haven’t we read that the foreign pressed exposed the Philippines as one of the most if not the most corrupt nation in the world? Did not the Book of Guinness once feature the late Dictator Ferdinand Marcos as the world’s greatest thief? Do we have to please those with thin facial skin who want straight shooting journalists to walk on eggshells when they analyze raging issues in the country so as not to look bad abroad? Why are we so obsessed to please the outside world instead of caressing the truth to guide our leaders and put them on course with moral ascendancy and economic stability?
In exasperation over the intransigence of his countrymen when the nation hungered for independence, Patrick Henry cried out “I know not what course others may take. But as for me, GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH! Touché Patrick. Like you I say the same to our spineless critics who try to intimidate this writer to write only about the so-called positive things regarding the Philippines when it would be kidding ourselves, because you cannot hide the mountain of anomalies emitting from our back and front yards. Razor’s Edge sanguine purpose in exposing the foul smelling corruption in the government is to prod those at the helm of power to clean up the mess instead of hiding them from the public.
Must we really sweep under the rag the filth of our demagogues to appear tame and westernized before other nations? How much does hypocrisy pay for the price of being called Mr. Nice? Should freedom of the press be sacrificed for the façade of looking a decent abroad?
As you can see, we still have our level heads. Truth to tell, if newspapers here had that careless abandon, wouldn’t they have already detailed in the media the information regarding the security and defense of the state as American columnists and talk show hosts do to appear “smart” in their turf? Commentators here talk about what countries are disliked by the U.S., what plans America has for governments that are non grata to her, etc.? On many instances their newsmen wittingly or unwittingly, went as far as giving out ideas on how saboteurs can be more effective to the boundless delight of listening terrorists. Hence, with them around, America does not need enemies, they are built-in.
One time I saw someone on TV saying that terrorists don’t have to carry guns or weapons when they travel, which are prohibited in airplanes. All they have to do is break the glass of the box that keeps an ax in case of fire, and use it to scare passengers. Is going as far as teaching viewers how to make bombs or deadly weapons, journalistic license?
Why impose draconian standards on our writers and a liberal license for foreign journalists? The trouble with us Filipinos we still hug on the old scourge of colonial mentality that has stunted our advancement because we kowtow or worse, bootlick white foreigners spoiling them until they become monsters to us. Or why should Filipino media workers and news analysts are more scrupulous than their foreign counterparts in writing about issues regarding our share of anomalies in the government, which would just be in consonance with freedom of the press?
To those who are sensitive about our criticisms of the government, and we do not say they are paid sympathizers or unreasonable supporters of the administration, we suggest they take a good look at what the administration has done to the nation. Is exploiting the patrimony and violating human rights inconsequential incidents that the world need not bother about? These are not incidences to be taken in a light vein of a nudist colony enjoying a tea party in the heart of a city or the municipal order to castrate rats to annihilate their menace to squatters. And why should foreign pen-pushers be exempted from being circumspect when they write about controversial matters? Is it because they are a special breed?
The imbecility of a government is clearly demonstrated when the incoming president uses all his time in filing and prosecuting officials of previous administrations. Meanwhile he relegates to the backseat vital issues begging for his concern. Punishing corrupt officials is a goal he is tasked with but that job must not take precedence over improving the welfare of the people that has long been neglected because politics has taken center stage in our country. Our priorities should be carefully evaluated before going to trivial matters, which is more a luxury than a duty.
What does it tell us that almost all the presidents that step down are invariably dragged to court together with their stigmatized cohorts for the serious crimes of corruption and extrajudicial killings? With the trail of unconscionable shenanigans they committed it surprises me how the nation has survived all these years with the national coffers drained to the floor. This is not to say plundering the nation’s mineral resources has also been exhaustive to the detriment of our assets.
Critics of this column should ask why the thieves with official mantle be held as anointed saints, to deter opinion makers like us from exposing them. As I said earlier, we take issue with corrupt officials not with the victims – our people in general. If those belittling us already know about the matters we write about, fine. But these “mental giants” should have the understanding of knowing that this column is trying to reach the multitudes anemic of the information our critics are well aware of.
We do not wish to dovetail that dirty job of the government propaganda machinery, i.e., drumbeat the imagined achievements of the administration. Aside from the Press Office, every government department has a colossal fund to hype a department’s so-called achievements and this comes in the form of ads and “praise” releases, etc. The budget for the cosmetic of making the government look great runs in the hundreds of millions. The reason is quite evident – to mislead the voting public in the next election. And it will not be amiss to construe that many cabinet members are potential senatorial or congressional candidates who relish advertising the “strides” the department made under their leadership.
I do not have the stomach for the business of praising public officials as euphemized by a critic, that I should accentuate the positive about the country when the truth is not in conformity with it. I will be lying through my teeth. Hence Razor’s Edge’s mantra is – “TO BE FOREWARNED IS TO BE FOREARMED”.
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Razor’s Edge is a regular column at Filipino Times circulated in the tri-estate area, filipinotimes.com, globalbalita.com and filamimage.com. You may also contact this writer at joemarimercader@aol.com.

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