Those old enough to remember using that trusty contraption called a typewriter, before the advent of personal computers, may recall the typing exercises, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” and “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.”
The second exercise was what appealed to me the most as a growing boy. This was less than a decade after World War II and the memory of courageous guerillas standing up to the Japanese imperial forces had not yet faded from our young minds.
Back then, we sang the Philippine National Anthem in English and the final stanza declared:
“But it is glory ever when thou art wrong’d for us thy sons to suffer and die.” The words held a special meaning for me as a Boy Scout imbued with patriotic fervor.
It seems to me that, in these tumultuous times, with the world reeling from terrorist attacks and the ravages of nature, and with the Philippines getting its devastating share of the grief, patriotic fervor is what needs to be enkindled again in the hearts of our people.
Indeed, now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.
After the series of terrorist attacks in Europe, the US and other parts of the world, it was only a matter of time before death would also come knocking at our country’s door. The Davao bombing, which claimed 14 lives and wounded scores of innocents, may only be a preview of what could be inflicted on us.
We are so vulnerable. More so, perhaps, than France, which has become punch drunk from the recent series of terrorist attacks. A bomb exploded in the middle of the infernal traffic snarl on EDSA could result in hundreds of fatalities. The light rail system, with its sardine-like passenger loads, as well as the airlines criss-crossing the archipelago, are fair game for explosive devices.
While the carnage has, so far, mainly affected Mindanao, Metro Manila, with its teeming millions is too attractive a target for murderous men intent on bringing the government to its knees.
On top of the terrorist threats, the new government of President Rodrigo Duterte has been waging a bloody war against the drug menace and the number of fatalities, many of them characterized as victims of extra-judicial killings, has reach alarming proportions.
Add to that the bullying tactics of China over the Spratleys and we are beginning to witness a government that is literally under siege.
How should patriotic Filipinos react and respond to this situation?
There is no question in my mind that in the face of external threats and the terrorist menace, it should be a no-brainer to stand with the country and its leader. Duterte has many faults, some of which he has cheerfully acknowledged, but he was chosen to lead the country. And in these trying times, it is our duty to back him up.
In the wake of the Davao massacre and as part of the anti-drug campaign, Duterte has decided to declare a “state of lawlessness.” That may sound alarming and may give the impression (as it apparently already has to other countries) that the Philippines has become a “lawless state.”
This is certainly not the case. But words irresponsibly foisted in mainstream media and social media can fan fear and create havoc. The president’s spokespersons have simply added to the confusion.
(As this column went to press, Malacañang announced a new development to the effect that it is “neither a state of lawlessness nor a state of lawless violence, but a ‘state of national emergency on account of lawless violence.’” Whatever that means.)
Months after the elections, Duterte’s political enemies are still milking the turmoil in an obvious effort to derail his new government. But, the question is: For what purpose? Isn’t that like cutting off their nose to spite their face?
When Duterte declares a national policy that requires much greater vigilance and stricter enforcement on the part of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, shouldn’t it be the duty of every citizen to cooperate in order to make the job of the authorities easier?
Does it help ease the crisis we are facing when people spread the rumor of a plan to assassinate Duterte, to be engineered by no less than a senator-cum-military man? Assuming (God forbid) that this president is knocked off, will Vice-President Leni Robredo be equal to the resulting chaos, on top of dealing with the current threats?
In a situation where being calm and collected is so necessary, does it make any sense to indulge in intrigue and in pressing the alarm button at every turn? And when an objective assessment of the crisis situation depends so much on a responsible media community, what purpose is there in running sensationalized headlines and fanning alarmist speculation? The varying stories swirling around the declaration of the state of lawlessness and what it actually entails and where it could lead, have been an exercise in confusion – and much of it has been abetted by media and irresponsible netizens.
To be sure, the Duterte government is not faultless. There should be less arrogance and more compassion in addressing the rising international concerns over extra-judicial killings. Duterte should realize that vigilante justice has its own bitter karmic rewards. And making murderers out of policemen is like curing a cancer by breeding a new malignancy.
But, at least, Duterte, as president, is not washing his hands or shying away from the problems his government is facing. He is facing them and is exercising leadership.
He has augmented the troops going after the Abu Sayyaf, suspected of pulling off the Davao massacre, and while that might seem like pouring gasoline on a blazing fire, would we have preferred that he told the country that “there is nothing to worry about” and that “everything is under control?
We know that things are not under control and that there is reason to worry, but at least we have a president who is not burying his face in the sand or pointing a finger at his subordinates. He is, in fact, worrying on our behalf and is trying to keep the situation under control.
What I think he needs to do is to bring the wisest and most sober minds together, people who have faced crisis situations in the past, and listen to their advice – and that should include the clergy. He could also be less impetuous, less impulsive and less prone to put his foot in his mouth (like threatening to pull out of the UN and then saying later on that folks should know when he’s just joking). He could also disengage himself from personal quarrels with political enemies, like Sen. Leila de Lima, and leave his executive officers to deal with them.
For our part, I think we, as citizens, should rally behind the President as he deals with the various threats at hand. Rather than attribute dark schemes, like declaring martial law, to his every move, I think the responsible members of Congress, the Supreme Court and the military should allay people’s fears and reassure them that martial law cannot be imposed on the whim of one man, even if he is president.
At the same time, these responsible national leaders should call on the citizenry to close ranks and work with the president to confront and overcome the threats.
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. ([email protected])
