U.S. NATIONAL CRISIS: PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL SHOOTINGS

 

Just like any other day, the morning came to pass as normal at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. By the time the day drew to a close, the small town would be left reeling from one of the deadliest incidents of school shootings by death toll.

At approximately 9:30 in the morning, a 20-year-old gunman walked into the school and opened fire, killing 20 first-grade children aged six and seven, along with six adults, including four teachers, the principal, and the school psychologist, before taking his own life. The shock and horror of that day are still crystal clear, as are the memories of the survivors and the grieving families of the victims.

Nicole Hockley, the mother of Dylan who was killed in the shooting, shared, heavy with grief: “My son was a loving, caring, and outgoing child. He had his whole life ahead of him, and it was stolen from him in an instant. No parent should ever have to experience what we did.”

Sad to say, Sandy Hook was not an isolated incident. Close to a thousand miles away in Nashville, Tennessee, after more than a decade, marked by several school mass shootings leading to a lot of children’s deaths later, another shooting in Nashville elementary school broke out on Monday, March 23, adding up to the death of three 9-year-old children and three adults.

Ashley Beasley, a highland Park survivor who was visiting Nashville jumped in at one news conference, giving her piece of mind to the press.

“My son and I survived the mass shooting over the summer. I’m in Tennessee on a family vacation, with my son, visiting my sister-in-law. I have been lobbying in DC since we survived the mass shooting in July. I have met over a hundred thirty lawmakers. How is this still happening? How are still our children dying? And why are we failing them? This mass shooting will continue to happen until our lawmakers step up and pass safety legislation.

“Aren’t you tired of it? Aren’t you sick of it? We have to do something.”

Though I craft this piece on the other side of the planet, I couldn’t help myself from feeling uneasy a bit with such a heart-rending mass shooting in the U.S. Two days ago, my three-year-old granddaughter, Bhrylle, celebrated her birthday in Texas. Having not met her personally since the day she was brought into this world, I pieced together this poem for her:

B – birthday girl, oh sweet BHRYLLE,

H – Harvey dad cooking, it’s a feast to tell,

R – roasted chicken and rainbow jello,

Y – you’ll have lots of presents, oh yellow,

L – laugh with big sister Andrei, dance with glee,

L – love Jan mom’s hugs, warm as can be,

E – eat that cake, just leave some for me.

Soon afterward, I came upon, all of a sudden, the heartbreaking news of the Nashville elementary school shooting involving 9-year-old children. It’s gut-wrenching.

Bearing the same brunt of not having hugged her granddaughter ever since, grandma, after reading my past ATABAY article on “anti-Asian hate crimes”, tipped off our daughter’s family in Texas to buy groceries in company with other Pinoy families hinting at the folk-wisdom of “strength in numbers.” When she floated the idea of enrolling her granddaughters in martial art class, the family chat room, for a short while, perks up with pros and cons chit-chats.

In earnest, as an observer looking from and thinking outside the box, I firmly believe it’s time for U.S. lawmakers to act in unity to pass legislation to address this threat of mass shootings in schools. Immediate measures must include mandating comprehensive background checks for all gun purchases, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and strengthening the enforcement of existing gun laws.

These measures, while not a complete solution, will undoubtedly make it more difficult for individuals with ill intentions to acquire deadly weapons.

The need for action is clear. “Gun violence in the United States results in tens of thousands of deaths and injuries annually and was the leading cause of death for children 19 and younger in 2020. In 2018, the most recent year for which data are available as of 2021, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics reports 38,390 deaths by firearm, of which 24,432 were by suicide. The rate of firearm deaths per 100,000 people rose from 10.3 per 100,000 in 1999 to 12 per 100,000 in 2017, with 109 people dying per day.” (Wikipedia)

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there were 614 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2021, resulting in over 700 deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries. The vast majority of these shootings occurred in public places, including schools, where innocent children are most vulnerable.

It’s time for U.S. leadership to put their political differences aside and come together to address this urgent issue. The safety of the children should be the top priority. No one can hold on to live in a society where mass shootings are a common occurrence.

For sure, some argue against gun control measures, citing the Second Amendment rights. But it’s worth remembering that the right to bear arms does not mean the right to own any weapon or accessory one desires. The U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear that reasonable regulations on firearms are permissible, and it’s hard to argue that background checks and bans on assault weapons and high magazines are not reasonable.

Moreover, it’s important to recognize that these measures will not infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens who wish to own firearms for self-defense or recreational purposes. Rather, they will simply make it more difficult for those with malicious intent to obtain weapons that can be used to cause mass harm.

In the end, the reality is stark: innocent children are the victims of these terrible mass shootings. This should be a call to action that touches the deep-rooted sensibilities in the innermost recesses of the human moral sense of the whole citizenry. It’s time for U.S. elected officials to do everything in their power to ensure that schools and public places are safe for children.

As President Biden once said in his remarks on gun violence, “We can ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in this country once again. I got that done when I was a senator. It passed. It was the law for the longest time, and it brought down these mass killings. We should do it again.”

It’s time for U.S. lawmakers to act with urgency and pass meaningful legislation to protect children from the threat of mass shootings. The time for unity is now.

Head still photo courtesy of CNN

CORRUPTION & INCOMPETENCE: PHARMALLY SCANDAL & DUTERTE LEGACY

“Ombudsman suspends 33 gov’t officials over Pharmally mess” (GMA News Online)

“Ombudsman told: Get Pharmally scam brains” (Inquirer)

The twin headlines above are a microcosm that speaks volumes of PH’s state of affairs during Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FPRRD)’s reign. Derived from the political stratagem of “continuity,” such a state of affairs is now entrenched under Marcos Jr.'s administration by dint of the political dynasties that banded together to win the last presidential election.

Let’s spotlight the keywords marking the boundaries of the vastness of the whole shebang.

“Mess,” “scam” implies the Pharmally mess is so crooked that it appears indistinguishable from a scam modus operandi.

“Suspends” signals a preemptive first step to prevent government officials and employees from interfering with or influencing an investigation.

“33 gov’t officials”: each preventable corruption is one corrupt official too many; 33 officials, too scummy.

“Brains” spells out that the financier and backer of the poorly-capitalized (measly P625K paid-up capital yet cornered P42-B deal) Pharmally, Michael Yang – a friend and former adviser of then FPRRD who defended Pharmally during the Senate investigation – says a lot.

“Who you are is who you attract,” wrote John C. Maxwell, author of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.

 BACKDROP: FPRRD BALLGAME

The election of FPRRD in 2016 marked a consequential turning point in PH’s political landscape. Dubbed The Punisher gracing the Time Magazine’s cover, he ran on a platform that promised to eradicate the drug problem by any means necessary.

Iris Gonzales in her Philstar column Gross domestic hatred reopened old wounds of FPRRD’s controversial quotes – a chunk of The New York Times’ Rodrigo Duterte’s Most Contentious Quotations list.

“On drug addicts: ‘Hitler massacred 3 million Jews… there are 3 million drug addicts… I’d be happy to slaughter them.’”

“On how he would explain the drug war to Barack Obama: ‘Son of a whore, I will curse you in that forum.’”

“On criminals: ‘If you are corrupt, I will fetch you using a helicopter to Manila and I will throw you out. I have done this before. Why would I not do it again?’”

“On Pope Francis’ visit to Manila in 2016 which caused traffic: ‘I wanted to call him: ‘Pope, son of a whore, go home. Do not visit us again.’”

Despite such controversial statements he burst out on world stage, and with his lack of national political experience, FPRRD won a landslide victory, largely due to his populist appeal and promises of change.

Let me bring up a scarcely tackled sneaking suspicion which might have pitched into his victory. Of late, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a press release about a pro-Trump social media influencer, Douglass Mackey, aka Ricky Vaughn, who allegedly exploited a social media platform to infringe one of the most basic and sacred rights guaranteed by the Constitution: the right to vote. He is being charged with 2016 election interference for urging Hillary Clinton supporters to vote by text, which was not valid, hence “vaporizing” their votes.

Interestingly, testifying in the case, one notorious Twitter troll known as “Microchip,” the Daily News reported, described his striking election campaign tactic through humor: “When people are laughing, they are very easily manipulated.” Whoa!

AGGRESSIVE HUMOR

Did it ever occur to us that FPRRD’s contentious quotes not only were controversial, but also hyperbolic, and could be categorized as “aggressive humor”? For sure, it is a harmful form of humor that is focused on hurting others by insulting, ridiculing, or teasing them -- according to the National Library of Medicine’s article The Dark Side of Humor: DSM-5 Pathological Personality Traits and Humor Styles.

In some corners of our political surroundings, just as FPRRD’s aggressive humor could have sucked up to the psyche of the anti-U.S. voting pack by thrash-talking Obama, so too could it have made a hit with the mindset of the anti-Catholic voting block by mocking the Pope.

And who would not be wowed by his fire in the belly to wipe out both the drug addict “zombies” (FPRRD's pejorative tag) and the spine-chilling criminals, as improbable as it may seem, in a hubristic Rambo-like mission-impossible on his high horse?

Lots of literature chimes in with our scrutiny. The study “Laughing out of the box” by Dolinski, Gromski, and Zawisza investigated the effects of humor on memory. One experiment found that humorous ads were remembered better than non-humorous ones. In a seminal article Feeling and thinking: Preferences need no inferences, Robert Zajonc argues that people’s preferences for stimuli can be influenced by their emotional reactions to those stimuli without the need for conscious thought or inferences. That Zajonc’s statement fits like a glove with the “Microchips” troll’s tactic: “When people are laughing, THEY ARE VERY EASILY MANIPULATED” without their "conscious thought or inferences." (Underscoring mine)

FAILURE TO THINK

Here’s the fits-like-a-glove bad news: It squares with the grim words of Dr. M. Scott Peck, author of The Road Less Traveled.

“One of the major dilemmas we face as individuals and as a society is simplistic thinking – or THE FAILURE TO THINK AT ALL. It is not a problem; it is THE problem.” (Underscoring mine)

Let me quote Jose Ma. Montelibano’s words excerpted from his Inquirer column “Quo Vadis, Pilipinas” series:

“The path forward is our choice, whatever that may be. We can choose to be rightly informed or we can choose to gloss over lies and fakery… In a world beset by turbulence and disruptions, it is our time to change ourselves, to prepare for the worst, and be worthy of the best.”

The lessons learned from Duterte’s presidency are clear: we, Pinoy voters, must be vigilant and proactive in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. Election interference, by the likes of Cambridge Analytica, should serve as a wake-up call for the need to strengthen the country’s cybersecurity measures and ensure the Comelec independence. Moreover, we must prioritize competence and integrity in choosing our leaders and must hold them accountable for their actions.

We need to address the root causes of our country’s problems, such as poverty and lack of access to education and health care. The war on drugs, while initially popular, has proven to be a disastrous failure, with little to no impact on the drug problem. A more holistic and evidence-based approach to drug policy is needed benchmarked on countries with best drug policies according to Global Drug Policy Index. (Exhibit A: Norway, Exhibit B: New Zealand, Exhibit C: Portugal, among others.) The venerable Emil Jurado’s Manila Standard column banner says it all: “Why Duterte’s war on illegal drugs a big failure.”

George Santayana, a Spanish philosopher, and writer, once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

The quote holds for many nations, including ours, which could not even agree, sad to say, what to remember in some phases of our history. Marred by controversy, corruption, and human rights abuses, FPRRD’s presidency is a stark reminder of the recent past which we, the Filipino people, must think through such legacy and the lessons learned.

Only then can our nation move forward toward an upright and booming future.

Head still collage photos courtesy of freepikdotcom

FROM UKRAINE TO SOUTH CHINA SEA: A TALE OF TWO BULLIES

 

When I started writing my ATABAY articles more than a year ago, I availed myself of the subscription promo of The New York Times which enhanced my list of references in foreign news and opinions. I ended my subscription after a year when its promo had lapsed – its regular subscription price was too pricy for me.

Frankly, I miss the thought-provoking insights of its bunch of columnists. Contriving to craft in this article an editorial a la The New York Times, I engaged in a long “conversation” with ChatGPT about lots of topics such as the “Might is Right” vs. “Right is Might” feud, Russia and China expansion moves, West Philippine Sea tension; the good, the bad, and the ugly scenarios, and snippets of facts.

Assured of its having primed up by our “conversation,” I asked ChatGPT to write an editorial in the style of The New York Times derived from the content and context of our “exchanges.” Here’s the finished product of our collaboration with minor editing for clarity and brevity.

EDITORIAL A LA NEW YORK TIMES

                                                   ><><

In today’s world, the debate between “Might is Right” and "Right is Might” has taken on a new thrust, as powerful countries such as Russia and China engage in military expansion and territorial claims that threaten the sovereignty and security of weaker nations. The “Might is Right” view holds that power is the ultimate authority and that those who have the most power are entitled to make the rules. On the other hand, the “Right is Might” view argues that morality and ethics should be the guiding principles of society, and that power should be used to promote justice, equality, and human rights.

The clash between the two views has played out in countless geopolitical turns of events throughout history, from colonialism and imperialism to the present day. We will explore the current geopolitical landscape, the reality of “Might is Right” aggressions, and the urgent need for weaker countries to take earnest courses of action.

In recent years, the international community has witnessed the alarming military expansion moves of both Russia and China, which have put weaker countries on edge. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s territorial claim expansion in the South China Sea (SCS), including the West Philippine Sea (WPS), have spotlighted the pressing need for closer cooperation among weaker nations in strengthening national security and reinforcing national defense.

Such cooperation is integral in upholding and safeguarding the role of international law and institutions, like the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to regulate the undesirable behavior of powerful nations like Russia and China.

The situation has become even more crucial for countries like the Philippines, which is geographically situated near the hotbed of tensions. A nation with a relatively small military force, hence, a vulnerable object of military aggression by a stronger country, the Philippines must explore various courses of action to strengthen its national security and reinforce its national defense.

COURSES OF ACTION

1. The Philippines must carry on bolstering its ties with other powerful nations, such as the United States, Japan, Australia, Great Britain, or NATO as a whole, which can assist in the form of military training, intelligence sharing, and strategic partnerships. What’s more, it can join up with these nations in boosting the deployment of their military forces in the region as a deterrence to potential aggressors.

2. The Philippines must press on in pursuing a multilateral approach to resolving disputes in the region. Being an indispensable international agreement regulating the use of the world’s oceans and its resources, the UNCLOS must be honored and heeded. The Philippines must work in partnership with other nations to uphold the principles of UNCLOS and challenge China’s SCS territorial claims. This can be achieved through diplomatic channels, international arbitration, or other forms of peaceful dispute resolution.

The ICC is a vital institution that can play a role in regulating the behavior of powerful nations. It is a court of last resort for prosecuting individuals responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The Philippines, along with other weaker nations, must shore up the ICC and work towards strengthening international law and institutions that promote justice and accountability. [Exhibit A: Putin’s warrant of arrest; Exhibit B: Duterte’s EJK Probe]

3. The Philippines must invest in military capabilities by allocating more resources towards modernizing its military hardware, improving the training of its military personnel, and strengthening its cyber defenses. It must keep on seeking partnerships with other nations in the region in developing a collective defense strategy that can provide a robust fortification against potential aggressors.

The need for cooperation among weaker nations is evident in the past instances of “Might is Right” aggressions. Cases in point: The Ukraine invasion and Crimea annexation by Russia have violated international law and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Similarly, the SCS territorial claims by China have raised concerns about its intentions and its ability to control vital sea lanes in the region.

These dubious actions by Russia and China have put weaker countries ill at ease and brought to light the need for stronger cooperation and collective action to protect the sovereignty and security of weaker nations.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

Being the epicenter of tensions in the region lately, WPS will be the focus of our analysis in wrapping up this article, by projecting with objectivity, the good, the bad, and the ugly scenarios that may arise from this steaming situation.

The Good: Cooperation and Diplomacy

The ideal scenario is cooperation and diplomacy between China and its neighboring countries. If China and the Philippines could pave the way to resolve their territorial disputes through peaceful negotiations, it could result in more stable and secure relationships between these nations. Cooperation could yield shared economic benefits, as well as joint efforts in addressing issues such as piracy and environmental protection.

The Bad: Military Tensions and Conflict

Sad to say, the WPS situation has been drifting on a more confrontational trajectory. The risk of military tensions and conflict is high, especially with China’s growing military expansion. The Philippines, being a relatively weaker nation, is vulnerable to military aggression from a stronger country like China. If tensions escalate, it could lead to military action, which would have disastrous consequences not just for the Philippines but for the entire region.

The Ugly: Miscalculations and Misunderstandings

With the high stakes involved in this geopolitical issue, even small mistakes could have catastrophic consequences. If a minor skirmish, for instance, were to occur between the Philippines and China, it could quickly spiral out of control, leading to a full-blown conflict. Moreover, misunderstandings between the two sides could lead to unintended consequences, such as accidental military engagements.

WPS is a geopolitical issue that demands urgent attention from the international community. The good scenario of cooperation and diplomacy is the ideal outcome, but it requires a willingness from all parties involved to negotiate and compromise. The bad scenario of military tensions and conflict is a real possibility, and the international community must work together to prevent it from popping up. Finally, the ugly scenario of miscalculations and misunderstandings is a real danger that must be avoided at all costs.

It is crucial that all countries involved in this issue exercise restraint and engage in peaceful dialogue to ensure stability and security, thereby steering clear of the unimaginable turning point to take shape and, in fear and trembling, see the light of day. The direful possibility of such an Armageddon scenario is embedded in the following From-Russia-With-Love warning:

“I would like to see the country that arrests Putin by the decision of the Hague. Some eight minutes after. Or however long the flight time will be to its capital.” (“‘Toilet Paper’: Russia Mocks World Court’s Arrest Warrant Against Putin,” NDTV headline)

Chilling.

Head still collage photos courtesy of Getty Images, Northeastern Global News & The Print

WEST PHILIPPINE SEA: GEOPOLITICAL CHALLENGE FOR NEXT GENERATION

 

“It’s a time for joy, a time for tears

A time we’ll treasure through the years

We’ll remember always

Graduation day”

Graduation day is a momentous occasion in the lives of many young people. It is a day when years of hard work and dedication culminate in a grand celebration of academic achievement. The song “Graduation Day” beautifully captures the emotions – joy, and tears -- that are often associated with this special day.

Some of the most inspiring emotions are shared during graduation speeches delivered by, among others, prominent people – thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and celebrities.

The newsletter Teen Vogue in its article 16 Best Graduation Speeches That Leave A Lasting Impression rounded up graduation speeches by Steve Jobs, Michelle Obama, and Natalie Portman to name a few.

“You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers… the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.” (Steve Jobs, Stanford, 2005)

“I’ve found that this journey has been incredibly freeing… the chatter, the name-calling, the doubting… was just noise. It did not define me… change who I was, and most importantly, it couldn’t hold me back.” (Michelle Obama, Tuskegee University, 2015)

“I just directed my first film. I was completely unprepared… my belief that I could handle these things, contrary to all evidence of my ability to do so was half the battle. The other half was very hard work.” (Natalie Portman, Harvard, 2015)

Writing this article, I conjured up an image of an imaginary graduation day in one fictitious university. The plot thickened when due to a lack of time and resources, the university failed to find any prominent speaker to deliver the commencement speech on the fast-approaching graduation day. In the nick of time, the graduation committee stumbled upon one obscure local executive with a bit of expertise in geopolitics.

At short notice, he accepted the rare invitation and decided to talk about a very intense and crucial subject: The West Philippine Sea tension. Well, thank goodness to Chat GPT which got him out of a tight spot. Here’s his commencement speech:

Distinguished members of the faculty, honored guests, proud parents, and most importantly, the graduating batch of this esteemed institution, I am humbled to stand before you today as your commencement speaker.

When your school invited me, a geopolitical resource person, to address you on this momentous occasion, I was both surprised and honored. I understand this platform, in the past, was often given to prominent scholars from the academe or celebrities with honoris causa degrees.

However, I believe the invitation extended to me is a recognition of the significance of the times we live in and the challenges that lie ahead for our nation. I would like to speak to you about one such challenge that has consequential implications for our country’s national security, a challenge that is not only relevant to our country, but also to the wider world -- the ongoing tension in the West Philippine Sea – a challenge so indispensable for future leaders of our nation, like you, to get to the bottom of its urgency.

As you are all aware, the West Philippine Sea has been a source of tension between the Philippines, China, and other neighboring countries for many years. The region is rich in natural resources, including fish stocks, oil and gas reserves, and minerals, making it a valuable economic and strategic asset. Unfortunately, the competing territorial claims and overlapping interests of the countries involved have created a situation of ongoing tension that threatens regional stability and security.

The historical background of this tension goes back many decades, but recent years have seen a significant escalation of the conflict. China’s growing military and economic power has led to an increasingly assertive stance in the region, with the construction of artificial islands and the deployment of military assets to the disputed areas. The Philippines and other neighboring countries have responded by strengthening their military capabilities and forming alliances with other countries, such as the United States, to counter China’s growing influence.

The U.S. and China both play pivotal roles in the ongoing tension in the West Philippine Sea. The U.S. has been a longstanding ally of the Philippines and has been vocal in its support of the country’s territorial claims in the region. China, on the other hand, claims most of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, as its sovereign territory, and has rejected the Philippines’ claims as illegitimate. The geopolitical interests of both countries in the region, including access to resources and the projection of power, have further complicated the situation.

The impact of the West Philippine Sea tension on regional stability and security cannot be overstated. The deployment of military assets and the establishment of military bases in contested areas has led to an arms race among the countries involved, increasing the risk of miscalculation or conflict. The neighboring countries in the region have a critical role to play in shaping the outcome of the conflict – they must work together to find a peaceful resolution.

Fanning the flames, the recent news headlines have highlighted the ongoing tension in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines and the U.S. announced recently a deal to provide U.S. forces with expanded access to its military bases. Consequently, China has strongly opposed the joint patrols and expanded U.S. access to Philippine military bases calling the moves part of U.S. efforts to encircle and contain China through its military alliance with the Philippines.

While Beijing authorities declared that China has “indisputable sovereignty over the islands and adjacent waters in the South China Sea,” a White House high official, on the other hand, called for the U.S. and its allies to work together to counter China’s “coercion and aggression” in the region.

The prospect of a peaceful resolution of the conflict is uncertain, but some steps can be taken to achieve this goal. Diplomatic efforts, such as the adoption of a code of conduct or joint development agreements, could help to reduce tensions and promote stability in the region. It is also important for all parties to adhere to international law and the rules-based order, which can serve as a framework for resolving disputes.

My dear Graduates, as you celebrate this milestone in your lives, it is essential to reflect on the world you are entering into the picture and the challenges that lie ahead. Not just a matter for government officials and diplomats to turn things around, the West Philippine Sea tension is a challenge that stands in need of the active involvement of all Filipinos, especially you -- young and educated graduates.

The stakes are high in this conflict, and the implications of its resolution will have far-reaching consequences. But we must be full of hope. We must hold an unwavering optimistic view by championing peaceful and diplomatic solutions, while also standing firm on our sovereign territory. We must make an all-out effort towards a future where our country can assert its rightful place in the international community, and where we can uphold our values of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights.

In closing, I want to reiterate that it is vital for you, my dear Graduates, in staying abreast of the facts and wrapping yourselves up in the issues that affect our country and the world. As graduates of this esteemed university, you have in your name the knowledge and the skills to make a difference in our society. I challenge you to stand up and be counted in making the most of your education and expertise to work your guts out towards a better future for all Filipinos.

Congratulations on your graduation!

"Though we live in sorrow

All the joys we’ve known

We can face tomorrow

Knowing we’ll never walk alone."

Have a blessed Sunday!

Head still collage photos courtesy of Philippine Star & freepikdotcom

AN OPEN LETTER TO FUTURE FRATERNITY MEMBERS

 

“A picture is worth a thousand words”

An adage in multiple languages, the phrase, according to Wikipedia, generally attributed its modern use to Fred R. Barnard who, in 1921, wrote “One Look is Worth A Thousand Words” promoting the use of images in ads.

During my college days, the popular hit song “If” by the Bread, drew on the essence of the phrase in its opening lyrics: “If a picture paints a thousand words.”

Speaking of pictures, a tandem pops up in my mind while I’m writing this article. The first picture is a flash from the college past. One time, I dropped in the boys’ dorm room of a friend. Wondering why he was still on his bed under a blanket in the middle of a class day, I asked if something was wrong with him. He took a deep breath, rose from the bed, and got his toothbrush from his locker.

There and then, I saw a picture that was worth a thousand words: the backsides of my friend’s both legs were as dark purple as the eggplant. Without my asking about it, he said he went through a fraternity initiation lately. I was at a loss for words and wrestling with a good deal of head-scratching whys in my mind.

No doubt, the university campus, sitting on top of a hill, was as pretty as a picture then, and conducive to study. But it was located so far off, miles away from home for almost all students, that induced, as expected, homesickness and loneliness. Thanks to the presence of the social groups. Unlike school fraternities that engage specifically in hazing during the initiation, by contrast, social groups all together drew breath the spirit of community in the campus fostering inclusively a sense of belonging particularly among homesick and lonesome students through a variety of competitive activities like sports and choral singing contest among others.

That’s why my friend’s falling into a seemingly covert school fraternity – marginal and unpopular then – caught me off balance. Pondering on the spot, I recalled an instance he shared with me some sort of a daydream -- how he wished to be like Superman – that made me scratch my head. It was amid the spillover of the brewing tribal conflict and the collateral military presence hovering over the campus. At that time, the most dreaded moment a student strolling on the campus would run into -- a drunk soldier in full battle gear.

The picture of my friend’s both legs can be encapsulated in one word – insecurity – an insecurity that, Randy David (in his Inquirer column “Killings that showcase our insecurities”) wrote, “grip young people at the starting point of their professional careers.”

Speaking of killings, sparked off by Ma. Ceres P. Doyo’s Inquirer column, “Hazing victims also to blame” that wrote about John Matthew Salilig’s death, I will roll out next the second picture that is “worth a thousand words.” It is the vein of this news story: “In 2007, graduating UP student Cris Mendez allegedly died during an initiation with Sigma Rho. Former Senator Jovito Salonga resigned as a member of the fraternity because of this incident.” (Wikipedia)

This 16-year-old picture of the killing of Cris Mendez and the subsequent resignation of Senator Salonga “paints a thousand words” in the shape of the following hypothetical letter which, gleaned from his drastic action, could be written by the Senator himself. 

Dear Student,

I am writing this letter to you as a former fraternity member who has come to regret my involvement in a fraternity. Recently, a piece of tragic news broke out about a hazing-related death of a student neophyte in my former fraternity. This news has left me crestfallen and deeply saddened. It has also pushed me to resign from my fraternity membership and reflect on the negative implications that being part of a fraternity can have on one’s life.

I am not writing this letter to judge or condemn your desire to join a fraternity. Instead, I want to share with you my personal experience and the lessons I have learned so that you can make an informed decision for yourself.

As a former fraternity member, I can tell you that joining a fraternity can have both positive and negative aspects. On the positive side, fraternities can offer a sense of brotherhood, and opportunities for leadership and social activities. However, the negative implications of joining a fraternity are far-reaching and can have long-term effects on your life.

First and foremost, as a former fraternity member, I have come to realize that one death is too many. The recent hazing-related death is a tragic reminder of the potential consequences of joining a fraternity. Hazing practices are dangerous and can lead to physical harm, emotional trauma, and even death. It is not worth risking your life and well-being to be part of a fraternity that promotes such practices. We should strive to create a culture that values respect, inclusivity, and safety for all students. No one should have to endure hazing or feel pressured to join a fraternity.

Secondly, fraternities can perpetuate a culture of toxic masculinity, homophobia, and exclusivity. These attitudes can be harmful not only to the members of the fraternity but also to the student body. Fraternities can reinforce negative stereotypes and promote a culture of sexual assault, misogyny, and intolerance.

Thirdly, the negative implications of fraternities extend beyond the schools and into the workplace. Fraternity members may bring harmful behaviors and attitudes to their future careers like heavy drinking and drug use. Fraternities often prioritize their members and may exclude others, perpetuating social hierarchies and contributing to a lack of diversity and inclusivity in society.

Fraternity members who work in the government may bring with them a culture of entitlement, privilege, and exclusivity. This can lead to a lack of transparency and accountability and a disregard for the needs and concerns of ordinary citizens.

Finally, as a former fraternity member, I urge you to think twice before joining a fraternity. The negative implications of fraternities far outweigh the positive aspects. Hazing practices and toxic culture are just some of the potential consequences of being part of a fraternity. It is important to prioritize your safety and well-being and make informed decisions that align with your values and goals in life.

Sincerely,

Jovy

Head still collage photos courtesy of Wikipedia, Spotdotph, Star For All Seasons and Evo & Grace: The Wanderlusts

WHEN RATINGS TRUMP TRUTH: THE DARK SIDE OF NEWS MEDIA

 

The Simpsons’ scene opens with Homer Simpson sitting on the couch, flipping through channels on his TV.

Homer: “Hey, Marge, check this out! The news is reporting that aliens are invading Springfield.”

Marge (skeptically): “I don’t know, Homer. That sounds like fake news to me.”

Homer (rolling his eyes): “Ah, Marge, you and your obsession with truth. Don’t you know that ratings are all that matter? Who cares if it’s real or not, as long as people are tuning in!”

Just then, Bart burst into the room, excitedly.

Bart: “Dad, did you hear? The news is saying that a giant donut is rolling through downtown!”

Homer (jumping up): “Now that’s what I’m talking about! Let’s go check it out!”

Marge (exasperatedly): “I can’t believe I’m the only one here who cares about what’s actually happening in the world.”

Not really, Marge. Lots of moms like you do care as well about what’s happening in the world today. Like this one mom, I read some time ago in an article I’m trying to retrieve from my aging memory. Her son got down to chat about the day’s issues. Abreast of the current events, the mom exchanged views with her son.  Stunned, the son asked her mom where she got her thoughts. Mom replied she picked them up from Fox News she watched daily.

Nothing’s wrong with that chat until one reads the headline about the White House saying that Fox News’ Tucker Carlson is not credible – the network’s star could be mom’s favorite. The headline is about Carlson who claimed that the people who stormed the Capitol to protest the 2020 US presidential election results were “sightseers” -- based on his manipulated and selectively edited bits from out of 41,000 hours of video.

Michael Fanone, a former Washington, DC, police officer who sustained severe injuries defending the Capitol on January 6, wrote that legal filings made public exposed Carlson as a fraud. He wrote in the CNN article:

“Carlson’s spin about January 6 is fabricated. I was there. I saw it. I lived it. I fought alongside my brother and sister officers to defend the Capitol. We have scars and injuries to prove it.”

One may unearth the root of the matter from the following clashing statements (underscoring mine) once said by two prominent personalities in the Fox News organization:

“The RATINGS are the lifeblood of the business.” (Rupert Murdoch, founder of Fox News’ parent company)

“[W]hen people start to question the TRUTH… I found that unsustainable.” (Chris Wallace, ex- Fox News Sunday host who left Fox)

RATINGS VS. TRUTH

The ratings versus truth muddle is not a new phenomenon in the US media industry which has become increasingly competitive in recent years with news organizations vying for viewership and readership in an ever-changing landscape. This has led to fierce competition for ratings and viewers as news organizations strive to capture the attention of the public and remain relevant in an increasingly crowded field.

Fired up and not far from fanatical, the competition has been raging between conservative news organization outlets, like Fox News, and liberal news outlets, like MSNBC. The February 2023 Nielsen ratings ranked Fox News as the most-watched basic cable network in a total day which averaged nearly 1.44 million total viewers. MSNBC comes closely behind averaging 1.165 million total viewers.

However, this competition can fall out at a cost, as news organizations are often faced with the difficult decision of balancing ratings and viewership with the journalistic values of accuracy and impartiality.

In the case of Fox News, Dominion Voting System, a leading provider of election technology, filed a $1.6 billion lawsuit against the network alleging it knowingly spread false information about Dominion’s involvement in the 2020 U.S. presidential election and contributed to the defamation of Dominion’s reputation.

The lawsuit accuses Fox News of promoting baseless conspiracy theories about Dominion’s voting machines and alleging it was involved in a vast-election-rigging scheme to ensure a victory for Joe Biden. These claims were not supported by any evidence and were debunked by multiple independent audits and investigations into the election results.

Meantime, at the innermost recesses of the Fox News foxhole, Oliver Darcy of CNN reported: “Fox News staffers are in the dark and vexed as the right-wing talk channel remains ensnared in one of the worst scandals of its 26-year history – and arguably the most consequential media scandal in modern American history.”

“People are really shocked and disgusted,” the staffer said. “Even longtime staffers. You would think after all we’ve been through nothing could surprise us. But this is unprecedented.”

“We’re all embarrassed,” some employees at Fox, feeling self-conscious about the scandal, told Brian Stelter in Vanity who wrote this seeming handwriting on the wall: “No one I spoke to expects Fox will come out of a trial as a stronger brand.”

PH RATINGS-TRUMP-TRUTH VARIANT

“Sen. Tillis Calls Tucker Carlson’s Jan 6 Revisionist History” (Now This News on YouTube banner)

REPORTER: “What do you think of, you know – Tucker Carlson… has had to downplay January 6, said it was, you know, ‘mostly peaceful chaos’ in his view, and said it was not an insurrection… How do you feel about that?

SENATOR TILLIS (R-NC): “I think it’s bull s**t.”

Here and now in PH, the revision of Philippine History is raging and shown in movie theaters all over the country. The public pulse seems to hold its breath while watching which, between the two versions of history, could climb to the top ratings of the box office and be proclaimed ultimately as the winner – the torchbearer of the truth of PH History.

Excerpt of The Manila Times’ Antonio Contreras’ column “The partisan weaponization of art as propaganda” could give us a microcosm of how the Ratings-Trump-Truth muddle is coming down in PH:

“[W]e now see the production of art, particularly of films like “Martyr or Murderer” and “Oras de Peligro,” unfold as implicated in the political contestations between the anti-Marcos and pro-Marcos narratives. What is being affirmed is the political nature of art as a weapon for propaganda. Despite the posturing of the partisans, both movies are forms of propaganda, in the sense that they have appropriated art to promote a particular partisan view.”

George Santayana (The Life of Reason, 1905) said: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

If we, Pinoys, could not even agree on what to remember from the past, are we condemned to repeat it? Your guess on what is “it” is as good as mine.

One final word. If one assesses a leader’s performance based on a survey rather than the realities on the ground, then he puts into operation the ratings-trump-truth modus operandi.

Has anyone gone through some nagging feeling that the time has come for some Pinoy, like Sen. Tillis, to say, “I think it’s bulls**t”?

Head collage photos courtesy of Deadline & freepikdotcom

COVID-19 ORIGINS AND ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES: A TALE OF TWO CRISES

 

“Lab leak most likely origin of Covid-19 pandemic, Energy Department now says” (The Wall Street Journal)

“Hate crimes vs. Asian-Americans ‘soaring national crisis’ in US” (Philippine News Agency)

The first headline is about a classified intelligence report provided to the White House and key members of Congress regarding the U.S. Energy Department’s conclusion that the Covid pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak.

As the first public confirmation of the FBI’s classified judgment on the Covid-19 origin, FBI chief Christopher Wray told Fox News, “The FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident.”

Mr. Wray said China “has been doing its best to try to thwart and obfuscate” efforts to identify the source of the global pandemic according to BBC News. In response, Beijing accused Washington of “political manipulation.”

As a backgrounder, the origin of Covid-19 has been a contentious issue since its emergence in late 2019. While the majority of scientists believe that the virus originated from an animal, there is still debate about whether the virus was leaked from a laboratory in China or from the live animal market in Wuhan.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been investigating the origins of Covid-19 since early 2020. In their initial report, the WHO concluded that it was “extremely unlikely” that the virus originated from a laboratory leak. However, this conclusion was met with skepticism by some scientists and politicians who believe that there is evidence that suggests the virus may have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology located near the live animal market where the first cases of Covid-19 were reported.

The criticisms pressed down the WHO investigation so deep that its director-general has since called for a new inquiry: “All hypotheses remain open and require further study.”

The second headline is about hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the US which continue to plague communities across the country.

Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported a high-profile hate crime that took place in Indiana about “an 18-year-old Indiana University student of Asian descent stabbed repeatedly in the head on a city bus because of her race.”

The suspect, Billie Davis, 56, who is white, PNA recounted, “started stabbing the victim in the head with a folding knife as she exited the bus. Davis allegedly told investigators that she stabbed the victim because she was Chinese, saying ‘it would be one less person to blow up our country’.”

“There is fear. Because that could be any of us,” said Rogene Gee Calvert with the nonprofit advocacy group OCA-Greater Houston. He told the PNA:

“I could be sitting in a bus or sitting anywhere and somebody could come up and do something violent to me because they’re angry. It doesn’t matter where we are, who we are, or what we’re doing, but if people have been indoctrinated to believe that we are here to do something wrong, then they will equate whoever they see as Asian as being those people they hate, whether it’s an authoritarian government or country. Their mentality is that we hate those people because we hate those governments.

“I fear the ‘normalization’ of this racial hate and how it has manifested itself through violence. This has become so prevalent in the last five or six years because of the political climate created by the former president (Donald Trump) in which he encouraged and allowed this contempt and hatred to be voiced and accepted.”

In response to the racially-motivated Indiana University attack, PNA reported that the White House announced a multi-agency strategy to help combat anti-Asian American hate, promote language access and improve governmental data collection for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

As a writer with an engineering background, I’ll put to use some engineering terms by calling the two headlines above “variables” coming into play in our geopolitical world. The “Lab leak” is the “independent variable” – it is the cause. It is “the variable you manipulate (no pun intended) in an experimental study” to explore its effects. Conversely, the “Hate crime” is the “dependent variable” – it is the effect. (There are other effects; I’ll zero in on the “Hate crime.”) Its value depends on changes in the independent variable, “Lab leak.”

To illustrate the relationship: as the “Lab leak” theory of its being true increases, the rate of hate crimes in the US rises, in direct proportion. To weigh up based on how things stack up presently: as the “Lab leak” theory remains in a state of uncertainty, the possibility you’ll be stabbed while sitting in a bus remains chancy. The following headline and its synopsis that seems to jibe with our illustration could give AAPIs the heebie-jeebies:

“The Lab Leak Will Haunt Us Forever” (The Atlantic)

“Each new revelation is a reminder of how little is actually known. The lab-leak theory lives! Or better put: It never dies.”

To those of us, here and now in PH, perhaps, eating our hearts out in joining our loved ones in the land of milk and honey – the USA – the land of the free and the home of the brave, the revealing statements of the Roque family members are a wake-up call, if not words of warning.

In May 2022, the Roque family was waiting in the drive-through line of a McDonald’s when they were verbally and physically assaulted by Nicholas Weber (32, white). Nerissa and Gabriel Roque sustained multiple injuries from the incident, including a broken rib. Weber was charged with felony battery causing serious bodily injury. The following statements were transcribed from Filipino Family Assaulted by White Man at McDonald’s/Sala Talks Unfiltered in YouTube:

GABRIEL: This racism stuff, I knew it was not dead in America, but I didn’t know it was still that very much inherent, but only hidden. I mean, it changed a lot of my perception of what America is actually.

NERISSA: I’m a healthcare worker. I provide care. I give life, I help people. I’m not hurting anyone. And the way I look at America before, I look at them like they’re at the top of the sky. And after this incident, it’s not the way I look at it before.

PATRICIA: Considering how they view America as a whole and how I view things differently from them, I think they did have faith in the legal system, but now they started to see how it actually is for people like us. It does not come as a surprise, but it does give us an experience of what it feels like to be the ones on the receiving end of that system and want the justice and help that we need from them.

PATRICK: The organization that I’m actually volunteering with [that] has helped me the most was the Filipino Migrant Center, as well as the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON). We’re actually able to get pro bono lawyers who were glad to represent us in court free of charge. I encourage you to join these organizations volunteer for the Filipino Migrant Center. It’s not just anti-Asian hate, but the pandemic too. A lot of Filipino workers are actually suffering from poor working conditions, exploitation, and wage theft. The more we raise about it, the more we can bring light to it, and actually do something about it.

Three months ago, I wrote in my ATABAY article “Fresh Perspectives On Twilight Years” the following:

“When will you leave for the US?” My daughter Dionne PMed her Mom.

“Many times before, she raised such a question, bathed with anticipation, right after my wife and I had gotten our visas. We kept on holding off our travel plan due to the hassles of getting ready particularly putting in order what we would leave behind – house, car, and pets, among others – until, double-quick, our plan was shut off by the pandemic.”

Now, that the pandemic seems more manageable, if not over, there and then, pop up the anti-Asian hate crimes. Uh-oh.

Pondering on putting on ice our long-overdue US trip plan, never have I gotten the drift of God’s reassuring words in Jeremiah 29:11 as much as I do today: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Head collage photos courtesy of Chinatopix via AP & Jason Leung on Unsplash