From: francis@mpl.ucsd.edu (Francis C Felizardo)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.filipino
Subject: Re: Funny but deadly
Date: 18 Aug 92 20:17:48 GMT
Organization: Scripps Institution of Oceanography
NNTP-Posting-Host: kiko.ucsd.edu

In article <1992Aug18.153107.16030@lmpsbbs.comm.mot.com> 
maridai@ecs.comm.mot.com (Marida Ignacio) writes:

   - stuff deleted -

>The first subject emphasizes legalization of an ideology that killed and
>continue to kill humans, kidnapped innocent people, and robbed money and
>asked for ransoms.  Legalized all these and everybody is  happy crawling 
>in their acquired freedom to do more wrongdoings.

I think you missed an important point there. It is the membership in the 
party that is being legalized, not killing, kidnapping, or armed robbery.

>The second subject emphasizes a former ______ who robbed the people of
>their money and financial opportunities and I've read a lot of GRRRRRRawl!!!
>
>I wonder who or which is misleading and misled.
>I wonder which is more important...
>
>    HUMAN LIFE and DIGNITY
>
>    OR MONEY and FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Apples and oranges!

In the first case, many of the members of the CPP joined it because after 
analyzing the social, political and economic conditions of the country, they 
were led to believe that the only way to change society for the better is 
to fundamentally overhaul the system, i.e., through armed struggle. After 
experiencing so many hardships and injustices, they have come to believe 
that the parliamentary process will not bring about substantive improvements 
to Philippine society. Anyone who observes the last several elections would 
almost agree with them.

In effect, by legalizing the CPP, the government is giving the CPP 
the chance to openly sell their ideas to the voting public and make 
the voters understand that the kind of changes they want to make is 
what is right for the country. Hopefully, by convincing them that change 
is possible within the existing democratic framework, the more 
moderate members of the CPP will be led to believe that armed struggle 
is unnecessary.

Of course if the CPP continues undertaking terrorism, extortion, etc. then 
they will be arrested as criminals not because they believe in communism but 
because they have committed criminal acts.

On the second issue, Marcos stole from the Philippine treasury during his 
tenure. His administration was also responsible for military abuses, 
suppression of public opinion, rigging elections, corruption, and numerous 
other crimes. If anything else, he was the biggest reason why the communism 
flourished during his administration. If he were quietly buried, you will 
not hear a peep from anyone here. However, by awarding him full military 
honors, it makes us look stupid. It's like thanking him for all the suffering 
we got. I thought that was the reason why everyone got upset.

>Well, it is to easy to speak outloud and decide this or that is good for the
>Philippines if one is not DIRECTLY affected by any of the above problems
>over there...
>
>*Afterall, regret always comes later when it is too late...then, everybody
>washes their hands and disappears...*

When I first read your post, I was glad to read a contrary opinion. It is 
after all hard to conduct a discussion when everyone agrees on the subject. 

Many of the people here who have strong opinions about the Philippines do 
care a lot for the country. Many are like me who want to pursue careers 
there and would be happy to see the insurgency and many of our other problems 
resolved satisfactorily. We also like discussing Philippine issues here 
because we want to know the pros and cons of a position on an issue.

NONE of the decisions we make here will have any bearing on the overall 
policies in the Philippines. I don't think anyone here has the stature to 
make those decisions. But by discussing the issues openly, we can hopefully 
come out better informed. We discuss to understand, not to set 
national policy. 

If you think the points made here are incorrect, we certainly would like to 
hear you explain your side. Ad homineim attacks are not necessary.

>So funny, I'm sad.

Well don't be. When you look at the two issues in a more than superficial 
manner, I think you'll realize that they actually do make sense.

Comments welcome.

   - Francis
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Francis C Felizardo				francis@mpl.ucsd.edu
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 0213	      (619) 534 1085
La Jolla, CA 92093-0213
Newsgroups: soc.culture.filipino