Interesting Times - I love living in a Banana Republic

[niky]

http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=1&story_id=67614

If anybody had told me I'd live to see interesting times, I'd have told them they were nuts. I missed half the Cold War, Vietnam, the Korean War, the summer of love, World War II. How could things get any more interesting?

In my lifetime, in my little corner of the world, though, I've seen almost a dozen attempts by ultra-rightists to overthrow the government, I've seen leftists bomb civilians, throw rocks at riot police, snicker as the liberals get dragged off to jail while they slink away...

Anybody here know the color of teargas firsthand? I don't... I was running before it hit the ground. Missed an exam because of those damn leftists.

I've seen people shot, stabbed (firsthand), executed (knew a couple of guys who did it when they were in the police). I kind of thought all of that was behind me.

I've seen bombs go off, personally. I was there when the Police Armory went up in smoke just a few blocks away.

Right now, though, as my Government and President are losing their grip on sanity and reality, juveniles are being arrested for acts of rebellion, the Army is fracturing into different factions, the leftists are closing in, the rightists are waiting in the wing for their chance to pounce, and the political opposition is milking the situation for all its worth... I've got time to reflect... I'm living in interesting times... and it sucks.

In the meantime, on the World Stage, Islamic Radicalism seems to be reaching new heights (Osama must be very happy... just five short years since he started all this)... Fascism (or at least a severe attack on human rights) and Racism seems to be the only answer anyone has in response, and oil just keeps getting more expensive. I pity the Muslims, their entire world is crumbling around them.

P.S.: The last time I had this much trouble sleeping at night, Reagan was shouting "Down with the Evil Empire" like a loon.

P.S.2: Commies (left)? Fundies (right)? You guys all suck. I might change my mind afterwards, but right now, I'm pissed off at both sides of the political coin.

 

[kennythebomb]

That really sucks man, hope your government doesn't go to ****.

Can you explain for an ignorant American *why* there is so much unrest is what I thought was a peaceful country??

 

[Keef]

What you said kind of scares me. I haven't seen any of that, probably because bombs don't go off often in America. But when they do, they're big. Anyway, don't get caught up in one. It doesn't sound like you're too worried about it, you can't be, I guess, cause then you'd be scared to go to work or the store. How 'bout you just not get shot or stabbed or blown up, alright? And if your government goes wacko, come here. It's a little better over here. You could start an Asian food restaurant like everyone else!

 

[Ev0]

Thank god I live in a country with decent political stability so I don't have to put up with all of that bs on a firsthand basis.

I do agree though, since 9/11, the world has gotten a lot more interesting. Its also a lot more screwed up though...

 

[niky]

Actually, the bombs going off was the other year...

I was worried, being a business owner... although I never gave up my US citizenship when we came here, I don't relish having to start from scratch somewhere new. And everyone else is doing that... it feels wrong, somehow, to desert your home country when you know there's something concrete you can contribute.

The issue is resolved now, but the reports I'm seeing in the international media are just so... off. There's a lot of disinformation coming from both sides, and I can't help feeling that whichever political party wins the next election, I'm ****ed. (yes, I meant to set off the censor.)

 

[s0nny80y]

See the thing is that the Philippines is a Catholic/Christian nation with a US trained/equipped army. The Philippines is a democracy. Working class Filipinos are leaving the island for overseas work. What we have left at home is a huge class difference between the rich and poor. No legitimate leader has stepped up to the plate to give up certain powers for the greater good of a less corrupt government. Yet my own people hurt continue to hurt themselves.

Perhaps it's the loss of a strong national identity i.e. Spanish occupation for 200 years, US occupation for 50 years. Filipino's have really only had control of their own destiny for the last 50-60 years. Give it time, the US needed plenty too. However, what is a true Filipino? One that is 100% Maylay, one that's infused with the Catholic way of life, or one that's mixed with Spanish blood?

 

[niky]

That's a difficult question. If you believe the media hype everytime any celebrity with even an ounce of Flip blood comes here, you'd believe everyone was Filipino.

I'm only half Filipino myself, and I still think like an American, and speak like an American. But the roots I've built here over the past twenty years are so strong, I don't think I'm ever going to leave.

I'd say Filipino is a state of mind. If you love the place and you want to stay here, if you're contributing to the economy by sending money back to your family every month or so from overseas, or even as long as you're trying to preserve the culture wherever you live, I'd say you're a Filipino.

Everything's settled down right now, but under a de facto Martial Law of sorts. The President is arresting leftists left (pardon the pun) and right, is trying to arrest opposition leaders and has arrested former activists/opponents on the strength of ten to twenty year old warrants (warrants issued under the dictator Marcos... irony of ironies).

The Left is protesting, the opposition is protesting, even the President's staunchest supporters, the Vice President and the Speaker of the House (a hardcore member of the President's party) as well as former President Ramos (whose military influence helped Gloria step into power in the first place).

She's doing apparently desperate things, the courts are throwing some of the detainees back out on the streets (no warrant, no evidence, no charges... who'd figure?), and media are angry at the pronouncement that anyone saying anything deemed "irresponsible" or "anti-government" or "seditious" could be put under government control.

In the meantime, the stock market's up 1%... isn't business wonderful?