 |
 |
| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Why Hamas Can't Win
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on Jan. 14, 2009 For the Standard Today, January 15 issue At least not in the short or medium term. Meaning, in the next three to five years. But beyond that, all bets are off. In its January 19 issue, TIME magazine devoted its cover story to "Why Israel Can't Win." The writer, Tim McKirk, who does not have a Jewish name, argues that "The offensive in Gaza may degrade Hamas' ability to menace southern Israel with rocket fire, but, as with Israel's 2006 war against Hizballah, the application of force won't extinguish the militants' ideological fervor�.." I do not think the Israelis are unaware of that point. What the Israelis are trying to do is to buy time for more moderate Palestinians to come to the fore and accept a two-state solution that would give the Palestinians their own homeland or state, and at the same time allow the state of Israel to peacefully co-exist with it. The Palestine Liberation Organization, made up largely of Arafat's Fatah, has come around to that point of view. Many important Muslim countries � Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, all formerly hostile to Israel � have since accepted the existence of Israel as a fact of life. But the Hamas, which defeated the Fatah in Gaza elections in 2006 and then drove Fatah out of the Gaza Strip, maintains the traditional hard line position that the State of Israel must be destroyed and the Jews driven to the sea. Not by coincidence, a view loudly and publicly shared by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the ayatollahs of Iran, and by eminent non-state entities such as Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and various Islamic militant groups all over the Muslim world. Given such a hostile and belligerent next-door neighbor, Israel cannot be blamed for maintaining a strong military position. By firing more than 500 rockets and missiles into towns and cities in southern Israel over the past three weeks, Hamas was deliberately provoking the Israelis to react with maximum force, which the Israelis did. If the MILF or the Abu Sayyaf or some other Islamic secessionist group were to fire 500 Katyusha rockets into Zamboanga City from their hideouts in Basilan Island, wouldn't or shouldn't the Philippine armed forces react and retaliate with maximum force as well, assuming that it had such force in its arsenal? In 1962, when the Soviets started positioning ballistic missiles on the island of Cuba, less than 100 miles from the state of Florida, the US government under President John F. Kennedy mobilized its nuclear might to confront the Soviets, with the implied threat that it was ready to go to (nuclear) war unless the Soviets removed their missiles. I do not recall if the liberals at that time pilloried Kennedy for the "lack of proportionality" in his reaction, given that the Soviets had not even fired a single missile. Of course, the present Gaza crisis did not start with the Hamas firing rockets into southern Israel in late December 2008. That was, claim the Hamas and its liberal allies, a reaction to the land and sea blockade that Israel imposed on Gaza years ago. But that blockade in turn was the Israelis' response to the smuggling of arms into Gaza from Syria and Iran. Without the blockade, Hamas militants would have acquired more lethal and sophisticated weapons, the kind that the Hezbollah used against northern Israel in 2006. The whole Middle East crisis is one of blame and counter-blame, retaliation and counter-retaliation, but it all boils down to: who really owns the land that the Jews and the Arabs have been fighting over since 1948, or sixty long years ago. By now most of Palestinians now living have never seen the land that their parents and grandparents claim was theirs. Similarly, most of the Israelis now living have never known any other land than the Israel that they know as home. So who owns the land? In my article Who Owns Manhattan? (Oct. 23, 2001) � archived in www.tapatt.org � I asked : "Who owns Manhattan? Is it the descendants of the Manhattan Indians who were its early inhabitants before the coming of the white man? "Or is it the descendants of Dutch settlers from the Dutch West India Company who had bought it in 1626 from the Manhattan Indians for beads, cloth and trinkets worth $24 in today's money and named it Nieuw Amsterdam? "Or is it the descendants of the British colonists who forced the Dutch out in 1664 and renamed it New York? "Or is it the descendants of the American revolutionists who took possession of the city (from the British) in 1783 and later made it the capital of the new United States of America�" The answer, of course, is: The land belongs to whoever can maintain sovereignty over it. And that means establishing a working government, promulgating a regime of law and order, making possible the growth of an economy based on commerce and industry, and successfully defending it against the incursion or invasion by outsiders or the revolts of domestic malcontents.. By this criterion, Hamas cannot win the argument since they have effective control over only a very tiny portion of the disputed territory. If earlier occupation were the sole or main yardstick for ownership, then Manhattan and the rest of continental America would belong to the descendants of the Cherokees, the Sioux, the Blackfeet, the Chippewas, the Navajos, the Apaches, the Pueblos and dozens of other Amerindian peoples; the whole of Latin America would belong to the descendants of the Mayans, the Aztecs, the Incas, the Quechas, the Aymaras, the Caribs, the Guaranis and dozens of other Amerindian nations; Australia to the Aborigines, New Zealand to the Maoris, South Africa to the Hottentot pygmies, Hokkaido in Japan to the Ainus, Siberia in Russia to the Sibirs. Sarah Palin's Alaska would belong to the Inuits. Which would be a good thing for her since her husband is half-Inuit, and she is more qualified to be Ice Queen of the Inuits, than vice-president or president of the USA. By the same token, Mindanao would belong to the lumads, not to the descendants of Muslim settlers from Borneo or Christian settlers from Panay and Ilocos. And Central Luzon would belong to the Aetas. And, yes, the disputed territory of Palestine or Judea would belong to the Jews since their ancestors, with the same ethno-linguistic and religious identity as the present-day Jews, lived there for at least two thousand years � interrupted by involuntary vacations in Egypt and Babylon - until they were driven out by the Romans in the year 70 AD, almost six hundred years before the birth of Islam. But, of course, in the long term (beyond five years) Hamas can win. But that's for another article. ***** OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to "Why Hamas Can't Win" More Reactions to "Joma Speaks" More Reactions to "Israel's Gaza Ghetto" The Decline of Public Education We deserve better choices in 2010 Roilo Golez for President Who cares about foreign aid? Keys to an alternative future Tony, I almost accorded you praises for your good logic and convincing analogies contained in your article. But why you have to include your political bias and hatred of Sara Pahlin ---a failed U.S. Vice Presidential aspirant, but an apparently well accomplished Governor of the State of Alaska---is beyond rationale, especialy in your otherwise good presentation of "who owns first?" in this world-in-conflict of ours. The election is long over. Your caricatured, sarcastic way of qualifying her to be Ice Queen of the Inuits is not welcome and well beneath your intellectual, responsible thinking. Pacifico Talens, (by email), Virginia Beach, Virginia, Jan. 15, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir, While I agree with most of your observations, I would put more weight on the following: (1) The Israeli government's (IG) land and sea blockade, including that humiliating wall and other restrictions on movement, trade, etc. are two of the key reasons for the fierceness of Hamas in recent years; (2) The IG's use of warfare at the setting of Bush's term is not strategic and I think will lead to Olmert's fall. The neocons' strike first/afar strategy will be replaced with more aggressive diplomacy; (3) Others have noted that HAMAS is BOTH a terrorist organization and a social movement (that is active in providing social services). IG is only attempting to address the first and not the second, hence points 1 and 2. IG's predicament is similar to the U.S. in Vietnam. A two-state compromise might be the only way; (4) Poverty breeds anger and violence. IG's policies have impoverished Palestinians; (5) Other observers have noted that the conflict goes beyond geopolitical issues. It includes conflict on environmental (water, probably offshore natural gas reserves) and religious (sites) resources. Media and politicians tend to simplify the issues; (6) WEB 2.0 has exposed the human toll of the lopsided fight and carnage. The IG's media blitz is not working this time around. They've lost a lot of social capital; (7) Lastly, as an Israel scholar said, both peoples are resilient and their capacity for suffering is boundless. The conflict will go on and thus must be managed intelligently and with open-mindedness....I am not anti-Israel/Jew. As you know, some of the most active and dedicated people in the environment, development, and peace movements are Israelis. Hence my use of I.G. Best, Hecky Villanueva, (by email), Tucson, Arizona, Jan. 15, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hello, Mr. Abaya: Thank you for your insightful commentary titled, "Why Hamas Can't Win." You mention that "many important Muslim countries�Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, all formerly hostile to Israel� have since accepted the existence of Israel as a fact of life." As a correction, Turkey has never been hostile to Israel. In fact, Turkey was one of the first countries in the world to recognize Israel's existence when it declared independence in 1948. For decades, it was the only Muslim country to have recognized Israel while maintaining diplomatic relations with it, from Day 1. Despite the dramatic cooling of ties (as a result of the Islamist minded government in Turkey and because of the current Gaza crisis and its related protests), Turkey and Israel have maintained close strategic diplomatic, military and trade relations, much to the dismay of other Muslim countries. Today, hundreds of thousands of Israelis prefer to vacation in Turkey rather than in their own country, Israeli pilots train for war readiness in Turkish airspace, Israeli companies are upgrading some of Turkey's most sensitive military hardware, and two-way multi-billion dollar trade between the two allies has hit record numbers. Although it is easy to lump Turkey into the anti-Israeli grouping with other many Muslim countries, in this instance, highlighting the critical and glaring differences of Turkey versus other states is absolutely necessary. Thank you for your attention. Keep up the otherwise great commentaries and editorials. Oktay Kesebi, (by email), Vancouver BC, Canada, Jan. 15, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, Re: Israel's Gaza Ghetto and Why Hamas Can't Win Here's a link that will confirm and support your observations: http://www.terrorismawareness.org/what-really-happened/ The video no doubt is propaganda, though the historical and factual presentations supports most of the claims. My only observations are: It's hard to fathom the minds and intentions of fanatics and fundamentalists. Their logic and reasoning do not operate within the sphere of common sense, objectivity and truth. It is a sad and grievous testament on human irrationality as an integral part of our brain that will remain embedded in the deep recesses of our soul maybe for another million years or so if man is still around and haven't obliterated itself. I remember "Linus"of the renowned "Peanuts" cartoon declared: " I love humanity, It's the people I can't stand!" Mark Enriquez, (by email), Pomona, CA, Jan. 16, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, Thank you for the enlightening article. As usual, a very thoughtful analysis clearly presented. I would like to refer you to a NY Times article by Thomas L. Friedman: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/opinion/14friedman.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq= education%20of%20hamas&st=cse It is also a very good analysis of what Israel's goals may be (or should be) given that: 1. Israel's pulling out of occupied territories have not resulted in peace; 2. Hamas is a duly-elected government of the Palestinian Authority; and 3. Hamas has vowed to wipe out Israel. It would seem to me that both sides cannot "win" (where winning is defined as the total destruction of the opposition), and therefore a sort of "mutually assured destruction" balance of power is the best that can be achieved. With this in mind, I look forward to your article on how Hamas can win in the long run . Best regards, Enrico D. Hidalgo (by email), South Korea, Jan. 16, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, The story of the Middle East problem has been chronicled numerous times, each with its own slant, from the religious and historic, left and right wing, morally and some presumed independent thinkers. We here in the New York Metropolitan Area are fortunate enough to be recipients of both sides of the issues, although a lot more towards the Israeli side because of the preponderance of the Jewish populace and influence among our colleagues. Although a majority of our colleagues are Jewish, we have a fair number Muslims who are fairly well spoken and can elucidate their point of view. Sometimes you will be amazed at some of the opinions expressed by Muslims who have been here and exposed to the American influence for 20 years. If they still harbor the same sentiments as that of the Palestinians in the Middle East towards the US after all the years of having prospered and enjoyed the hospitality of the Americans, then how can we even think of changing the views of the front line warriors immersed in the squalor and dogma of the radicals in the Middle Eastern conflict. I was taken aback by the answer of a Pakistani doctor regards Iranian nuclear ambition and the danger of terrorists getting their hands on one of them. His retort, "what's the difference between Israelis and Americans killing thousands of Muslims with thousands of bombs and that of a nuclear blast" is enough to make you pause and reflect on that answer. The above attachment is just a capsule of what is being discussed in Emails among friends, lunch rooms, Churches and Synagogues and probably Mosques here in Jersey. Let us hope that the Obamation can deliver on his promise to end these age old problem pestering for generations. H. Cruz, MD, (by email), New Jersey, Jan. 17, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, hi, How come you didn't touch the question closest to my heart "Who own Sabah"? Re subject matter: Hamas can't win the war with Israel. So with the other neighboring Muslim countries. Numerically, they could. But they won't, and will not, for fear of reprisal from the principal supporter of Israel. Guess ko lang. Arcy F. Sibal, (by email), Sta. Maria, Bulacan, Jan. 17, 2009 (Sabah belongs to whoever can maintain sovereignty over it. And that means the Federation of Malaysia, legitimized in a referendum in the 1970s in which the majority of Sabah residents voted to remain in the Federation of Malaysia, and, by inference, not to be absorbed by the Philippines. And understandably so. Malaysia is a much better managed country than the Philippines. The Philippines can argue its legal case until all our 50,000 lawyers turn blue. But if the majority of Sabahans prefer to remain with Malaysia, there is nothing that the Philippines can do about it. ACA). wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Thanks for trying to clarify such a complicated issue. I have to say the way you explained the situation is one of the best I have ever read, and believe me I have read quite a lot. If you ask the average person living in Israel and living in Gaza and the West Bank, what they will tell you is they want a two state solution - separate but equal. Sounds so simple. Too bad it isn't. I can only hope that once this present conflict is over that we are closer to this type of relationship because we are so fed up with this constant fighting and killing. Mark Reitkopp, (by email), Israel, Jan. 18, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, As always, well written, well argued. On TV people are always made or 'pushed' to believe that the Hamas are the victims in this war at Gaza. We of course sympathize with the innocent civilians, children especially, who are killed or maimed in what is now known as a retaliatory war by the Israelis, to account for the 8 year long rocket attacks by Hamas, where Israelis people, innocent children and women too, are the victims. When will this end and how far will it go 'until all of them are erased from this earth'! You have argued well in your essay and the positions of each side were there for 'reasonable people' to equate. But are the "Provocateurs" reasonable? If they refuse to listen to reasons, what to do? It's simple, and yet it's so complicated and unless "Responsible Leaders" on both sides will seat down and "TALK AND LISTEN with OPEN MINDS and HEARTS", no one can win. Both of them will be destroyed! Is this what they want? I hope this kind of trouble, in our own backyard, will be resolved soon. Otherwise we will also have our own Gaza-like-incidents to reckon with. God forbid. Our political leaders must not play a game of 'misadventurism' at this stage of our political life. People now know that the arms and bullets in the hands of (used by) the Muslim separatists come from the government armory. Are the foot-soldiers and Marines aware of this? And when and if they become aware, if not yet, what would happen(?) We are just wondering allowed. Our leaders are really playing a very dangerous game. Their greed and power-play can haunt them to kingdom come! But we wonder if they care?!@# Jose Regino, (by email), Zamboanga City, Jan. 16, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hamas has already won Mr Abaya, I have never read such one sided revisionist rubbish. I cannot spare the time to debunk your many misconceptions and glossing over of facts but some salient points: (So why did you bother to write the following paragraphs if you did not have the time to debunk my alleged many misconceptions? ACA?) Israel ha snot yet managed to meet any of its publicly stated objectives of: Destroying Hamas Stopping the rockets Strengthing the moderates (colluders) - Fatah and Mammud Abass are weakened and finished by Israels actions, the Arab tyrants are also weakened and some may fall as a result, if they do not do what they are best at, clampdown further on their own people. Israel is a occupying power. Hamas and the Palestinians have the right to resist and free their land. Hamas has signed up to the Arab initiative, thereby recognising Israel. You deny Palestinians claim to their land yet, Israel's only claim is a Biblical one of the Promised Land. You give further examples of genocide committed by settlers to support your argument. This is very callous of you. The Jews that left Judea are not the same ones that are occupying it. Some 80% of Jews in Israel are Ashkenazis, who have no ancestral connection to the Israel! Some 750,000 Sephardim Jews (the Simites) now live in Israel, therefore majority of the Jews in Israel do no belong there. Palestinians are Semites and are the same race of people as the Sephardim Jews. Palestinian did not arrive there with Islam as you insinuate. They were there during the time of Samson! You sir need to get your facts right before you waddle in such issues and muddy already muddy waters with revisionist and economical truth. I my land was being occupied by squatters and I was living in and "open prison, "Ghetto" imprisoned by a racist, xenophobic and apartheid regime, who wants has no respect for international law and is proceeding to starve me to death the I too would be throwing firecrackers at them. Furthermore, you are unashamedly justifying mass murder of a imprisoned, impoverished, men, women and children. This is not only inhumane, it is despicable! As the late great Malcolm X once said "by any means necessary". Hamas has won, unless they kill all, Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and the Diaspora. Then they will have to deal with the Muslims. We are all Palestinians now. If you have the decency then you will publish this on you website. I might even send you a more detailed reply but I guess you only want your version of the truth. Joi Sarkar, (by email), Jan. 16, 2009 (Now that we have published YOUR one-sided revisionist rubbish, we trust you will celebrate by throwing firecrackers � and only firecrackers � at "them." ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww In the Bible, Abram (Abraham) the founder of the Jewish nation had a son from Hagar, maid servant of his wife Sarai (Sarah) who eventually fled with her son Ishmael to what is now Saudi Arabia. Sarah later delivered Isaac the heir of Abraham. Isaac of the Jews and Ishmael of the Muslims therefore are blood brothers For Muslims, Abraham is a prophet of Islam and the ancestor of Muhammad through Ishmael. Abraham is also widely regarded as the patriarch of Judaism( religion of the Jews) and Islam (religion of the Muslims). Narciso Ner, (by email), Davao City, Jan. 18, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony Idol, You wrote: "The answer, of course, is: The land belongs to whoever can maintain sovereignty over it. And that means establishing a working government, promulgating a regime of law and order, making possible the growth of an economy based on commerce and industry, and successfully defending it against the incursion or invasion by outsiders or the revolts of domestic malcontents.." If so, forget about patriotism and national liberation. And why not simply roll over, and, like sheep, get herded to the slaughterhouse or the gas chamber to be genocided instead of fighting the stronger invaders and imperialists? These usurpers and occupiers meet the above-mentioned criteria. In fact, even GMA does, so why do you continue fighting her? Louie Fernandez, (by email), New Jersey, Jan. 18, 2009 (If you read my article Who Owns Manhattan? of Oct. 23, 2001, you will note that the paragraph expressing the above sentiments was followed by the following: "That the land belongs to whoever can exercise sovereignty over it can be said to justify colonialism and imperialism. But it can also be said to justify their countervailing phenomena: wars of independence and wars of national liberation, if and when they succeed. So in the final analysis, it justifies nothing. It merely states an empirical fact�." (Does anyone [still] root for Republican Spain, decades after it lost the Spanish Civil War in 1939 to the Falange fascists supported by Hitler and Mussolini, despite the active involvement of thousands of liberal intellectuals-volunteer warriors from the US-UK-Western Europe in support of the Republican-Communist cause? Are you [still] revved up about the [lost] cause of Biafra against the imperialism of Nigeria? (In the 1960s, I supported the Vietnamese in their struggle against the Americans. I named two of my three children in honor of the Vietnamese. I admired the Vietnamese because they fought bravely and fiercely even in the face of overwhelming odds, and eventually triumphed over the Americans, as they had earlier won against the French.. I do not admire losers. The Arabs started three major wars against the hated Jews: in 1948, 1967 and 1973, but, despite superiority in numbers and materiel, lost every single one of them. And I do not empathize with religious fanatics who claim a direct and exclusive line to God. You may want to read my article Vietnam Pilgrimage of Sept. 26, 2006, also archived in www.tapatt.org. (What do you think, Louie? Who owns or should own Manhattan? Or Texas? Or Arizona? Or California? Or Florida? Or North and South Dakota? Or Mexico? Or Peru? Or Guatemala? Or the Amazon rain forest? Etc etc. The interlopers used "genocide" to dispossess the original inhabitants of their land. Why is no one up in arms to protest these blatant acts of injustice? Could it be because the whole world acknowledges that the descendants of the original inhabitants do not exercise sovereignty over these lands? Tony) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Reading Dr.Tawlik Hamid's article, a former Egyptian Muslim now a resident of America, is truly enlightening especially for us Christians and other non-Muslims who are frustrated perhaps but not blinded with rage and politics on what is happening in Gaza. I suspect Dr. Hamid's attitude towards the Jews changed when he left Egypt. It takes sometimes to be out of the box to have a clearer picture and a better perspective. I also have recently read a speech of a Lebanese woman now a student in the United States who had a change of heart about the Jews. She grew up hating the Jews because they were taught to hate them. Now she is defending them and their right to exist. Here is her story: One day her mother was seriously hurt while in Jerusalem from a blast of a suicidal Palestinian terrorist bomber. Her mother was taken and treated first over less seriously hurt Jews considering she was Lebanese because she needed it. She was so afraid her mother would die. A Jewess mother whose son was critically hurt with a head wound lying on the next bed held her close and comforted her like a mother would. When she tried to identify that she was Lebanese she motioned her to hush and kissed her. She was utterly perplexed with the demonstration of love and kindness to a stranger. She was completely changed. Then there is Brian Harber's comparative list of accomplishments by Muslims (12 billions) versus Jews (14 millions). There is obviously a glaring disparity. One must ask the question why? The answer is, not a question of money, class, intelligence or opportunities. It is a question of attitude, perspective and how to harness the forces of good to better off humanity. The Arab people must take up the cause. To me Palestinians and generally the Muslims of the Arab world breathe and live in HATE. I refuse to understand or justify the culture of death they are fixated with. How can anyone justify honor killing which exists only in the Muslim world? It is occurring here in America where parents and brothers have exterminated daughters, sisters and wives and justify these heinous acts as honor killing? What is honorable about killing your own blood? I believe there are as many good Muslims. I have worked and befriended them. They are like you and I. However, there has to be changes in cultural attitude. extreme approach to justice, the eye for an eye, honor killing and many practices contrary to culture and dignity of life. If the Muslims are to become relevant to the modern world they must recognize to change from a terrorist, a victim into a happy, less disruptive and contributing member of this world. This goes true in Gaza. It is their call, Israel takes reactive role time and again to survive. Thank you Tony for presenting and providing a fair and balanced forum. Keep up the good work, my friend. Oscar Apostol, (by email), Rocklin, CA, Jan. 20, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww And this is where the mystery lies.... No matter how many Arabs there are...how modern and powerful their rockets are.... they are no match for Israel. That's because God will fight for Israel. Precisely why numbers don't dictate victory! We need NOT to be blinded.... there's NO excuse for terrorism and we should be wise and smart enough and courageous enough to stand up against them. Palestinian Men, Women and Children know that their lives will always be at stake following their religion and supporting the Hamas group, who governs the Gaza Strip. Eventually, their fate will dictate for them to die. Look at the Suicide Bombers for instance. Do you know that the anticipation of death is worst than death itself? I love Israel and we should be praying for them! Cynthia Golpe, (by email), Jan.22, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to "Joma Speaks" (Jan. 08, 2009) Tony, Education, no doubt. will be most significant, to the point that education gained will also bring on insight as to what really matters as to elevate one's love of country and countrymen, serving the best interest of the majority. Temptation, EVIL, will always lurk, but justice served for what is right and just will penalize the lawbreakers. CRIME DOES NOT PAY. Justice shall exact penalty to discourage inequity. I know that some of you abhor giving credit where credit is due where USA is concerned. USA stands as the prime example that democratic government and principles work. USA because of its pride and love of country will stand the tests of time. There will be crises now and then, but the country will correct itelf and be the beacon for others to emulate. Ideal and good citizenship beget good and ideal citizens. The Philippines better wake up and get the country out of its critical predicament or the corrupt governance will invite a violent revolution as the only solution to bring catharsis.The balikbayans have been exposed to good governance and how democracy works. Knowledge gained can be applied in their own country. The Philippine trait of MAPAGBIGAY while tolerating the MAPAGSAMANTALA at LAPASTANGAN must be temperedand rghtly replaced with CRY FOR JUSTICE. Do not suffer injustice ANYMORE. Have more self-respect and LOVE OF COUNTRY -- for what is BEST for ALL -- not the FEW, who have no soul and no love of country, but their own greed and demonic self-interest. Ben Oteyza, (by email), Jan. 18, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to "Israel' s Gaza Ghetto" (Jan. 13, 2009) I used to enjoy the bliss of our dear Gen. Santos City where I was born and lived my 62-year life. For fear of bombs, I do not go to the public market anymore, to malls, to church, fiestas, city plaza, gymnasiums, or other public or private places which are targets of terrorism. I understand the fear of those living in the Middle East, whether Israel or Gaza. To the Filipinos not living in Mindanao, may I invite you to come over and know for yourself what I mean. Many of you do not know, and yet you are very good in 'analyzing.' Rue Ramas, (by email), Gen. Santos City, Jan. 21, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, The war at Gaza and the differences that cause all the wars between the Israelis and Palestinians can be settled only between and by them. Interventions from other countries can only halt the killings for a while. Lasting peace can only be achieved by both sides agreeing to sit down and talk - without having to be told by the Egyptians, Americans, French, Koreans, etc..(How did the Koreans get dragged into this? ACA).. Better therefore to leave them alone and allow them to see their faults and agree to talk without external pressures. It appears that the world is more concerned for them while they don't seem to give a damn about the civilian casualties. The initiative to stop the hostilities must come from both sides, simultaneously, and not from other countries, not even the United Nations.. Victor Manalac, (by email), Jan. 21, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww The Decline of Public Education there was a time in philippine history when graduates of manila public schools could excel and hold their own with the graduates of catholic private schools. our high school teachers were UP BS education graduates. wealthy and influential government and private industry leaders, who were past graduates of arellano high school, after it was established by the americans, sent their children from their homes in QC and elsewhere to study at their alma mater. the children of the rich and the poor mingled together in classrooms with academic excellence as the yardstick by which they were all measured, not the clothes they wore nor the money in their pockets. jimmy laya and gerry sicat graduated 4 years ahead of me and reynato puno a year before me. i don't know when, why, or how it happened, but the manila public schools lost their luster and past glory and became the schools for the disenfranchised children of filipino society. past graduates of arellano, like my brother sito, sent his 2 sons to the ateneo and his daughter to miriam college. we were very poor, yet we received a proper education at the arellano high school. now, we have turned our backs on our roots. no one cares for the education of the poor children anymore. the education of the children of the wealthy and the influential leaders are now safely entrusted to the catholic private high schools, by the same leaders who, with one side of their mouths, rail about the oppression of filipinos by the friar orders, since the spaniards arrived in 1565. the same political leaders keep on decreasing the funding for public education. why not so, when their children are not studying there anymore? what's in it for them and their children? absolutely nothing! the social cancer has spread all over the body politic and has destroyed the moral fiber of the filipino people. it is not fashionable to shed tears for the outcasts of society anymore. any society that does not respect and provide dignity to its poor will never earn the respect and gain dignity for themselves from the world community of decent human beings. the sooner we realize that, the sooner we can join the family of kinder and gentler world societies. americans have cast their votes for change and actualized the wildest dreams of the ancestors of a long-oppressed people. what do filipinos want and where do they want filipino society to go? what are your priorities, beyond electing a leader to lead you to the promised land? what must your leaders see from the mountaintop? what are your visions of a great society. without the answers to these questions filipino society will keep going around in circles without getting anywhere. you have to get back to the basics. americans provided many examples from 1898 through 1946. they were not all bad. think of the great men of filipino society and ask yourselves how they got to where they wanted to be, from jose abad santos to reynato puno. what social institutions made it possible for them to be the moral leaders of their people? who provided it to them, why and how? are the government institutions still true to their original missions? "Our ills we owe to ourselves alone, so let us blame no one. If Spain should see that we were less complaisant with tyranny and more disposed to struggle and suffer for our rights, Spain would be the first to grant us liberty, because when the fruit of the womb reaches maturity woe unto the mother who would stifle it! So, while the Filipino people has not sufficient energy to proclaim, with head erect and bosom bared, its rights to social life, and to guarantee it with its sacrifices, with its own blood; while we see our countrymen in private life ashamed within themselves, hear the voice of conscience roar in rebellion and protest, yet in public life keep silence or even echo the words of him who abuses them in order to mock the abused; while we see them wrap themselves up in their egotism and with a forced smile praise the most iniquitous actions, begging with their eyes a portion of the booty--why grant them liberty? With Spain or without Spain they would always be the same, and perhaps worse! Why independence, if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow? And that they will be such is not to be doubted, for he who submits to tyranny loves it." - Dr. Jose Rizal in El Filibusterismo Bobby Manasan, (by email), Burke, Virginia, Jan. 22, 2009 (One indication of the decline in education in general, not only in public schools, may be the increasing refusal of some people to use capital letters in proper nouns and at the beginning of sentences. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Roilo Golez for President The Philippine presidential election is next year. As we have already seen how the present administration runs the Philippines, the country needs a better leader with honor, courage, integrity and patriotism than the current one has. The Hon. Roilo Golez embodies the right ideals and attitude in uplifting the bitter condition of the Filipino society that is now experiencing. It's time for a change, and a change for the better. The honorable senator (you mean Congressman, ACA) Golez of Paranaque is the right man for the job in lighting up the beginning of a change for a better Philippines. Freudian Fernandez, (by email), Jan. 18, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww We Deserve Better Choices in 2010 Yes, Tony, We deserve better. It is not yet a losing quest (but beginning to) to look for a transformational leader. We just have to keep on. Regards, Cesar Sarino, (by email), 18, 2009 From: We Deservebetter <[email protected]> Date: Sat, Jan 17, 2009 at 9:50 PM Subject: Fwd: We Deserve Better Choices in 2010 To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Why should we settle with Noli de Castro (refutedly attack collect/defend collect and a gma stooge)? Why should we believe Manny Villar(behind Capitol bank failure/double titling/titling of watersheds/c5 insertions etc etc) Why should we accept Loren (wife of a convicted murderer/will do anything to get elected/no proven executive experience) Why believe in fast talking chiz Escudero ( danding cojuangco and Lucio tan boy)? Should we limit our choices to these questinsble characters? WE DESERVE BETTER CHOICES IN 2010 PLEASE PASS so we can have a better Philippines !!!!! Lets look for the right choices. Email us who you think should lead us beyond 2010. God Save the Philippines! wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Who Cares about Foreign Aid? The World Bank has another encounter with corruption involving projects in the Philippines. And a UK business group very politely tried telling us how we could encourage more foreign investments. Foreigners are treading dangerous waters everytime they try to offer us unsolicited advice; yet it is upon us to pick and choose which would bring us good given our decades of economic woes � we've already sunk one generation; we don't want to see another one? This writer has been echoing the frustrations of more and more Filipinos while presenting a different if not a new perspective. With two of our ex-presidents listed among the most corrupt heads of state, would mathematicians tell us that there is a high probability that we will have more high-level corruption in future? Should we worry that corruption could jeopardize foreign aid to the Philippines? Not necessarily � given that corruption is universal. And who cares about foreign aid? If the U.S. Catholic Church despite its focus, dedication and massive financial resources has not succeeded in reducing poverty in the U.S., is there a high probability that foreign aid won't achieve its ideals in the Philippines? (This writer has represented the USAID/IESC in Eastern Europe � where corruption seems ever present too; and supports charity efforts in a private capacity.) The bottom line is: what others think and do for us does not matter; it is what we think and do for ourselves that matters. Yet we remain part of an interconnected world � no man is an island? The University of Michigan Graduate School of Business is one of those that popularized the acronym COWs: citizens of the world. And they are people who "think global" and when they do meet they share "war stories" or experiences in different parts of the world. COWs recognize that they have a different worldview. They are the opposite of the rednecks who may not have a passport and have not traveled beyond 50 miles from home. In the 1980 U.S. census, over 50 % of Americans were in this category. The number has shrunk but a big chunk still is homebound. The U.S. IRS taxes residents based on global income, irrespective of the country where the income was generated. Rednecks could not care less but COWs do. And some of them are Republicans and would explain why they are against any more taxes. And to add insult to injury, the COWs read about corruption. In Connecticut over the recent past a governor and a couple of mayors were imprisoned. And in New York a senior and well-respected Democratic congressman is under pressure to resign his congressional leadership position if not his seat because of alleged corruption. And the list goes on! Yet Americans are fortunate � U.S. GDP is more than the combined GDPs of Japan, China and Germany, the three largest economies after the U.S. In other words, an errant son can afford to squander his parents' fortune if they are incredibly wealthy but a poor farmer's son cannot. That is what should worry us about corruption in the Philippines � we cannot afford it! And it is not just the current administration that should worry us � we have not seen the last of it; those that are yet to come should give us pause, i.e., how can we as a people deal with this flaw? Corruption is not an Arroyo problem per se; it is a Filipino problem? And we each need to own up to it � a rotten fish smells from the head down? What about foreign aid? Should the question instead be: How do we build ourselves up? Foreign aid may tide us (especially the poorest of the poor) over like U.S. Catholic charity efforts tide the poor over. But only economic booms lifted them out of poverty. We cannot rely on foreign aid to lift us out of poverty. Only economic booms can. How do we leverage the global economy so that we become self-sufficient? China knows how, i.e., it can put ideology aside while Russia seems more preoccupied with ideology and the results speak for themselves. A Singaporean scholar (Kishore Mahbubani, Dean of the School of public policy at the National University of Singapore and former Singaporean ambassador to the UN, and author) argues that: "China (and most of Asia) has finally figured out the 7 pillars of Western wisdom, which enabled the West to succeed: � Free market economics: the Chinese are deeply committed to free market economics, one reason why China (while still an autocratic regime) was very keen to join the WTO is because they believe that by complying with those standards it will become the most competitive economy in the world (Russia doesn't want to join because they feel the WTO rules are an imposition on them; the Chinese believe they're a gift to them). � Science and technology: Europe became dominant for centuries because it surged ahead in its mastery of science and tech. But if you extrapolate from what you see on campuses and colleges today, by 2010 70-90% of all new PhDs in science and engineering will be held by Asians. � Meritocracy: why is Brazil a soccer superpower but economically a medium power? Because when it comes to soccer, they look everywhere, they search for the best players in cities as well as in slums; but when they look for economic talent, they only look to the upper or medium class. Asians have discovered that the millions of brains that were not used for centuries are now being used. In India, even the "untouchables" are being given education and are integrated into the economy, it's a silent revolution. � Pragmatism: it's an ancient Western practice. Asians have become the best copycat nations in the world. As Deng Xiaoping said: "it doesn't matter if a cat is white or black, if it catches mice". In most of Asia, the ideological debates are left behind. � Culture of peace: In the region where we saw the biggest war since WW2, the guns are now silent. Asians have not got to the "zero prospect of war" that Europe has achieved, but it's moving in the right direction. � Rule of law: the country that is producing the largest number of new laws in the world is China. � Education: the hunger for education in Asia is phenomenal. In many ways, the gold standard for education now is being set by Asian countries, starting with Singapore." We have our work cut out for us; do we need to dig deep into our soul and gather the courage to face up to the challenge? And conquer the world? The lesson of Eden comes to mind: Adam and Eve were assured that they would conquer the world despite their human nakedness. Romeo Encarnacion, (by email), Bulgaria, Jan. 22, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Keys to an Alternative Future Click here: Handed the Keys to An Alternative Future - Wheels Blog - NYTimes.com Honda has come up with a car using Hydrogen as fuel! Mariano Patalinjug, (by email), Yonkers, NY, Jan.22, 2009 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to [email protected]. To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. |