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I was supposed to write something today but I have no idea what I should write about.
So let's talk about politics and the fact that I'm not interested in talking about since people always insist that they are right and you are wrong. But I will talk about it. Somehow.
I just found out yesterday that both of my parent are Marcos supporters. Yes, me the apolitical citizen has Marcos supporters for parents.
I was having dinner last night when my mother remarked out of nowhere that she doesn't see the point in protesting FEM's burial in Libingan ng mga Bayani (the Arlington Cemetery of the Philippines). Ever since the Supreme Court of the Philippines approved the petition to have FEM buried in LNMB, the entire country has been in an uproar. Some people are saying that it's only right that he gets buried in LNMB since he was a former president and that he was a soldier who valiantly (questionable since there are numerous reports that say otherwise) served our country. Some people are opposed to the burial given that it was during the Martial Law era that the Philippines suffered numerous humans rights violations. People were tortured, killed, or went missing during this time, and numerous families are still feeling the effects of the violence up to this day.
When my mother said that she is pro-Marcos because of the good things that he was able to do for the country (ie infrastructure, economic boom, etc.), I was so shocked I stopped eating. My mother, brilliant woman that she is, seems to think that FEM's contributions to the country is enough to forgive all of the crimes against humanity that occurred during his reign. Right now I am under the impression that my mother is either in denial when it comes to reports of torture and violence, and that FEM's contributions to the country during his very extended term are enough that he can be considered a hero. I am bewildered as to how such a learned and worldly woman could ever consider the actions of a dictator as forgivable.
Being the apolitical person that I am, I gave my mother the most political answer I could: "Let us not talk about politics at the dinner table." I knew right there and then that if I goaded my mother into a full-blown political argument that it would just end up with her stalking to her room and me losing my dinner even before I could finish it.
It made me realize a few things tho:
So let's talk about politics and the fact that I'm not interested in talking about since people always insist that they are right and you are wrong. But I will talk about it. Somehow.
I just found out yesterday that both of my parent are Marcos supporters. Yes, me the apolitical citizen has Marcos supporters for parents.
I was having dinner last night when my mother remarked out of nowhere that she doesn't see the point in protesting FEM's burial in Libingan ng mga Bayani (the Arlington Cemetery of the Philippines). Ever since the Supreme Court of the Philippines approved the petition to have FEM buried in LNMB, the entire country has been in an uproar. Some people are saying that it's only right that he gets buried in LNMB since he was a former president and that he was a soldier who valiantly (questionable since there are numerous reports that say otherwise) served our country. Some people are opposed to the burial given that it was during the Martial Law era that the Philippines suffered numerous humans rights violations. People were tortured, killed, or went missing during this time, and numerous families are still feeling the effects of the violence up to this day.
When my mother said that she is pro-Marcos because of the good things that he was able to do for the country (ie infrastructure, economic boom, etc.), I was so shocked I stopped eating. My mother, brilliant woman that she is, seems to think that FEM's contributions to the country is enough to forgive all of the crimes against humanity that occurred during his reign. Right now I am under the impression that my mother is either in denial when it comes to reports of torture and violence, and that FEM's contributions to the country during his very extended term are enough that he can be considered a hero. I am bewildered as to how such a learned and worldly woman could ever consider the actions of a dictator as forgivable.
Being the apolitical person that I am, I gave my mother the most political answer I could: "Let us not talk about politics at the dinner table." I knew right there and then that if I goaded my mother into a full-blown political argument that it would just end up with her stalking to her room and me losing my dinner even before I could finish it.
It made me realize a few things tho:
- People seem to equate contributions to the country as a valid excuse for bad behavior. Crimes against the same country
- People take to heart the saying about time healing all wounds. For me, it's like telling a rape victim to forget about her attacker because he gave her money for therapy.
- "Move On" is preferred by people who are in denial. Both Imee and BongBong said that the Filipino people should move on from what happened during Martial Law. Who the can move on from having their private parts electrocuted? Who can move on from having their loved ones tortured and killed while they were made to watch? Who can move on from not knowing what happened to their loved ones?
I am neither pro or anti Marcos. I cannot give a personal testimony about the Martial Law era because I was too young when it happened. But I do remember the People Power Revolution. And I remember thinking that people will not be so upset at a man if he did not do anything wrong. I also remember thinking that it was strange that people at home allowed me to put People Power stickers on the kitchen sink. I also remember the excitement when Cory Aquino was sworn into office and the Marcos family left the country. The tension was gone from our grandfather's house and things were different. I did not know what was different but things just felt different. And that the different felt good.
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