A barbaric group that deserves no mercy

The outrage of the Filipino people over the atrocities and barbarism of the Abu Sayyaf is overwhelming. "Kill them all," said a highly respected historian and educator. Almost every man in the street wants the radical extremist group to be exterminated from the face of the earth. And they all welcome the hardline stance of President Estrada in declaring all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf.

President Estrada, however, faces a dilemma. The lives of the hostages of the Abu Sayyaf, especially those kidnapped in Malaysia, must be saved. How to talk sense to a senseless, blinded radical group like the Abu Sayyaf is going to pose a kingsized headache. And for government armed forces to engage the small group of bandits in a face-to-face war is expected to jeopardize the lives of the hostages. The Abu Sayyaf has already shown its viciousness, and there are indications that once the extremists are cornered, they are going to retaliate by executing the hostages they now hold.

Somehow, a master plan must be evolved to convince the Abu Sayyaf to release their hostages. Once the hostages are freed, then the government, with full support from the public, must wage an all-out war, with neither mercy nor compassion, against the Abu Sayyaf. The Estrada governments' successful handling of what has become a truly explosive situation can give a big boost to his popularity rating.

In his book, Choices in Healing, Michael Lerner listed down different cultures of mainstream cancer therapy at the international, national, and professional specialty levels. The three principal cultures, each with its own set of options, are:

1. Cancer therapy within mainstream American medicine. Large differences in treatment exist between surgeons, oncologists, and radiation therapists, with each group tending to favor the contribution of its own specialty.

2. Cancer therapy among complimentary approaches to cancer. Treatment varies widely among the practitioners of nutritional therapies, practitioners of psychological approaches, and practitioners of immunological approaches to cancer.

3. Cancer therapy among advanced technological-industrial societies. Remarkable differences exist in the way cancer is treated in England, in France, in Germany, in Japan, and in the US.

"Cancer patients should know that many physicians and scientists in other technologically advanced nations regard American cancer therapy as extraordinarily aggressive, using surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy far more extensively than physicians and researchers abroad believe the evidence warrants," Lerner said.

Lerner stressed three main points: that American cancer treatments are generally at the "aggressive" end of mainstream cancer care when looked at from an international perspective; that within the community of conventional cancer care, there is an intense debate about the gains achieved through chemotherapy and radiation therapy; and that there are important "cultural" differences among different medical specialties and the treatments offered by different types of hospitals in the United States.

Here are excerpts from letters I received during the past several days:

RAMON F. CHANYUNGCO, White Plains, Quezon City: "Thank you for writing about my nanay and about her contribution to the cultural heritage of Marikina. Your acknowledgment came at a very special day -- Ang Pasko ng Pagkabuhay -- a day of joy and celebration. And on this day, you made my nanay extra-happy and extra-proud which she has not experienced for a long time."

JONATHAN R. DY, 17 Chester Babst St., BF Resort Village, Las Piñas City: "If we are not capable of sending our chess talents abroad because of lack of funds, why not stage international tournaments here? These will enhance the skills of our young talents. International exposure is needed for our youth, just to be competitive in this region."

JOSELU LEGARDA, Poblacion, Makati City: "The Road Users Tax is one big joke because there is no physical space to construct new roads in this completely unplanned metropolis. In a country where it takes ages to do anything and the bureaucracy is a big stumbling block, the the road user comes out paying taxes to the government and paying toll to the private road developers. At the end of the day, it is the people who are shortchanged."

Dr. FRANCIS SAMONTE: "My mother and I enjoy reading your column. Your practical approach and sense of humanity clearly translate into a very insightful experience for many of your readers. I sincerely believe that our Filipino experience is full of suffering (many times, a product of our own blindness) and loss, which somehow binds us all, no matter where we might find ourselves in. Certainly, our history, full of unending pain and suffering, adds to our unique experience. I'm writing you this message to thank you for allowing us to experience this, wherever we may be."

Art A. Borjal's e-mail address: <[email protected]>