The level of discourse

As expected, the Palace was not at all happy with the unsolicited advice by UN human rights chief Zeid bin Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein that President Duterte needs to see a psychiatrist. This was his statement after Duterte insulted two female UN women rapporteurs, and after branding UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples Victoria Tauli a terrorist. No need for insults, says the Palace. Various statements have come from DFA Sec. Cayetano and Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, all criticizing al-Hussein’s comments, that “demeans not only the head of state of a member-state, but tarnishes the reputation of the Office of the High Commissioner.”

But what does that say then of the Office of the President? President Duterte himself has hurled personal insults and invectives, not only at his female nemeses at the UN, describing them as “black” and “undernourished,” but to the European Union, to America, to former president Barack Obama, to women rebels and whoever else out there he does not like or those criticizing his deadly war on drugs. He has even threatened to slap Agnes Callamard. I don’t think I heard a strong reaction from America, or from Obama himself when he was cursed. Obama just said he was a colorful guy. There was also no strong reaction when he cursed the Pope because of traffic. Everyone seemed to just accept his tirades in stride. But has al-Hussein’s statement struck a nerve, prompting such strong condemnation from the Palace?

The president’s foul language has been called out many times. The president himself has promised to minimize or stop cursing several times, to no avail. The new normal of him hurling insults and invectives is assumed to be “taken seriously, not literally” as per his spokesman, as if to explain his often colorful statements. I’m not really surprised to finally hear something in kind, from the agency he has often cursed and disparaged.

If this is the new normal, where the nation’s highest leader often curses and insults, with his Cabinet and political allies often imitating the very same style of speaking even while in other countries, it may not be surprising, or even insulting for someone to finally respond in kind, being the new normal.

This is the level of discourse today. I can mention several clichés, such as “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” or “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen,” and “you can dish it out but can’t take it?” It seems the president’s men have circled their wagons. Yes, I used a metaphor. Something the president’s men also like to use to explain his outrageous statements. Again, the new normal.