James 3 – Politicos 0

All it takes for darkness to reign in a room is one finger to turn off the light. In relation to the Expanded Community Quarantine, all it takes to start rallies, public disturbances, maybe eventually even muggings and lootings is for one irresponsible “influencer” to start shooting his or her mouth off and justify it as being vigilant or just performing his or her fiscal oversight function. And because we respect each other’s opinion, no one would be so impolite as to call them out for bringing their politics to Facebook or promoting their political agenda in media.  Because there was “No harm – No foul” coming, followers and copycats start a wave of commentaries especially from those who don’t even read the papers much less official reports and data. And before you know it we have a mob fooled by a leftist group to go to EDSA, violate the ECQ, violate social distancing, risk exposure to COVID-19, all because one misled soul decided to challenge and criticize what all of us have tried to support and cooperate for our own good and our survival. No politics, just survival.

And now we have what is clearly the beginning of another war, the war to get even with each other. A mayor absent-mindedly replies to a reporter that the reason they can’t do social distancing in the city is because previous administrations failed to prioritize socialized housing. Next morning the mayor was being attacked by trolls on Facebook labeling the official as the missing mayor. A bunch of fans started promoting their Lodi Mayor of Pasig for doing such a good job and next thing you know the NBI is trying to haul his ass downtown. A bunch of alleged supporters of the Vice President started posting how Leni’s camp bought PPEs for a cheaper price than the DOH and next thing you know someone takes it upon himself to have the VP investigated for graft, again by the NBI. Of course there is the never-ending attacks to cut down DOH Secretary Francisco Duque in the hopes that they can take over, fully convinced they can do a better job. I could fill this column with all the angles and agendas but I think I’ve made my point. 

If you have to justify why you do something, then chances are your reason may not be all pure or all true. If your criticism is focused on last week’s mistakes, last month or last year’s issues, I got news for you, you are so “yesterday” and the only thing that matters is what’s in front of all of us: COVID-19. We are at war; we are all fighting for the lives of our families, friends as well as our neighbors. This war is on our shores, our land, our cities, and towns even in our homes. Constructive criticism presented in a constructive and sincere manner is welcomed, but if all you can do is ask: “where’s the money? why is it taking so long or can’t they do a better job?”, you are not helping, you are getting in the way. Or was that your intention? 

 As an opinion writer, I should be the first to abide by the principle of respecting other’s opinion, but that principle is based on the premise that your or my opinion considers not only truths and facts but perspective and consequences as well. You might be pointing out truth and fact, but you could be doing it with bias or malicious intent, disrespect or jealousy. Worst of all, you might be doing it to feed your ego, your political agenda, or just so you can show the viewers or listeners how smart you are. That is pathetic. You could be doing it for all the right reasons with truth and facts, but if you disregard perspective or context, then your opinion is nothing more than a big fat lie. Pointing out yesterday’s mistake to win today’s argument is being dishonest. 

 In the US, there are groups attacking the government for its failure to respond swiftly, for failing to give out financial aid to citizens, failure to purchase medical supplies fast enough. It has reached a point that the critics have started to sound like a child wanting his fast food and he wants it now. To this, defenders of the government have replied: “Would you also like fries to go with it?” That tinge of sarcasm points out the fact that so many bench sitters are treating the battle of our lives like a trip past a drive thru. No, it’s not. The worst thing about it is that it does not help the frontliners, it does not get the logistics in place faster, all that bitching and moaning simply creates division and mistrust in a time when we all need to watch each other’s back.  

If you are not part of the Executive branch, not a Cabinet secretary, were not included in the Inter-Agency Taskforce against COVID-19, not a doctor and not asked; Just stay home and fix your relationships or clean your garage. We want to stay focused and live. We want to be remembered for trying to help and not for being a constant complainer. We want to be remembered as Filipinos who fought the fight against COVID-19 and not a Dutard or Dilawan or Filipinos who fought with Filipinos.  

As always here’s a reminder from the Bible from the book of James 3: 9-10 “With it (our tongues) we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.” 

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