America, the original Maritess

Before we take on Maritess, let me first wish all the very best for The FREEMAN on its 103rd year of publication, and for the people who in good times or bad are responsible for pulling off one of the toughest jobs on earth each and every day. I would be lying if I say I do not miss those times that I have been with you, from 1982 to 2018. But there is always a time for everything. So let me just say "Keep Freemanning!" So proud of you.

* * *

Now Maritess. Maritess is a play on the phrase "'Mare, anong latest?" and which was originally used to describe a nosy person or gossip-monger. It evolved into something bigger during the 2022 presidential campaign and has now come to mean anyone who is prying, meddling, or interjecting. In other words, those who cannot keep their hands to themselves or who cannot mind their own business. Mga atrevida. Mga hilabtanon.

In this context, there is no country in the world that is a bigger Maritess than the great United States of America. It always has something to say, often unflattering, on how other countries conduct their own affairs. If you are not in its good graces, it tells you what to do, under pain of any of a variety of punishments, euphemistically called sanctions, which is really a form of non- shooting war.

Recently, several members of the United States Congress moved to block further assistance to the Philippine National Police because of what they think are alleged human rights violations. Human rights violations is a condition the United States sees happening in other countries but never at home. They see it in the Philippines, they see it in China. They see it in Russia, they see it in Syria. Never in California.

But the Black Lives Matter movement was not born in a vacuum. There is a degree of regularity in the physical, emotional, and psychological abuse heaped by American police officers, mostly white, on people who are black. The PNP may have been tough on drug suspects, but at least it is a toughness against criminals. The American police on the other hand, are even tougher, especially on the basis of color of a person's skin.

America is so hot on rights they see skewed in other countries but not so hot about the even more skewed rights at home. In America, the constitutional right of people to bear arms is deemed far superior to the right of people to be secure in their persons, in their homes, their schools, their workplaces. Hence, America is slowly being eaten alive by ever increasing incidents of wackos just gunning down kids for sport.

America cries foul about the fate of a basketball player being held in Russia for illegal substance possession without regard for the criminal laws that are in effect in that country. And all because the suspect happens to be an American, whose rights must prevail even in the country whose laws were allegedly violated. Rights are always subjective in American eyes, depending on whose interests they serve.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte, who only very recently completed his six-year term and stepped down from office peacefully and without incident, has proven to be a huge embarrassment for America. Demonized by America from beginning to end, he retired a most-beloved leader by his people, with approval ratings soaring to his last day in office, probably unmatched by any US leader.

And now the new leader is Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose father former US presidents Bush Sr. and Reagan once toasted as a democratic icon but later dropped when he no longer served American interests. Marcos Jr. was also demonized by the US right up to election day. But on securing a 31-million mandate unheard of in Philippine history, Joe Biden, in true Maritess fashion, quickly congratulated and invited him for a visit.