THE dilemma with writing about societal problems in hope of a solution for it is it may consequently “destroy” the very same thing.
Writing for the media is a double-edged sword: Despite one’s intention to simply tell a story or point out a problem for authorities to address, the people you were telling about might just turn bad in the eyes of the people who are reading.
Some of the factors that contribute to the outcomes of a story’s interpretation are word choices, presentation strategies, details, and even the preconception of the target audience about the subject at hand.
Instead of simply describing, you might be preparing a story on the table for people to gorge down on. You might be feeding the people’s prior prejudice.
I’ve had a lot of writer’s block about what to write and how to tell stories about Marawi and Lanao, especially recently. As much as there are tons of stories and problems about this place to share, I had to exercise much caution about what to print here.
I personally wouldn’t run out of stories about the people here – stories about cultural problems, conflicts, discrimination against Christians, and others that I personally have endured while staying in Marawi for almost a decade – but I had to implement a personal gatekeeping process to myself and observe much restraint on what to write and how I write things about this place.
The Meranaws and the Muslims, even prior to the siege, have already endured much discrimination in the media and even in the society per se already. Carelessly writing about some particular problems about them might ruin their stand in the society even more.
Instead of just presenting problems, readers and other media consumers may take the information in a wrong way and process it as something that would illicit further negative perception about the religion and the tribe.
For example, writing about “rido” or clan wars in Lanao del Sur might make out an idea to the readers that the Meranaws are warmongers, barbaric, and savage; especially that previous media and preconceptions by others about the tribe and the followers of Islam have already been negatively associated with trouble, conflict, and terrorism.
Telling about a bad experience with the people here may make readers think that all the residents here are inherently bad because of their cultural or religious affiliation. This may be despite the writer’s intent to simply describe how septic the problem here might be in order for authorities to set their eyes on the problem.
It’s true that some people here have hurt me, and that I have sometimes been discriminated because I am a Christian and other reasons – but it was only some persons who did so. You cannot generalize a whole religious block or tribe because of the fault of a few people.
They hurt me, but it was only certain people who did so. It wasn’t the whole religion or tribe who was going after me.
The ability to hurt is not dictated by one’s tribal, racial, or religious identity. Sometimes, it’s just human nature at play, or simply an individual’s undoing.
As a matter of fact, it may even be because of the lack of piety that allows one to hope for the ruin of another. We can therefore subtract religion as a reason for why a person would hurt another.
Still, I write – as carefully as I could – so I can contribute in closing the gap and in the hopes that these problems might be answered in due time.
(rizsunio@gmail.com)