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Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Legaspi: A fearful Valentine's Day?
By Carlos Legaspi Jr.
Questions that matter
MONDAY, the whole Catholic Christian world celebrated the feast of one of the exemplars of Catholicism--St. Valentine. The secular world celebrated Valentine's Day. The whole world was painted red--the color of LOVE.
The same day also, news across the wires was all about the ongoing War in Sulu. Majority of the opinion pages were talking about the Moro war. Isn't it an irony? We are celebrating the day of love against the backdrop of conflict? Isn't it a fearful way to celebrate the day of the hearts?
As I was walking in downtown, I observed that teenagers are not affected by the conflict in Mindanao. Many still manage to get into the pocket of commercialism. Many still greeted each one a "Happy Valentine's day." It shows that many are not affected by the worsening tension in that part of the country.
I randomly asked some college students in the University on what they think about the conflict. Two out of 10 students understood the conflict. The rest do not care. Anyway, this is a sign that the conflict in Mindanao is not something worth talking about. What concerns the youth of today is the celebration.
I talked to one spiritual person, he told me that prayer is the best weapon we have to prevent a useless battle. I agreed with him and he told me to offer a minute of silence for peace every hour of the day. I wish his suggestion is good for everyone. We could be silent and reflective for just a minute every hour.
Let us open up to the Creator and ask Him to guide everyone in the pursuit of peace. Prayer would be the best artillery, indeed. The problem: Do we still know how to pray? Do we still talk to God?
This reminds me of an event where one Philippine Senator said that he received a text message from God asking, "What happened?"
He was ridiculed by his political-minded colleagues in the august body. This shows that many of us think that God no longer communicates with us in our high-tech gadgets.
Anyway, we should PRAY, PRAY and PRAY that peace will reign in the world. I read from somewhere that government troops being fielded in Mindanao are being used as baits for the rebels. Infantry battalions are being prepared for a large-scale war in Mindanao. In short, the Arroyo administration is now ready to go to war. The only signal they are waiting is from the Chief Executive.
What is in for us, Filipinos? What will happen to us? Will we still see the next valentine? An acquaintance of mine sent me an email and told me that I am too paranoid with war. He told me that the Philippines will never be the object of the war in Iraq. He is even thankful that the United States is doing everything for world peace.
Ok, Mindanao is far but when the war starts, it escalates and the whole Philippines will surely be involved. Shall we allow the conflict to continue?
Anyway, once again the administration for filling up the minds of the Filipino people about this Mindanao conflict. It saved the face of Arroyo's monsters on their killer bill--EVAT and other tax measures. The administration should thank the separatists for making this conflict.
I guess the issue is just a cover-up--that one morning we will wake up with all the tax increases already implemented. Arroyo and her well trained beasts are masters of smoke-screening.
So, all we have to do now is to pray for lasting and genuine peace.
Once again as the British would say: "Have a bloody Valentine's day!"
For more comments, send to ecaloy@yahoo.com.sg
(February 15, 2005 issue)
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