Friday, November 30, 2007 Roperos: Too much politics By Godofredo M. Roperos Politics Also
POLITICS, it appears, has permeated every sinew of our way of life. It is a feature in our everyday existence, from the moment we wake up to the time when we are lulled to sleep.
In fact, one solid proof is that even in the way we live, we intersperse our religious thought with fragments of politics. Consider the report in this daily more than a week ago that a movie house in the downtown area had put up a unique nativity scene.
Mary looked like President Arroyo and Joseph had the spitting image of convicted former president Joseph Estrada. There was uproar from the Archdiocese.
The New Cinema theater owner said, however, that he had no malice in mind when he decided to use the faces of the said personalities in the “belen,” thinking that it would promote reconciliation and peace.
Colon St., after all, is a most historical street of the city and has been the busiest, too, in recent years. It has also become the most lucrative site for the denizens of the city, from pickpockets to bag snatchers
The initial reaction of some friends was that the politics-tainted nativity scene was a big joke. To make it even funnier, the title of the movie showing on the same day was on theater marquee just below the belen. The title: “Sex Drive.”
Archdiocesan media liaison officer Achilles Dakay said that Church-related activities or images are sacred. He pointed out that politics should not ride on these activities, like the incident in Lapu-Lapu City where the mayor used the pulpit to get back at his political detractors.
Then there was the recent incident in Boljoon where bikini-clad beauty contestants were made to cavort on stage, ignoring the traditional morality of the Filipinos. Gov. Gwen Garcia, who was guest of the event, walked out of the affair.
Later, she announced she would cut financial assistance to fiesta celebrations that will not observe moral decency and good taste in their presentations.
I think it is high time that our social and political leaders put a stop to too much politicization of our lives and allowing the erosion of our moral tradition to take debilitating precedence in our contemporary times.
