Saturday, September 27, 2008 Carvajal: We offered her no third alternative By Orlando P. Carvajal Break Point
EVEN if the investigation into Rachelle Mae Palang’s violent death should turn up evidence she was an NPA combatant, I still salute her and honor her for having the courage of her conviction to do something to change Philippine conditions which are admittedly oppressive. I strongly disagree with the use of violence to effect social change, but I must strike my breast, say a mea culpa and ask her forgiveness for being one of those who have failed to offer her a non-violent alternative.
The world has gotten nowhere with violence except to a situation of even more violence. Hence, even as I vehemently abhor the violence the establishment brings upon the obscure, I equally abhor the violence being used to correct an unacceptable situation. That leaves me wondering how well-educated and well-off professionals could think their way into accepting violence as a means to bring about change.
I am now convinced that at least partially it is because we have not offered these people a third alternative to the violence of the right and the violence of the left. We who cannot condone the corruption and oppression of the right but can neither embrace the violent method of the left must present a third alternative to our idealistic but, I am afraid, nearly disillusioned youth.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s demolition job on Sen. Manny Villar is a sign of things to come, more dirty politics on the run up to 2010. Our politicians play dirty because they have no vision for the country, no program of government, no commitment to a transparent and responsible style of governance and no sincere desire to work for the welfare of the people. They demolish each other for the chance to wield power and control the flow of the country’s resources in their direction.
We have to grudgingly admit, however, that the only group with a vision (a classless society?) and an economic program biased towards the lower classes is the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA). People, therefore, who feel strongly for radical, socio-political changes and want a realistic chance of effecting those changes, have only the Communist Party to turn to. It is the most organized and perhaps the most dedicated opposition group in our country today.
If we disagree with violence on practical (it just keeps escalating) or moral grounds, we have better come up with a non-violent way of acquiring political power so we can steer a different course for the Philippines. Otherwise, those among us who are deeply troubled by the present situation might not be able to resist the temptation to violence and many more Rachelle’s will die violent deaths. We just really badly need a third alternative.
