Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Editorial: Lynch mob mentality
THERE'S something to be mulled over when legitimate issues turn toward the worse and name-calling comes to fore. And name-calling seem to be very much part of the game in the ZTE national broadband network deal charge and countercharges of corruption; among the ridiculed being the Catholic Church.
Last time it was the bishops for not making a clear stand on the allegations of kickbacks and "tong-pats". Yesterday it was Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal for allegedly ordering the priests in his archdiocese not to officiate masses for NBN-ZTE deal whistleblower Rodolfo Lozada Jr.
And thus Lozada was quoted as calling the Archdiocese of Cebu the "Archdiocese of Malacañang" while Sun.Star Cebu reported that the Black and White Movement in Metro Manila called Vidal "a congressman in cassock".
We can't blame them; they're reeling with outrage against all these reports of corruption. But they cannot also blame people who are still trying to define their stand to look at them in disdain. Faith, after all, lies deep in a lot of Filipinos' heart and whether Muslim or Christian, an assault to their beliefs will hurt.
There are limits to how far insults can go, and attacking the church officials as if it is their sacred vow to open all their churches to protest rallies bar none is stepping on those limits.
While there is reason to be outraged because of what is perceived as gross corruption in government it should not be rammed down the throats of people who are not even receptive to the so-called civil society's style of letting the truth known.
In the end, sobriety should still be the prevailing disposition because we are now faced with a nation that is not only divided but is also confused, tired, and at times exasperated, both at the rally leaders and the government leaders as agitators with dubious agenda bang on their drums to drown reason and stir the mob into frenzy.
It has all been written before, about how lynch mobs form -- it all has something to do with the relative number of the mob members. Thus, a growing mob of frenzied protesters drowning in outrage fired off further by agitation will lust for blood. And without sanity, any blood will do.
We cannot afford that if indeed what we want is real change.
Tell the people what should be done beyond just kicking out a leader and kicking out another because you also do not want the legal successor. Lead the people toward a collective mea culpa and a spirit of cooperation toward a cleansed future. That is what's needed now. Not name-calling, not forcing people to choose being with you or against you.
