I READ it somewhere. A psychiatrist said those who curse a lot have mental health stigma. What do you call a spokesman who called senators of the republic STUPID? Is it enough to censure him, transfer him to another assignment, stripped him of those hard-earned stars on his shoulders? Or maybe send him back to school and take a lesson on good manners and right conduct? The subject here is Army Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. who "demean and disparage" the senators by calling them "stupid." The army general from Bicol is not showing any remorse and insisted he called them for "what they are."
It all started when the senators proposed the defunding of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac). Human rights groups were red-tagged. Even the now-popular community pantries started in Quezon City were viewed as Communist-sponsored. Senator Dick Gordon, one of those who criticized the red-tagging, called the action "imbecile, stupid and shameful." More gasoline to the fire. Now with bated breath, I am willing to spend few hours when Parlade will meet the "stupid senators" in their own chamber.
I remember, and this was not long ago, the Senate and the House of Representatives passed a very important measure that carries no controversial provisions. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, the author said the consolidated bill was transmitted to Malacanang for President Duterte’s signature. And it was signed with not much ado by our president. And it seems the signed law had an impact on Duterte, which lately it was noticed he is not using many cuss words when making speeches. Only explode when he remembers Senator Leila De Lima.
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Walang batang mag-aaral ang hindi tinuruan ng, "good manners and right conduct" o GMRC. Pinapanday ang ating mga murang isip sa mga bagay na sukat nating ikilos at isalita, maging sa kaklase, titser, kaibigan, kasamahan sa bahay at maging sa ating magulang at kapatid.
"Kung ano ang gawa ng matatanda ay ginagaya ng mga bata, dahil akala nila ito yung tama," ito ay isang kasabihan na ilan beses na natin narinig. Ang tanong ngayon ng karamihan, ano kaya ang pumapasok sa ulo ng mga ilang mambabatas na magbatuhan ng putik, magbitaw ng hindi kanais-nais na salita sa harap ng sambayanang Pilipino? Sa ibang banda naman, kahit papaano nakita atin ang tunay na pagkatao nila.
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There are people who spew cuss words with delight. The Americans spice their statements with bulls—t or sonafabitch with exclamations. It doesn’t mean anything to them. Over the years it became part of their vocabulary. Tayo naman we exclaim, anak ka ng pating, anak ka ng tatay mo, buwisit ka, sira ulo etc. But we never call our elders, more so senators and other public officials stupid in public. An open declaration of terming elected officials stupid is a no-no. Many of us curse government officials behind their back, in whispers. And if only our curses can only kill, more than half of them must be in the memorial parks now.