Desperately seeking our Obama
Despite the bone-chilling cold, close to two million people attended the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States. The seemingly never-ending balls were hosted by different groups, each celebrating their participation in the campaign and savoring their collective success. Around the globe, millions were in “viewing” parties toasting the first African-American president as he charted a new course in history. Kenyan bands were singing of the victory, Japanese girls in grass skirts were dancing the hula, the entire Indonesian elementary school where Barack studied as a young boy sat glued to the TV set listening to every word of his inaugural speech. They all claim a piece of the Barack Hussein Obama genome. He is the living proof of the strength of America’s “patchwork heritage.” A new global president embraced by the brown, yellow, red, black and white constituents of all nationalities. The epidemic of hope has infected a world aching for change.
But as usual, there are the party poopers, cynics and haters. Some commentators felt that Obama’s speech did not live up to their great expectations. There was no singular thematic statement or quotable sound byte, no catchphrase that encapsulated the entire speech. But the president’s address, all 10 minutes of it, was a nuanced, well-woven tapestry of vision, the past, promise and stirring metaphor. That’s why it’s not easy to condense into a slogan. He did not disappoint. His macro audience listened spellbound. It was inspiring without the usual mushy clichés; brave but not reckless; critical without being toxic; pointed but not petty. The words, simple and well-strung, hit the bull’s eye.
Someone in the Palace must have felt alluded to by one part of Obama’s speech, when he underscored that, “To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.” The words were carefully chosen and very well said. It exuded a subtle but resolute warning, the true mark of one who is confident about his influence and power.
Malacañang reacted by saying that President Obama could learn a few lessons from President Arroyo on “matters of governance, fixing the economy, or simply fending off political dissent”! Setting aside reactions of “what gall,” the response is typically knee-jerk thoughtless and reeking of arrogance — so characteristic of someone who took the statement as a personal attack. In Pilipino, napikon. This indicates that she presumes to be important enough for Obama to home in on. Opposition had a field day listing all the unsavory lessons Obama could pick up from this administration. If the intention was to attract disparagement, then it was superb messaging. But if this was a serious statement, then philosopher Thich Nhat Hanh’s Thick Face, Black Heart minus the metaphorical interpretation must be what has literally come to pass after nine years by the polluted Pasig River.
Setting aside this minor episode, the optimism around the world has become almost tangible with this momentous event. The impossible can happen if we make it happen. Obama’s triumph used the basic campaign framework of Money, Message and Mobilization, but set a new gold standard because it was fueled by regular Joes instead of big business.
Here in the Philippines, The Movement for Good Governance (MGG) is determined to duplicate the Obama miracle. Targeting 10 million grassroots voters, this coalition of civil society, NGOs, the academe and church groups have convened to attempt to influence the 2010 presidential elections. They want to break the stranglehold of the 4Gs (Gold, Guns, Goons and Garci) in determining the winner. They hope to find our own “change” leader.
One of the groups under the MGG mantle is We Deserve A Better Philippines, which has since changed into “we deserve better.” Sixteen months away from the elections (assuming, of course, that there is one), money has begun to pour in, not only for advertising but also for on-the-ground (mostly unholy) alliances and “operations.” Apparently, dirty tricks have also surfaced this early.
I am reprinting the exact e-mail (original spelling and grammar untouched) sent to me by a group claiming to be We Deserve Better, which attacks the four presidential frontrunners this early. The MGG vehemently denies spreading this message and has asked that this column clarify the disinformation.
“Why should we settle with Noli de Castro (refutedly attack collect/defend collect and a gma stooge)? Why should we believe Manny Villar (behind Capitol bank failure/double titling/titling of watersheds/c5 insertions etc etc) Why should we accept Loren (wife of a convicted murderer/will do anything to get elected/no proven executive experience) Why believe in fast talking chiz Escudero (danding cojuangco and Lucio tan boy)? Should we limit our choices to these questionable characters? WE DESERVE BETTER CHOICES IN 2010 PLEASE PASS so we can have a better Philippines !!!!! Lets look for the right choices. Email us who you think should lead us beyond 2010. God Save the Philippines.”
When I double-checked with Milwida Guevarra, one of the leaders of the MGG group, they disowned this e-mail. She sent this response: “We are a unifying group. We want to build and not destroy. We’re just in the process of developing criteria and processes on reformists.” Who is behind We Deserve Better? Who is the author of this caustic message? I have my hunches but I’m too new a columnist to face a libel case. But again, this is a trivial distraction, not worth more than the few lines already accorded to it.
What’s more imperative is to find our Obama. Competence is a given just as integrity should be. But more than these, we are searching for someone who truly has a heart to serve that isn’t mind-made or ad-made. One that is for real and not just a “costume.” Someone whose “private face” is not too far from his public one; whose good deeds are more than a token gesture, but a sincere desire to help the marginalized. A reformist who wants to address what is wrong with the “system” instead of manipulating and perpetuating it, because it serves his purpose, warts and all. Someone not yet so steeped in pragmatism accommodating the attitude of I’ll- scratch-your-back-you-scratch-mine.
It is this quid pro quo practice, this transactional politics that has prevented our country from forging ahead. Worse, it has widened the great divide between the rich and poor. It has catapulted us to the top of the Most Corrupt list in Asia. We are poised to be overtaken by Vietnam in economic development. The Filipinos leave their country in droves, finding their hope out of poverty in other countries, at the high cost of broken families and children gone astray.
We need a transformational leader, a true servant leader who can begin to heal a damaged society like ours. Who is our Obama? Where is our Obama? The followers are only as good as their leaders. There is no doubt that with the right leader, the people will rise to support his vision. An administration apologist once said that all the scandals that involve the Office of the President are due to the “system” — suggesting that if we change to the parliamentary form of government, corruption will be contained. That is like saying that vermin will leave a house if we renovate the porch. Duplicity lives in the hearts of men and women, not in institutions.
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Do you know where the Philippine Obama lives? Share the secret with the author. E-mail: mscom@campaignsandgrey.net or ms.comfeedback@gmail.com.
