Difficult choices we make
Many of our readers assume columnists have it easy.
The common notion is that we simply pull out a name, a topic, or a pet peeve and stir fry it with indignation, self righteousness, and a dash of bitterness. Sorry folks it does not work that way.
Take today’s events for example.
The most talked about topic at the Tuesday Club was the call of the CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Actually what most members reacted to was the self serving, buck passing, accusatory statement of COMELEC Chairman Ben Abalos who blamed the degenerate morals of Filipinos who bought and sold votes.
Chances are one out of three columnists or commentators will likely take a swing at Abalos simply for blaming “Filipinos” instead of some other nameless generic target. A few will hit him for simply being at fault and not admitting his failure. It’s a sure recipe that the guys who pick up the issue will end up being part of the chorus.
Sadly, no amount or volume of truth could make the chorus great if the intended audience faces the concert with impenetrable Kevlar shamelessness and biblical deafness.
Given such a scenario, one would have second thoughts about relevance and impact. So we search for other topics that might be more important or at least meaningful in the lives of our readers.
For instance, has anybody really talked about how dumb or male oriented malls and many public facilities are designed? Why is it that architects never pick up on the fact that there are never enough toilet space and seats for women.
Whether it’s our big malls, shopping centers, airports or hotels, the people who design these facilities never bother to do a post-op assessment of their designs. Women need to sit, take longer and require disposal bins that don’t overflow in the first hour of use.
Like airports for instance, so called western designers put in airport seats that are sectioned and makes it VERY difficult to lie on horizontally. They say it’s not a bed, FINE ! But if the human reality is that we now fly at odd hours, forced to go to airports in the middle of the night, shouldn’t designers be “creative” and make people friendly facilities?
While in the subject of “issues” many women are concerned and bothered why “male homosexuals” dressed like women are not prevented by law from using toilets that are identified for use of “women”. It’s a perfectly legitimate concern which has been largely ignored.
The problem is it’s a “Female” matter that to some people is far less important than the human security act, the COMELEC’s absence of credibility, or who comes in as the 12th senator in spite of there being another vacant seat.
I guess this explains why Filipinas are able to hold their bladder longer while Filipinos generally relieve themselves in any corner, behind a car door, or an electric post just like a dog.
Given that most teachers in grade school and high school are women, they ought to brain wash all the boys as well as their fathers about going to a real toilet and while they’re at it, teach them to lift the seat and not leave scent marks on the seat! Guys we still have a long way to go.
Filipinas on the other hand have been subjected to years of training to hold their bladders, suffer in silence as they wait in public toilets to relieve themselves. And we wonder why females have UTI and renal problems.
That I think is the problem. We tend to take things in stride even though it causes us great discomfort or fear. Women’s issues have been interconnected as political and sexual. But little focus is given to the practical and real issue.
How come no one’s screaming discrimination against women at the hands of traffic authorities who single them out as easy prey?
Most of the male population have no second thoughts in the opinion that a man caught sleeping with someone’s wife should be shot or castrated after he gets the crap beaten out of him.
But why is there no equivalent anger or public indignation among women against women who willfully or intentionally seduce or shack up with another woman’s husband? It has always been a private or personal matter but never a behavior spoken against by women.
We actually even see TV shows that feature and glorify the other woman or mistresses who give advice to wives so they don’t lose their husband to another woman.
It takes a lot of gall and an equal amount of stupidity to let media and what ever interest group to raise up these sort of people as OK, human, and just like us. No sorry’s and apologies on this one.
We scream bloody murder and 4 letter words when a driver cuts in front of us, but no one seems to be screaming about the growing number of young nubile bodies who have been cutting into marriages rocky or otherwise.
Just so we don’t spend our time on “light” issues, let’s dwell a little on the poetic justice that took place concerning the left versus the right. The leftists and the oppositionists banded together with the usual suspect to fight the National Identity Card. Their efforts were richly rewarded as the bill arrived DOA in Congress.
But that did not prevent who ever it is that’s behind all the extrajudicial killings. Adding insult to injury we now have an even stronger and efficient law that will also hurt the pockets, bank accounts and suppliers of rebels, terrorists and trouble makers.
Much like treating a disease, because the patient refused simple medication they now face surgery and radical treatment.
Our cultural conduct of tax evasion or avoidance eventually brought about gross taxation and the expanded value added Tax. Now we pay taxes not just when we earn money but every time we spend money.
So there you have it. Opinion writing is not just about politics but about life. We make choices but the real question is will you choose to act on them?
- Latest
- Trending
