Make no mistake about it

During the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada, a witness made the following hand gesture: the thumb and the index finger connected to make a circle, and the three other fingers extended in a slight spread.

Senator-Judge Sotto asked the witness to explain what the gesture meant — and so went a discussion on its possible meanings. (To my recollection, it was largely a toss-up between “ok” or “money.”)

When one thinks about it, actions, like words, are just as expressive and meaningful — or, sometimes, offensive. Take, for example, the “dirty finger.” Who would have thought that the middle finger could ever signify something bad? In the normal course of things, when a person makes that gesture and, with apparent full awareness of its meaning, gives it to us, then we’re left with no other option than to take offense. For this reason, it’s not likely that we would be offended if a baby makes that gesture. (In fact, it’s likely that it might even elicit a chuckle.)

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Now, it’s a different matter altogether, when the gesture has not acquired a particular, near-universal signification and, thus, subject to different interpretations.

In which case, an explanation as to the context might help dispel any misunderstanding — supplemented, of course, with an apology, for the ensuing “miscommunication.”

If this all sounds so complicated, it’s only because actions do speak louder than words. In fact, without the benefit of words, the expression is nothing more than a fragment — “actions speak louder than.”

Take the case of last week’s “hear no evil” fiasco. One of the private prosecutors monkeyed around — that is, covered his ears like one of the trio of “no evil” monkeys — which earned him the ire of a Senator-Judge.

Now, if he’d done that to muffle the supposed shrill sounds that he was hearing, then he could have prefaced his explanation with “make no mistake about it” and proceeded to narrate the truth of the intentions behind his actions. However, what was made clear by the days that followed was that the action was anything but unmistakable.

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The day after the incident, the private prosecutor publicly apologized for having offended the Senator-Judge. By this time, from an apparent act of protest, the gesture had changed in characterization to something else. The private prosecutor’s defiant tone had softened, as though he’d sobered from the intoxication of the day before. (At that time, of course, the consequent penalty for his act remained hanging over his head.)

A few days later, Jesuit theologian Fr. Catalino Arevalo’s homily warned of being “worthy of the fires of hell” those who would call others “fools.” And, as though the words left any doubt as to whom they were referring to, an enterprising reporter had the temerity to ask the priest if he was referring to the Senator-Judge — to which, the priest responded that “he did not have to name her.” As to be expected, having been alluded to in a scalding homily, the good Senator-Judge responded — and rightly so — with more theology, and then some.

Then, the group “Former Senior Government Officials” (FSGO) chimed in to “show their solidarity in remonstrating that Sen. Santiago has exceeded the bounds of propriety, good manners, and right conduct in her public tirade against the prosecution panel.” Putting their money where their mouth was, the FSGO collected a tidy sum, in anticipation of whatever fine might be imposed on the private prosecutor. 

In the end, the Senate Impeachment Court decided to slap the private prosecutor with an anticlimactic (mere) admonition.

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Language and expressions should always be contextualized. A curt remark uttered to a friend would hardly raise an eyebrow. But hands raised (to cover one’s ears) in mock protest can raise a storm. Words and actions are just that — words and actions — when divested of their signification.

When engaged in friendly banter, feathers might get ruffled. But there’s rarely ever mistaking the intention, even if a word or an act can be taken the wrong way. In a heated exchange, however, where the intentions are assumed into the situation, some words and actions become questionable, if not entirely, suspect. 

It is ironic (and unfortunate) that having evolved far in our ability to speak, now more than ever, our level of sophistication, notwithstanding, we still fail to communicate with each other. We rely and fall back on our own abilities to fill in the blanks, where the words should be, and allow our words to dominate those of others. Sometimes, those gaps aren’t blanks, but full stops that invite nothing more than peace and quiet.

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A big mistake: On the other hand, the fraternity-related violence that reared its ugly head in San Beda was an unequivocal error and, perhaps, the juxtaposition of its having occurred close to Women’s Month, serves to further highlight the tragedy.

It truly boggles the mind how, under guise of “brotherhood,” a man-child is subjected to needless violence teetering on the brink of death — and, as we have seen of late, sometimes, crossing that line.

Indeed, all is good, until something bad happens.

Yet, at the end of the day, it is the mothers who weep the loss of their sons. They are the ones who nurse the wounds and soothe with words of comfort. How I wish someone would just tell them that when enough is enough, walking away is as honorable an option.

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Harvard Spring: The hibernating Harvard Club of the Philippines will be springing back into action with its 2012 maiden event — aptly called “Harvard Spring” on March 27, 6 p.m. at the Makati Shangri-La. Featured speakers are alumni Don Oscar Lopez and Sec. Butch Abad. Graduates from the law, business, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard College, medicine, education, architecture and design and other schools may contact Executive Director Harvey Dychiao at [email protected] or 0917-8912342 for more details.

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“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more: it is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.”     – Shakespeare’s Macbeth

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E-mail: [email protected]