We are a nationalistic people!

For a long while, I thought that we, as a people, have become less nationalistic. It tugged my heart, quite painfully, to think that perhaps because a great majority of us are pre-occupied with our sheer individual efforts to make both ends meet, we are getting collectively insensitive to the assault, by communist China, a modern super power, on the dignity of our free state. It was in that state of mind that I wrote my article last Thursday.

In that column, I suppressed my anger in a rather run-about way focusing on communist China, the national origin of my favorite comb rather than center my write-up against its arrogant, nay belligerent act. I swiped at the nationality of my comb manufacturer for duping me into buying an expensive item even if it was of an inferior quality. The comb stood for all other consumer items.  I could not write my piece directly on the expansionist stance of that foreign government in intruding into our territory and practically occupying Scarborough shoal and the string of other islands, because I was afraid to be a lone ranger.

Then, one text message, from an unfamiliar number, came. He (or she) picked, from where I left off. In more picturesque words, he, she, whatever, felt that the administration failed to live up to the nationalistic (that should probably read as fighting) spirit of our ancestors. Arguing that we, as an aggrieved nation, should have been done more to protect our territory than the lip service our leaders have, thus far, made, he/she concluded saying that the restraint of our leadership is worst than cowardice exemplified.

At a little time later, the phone rang. The caller said he got my number from the directory. While he acknowledged that he knew me years ago, he clarified that we did not have the privilege to meet. Sounding erudite enough to remind me the better use of allegory, he corrected me. It was his beef that in matters like sovereignty, I should use unmistakable even if legal lingo. His point was for me to write about the incursion of China into our territory not in the timid, his word, composition style I did.

Then text message number two came. And three. And four. And more. As did phone calls.

In sum, I received feedbacks in more numbers than in any of my previous articles. We are not less nationalistic, after all. This discovery is a thing to exhilarate. I am so glad that we are so blessed with freedom loving nationalists. We may be pre-occupied with many things but we are a proud race always ready to stand by and for our flag. For instance, the information relayed by one texter (is there such word?) that he/she would communicate to his/her relatives to convince them not to buy those goods “fabrique en china” to demonstrate his/her hurt was most heart warming expression of nationalism. It could be a small initial step of the Filipino in our quest for respectability but certainly rephrasing Neil Armstrong’s “giant leap for (Filipinism)” could not be entirely misplaced.

Another SMS message, while complementing the one I referred to above, jarred me no end. He asked me to organize a “Don’t Buy China Movement.” Admitting too, that we could not confront China militarily, it was his suggestion that we should conduct a series of symposia to convince our people to stop buying all goods manufactured in China as our way of expressing our collective defense. Such an act, to him, will hurt China more.  In reply, I could only thank him for the trust but I told him someone else could do the leadership role better.

The most telling text told me that perhaps, many of us could offer our lives in defense of our country. If that was the last thing to do, this texter, claiming others are similarly minded, could put on the military uniform, get an antiquated Carbine caliber 30 and face the much superior foe in the usurper. Nationalism, in that context, is, to me, beyond question.

Really, in my euphoria, I am without further suggestion on what to do. Because of this, I will simply await for the concrete steps our people may take against this threat to our sovereignty committing that I will not hesitate to do what nationalism demands.