election time
The season for political campaign is in full swing and it gets noisier by the minute. In this issue I would like to articulate a kind of wish list, a prayer actually, for this season which usually gets nasty and out of hand as we get nearer to election day. I am writing this as a priest, one who is interested as to the outcome (since it will spell a lot of difference to the people’s lives) but one who remains quiet and mum in deference to and with high regard for the choices of my parishioners. I say “with high regard” for your choice, because I believe that most Jareños, and Ilonggos at that, are people who deliberate well the choices they make. After all we are blessed with a high degree of education (something which we so value as Ilonggos) that has given us the intellectual freedom that is so wanting among many Filipinos in other parts of the country. The last time I heard there are still people in our country who vote the way their political lords do and even their landlords. For me that is worst than slavery itself. A person who is not allowed to think for himself (dictated upon), and in most cases, one who does not think for himself (too dependent on another), and base his choices on what their master thinks is best, is worst than a slave. Fr. Philip’s cat, Ashley’s independence, as cats usually are, is a thousand times better than that person. So here is my wish list, my prayer.
First, let this campaign period become (and made to become) an intellectual exercise. Let your campaigning be passionate, let your true colors show (this is prohibited to us priests, so don’t force us to show sides). Campaign for your candidates in the open. I am glad that people are holding debates talking about and discussing issues and principles of action, and more and more are listening to these, discussing among themselves further the points raised in these forum. However, don’t permit emotions to get the better part of you. Mudslinging, grenade throwing, falsely accusing, making threats are highly unusual to an educated person. These things may entertain an equally uneducated mass, but it does not sound good, and may even be revolting to educated, well-bred, and I should say, civilized people. Keep things intellectual rather than emotional. Know the issues and base your decisions on the candidates’ stand on these issues. Precisely God placed your head higher than your heart because He wants us to be dominated by reason rather than our emotions.
Second, let your campaigning be respectful. Of all the candidates and their followers I fear most are those who insist on what they want, make threats, buy out people, silence and bully others in fear, hand wring people to their desires, and people who will do anything to get to power. These are enemies of democracy and they are using the elections to legitimize their dictatorial tendencies.
Basic to a democracy is respect. I can debate for hours on end to make you see the light and the good points which this particular candidate is raising, but if I end up hating you and threatening you and loving you less because of your choice, then there is something wrong with me that should make me less worthy of this democratic exercise. Let us learn to respect each other.
Third, let this campaign be an exercise in the truth. Please don’t lie to people. Don’t tell us that you or your candidate will do this if you know he can’t or its too complicated to solve. Worst still if you tell lies about other candidates. I would admire candidates who are inclined to do what is right even if by telling and doing so they would lose a lot of votes. But a pleaser? And a pleaser who lie? He is not a good leader. In power he will accommodate anything, he will be unprincipled and he may even dance with the devil in order to get what he wants, and that is not good news for the city and country. Just tell the truth – the truth of the matter and the truth of what you plan to do and could do.
Fourth, please don’t nail your campaign materials on trees nor should you put these on neutral grounds. Here I would like to ask the opinion of lawyers: Is it legal for me to deface campaign materials nailed on trees and on neutral grounds like church fences? I mean, could I draw horns on their heads and fangs on their mouths complete with dripping blood and bloodshot eyes? Or could I add words to their campaign materials like “don’t vote for me” or “hey, I’m stupid”? Is this legal? Because if it is, I would like to. People who do not respect and therefore value our trees and the sacredness and therefore neutrality of churches and the privacy of other people’s homes should not get elected. For sure they will flaunt laws when they are in power.
Fifth, don’t disgrace yourself by selling your votes or receiving money to attend a campaign sortie. This is demeaning, utterly stupid and even very insensitive to the common good. I think there is a special place in hell for people who do this (those who buy and those who sell) where the number of hellish worms equals every centavo they get from buying and selling votes. This is the very reason why we have graft and corruption, why we can’t have a good public health care system, why our children do not have classrooms, why our bridges and roads are either of low quality or non-existent, and why drug lords are still free to make their trade and victimize our children. If you believe in that person by all means vote for him or her. If you believe a candidate can do better than the rest, then by all means campaign for him or her and shout your campaign slogans to the top of your voices, but do so on your own volition and not because you are paid. Don’t be cheap!
Well, that’s it for this issue. Others will come later. It is my hope that we never lose sight of the significance of this electoral exercise not just for the future of our country and city but also for our own sake – our dignity, our being Filipino-Ilonggos, our being believers in Jesus.
First, let this campaign period become (and made to become) an intellectual exercise. Let your campaigning be passionate, let your true colors show (this is prohibited to us priests, so don’t force us to show sides). Campaign for your candidates in the open. I am glad that people are holding debates talking about and discussing issues and principles of action, and more and more are listening to these, discussing among themselves further the points raised in these forum. However, don’t permit emotions to get the better part of you. Mudslinging, grenade throwing, falsely accusing, making threats are highly unusual to an educated person. These things may entertain an equally uneducated mass, but it does not sound good, and may even be revolting to educated, well-bred, and I should say, civilized people. Keep things intellectual rather than emotional. Know the issues and base your decisions on the candidates’ stand on these issues. Precisely God placed your head higher than your heart because He wants us to be dominated by reason rather than our emotions.
Second, let your campaigning be respectful. Of all the candidates and their followers I fear most are those who insist on what they want, make threats, buy out people, silence and bully others in fear, hand wring people to their desires, and people who will do anything to get to power. These are enemies of democracy and they are using the elections to legitimize their dictatorial tendencies.
Basic to a democracy is respect. I can debate for hours on end to make you see the light and the good points which this particular candidate is raising, but if I end up hating you and threatening you and loving you less because of your choice, then there is something wrong with me that should make me less worthy of this democratic exercise. Let us learn to respect each other.
Third, let this campaign be an exercise in the truth. Please don’t lie to people. Don’t tell us that you or your candidate will do this if you know he can’t or its too complicated to solve. Worst still if you tell lies about other candidates. I would admire candidates who are inclined to do what is right even if by telling and doing so they would lose a lot of votes. But a pleaser? And a pleaser who lie? He is not a good leader. In power he will accommodate anything, he will be unprincipled and he may even dance with the devil in order to get what he wants, and that is not good news for the city and country. Just tell the truth – the truth of the matter and the truth of what you plan to do and could do.
Fourth, please don’t nail your campaign materials on trees nor should you put these on neutral grounds. Here I would like to ask the opinion of lawyers: Is it legal for me to deface campaign materials nailed on trees and on neutral grounds like church fences? I mean, could I draw horns on their heads and fangs on their mouths complete with dripping blood and bloodshot eyes? Or could I add words to their campaign materials like “don’t vote for me” or “hey, I’m stupid”? Is this legal? Because if it is, I would like to. People who do not respect and therefore value our trees and the sacredness and therefore neutrality of churches and the privacy of other people’s homes should not get elected. For sure they will flaunt laws when they are in power.
Fifth, don’t disgrace yourself by selling your votes or receiving money to attend a campaign sortie. This is demeaning, utterly stupid and even very insensitive to the common good. I think there is a special place in hell for people who do this (those who buy and those who sell) where the number of hellish worms equals every centavo they get from buying and selling votes. This is the very reason why we have graft and corruption, why we can’t have a good public health care system, why our children do not have classrooms, why our bridges and roads are either of low quality or non-existent, and why drug lords are still free to make their trade and victimize our children. If you believe in that person by all means vote for him or her. If you believe a candidate can do better than the rest, then by all means campaign for him or her and shout your campaign slogans to the top of your voices, but do so on your own volition and not because you are paid. Don’t be cheap!
Well, that’s it for this issue. Others will come later. It is my hope that we never lose sight of the significance of this electoral exercise not just for the future of our country and city but also for our own sake – our dignity, our being Filipino-Ilonggos, our being believers in Jesus.
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