With all this talk about ousting the president, many in my generation wonder if we will ever see anything else on television. Corollary to that, half of us, wonder: why is it taking so long?
Long before Mrs. Arroyo became president by default, Philippine society at large has been constantly hampered by its lack of political will. It is a dreadful thing, that our politicians today more that ever takes this tradition to heart. Even in the ranks of the local government units, lack of political will seems to be order of the day. I am not one to speak about the history of our political life; I’m only twenty. When I was born, Cory Aquino was already the president, and the airwaves were full of positive news about the political climate. This makes anyone my age agonize at the seemingly slow pace any movement in our society has been taking. It is good though, that unlike in the 70s and 80s, the sides are clearly drawn.
What we perceive as red is red. When we raise our eyebrows at yellow, we are sure that we are raising our eyebrow at the true perpetrators of yellow. And of course, left is left and right, well by golly, will never be left! People my age seem to forget the simple lessons we learn in college about the political spectrum. Twenty somethings usually look like they are going through “quarter life crisisâ€. More often than not, the bourgeoise of my generation refuse to take part in most political exercises. I know people older than I am who haven’t even tried to vote, much less register for the elections. Their reason: plain and simple pareparehas lang yan or wala na tayo magagawa. Or worse, “we are professionals making money and have no time to take part in dumb politics.”
I raise my eyebrows when I hear those reasons from my peers. What of all the education we get from our books and classrooms? What better way to find out the truth than to dive into the issues head on? What better time to take sides than when you are single, out of college and young enough to run a kilometer or so?
It’s funny. Sometimes I feel like Jose Rizal overestimated the youth. When he said that we were the hope of the nation, he never dreamed that we would become this apathetic to our fellow Filipinos. Everyday, Filipinos are dying because of lack of proper water irrigations, high prices of basic commodities, “friendly fires” in war torn Mindanao and even overseas where they constantly face abusive employers and yes, US aggression.
Now more than ever is the time to go to the streets. Now is the time to see the political climate as it really is: going from bad to worst.
Nothing can be more important than finding out for yourself, finding your own political niche. Go with those who, despite rheumatism and weak joints still go rallying and taking part in other political exercises. As on of my teachers in Ateneo said: “the mere act of getting out of bed in the morning is political.”
Why?
It’s because true political life requires decisiveness.
Naniniwala si Tish Martinez na hindi kailanman nasasayang ang panahong inilaan sa pagsisilbi sa bayan.
