Social media is all aflutter about perceived human rights violations that many are trying to link to the Duterte administration. However, such people should be reminded of another thing: human rights violations are an issue in other countries and cultures too, even developed ones. Back in 2014, writer Eric Posner wrote about why humanity has failed to uphold human rights worldwide, and abuses continue. In a reply to fellow blogger Mike Portes, I said that most cultures and societies don’t support human rights. Posner mentioned that human rights was not as universal as hoped, and this is because many cultures thrive by taking away human rights. Now some of you may find this shocking and would vehemently disagree, but look again at many cases around the world.
Tribal headhunter photo courtesy of Igorotage
Things like arranged marriages, footbinding in China and female circumcision in Africa. Headhunting as a tradition, too. Slavery in many cultures. The caste system in India. Many cultures that dictate dress and even taste, what one should love and not love, even who should live and die (the punishment for some people who don’t follow the culture could even be death). Then, I saw on a Facebook friend’s wall the picture of a baby found in the trash and left to die – even a mother did not respect her child’s rights. The story of humanity has been all about people violating rights, because they believe they need to do it in order to survive. It goes back to what I’ve explained about the survival mentality – many people believe that for them to survive, at least another must not.
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We would want all this to stop, but there is this irony to be pointed out. The thing we see that builds societies and creates beautiful things like clothing styles, dances, art and can also give birth to abuse. It can give birth to human rights violations. It is culture.
That’s why Get Real Philippines sees culture as the center of everything. Culture is the source of how people behave in a society, and it is the root of the mess that our country is. Any solution for our society should address our culture. For that, we need to accept that cultures can be wrong and need to be changed. Then we need to understand how cultures work and how we go about that change.
Going to the understanding part, I believe that, as one aspect, culture exists as a social control.
People have found ways to control others through rules, traditions, and customs. It’s likely a product of steps taken by primordial tribe leaders to ensure that no one does something stupid during times where survival is difficult. But later on, times get better, and some make traditions and customs for selfish reasons. For example, old people created the superstition that sleeping with your head wet will make you blind, but the real reason is because one’s pillow will become smelly from the wetness. They just don’t want any whiff of a bad-smelling pillow reaching their nostrils. In another case, one may contest that the tradition that forcing children to take care of them in old age is more a product of desire for control rather than instilling respect in others. After being a means of survival, cultural things became a means for control and manipulation of others.
Culture is also based on making an identity that separates you from others. One reason culture develops is the “us versus them” mentality. Some people identify with a group to make sure they are not part of another group. They create traditions and customs for this. Circumcision and kosher are examples for Jews; that identifies them as apart from the rest. This is often what people call on as a source of pride. But this pride causes divisions. Culture builds walls.
Here then is the problem of human rights. It is mainly a western invention, an abstract idealization created by people in comfortable societies who might have little or no exposure to what people in societies they see as backward really think, feel and do. As a writer previously said, it may be a partial product of ivory tower academism. They are the types that, when they hear of female circumcision, they go to change.org and sign a petition to stop it. The thing is, a fat lot of good that petition will do. One has to really be on the ground, right there where it happens, to work with people there and influence the society directly. And that’s only one part of the problem.
When you try to change a culture, there is resistance. For example (a fictional one), you want a certain village to stop cutting off pinky fingers of children as an identifying mark for their village. They will scream back, “you dare tell us to stop our tradition that defines our identity! You lecture us about human rights, what about our rights to keep our tradition!” What if some ivory tower people who support human rights also support “respecting” other cultures and traditions? If you say, “we must eradicate some cultures because their wrong practices are intrinsic parts,” they’d be shocked and call you evil. So there is that dilemma.
When people express shock at today’s situation, with so many killings happening within a short time under the Duterte administration, one must recall that this is really a product of our culture. I previously explained that Filipino society, even in today’s modern age, is still premised on the master-servant relationship. Some are rich, some are poor, some are masters, others must be their servants. And masters expect to have the power of life and death over their servants. Inequality is still a defining aspect of our society. It is part of our culture. The apparent solution is changing our culture.
Some may keep on yapping about Duterte allegedly violating human rights, but they may ignore other possible human rights violations in the country. For example, we know poorer couples in the province tends to have lots of children, such as from ten to twenty, in the hope that they get lots of financial support when they get old. When some of those children die from disease or accidents, they might say “ganun talaga” (that’s how it is). But would this callous regard about children’s lives be considered a violation of human rights? Some would, some don’t, I guess. Our webmaster Benign0 also hinted that being trapped in slow, ponderous traffic on roads can be seen as a violation of our human rights. So here then, how would you define human rights?
Make no mistake, I also agree with making human rights universal. But in doing this, the political vehicles prove to be ineffective. The cultures need to be brought on board with the program. Otherwise, they won’t agree to uphold human rights. We probably need a sort of “evangelistic” approach. This involves getting people to believe that what they have been doing for most of their lives is wrong and they should change it to the right action. There are sure to be some people who would favor change. There are headhunters who have given up their old ways and live peacefully. But there are also those who would resist and keep doing what the “human wrong.” Breaking that down would be necessary as well.
I find sound the idea in a Huffington Post article about the solution being economic. Posner cited development economics as an essential associated topic. The ability to enjoy human rights is largely based on economic condition. One could accurately say that many cultures that violate human rights are found in undeveloped or less developed countries (such as ours). If you can help people have better economic status in life, they would be more open to changing their lifestyle and beliefs. Applying the economic improvement is less likely when you change the form of government, such as changing to the parliamentary type. As I said before, culture is more influenced by business these days, and even politics is influenced by business. The power for cultural change seems more in the hands of those with economic power; that includes consumers as well, who should realize that they can exert pressure on the business sector. Filipinos who are exposed to other cultures as OFWs should bring home not just money but practices and ideas to improve our society. And that’s only one of the things we could do to change culture.
We need to stop treating culture as a sacred cow and we should believe that it’s something we can remake. Many “advocates” find it popular to stand up to political leaders. Has anyone thought of standing up to our cultural leaders? They have been leading us the wrong way in culture as much as politicians have. For me, human rights supports culture as something that cannot be imposed on people, and should instead be freely chosen or rejected by individuals. In today’s time, we have the tools and the framework to individually make that decision and act on it.
I believe, as my cohorts here do, that what Filipinos embrace as their culture is what actually pulls the country down. And those who seem to be anti-dictators, who may also believe themselves to be “heroes,” are the real dictators.
Just take the example of Iraq and Lybia. The U.S./C.I.A., with its U.S. State Department sponsored coup d’etat, or invaded those countries. Hoping, to force into the throats of those people; that they will embrace , the American way of government, falsely called :democracy.
You can see the results of these countries.Civil Wars; rebellion; ISIS Caliphate; Bombings indiscriminately , with many civilian casualties. Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad; they tried to remove. The war continues. The ISIS Caliphate is flourishing.
These Arab people have never known ,Democracy. They were ruled for many centuries, by Dictators; Monarchies; Ruling Families; Military Dictators; Theocracies; etc…
So, if you introduce a Western Concept of democracy or Human rights, to these people, who are ignorant of these idealistic concept: the result will be chaos.
In our country, Human Rights, became a diversionary tactic of De Lima, to shield her UNHOLY Alliances, with the Drug Lords and with the Chinese Triad Drug Mafia crime syndicate. Human Rights, is used as a vehicle of Aquino and his YellowTards, to grab back the power, they had lost. Human Rights is used by Leni Robredo, as an instrument to succeed, Pres. Duterte !
The late, Chinese Chairman Mao Tse Tung stated: “Political power comes from the barrel of a gun” !
Aquino , Mar Roxas, Leni Robredo, Trillanes, Hontiveros, Porky Drilon are telling us and putting this political agenda: “Political power grows up, from advocating : Human Rights, with foreign assistance”…
Dimwits, YellowTards !
Hey…how about cannibals . Do they think about Human Rights on their meals (Human victims) ?
How about those Drug Lords. Do they concern themselves about your Human Rights ?
How about De Lima, who used Criminals in the National Bilibid Prison, to raise funds for her election campaign. Do you believe , she is interested in your Human Rights ?
The problem with modern Filipinos is they are ashamed of their indigenous grass skirt-wearing and spear-chucking culture; and that their Colonial heritage have evolved from the Spanish, Americans, Chinese, and who knows what else.
Perhaps this is reason why Filipinos cannot work out their differences among themselves and unite as one nation; they’ve failed to come to terms with their warring, tribal nature; acknowledge it; and learn to work through it in spite of its shortcomings.
“and claim that their Colonial heritage…,” that is.
“Perhaps this is the reason why Filipinos…,” that is.
Is the premise of the article one that was meant to defend Pres. Duterte against allegation of human rights violation? If so, this line is an implied admission that he could be guilty of such.
“…..human rights violations are an issue in other countries and cultures too, even developed ones.”
I say that because it is true that violations of human rights do happen in other countries.
What an assumption, that is article is for defending Duterte. Strawman.
My first sentence was in a question form. You can respond by simple explanation. I’m ready to apologize if I hurt your feelings. Name calling won’t fix it.
????
OK, then the answer to your question is no.
The international, imperial westerners are dwelling on Duterte, meanwhile ignoring other countries that have much worse human rights problems. That’s the point. Secondly, were there no human rights issues in the Philippines prior to Duterte? Duterte is trying to push family planning to reduce poverty and increase quality of life for women. Where was the international outcry over Filipinas lack of birth control? The point is that the same people accusing Duterte said nothing before he was elected, and they say nothing about other regimes that are so much worse, there is no comparison.
The whole point was Pres. Duterte is not making his point clear and continue to resort to arrogant and immature ways in expressing his thoughts instead of being sober, diplomatic and rational about it.
A pants on fire reaction is just wrong. A 70-year old leader acting as if he’s always talking to 10-years old children? An educated grown old man who always speaks in a threatening manner? We simply cannot have of those.
Majority of Filipinos never dreamt nor wish a leader that will represent them on international stage reeking with disrespect and discourteous to others. They never asked for a leader to display gross and abusive behavior. Why?
Because such antics never solve problems. Worse, oftentimes, it creates problem.
It’s only a matter of time before Duterte becomes the symbol of banality like PNoy; and it will prove, once and for all, that it’s not up to one person—even if he or she is the president–to change a nation; that it’s really up to the people to change, the way they think and behave, to change their own nation.
“…..it’s not up to one person—even if he or she is the president–to change a nation…”
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There are times, rare may be, that one person can inspire and move a nation to pursue and make a change for the better. We’ve heard great stories about Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., JFK, among other great men who demonstrated compassion for humanity, love of country and pursuit of justice which led people to follow and be inspired by them.
Then there’s strong leaders like Lee Kwan Yew, Kim Il-Sung and even Ferdinand Marcos, who at certain point in time inspired people that a reform society, a new society, will bring peace and prosperity to the country.
And who will forget Adolph Hitler, Josep Stalin, Mao Tse-Tung and even Ayatollah Khomeini who inspired and moved people (in a not-so gentle way) to greater heights to accomplish an enormous tasks of nation-building.
In fairness, Pres. Duterte has the potential to be such an inspiring leader because he already has the charisma, experience and ability to make people believe and follow him to accomplish better things for the country. Sadly, it is just not happening.
He is losing slowly each passing day all the incentives and dividends that accompanies an incoming leader. He is going downhill, to say the least.
????
Part of this culture that we have now, which causes us to think “me, me, me” is the Spanish-imposed regionalism.
Someone said here before that they’re blaming the regionalism and tribal mentality solely to the Pinoys, and I can agree with that, but only up to a point – until the Spaniards made sure it’s the only way we are to think so they can keep us from fighting back as one. (See Heneral Luna, the movie for a preview of how divided we were during the Filipino-American War.)
If the people, led by the President, not only Duterte, but anyone who follows, can strip that kind of mentality from the Filipino mind, then we can at least see the picture (not even the bigger version for now…) as one people, as one country. I am still thinking of what a possible catalyst for this might be. If you have any ideas, do share.
Part of it could be blamed on Spanish influence, but I believe the divisions were already there. The tribes of the Philippines actually do not want to have anything to do with each other, and each wants their own country. Any colonizer simply had to build on those divisions. But in a sense, they were also overcoming such to organize the islands into a country. That’s why I believe, without colonizers, the Philippines would never have been a country.
@ChinoF. I unequivocally agree with you. The Spanish just made the disparities among Filipinos more profound by beating their tribal practices, customs, and traditions out of them, and schooling them in the aristocratic religion and way of life of Spain; but, the divisions among the indigenous tribes have been in place long before the Spanish arrived. Basically, Filipinos are intrinsically tribal and aristocratic by nature and nurture, respectively.
Ito na naman tayo eh. Again. I didn’t say otherwise. I just said it was aggravated by the Spanish manipulation to make sure the Pinoys don’t come together an fight them. >__>”’
Here I was hoping there would be a back and forth of ideas for change. Thanks for failing me.
*and fight them
(wala bang edit button na maiimbento rito?)
I see. No refutation there, when I post my reply, it’s meant for others to see. Also, don’t forget the Americans, they also aggravated things back then (Philippine-American War, anyone?).
Good article. Poor Filipinos having 15 kids, raising them in abject poverty, just in the hope of them providing them with pera mamaya in the future, is a human rights problem. Should those kids have the right not to suffer with poverty and disease? Yes, the parents are selfish and sick.
There are many cultures in the world, including ones supported by the UN, who commit atrocities. Referring to what ChinoF said, approximately 75%+, if I am not mistaken, of girls in Somalia have been sexually mutilated. The girls’ clitoris is cut off with a knife and her vagina sewed up, leaving a hole for urine to come out. This is done to make sure she does not have sex and stays a virgin until marriage. Where is the international outrage? Duterte is the main problem?
What about how males and favored over females in the Philippines? Is that in accordance with human/civil rights? As a foreigner, I have personally witnessed many instances of parents discriminating against girls and favoring boys, regardless of the boys shit behavior. I have read women were held in high regard prior to the Spanish invasion. Where is the right of women and girls to have birth control?
Much of the human rights complaints are made by people making arbitrary judgments, ignoring and protecting other human rights abuses they have no problem with.
The might-is-right philosophy is the dominant philosophy worldwide. People dominate anyone/anything that is weaker or innocent, because they can. They have no regard for morality. Cowardice, evil and sadism are also hallmarks of humanity. Don’t expect anything to change because the sick, primitive human race will continue their animalistic ways. Humans are considered the superior being – but human atrocities underscore the inferiority of human behavior. If there are humans, there will be murder, rape, slavery, oppression, war, torture, genocide, misogyny, ethnocentrism and many other problems.
There are religious people in the world who cause little or no suffering or problems. This, however, is another topic and an important one.
Other people out there should read the Eric Posner article to know what I’m talking about. And there are other sources out there discussing how cultures can violate people’s rights, and culture is not as innocent as many people assume it to be.
If there are humans, there will be murder, rape, slavery, oppression, war, torture, genocide, misogyny, ethnocentrism and many other problems. – Greg
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So, what does that mean, we should be thankful and happy because it is just being “human”? We should celebrate that those are happening? That we should not do anything to address and stop it because it is just being “human”? That as long as there are humans, we should grin and bear those problems? No complaint, no talk, no criticism?
Is that your whole point? ????
I am not sure why you are using conjecture and hasty generalization fallacy. Where did I imply that no one ought to speak out against the evils of humanity. Where did I say one should celebrate human evil? I criticized it – but the global frauds who criticize Duterte seem to celebrate the evil. Their fake human rights campaign against Duterte ignores far worse problems. Further, they don’t even mention them.
I am a realist and the human race will always be fucked, regardless of what anyone says. I am not a pie-in-the-sky thinker. The only way to reduce evil is to utilize drastic methods. The majority of people are immoral. Perhaps converting people to non-violent religion is the other answer – but that would only work if people followed those religions. It’s not realistic.
Don’t forget my friend that I merely quoted what you said and inquired as to what you really mean by it. I was not accusing you. I’m trying to make you clarify your self because what you wrote was hazy and self-serving that it invites inquiry and criticism.
You are trying very hard to justify Pres. Duterte’s action by focusing on negatives expecting something positive will come out if it that will benefit him. You are targeting the human frailties, faults and weaknesses to show that it has always been business as usual for humankind. That everything that is bad will always happen to them and we cannot do anything about it.
To tell you the truth, it is really hard nowadays for pro-Duterte people because they are put in a corner to defend him against valid criticisms. I understand that predicament and I will never take that against you.
✌
I don’t know why criticizing the usual flaws of humanity is self-serving; that makes no sense. The world will never change and that is a realism that many can’t handle.
You are wrong about me being a Duterte supporter; I am not. I don’t live in the Philippines and cannot vote there. I see inconsistencies with his policies; specifically going after the street dealers only. He can kill as many as possible – but they are meaningless in the problem. If they are killed more poor Filipinos will take there place. I also don’t like the lack of respect he shows for women, based on some comments.
My criticism regarding the EJK nonsense is that it’s a matter of arbitrary political correctness. The global media is focusing on it to make it seem as though they care. They don’t because they say nothing about other horrific regimes committing atrocities, or human rights violations that went on before Duterte. In fact, they sometimes praise these regimes. I don’t like partisan people, because they are fake and have no values. The Philippine media started this because of their extreme bias. There ought to be objective reporting; the only reason we are discussing this is because the corrupt media is focusing on it. Who knows whether there are EJK going on. Maybe the drug dealers are being hunted down and, when they violently resist, they are shot. That is standard police procedure in any country, not EJK.
History is the chronicle of divorces between creed and deed.
The pages of Philippine history are filled with varying “creed” and “deed” by Filipinos who are incapable of thinking and behaving like one nation. If it’s true that “history repeats itself,” then we can almost predict what’s in store for the future for the Philippines and its people.
We probably need a sort of “evangelistic” approach. This involves getting people to believe that what they have been doing for most of their lives is wrong and they should change it to the right action.
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Oh-oh, we have to be careful and clear about that ‘evangelistic’ thing. Who and where will it come from? What institution or organization will spearhead it and who will oversee and supervise such approach? What is the objective and desired result of such endeavor?
Moving from culture to human rights to evangelism is a complex and sensitive thought. You might want to break it down for clarity and common sense purposes. ????
@sammie and gnogid. What the Philippines and its people need is a “cultural revolution,” by dropping everything they’ve adapted from other cultures, and re-kindling the indigenous one that was taken away from them by other cultures.
The Filipinos are suffering from a ““cultural identity crisis”“–of not knowing who they really are and where they’ve originated from–that only they alone can resolve as one people, if they simply allow themselves to let go of their false pride and individualism.
“What the Philippines and its people need is a “cultural revolution…”
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Cultural revolution (CR) as in China’s CR? Or Libya’s or Iranian’s CR?
I get what you are saying but we have to be specific of what it would look like or what approach or process we have to go through to meet the goal of the CR.
@David
Okay. So how do we do that? What will help create a jumpstart? It’s easier said than done. I am not saying it CAN’T be done. I’m asking how.
I’m hungry for ideas from someone not from here.
@gnogid. You have a better suggestion that hasn’t already been tried and failed? Let’s hear it. I’d like to hear your alternative solutions to the western religions that have already “aped” the Filipino people and convinced themselves they are westerners, even though they don’t look like one.
The problem with you is if the idea didn’t come from you it’s automatically wrong. I’ll bet you don’t even have a better alternative and will try to throw your bullshit back on my side of the fence, and make me grapple for answers like what you’re doing to marius and Hayden. Then you’ll decide if their answers are good enough or not, Psycho Hose Beast.
First off, about marius and Hyden, I don’t know what you are alleging there. Me and marius had agreed on some issue before but only had a misunderstanding when I started to distance from what he has said on another issue. With Hyden Toro, the guy is unhinged. Proof of that is you cannot show me a post of mine and his discussing an issue. He just call names and label those who he discriminates against. He’s an attack dog here and I get. He’s all bark. ????
Now about your view. I did not say it’s ‘automatically wrong’. I just found it too forward or too high that you need a fantastic imagination to even grasp it. Why? You talked about one of the most sensitive issue in any place and with all people. Worse, you talk about it that tends to give a confusing signal or confused the reader. I don’t know if you want people to start thinking of changing their faith or shop around for another religion that is better than the one they have. That’s why I made several question there because you have not been straightforward in what you want to happen or see happen.
I get your intention, like marius, but intention should be guided by reality. Your suggestion is not ‘automatically wrong’ but unrealistic. My view. ????
@gnogid and sammie. What I’m talking about is not similar to China’s, Libya’s, nor Iranian’s Cultural Revolution that have to involve violence.
The Philippine doesn’t have to give up its religion, form of government, or way of life. I doubt very seriously if the Filipinos are ever going to do that anyway, because those practices are already embedded in their subconscious and have been a big part of their cultural identity all their lives.
Plus, renouncing the current form of government and way of life might put the entire country on the brink of political and economic coup de ‘etat which no one wants.
Insead, what I’m suggesting is to get a genuine insight and deeper understanding of other Asian countries’ religious ideologies (i.e., Buddhism, Taoism, Asceticism, Hinduism, and etcetera), and how these nation are able to preserve these time-tested traditions, customs, and practices into their modern lives.
I believe the world, especially a growing number of Filipinos, now realize that the Philippines’ Roman Catholicism and Protestantism are incongruent with other Asian religion and ethnic makeup, and put the country in a somewhat odd position with their neighboring countries.
Yet, to ask Filipinos to renounce their western religion is equivalent to asking them to commit heresy with their faith, disown a big part of their identity, and not have their western guide their hypocritical political and business affairs.
Instead, what Filipinos should do is embrace the “peaceful, selfless, and humble” teachings of these Asian religion—by adopting the teachings as equal to the teachings of their western religion—if they’re really serious about their quest to become an “independent Asian country.”
My suggestion may or may not work in overcoming the “Colonial” and “Crab” ways of the Filipino people, but it’s certainly worth a try since no other suggestions have worked in the past.
Finally, from a global perspective, the international community will probably start seeing the Philippines in a new light as a truly Asian nation—like the war-torn Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam that have surpassed the Philippines in all aspect of being exotic and peaceful—instead of the “Mexico of the Far East,” that is violently dangerous and full of arrogant and selfish people.
“western [religion] guide their hypocritical political and business affairs,” that is.
For what purpose? To ape them? Roman Catholicism incongruent with other Asian religion and make up? Is there such a thing? Are we in a region where rules have been written and we did violate it, hence, we do not qualify? Because of religion we’re put in an odd position with our neighbors?
For the life of me, I cannot understand the logic of the suggestion. I assumed a lot and explain practically nothing. ????
Repeat:
For what purpose? To ape them? Roman Catholicism incongruent with other Asian religion and make up? Is there such a thing? Are we in a region where rules have been written and we did not qualify? Because of religion we’re put in an odd position with our neighbors?
For the life of me, I cannot understand the logic of the suggestion.
@gnogid. You have a better suggestion that hasn’t already been tried and failed? Let’s hear it. I’d like to hear your alternative solutions to the western religions that have already “aped” the Filipino people and convinced themselves they are westerners, even though they don’t look like one.
The problem with you is if the idea didn’t come from you it’s automatically wrong. I’ll bet you don’t even have a better alternative and will try to throw your bullshit back on my side of the fence, and make me grapple for answers like what you’re doing to marius and Hayden. Then you’ll decide if their answers are good enough or not, Psycho Hose Beast.
There you go again. What does “a truly Asian nation” mean? Do I get it that we’re fake? We’re not really Asian? I’m sorry if I ask a lot of questions but the message I am getting is really not very clear.
Just like the first time I asked if you were a Filipino or not. There was no malice in it I’m just careful in responding by framing my response in a proper context. But unfortunately, you and marius took it differently that is why we had an altercation.
I understand what you are talking about but I cannot figure out the whole idea because you oftentimes talk without an accompanying clarification.
@gnogid. You and marius did not agree on anything until “you” have decided to agree on some of the things he said; you just made him work harder to justify all his contentions until it was time for you to decide give him a little break, by being agreeable, before he keels over and die of trying to explain himself.
Marius was not able to discuss any issues on your posts because he, and Hayden, didn’t have the time because he’s too busy trying to explain himself to you. I didn’t want to fall into the same trap.
This is why I wanted you to justify your own rationale behind your comments, of which, by way of tactical maneuvering, you’ve successfully eluded all the time by throwing the ball back on my side of the court.
This how your (or perhaps your trolling group’s) manipulative tactics works, gnogid; and, I cannot continue with any type of rational discussion with you, other than exchange insults, unless you change your style and lay all your cards on the table like what I’m prepared to do. (To be continue….).
The Philippine doesn’t have to give up its religion, form of government, or way of life.
David, this is exactly what they have to do. All of them are guaranteed to produce poverty, especially combined together into the toxic mix that exists today. The question is, realistically, what tiny steps can they take towards that goal that will take them to the next step without too much backsliding?
It depends what you mean by ‘form of government’. At the moment it’s a kleptocracy/idiocracy. If the country aspires to be a republic, it needs to take steps to actually become one.
Insead, what I’m suggesting is to get a genuine insight and deeper understanding of other Asian countries’ religious ideologies (i.e., Buddhism, Taoism, Asceticism, Hinduism, and etcetera), and how these nation are able to preserve these time-tested traditions, customs, and practices into their modern lives.
There is no ‘Western religion’ in the Philippines. There is no Western thought
. Protestantism in the US – its work ethic, its emphasis on society, honesty, and honour – gave rise to one of the most powerful countries on the planet.
The Catholicism in the Philippines is just a mind-control trick for slaves and children. Religion should set your mind free. Filipinos do not even believe in God. If they did, they wouldn’t do what they do.
This would be an extremely good idea. I suggested to gnogid earlier that there is one, and only one thing that successful countries can offer the Philippines. Ideas. Different ways of thinking.
The Philippines is “stuck” because their thinking toolkit looks like the standard plumber’s toolkit: a hammer, a screwdriver with a broken blade, and a piece of wood with a nail in it. Other countries have far more sophisticated mental toolkits. Filipinos should experiment with them, take the tools they like, and learn to use them.
You’re still hurting, man.
I agreed with marius not on this article and you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Just stand your ground and support your allegation. Stop whining. It’s not good.
You are like Hyden Toro, everything is personal. Stop. ????
@gnogid. No, Pri Madonna. I ain’t hurtin’ from a “wuss” like you. I’ve given you lots of chances to come clean, by laying all your cards on the table, and I’ll do the same; but you’ve managed to elude the challenge each time by resorting to your devious tactics of throwing everybody off your stinkin’ scent. You have no character nor “balls” and just full of hot air. Hayden is right about you. You’re just a troll incognito.
little David, just look at your posts. It shows that you cannot move because of the pain.
You can’t stop talking about me.
There’s a lot of issues on the board. Don’t waste your time trying to score cheap points. You don’t have it, you can’t hack it.
The game was over the moment you decided to pursue your obsession about me. ????
“Evangelistic” is simply my loose term for the approach. In evangelism, as the common perception is, tell the person how he is doing sinful things and how he can change his ways. In my cultural model, it involves telling people how they violate human rights and how they should change it. Yet indeed, people will disagree and not be willing to change, as I said above.
The solutino is already something I said in the conclusion. On who and where will it come from, anyone can do it. Posner mentioned developmental economists. And I mentioned that there will be the “renegades” in the culture who will want their culture’s ways changed. They need to be empowered so they can help influence their society to have the changes they desired. They culd probably work hand in hand with development economists. In a way, that can bring about the Cultural Revolution David is talking about. At least that’s one way to go about it.
We cannot leave the procedure on how to go about reform to chance. We have to be very specific as to who, why, when, what, etc. in order to convince the target people to support our goal.
I agree, gnogid.
Thanks, Little David.
Just don’t be emotional or onion-skinned. ????
G. Nuguid is alyas “gnogid”. Cocoy is alyas “David”…
Both of these YellowTard Trolls came from the : Pro Pinoy Website…
Both are pretending to be legitimate GRP Bloggers !
They are rabid defenders of : Aquino, De Lima, Trillanes, Leni Robredo, Mar Roxas, Herbert Colangco, Peter Co, Jaybee Sebastian, Matobato, etc…
These people may have been involved in the illegal Shabu Drug Trade !
afrika bambaataa and ratm. =)
More than that though. haha
As for specifics, it will really depend on the particular context in that culture. What practice are they trying to remove, how they will do it, who are they prevailing or depending on to do it, what they want to replace the practice with (if ever), the specifics are always dependent on the particular situation. As Benign0 always emphasizes, it has to be a collective effort.
It would be tough. The important point here is that there is already a cultural revolution going on, which is specifically designed to undermine any prospect of development. The promotion of “Pinoy Pride” (in the absence of anything to be proud of); the Catholic Church’s reverence for poverty and overpopulation; misinformation in school textbooks and low-quality education; the mainstream media’s incessant stream of lowbrow TV shows and nonsense “news”; all these things add up to a cultural revolution which brings out all the worst in people.
That would need a counter-revolution of sorts. I mentioned that in my article about Resisting Culture. If the revolution they bring about sucks, counter it.
Check the meme on the GRP Facebook page. Rather than human rights, emphasizing human responsibility is a good idea.
BECOMING RICH AND STRONG BY MAKING OTHERS RICH AND STRONG
I would like to comment against the popular and accepted line that “one needs to kill or eat or suck or exploit or deceive or outwit or extort the other/s in order to survive or even attain luxury.”
The carnivorous animals do it. The Americans also have been doing that: One international economist wrote a book that explains that IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN THEIR AFFLUENCE, AMERICANS HAVE TO LET AT LEAST TWO FAMILIES ELSEWHERE (in other countries) TO STARVE IN ORDER FOR AN AMERICAN FAMILY TO MAINTAIN ITS LIFE OF LUXURY.
So, today, the strategy or means to own a life of comfort, luxury and wealth is to take what belongs to others – to grab or steal such wealth or resources from others.
You don’t do it by making others equally strong, great, powerful and rich. You don’t acquire it by enriching others. The only way you know is to suppress (and oppress and extort and exploit and enslave) others in order for you to emerge at the top, the winner, the rich, the great, the famous.
You don’t know how to become healthy and wealthy by making others healthy and wealthy. Almost all of us become rich at the expense of others.
Is that all we can do?
Answer: In the book CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD, there is a new line of thinking that says, THERE IS A WAY TO BECOME HEALTHY AND WEALTHY WITHOUT MAKING OTHERS SICK AND POOR. WE CAN BECOME RICH BY ENRICHING OTHERS, WE CAN BECOME SUCCESSFUL BY HELPING OTHERS SUCCEED.
This new way is now being tested in the Wellness Industry… with pleasant results. At First Vita Plus, for example, people are getting healed with their body cancer and pocket cancer. Health and wealth are being reaped abundantly by First Vita Plus members. As of date, more than 5,000 formerly very poor and even bankrupt men and women are now multi-millionaires many of whom have no high educational attainment, who only were up to 3rd grade or mere elementary graduate and never had set foot the university campuses.
Moreover, more than 20,000 are millionaires.
Furthermore, another batch, of greater number, are now thousanders… fast achieving their first million!
Today, conventional businessmen get rich through products that make people weak and sick and send them to the hospitals or confine them into wheelchair or put them inside a coffin!
The pharmaceutical people, for example, are getting rich fast when more and more of us become sick from the chemicals and resort to their expensive chemotherapies, dialysis, surgeries and operations – chemicals that the manufacturing industry spread and feed the masses accumulating inside our organs over the years maturing into terminal diseases some 20 or more years in the future. Because the masses are falling into the disease traps of the Manufacturing and Pharmaceutical industries, the total income of the world’s top 7 pharmaceutical companies, for instance, is more than the combined GDP (production) of all Africa’s 53 nations! They are getting rich by making people sick!
Theirs is business of sickness, not business of healing. For if and when people are healed and get sick no longer – if people get permanently healed, then, these huge pharmaceutical cartel will have no more customers and will go bankrupt! They don’t want that to happen, so they worked with the manufacturing industry to keep sowing the seeds of illness (chemicals) in the bodies of the people.
Products today have no health benefits but keep customers hooked by adding addictive substances…until the accumulation will pass state 1 and 2 and becomes diagnosed illness at stage 3 and 4 where money is… for members of the Big Pharma industry.
We still do not know how to become rich and healthy by making others rich and healthy. But books like CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD show us how to become healthy by making others healthy, and how to become wealthy by making others wealthy…what the Bible has miserably failed to do.
It has become increasingly a talk inside the industry and will soon become the talk of the town that: THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, DESPITE THE VAST RESOURCES UNDER HIS COMMAND HAS NEVER MADE ONE SICK FILIPINO WELL, AND HAS NEVER MADE ONE POOR FILIPINO RICH!
On the other hand, without her wanting for recognition, may I honor Ms Doyee Tumpalan of First Vita Plus has, who, in her belt made the record of making over 25,000 millionaires, 5,000 of them are multi-millionaires…and at the same time, already millions have been healed of their various illnesses, including terminal ones, including formerly hopeless shabu addicts, including barang victims, including terminally ill patients already predicted 6 months left to live by their doctors, victims of cancer, patients made disabled by paralysis, heart attack and stroke — illnesses that could have sent them to their graves early – behold, First Vita Plus formula of the country’s top 5 herbs and fruits is making remarkable healings and giving back to people their health and their hope and their bright future… according to the words of the Lord, to wit: And the leaf shall by thy medicine (Ezekiel 47:12) and the leaf shall be for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2) and by that, then there shall be no more curse (illness and bankruptcy and other form of sufferings).
This is the new way that is making waves. What one Wellness founder once said, Becoming wealthy by making others healthy and wealthy!
Friend, if you are an employee of Coca-Cola today, you cannot make that claim… because the soda and sweetener inside Coke and other soft drinks as well as the acid contents are making people sick with diabetes when these sugary and acidic substances form plaques that block the major blood vessels in the feet (preventing blood, oxygen and nutrients from feeding the cells of the feet, resulting to death, decay and gangrene), in the heart resulting to heart disease, in the eyes resulting to cataract, glaucoma and blindness, in the prostate resulting to sexual impotence and other complications of diabetes. You cannot claim that you are helping spread health, healing and wealth. You cannot claim that you are making people healthy and wealthy. For you are part of the present system of chemicals that are making people sick and once sick, financially impoverished.
The toothpaste companies also contribute to the disabling of the masses, in that its fluoride is responsible of calcifying our brain’s pineal gland, resulting to dumbness… People with hardened pineal gland cannot think well anymore. So toothpaste is making people dumb. And what do you think will happen to a society whose people cannot think properly? Can they solve their problems? Can they think of wise ideas to enable them to achieve their dreams and visions?
In the Philippines, are we able to solve, lessen and eventually remove all our problems? Or are our problems piling up one above the others? Can we call ourselves wise and bright in the face of our inability to solve our difficulties?
Disease and poverty are two of the many that we have proven to be unable to overcome. This is clear proof that we have dumbed down mind. Dumbed down by fluoride, etc.
Time is foreseen and predicted that animal-devouring (carnivorous) animals will become benign and will no longer eat their fellow animals, thus:
“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6 [niv]). There will be peace among animals. The former predators will thrive with their former preys… the time resorting to the ancient time of our forefathers when the leaves are the food of the animals (Genesis 1:30):
“And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-everything that has the breath of life in it- I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
When shall man become friend and brother to his fellowman? When shall man cease to devour his neighbors? When shall man become trustworthy of his neighbor’s family and possessions? When shall he cease to covet his neighbor’s goods, wife and daughters? When shall one stops raping when innocent women and girls have no protector? When shall we become protector of our neighbor’s wives and daughters and possessions?
When?
What does “legitimate GRP bloggers” mean? You are legitimate if you agree on everything the writers say? You are legitimate if you parrot the view and opinions of the majority?
If that is what ‘legitimate’ mean here, then, call me illegitimate.
Whaaaaaat?!!! ????
Naloko na! Does being unhinged a requirement too to be a legitimate blogger? ????