‘Borderline’

Netnet Camomot .

FROM American Dream to American Nightmare?

They’re border children—separated at the US border from their parents who are now facing criminal prosecution as illegal immigrants due to Trump’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy. No, this is not the start of another Holocaust where 6 million Jews were annihilated by Nazi Germany. Well, we’re hoping it’s not.

World War II was in 1939 to 1945, that’s about 80 years ago, but the world prefers to learn its lessons in the most difficult way through constant repetition of history.

Pride, greed, hunger for power and money—all these contribute to conflict and hatred. The advice is to avoid toxic people whose negative aura can darken the world. The rainy season in Pinas is already darkening the sky, add the toxic negative aura to that and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration will need a higher warning than the red color.

It’s easy to identify toxic people in a group—they have this bad habit of covering their mouth with their hand while whispering bitter nothings to a seatmate. Once you see that, be grateful for now you know who to avoid. By the way, if you happen to be the seatmate being whispered to, beware: the next victim of the gossip will be you. The moment you turn your back, they’ll be talking about you, too.

The US administration can’t afford to be a source of gossip since it’s still the only superpower in the world, thus, it’s expected to promote world peace and remain true to that promise of the American Dream. So, the US First Lady’s spokesperson Stephanie Grisham released a statement that said, “Mrs. Trump hates to see children separated from their families and hopes both sides of the aisle can finally come together to achieve successful immigration reform. She believes we need to be a country that follows all laws, but also a country that governs with heart.”

Then, days later, Mrs. Trump turned her back and there was the back of her Zara jacket saying, “I really don’t care, do u?”

Although she was mum on what that meant, her hubby, US President Donald Trump, did tweet, “‘I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?’ written on the back of Melania’s jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares!”

She wore that coat on her way to the plane that was going to take her to Texas where she visited a shelter for border children.

And there was President Trump finally signing an executive order to end this separation of families, and saying, “We’re going to have strong—very strong—borders, but we are going to keep the families together.”

Any statement from The Donald and Mrs. Trump can be digested as the US’s common sentiment, and this could result to white supremacists harassing, insulting and telling Asians, blacks and Muslims to go home to their country of origin. Which makes the Pinoy ponder on this: What if Ferdinand Magellan didn’t arrive here in Pinas in 1521?

If not for migration, there won’t be an overseas Filipino worker who’s probably happy now with the higher exchange rate, much like the happiness that the Pinoy had last December upon learning that his below-P250,000 salary would be exempt from income tax starting this year. It’s a momentary burst of glee, but who has the heart to take that away from them? Hmmm. Let’s imagine some answers to that question. Not me, said President Rody Duterte. Not me, said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. Not me, said Special Assistant to the President Bong Go.

And, so, there’s the glee morphing into grrr months later as the high exchange rate and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) combine forces in making the Pinoy dream happen.

The Pinoy dream that’s more of a “dream on” than a “dream big.”

“Kung mangarap ka’t magising.” Whew.

Well, Yeng Constantino, the winner of ABS-CBN’s “Pinoy Dream Academy” in December 2006, has managed to remain relevant 12 years later, so, yes, the Pinoy can indeed dream big, which some potential political candidates are also adopting as their mantra as they prepare for next year’s midterm election. At least one of them has begun giving away T-shirts and even a pair of shoes.

With former vice presidentiable and senator Bongbong Marcos saying he wants to run for president, and Kris Aquino hinting she might run for senator, expect more T-shirts to come knocking on your door months—years?—before the official campaign period.

There’s this saying that goes, “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” So, if you have big plans, make them happen now while the dollar exchange rate and the Train Law have not scared them off yet.

Madonna is another proof of dreaming big. She began in the ’80s with hits like, “Borderline/Feels like I’m going to lose my mind.” Which could be true for those trying to cross the US border.