Neutral

Netnet Camomot

PRESIDENT Rody Duterte is anything but presidential in his State of the Nation Address, speeches, and press conferences, no thanks to his swear words.

It so happens that his listeners are literally absorbing each of the words he enunciates, and correspondingly react to his statements in the same way the religious can literally interpret the holiest of books.

When it comes to anything holy, I always remember my high school classmate who once upon a time told our Religion teacher that there was neither apple nor serpent in the Garden of Eden, that these were simply symbols of something more. We were sweet sixteen then, seemingly walang kamuwang-muwang sa mundo, and there she was, questioning the Bible.

We waited for lightning to strike our classroom, and for God Himself to descend from heaven and give us a lecture on Religion 101. Perhaps the same doom and gloom that the religious expect whenever President Duterte curses.

It has been a year since the president took over, and his non-fans are probably blaming the Marawi siege and the New People’s Army attacks on his curses, with their thought bubble going, Curses attract bad vibes. If that’s how the world turns, why did Davao attract good vibes when he was city mayor and throwing around these same curses?

Actions speak louder than words, the saying goes. We may have to skip the parts where the president’s words are better off written as @#$%?&!, and focus on the good things he has done so far for the country. He enjoys high approval ratings despite the no-nonsense leadership, a sign that Pinoys are tired of fake government officials who act holy when the truth is they’re busy stealing from the national treasury and indulging in illegal business ventures once no one is looking.

The madlang pehpohl will become confused when a government official’s lifestyle doesn’t match the public image. So, if there’s one thing the president has perfected, it’s being consistent with his public image.

That’s why there are Pinoys who have stopped being fans of the country’s vice president. When she was not VP yet, her Facebook page would post photos of her sweet-sixteen image—waiting for the bus, taking the bus for her Manila-Naga route, preparing to sleep inside the bus for the estimated 11-hour travel. Her fans lapped it up and revered her as manna from heaven—finally, a simple and humble government official who shuns perks. Her inclusion in the yellow party even convinced you to vote for their presidentiable Mar Roxas whose endorsement by then President Noynoy Aquino wasn’t enough to elevate him to presidential status.

This yellow versus Duterte then regressed to name-calling—yellowtards versus Dutertards—which fills up your Facebook news feed, and here’s your peace-loving character preferring to stay neutral.

Writer and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel once said, “We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must—at that moment—become the center of the universe.”

In case that definition of neutrality is complicated for you, here’s another definition from Desmond Tutu: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”

Discernment is important when it comes to choosing sides. Emergency situations, however, may require faster thinking, with no time to hibernate and mull things over.

There are times when you’re the mouse not appreciating anyone’s, especially a friend’s, neutrality. You need to be sure whose side he’s defending and protecting.

A human being reaches a certain age when he stops tolerating neutrality. Life is short and all that jazz, so, why stay with people whose loyalty is questionable.

I don’t know if President Duterte has the time to read Facebook posts of the “Dutertards” who have been defending him, and if any political wannabe would also love to have that rabid kind of loyalty from his fans. But if there’s one thing President Duterte appreciates, surely it’s his loyal friends who are so used to his swear words by now.