Rizal Philippines
March 9, 2016
From Rappler on Ateneo condemnation of Bongbong
Ateneo Faculty criticizes Sen Bongbong Marcos for "historical revisionism"
For backgrounder, I was an activist before the Martial Law, and the good religious running the school purged the activitist (in favor of the dictator then and the supposed liberalism was gone) The Dean and the religious leadership curtsied with the RP President.
Here we are are circa 2016 condemning a scion who was not responsible for dictatorship. I did not join the signatories because I am not a historian and not qualified to mouth the term without understanding fully history (as Professors are told to exercise critical thinking. Now the school Presidents are echoing the same line - walang ipinagkaiba sa aming mga romanticist activists who love to parrot nice lines. Walang bagong gimmick? Parang mga romanticists of yore?
For all we know, history may be on the side of the young Marcos, and for all we know, how much we struggle vs their families (as we do vs dynasty) Bongbong may win. That is the way with politics. It is nice to have stand vs such events. But the majority of young voters admire the present and future young Marcos
To engage in condemnation and sloganeering at this point and time may be too late, too futile, Something else could have done earlier if indeed the Marcos were on the wrong side of history If we are intent in having the Marcos legacy erased the Marcos detractors should have done the following:
1. Made sure that no one among the Marcos run successfully in the govt; but they had the Romualdez even foremr FL Imelda run successfully for elective position. Where were the current activist? Did they not find anything wrong with that?
2. Why did they allow the young Bongbong run successfully for Senate?
3. We should have abolished many laws passed on by fmr dictator as Presidential Decree. Why did we not? Were they good laws kasi?
4. We should have dismissed and not allowed former Generals, and other govt officials take part in the new govt: JPE, FVR, Senators, judges, bureau chief etc. probably jailed them disqualified them for life. Why didn't we.? Si JPE we allowed him to be in high places in the govt. Eh architect ng martial law yan. Eh. Eh si FVR wala ba siyang kinalaman sa martial law. Bakit nahalal pang presidente?
We could have done a cultural revolution, a purge where vestiges of the martial law were to totally eradicated: former officials and employees loyal to the regime of the dictator. We did not. A history professor we favored compassion and forgiveness vs being true to our values. No time to cry and complain now.
Ano Hegelian victims na lang ba tayo: thesis and antithesis runs the wheels of history. Kailangang may kokontrahin?
I was against Martial law as young activist then. I also dealt with many govt agencies then as an entrepreneur. There were very few crooks. May be FM and his subaleterns were the crooks only then. Now fast forward 2000. Dumami crooks thanks to LGC. A simple barangay clearance for a building permit was priced at P100,000. A cell site barangay clearance is P250,000 to P300,000. Barangay pa lang iyan. The VM of one town I heard demands at least two house and lot units for a subdivision project. Wala yan noon.
There re hordes of grafters and crooks post martial law. Kaya siguro gusto mawala ng martial law noon para magkaroon ng lugar ang other commissioners (ika nga ni late Joker Arroyo) labanan lang ng commissioners (crooks iyan) even the vaunted EDSA I, II, III. Gustong umulpot na magtong pats lang yan. Of heroes and villanins? Let us discern po.
And now who are we to judge if indeed post martial law was better, ie that martial law as badder/
Di kaya revisionist (Maoist term hehe) ang historical revisionism?
