Artikulo
ASAL- ALIPIN
Matindi ang debate sa usapin hinggil sa pakiusap ng Pilipinas sa Tsina at sa isla ng Taiwan hinggil sa kaso ng mga OFWs kamakailan lamang. Ito ay ang pakiusap ng gobyerno na ipagpaliban ang pagbitay sa tatlong Pilipinong nahuling nagpupuslit ng droga sa Tsina na nahatulan ng kamatayan at ang usapin hinggil sa IFW sa Taiwan.
Katulad ito ng hindi pagpansin ng gobyerno sa nangyaring pagbaligtad ng bandila sa Amerika noong dumalaw ang pangulo sa Amerika noong nagdaang taon.
Hindi na nakapagtataka ang reaksyon ng mga taong gobyerno sa napakalaking pagkakamali na naganap sa pagdalaw ni Presidente Aquino sa Amerika kamakailan. Ito ay ang usaping nabaligtad ang bandila ng Pilipinas sa panahong nag-uusap ang mga pinuno ng ASEAN kasama ang pangulo ng Amerika.
Madali itong unawain sa pagsasabing gawi ito ng mga asal alipin.
Ang mga may asal alipin ay nahirati nang maging tagapangatwiran ng kanilang mga panginoon. Madali nilang pagaanin ang sitwasyon kahit gaano ito kagrabe. Ito ay sa paggawa ng mga dahilan at kung anu-ano pang pagtatakip para sa kanilang mga amo.
Palasak na ito sa kasaysayan. Nariyan sina Rajah Humabon ng Cebu para kay Magalanes, sina Pedro Paterno at Trinidad Pardo de Tavera para sa mga mananakop na Amerikano at gyerang Pilipino-Amerikano.
Sumunod sina Manuel Quezon at mga katoto noong panahong ng mga kolonyalistang pulitika sa Pilipinas at mga sumunod na mga utusan at tagasilbi ng Kano sa mahabang panahong republikang basahan mula 1946.
Usong-uso ito noong panahon ni Marcos nang siya pa ang diktador noong martial law. Ang numero unong sipsip sa media si Ronnie Natanielz nariyan pa ngayon. Andyan din ang nasirang Rod Navarro at iba pang trumpeta ng diktador.
Naalala ko pa noong 1960’s nang may dumating na Amerikanong exchange scholar sa aming klase sa high school Ang tinamaan ng lintik kong guro, pinatayo ang buong klase para magpugay sa aming kaklaseng Amerikana. Ako lang ang hindi tumayo. Nagalit ang guro dahil bastos daw ako.
Sinagot ko nga. “Estudyante lang siya katulad naming, bakit ako magpupugay sa kanya?” Saka lang nagising ang mga kaklase ko na mali ang ginawa nila. Asal alipin kasi ang matanda kong guro. Ayun, nanginginig pag naakita ng puti.
Hanggang ngayon, ang ABS-CBN ay sakmal ng ganitong kolonyal na kaayusan. Tignan lang ang mga artista nila sa TV. Panay FilAm. Panay Kano ang apelyido. Minamasaker na ang wikang Pilipino, natutuwa pa ang mga tao kahit pilipit na ang salita at baluktot ang gramatika. Basta makaganap lamang.
Kasi puti, gwapo at gwapa. Kilig to the bones ang mga bakla. Hiyawan ang mga hitad na kolehiyala. Tabo sa kita ang ABS-CBN maging GMA7 atbp.
E, paano kung ang presidente mismo ang manguna sa sa asal alipin na ito. Aba’y nagalit pa nang may pumuna sa pagbaligtad ng mga Kano sa bandila. “Magaling daw magpuna ang mga taong walang magawa!”
Sabagay dapat pa nga tayong tumanaw ng utang na loob sa mga Kano dahil tama ang kanilang ginawa. Matagal nang may gyera sa Pilipinas sa loob ng mahabang panahon hanggang ngayon sa kanaqyunan.
May gyera sa pagitan ng NPA at AFP at MILF laban sa AFP. Bumira pa rin ang ASG kahit sayad na sayad na sila. Kaya nga pula ang nasa itaas ng bandila. Nasa panghabang buhay na gyera tayo.
Naalala ko noong 1970. Nang itaas ng mga radikal ang badila na pula ang nasa itaas, pinagbabaril sila ng METROCOM. Sabi ni Enrile: “ paglapastangan sa ating bandila yan.”
Asan sina Enrile ngayon? Wala, nakaupo sa Senado, gusto raw niya lahat ay masaya!
Eto naman si Lacierda na mahilig maglamierda,, ang tagapagsalita ng Pangulo : “Di raw sinasadya ng Amerika ang nangyari.” Siya kaya ang baligtarin, hindi kaya sinadya ito?
Kahit dito sa Amerika marami niyan. Tignan lang natin ng dumating si Presidente Aquino dito. Yung mga tagasunod ni GMA sila din ang kasama sa pagsalubong at pagawqit ng hallelujah para kay P-Noy. Nagunguna na dito ang mg taga NAFFAA.
Sabagay kahit sa anumang bansda marami niyan. Sa Amerika may tinatawag silang Uncle Tom na aliping African American na sipsip sa amo niyang puti. Sa Alemanya, lahat ay baliw na baliw noong kay Hitler at nagapakamatay para sa kanilang puno. Huli na ng malaman nilang isa palang mamatay tao ang kanilang kinanabaliwan.
Sabagay sa isang bansa tulad ng Pilipinas na walang dangal at sobereniya mormal lamang asal alipin lahat mula sa pinakamataas hanggang sa karaniwang mamayan. Talagang nakakahawa ang pagiging asal-alipin.
Mas madaling maging maamong tupa kaysa magkaroon ng sariling prinsipyo.
Ang dangal ng bayan ay nabubuo lamang sa gitna ng matinding pakikibaka. Hanggang di dumadaan sa apoy ang bakal hindi ito malilinang. Mananatili itong marupok na tinggang natutunaw sa bahagyang init ng urno.
********
22.2.11
13.2.11
Egypt Struggles for Genuine Democracy and Freedom
Egypt Struggles for Genuine Democracy and Freedom
When the people of Egypt rose up on January 25, 2010, this was our message to the brave people of Egypt:
Mubarak has to go! MAKIBAKA, HUWAG MATAKOT!
We came out in droves and
joined Egyptians in the United States in solidarity and now in the celebrations
of their precious victory. We pay our s highest tribute towards the militant
people of Egypt and their martyrs for this victory!
We were appalled with the Mubarak's declaration as he refuses to step down. It was a blatant provocation, a clear slap on the face against the people of United States. But he eventually stepped down after the military told him it his time to go.
We also condemned the "fence-sitting" stratagem of the US government. It was terribly disconcerting as the President issues press releases, speaking of freedom and democracy yet action to push for this goal is absent.
This inaction and dilly-dallying shows support for Mubarak's ‘orderly transition process” keeping the tyrant in power for the next six months, but later Obama went out to praise the valor of the Egyptian youth for the revolution.
The Filipino American community salutes Egyptians in their millions. Those whom for the past 18 days, are still running through the streets, rising together in arms to repudiate a regime of oppression, to put an end to the servility to US imperialism.
Fight for People’s Democracy and Freedom
We, the American people are ecstatic to the fact that Egyptians are finally asserting their sovereign power. Worker unions and youth organizations who are leading the way to liberation and freedom!
We will continue to support the brave people of Egypt with the course they may take. We have taken to the streets in support of your just struggle. Egypt has a glorious history of nationalism and struggle.
Egypt stood against imperialism and western powers during the Suez canal crisis of 1956 and became a beacon against the lackeys of Imperialism in the near east. They reclaimed this glorious tradition even at their defeat during the 1967 war and again during the war for national salvation in 1973 where they regained their mettle.
It was during the Mubarak dictatorship where Egypt became the pariah of the Arab world. Mubarak is a dwarf compared to Gamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar Sadat. They were despots but the people still lvoed them because they were Arab nationalist and for Nasser a staunch anti-imrerialist.
Mubarak chose to kowtow to Israel, align himself the united States and with with the reactionary Saudis kings and dictators of the near-east, Mubarak plunged Egypt into the abyss of poverty and oppression.
Now Egypt is again proud to be Egypt!
If and when they need to have a social revolution to forge the path for national liberation and Arab solidarity, the Filipino-American community will always be behind them.
True democracy and national salvation for Egypt and its people!
12.2.11
ANG TAGUMPAY SA EHIPTO, TAGUMPAY NG MASANG NAKIKIBAKA
ANG TAGUMPAY SA EHIPTO, TAGUMPAY NG MASANG NAKIKIBAKA
“ Ang tagumpay sa Ehipto ay tagumpay ng pakikibakang masa!
Ipinagbubunyi ng masang Pilipino-Amerikano dito sa Estados Unidos at ng progresibong sector na kinakatawan ng Alliance-Philipines ang tagumpay ng masang Ehiptyano sa pagpapatalsik sa diktador na si Mubarak at ng kanyang grupo.
Ang lahat, sa lahat ng dako ng US at ang buong mundo ay may marudbdob na pagbati sa lahat ng masang nakibaka sa Ehipto, sa labas ng bansang ito at sa mga grupong nakiisa at sumuporta sa pakikibaka nila
Lubos na hinahanggaan at nagpupugay ng lahat ang katatagan at katapangan ng masa sa Ehipto at sa kanilang pakikibaka sa loob ng 18-araw na walang puknat para igupo ang diktadurang nagpahirap at nagpasamatala sa kanila sa loob ng mahigit na 31 –taon.
Marcos at Mubarak
Katulad ni Marcos ng Pilipinas, napilitan siyang tumalilis ng magpasya ang US at ang military na siya ay alisin na sa pwesto. Sa totoo,lang, isang huling saglit na kudeta na utos ng US at tulad ng pag-aalsang masa ang nagpalayas kay Mubarak na kapit-tuko sa kapangyarihan.
Tulad ni Marcos,at Estrada ng Pilipinas hanggang sa huli kapwa sila na nagmamayabang na mananatili sila sa pwesto. Ngunit wala rin silang nagawa nang magsumigasig pa ang masa ng Ehipto na siya ay sibakin sa pwesto.
Walang tigil na paligiran ng masa ang palasyo, ang mayor na istasyon ng media ng gobyerno, ang mga minesteryo ng tanggapang panlabas at winasak ang halos lahat ng istasyong ng pulisya sa mga mayor na syudad ng Ehipto.
Hindi lamang sa Cairo naganap ang pag-aalsa. Halos lahat ng probinsya at mayor na syudad mula Cairdo. Alexandria at Suez, milyong masa ang nagpakita ng pagkasuklam, itinaas ang kanilang mga sapatos tanda ng labis na pagkamuhi sa diktador sabay sigaw; “ALIS NA!”
At dahil dito napilitang umalis ang palalong si Mubarak at ang kanyang mga alagad.
Hindi pa tapos ang laban
Ngunit hindi pa tapos ang laban. Nanatili pa rin ang kontrol ng militar na kontrolado ng US. Gayunman mas maganda na ito kaysa sa diktadurang nagpahirap sa Ehipto ng 30 taong singkad. Nasa kamay na ng masa ang pagkakataong baguhin ang kanilang kapalaran. Simula ng pagbabago ang kanilang tagumpay.
Maalalang pumalit si Mubarak sa napatay na lider na si Anwar Sadat na pinaslang noong 1981. Mula noong wala nang iba pang naganap na eleksyon sa Ehipto na hindi kinontrol ni Mubarak. Aalis siyang pwesto na may kurakot na aabot sa 40 bilyong dolyar. Nakaw sa kabang yaman ng bayan.
Kahalintulad ng EDSA 1 at 2, umaasa ang masa ng Ehipto ng makabuluhang pagbabago. Kung mabibigo sila tulad ng nangyari sa mga Pilipino noong 1986 at 2001, umaasa kaming hindi sila manghihinawang makibaka para sa sarili nilang kapalaran at tungo sa mas makabuluhang pagbabago.
Ang naganap na pagbabago sa Pilipinas ay panumumbalik lamang ng mga institusyong burges at hindi naging makabuluhan sa masang Pilipino. Lalo lamang nalugmok sa hirap at pagdarahop ang masang Pilipino mula noong 1986.
Ang anumang rebolusyon ay isang pagdiriwang ng pakikibaka ng masa. Isang makabuluhang pangmasang pagsisikap na tutungo sa hangaring kanilang minimithi at hinahangad. Hindi man ito matupad sa una, lagi nang maririyan ang pagkakataon at patuloy lamang silang makibaka, ito ay matatamo nila
Muling pinatunayan ang sinabi ng isang dakilang rebolusyonaryo; “Ang masa, ang masa lamang ang lumilikha ng kasaysayan.”
Sa taumbayan ng Ehipto, sa mahigit 300 daang martir nag-alay ng kanilang buhay at nagbuhos ng dugo sa lahat ng dako sa loob ng 18 araw, kami ay nagpupugay!
Sa lahat ng dakilang kababaihan at magigiting na lalaking nakibaka para matamo ang tagumpay, saludo kami sa inyo at hangad ang higit pang tagumpay!
Mabuhay ang inyong pakikibaka! Mabuhay ang Ehipto!
NANGAHAS KAYONG MAKIBAKA, NAKAMIT NINYO ANG TAGUMPAY!
PAGPAPATIWAKAL NI GENERAL REYES, LALONG NAGPALABO SA KASO NG KURAKUTAN SA AFP
PAGPAPATIWAKAL NI GENERAL REYES, LALONG NAGPALABO SA KASO NG KURAKUTAN SA AFP
“Ang kamatayan ni Angelo Reyes ay kasinggaan ng balahibo ng manok”
Nakalulungkot ngunit masaklap isiping ang pagpapatiwakal ni dating Heneral Angelo Reyes ay higit na nagpalabo kaysa nagpalinaw sa imbestigasyon hinggil sa garapal na pangungurakot sa loob ng AFP.
Sa halip na harapin bilang isang maginoo at matapang na opisyal militar, winakasan ni Reyes ang sarili.
Ipinagmamalaki ito ng ng mga kaklase niya sa PMA bilang hara-kiri at tinawag pa siyang isang “Samurai”( mandirigmang Hapones) ngunit ang tanong ng maraming Pilipino; Matatawag ba siyang isang mandirigma gayong tinakasan niya ang problema at hindi niya sinagot ang mga akusasyon laban sa kanya?
Ang kanyang pagpapatiwakal ay maituturing pagtanggap ng kanyang kasalanan sa mata ng maykapal at ng taumbayan. hindi ito makagagan sa kanyang mg kasalanan. nagawa lamang niyang takasan ang sala at ang parusang dapat sanang ipataw sa kanya ng burges na batas."
Mas maraming naiwang katanungan
May pinagtatakpan ba si Reyes kayat ayaw niyang mandamay ng iba? Ayon mismo sa mga malalapit sa kanya, kausap niya si GMA bago siya nagpatiwakal. Sinabi pa niya diumano; “Wala na ito.”
Sa wari inihahanda niya ang sarili sa pagharap sa suliranin ng nag-iisa. Nag-iisa na lamang siyang haharap sa kahihinatnan ng imbestigasyon. Siya ang mababagsak ng sisi. Wala nang iba. Pinabayaan na siya.
Sa kanyang pagpapatiwakal, mapapagtakpan ba niya ang totoong ummiral hanggang ngayon ang bulok na sistema ng pangungurakot ng pera ng bayan sa loob ng bulok na AFP?”
Marahil tulad ng kanyang inaasahang medyo nagpreno ang mariing atake laban sa kanya at sa kanyang pamilya. Ngunit mas maraming tanong ang lumabas at amrahil lalabas pa dahil sa kanyang pagpapatiwakal.
Mariing binabatikos ng marami lalo na angmga progresibong sector ang pasya na bigyan siya ng karangalan at ilibing sa libingan ng mga bayani.
Tulad ni diktador Marcos hindi dapat ilibing ang isang duwag na tumatakas sa kanyang responsebilidad.
Oportunistang Heneral
Alam ng lahat na si Reyes ay isang opurtunista. Kumampi siya kay GMA at iniwanan si Erap Estrada noong 2001. Siya rin gayung siya ang namuno sa marahas na Oplan Lambat Bitag laban sa NPA at sa pagsupil sa MILF. Maraming utang na dugo si Reyes mula noong siya ay nagopisyal hanggang sa maging isang pulitikong tagasuporta ni GMA.
Siya rin- sila ni Victor Corpus ang itinuturo ng mga rebeldeng militar ng Oakwood noong 2005 na utak nang pambobomba sa Davao City para mailatag ang matagalan sanang paghahari ni GMA sa “Oplan Everlasting.”
Maaaring parangalan ng mga rekasyonaryo lalo na ng bulok na AFP si Reyes pero hindi siya kailanman pararangalan ng sambayang Pilipino. Ang parangal sa kanya ay isang walang kwentang parangal na dagdag na gatos lamang ng bayan.
Isang bulok na parangal ng kapwa niya bulok na istitusyon ng AFP o ng SALAPI o Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas.
Salapi ang sinamba ni Reyes, Ito rin ang dahilan ng kanyang pagpapatiwakal. Sana makonsesnya ang iba pang opisyal militar at humanap na ng tunay na pagbabago bago sila matulad kay Reyes na huli na ang lahat bago nakita ang katotohanan.
***
“Ang kamatayan ni Angelo Reyes ay kasinggaan ng balahibo ng manok”
Nakalulungkot ngunit masaklap isiping ang pagpapatiwakal ni dating Heneral Angelo Reyes ay higit na nagpalabo kaysa nagpalinaw sa imbestigasyon hinggil sa garapal na pangungurakot sa loob ng AFP.
Sa halip na harapin bilang isang maginoo at matapang na opisyal militar, winakasan ni Reyes ang sarili.
Ipinagmamalaki ito ng ng mga kaklase niya sa PMA bilang hara-kiri at tinawag pa siyang isang “Samurai”( mandirigmang Hapones) ngunit ang tanong ng maraming Pilipino; Matatawag ba siyang isang mandirigma gayong tinakasan niya ang problema at hindi niya sinagot ang mga akusasyon laban sa kanya?
Ang kanyang pagpapatiwakal ay maituturing pagtanggap ng kanyang kasalanan sa mata ng maykapal at ng taumbayan. hindi ito makagagan sa kanyang mg kasalanan. nagawa lamang niyang takasan ang sala at ang parusang dapat sanang ipataw sa kanya ng burges na batas."
Mas maraming naiwang katanungan
May pinagtatakpan ba si Reyes kayat ayaw niyang mandamay ng iba? Ayon mismo sa mga malalapit sa kanya, kausap niya si GMA bago siya nagpatiwakal. Sinabi pa niya diumano; “Wala na ito.”
Sa wari inihahanda niya ang sarili sa pagharap sa suliranin ng nag-iisa. Nag-iisa na lamang siyang haharap sa kahihinatnan ng imbestigasyon. Siya ang mababagsak ng sisi. Wala nang iba. Pinabayaan na siya.
Sa kanyang pagpapatiwakal, mapapagtakpan ba niya ang totoong ummiral hanggang ngayon ang bulok na sistema ng pangungurakot ng pera ng bayan sa loob ng bulok na AFP?”
Marahil tulad ng kanyang inaasahang medyo nagpreno ang mariing atake laban sa kanya at sa kanyang pamilya. Ngunit mas maraming tanong ang lumabas at amrahil lalabas pa dahil sa kanyang pagpapatiwakal.
Mariing binabatikos ng marami lalo na angmga progresibong sector ang pasya na bigyan siya ng karangalan at ilibing sa libingan ng mga bayani.
Tulad ni diktador Marcos hindi dapat ilibing ang isang duwag na tumatakas sa kanyang responsebilidad.
Oportunistang Heneral
Alam ng lahat na si Reyes ay isang opurtunista. Kumampi siya kay GMA at iniwanan si Erap Estrada noong 2001. Siya rin gayung siya ang namuno sa marahas na Oplan Lambat Bitag laban sa NPA at sa pagsupil sa MILF. Maraming utang na dugo si Reyes mula noong siya ay nagopisyal hanggang sa maging isang pulitikong tagasuporta ni GMA.
Siya rin- sila ni Victor Corpus ang itinuturo ng mga rebeldeng militar ng Oakwood noong 2005 na utak nang pambobomba sa Davao City para mailatag ang matagalan sanang paghahari ni GMA sa “Oplan Everlasting.”
Maaaring parangalan ng mga rekasyonaryo lalo na ng bulok na AFP si Reyes pero hindi siya kailanman pararangalan ng sambayang Pilipino. Ang parangal sa kanya ay isang walang kwentang parangal na dagdag na gatos lamang ng bayan.
Isang bulok na parangal ng kapwa niya bulok na istitusyon ng AFP o ng SALAPI o Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas.
Salapi ang sinamba ni Reyes, Ito rin ang dahilan ng kanyang pagpapatiwakal. Sana makonsesnya ang iba pang opisyal militar at humanap na ng tunay na pagbabago bago sila matulad kay Reyes na huli na ang lahat bago nakita ang katotohanan.
***
9.2.11
Deep Freeze
Deep Freeze
When the Artic blast
filled the winds
And the Santa Anita blew
The desert heat away
To the wide Pacific Oceans,
but the south winds counter
the west wind coming from the sea,
It penetrates the bones
And torture the flesh,
send shivers to the spines..
yes, we are only humans
who long for the summer winds
And look for the sun’s heat
We used to
we will always long
for the sun,
that always shine in my native land.
while we cower under the cold spell
and the deep freeze,
we can stand the freeze spelled
by wicked gods
against witches and wizards,
but as they say
the sun always rise
and the summer
Is sure to come again.
Al P. Garcia
January 16, 2009
5.2.11
The Concept of Holidays and Vacation
The Concept of Holidays and Vacation
A friend lamented that “ people in America have also forgotten why the labor movement in this country fought for time off and established the concept of weekend off and holidays.”
They have forgotten and no one remembers that in the 19th century when workers were being made to work 16-20 hours. What replaced it was an 8-hour labor law that gives workers 2 days off to rest and recuperate.
Unfortunately, corporate media and the government has shaped the weekend to be simply about sports and beer and shopping (especially at the malls). No politics of course and no serious stuff, just entertainment.
People used the time to go on vacation, to Vegas or any casinos, go on a cruise, to Europe or to their home countries.
Men need to feel like they are "potent" even as they are seriously at risk for obesity and cardiac arrest. Because it's supposed to be a time to rest (in peace?!). Women used the time to mall. Go on a shopping spree and buy all that will fill their vanities.
What a concept of the good life!
For those who lack or have no money, they just stay at home, watch TV or rest to recuperate for the next working days. They can really savor these holidays as rest days.
Sadly this is the concept of holidays and vacation that people have in mind today. That what ultimately became the ...8-hour day was originally so that workers could not only have time for themselves and their families but also time to study and participate in meaningful social and political activities to advance their class and their community.
In socialist countries this was the way of life. Family and country are one and the same.
In America and elsewhere, that's how capitalism prevents people from questioning if it is in the interest of any working person let alone of his community or his/her class. In the thrall of consumerism, people are by and large content to be zombies. This is why the US working class is the most successfully repressed in the world.
The monopoly capitalist bourgeoisie controls the mass media. Thus it has the people successfully glued to the TV and the internet to be mindlessly entertained and lobotomized.They create demand by advertising . They suit the taste of the people thorough their tastes and caprices that eventually they became the masses.
They have the immigrants as scapegoat or the liberals as their bogeyman. They have all the fundamentalist televangelist haranguing everyone on cable and TV or radio lanes. And the worse, they have the labor unions who they owe these holidays and vacation as another whipping boy to blame for all the problems of society as “interest groups.”
One in a while, they bring out the SWAT teams and riot police when people act "crazy" and out of line, but that's still the exception. It is in this context that the monopoly bourgeoisie is promoting the rise of fascism in society.
They give rise and supported druglords in Latin America and warlords in Asia like the Ampatuans in Mindanao and use them to stamp out popular movements. As they worship the mob in order to create gangs and criminals to stamp them out later and foster law and order in the country.
I hope that today on the 26th holiday, we remember Martin Luther King Jr. who in the last year of his life condemned the US government for its imperialist foreign policy and as the "greatest purveyor of violence in the world."
I also hope more and more people realize that his dream for a better world is the antithesis of the capitalist reality we have today.
A friend lamented that “ people in America have also forgotten why the labor movement in this country fought for time off and established the concept of weekend off and holidays.”
They have forgotten and no one remembers that in the 19th century when workers were being made to work 16-20 hours. What replaced it was an 8-hour labor law that gives workers 2 days off to rest and recuperate.
Unfortunately, corporate media and the government has shaped the weekend to be simply about sports and beer and shopping (especially at the malls). No politics of course and no serious stuff, just entertainment.
People used the time to go on vacation, to Vegas or any casinos, go on a cruise, to Europe or to their home countries.
Men need to feel like they are "potent" even as they are seriously at risk for obesity and cardiac arrest. Because it's supposed to be a time to rest (in peace?!). Women used the time to mall. Go on a shopping spree and buy all that will fill their vanities.
What a concept of the good life!
For those who lack or have no money, they just stay at home, watch TV or rest to recuperate for the next working days. They can really savor these holidays as rest days.
Sadly this is the concept of holidays and vacation that people have in mind today. That what ultimately became the ...8-hour day was originally so that workers could not only have time for themselves and their families but also time to study and participate in meaningful social and political activities to advance their class and their community.
In socialist countries this was the way of life. Family and country are one and the same.
In America and elsewhere, that's how capitalism prevents people from questioning if it is in the interest of any working person let alone of his community or his/her class. In the thrall of consumerism, people are by and large content to be zombies. This is why the US working class is the most successfully repressed in the world.
The monopoly capitalist bourgeoisie controls the mass media. Thus it has the people successfully glued to the TV and the internet to be mindlessly entertained and lobotomized.They create demand by advertising . They suit the taste of the people thorough their tastes and caprices that eventually they became the masses.
They have the immigrants as scapegoat or the liberals as their bogeyman. They have all the fundamentalist televangelist haranguing everyone on cable and TV or radio lanes. And the worse, they have the labor unions who they owe these holidays and vacation as another whipping boy to blame for all the problems of society as “interest groups.”
One in a while, they bring out the SWAT teams and riot police when people act "crazy" and out of line, but that's still the exception. It is in this context that the monopoly bourgeoisie is promoting the rise of fascism in society.
They give rise and supported druglords in Latin America and warlords in Asia like the Ampatuans in Mindanao and use them to stamp out popular movements. As they worship the mob in order to create gangs and criminals to stamp them out later and foster law and order in the country.
I hope that today on the 26th holiday, we remember Martin Luther King Jr. who in the last year of his life condemned the US government for its imperialist foreign policy and as the "greatest purveyor of violence in the world."
I also hope more and more people realize that his dream for a better world is the antithesis of the capitalist reality we have today.
4.2.11
DD: Cairo, 2011
DD: Cairo, 2011
Who said the Empires died
a long time ago,?
That we are in the post- modern era?
Where Imperialism is a thing
Of the past.
While Clinton, Obama
and the Generals in Pentagon
and black suited bureaucrats in the State
and the CIA discuss the options for Egypt,
while the dictator wont leave,
and says “we will never understand Egypt”
and the GOP Senator says
“ It’s a virus in the Middle East”
while more than 100 journalist attacked,
the media censored, Al Jazeera shut down,
the internet stamped down;
the army and their Abrams tanks
MADE IN USA
stood by impassively
while police and goons attacks,
the people are dying and maimed,
in the Liberation Square
Oh, my….OMG!
but still fighting and determined
to win their freedom
against an Imperial design,
what an Imperial move
of the Imperial
Capitol at Washington DC,
And now tell me,
Is this your post modern era?
DD Feb 03, 2011
Who said the Empires died
a long time ago,?
That we are in the post- modern era?
Where Imperialism is a thing
Of the past.
While Clinton, Obama
and the Generals in Pentagon
and black suited bureaucrats in the State
and the CIA discuss the options for Egypt,
while the dictator wont leave,
and says “we will never understand Egypt”
and the GOP Senator says
“ It’s a virus in the Middle East”
while more than 100 journalist attacked,
the media censored, Al Jazeera shut down,
the internet stamped down;
the army and their Abrams tanks
MADE IN USA
stood by impassively
while police and goons attacks,
the people are dying and maimed,
in the Liberation Square
Oh, my….OMG!
but still fighting and determined
to win their freedom
against an Imperial design,
what an Imperial move
of the Imperial
Capitol at Washington DC,
And now tell me,
Is this your post modern era?
DD Feb 03, 2011
3.2.11
Magkabilang Dulo
Tula
Magkabilang Dulo
Iba’t iba ang puno at dulo,
Bumayo ang matinding lamig
Mula Artic patimog
Nanginig sa lamig ang Gitna at
Silangang Amerika,
Tinabunan ng yelo
Ang lahat ng dako:
14,000 na lipad
Ang di nakaangat sa lupa,
Tigil ang transportasyon
Natuwa ang lahat dahil
walang pasok
Sa kabilang dulo, rumagasa
Ang tubig-baha,
Natibag ang mga bundok,
Delubyo sa Australia at India,
Maging sa Tsina at Indonesia,
Nagpuputukan ang mga bulkan:
Samantalang sa Pilipinas
Pinatigil ng Pangulo ang logging
Para huwag daw mapanot ang gubat
Habang walang tumutubong buhok
Sa kanyang panot na ulo.
Doon naman sa Ehipto
At sa Silangang Dulong Asya,
Sampung araw na walang tigil
Ang protesta kayat araw
Ay naging gabi
Sa Jordan, Yemen at Sudan
Ang masa ay nagbabangon
Laban sa mga paghahari
Ng mga bagong paraon,
Hari at reynang
Puno ng kupal at panghe
kahalo ng mira at pabango.
Sa magkabilang dulo ng mundo
Ang kalikasan ay gumaganti;
Habang ang masa ay nagbabangon
Sa daan taong pagkaapi.
Pebrero 3, 2011
Magkabilang Dulo
Iba’t iba ang puno at dulo,
Bumayo ang matinding lamig
Mula Artic patimog
Nanginig sa lamig ang Gitna at
Silangang Amerika,
Tinabunan ng yelo
Ang lahat ng dako:
14,000 na lipad
Ang di nakaangat sa lupa,
Tigil ang transportasyon
Natuwa ang lahat dahil
walang pasok
Sa kabilang dulo, rumagasa
Ang tubig-baha,
Natibag ang mga bundok,
Delubyo sa Australia at India,
Maging sa Tsina at Indonesia,
Nagpuputukan ang mga bulkan:
Samantalang sa Pilipinas
Pinatigil ng Pangulo ang logging
Para huwag daw mapanot ang gubat
Habang walang tumutubong buhok
Sa kanyang panot na ulo.
Doon naman sa Ehipto
At sa Silangang Dulong Asya,
Sampung araw na walang tigil
Ang protesta kayat araw
Ay naging gabi
Sa Jordan, Yemen at Sudan
Ang masa ay nagbabangon
Laban sa mga paghahari
Ng mga bagong paraon,
Hari at reynang
Puno ng kupal at panghe
kahalo ng mira at pabango.
Sa magkabilang dulo ng mundo
Ang kalikasan ay gumaganti;
Habang ang masa ay nagbabangon
Sa daan taong pagkaapi.
Pebrero 3, 2011
1.2.11
The People of Egypt Rising
Analysis
The People of Egypt Rising
“The people of Egypt has spoken: “Enough of more than 30 years of oppression, Out with Mubarak and his group!” rang out for last eight days..
The progressive Filipino American community and their allies militantly supports and are one with the rising and militant people of Egypt for standing up and striving to overthrow the US-supported Mubarak regime which has long oppressed and exploited them for more than 30 years.
They massed in support at the Egyptian Los Angeles consulate and at the Wilshire federal building to dramatize their solidarity for the rising brave people of Egypt. More and more people in America are growing frustrated with the Obama-Clinton play of words. All semantics and lip service, no action taken.
The Egyptian people in their millions have acted to repudiate the regime for its oppressiveness, its servility to US imperialism and its conformity to the US-dictated “neoliberal” economic policy which has brought about the high rate of unemployment, decline of the economy and breakdown of social services.
Egyptian People vs US and Mubarak
Millions of Egyptians poured out into the streets braving police and secret intelligence open terror. And they were successful in their redress of grievances. The brave inheritors of the nationalist Nasser have proven to the world that ordinary Egyptians can stand up against a tyrant.
The Egyptian and the whole Arab world can still remember when Egypt stood tall and claimed its leading role against the imperial powers in the Suez canal crisis of 1956. They remembered how the imperialists conspire with Israel to wrest Jerusalem and parts of Egypt in the 1967 war.
They stood with Nasser through victory and defeat and with his successors in the hope that they will continue his fighting anti-imperialist tradition. Sadat for a time looked like "little Nasser' especially during the Yum Kippur War of 1973.
But Mubarak and his boss the United States are calling for “orderly transition” like the way they maneuvered “ people’s power” in the Philippines, Thailand and elsewhere.Like Marcos of the Philippines, Mubarak is clinging on to his last straws and is proposing to step down by September.
The United States is playing its card even to have Egypt ruled with Mubarak puppets.There are indications that behind the scenes the US and the generals are trying to engineer a new arrangement.
US Supports Mubarak and his retinue
The Egyptian people are aware that the Egyptian state for too long since 1977 has been dependent on a wide range of economic, financial and political relations with the US and other imperialist countries. The US alone has poured more than USD 50 billion into Egypt in order to coopt its rulers and use them as tools of US hegemonism,
Sadat is his desperation turned to diplomacy to get concessions from Israel like the return of the Gaza Strip after their failed offensive in 1973. His assassination turned Mubarak as the next leader for the next 30 years.
The Egyptian military under Mubarak became dependent on a huge amount of US military assistance amounting to more than USD 1.38 billion, which is next in size only to that given to Israel. The US also gives economic assistance amounting to more than USD 800 million.
The US is agenda is clear. They are highly interested in the restabilization of the situation in Egypt in order to forestall the rise of anti-imperialist forces and thus maintain a balance of forces in favor of the US-Zionist combine in the region.But the people of the near east is rising up.The trend in the Arab world is revolution!
Advance towards People’s Democracy
The American people are happy at the fact that the revolutionary forces have the chance to expand and consolidate their strength. The Egyptian people are asserting their sovereign power. They are opening the way to further advances and further possibilities in the struggle for national liberation, democracy, development and social justice.
It has been a lesson in history repeatedly demonstrated that particular despotic regimes can be overthrown, such as those of Duvalier, Marcos, Somoza, Pinochet, Mobutu and Suharto. But the US will do it utmost to put up a subsequent false facade of democracy. It can only be fleeting like in Haiti, the Philippines and elsewhere for as long as the US and the local exploiting classes can rule through a bureaucratic and military machinery beholden to them.
The Filipino-American community will support the brave people of Egypt on whatever course they may take.
If they need to move forward on the path of national liberation and social revolution and towards Arab solidarity against their enemies, we are behind them.
OUT with Mubarak, Now!
Democracy and national salvation for Egypt and its people!
The People of Egypt Rising
“The people of Egypt has spoken: “Enough of more than 30 years of oppression, Out with Mubarak and his group!” rang out for last eight days..
The progressive Filipino American community and their allies militantly supports and are one with the rising and militant people of Egypt for standing up and striving to overthrow the US-supported Mubarak regime which has long oppressed and exploited them for more than 30 years.
They massed in support at the Egyptian Los Angeles consulate and at the Wilshire federal building to dramatize their solidarity for the rising brave people of Egypt. More and more people in America are growing frustrated with the Obama-Clinton play of words. All semantics and lip service, no action taken.
The Egyptian people in their millions have acted to repudiate the regime for its oppressiveness, its servility to US imperialism and its conformity to the US-dictated “neoliberal” economic policy which has brought about the high rate of unemployment, decline of the economy and breakdown of social services.
Egyptian People vs US and Mubarak
Millions of Egyptians poured out into the streets braving police and secret intelligence open terror. And they were successful in their redress of grievances. The brave inheritors of the nationalist Nasser have proven to the world that ordinary Egyptians can stand up against a tyrant.
The Egyptian and the whole Arab world can still remember when Egypt stood tall and claimed its leading role against the imperial powers in the Suez canal crisis of 1956. They remembered how the imperialists conspire with Israel to wrest Jerusalem and parts of Egypt in the 1967 war.
They stood with Nasser through victory and defeat and with his successors in the hope that they will continue his fighting anti-imperialist tradition. Sadat for a time looked like "little Nasser' especially during the Yum Kippur War of 1973.
But Mubarak and his boss the United States are calling for “orderly transition” like the way they maneuvered “ people’s power” in the Philippines, Thailand and elsewhere.Like Marcos of the Philippines, Mubarak is clinging on to his last straws and is proposing to step down by September.
The United States is playing its card even to have Egypt ruled with Mubarak puppets.There are indications that behind the scenes the US and the generals are trying to engineer a new arrangement.
US Supports Mubarak and his retinue
The Egyptian people are aware that the Egyptian state for too long since 1977 has been dependent on a wide range of economic, financial and political relations with the US and other imperialist countries. The US alone has poured more than USD 50 billion into Egypt in order to coopt its rulers and use them as tools of US hegemonism,
Sadat is his desperation turned to diplomacy to get concessions from Israel like the return of the Gaza Strip after their failed offensive in 1973. His assassination turned Mubarak as the next leader for the next 30 years.
The Egyptian military under Mubarak became dependent on a huge amount of US military assistance amounting to more than USD 1.38 billion, which is next in size only to that given to Israel. The US also gives economic assistance amounting to more than USD 800 million.
The US is agenda is clear. They are highly interested in the restabilization of the situation in Egypt in order to forestall the rise of anti-imperialist forces and thus maintain a balance of forces in favor of the US-Zionist combine in the region.But the people of the near east is rising up.The trend in the Arab world is revolution!
Advance towards People’s Democracy
The American people are happy at the fact that the revolutionary forces have the chance to expand and consolidate their strength. The Egyptian people are asserting their sovereign power. They are opening the way to further advances and further possibilities in the struggle for national liberation, democracy, development and social justice.
It has been a lesson in history repeatedly demonstrated that particular despotic regimes can be overthrown, such as those of Duvalier, Marcos, Somoza, Pinochet, Mobutu and Suharto. But the US will do it utmost to put up a subsequent false facade of democracy. It can only be fleeting like in Haiti, the Philippines and elsewhere for as long as the US and the local exploiting classes can rule through a bureaucratic and military machinery beholden to them.
The Filipino-American community will support the brave people of Egypt on whatever course they may take.
If they need to move forward on the path of national liberation and social revolution and towards Arab solidarity against their enemies, we are behind them.
OUT with Mubarak, Now!
Democracy and national salvation for Egypt and its people!
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