Intolerance

There's nothing that I loath more than people who try to shove their beliefs down your throat like they are the only acceptable ones. I like to think that I live in a world that is open to the concepts of diversity, relativity and freedom. The reason why I hate homophobes is not merely because they practically abhor the likes of me, but because they rather slack off the rest of their lives beeing spoon fed with collective beliefs and perceptions rather than take their own initiative in knowing the truth.

These past few days, I've had several encounters with this person they call Kuya Kevin. I always tell myself that whenever I meet a full blown homophobe, I should give myself a tap in the shoulder, for I believe that they are on the brink of extinction. Anygays, he is definitely the embodiment of homophobia, his rants and choice of words when he commented on my article about homosexuals in Tamarawbayan.com pretty much stated where he stands. I couldn't care less about what he said or what he thinks, but it's just that whenever I come across him, I couldn't help myself from being overtly disgusted and rude. And that's not because I find his often religious beliefs wrong, it's because he cannot find it within him to exert even a little effort in understanding others. He just logged in and judge the existence and morality of homosexuals like he had travelled around the world and had learned everything about us. The arrogance that he displayed when he made his beliefs known definitely flared me up.

"I know that I know not". If one of the most well known philosopher in history can admit that he is devoid of knowledge, why can't we? I'm not saying that we must go out there and act stupid. It's just that I observe that, sometimes, as people become more philosophical, the more indifferent and rude they become. They act as though they know everything that they become so tense and aggressive in expressing their philosophies, all the while ridiculing and belittling that of the others.

Though I admit that I have a rather vague stand when it comes to the existence of God, I don't go out there and insult the beliefs of people who follow Him. I wouldn't be able to look myself if I do that for I wouldn't be any different from the homophobes that I vowed to fight. I don't think that you can fight something by using the manner in which it is fueled. You can't fight evil with injustice and violence. You can't fight discrimination with crimes and indifference. And you can't fight hate with hate.

I still pray with my friends and classmates. I still kneel with them at church and I even volounteered to lead an opening prayer for our seminar. If I am asked by muslims to come to their mosque and pay respect to Allah, I wouldn't hesitate. I don't think that this makes me a hypocrite. I am committed to being an example to my likes; that even though most people discriminate and hate us, I can still find a reason to love and respect them despite our differences.

Though I admit that it might be contrary to what I've been saying about acknowleding diversity and differences, I can't help but think of how wonderful the world can be if everybody can do the same.

XOXO

Jerome

Tears for Water

This post might come out as a boring cliche since everybody is talking about it, but what the heck. The sloth fiend in me took over and I wasn't able to even get a glimpse of Cory's funeral procession, so this post is the least thing I can do to pay respect to someone who for the past days have unearthed a sense of nationalism in me that I never thought existed.

I'm not really the kind of person who believe in things easily, especially if they were channelled through the media. Yet, I absorbed every bit of embellishments and stories that the family and friends of Cory have stated about her.

There's this nun who was given the privelege to speak in the necrological ceremony that came to face the crowd with unparallelled courage when she said that Cory's hands were never tainted with the gold and silver of corruption. In other situations I would find that statement blasphemous, for I think that corruption unexplainably runs deep within EVERY politician in our country. It's like they belong to this certain discipline devoted in taking things that doesn't belong to them.

But with Cory, every vein and artery of my black heart mellowed and melted. And I'm not ashamed to admit that it's mainly because of the people who came to show their love and respect. This pretty much built the image of a woman who through her simple faith, humility, integrity and selflessness has commanded the attention and love of many people. I don't think that many people can do that. It's like she reached the end while soaring at heights where some people can only dream of being at; with self-actualization undoubtly under her belt.

The last time that a woman (and I'm not being a sexist. it's just that woman power attracts me more) caught my undivided attention was when Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. She was a daughter of a former president of Pakistan who after years of being in exile returned to her country to bring back hope to her people. She did this with the absolute knowledge (as shown in her interview) that she will probably be killed, given the situation in Pakistan. Nevertheless she came, for as she said, it's her duty to her people and her promise to God. Her journey to Allah's arms was shortened when she was shot in the head during a presidential campaign.

Before I was like, why do everybody think that being killed is synonymous to dying for a country and a cause? I don't think that you have to die in order to prove your worth and stand. But with Benazhir, I'm starting to understand that life, as precious as it is, will never be a fulfilling one if it's filled with visions, mission and ideologies that never saw fruition because we are hindered with fear.

The same rings true with Cory. I've herad numerously for the past days that she is the mother of democracy, but that title still does not fail in sending chills down my spine.

What if she never came to our country's aid? What if she chose to be silenced by the death of her beloved husband? What if she allowed fear to settle in and succumb to the numerous threats that were bugging her? What would have happened to our country and what would have happened to us?

I don't know the answer (but I know I wouldn't have been born) but I know the light of nationalism and radicality that have fueled our populace in their continous fight for our country will remain as an idea up to now. Every Filipino that was born for the past decade would have been collared at birth and made to follow rules and live a life that was only directed at making the coffers of a certain dictator flourish.

For that, Tita Cory, thank you. You don't know me and I can't say that I know you, but even though it's like that, the ripples of the well-lived life that you had reached everybody including me. I'm not gonna pray for you, for as a friend of yours say, it is you who we should pray at for our country, for you are now among the Blessed.

XOXO

Jerome