Really?”

yes. it will only make matters worst and there is no catalyst. our people will not go that route, unless maybe Gloria will commit something really extreme— like genocide which is really far-fetched.

“It’s as if the justices at the Supreme Court and the prostitutes of the law, the inutile department of injustice and the ombudsman have all done such a great job at doing this nation a favor at the least.”

we are of same opinion. did you get a chance to read djb’s post on that? i totally agree w/him on that regard.

“Anyway, don’t get me wrong, I do respect your opinion. This is a democracy. But please, do not allow yourself to give in to the temptation of depriving the people of their want, need, if not a right, to protest.”

oh, i do not even dream of depriving the people their God given Right to Free Expression. I think you’ve misread me. I’m just saying that the energy people consume to exercise their Right to Free Expression can be focused towards something else that CAN get you what YOU WANT. I’m just saying there are more Efficient Ways of solving the problem of the Philippines, rather than always protesting.

I respect your opinion and that of everybody who have replied, but I’m also of the opinion that a lot of people, with talent, with brains, would rather throw rocks at the house because that is easy rather than have the courage to act to effect change that people dream and yearn for from within the system.

Really?

“this is still a republic of laws, and she must be indicted and we must prove, her guilt.”

It’s as if the justices at the Supreme Court and the prostitutes of the law, the inutile department of injustice and the ombudsman have all done such a great job at doing this nation a favor at the least.

Anyway, don’t get me wrong, I do respect your opinion. This is a democracy. But please, do not allow yourself to give in to the temptation of depriving the people of their want, need, if not a right, to protest.

you’ve seen my replies above and I’m sure my successive posts on the issue. I think you know the reason why preparing for 2010 is important.

you say you agree, but you still cling to the idea that “quoting gloriamustgo, we must first take out “the old furniture and the trash before bringing in the new furniture.”

That’s the Gordian Knot that Filipinos can’t seem to get past. YOu want the old furniture out and trash out… but How do you get gloria indicted?

don’t get my idea of delayed gratification as a sign of letting Gloria or her ilk go. it’s the other way around.

you can’t file an impeachment complaint because, she has congress in the bag. you can’t do any serious investigation because as being the Chief power, even her presence, even without her doing anything to stop an investigation is a large cloud cast already. You can not go the route of a people power— there is no reason for it and neither can you yield to military and street protests are just that, protest when Gloria and her ilk simply turn a deaf ear at whatever issue is cast.

people ask how do you unravel this Gordian Knot? Simple: take power, not by desire but by right. If civil society believes in the nobility of their cause, I urge you to start a grassroots movement— one that changes the dynamics of the game. Be that power. Be that Catalyst for change. And when Good People like you and who are just like you in Congress. Then you have the mechanism to enact all the laws you can.

You can have all the commissions and special prosecutors and the ability to back that up with real power to find out if Gloria is guilty or not. Because whatever you or I think of Gloria and her family, whatever travesty she has committed to bend the rule of law into her favor— this is still a republic of laws, and she must be indicted and we must prove, her guilt. That’s how you get a broken house back in order. That’s the right thing to do, I believe.

What I’m getting here is this:

Let’s start electing good people. But let’s wait until 2010. Which goes without saying that we should let Gloria fiddle with the stick for now.

But on the other hand, you’re saying that “now’s the time to do something.” What something? Ah, you mean:

“to band together and PREPARE for 2010.”

The impression I’m getting here is this:

Now’s the time to band together and prepare for 2010.

Well, that might be a swell of an idea. And then the rub: let Gloria sustain the misery she has inflicted since the Garcified elections.

I would have to agree with you that “everyone wants to break the unending cycle. It ENDS when we use the RULES that we already have— ELECTION to vote people in. But we ALSO need good choices, not just elections. We NEED good people”

Then again, quoting gloriamustgo, we must first take out “the old furniture and the trash before bringing in the new furniture.”

most people simply just want to protest. all they say is what’s wrong. what i’m trying to say is that there comes a point when simply throwing rocks (i.e. simply and just protesting) is counter productive.

now’s the time to do something.

Think of all the energy wasted in setting up a rally in Ayala. Of how much gasoline not just the protesters consumed but likewise all the people affected by the traffic would have used up. think of all the man hours lost in productivity, just because of protest and for what? what does it amount to?

people say they want change, best way to do it is to do it yourself: get good people, with the same ideas, with the same intentions to effect the change. for example, take congress so you can pass the laws that you want.

a few people have quoted ghandi and king as examples of non-violent protest. Ghandi has been quoted: “Be the change you want to see in the world”.

that’s all i’m saying. there must be a mechanism for that change and it starts when good people like you take an increasing role in shaping the future.

But unfortunately cocoy, the day we stop protesting is the day we draw nearer to being less and less a democracy.

Or not being a democracy any longer.

And that day I do not want to bear witness to. And so protests would have to remain, although a systemic change should go at par with that.

. . . AND because we want to. i am a filipino. an ordinary juan(a). i love this country. i care for my people… given the situation, only fools as those idiots make of us would be able to sit around and just let this come to pass. call it naivete but i take the insult that they let us bear personally (after all, what’s happening affects me. it breaks my heart to see people crying hungry; to see stray animals by the roadside dying because its owners do not have anything better to offer–they cannot even feed themselves, etc.): yes, personal enough to do more (about it). “more” simply because, crises or not, in my own humble way i believe i should serve–though not necessarily the kind that needs an election; nor an organization for that matter. and i am… trying to live up to my ideals in all that i do and volunteering gave more meaning to this life. seeing somehow i’ve made a good dent in someone else’s life feels quite good actually…somehow made me a bit more happy =)… no, in re-think, i don’t believe i walked my talk (i didn’t really do much talking back then). i’d rather liken it to: i let myself dream… and sÜre gave it a mighty chase ;).