It is characteristic of good myth that one “sees” connections where there shouldn’t be. Dune won a Hugo Award in 1966 yet we can draw parallels to it. How the Filipino, in many ways is like that Fremen in the desert with their religious fatalism and fragmented society. How the Fremen of the deep desert distrust their City-based brothers and sisters. Can’t we draw parallels too between House Corrino and the Arroyos and the Landstrad and our Congress? How we cry out “Mahadi! Lisan al-Gaib” How often do Noynoy’s supporters think he is that voice from the outer world that would save them from the Harkonnens? How running for higher office is a trap for an Aquino? For better or worse, how often have their family been drafted for a cause?

The themes are familiar, don’t you think?

If you’ve read Dune, you would know this. Leto Atreides looked out a window into the desert with his son, Paul by his side. Tired and exhausted, the Atreides Red Duke felt like an animal trapped. And he pointed to a Green and Black flag and spoke these words:

“To hold Arrakis,” the Duke said, “one is faced with decisions that may cost one his self-respect.” He pointed out the window to the Atreides green and black banner hanging limply from a staff at the edge of the landing field. “That honorable banner could come to mean many evil things.”

Would an Aquino be faced with a similar choice? That to achieve all that which this country needs— to wage a battle to wipeout corruption, must he do evil things to achieve it?

So something was troubling me. Why are people up in arms against Recto joining the Liberal Party? Yeah, there is something “morally wrong” with it.

But I have to ask you these questions:

1) Would you choose to cut off your arm, just because you hit your brother with it?

“Do you think you could lift your hand against me?” Paul asked. Stilgar began to tremble. “It’s the way,” he muttered.

“It’s the way to kill offworld strangers found in the desert and take their water as a gift from Shai-hulud,” Paul said. “Yet you permitted two such to live one night, my mother and myself.”

As Stilgar remained silent, trembling, staring at him, Paul said: “Ways change, Stil. You have changed them yourself.”

Stilgar looked down at the yellow emblem on the knife he held.

“When I am Duke in Arrakeen with Chani by my side, do you think I’ll have time to concern myself with every detail of governing Tabr sietch?” Paul asked. “Do you concern yourself with the internal problems of every family?”

Stilgar continued staring at the knife.

“Do you think I wish to cut off my right arm?” Paul demanded.

Slowly, Stilgar looked up at him.

“You!” Paul said. “Do you think I wish to deprive myself or the tribe of your wisdom and strength?”

In a low voice, Stilgar said: “The young man of my tribe whose name is known to me, this young man I could kill on the challenge floor, Shai-hulud willing. The Lisan al-Gaib, him I could not harm. You knew this when you handed me this knife.”

“I knew it,” Paul agreed.

Stilgar opened his hand. The knife clattered against the stone of the floor. “Ways change,” he said.

2) On the question of morality, people want to refuse to wall ourselves up from outside forces because the latter worked for GMA. Isn’t it better to turn that weapon against others? isn’t it better to take that weapon before someone else does?

In the eternal words of Sun Tzu: “Thus one who excels at employing the military subjugates other people’s armies without engaging in battle, captures other people’s fortified cities without attacking them, and destroys other people’s states without prolonged fighting. He must fight under Heaven with the paramount aim of preservation. Thus his weapons will not become dull and the gains can be preserved. ”

If one considers Recto and Santos-Recto as captured force that is now for the Liberal Party, would that make you more comfortable?

As I’ve mentioned in previous entries, the battle for 2010 is much larger than simply winning the election. Anyone alienated is one more person who could be an enemy. Recto and people like him— are mistrusted by a lot of people. We think he and his kind are like Yueh (and like Judas), forever disgraced because he betrayed the Atreides. In our case, because he betrayed Filipinos by siding with GMA.

It is either take that small victory or risk letting Recto and Santos-Recto’s influence to go to someone else, not just for May but post election day. It would be foolish to turn away people who want to join the campaign. With all the small victories the Liberal Party is making, it is fast becoming the next Lakas. Is it better to absorb them and preserve the party’s strength than to chop it off and let others have those spoils? If Recto and Santos-Recto had gone to Villar, do you think it would have made winning 2010 that much easier for Noynoy? Who else can help him carry vote rich Batangas?

Do not forget we are at War. We might find that yellow banner, like that green and black rag to be bloodied and dirty before the six years of an Aquino presidency is over. So what, I ask, if the conditions for victory are achieved? Recto is not Yueh, and we have bigger battles to fight before the war is over.

* * *
Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee) published the image of Ralph Recto under Creative Commons and used here based on that.