‘If ain’t broke, why fix it?’
THE above utterance is said to have originated in the American southern states during their Civil War in the 1860s. It was attributed to African-American soldiers in the Confederate Army who resented their being made to clean and polish the muskets of white officers even if the rifles were still in good firing condition.
The comment’s inception as a phrase in the American English language has become a jest not only because of its faulty grammar but also because of its implied meaning when used in day-to-day conversation.
The implication being, “Why tinker with something already in use when there is nothing wrong with it?”
But last Monday, this time in a real sense, a multi-sectoral coalition was set in motion. They branded themselves as ”NO to Cha-cha Coalition.” They are solidly against the tinkering of the country’s present Constitution that was written in 1987.
The coalition is composed of respectable men and women who have served in high positions in the judiciary, legislature, religion, election regulatory body, private professions.
Those eminent persons appeared together in a front-page photo taken during the launching of their coalition at the UP in Diliman, Tuesday, February 13.They are:
Retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., retired Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, Sr. Mary John Mananzan, former Comelec Chairman Christian Monsod, former Rep. Neri Colmenares, former Rep. Satur Ocampo, and lawyer Lorenzo Tanada III.
In the words used by Mocha Uson bloggers, the above names are “mga dilawan,” in reference to yellow color associated with the present opposition groups, previously, inspired by the “yellow ribbon symbol” used not only by President Cory but also by her son President PNoy, as well.
The new assembly minces no word in opposing the plan of the Duterte administration to amend and revise our present Charter, and the same planners who will embark into the process of junking the presidential form of government in favor of a federal system.
Further, translated in plain language, those planners have formulated schemes that will tailor-fit their “hidden agenda,” as seen by many observers.
Retired Chief Justice Davide, who was one of those who wrote the 1987 Constitution, said the plan of those advancing “Charter-change” and “an unproved federal system is tyranny.”
In a fiery rage, here is what Chief Justice Davide also said in part: “This Charter-change is a lethal experiment, a plunge to death, a leap to hell.”
He proceeded to call the present Constitution as having “unprecedented permanence, for 31 years, defying previous attempts to amend it.”
Former Comelec chair Monsod criticized the ruling party’s argument for proposing federalism – imbalance of resource distribution from central to regional governments – “for these can be put to order without resorting to amending the l987 Charter.”
Come to think of it, some pranksters are quick to sneer at “Charter-change” movers with such snickering taunt as, “Why do you dance the Cuban cha-chacha when the music being dished out is Argentinian tango!”
(Obviously, urged by the “ain’t broke” admonition.)