Crazy, stupid, love for Pinas

A“PSYCHOPATH” is how actress Agot Isidro describes President Duterte for his strong remarks against the American government, the European Union and the United Nations.

A “psychopath” she thinks the president is for daring to cut ties, aid and all from the first world and plunge the country into darkness of poverty and wanting. As if Manila is not yet tagged as the “Gates of Hell” by an American fiction writer for its traffic, drugcrazed crimes and smog.

While everyone is entitled to an opinion, I would adhere to what American fictionist Harlan Ellison said: “We should be entitled to an informed opinion”. Otherwise, an opinion such as Agot’s is just a rant.

For instance, it’s not being psychopath for Duterte to say it’s time to end this American war exercises and games when he thinks we are getting the short end of this deal. I remember Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate saying he found out during budget hearings that the US Defense gave us their warships without the war guns, thus, we still have to buy them. Is this a “brother-to-brother” agreement? Is it crazy if Duterte is saying we should stop begging for aid and rather look for other countries for partnership?

Duterte has put into the public forum the mindset of colonial mentality embodied by neoliberalists in the elite and in government, that we see the United States as a big brother whom we ask aid, with a price. Some critics call this a penchant for “limos”, and yes, as Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay said, it’s falling into the “carrotand-stick” approach of yielding to the US once they start pressuring or bullying their way through foreign aid and military presence.

It is not crazy if the president thinks such meddling into internal affairs is foul. That is called standing up. That is called patriotism.

But if Agot and some elite people say this is craziness, so be it. Besides, Duterte is in good company of crazy patriots. Rizal risked a good career to write about the injustice of the Spanish colonialists. Bonifacio must have lost it when he roused thousands to tear their cedulas and fight for a new republic. Antonio Luna was described by American generals as a loonie for charging against them in horseback. Twelve senators were ridiculed in 1991 for saying no to the extension of the US Bases. The late Sen. Miriam Santiago also said the US Balikatan and its other names are unconstitutional, thus making her “Mad Miriam” status more legendary.

Presidents of other countries had learned to stand up against the bullying and meddling of the United States. Isn’t it time that we have a president here who is now trying to change the picture that we are no longer the US’ favorite whipping boy in Asia?

But if the elite still thinks the US is our hero, then I remind them how US President William McKinley got his inspiration to colonize the Philippines, that God’s word came to him in a dream, “to educate, to Christianize them” in the name of God.

I remember Archbishop Oscar Cruz saying that those who claimed God spoke to them did not see spiritual guidance, but rather craziness.

But that’s another kind of crazy, and that is manifested again in the politics of the Wild West where a Donald Trump is running for the presidency on a campaign of hate against migrants and crassness on women. How wonderful western democracy has become.

So which crazy do you want? As Pres. Quezon said, “I would rather have a government run like hell by Filipinos than a government run like heaven by Americans.” You readers know what’s best.