In the Presence of Vultures

As the campaign season starts in the Philippines, I am reminded by a story a friend shared with me. The story of the little politician.

A very corrupt congressman died and was met by St. Peter at the gates of heaven. He was told that he can choose where he would spend his days, in heaven or hell. He was to spend one day each in both places after which he is to make his choice.

He was to spend his first in heaven. So the gates of heaven opened. As he walked, he saw groups singing and groups praying. He turned to St. Peter and asked, “Is this all there is here in heaven?” St. Peter replied, “Yes.” He immediately asked to be taken to hell so he could see what hell has to offer. So off they went to hell.

As soon as the gates opened, he was greeted by a scantily-clad girl. He was given his favorite scotch and was kissed by the girl. “This is nice”, the congressman said to himself. He was then taken to a golf course where some of departed friends were playing. He joined them and finished a round. He was taken to a restaurant with a buffet so sumptuous and filled himself to his heart’s content. They then went to a casino where gambled till late in the night. Just before calling it a night, he was brought to a brothel where he chose the ladies he’ll spend the night with.

As he went back to St. Peter the following day, he had already made up his mind. Without waiting for St. Peter to ask him where he chooses to spend his days, he quickly said, “I prefer hell than heaven.” So St. Peter sent him on his way. This time though, he was greeted by Satan. As he entered hell, he saw desolation, despair, torture and pain. His friends were submerged in pools of dung. Otheres were being whipped. Others were in other forms of torture. He turned to Satan ans asked where the the beauty and grandeur he saw the day before were? Satan mockingly answered, “Yesterday was the campaign, today you got to vote.”

Hope you enjoyed my little story.

In a country where poverty and hunger is prevalent, the president and her party was seen on two different occasions exhibiting how callous they can be. While the world’s most power nation’s president is seen munching on hotdogs and burgers, the Philippine president wined and dined with the finest foods and wines money can buy. As her spokespersons try to justify such insulting events, one wonders how many times during her more than 70 trips abroad has these things happened.

Our government auditors have reported that Gloria Arroyo had in fact overspent. In her eight agonizing (for the Filipinos) years as our sitting president, she had actually not delivered anything for the people. After every trip she made, she would report the investments are coming and yet multi-national companies have in fact been leaving the country. She’s supposed to step down in 2010 so it seems that she’s treating herself and her allies to wonderful trips abroad at the expense of the taxpayers money.

Never have I seen such extravagance since the time of Imelda Marcos. From the way Arroyo spends, looks like she is bent on draining the country’s coffersThe outrage is spreading and Filipino workers abroad are now reporting how lavish a lifestyle our jet-setting president has during her foreign trips. In country where more than 40 percent go hungry everyday, these news is a slap on our faces.

Her predecessors took only a handful of delegates during their foreign trips, but with Arroyo, it’s a horde. And that includes spouses and even children of her most rabid allies. Wel at least more and more cynics and skeptics are now more aware of how evil this administration is. I hope that the US and the rest of the world will be prudent in giving aid and support to the Philippines while Arroyo is in power. A bigger portionof these end up in the pockets of this gang of thieves.

Two decades have passed since the people of China tried to challenge the patience of their Communist leaders. To this day, the number of those murdered is yet to be known. Perhaps fearing that the people could once again rise up to try and democratize China, they have since instituted some changes. But still, power is in the hands of a few. Communist oligarchy is alive and well. These so-called reforms legalized the wealth of its leaders.

For the first time in dcades, the Chinese felt empowered. The politburo was on the defensive and those in the countryside were coming to Beijing to join the protesters. The simple clamor for better conditions of the students were about to reach revolution status. To save fave, the embattled leadership declared martial law. The army swept any opposition aside and the massacre that followed is testimony to the ruthlessness of the government.

Huge companies are owned by officials while the people are now allowed a taste of good life. A very good way to appease the people and to douse the simmering cauldron of change. Yet most of China remains unchanged. Life is harsh in the rest of the country. Only those who live in the major cities have an easier life. While progress is rapid, vital services are worse and the heavy hand of the party hangs over the entire country.

Twenty years have passed and still figures of casualties remain unknown. China is now a legitimate super power. Will freedom for the people ever come? I doubt it. As long as the politburo paints a picture of good life, no one will ever think of freedom. Unless its leaders would allow their people to decide for themselves, democracy would remain an elusive dream. The vultures of the party will continue to enrich themselves at the expense of the people.

At the end of the day, what happened in Tiananmen in 1989will soon be forgotten, erased by the government who rules with an iron hand. The people would remain silent and simply accept the fact that their only option for now is subservience.

America has elected its first Black president. It only shows that America has shed its prejudices and embraced change. Times are changing and as the world changes, America must learn to adapt. America has learned that it is part of a global community and the world does not revolve around it. Their brand of diplomacy and arrogance has alienated them and created enemies along the way. Obama brings with him a new brand of diplomacy where saber-rattling and gunboat diplomacy will not work.

America can only regain its lost glory if it learns to talk instead of imposing itself on other countries. Obama’s election also showed that Americans have matured and gained more confidence to leap into the unknown. No longer do Americans cower in fear that the Republicans used to throw at them. The election was a referendum on the Republican PartyThe GOP has been diminished to an all-whites-club with a very small minority membership. It has also shrunk as its moderate members shifted to a more progressive stance.

The support Obama got from all races shows that he can inspire and unite a nation. One thing that McCain lacks. Even the world celebrated Obama’s election. Americans have become more socially aware. They have thrown away ideology and replaced it a new perspective on humanity. Finally I can truly say that America can now claim to be the real world leader. Not because it is powerful but because they now have respect for others. Now I can truly say America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. Americans showed they can accept change and overcome fear.

Despite its economic problems, I am sure that the new American ideakism will help it overcome its present trials. America is truly evolving into a great power and can once again claim its lost glory.

Although I had took drink several cups of coffe just to keep myself awake, I had to endure the torture of the RNC convention just so I would know what McCain had to offer. I must admit, I got so bored hearing his story over and over again. My jaw dropped time and again while his gang praised the troops in Iraq. Those men wouldn’t be over there risking life and limb if not for the Republicans’ misdirected and totally miserable level of intelligence about where the real enemy is. Of course destroying Iraq could just be a way for the Saudis to control oil.

I also find stupid for America to drill oil in their own backyards. It’s a stupid economic move. Just imagine how America could monopolize their oil when the rest of oil producing countries have drilled themselves dry? America is a resource rich country and can tap different resources for their energy needs. The main reason why social services are lacking in America is because the Republicans decided to pour billions and waste young lives in Iraq.

I am apalled by the way the RNC expolited the people of Mississippi just to make it appear that McCain and his gang would looksympathetic and caring. I was also irritated by how the RNC showed pictures of 9/11 just to justify the war in Iraq. I heard the same rhetorics, the same scare tactics and the same garbage from McCain. Despite trying to distance himself from his party, knowing the way he operates, it was all a smokescreen. The real terrorists are those Republicans who are in government who continue to protect the rich and scare the people with talks that the whole world is against America.

Philippine politics is no different and by the way the RNC is conducting their campaign, the more I think that they are immitating Philippine politics. The RNC made the race personality based than address the issues confroting America. Does the RNC think that they have a monopoly on values and patriotism? Patriotism is not about dying in a senseless war. Values is not about how many children you have. I often say that tell the people what they want to hear and they will listen. This is exactly what John McCain is doing.

When one is so desperate to get elected, he will do and say anything. He will reinvent himself a million times over to portray himself to be the one you should embrace. McCain has been in the RNC for so long that he should have started the change he is advocating long ago. Instead he now tries “Flipflops are for the feet, they were never intended to be elected into office. So if McCain want you to fight with him, think again, he has millions and you don’t. He will have more left in his pocket long after yours is emptied. He is no working class citizen who has to toil day in and day out to make ends meet. The change he talks of should have taken place long before he entered the race for the presidency, it should have statrted the very first day he became a Republican.

Well it seems that the Grand ‘Ol Party just got greedier, er, grander. John McCain presented his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. I always looked up to American Political Parties as worth emulating considering that Philippine politics is in the gutter. I never thought that there simply isn’t any difference between political parties in my country and that of America. McCain showed how scheming he really is. My apologies to my Republican friends but McCain is one crude, calculating traditional politician by my standards.

Palin was chosen to cater to the 18million Hillary voters. Taking the cue from Palin herself, she is after the 18million cracks in the Democrat’s race. The Democrat presidential race alienated women who believe that it’s time for a woman to seek the highest office of the land. What better way to exploit the situation than name a woman for the VP. It was all a ploy and we all know that VPs are nothing more than globe-trotting presidential emissaries. Before, the Republicans made it an issue of race, then of experience, then of sex. When all else failed, they dug the past.

It’s all a ploy and I don’t think that American voters are not stupid like what the Republicans would like to believe. If we visit the past and study history, war and economic debacle has stuck with Republican regimes. Their foreign policies has made targets out of peaceful Americans. And that is the reason why  America is viewed with contempt by most countries.

As in my country, win-ability comes before issues. Obama took a risk with Biden instead of taking the easy way out and choose Hillary instead. But I guess the Democrats this time around has put the Americans first before ambition. Only time can tell if the Republican ploy will work. It could even blow up in their faces. It was not about audacity or out-of-the box thinking, Palin is a Republican Trojan horse put forth to grad the women votes. I just hope that voters will see though the smokescreen that is being thrown at them by the Republicans. But I suppose it’s irrelevant with me whoever wins. My country will still be running after the carrot that America will be dangling in our leaders’ faces.

Tags: american elections

Democrat John Edwards who ran for his party’s presidential nominee has been in the limelight lately. It seems that his womanizing has caught up with him. Fox News has been reporting about his adulterous affair with Sean Hannity as one of his biggest critics. But karma has its way of making people eat their words. It’s Sean Hannity’s turn to bite the bullet as he is being accused by a minor in London for rape.

If this report is true as there seems to have a news blackout about the matter, Fox News should take Hannity off the air until he clears his name. That depends of course if Fox management has some sense of decency and professionalism in running their network.

Want to find out more details about the alleged rape, please visit Blance DeBree’s Blog.