Unlimited and Unrestricted Free Speech

I bought another book. Ack! I did mention already that I buy books semi-impulsively. Anyhow, its title is “Classic Philosophical Questions” edited by James A. Gould. It’s old and it’s on sale, so why not buy it.

Anyhow, one of the portions of the text discusses Political Philosophy and there’s a sub article about freedom and democracy, and about free speech being unlimited. The free speech part is what caught my attention. The text quoted John Stuart Mill (who published On Liberty, 1859) arguing:

If an opinion is suppressed, and it is true, then we lose the opportunity of exchanging truth for falsehood. If an opinion is suppressed, and it is false, then we lose the opportunity of obtaining a clearer conception of our own position. Hence there shouldn’t be any censorship of political speech.

Relating to this news article, I understand that freedom of speech is a crucial element of democracy. People – from ordinary citizens to professional journalists – should be able to express their thoughts freely, without any restrictions from any authority even from the government.

Stress

I just bought 2 more books. One was “If Life is a Game, These are the Rules” by Cherie Carter-Scott, and the other was “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles. I am now thinking of giving the first book as a gift for my brother, who will be graduating from college next month, after reading it first. The second book was an “additional reading” in school from a long time ago. I never read it but my classmates back then mentioned it was a must-read book; so I bought it after x years.

But the thing is, I still have over a dozen unread books. Yep, more then twelve. Plus a couple more that I bought “for reference.” So why do I buy books when I still have untouched ones?

Here We Go Again

Malacanang has declared a state of emergency according to this and this. Wow. At first, they kept denying that there’s even a coup attempt. How naive can they get?

Then, if ever it does happen, according to them, they’re pretty certain that it will fail because the military is in firm control over the situation.

Okay. Whatever. I’ll only believe it when it has happened already. Or when it doesn’t happen.

And the buzz term for this day: Proclamation 1017.

Another Meeting

A meeting initiated by the Makati Business Club was attended by big businessmen, Bro. Mike Velarde, Mrs. Cory Aquino, and a couple of anti-Arroyo personalities according to this article.

The business sector, it seems, is taking a more active role in all of this. Well, they should be. Although some businessmen have learned to “adapt” to the unending political crisis (read: set aside a certain part of the yearly budget to pay off corrupt government officials), I can only imagine how much the decent businesses are losing in terms of potential revenues and cost to operate effectively if only our country’s a bit more politically stable.

It is difficult to do business in a country where the political environment is filled with uncertainty. In strategic planning of companies, there has to be political stability in a country; or else, potential investors or fed up businessmen would rather bring their businesses somewhere else. And we all know that taxes are not enough to fund the government’s operations. Thus, it’s really up to the government as well as the business sector to attract the much needed money from outside as well as maintain the ones that we have here.

So, to the MBC, good luck. Although part of me is thinking that you just want your big businesses to be more profitable, I hope that that meeting (and future ones) will be beneficial to all Filipinos.

Let’s see if money really talks and if money makes the world go around.

Technorati: makati business club, money talks

What Women Want

Chocolates, roses, greeting cards, and jewelries are gifts highly appreciated by women. It’s true that those gestures make a woman feels that she’s important and valued, whether it’s Valentine’s or birthdays or Annivs. But in reality, that’s not what women want.

What a woman wants is fulfillment.

Last week, the thought began about something else. Yet, the reflection led me to that realization – a woman wants fulfillment. Not just a mere accomplishment or an achievement. Not just financial success or a position of power. More than just understanding and respect. But something more.

It’s a fulfillment all her own. It’s a fulfillment outside their over-protective parents, beyond their demanding children, separate from their chauvinist husbands or clingy boyfriends, unbound by limitations imposed by culture, tradition, and society. She wants a thing that is hers, and hers alone.

Something that is her.

To be full. To be filled.

Happy Valentine’s to you.

Technorati: what women want, valentine’s

Playing with WordPress: Split Post

I’m not sure what “split post” really does. For the past week, I’ve been playing around with WordPress features.

This time, I wonder what “split post” do… Let’s see.

Trial entry 1

You Say You Will, But You Won’t

I’ve gone back to blog-hopping and mental-blogging. Sigh.

Thinking about what to write is easy.

But, the “how to” write it is, well, a bit more challenging than I thought. I think I should change my strategy. Normally, my aim is for an entry to be simply concise and coherent. They’re supposed to be “short, short commentaries” that should also make sense.

For this week, I’m trying rapid-compositions. Type lang nang type. Then just edit/update, every now and then. I wonder if that’s “legal” in blogging.

Blogging lesson #1: Blogging takes time. A LOT of time, especially when you’re using dial-up internet.

Anyhow, I’ll see what I can come up with this week.

They Still Care

In the news clips that I’ve seen, it seems that the support of some people is simply unwavering. The still love the host, they still adore the show, they still support the television station.

Okay. I realized that the last line of the previous post was a bit unfair. So it wasn’t just desparation. Perhaps, most of them just wanted to support the show that made them laugh, that made them smile, that made them hope, that made them feel a bit more alive each day.

That somebody cared for them.

Wowowee Tragedee

I’m still finding it difficult to accept what just happened this morning at Philsports stadium in Pasig. It’s simply devastating. According to the latest update from this source and this source, the death toll was 74* plus over 300* more injured.

Wowowee, ABS-CBN’s highly-rated noontime show was supposed to hold its 1st anniversary show at the said venue. Given its extreme popularity, one can expect that people – a LOT of people – will be there to celebrate, to enjoy, to watch the show, to see their beloved Willie, and of course, to get a chance to win. Tragedy, however, struck when a stampede erupted as the admission tickets were being given early this morning.

Very much like its predecesors, this show has been the beacon of hope for many, many Filipinos. It’s thru shows like Wowowee that the masses get a chance to win, whether its a thousand or a million Pesos. Some people will do anything just to get that chance. It’s half perseverance – you wait in the longest lines under the scorching heat of the sun – and half luck – if you get picked as a contestant; you’re half way there.

I have seen winners cry their eyes out on-air after winning the one million jackpot. And in all honesty, I really feel happy for them. In a society where earning a decent living is often a daily struggle for the almost anyone, Wowowee represents the great opportunity. A possible break from the monotomy of poverty.

What today’s tragedy has clearly illustrated is how desparate people can get. Or maybe, how desparate many are already.

It’s not their thirst for knowledge that drove these peole to religiously follow these so-called infotainment shows.

It’s not their blind adoration for Willie and the rest of the Kapamilya entertainers that drove these people to go berzerk for a milli-space in that stadium this morning.

It’s not their hope that drove these people to camp out there and brave the dangers that are ever-present in such big events.

It’s desperation. For that chance of change in their lives.

* – numbers updated. 02.05.06

Technorati: wowowee, ABS-CBN, entertainment, media, culture, society

A Reply to a Letter

The CBCP should be reminded time and again on the basic principle of the separation of Church and State. Let us not allow religion to divide mankind. Let us respect the law just as we respect the rights of others.

I just read this letter/email by Mr. Jaime de Vera to the editor. You can read the rest here. I do agree with the letter sender. The CBCP, as an organization, does have the tendency to get involved in State affairs. And more often, they are pretty vocal to say the least.

The way I see it, however, the Church cannot always remain an observer of political issues, especially when the issues concern our people, not as mere cheated citizens of our country, but as human beings who in their day-to-day lives experience the consequences of unjust social structures copulated by an ineffective government.

It’s not just about praying or spirituality or religion any more.

The role of the Church, us and not just the CBCP, concerns truths that do affect people’s lives; their living and working conditions; their rights, hopes, and dreams; and their dignities.

Mental-blogging

For some reason, I often find myself composing blog entries during the early part of the day… at work. I can’t blog while I’m there.

But everytime I find myself in front of the computer, I can’t even recall a single word of what I mental-blogged. Parati na lang.

I wanted this day to be different. Thus, this entry.

After 1 hour: 2 previous posts updated plus 1 new entry.