Dissent without action is consent
“Dissent without action is consent.”
I was reminded of this when I came across Arbet Bernardo’s blog. This was one of the things Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim expressed during the recent standoff that happened in Makati a few days ago.
As a comment to the entry, Jhay Rocas had this to say, “It has the same meaning with this anecdote: If you see an elephant stepping down on a mouse’s tail, and the mouse cries out to you for help. If you say that you don’t want to get involved and would like to stay neutral, your neutrality doesn’t help the oppressed mouse. It helps the elephant!” to which I offered affirmation with a quote, “Silence and neutrality helps the oppressor, never the oppressed.”
As a reply to another comment here in my blog, I said, “Though I don’t condone the method they used to undertake their ‘rebellion’, may I remind you that the President has quelled all legal and ‘peaceful’ venues. Elections? Rigging. Impeachment? Bribes. Investigations? Silence. Executive Orders. Propaganda.
True, there’s a more democratic and peaceful way for the people to express their outrage. The venue’s on the streets. Though the State answers dissent on the streets with barricades, water canons and violent dispersals, it’s the only potent means of challenging the administration that is available to the ordinary Filipino.”
Borrowing words from V, from V for Vendetta; if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you, then fine, follow the government’s propaganda of economic stability and political unity and allow the recent spur of events to pass unmarked. But if you see what Trillanes and company see, if you feel what they feel, then take a stand, and let their expression of outrage be not the last.
To end this entry, let me quote a source I unfortunately forget as of the moment. It went like this, “If there’s one thing that history teaches us, it is that bystanders and tyrants are on the same side.”
[photos of the Nov. 30, 2007 multi-sectoral mabilization courtesy of Tope Canela]
Human society is not static, this will continue to move towards the path of righteousness.
masaya ako sa iyon pagbisita sa WritingEdge
keep on moving Bikoy, a million thanks
“Silence and neutrality helps the oppressor, never the oppressed.”
“If there’s one thing that history teaches us, it is that bystanders and tyrants are on the same side.”
Ouch. I guess what the people need is a charismatic and a “transparent” leader who’ll be their torchbearer. A person who’s worthy of their trust.
I agree with what you said that GMAs administration has been very suppressive lately but the bigger problem is “what’s next after GMAs ouster”? I certainly don’t trust most of the people there in the opposition. Same goes with the administration.
But you don’t need to fight fire with fire.
A lot of people are deliberately silent because they choose NOT TO dethrone her despite her crimes (hell, I believe the president is guilty of many of these charges). But let’s face it, there is just no better alternative (and with the way the economy is improving, the majority will always remember her flagship strength).
I believe the opposition can be more credible (and probably sway moderates or liberals like me to their side) if they show me what’s their “grand next step” after Arroyo’s ouster. The opposition has too many factions, too many personalities and countless of micro-policies that don’t paint a bigger picture of what they can do for the Philippines.
Give me one name worthy of replacing Arroyo and I’ll bravely go out rallying for him/her on the streets.
How about if you will take her place? How about Bikoy will take Gloria’s place? How about us the oppressed taking over Gloria’s place?
Would you still join? Or would you once more remain in the sidelines?
Jhay, I won’t join of course, I believe none of those you mentioned (including me) is competent at this stage to replace GMA.
In any case, silence doesn’t mean apathy, nor the lack of stand on an issue. I’m only silent because I don’t wanna contribute more cracks to the crumbling wall. If you ask me when will I “go out on the streets”, my answer is, “I honestly don’t know”. What I am sure is that a) I don’t need to do it every time I have a cause, and b) not ALL concerns aren’t necessarily MY concern.
People will think this is selfish, of course it is! I’ll be most triggered to fight when my concerns are involved, in the same way that the masses are the loudest to complain because their concerns happen to be the most mundane things–food, shelter, civil rights.
And I’d rather fight only when I consciously know what I’m fighting for–rather than be a fake zombie protesting on the streets for the sake of “being against something”–a trap which most stereotype activists fall into.
Don’t get me wrong, I do sympathize for causes that need more attention from the gov’t. I just think it’s wiser to shut up and go on with our lives these days.
If the current system is dilapidating, it’s not just because of some raucous minority trying to best one another into gaining dominion: the phenomenon only indicates that there is something definitely wrong with that wall, and it needs to be changed.
Here enters the challenge of finding out what social ills exist and what is the best way to effectively eradicate these. If one really empathizes that much, one would to go out there and take the aforementioned challenge. Then again, sometimes it’s easier to remain in the sidelines, and whip out some Freudian defense mechanism of attributing to other people one’s own apathy and unawareness.
I totally agree with Jonats. The Manila Pen incident just showed how aimless and clueless the entire opposition. Their whiner regarding the ‘overkill’ response reflect how logically challenged they are.
I was having a field day- stupid politicians and stupid priests on the same side! Perfect. Sorry for being redundant.
“the point, however, is to change it.”
Is silence tantamount to apathy? not necessarily. Being a moderate implies not that one is apathetic but that one proceeds with caution.
As I stated earlier, taking to the streets has lost its potency because time and time again the question “So what happens the morning after? When all the fervor dies down, what then?” remains unanswered. I’m afraid I’m going to have to agree with jonats and benj on how aimless and incoherent the opposition is. There has to be a concrete plan, a credible leader, stronger institutions, and clear mechanisms. Rash action only aggravates things.
I loved V for Vendetta the movie but more so the graphic novel. In the graphic novel you will find that it bears an important lesson about political moderation. In the novel, V incites a revolution but it ends in complete anarchy and chaos because all V had was a cause not a concrete plan of what to do in the aftermath. Now we don’t want to end up like that now do we? (I don’t know about you but I sure don’t)
Of course that is not to say that one does nothing at all to improve the dire situation of the Philippines, who said that over throwing an illegitimate leader is not the only way to alleviate your fellow Filipinos anyway? Civil society has already gained ground in the fight against poverty and other social ills. Many times the best way to fight fire is not with fire but with water.
Caution not to break the status quo that protects the privileged few, that is. We could delve into intellectual masturabation about anti-poverty projects here and there but really, these are just “Band Aid” solutions. What of livelihood projects that don’t really help in developing key industries that would change an import-dependent, export-oriented economy? Are these projects enough to ‘compensate’ for all the public funds squandered in bogus government projects alonside graft and corruption? Do these efforts really look into the root of these social ills?
Again, overthrowing an illegitimate leader isn’t the end of it as long as the majority of the bureaucracy (emphasis on that as I believe there are still a few good men amongst their ranks who are really out there in service of the Filipino people) is infested by maggots who chiefly consider their positions in the government as tickets to amassing more riches. I don’t know about you, but I go for having “the oppressed take over Gloria’s place”.
“Band-aid” Solutions as you call it can always gain ground to become legitimate social movements. Economic policy and politics go hand in hand thats true, but thats not to say that starting from the grassroots level cannot attain a paradigm shift in the common filipino.
Gloria makes a wonderful effigy for our country’s problems but all we ever do is point fingers. Socio-civic movements at least do something tangible and constructive and it on the short term alleviates fellowmen and in the longterm encourages them to hope for something better. I would say I’d put effort in that rather than screaming at the top of my lungs to no avail on the streets.
“the oppressed take Gloria’s place” that isn’t going to happen and you know it, whoever is the most powerful political opposition leader at the time will take her place and I’m sure he will not come from the ranks of the disenfranchised oppressed peoples. Let us not forget how GMA first came to power in the first place, through People Power II. The same ‘taking to the streets’ strategy that has deliver its promise.
^failed to deliver its promise
These grassroots economic endeavors you speak of, they may be legitimate but cannot necessarily be expected to sow that much fruit under material conditions that deny real economic growth. The Philippines simply lacks what it needs to make its economy flourish: basic, strategic industries that will translate local Research and Development outputs into products. We could brag about exporting “world-class” goods abroad (include human export in the form of OFWs, if you will) but the country’s economy will remain to be stagnated by a a pre-industrial, backward agrarian economy (75% of our population are engaged in agriculture labor, whilst Philippine lands largely owned by a select few who are also the same ones benefitting the most with the production) bound to subservient trade policies. The government programs of privatizationand liberalization as dictated the International Monetary Fund’s program render economic production more than vulnerable to foreign exploitation. As a consequence, the current state of local industries generates not enough conditions sustain its own people, let alone improve the economy.
On the other hand, trade deficit only continues to increase for the Philippines due to the imbalanced exchange of goods depicted in trading low valued and unprocessed or semi-processed agricultural goods for foreign products finished with high technological input. Local technological innovations are chiefly mired backward by the importation of foreign manufactured goods, the economy dependent on such and the agriculture stunted to low productivity. But what does your precious government do? Although various groups have already pointed out the problem, the Arroyo regime (just like its predecessors) simply grants incentive to foreign capital influx that easily paved the path for foreign companies to gain dominion over basic industries such as mining, petroleum, pharmaceutical, et cetera, thus leaving the local industry in the debacle of light manufacturing exemplified by “assembly line” industries. Apparently, short term solutions DON’T do the trick in alleviating the deplorable conditions of the Filipino people.
That predicament we’ve got there has been rolling away in convenience for decades. Now, are posting bulletins, drafting proposals, signing manifestos, sending letters, and having dialogues enough? The answer to that is a big, fat NO, and that’s why people remain to march on the streets not only to let Gloria’s regime but also their fellow Filipinos know what the heck is going on and what must be done. Of course, it’s easy for you to say that there’s no way to install the oppressed into political power, or at least put people in the government who truly recognize and make a move to end these sectors needs. A take on an age-old adage: “Kung gusto, magagawan at magagawan ng paraan. Kung ayaw, maraming pagdadahilan.”
ang galing ni frances
[...] Still, “Dissent without action is consent.” [...]
Hijo, yung tax na binayad mo ke jolibee sa tingin mo ba aabot pa yan ke GMA? sa BIR palang ubos na agad yan! wag mo namang isisi lahat ke GMA, lahat ng nasa posisyon ngayon korap!
Sos, mga bata pa kasi kayo, napaka idealistic and all that chevers! Mag try muna kayong magtrabaho, mga tatlong taon, tignan natin kung ganon pa rin kayo kasibasib sa mga ideya niyo ngayon. Sa tingin mo ba may magbabago kung patalsikin niyo si GMA? Sinong ipapalit niyo ha?! Aber!
Mag-aral nalang kayo kesa sumali sa mga walang ka kwenta kwentang rally rally na yan. Hindi kayo pinapansin ng mga karamihan. Hindi kayo makakagawa tulad ng sa Edsa Dos. Wala kayong suporta sa mga middle class! Sawang sawa na mga tao sa People Power! Magbago muna kayo para magbago rin ang gobyerno. Yung mga boto niyo naman ang nagluluklok sa kanila diyan sa pwesto.
Maraming tao na ang sawa sa rebolusyon! Hindi rebolusyon ang kelangan natin.