Apathy
Last night, I was following the “progress” of House Resolution 1109 in the Congress. I was glued to twitter, plurk, and ANC up to the time the H.R. was passed. Feelings of disgust, alarm, outrage, and helplessness consumed me the entire time but I also felt sadness. Sadness because the rest of my family didn’t seem to care. Same goes for most of my contacts in Facebook who just kept on answering quizzes and playing online games just like any other day. Were they aware of what was happening? Hardly anybody paid attention to my status updates about the H.R. Didn’t they know that their future is at stake? I wanted to shake all of them but who am I to do that? After all, I was just like them earlier. I ignored the warning signs in GMA’s regime. I do not have the right to preach because I’m just as guilty as them. I just hope that they wake up before everything is too late.
In case anybody wants to know what the passing of House Resolution 1109 entails, it means that the Congress may now propose amendments or revisions to the Constitution with just 3/4 votes of all its Members. Amendments to the constitution is fine but now is not the right time. And definitely the way the House of Representatives railroaded the passage, blatantly disrespecting the outcries of the opposition and ignoring the opinion of the populace, is deplorable. This shouldn’t happen in a democracy. Furthermore, what happened is illegal. It disregarded the Senate and the passage was done in haste. Too hasty in fact which makes it even more suspicious. Just look at these proposed Charter Amendments:
Matrix House Proposed Charter Amendments
The changes (deletion of Congress and Senate, Parliamentary system, etc) if approved will affect the lives of ALL Filipinos. It will give politicians who want to hold on to power more time to do so. Politicians who betray us citizens over and over again. So let me express my indignation.
I say no to apathy!
NO TO CON-ASS!
Other blog protestors:
Stop Gloria Forever Moves! Kick ConAss!
Please Let Me Vote on 2010
I, Filipino Citizen
The Assembly’s Statement on the Plenary Debates on Charter Change
Dear Congressman Nograles
Oppose Constituent Assembly
In the Grip of Electoralism
Lighting the Beacons for a Phoney War?
There’s A Reason We Call It CON-ASS
House Resolution 1109 and the People
Have You No Shame?
The Pronoun ITS in Con-Ass Rez
If you have a blog post against Con-Ass and want to be added to the list here, just let me know.
Tags: Con-Ass, Congress, constitution, HR 1109
Maybe it may look as apathy but they just don’t know what it means. Writing this entry and explaining it in simple language sends a clear message to your friends. Keep it up.
noemi´s last blog post..Oppose Constituent Assembly
At least you tried, right? Every little effort to spread the word will help in letting people know that they have to know and that their opinion matters.
Ria Jose´s last blog post..No To Conass Badges
Be the change, as they say. Certainly, I say, live to be that example of change… this post speaks for itself. A job well done.
Nick´s last blog post..Have You No Shame? An Open Letter to the House of Representatives
Would you believe it? You’re not alone in thinking this.
However, the ignorant cannot be totally faulted, given the many things (like escapism and a misguided contempt for political participation) that plague our psyche as a nation.
What is more distressing is that many know that something is really, really, wrong but have completely given up hope due to bad experiences with EDSAs 1 up through 3, the increasingly untenable position of many of our country’s poorest, and the perception that nothing has changed since the fall of the first dictator.
However, to me this is like saying- don’t mow the lawn, since the grass will grow back anyway. Perhaps they forget that the price of freedom truly is eternal vigilance. How many millions of us have heard that quote by Thomas Jefferson and truly understand how relevant it was and still is?
Not many, apparently.
The good simply should not rest, since the wicked are rarely motivated enough quit. Perhaps all those jaded people we encounter forget that they have to keep doing what they did, if they want the change they want to see to actually come forth and to continue on.
Arthur Piccio´s last blog post..Something
Dementia: it’s not just apathy. it’s the concerted effort of This Government to deceive and to perpetuate power as well. we may have been duped, but every single act of resistance is an act of “hell no.” that to me is responsible citizenship in action.
cheers. beer.
maro
Marocharim´s last blog post..Have You No Shame? An Open Letter to the House of Representatives
thanks for the link! hindi tayo papayag.
c´s last blog post..Stop Gloria Forever Moves! Kick ConAss!
it boggles me. theoretically, this resolution still needs the Senate to ratify this right? now, if the Senate says no, then the reps can change what they want if the senators decide not to give it a go then no Con-Ass? or else everything is illegal.
now, i don’t think it matters what type of government we have. if it is going to be the same people (trapos, young and old) who sit in the administration and the parliament, we can never achieve the desired change after all.
i am not anti con-ass and the more i am not for con-ass, but don’t you all think this is just a waste of time? these bloggings and eyeballs, rallies etc. di pa rin nila tayo marinig, at kung naririnig man tayo ng mga tao dyan sa House, still they don’t give a “D”. Because kahit na dumarami na ang sumisigaw sa kalye para ibasura ang con-ass, still there are politicians who obviously will walk side by side with us shouting anti-con-ass slogans, nagbabalat-kayo lamang for their own benefits. Di man lang sila marunong mahiya. Nakakawalang gana kung iisipin, nakakaawa kung titingnan ang mga Pilipino, laging naniniwala sa mga dalang pangako ng mga pulitiko, na alam naman nating mapapako lamang iyon, at patuloy pa rin tayong magbulag-bulagan, umaasa sa mga pangako nilang PAGBABAGO. Dahil ang pagbabago ay dapat magsimula sa ating sarili. Magpapa-uto pa rin ba tayo sa mga taong niluklok natin sa gobyerno? Pilipino ay madaling makalimot at madaling magpatawad.
Thanks, Noemi
Thanks! I tried and I’m still trying (and being ignored). Hay
Thanks, Nick
Well said, Arthur. I was about to throw in the towel because of disappointment with EDSA 3 but I guess the event last night jolted me. Like you, I also agree that eternal vigilance is the key. Thanks for reading!
Marck, yeah di lang naman apathy. If the government is doing its job well there will be nothing to be apathetic about.
kelan inuman?
NP. Hindi talaga tayo papayag!
That’s it. It is illegal but they think they can get away with it.
I understand where you are coming from pero hindi rin naman pwedeng pabayaan na lang sila. Kaya tayo nagpro-protesta para malinaw sa kanila na hindi natin gusto ang kanilang ginagawa. Mag bulag bulagan man sila, makikita ng nakararami ang ating hinanaing at mamumulat ang kanilang mata sa mga nangyayari sa gobyerno.