Feedback on Proclamation 1017

Why is press freedom the soul of a nation? Most of the questions that poured in on my cellphone since that statement on TV during the ABS-CBN coverage of the media protest at the Fountain of Justice asked for my clarification of that.

Simple. It serves as a communication between the individual and the larger community as well as personal connections or audiences. Thus, it also enables the individual to know the thinking and events outside of himself.

In the past, it was personal communication. Now, the role has been taken over by mass media.

Thus, any threat to cut off that link undercuts the very soul of a nation for its deprives and personal communication between the individual citizen and society at large.

Paranoia seems to have gripped the country since Proclamation 1017. Both the government and the society at large appear to be in the grip of concern. The government focusing on the threat to its stability to the other, that the President may use again the proclamation to cow down those opposed to the President's continued stay in Malacañang.

And so the country has grounded to a halt. Nothing seems to be of more concern than just the President and her governance, although that does not seem to be much in evidence anymore.

The anti-administration forces seem to have become diverted from presenting the country alternative solutions to the problems which, they contend, demand the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The just mouth the same thing - resign. And argument has no legal basis except the demand for the public to accept as gospel truth their perception that GMA is a cheat. And, therefore, illegitimate President.

Even the Lenten Season's message has been lost on most of us. Instead of repentance and conversion, we have gotten bogged down by our intramurals.

We have become so torn between government and its legitimacy, we have overlooked the fact that the present administration is in office and can be ejected only through an election. Not otherwise, except through impeachment. And that had already been voted down by the House. So, we don't agree with it. But what is the legal alternative?

No, there is no search for that. It is always people power. That is a motherhood statement. A call for people power actually boils down to only a popular revolution.

On the other hand, the government claims to have foiled the conspiracy to grab power by a combination of the Left and the Right. And they have come up with the scenario of the SAF, the Scout Rangers, and the Marines in cahoots with the Magdalo and the CPP-NPA working together for the same end.

The wonder of it all. Nobody seems to have acknowledged that such large-scale dissatisfaction among members of the elite forces of the Armed Forces is certainly alarming. If the best strained and best-disciplined could betray a such deep-seated disenchantment they could plot against the administration demands a more determined self-examination also the causes of such dissatisfaction and the adoption of the proper remedies.

Just because the soldiers had gone back to their barracks does not mean their disappointment with the administration has suddenly disappeared. It will remain there, a festering sore that can be reopened any time by a charismatic leader.

Perhaps, what we can do now is sit back and listen intently to the message of the Lord this Lenten season - repent and listen to the Gospel. And, as Bishop Vicente Navarra pointed out Saturday, heed the Alay Kapwa call by the Bishops of the country, It is only when we shall have translated the gospel message into caring for one another, especially the marginalized and the less privileged, that we can truly transform ours into a society that cares for and love one another.

We have repeatedly tried several approaches. But human approaches hardly ever work. Let us instead give God the chance to help us out of the morass we now are in.*

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