A clearly divided nation

What was supposed to be a celebration of freedom last Saturday during the 31st commemoration of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution turned into a confrontation between staunch Aquino supporter Jim Paredes and the group of Duterte Youth leader Ronald Cardema.

The video showing the confrontation (shown in the YouTube screen grab photo) has since gone viral, drawing contrasting comments. Some applaud the actions of Paredes saying the young men had no right to show up at the EDSA commemoration and that their presence at the event was disrespectful, adding that Cardema and company should have gone to Luneta and joined the gathering mounted by pro-Duterte groups (as depicted in the aerial shot).

On the other hand, there were those who said they were dismayed at the actions of the former musician – taunting the young men (who remained stoic) and accusing them of “selling their souls” by showing their support for President Duterte. Many were also appalled at the behavior of the crowd who took the youth group’s streamer and told them in the vernacular to “scram” because they did not belong there. Many also expressed surprise at the behavior of Jim Paredes, saying they expected better considering his age and the fact that he has been preaching tolerance and civility.

A Get Real Philippines blog post by Ilda Ignacio that is being repeatedly shared criticizes Paredes, saying he “seems to think that he has a monopoly on being right…” adding that “people like him… cling on to the failed idea that ousting a sitting president back in 1986 amounts to a real revolution.”

“A real revolution results in real reforms – reforms that would result in real progress. A real revolution means a change in the system of government and change in the behavior of the people” – things that did not happen after 1986, the blog writer said.

Many of our readers also emailed saying they were dismayed at what is happening because they believe EDSA should celebrate freedom of choice and expression – meaning everyone is entitled to his own opinion and that divergent views should be respected regardless of political color or persuasion. Democracy is for everyone – to seniors and the youth alike, the elite and the downtrodden, the educated and the unwashed, the decent and those who speak with “colorful” language.

Unfortunately, the two celebrations with the “yellows” converging in EDSA and the “reds” gathering in Luneta seems to indicate a deepening political divide in this country – and unless and until we learn the true meaning of tolerance and respect for others’ differences, and stop cultivating anger and hatred, this division will continue to prevent the country from moving towards meaningful change and real progress.

Threat of bioterrorism is real

On March 20, 1995, members of a Japanese religious cult called Aum Shinrikyo carried out attacks in different subway stations in Tokyo by spraying a deadly nerve gas known as sarin. The attacks resulted in the death of 12 people, with dozens injured and thousands more experiencing temporary blindness in what authorities say was a case of bioterrorism.

The assassination of Kim Jong Nam – the exiled half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un – seems to be another case of bioterrorism, with South Korean and US authorities saying Kim Jong Nam was poisoned with a nerve agent known as VX. Kim died just 15-20 minutes after he was approached by two women at the Kuala Lumpur airport who wiped something liquid on his face. Autopsy results confirm that a chemical agent caused very serious paralysis that led to death in a very short period of time.

While investigations are still ongoing, with one of the women now in custody, people cannot ignore the threat of bioterrorism because of its potential to wipe out tens of millions of people in just a matter of hours – even minutes if the attacks are simultaneous and orchestrated like what happened in Tokyo.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates also issued a warning against bioterrorism during the recent security conference in Munich, Germany. According to Gates, the link between health security and national security is becoming apparent, saying that “the next epidemic could originate on the computer screen of a terrorist intent on using genetic engineering to create a synthetic version of the smallpox virus… or a super contagious and deadly strain of the flu.”

While leaps have been made in the area of biotechnology with new drugs and vaccines created to prevent the spread of diseases, this same biotechnology could also be used to target large numbers of people by such groups as ISIS that is reportedly developing biological weapons in strongholds in Syria and Iraq. Clearly, the international community has to be prepared in combating deadly epidemics the way the military prepares for war. Preparedness exercises must be conducted so people can better understand how diseases are spread, how people should respond during panic situations and how to deal with such things as overloaded highways and communications systems, Gates urged.

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