The John Adams we need to see

MANILA, Philippines - John Adams? His name doesn’t ring a bell the way those of Abraham Lincoln or George Washington do. But make no mistake about it. The Harvard-educated lawyer was the second US president. And like all leaders, he had to walk the thin line that separated what had to be done and what people wanted him to do.

When soldiers tried in court for firing at five civilians in the 1770 Boston Massacre needed a lawyer, Adams agreed to defend them, even if he knew doing so would make him unpopular. He insisted on a government of law, not of men. Public acclaim after Adams was able to acquit six of the soldiers became just icing on the cake, as far as he was concerned.

His example is too good to be confined to a select audience of HBO viewers who will get to watch Adams’ story starting Monday, Sept. 7 at 11 p.m. on HBO and at 10 p.m. on HBO Signature.

So Martha Buckley, Culture Affairs Officer of the US Embassy in Manila, opened wide the doors of the Embassy’s Charles Parsons Ballroom one morning and decided to sponsor the series’ advanced screening. She admits she’s an Adams fan, and she would be doing many people a service if she allowed media and students to view the series, discuss it, and enjoy a hearty lunch right after.

She made a wise decision. US Ambassador Kristie Kenney sat in the audience. Opposition spokesman Adel Tamano sat beside Buckley to give his views. So did college students from the University of the Philippines, the University of the East and others.

The outpouring of admiration for Adams was unanimous. The award-winning series (13 Emmys and two Golden Globes) struck a chord among us.

Here was a short, balding, not-very-attractive man who just wanted to do right. He did not seek public approval. He did not want to curry any kind of favor. And the people were rooting for him.

“I wish we had our own John Adams,” sighed a young lady from the audience.

“Oh, but we did, for awhile,” her young friend reacted. “We had Ninoy (Aquino). And he was even more charming!”

Turning sober now, the good-looking Tamano (is he running for office in 2010?) says, “Adams said what needed to be said. And it took personal courage to do that. There’s a price to pay for independence. And it’s worth it.”

Kenney, who stayed till the end of the screening even if she wasn’t sure if she could at first, observed, “Adams also practiced humility. He looked for consensus.”

Yes, our leaders — and those who want to run for office in 2010 — would do well to take the cue from Adams. Here was someone who didn’t look at personalities but at principles to make decisions. Here was someone who will fight for the lowly soldier and get almost nothing for it in return.

Of course, we can’t all be John Adams. We can’t be the president of a country like him. But we still can make a difference in our own small way.

For starters, a student mused, we can look beyond physical appearances and expensive commercials in choosing our leaders. We can go beyond the obvious and probe into the person’s character instead.

Like John Adams, we can stand up for what’s right, even if others condemn us. Then history will judge us the way it did John Adams.

And when it does, let’s hope it will be in a positive light, in a way that will not put us, and our family, to shame. Politicians out there, let the John Adams in you come out. It’s not too late. It will never be too late.