Short of going to war, which it is certain to lose as soon as it starts, maybe it is time the Philippines goes tit-for-tat with the United States in other matters. For never has a supposed friend and ally treated the Philippines so shabbily as the US. When it gives, it does not give freely. There are always strings attached. And when it demands payment, it sucks even decency and whatever spirit remains of your friendship.
In the latest assault on Philippine independence and sovereignty, a United States congresswoman from Pennsylvania, Susan Wild, backed by 23 other lawmakers, all Democrats, filed a bill seeking to stop all US military and security aid to the Philippines unless certain conditions are met. These conditions are naturally insulting, demeaning, abusive, undemocratic, and downright unactionable by any self-respecting free country.
Wild, who probably could not give one significant global event that happened in 1946, will probably not give a damn either that one such event, occurring on July 4 of that year was the granting of independence to the Philippines by the United States. This was shortly after the end of World War II, a conflict where thousands of Filipinos gave up their lives so that America itself can continue to be free, independent, and democratic.
But it is clear from the attitude of Wild that America has not really meant real independence for the Philippines, otherwise it would not continue to interfere, intervene and otherwise dictate on Philippine affairs. It is good the Philippines has stopped commemorating July 4 as Independence Day and has been calling it Friendship Day, with little or no significant occurrences to witness its every passing.
Wild wants to stop all military aid to the Philippines unless it hews to her demands. But what are her demands? Does she even have a shred of evidence for all the charges that prompted her demands? Human rights violations, for example. Does Wild even have one specific case she can cite, complete with names, dates, and circumstances?
Wild cannot just echo what the political opposition in the Philippines and other critics are bellyaching about unless she can substantiate with evidence what she is claiming. Justice, the hallmark of democracy, requires her to do so. Or is Wild simply mouthing democracy for her own political expediency.
If Wild is as forthright and righteous as she projects herself to be, will she be truthful enough to admit that her very own country, the great United States of America, has been one of the greatest backers of dictators in the world? Let us not go very far and call to mind the Filipino dictator Marcos. Didn't the US back his dictatorship for as long as it included fighting the communists?
No less than a sitting US vice president, George H.W. Bush once publicly toasted Marcos for his "adherence to democracy and democratic processes." Since it is certain that the hip-shooting Wild cannot be expected to acknowledge that, maybe someone should Google it for her. By the way, it would be interesting to know how Wild views the murders being committed by American cops on people already subdued or in custody.