carpe diem, despite...

Moderate your greed (A proposed rehabilitative justice solution)

Feb 17, '08 3:42 AM
for everyone

I have a gentler, but more radical proposal for these people whose greed has gotten the better of them.

Rehabilitation.

After all, most progressives are at their very core, pro-life in the real sense of the word, and against cruel and inhuman punishment and the death penalty. So is the Catholic Church.

Ergo, let's unite on this one and pray for the speedy, comprehensive, truthful resolution of the NBN-ZTE case.

Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit or the spirits of our anitos—ancestors—hover inside the (un)august halls of Congress, helping people there see the light–or even just see beyond those envelopes of cash floating around. (http://www.pcij.org/blog/?p=2179)

Let’s pray that they have the courage to begin new proceedings against these criminals… and really bring them to justice.

AND JUST what do we have in mind for these people who have acted for so long with arrogance and impunity?

Rehabilitate them.

Yup, rehab not extrajudicial killing, because evil is the resort of the weak, the challenged and the cowardly. (http://www.newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3471&Itemid=88889008)

Here are my suggestions:

1. Prosecute them, without impunity, in an impartial court.

2. Read them their rights.

3. Give them time in a jail. No need to give them extra difficult treatment-- I mean who believes in an eye for an eye? -- just the normal treatment in our normal, severely overcrowded jail. (http://pinoycentric.com/2007/10/15/philippine-jails/)

4. While in jail, give them time to review Philippine history, the Philippine Constitution, the Civil Service Code. For a few weeks, put them under a regimented schedule that includes lots of prayer, study time (topics above), and fpr leisure, watching movies like this: http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/118279/Bayan-Ko-Kapit-Sa-Patalim/overview

5. Keep these images (and that of other heroes) around their room:

Remember, rehabilitation means:

“To restore to useful life, as through therapy and education or to restore to good condition, operation, or capacity. The assumption of rehabilitation is that people are not natively criminal and that it is possible to restore a criminal to a useful life, to a life in which they contribute to themselves and to society. Rather than punishing the harm out of a criminal, rehabilitation would seek, by means of education or therapy, to bring a criminal into a more normal state of mind, or into an attitude which would be helpful to society, rather than be harmful to society.

6. Because we recognize that these people who act with impunity are simply not in good condition, we also suggest psychotherapy. Try Safepricker's passions. There might be a acupuncture spot that lessens greed?

7. Part of their rehabilitation should also include:

a. Labor. Oh, no, not hard labor. Just the usual labor that 2/3 of our countrymates are forced to do everyda. Even better , the kind that Filipino children have to undertake: (http://www.geocities.com/philmovies/films/minsanlangsilabata/minsanlangsilabata.html)

b. Separation from family. For years, please. In the same manner that thousands of Filipinos are forced by a collapsing economy and a dysfunctional government to separate from their families and go abroad. We also suggest a six-month stint, at least, as a DH in Singapore.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4502046.stm

c. Six months living in one of Metro Manila’s slum areas, where 40 percent of Manileños now live. I suggest Payatas or Baseco, Tondo, where generations of generations of Filipinos have lived without hope.

Don’t forget the daily fare of lucky me, lucky me and MORE lucky me!

Oh, for rehabilitation to be effective, we have to take away some things:
No more breakfasts here:

No more limousine rides with a whole barangay of policemen with wang-wangs (sirens) blazing...

Instead, more of riding on this:

You, know, Zen and the art of motorcycle riding…

Oh, and please, don’t forget the exercise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o

AT THE END OF IT ALL, I am sure those once-arrogant, greedy and power hungry will see the light:

1. The GDP and the appreciation of the peso are NOT the sole measures of a growing economy.

2. Ang sagot sa kahirapan ay HINDI broadband! (The solution to our economic mess is NOT broadband!)

See, our proposed solution is nothing NOTHING compared what those in power have done to the best and the brightest who offered their lives for a better country.
http://yoopee.multiply.com/journal/item/1380

Let me end with a song dedicated to those who need to be rehabilitated from their greed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnwe8lngFy0

(english translation by jorge calderon)

My personal revenge will be the right
Of our children in the schools and in the gardens
My personal revenge will be to give you
This song which has flourished without panic
My personal revenge will be to show you
The kindness in the eyes of my people
Who have always fought relentlessly in battle
And been generous and firm in victory

My personal revenge will be to tell you good morning
On a street without beggars or homeless
When instead of jailing you I suggest
You shake away the sadness there that blinds you
And when you who have applied your hands in torture
Are unable to look up at what surrounds you
My personal revenge will be to give you
These hands that once you so mistreated
But have failed to take away their tenderness

It was the people who hated you the most
When rage became the language of their song
And underneath the skin of this town today
Its heart has been scarred forevermore

It was the people who hated you the most
When rage became the language of their song
And underneath the skin of this town today
Its heart has been scarred forevermore
And underneath the skin of this town today
Red and black, its hearts been scarred
Forevermore

Tags: nbe zte, scandals, corruption, gloria arroyo, philippines, rehabilitation, justice

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10 Comments

maydiwayata wrote on Feb 18

this is an add- and ad-friendly blog: it contains causes, worthy message, facts, SEO-words/keyphrase-rich content, links...

danilova8288 wrote on Feb 19

thanks. sana the ads will come...

3i67nvd wrote on Feb 19

pa-link po, kei lang?

danilova8288 wrote on Feb 19

go ahead ading (younger brother)

danilova8288 wrote on Feb 19

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/talkofthetown/view_article.php?article_id=119353

danilova8288 wrote on Mar 14

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=124605
There's your pool of leaders for a future government.
Sabi ng mga mahihirap sa aming komunidad, kung patalsikin si Gloria, sino ang papalit, si Noli (the folk in our poor community say, if Gloria is ousted, who will replace her, Noli?) So there, there are competent, dedicated possible leaders -- just pool together those who left or were pushed out of government during Pres. Cory's time, those who resigned on matters of principle during Erap's time and those who resigned after the Hello Garci scandal broke .. and others. There is no dearth of possible leaders. There is a dearth of unity and FAITH in the possibility of good, particularly among the poor and very poor -- the people who populate the world of the Wowowee stampede, Edsa III.

bumblemumble wrote on Jun 5

^Indeed there are people who can make good politicians. Their availability is not the problem. The problem is Filipinos tend to vote... how do I say it? Like as if politics is Star Struck, PBB, PDA. Another problem is the good actors. Very good actors. At first they act as if they're for the people but at the end, when they win, they forget about the people's need. Just like GMA. She appeared as if she was pro-people during Erap's time but now... =(

danilova8288 wrote on Jun 6

Philippine Politics and Star Struck are on the same level. But as for GMA, even as a senator, there had been so many complaints, although few became public. And her economic policies were evident a long time ago, when she was DTI undersecretary.

bumblemumble wrote on Jun 14, edited on Jun 14

^I'm not pro-GMA but to be fair to her, the problems that we are facing under her administration didn't start in her administration. It was inherited. Same with Erap. I think the main problem with Filipinos, they just complain without doing anything. This is why I find the Fil-Chi community amazing, a many times, they were target of oppressive policies and the milking cows of politicians yet they were able to turn the tables. There must be something to the Filipino mentality beyond the 'government problem'.

In the fairness to the government, when they do projects that benefit the people, the people are reluctant to stand on their own feet. Yung tipong you are already spoonfeeding them gusto nila, nguyain mo para sa kanila yung sinubo mo.

It's not pessimism to say, 'sinong ipapalit mo kay Gloria' but more for a realistic approach. What happened when we removed Erap? We got a more evil president. I understand the fear of the people especially that the people opposing GMA are no better than her and are merely power grabbers who are once again playing with the emotion and miseducation of the people. If you're going to look at it, only Lacson was consistent with his conviction. Legarda and Pimentel was anti-Erap now they are at Eraps side because they are against GMA. It's clearly power play.

I find it safer to let Gloria finish her term and choose another president and put Gloria into trial. At least with this we can be sure that she go under trial unlike the impeachment which is merely a game of numbers. Unlike in judicial trial, she will go under trial as long as someone filed a case unlike in impeachment, you have to get 2/3 of the lower house in order to bring it to the senate

danilova8288 wrote on Jun 15, edited on Jun 15

DEFINITELY, the problems were inherited. The problems the country faces are structural -- and they have to do with a widening gap between the rich and the poor. Deepening and widening poverty. Landlessness and joblessness that causes poverty. Powerlessness that comes with poverty. Economic policies that don't make our country take off. And widespread corruption. An environmental crisis in the offing. And a HUGE lack of self confidence among Filipinos. But Filipinos have done more than complain, many have stood up and worked for change. The Philippine Revolution of 1898 was the FIRST Asian Revolution. Macario Sakay fought even after the other revolutionaries gave up. And so many people died and sacrificed their lives to gain freedom against martial law.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=84728
I'd like to believe that many Filipinos are doing their bit, on different levels. In fact, this Baguio multiply group is populated by people who have done their bit ... and continue to do more for the better. Let me end with an inspiring speech by someone I admire so much, who has lived a life devoted to good and honest journalism. Hope this inspires you!
http://www.pcij.org/blog/?p=859

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