Democracy, DemoCrazy or Mob Rule?
It’s (political) rally season again in the Philippines, as various groups call for the President to step down from office due to the alleged kickback and overpriced national broadband network (NBN) deal with Chinese corporation, ZTE. Some friends have asked what is my take on the issue? And I replied with this question.
Do we have democracy in action or mob rule?
Mob Rule, according to Wikepedia is:
Is government by mob or a mass of people, or the intimidation of constitutional authorities. In English, the word mobocracy is sometimes used as a synonym.
The modern theories of civil disobedience and satyagraha bear some resemblance to mob rule and its mechanics. Certainly it is quite frightening for large numbers of people, even peaceful ones, to be marching and shouting common demands, if one is charged with the uncomfortable task of refusing them… The 1986 EDSA Revolution in the Philippines, the Velvet Revolution in former Czechoslovakia, and the resistance to the attempted military coup in the Soviet Union in 1991 that led to the collapse of that state, are situations where it is possible that it was the “mob” which won the day due to defections by authority.
In contrast, democracy or rule of people is motivated by reason and not emotions. Civil liberties are governed by law, it respect the rights of others, specially the minority and observes due process and respects separation of religion and state.Given our present situation, how do we interpret the signs?
- Are the calls for GMA to resign, warning her to prevent blood shed, democratic or tyranny of the mob?
- The call for people to go out to the street and express their indignation, is it a call base on reason or an attempt to agitate people or stir emotions to make them angry?
- Is due process of law respected?
- Are the protagonist interested to follow the constitutional boundaries or are they interested to explore extra constitutional means?
- Can we consider the attempt to pressure the military and police to withdraw support from the the President intimidation of constitutional authorities by the mob?
- Do we have the separation of state and religion?
The Bible also gave us an illustration so we can ponder and weight all factors to make our own stand.
- When Pilate made the decision to proceed with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
- Is it a democratic process or mob rule?
- Who agitated the people to go after the head of Jesus? Religious or political leaders?
- The people who joined the protest at the place of Pilate, are they representing the majority of the population (of the country) or just the noisy ones in the capital?
- When Jesus heard that his cousin (John the baptist) was killed by a tyrant leader. What did Jesus do?
Isaiah 42:2He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.
Remember that Jesus lived during one of the most oppressive regimes this world had.
- Another point to ponder (when evaluating accusations), when both political and religious leaders present to Jesus a woman allegedly caught in adultery (I wonder where the man is), what did Jesus do?
The next generation’s future is at stake here, I hope we will be prudent in our actions, lest our children and history may blame this generation. The personalities involve in our national drama and the elite of the society, if protagonist made real their threat of bloodshed, can easily flee and live elsewhere, while majority of us will be left behind to clean the mess. Unfortunately, investors will also go.
Yes, let’s search for truth, and let righteousness reign.
But let’s not reward hypocrisy and triumph with half truths. Half truths are also lies.
Instead let the rule of law prevail and let the wheels of justice take its course. No matter how slow justice may be, it will still overtake the wrong doers.
Jeremiah 29:7Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city…. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
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In a society, it is always the will and interest of the public should be given the voice to be heard. Yesterday’s inter-faith rally was a peaceful one. There was a prophetic call for structural reform. When I say prophetic, I mean not about ‘prediction’ as most Evangelicals and Conservatives do, but a discernment for what is good for the whole nation, and a discernment of the times about the importance of the interest of the people.
The quest now is all about the quest for truth… And truth is expressed through a series of different metaphors and images. The claim to truth is best expressed in the interest of the collective consciousness of a people. When Christianity, the Evangelicalism in particular, is asked about the truth, they could not define it in concrete terms. Thus, it’s all about what interest we are protecting in telling the truth.
Few individuals in the politics are having their own interests too, the reason why Malacanang does its best to suppress the truth that is inline with the interest of the public. The question is not more on the shoulders of the people. This is not not question of whether the public sinned more. All of as are sinner… but deception is the best translation of the Greek hamartia. Hamartia is pandaraya.
Those who are powerful are more accountable because they have the control of the country’s resources.
Fundamentalism in Evangelicalism has not been able to redeem itself from the 1986 fiasco and opportunism. I will single out PCEC of Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches. PCEC hesitated to join the revolution in 1986 that ousted a dictator, but after the revolution, the PCEC was quick to announce that it was because of their “Prayer to the Lord” that brought the tyranny down. PCEC is a haven of political opportunism. It has been used by the political rightists as tool for the preservation of the status quo by a false understanding of the law.
The Pharisees in Jesus’s time were very keen about the law. They were the keepers of the law. Indeed the Pharisees were experts. It only found out that the Evangelicalism in the Philippines is the modern version of Phariseeism.
kebelle’s last blog post..Public’s silent expression of outrage
Bottom line is that many of us don’t know the CREATOR OF EVERYTHING and his
OFFERS.That were blinded by the prince who rules this world, that is why were in
this mess.
Democracy in action ang ganyan, ayon sa gobyerno. Sabi ng isa Philippine Information Agency press release tungkol sa mga rally na reaksyon ng mga mamamayan sa Hello Garci noong 2005: “Democracy is alive and working in the country. That some segments of the populace are in the streets protesting against the President and demanding her to step down, is a proof that it is working.”
“We accept peaceful demonstrations as part of our democracy,” ayon naman kay Presidential Spokesperso Ignacio Bunye.
Sabi naman ng Article 3, Section 4 ng Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas: ” No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the Government for redress of grievances.”
By the way, Jesus said “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Ederic’s last blog post..?I wanna go out! Stupid rally.?
I can make my own position and interest better when I read comments and reactions from this website than reading the newspapers and listening to the news in tv and radio. They are not dealing with facts but giving their mixed judgements. So, no total and clear picture of these events happening in our country.
This 71 signatories (referring to Ging Deles’ article too),
1. What and who were they in the cabinets of our government?
2. Does it takes to be a thief to know a thief?
3. What have they done to make this democratic government better when they were in the cabinet?
4. Is changing the people in the system the answer of their rah-rah-rah now?
5. What options do they offer for us to paddle to a better shore?
6. Is the noise in Metro Manila is the voice of the people throughout the PHilippines? These people are only about 10% of the voters, the rest are in southern Philippines. This include the social weather survey broadcasted everytime which does not represent the whole population.
7. Is this the kind of Senate we have…most of the time spent in investigation of corrupt practices yet no controls and new laws or ammendments of existing laws are installed? They are wasting also our taxes.
It’s democracy, and it’s a vibrant one.
Everyone is being more careful now, especially the politicians about the influences of this mob.
Sen. Gordon said that protesting is good however, the processes of the law should be carried out.
One of the rights of people under democracy is the right to express thyself, the protest is only an expression and not a movement because the people will know what will happen if they do something stupid.
Remember, the church AND the military disassociated themselves from the people. So it’ll be a little difficult….
arelente2′s last blog post..Home Decor and The Pinoy Idol
Pilipinas, Umasenso Ka
What the so-called truth by Jun Lozada are actually Puro RHETORICS, no concrete things other than hearsays, innuendos and worse, GOSSIP.
Everyone aspires for what you said, but lets all be practical. A stable country that does not give in to the caprices of the mob and worse the COMMUNIST AND GODLESS Leftists should be the way.
Let’s all not believe in 30 seconds to a minute of media newscasts with a bias SLANT, an indepth discussion and a real hard look at WHO is saying and investigating should be the way.
Sabi nga ni Lozada Takot daw syang Ma-Dacer (bobby), But who is really behind the murder of Dacer nga ba? Di ba it is the same people whom he is cavorting now. Pansin nyo ba yung sinasabi nya nung una nyang testimony noon at ngayon, MAGKAIBA NA ang ibang detalye. Para syang di susi. He’s an emotional wreck trying his personal issues to play with the entire country hostage.
We don’t need another hero. What we need is stability. Take away the manufactured Political Noise, everything is normal naman.People should watch CNN and BBC more,we are a country better off than others. That we should be thankful to the Lord. Spare us the Godless Leftists who now uses God and Freedom when if given the chance to govern, those very same God and Freedoms we enjoy they would take away.
Sinasakyan lahat ng isyu ng mga Leftists Communists. The political arm of the Communist party of the Philippines. Their military arm btw is the NPA. sowing terror in the countrysides. Wag kayong magpagoyo. yan ang tunay na KATOTOHANAN.
Lastly, bakit ang bilis magjudge ng mga tao dito, kala ko ba Catholic. Didn’t your religion teach you to not judge a person easily.
Kung sa judgement din lang, si Erap napatunayang nagkasala sa hukuman, naconvict, nakulong, pero yun pa ang di nyo i condemn…the world is unfair.