FREEDOM (n.) – The quality or state of being free such as the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice of action. (Merriam Webster)
After reading this, would you truly consider us free?
Yes, we don’t have anyone colonizing us. We aren’t under any dictatorship (well, not yet anyway), and we can basically go about our daily lives without any sets of hard rules governing us. But if you try to observe what’s going on around us, you will see how limited our “freedom” is.
Let’s start with the most obvious: how China is slowly grabbing us by the balls. Sure, Malacañang may say that the fishermen at the Panatag Shoal are better off now because they can at least cast their nets into the sea, but at what cost? The big bully still comes along and steals their lunch. Sure they sometimes do a little bartering, but how can noodles compare to a nice, fat and juicy marlin?
Next is the ever growing presence of goons. You thought the times of EJK were over? Think again! Maybe they aren’t as often, or maybe just not as sensational as before but it’s still happening. Either it comes as a direct command from the big boss or they are just a lot of hysterical cronies recently.
And of course, how we cannot express our opinions freely without receiving a barrage of insults from the “offended” party? It would at least be a little more acceptable if they used intelligent points to defend themselves, but most of the time their ramblings are based on personal biases and “pinalagpatism” in short.
Democracy is different from freedom for me. The ruling shadow that looms over us maybe our own. If some Filipinos still feel oppressed, then it may be because of our own mentality.
Try to think of that before we pride ourselves of being free. (angelica.panaynews@gmail.com/PN)
