MANILA STANDARD: MARCOS BURIAL, NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE
MANILA, APRIL 3, 2011 (MANILA STANDARD) BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN - Not a political issue Political skunks styling themselves as political analysts should have posted it deep into the recesses of their mind that the issue of whether or not to give the late President Ferdinand Marcos a hero's burial is not a political issue. His being a hero is a concluded fact given him by a grateful Motherland for his exemplary gallantry in World War II. Even if we take it that the tumultuous event in 1986 was not a political swindle, nonetheless that chapter in our history did not alter the fact that Marcos was a hero, and the coveted Medal of Valor given him cannot just be confiscated after he was ousted from power.
The only way that concluded fact can to be taken away from him if, during his lifetime, he betrayed his own country. In fact, countries seldom de-deify their own heroes like to what Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev did to de-Stalinize Joseph Stalin. The reason being that history has already been written, and the verdict of making them heroes cannot just be taken away from them by the nuances of politics. More so if they have long been gone, for in that case any attempt to denigrate their role is to distort history, which could readily divide the people.
Notably, the survey conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS) partakes of a premeditated effort to condition the minds of the people that this nation is divided on that issue; that 51 voted in favor that the former President be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, while 49 percent against it. But then, would it make sense to let the result of the survey decide the final resting place of a man who fought for the defense of this country? It is not that the opinion of those against should not be respected, but of the fact that there is an insidious attempt to make a political issue out of a concluded fact of history.
In fact, those who are against are speaking from a political standpoint, which is unfair. That fact in the life of Maj. Ferdinand Marcos cannot now be erased by people whose mindset has been conditioned by the media that has never been so objective in judging him. It would be tantamount to overriding the historical account of those who participated in that historical saga. The motive of SWS has become obvious, which is to subject his fate to the whims of people that have been influenced by the vested class who were displaced by his political decisions as President. Worse, Marcos would now be judged by people who never experienced war or would quiver at the thought of war to set aside the confirmation made by those who fought alongside with him and witnessed how he put his life on the brink in defense of the Motherland.
In fact, the survey is far out from what it is its supposed do, which is to rate politicians whether they could make it in an election or are doing well as elected officials. But what SWS did was to reduce the people of this nation to mental retardates when there is nothing for us to debate. One could imagine how stupid we could be to change the course of our history based on the result of a survey conducted by a cabal of the self-righteous. Surely, they would be laughing to their hearts' delight to confirm how truly stupid we are, while we pretend to be intelligent and articulate on matters of politics and morality. Even in the land inhabited by their icons would never resort to that moronic idea of relying on the result of a survey just for them to decide on who should be their rightful heroes.
Similarly, it was most idiotic for Congressman Juan Edgardo Angara to suggest the idea of a referendum. If there were questions raised by jealous hecklers, they were plainly intended to discredit further his political stature. Common sense should have seeped into the cranial dome of Rep. Angara that nobody can be a hero as he wishes. Rather, it is only by fate of destiny that could make one a hero, for like a soldier, nobody wants to join the war and wish to die, and hoped to be elevated into the pantheon of heroes. Worse, the suggestion came from one who never enlisted in the army to assume that he too wanted to become a hero.
For that matter, all that is required to be allowed to be buried in that sacred ground for the departed brave sons of the Motherland is for one to be a veteran. Hence, if we take the suggestion of this grandstanding nonsensical politician, then it would be the first time a referendum would be held in order to grant the wish of poor soldiers to be buried alongside with their comrades-in-arms. Yet, nobody came out with that silly suggestion of submitting to a referendum the crazy decision of Mrs. Aquino to bury a dog her government considered hero at the Libingan, notwithstanding that she desecrated the sacred grounds of the dead, while insulting the living.
Finally, if some feel aggrieved at seeing Ferdinand Marcos buried at the Libingan, they are not the rightful persons to say that. It is this Republic! If truly the Republic and the US had their doubts on his exploits, they would have taken back those medals before his ouster. Surely, this grateful Republic that awarded him sixteen medals and the US Army that gave him eight would not be that derelict to give away medals often paid in blood.
Moreover, the US Veterans Administration would have discontinued the giving of those monthly pensions to his widow, Rep. Imelda Marcos. On the contrary, their continuation reaffirmed that Marcos rightly deserved those medals. It is for this reason why the expose' of alleged fake medals made by a sour-grapping veteran Bonifacio Gillego did not bode well on his character or earn him the respect of his peers.
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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