MY THOUGHTS about the NEWS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

NY Times: “The Progressive Politicians Who Failed San Francisco.” And adds: “Such as Aaron Peskin, a little-known progressive politician.” San Francisco has always been the center of liberal activism and progressive ideals in America. Recall the beatnik and hippie countercultures of the 1950s to 1970s? Yet as the 21st century strode in, Frisco soared to the heights of ideological overreach. Idealism’s unrealism.  🏛🗽🏛

New York Times: “‘Get Somebody Else to Do It’: Trump Resistance Encounters Fatigue.” And adds: “Donald J. Trump’s grass-roots opponents search for a new playbook as they reckon with how little they accomplished during his first term.” Of course, of course. Anger, and hate, and all that unbelievable energy consumed on fantastic vilification of Donald Trump! Exhausting, you ask? Chill, okay? 🏛🗽🏛

Smithsonian: “Italian Police Arrest ‘Clumsy’ Tomb Raiders Who Allegedly Posted Stolen Etruscan Artifacts on Facebook.” Everything has to be on Facebook, I guess. I am guilty as well, in a lot of ways. My dinner, my room, cats and dog, what I did yesterday, Goodwill purchases, stuff. But I don't post details of personal drama. Of course I have drama as well. I'd rather translate my whinings into kickass food pics. 😏😒🤨

New York Times: “Cease-Fire Talks Between Israel and Hamas Gain Momentum, Officials Say.” The deal wasn’t yet in hand after a truce but Donald Trump couldn’t wait, it seems. Of course, it is still Joe Biden and his hardcore hawks running Washington's military infrastructure. And it seems they are intent on leaving Mr Trump a huge mess. But I also pin my hopes for peace in the Arab League. They don't want these wars. ☮️☮️☮️

Washington Post: “Israel launches dozens of airstrikes on Syria, draws U.N. condemnation.” / “Netanyahu takes the stand in his corruption trial. Here’s what to know.” I don't see the sense in Bibi ordering strikes on Syria right after Bashar al-Assad was swept out of power. The regime has already been “changed.” Let the country calm down a bit. As I suggested earlier, Israel would be Donald Trump's major headache. 🇸🇾☮️🇮🇱

AP: “Assad is granted political asylum in Russia after the fall of Damascus.” What is so big a deal with Bashar al-Assad in Russia? Benefactors save dictators from the burning rage of their people. Count strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr. of the Philippines who was flown by the U.S. to Hawaii in 1986. The Marcoses were never prosecuted for their crimes. In fact, Imelda won her racketeering trial in New York in 1990. ☮️☮️☮️

NY Times: “Bogged Down in Ukraine, Russia Pays a Price in Syria.” With the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Vladimir Putin suffered “one of his biggest geopolitical setbacks,” says The Times. It doesn't really matter much. Geopolitics has evolved. With Donald Trump as POTUS, a reconfigured playing field looms. As long as he pursues a dovish policy, I am cool with Mr Trump's playbook. As Russia continues selling oil. ☮️☮️☮️

NY Sun: “Suspect in UnitedHealth CEO Killing May Have Spiraled From Debilitating Pain, Had "Ill Will' Toward Corporate America.” Luigi Mangione isolated himself for months leading up to the violent murder. Many harbor “ill will” toward corporate America. But not many would spiral to deadly rage. Yet I read some celebrating his act. Me? I am relieved that he didn't plant a bomb in a building. Still, he self-destructed. ☮️🗽☮️

New York Times: “Am I a Hypocrite for Calling Donald Trump a Liar?” The magazine’s Ethicist on hypocrisy. Uh huh. All politicians lie. That is a fact and the truth. Depends on their rationales, motivations, and tactics and strategies of governance, of course. But we need to elaborate what really is a “lie” in politics. Tell me what POTUS didn’t lie. For example, he said he will not pardon his errant son. He lied.  🏛🗽🏛

Associated Press: “Record contract: Juan Soto agrees to record $765 million, 15-year contract with Mets.” All these multi-million$ contracts in pro sports are getting to be ridiculously absurd. Mr Soto would be 41 years old in 15 years. I don't think he'd be able to sustain his energy and skill that long. Yet these astronomical salaries insult other employees that team owners should compensate justly. ⚾️💰⚾️

Stuff and Politics. Democrats and Republicans and Those In-Betweens.

Previously posted on my Facebook page. Or written years ago, unedited/not updated.

PEOPLE leaning towards the Democrats (or progressive bloc or leftist mindset) are still fighting as the Republican camp watches in quiet glee. I don't think the Dems will make any effort to convince or persuade the current GOP supporter/voters to their side, no. They call them idiots. And some are even proposing that Bernie runs as an Independent or with another party. Sad. I don't think it's about the candidates or parties anymore—now it has evolved into people's individual takes on stuff. Yes indeed, two warring camps of the Dems are knocking each other out. Let's do the math: The Dems/Hillary are losing possible votes—while maybe the GOPs (in the light of Trump's softer stand in re Republican leadership) are building up their fort for November.

 

       I remember the fight between two forces in the Organized Left back home: the Rejectionists and Reaffirmists. It eventually spelled the downfall of the Left. But we were not talking about elections. We were talking about a segment of society—but a segment that is valuable as fiscalizers and change-movers. So whoever was elected as President, the progressives treated the chasm as a way to reflect inward—since we are all Filipinos, that's the truth and our country is the Philippines. The country has improved since then yet we are still working things out. At least we are not begging for dough from the IMF anymore. 

       What bothers me about some people, in the light of Bernie Sanders' nomination loss, is how people show hatred against America as their country. I don't think it is right to be ashamed of one's country just because some don't favor a President. When I left my country in 1998, I was angry with the new administration—as I was angry most of my adult life with the Martial Law-propelled dictatorship. But that anger was fired up by my love for my country. Never in my career as a journalist and activist have I felt ashamed of being a Filipino. The Philippines wasn't Ferdinand Marcos as America isn't Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. America is all about Americans. ☮️🗽☮️

THE world is watching and the world isn't dumb. I don't think that an American who struts around the streets of Toulouse, France mumbling “Oh how I hate my country!” will be embraced by the French as their own. Show us how good and brilliant you are as an American—I don't care about your President. Then you will be part of any piece of sociocultural geography you wanna be. Same way as how the media malign the Philippine president-elect. I don't care about what Newsweek says. I care about my people and my country. I am sure if President Rodrigo Duterte starts reincarnating as the despots of the past, Filipinos will be out on the streets again to kick him out. Meantime, Filipinos will always be Filipinos irrelevant who sits in the Palace.

       I love America for what it is as I love the Philippines for the way it is. Like family. I will fight for my family no matter how I argue/d with my dad. Wherever I or we end up, we will always be seen as American or Filipino. We cannot change that. So instead of fighting, why don't we sit down and work things out for the betterment of the collective community and entire nation? When the smokes of elections have simmered and gone, it all boils down to an America to, by and for Americans. Not the Republicans and Democrats anymore. A politician, or political party or a fraction of a nation doesn't make a country—it is the people's majority voice that counts. 

       Yet if we will always question election outcomes in a democratic system—then we will always question stuff and things that don't go our way. I don't like the new president back home but it's the people's will that did it. That's just the way life goes. The people. If I believe that the people who voted for the person that I didn't like need reeducation so the next time they vote for a leader, they'd choose better—then I will start regrouping on that end. Advocate and convince and show by example. But I will not call them “idiots.” I may just end up with a bloody nose if I do that. I know how to do it. But I digress. ☮️🗽☮️