yooweebaloowee-blog

[yooweebaloowee-blog]

“How long, God?” said Habakkuk.

This is it! COVID19, and a week of isolation (among other things, as you would soon find out) has led me to this: A BLOG! So keep your Pickpocks and Sneepchats – I am a man of culture!.. who will now rant his heart out like an everyday highschooler. But trust me, with a title like that? You know it’s about to get... juicy. To prelude how this’ll go, let me just say, before everything else, “let’s stay calm”. That sounds silly, because never in the history of calming down has anyone calmed down when told to calm down, but trust me, there’s a point to all this. And my hope is that we can all reason with each other, see where other people are coming from, and, God-willing, be able to understand each other a little better.

This will also be shared on Facebook, and with that, I urge people to ENGAGE in civil conversation with people who differ in beliefs and opinions. I’m not a fan of echo chambers where everything you hear is everything you agree with. Read about confirmation bias if you have extra time. I’m sure we all do.

Oh, by the way, this is going to be about politics. Remember when I said it’s about to get juicy? 

Keep in mind, this is a blog, not a sermon. I’m no pastor, I’m just a person with words, and a LOT of frustrated questions. I write all these knowing that at some point, I could be wrong, as I am always prepared to be. Not the first time as well, but take it as “I am willing to be wrong in public, so as to be an example to others”.

And with that, let’s dive right in:

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. Consequently, he who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” 

If this is your first time reading those words in that order, congratulations, you are now acquainted with the first few words of Romans chapter 13. These words are set in stone, and by all means, uncontestable. 

But let’s move over to the book of Habakkuk, where that question in the title came out. To summarize, Hab’s just going ham– laments of violence everywhere, evil deeds being done in broad daylight, the law paralyzed, the wicked outnumber the righteous, justice perverted, you know, a bygone age. Whatever do you mean it sounds eerily familiar and similar to current world events? That’s crazy-talk.

(A small spoiler on how that book ended: Habakkuk’s fine. So that’s a relief.) Alright, hear me out: is there a way to respectfully prod government leaders to action? The common argument against that is “don’t say anything bad or disrespectful of them, they are anointed leaders” (see Romans 1 above). And I must confess that I am guilty of political satire (because that slogan in the congress? Comedy gold! Imagine them pasting that thing together with Elmer’s glue. And the Enrile memes? Never not funny– that man is Jurassic!) Guilty as charged, humor has always been my defense mechanism. But besides that is a desire for accountability. I follow the rules and pay my taxes just like everybody else – granted, I have never voted. Although, I sleep soundly at night knowing I did not put anybody in power, regardless of what you think of our leaders.

But tell me what you think of my stance: I treat the government as I would my uncle. He’s there as an authority figure over me, I wish we hung out more, I get a few laughs making fun of him from time to time, I get a few gifts once in a while, the works. Now say he’s driving, and I’m a passenger in the car, and he’s a bit... inebriated. Head swaying, cross-eyed, shlurs hish wordsh shomething like thish.

Don’t I get a say in the matter? I mean, to go full-circle, the law is about to disobey the law! Yes, pray for safety, but to stay silent on the off-chance he gets offended and go “Shumunod ke neleng kashi!”? (”Jush do ash i shay!” for all my English-speaking friends) Or, say that he started smoking, which situationally, is more or less higher risk. Is it wrong for me to tap him on the shoulder and ask him to stop?

I know I’m not alone in saying this: taking part in speaking out is one of the few ways we can demand accountability and be involved in this democracy. Say what you will of that form of government, Winston Churchill definitely did. He said, “democracy is the WORST form of government, except for all other forms that have been tried from time to time.” I thank God for the freedom to express our faith – that’s democracy and not a divine monarchy, where our leaders are infallible royal deities who could do no wrong and immune to criticism.

We are not about to write signs, print tarpaulins and protest in the streets – that isn’t the way, at least for me and others I know. I have been labeled a rebel, while others I know have been called worse, but I think rebellion starts when you stop following the law, evade your taxes, resort to violence, speed through a red light – you can even consider calling politicians names as rebellion. (though to call Enrile REALLY old is not really an insult – it’s an observation.) 

Again, this is a blog, not a sermon. Feel free to disagree or try to change my mind, I still love you <3. And remember: Echo chambers only cultivate confirmation bias.

You may say, “but this isn’t about you, man” And to that, I say I know, and I hope that it wouldn’t be about me, because that’s Ad Hominem If I ever heard one.

Now, on a serious note: people are dying out there. We all have friends in the frontlines that are tackling this pandemic face-to-face, and to hear about face masks paid for by hospitals in full, but going to politicians’ pockets is nothing short of infuriating. Billions took out of the budget that could’ve been used to help, VIP testing for senators with the gall to take time writing that slogan, time that could’ve been used to help out the needy. Forgive me for being frustrated to the brim, I’m not the type to go lalalala, I’m not hearing this. This will not destroy us, and like Habakkuk, it will end well. But to sit tight and say “at least I’m safe” while others are suffering doesn’t sit well with me. I pray I never lose sympathy. If anything I pray for more compassion to move and lend a helping hand. I’ll end with my favorite Bible phrase: “The Lord is good, and His love endures forever.” But the politicians? I have some opinions. I’m about to get attacked, aren’t I?