Conviction By Publicity

I hear it constantly in foreign media that the U.S. is preaching democracy throughout the globe.  It sounds very nice.  But its practice is very frustrating.  Those in political office and those striving to win in elections are easy targets (or sources) to purveyors of propaganda in the guise of truth.  I have yet to see a saint in politics.  The messenger becomes the medium.  What ever happened to the phrase innocent until proven guilty?  I totally agree with Max Soliven, publisher of The Philippine Star, in his opinion dated 3 October 2005 regarding our nation, the Philippines at this juncture: "This is the land where you're tried, condemned, and convicted by publicity, press release, White Paper, Black Propaganda, malicious innuendo -- and even by flying text messages."  He hit the nail on its head!

 

As human beings, we are subject to our fallen natures; no one has any monopoly for truth.  Critics have that mistaken notion that investigations, impeachments, commissions and the like can flush the truth out.  One such commission is the one that investigated the assassination of Senator Benigno Aquino.  Was the truth obtained?  No!  What about the investigation on President John F. Kennedy's murder in 1963.  We still don't know the truth there!  Can you see my point?  But in spite of all this, democracy is still the best form of rule on earth; but I hope it could still be improved.

 

We can't really moralize on our politicians because only God sees the minds of people.  When we disagree with them, let's not vote for them in the next election, that simple.  It there's a term limit, let's respect that.  The following text is really meant for those who read the bible; the government at the time of writing was authoritarian and ruthless -- the Roman empire:

 

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.  Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment." (Romans 13.1-2)

 

God bless the Philippines!