The Philippines: a black hole of lunacy, lies, and unkindness
Bye bye baby! [Photo source: YouTube, LifesBiggestQuestions]
By JoeAm
I slipped into my Star Trek space machine to look down on Earth as if it were an alien planet. It quickly became evident that the creatures on this watery orb are not very friendly, and they are not very smart.
Their time on the planet is ending soon . . . they’ve managed to to heat the place beyond saving . . . yet they continue to argue and try to find more wealth and power than the next guy.
There are tribes of bickering humanoids all over the planet. In one land mass, a place organized as America, they have agreed to be led by a narcissistic lunatic who lies all the time and, rather than unifying his tribe, is dividing it into angry hordes who are at each others’ throats every day. They are driven by greed, by money, and by power.
On the other side of the planet, there is a billion member tribe that is power mad, led by liars, arming itself to the teeth, attacking innocents around the globe by undermining their ability to fend for themselves. They are raping the earth and ripping the life from the oceans to feed their billions and their under-developed ego, a psychological malady occasioned by other tribes taking turns over the years gang raping the land and people called China.
Whenever a land on Earth begins to prosper, desperate and hungry two-leggers descend on it in droves, arms out for gifts and the right to comfort and food and gold.
One set of 7,000 islands near China is outrageously dysfunctional and self-destructive. It’s denizens agree to be led by a killer, a nasty man and liar who stocks his government with incompetent friends and fellow thieves. He seems to be protecting drug lords as if he had something to gain by doing so. Some say he is a deranged person, although on Earth these days, it is hard to see exactly where any sanity might be lodged. It’s a mess. All around it’s a mess.
If we transport down a landing party, they can sneak around the bushes and buildings and identify a lot of anguished souls who recognize what is going on . . . but are powerless to stop it.
They are often the prey for the powerful lunatics who run things.
It is good that some earthings are thinking of setting up camp on the nearby planet Mars.
I hope they only send smart, truthful, and kind people there.
We don’t need another horrible place like Earth in the solar system.
Certainly, the group of 7,000 islands is a grand waste of resources and humanity. The place is a black hole of lunacy, lies, and unkindness. Earthlings call it the Philippines.
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[…] via The Philippines: a black hole of lunacy, lies, and unkindness — The Society of Honor: the Philippi… […]
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
Somebody’s getting to be as “cynical” as I am about things. Too early to be writing this.
Well, maybe not cynical just scandalized. Althought I am not as forgving as Joe is towards a certain twit among thieves and “incompetents.
Fine for now, I’ll reserve my judgement for the bigger fish. Rizal was right when he said the “slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow,”
Better early than late, I think. Cynicism is inward bound, lessons are outward bound. I think it is political literature asking people to be kinder and smarter.
“as long as we see our countrymen feel privately ashamed, hearing the growl of their rebelling and protesting conscience, while in public they keep silent and even join the oppressor in mocking the oppressed; as long as we see them wrapping themselves up in their selfishness and praising with forced smiles the most despicable acts, begging with their eyes for a share of the booty, why give them independence?”…”if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow”
Yet.. there are those like one captain.
People closest to what the Filipinos once were who rode the waves fearlessly, where leaders shared the same burden as those they lead as they were literally on the same boat – people who kept their character, never became slaves.
And popoy (pasingit lang, po) says the tyrants of today will be the cockroaches and bedbugs of tomorrow. These insect pests don’t go extinct among predator animals. They shall haunt the earth until it is no more.
Is there a white hole in the infinity of space?
Black is just a name, a colored prejudice
and discriminate intolerance of mankind.
A black hole I daresay is as innocent
as a distant star, a mystery of beneficence
and cruelty of malevolence in the universe.
Black hole, green hole, sink hole,
gate to men’s paradise,
what’s in a name but a mere
label that could hide what’s
beneath the surface.
If black is a name,
So, what’s in a name behind
a sovereignty?
What’s reality behind or beneath
The little black hole of a country
Is another good job in TSoH. 21 0619.
White hole?
https://joeam.com/2019/06/17/the-philippines-a-black-hole-of-lunacy-lies-and-unkindness/#comment-287514
What’s In A Name?
In the Philippines
Briton Shakespeare may ask,
What’s In A Name?
In Campostela, in Tondo and in Payatas
In the hovels of the Maranaos,
In the pushcarts of the homeless
In the hearts of the Sikyos
By the smelly sweat of jeepney drivers
From the dried tears of mothers
By the dead soul of the Philippines.
What’s in a name?
I wrote them down and was saddened
Enraged, infuriated. Tabloids and broadsheets
Named them, judged them all.
Guilty as hell, dirty as sewers
Putrid and stinky worse than the Pasig.
Yet smiling like angels, unbowed, unashamed.
What’s in a name?
Notwithstanding Shakespeare
Write them and publish them
Then go missing or go to jail
since to libel, slander them
these criminals of political and police power.
Shakespeare did not say
A criminal by any other name
Will smell as sweet even if it murders.
And that’s not what Shakespeare meant.
To the world a name could be a lot,
Shakespeare notwithstanding.
Gandhi and Mandela, Lincoln and Washington
To the Curia, their Holiness could be
Albino Luciani or Karol Josef Wojtyla
To the righteous it could be a shameless sinner
To the cynic it could be his reason for being
Shakespeare notwithstanding
To a country it couldn’t be a lot
Only a short list of patriots
A long list of lawyers, accountants, magistrates
And lawmakers, a multitude of crooks.
Shakespeare notwithstanding
Names bleed poetry of its justice
Name our names taunts the criminals
And be sued for libel, be ready for jail.
Shakespeare notwithstanding
Names are the unnamed bullets of soldiers
That maim and kill dinosaurs of helpless mothers
Resting in nameless mounds in the forests.
Regardless of Shakespeare’s genius
Names are not about flowers
Nor about sensual fragrance of virgins
Not about martyrs and their bombed victims
Regardless of Shakespeare’s genius
He failed to make sense of names of people
In a country whose soul was sold to the devil
Barren of Shakespeare’s genius
I will suggest only three lists of names
A list of names Muslims call infidels
The victors of evil, names of rulers their sons and daughters
A list of those who did nothing and accepted everything
And those who fought to join the tragic list of victims.
If I am to write poetry with names
I shall only mention the names of victims
Of names to be extolled and wept and remember
If only to honor them.
I may write but dare not publish the names of the infidels
The crooks and the criminals, the merciless and powerful
The greedy and shameless, the traitors and soulless.
Why should a writer act like God to judge and punish
When Shakespeare notwithstanding
There’s a lot to these infidels’ names
Already published in newspapers.
Need their names be in books
Written for posterity to warn future victims
To expose their sordid past and shame their children?
To identify their descendants when they themselves
Are descendants of names illustrious in crimes?
Need a writer ransacked the records of prisons
Or the books of higher courts for the names of those
Who committed high crimes? Their names are not there.
Indeed, what gives a country the distinction
Among sister nations of having a book of dishonour.
The answer may be so simple for it has been found
Not seldom but often in print and other media the
Claim of: ”Onli in da Philippines.” The list is long
And deserves written essays of shame
and politicians’ perdition. Should God aid a writer
to write this book of names to identify the rodents
onli in da Philippines?
September 10, 2007; edited June 2019.
Kumbaga sa singitan sa trapik o sa paradahan ng sasakyan, basta may butas pasok.
Kahit mas maliit pa sa butas ng karuyum, lulusot at lulusot.
Nice parody hope you write more of this kind
Thanks.
Sad. But true in all angles…
On Mon, Jun 17, 2019, 8:01 AM The Society of Honor: the Philippines wrote:
> The Society of Honor posted: ” By JoeAm I slipped into my Star Trek space > machine to look down on Earth as if it were an alien planet. It quickly > became evident that the creatures on this watery orb are not very friendly, > and they are not very smart. Their time on the planet is e” >
This is literature asking for a white hole of Sanity, Truthfulness and Kindness from the inhabitants of rocks from the orient in the rock which is third from the sun.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_hole
I am sure earth is created by Aliens as a means of entertainment.
A kind of interplanet-Coronation Street.
Endless variations on stupid/banal themes.
And when our friends switch on their TV in the evening to see the summary, every so often they say “here we go again”
Until it starts to bore them and they switch-off earth.
Must be getting close because the invention of Trumpelstiltskin, Xi and Duterte shows that they are getting desperate in their ratings and the Grand Finale is currently being designed to raise suspension.
Don’t cancel your subscription, the most exciting part is yet to come
Men in Black, just a marble in Orion’s belt
An apt description. The energetic frenzy of these lunatics, liars and self-indulgents leads to a collapse and creation of a black hole — unfortunately it sucks-in the good and kinder Juans and Joes of the world.
My … you have gone high-tech with this black hole metaphor. Take care, Joe, that your energetic pace does not lead to a black hole albeit of a different kind. But do us a favor and make sure that when you do, you suck-in the these crazy bunch of lunatics, liars and self-indulgents.
Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa for wishing you badly in the company of these lunatics.
*****
1. It’s remarkable how the absurdity of the goings-on of nations and mankind is made clear by the framing in the post.
2. When earthlings are assessed from the viewpoint of an intelligent interstellar traveler, their pettiness and savagery become so apparent.
3. And yet there are many among us – not necessarily aliens — who can distance themselves from the fray and see the inhumanity of men. Who perhaps shake their heads in dismay, or cry out in anger, or weep in lost hope.
4. Speaking of aliens, I am reminded of Clarke’s “Childhood’s End.” In the book, the alien Overlords act as midwife to the birth and union of humanity with the Overmind, a vast cosmic intelligence. The union spells the end not only of mankind’s childhood but of humanity itself.
4.1. My preferred ending would be for the Overmind to impart some cosmic intelligence into mankind so that we would be able to manage and conduct our affairs with greater skill and kindness. A metamorphosis that would mark the beginning of adult maturity.
5. My version would be entitled “Childhood’s Promise.”
*****
Very nice vision.
edgar, Joe, et al. Thought I’d post 3 pages from “Slaughterhouse Five” that’ll be relevant (and funny!).
LOL! if that’s not apropos to the Philippines I don’t know what passage in any novels written by man thru out history, would be…. Lol!!! Hahahahahaaaaaaaa…..
And here’s Vonnegut in “Back to School” in which Rodney Dangerfield cusses him out for writing his paper for him , LOL! nothing to do with the Philippines per se, but “Back to School” is a classic film which Filipinos should watch (Ironman is in here too, 😉 ) , “I’ll tell you something else whoever did write it, doesn’t know the first thing about Kurt Vonnegut.” it’s soooo funny.
but seriously,
Vonnegut left the military after WWII, used his GI Bill to go to college, majored in Anthropology, in which he did Shapes of Stories as his thesis for a PhD or is it a Masters in folklore, having studied various stories I believe mostly Native American, comparing it to Western stories, it was rejected by the school, he went on to be an iconic American novelist. go figure.
here’s him talking about it,
Click to access Asimov_Nightfall.pdf
Nightfall by Isaac Asimov (1941) is a less optimistic story – short enough to read in one sitting, but clearly shaped by the shock of WW2 for the Russian Jewish New Yorker.
We’ve located series of civilizations, nine of them definitely, and indications of others as well, all of which have reached heights comparable to our own, and all of which, without exception, were destroyed by fire at the very height of their culture.
‘And no one could tell why. All centers of culture were thoroughly gutted by fire, with nothing left behind to give a hint as to the cause.’
Human history of course has had a number of setbacks, the most known being the Dark Ages, but there was also the decline of the Arab World after an age of science and medicine, the gradual decline of China from the Mongols onwards – lots of that.
My conjecture is that human societies – which are the sum habits plus conscious behaviors of all people in a group – develop much more slowly than the capabilities people can build – machinery, organization etc. and at some point a culture or civilization is just incompetent.
Philippine society was excellent at improvising, doing things with a familistic-barkadahan society that normally needed more formal institutions. It worked up to a certain LEVEL. Probably Metro Manila started failing as a society sometime in the late 1990s – I guess..
Asimov’s vision to keep mankind alive over millenia was the Foundation series.
It assumes that psychohistory is possible, meaning to predict and engineer history/society.
The founder of psychohistory lays foundations for a Galactic Empire – and for a think-tank “Foundation” to give it advice. In the later parts of the series, it all breaks down, but there is a “Second Foundation”, secretly created as a fallback. A bit too optimistic still, I think.
But just a little lookahead can make sense: https://www.dw.com/en/jakarta-saving-a-sinking-megacity/a-47027708 – Jakarta now can be Manila in a few years, for example. But then again, a “resilient” culture is PROUD of playing things by ear.
As for the entire Philippines – I don’t think anyone expected that someone would actually step by step control its seas, least of all a formerly LAND-BASED culture like China. The encroachment has been going on for years, two decades, but since Filipino culture is based on immediacy first and personal immediacy second, it only matter when people are involved and more when people one knows are directly involved. The frog boils..
Edgar,
Many of us have probably seen this:
BIBLE – Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
The link to this, below, can be provided later, if necessary:
x-
“England has two books, the Bible and Shakespeare. England made Shakespeare, but the Bible made England.”
– Victor Hugo
And of course, there was a vast global dimension. When we recall how English colonies were beginning to spread around the world in 1611 — how a settlement was already developing tentatively in Virginia (from 1607), with Massachusetts only a few years away — we realize how wonderfully the translators timed their work, how providentially. Over the coming centuries, the Christianity of the British Isles would become a driving force in Christian expansion worldwide — in North America, in Africa, in the Caribbean, in South Asia — and wherever those believers went, they brought with them the structures and cadences of the King James Bible. Whenever and wherever English-speaking Christians debated their faith, when they debated the nuances of words and phrases, the words over which they battled were those of a common Bible translation, the one that appeared in 1611.
-x
The leader of the translators was Lancelot Andrewes.
LCpl_X may want to note what Kurt Vonnegut has said about Andrewes:
“In his 1997 novel Timequake, Kurt Vonnegut suggested that Andrewes was “the greatest writer in the English language,” citing as proof the first few verses of the 23rd Psalm.” Wikipedia
(Andrewes was first mentioned at TSOH here?: http://j.mp/ja-andrewes )
President Duterte leads a country that is supposed to be “Christian” but whose citizens are, by and large, not aware (or do not care?) about what Jesus Christ (whose name they use – unwittingly or not) has said,
“Search the scriptures … they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 KJV
Perhaps Wil should interview PDU30 and ask him if he knows where or what the “scriptures” are.
Perhaps Wil (and others) should also ask themselves the same question because knowing them will, I believe, help see what can get the Philippines free from … “lunacy, lies, and unkindness.”
Clarification: I had meant to reply to Edgar’s
“4.1. My preferred ending would be for the Overmind to impart some cosmic intelligence into mankind so that we would be able to manage and conduct our affairs with greater skill and kindness.”
Thanks
‘The leader of the translators was Lancelot Andrewes.
LCpl_X may want to note what Kurt Vonnegut has said about Andrewes:
“In his 1997 novel Timequake, Kurt Vonnegut suggested that Andrewes was “the greatest writer in the English language,” citing as proof the first few verses of the 23rd Psalm.” Wikipedia’
thanks, i7sharp!!! I’d not read Timequake, just his first 5 or 6 novels, to include “Mother Night”, which is by far my favourite of all Vonnegut novels.
I’ll have to check out Timequake and read more on Lancelot Andrews.
My favourite character from that time period/history of England is ,
“Thomas More: …And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned around on you–where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country’s planted thick with laws from coast to coast–man’s laws, not God’s–and if you cut them down…d’you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake.”
― A Man for All Seasons
PARALLELS WORTH NOTING
Relatively small things lately, but there is parallelism here: Xi’s predicament in HK; the internal Whitehouse poll showing Trump’s re-election campaign not doing well; Duterte’s dilemma over the ramming of the Filipino Fishermen’s boat by the Chinese; and, of course, the never ending Brexit thingy are worth nothing. As if in some sort of synergy or sympathetic vibration.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/233282-duterte-statement-chinese-sinking-filipino-boat-recto-bank
As predicted. Duterte finally decides to lip sync China’s it was just one of those usual maritime collisions. Captain Kirk: Beam me up Scotty, its pretty sh**y down here!
Scotty: Captain, thats because thats no black hole but someone’s bunghole!
it’s all about connections, caliphman (as per Vonnegut above), DU30 can threaten war with Canada (because they’re not connected, aren’t gonna go to war, simply because its Canada);
but China, you cannot threaten war with, they’ll take it seriously and crush DU30 with a single flick of their pinky finger. DU30 ‘s read the Gospels too, knows who’s connected and who’s not.
He’s Filipino. but He’s no Billy Pilgrim.
He can’t threaten war but he could lodge a protest. Trouble is, Digong has been strategically STUPID. Put nearly all his eggs in one basket.
Japan was probably the second basket, but half-full. You depend too much, they OWN ya.
PNoy was right in diversifying relations: Japan, EU, Korea, ASEAN – not just USA.
But the old Philippine ruling class instinct is look for a patron, a master. Manila was subservient to Brunei until 1571, when the cousins of the Brunei Sultan who ruled Manila quickly went Catholic and swore allegiance to King Philipp II. Other chieftains did the same. On June 12, 1898, Aguinaldo mentioned the “Benevolent North American Nation” in his very Declaration of Independence. The Yanks who had brought him home on a ship and who he had allowed to raise flags all over Manila – against the protests of General Luna.
Same game 1942-1945, nearly everybody was pro-Japan, then grin at McArthur again. Roxas giving the US full access to natural resources from 1946-1976 via amendment. Parity ended during Marcos Martial Law and his cronies bought American mining firms etc., then the 1990s brought the 1995 Mining Act and worldwide firms got in, not good for nature but good for the pockets of many a Filipino politician I guess. China creeped in.
Two decades of trying to harness neoliberalism for the gain of the fat cats finally failed, even if BPO was a success for a while and even the gambling stuff (easy money, all of it) brought profit and taller buildings in Manila. China, more coordinated, used its chances.
(but anyhow, what has happened is NOT of the same gravity as the shootout between Filipino and American soldiers that started the Philippine-American War. Aguinaldo could bury his plans of a comfortable life as an American crony when that happened.
As for Vonnegut, the fishermen do generate a certain sympathy even if they are “just” little people. This is why Digong and his clique are obviously nervous. Could hit their mass base. They can get more sympathy than those seen as others. But let’s see.)
He thought he was sleeping with two giants, but turns out DU30 is actually the gay lover of just one (Chinese giant) only. Where is his deft fingering on the other giant, caressing of the other, some tongue action here or both, thus magnifying the pleasure for the dude in the middle (DU30).
Not so deft in threesomes after all, huh? LOL! so true, Ireneo. this playing China and the US game is more difficult than originally thought. watching porn does not make an expert, LOL!
Duterte did not want to use our Navy because the last time our Navy showed up in a maritime incident, China cried foul, but per Lacson he can use the MDT.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1131387/lacson-rues-dutertes-heartbreaking-stand-on-boat-ramming-incident
They cried foul then, but they are now militarizing their Coast Guard.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2138257/chinas-military-police-given-control-coastguard-beijing
@LcplX,
Duterte is a Chinese lapdog, period. That’s what happens when you’re indebted to a bullying power – you’d be willing to kiss their behind to stay in good graces, national dignity and self-respect be damned.
The incident was far from being an accident.
Ireneo, Micha,
yup. And per Ireneo’s point, now I want Wil to interview these fishermen. Give face to names, and their plight, and their version of events. Give ’em more air time!!! So much more ironic if they and their town or region was pro-DU30 along.
Let’s make these fishermen, now fishers of men!
the fishermen went to malakanyang on falsre pretenses, they were to meet the president kuno and ended up being chewed up and then, spat out badly by pinyol!
I was disappointed the fishermen ‘abandoned’ their captain and did not stay behind with him. one for all, all for one! only the captain stood his ground; the rest, nadulas!
If I were to fight for these fishermen, I hope they wont do to me what they did to their captain and abandoned me as well. I want them to stand by me! fight with me! not let me do all the fighting for them, just so they can rest easy and watch the fight.
Thanks, are there any articles or news TV now featuring these fishermen or the captain, i’d like to hear straight from the horses mouth, their narration of events and their feelings of DU30 in this matter.
or have they been co-opted now, and paid to change stories, keep quiet now, or simply shy away from all the attention. Maybe some enterprising Filipino filmmaker could do a movie similar to, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_33_(film)
Maybe get Lou Diamond Phillips again, this time to play one of the Filipino fishermen, or maybe the Captain. For sure, Jet Li should be the captain for the Chinese vessel.
I was expecting the same old song and dance from this puppy dog admin. I have never been this disgusted to have my expectations turn out just as I expected.
The Philippines under Spain and USA was, at least, marked by acts of defiance. Yet here we are, 2019 and a seemingly independent country with an “independent” foreign policy is acting like it should swap places with Hong Kong.
methink, carrie lam’s error is not having the military and uniformed personnel all behind her, paid them so well: stratospheric! and made them lose the will to do almost anything much like what duterte had done to the military. his wish is their command na. it’s raining medals of sikatuna. the more medals, the higher pension will be, and the more benefits to dependents, housing, education, travel overseas, etc.
men and women with guns and in uniform all heading the call of the hip pocket, and when they retire, given top jobs uli sila! does not matter if expertise is lacking. unleash on the people! their impunity and immunity have no bounds.
our military and unformed personnel would probably not want to swap places with hongkong, in my humblest of opinion po.
In what happened recently, making Mainland China blink, I would love the idea of the Philippines swapping places with Hong Kong.
Duterte’s lapdogs are at it again.
Can anybody shed light on what incident this walking verbal diarrhea is talking about?https://i.redd.it/6sfhcyyshz431.jpg
ang lapdog na yan has not been vaccinated against parvo virus at may distemper pa.
I have stop listening to the lapdog long ago. waste of time.
Lil,
it was the Tubbataha reef incident were corals were damaged by a US Navy ship.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/19918-us-navy-ship-damaged-coral-in-tubbataha
Tinutukan ng baril?
Tinutukan may not mean point blank, it may also mean guns where pointed at their direction.If Sassot means point blank then that is indeed verbal diarrhea.
But the Rangers were indeed barred from boarding the ship.
Salot has a track record of being a verbal diarrhea for this administration. I’m more inclined to believe the latter which is a made up fantasy and in the absence of an article that accurately describes whether guns were involved and what kind, Salot is just being typical.
Okay, I’ve googled and every article I’ve read on the incident just describes the scenario as having armed sailors that forced the rangers to back off like this one
https://www.stripes.com/news/philippines-to-fine-us-navy-after-uss-guardian-ran-aground-on-unesco-heritage-reef-1.204857
Nowhere does it describe as it being pointblank, though. I imagine it’s standard protocol for USN to prevent unauthorized entry by having armed sailors on deck. They probably didn’t recognise the park rangers so the boarding was “sudden” to them.
Still quite a reach around for Salot. Was the USN there to rob Philippine fishing rights? No.
Thanks for the additional inputs, Lil.
My latest tweet:
”A friend asked me if Ambassador Zhao is now running the Philippines. I’m inclined to say no, just foreign affairs, defense, and construction of exclusive Chinese commercial and residential zones. Farming is left to Filipinos. Fishing is Zhao’s purview, it would seem.”
Nice!
Nice.
Tubbataha has very shallow waters so it is not unusual for international vessels running aground in its reef due to poor navigational maps provided by the Philippines. Before the grounding of USS Guardian in Tubbataha there were at least a dozen incidents of ship grounding including the Green Peace vessel Rainbow Warrior.
The U.S. Navy concluded that towing the ship off the reef would cause more damage and decided to dismantle the ship in place. The U.S. Government apologized for the incident and relieved five officers from duty. On January 20, 2015, the United States Government paid to the Philippine government a total of 87 million Philippine pesos – 59 million Philippine pesos for the damage and another 29 million pesos to reimburse for services provided by the Philippine Coast Guard.
Because it’s a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site, there are Philippine soldiers guarding the area. The idiot Sasot is just spinning the incident of tutukan but the overall operation to get the USS Guardian off the reef was done in a cordial and friendly manner.
Thanks Micha.
A lot of inventions have been done by people.
Coffee without caffeine
Beer without alcohol.
Cars without driver,
But still no government without idiots.
🙂
For me the best invention is cheese burger without cheese.
Can I have cheeseburger with no cheese?
No, you cannot. A cheeseburger without cheese is a hamburger, not a cheeseburger with no cheese. One could certainly argue an opposing view, but here’s why I must disagree:
The only way one could have a cheeseburger with no cheese rather than simply a hamburger is to start with a cheeseburger, then remove the cheese. I think it would be impossible to remove every last minuscule bit of the cheese, so it could never be completely without cheese. That would mean that it is not a burger with NO cheese, but instead just a burger with an extremely disappointing amount of cheese.
https://www.quora.com/Can-you-order-a-cheeseburger-without-cheese
🙂
Haha. And if the hamburger is made out of seaweed or other vegetation, it is not a hamburger or cheeseburger but a plantburger. Pickles are always optional.
Hear, hear. Waiting for the Burger King’s “Impossible Burger” — a veggie based burger — being now marketed in the US, to be marketed here too. But to the purist, there will be nothing like the toxic beef in the burger. 🙂
Wala pa ring tatalo sa cheese topped burger 😛
😊
Nice one.
DUTERTE JUST GIFTED THE CPP
The President just gave the CPP an inspired and just cause to rally the people to the criticism the people themselves share, in this GMA News article:
CPP: Duterte is spineless amid Recto Bank incident with China
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/698059/cpp-duterte-is-spineless-amid-recto-bank-incident-with-china/story/
Even DFA Sec Locsin in this news article entitled Failure to rescue people in distress, a cause of concern, DFA secretary is not consistent with Duterte’s statement on the incident, after the latter found — at last — his tongue to speak:
https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/failure-to-rescue-people-in-distress-a-cause-of-concern-dfa-secretary/ar-AAD0PsQ?ocid=spartanntp
THE EFFECTIVE LONGEVITY OF A NATIONAL ISSUE
What is the effective duration of a national issue in the Philippines? Is it enough for the President, like a movie director, to say “cut” and the issue is laid quickly to rest?
To the Hongkongese the Extradition Bill being rammed down their throats is an existential issue. Is the ramming of the Filipino fishermen’s boat an existential issue to the Filipinos? By itself, it may not be such an issue, but the wider implication certainly is.
It is interesting that in both HK and PH cases, the big origin of the separate issues is China.
ABANGAN
The New Senate does not meet until July. I believe a Senator like Lacson has a chance to shine by urging a probe on the issue. [As a bonus, there is a big political gain to be harvested, for his future political plans.] If he does, we will have fun galore watching the trio — Go, Marcos and Bato — do their China Scripts. If Gordon is still Chairman of the BR Committee under which the probe will be handled, so much the better.
Agree. I note Sen. Lacson’s call yesterday to declare the Mutual Defense Treaty in effect to balance the power in Philippine seas. His candidacy for President has begun, and that policy initiative for sure resonates with me.
Just smiling to myself, as I sip my first cup of coffee: Poe is probably thinking — gee, that is my New Mamasapano and Lacson is trying to beat me to it. To counter that I must ask Mom to burnish the FPJ flicks and start showing them ASAP and not wait for 2022.
Yes, I’m sure she is scratching her head as he gets the press time and she is nowhere woman.
https://opinion.inquirer.net/122043/are-we-a-slave-of-china
Heydarian’s take on the Reed Bank sinking in the context of China’s occuption strategy of their 9Dash claim and their push for global hegemony. In Beijing’s strategic vision, China’s rise as the dominant global economic and military power is a given and it is prepared to do whatever is necessary to expedite and fulfill its vision. Heydarian shares the view that in China’s land and marine grabbing campaign it utilizes its trawler fishing fleet as an auxiliary extension of its military.. The fiction being that encounters between this fleet and local fishermen are civilian, kind of like the use of their coast guard, instead of gray naval ship muscle to control disputed waters. As I mentioned before, this auxiliary arm is less disciplined, trained, and subject to act out of hubris and arrogance in conduct counter to Beijing’s creeping occupation campaign.
Heydarian does not directly answer the rhetorical question posed in his headline but perhaps its unnecessary as it is obvious whose strings Duterte and his henchmen respond to. Its a question that the broad masses of the Filipino people must answer. They face being enslaved by their own choice to a local tyrant with the prospect of being further sold into slavery by this tyrant to China.
Keen observation, that the people enslave themselves.
My response to this that as a people Filipinos do not niw have the burning desire for freedom and anger against those who would enslave them to march in the millions in public protest as they did in Hongkong and in the EDSA revolution. They have a very long fuse and its not sure what it willvtake to light it. The link below is the impromptu anthem from Les Misetables that the Hongkong marchers have adopted much like Ang Bayan Ko became the rallying song for the marches against Marcos.
The Captain and his Commander..
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2665907453442565&id=100000700086765
Thanks. I shared on my FB.
*****
Salt of the earth people.
*****
Powerful. In a language and portrayal of circumstances Juan and Juana de la Cruz can understand. A gem of the blog. Thanks, Irineo.
DICTATOR’S BOTTOM LINE
I was reading a memo of George Friedman of GPF (Geopolitical Futures) and he expressed this truism about Dictators, like Xi Jingping:
Xi wants the economic value [of HK], but he cannot risk the political price [of mass arrests now, and the spread of Hong Kong’s resistance to the rest of China]… In the not-too-distant future, he will sacrifice much of the former to limit the latter… Dictators live by the sense of their irresistible power. If Hong Kong resists successfully, Xi will be weakened. And he can’t let that happen.
Our local Wannabe Dictator may believe in that truism too. Unfortunately, his action — on the ramming of the Filipino fishermen’s boat by the Chinese — is animated not so much by his own conviction after a week long silence as by the conviction of his patron Xi, or rather, by Xi’s mere envoy, Zhao. I am disappointed, to say the least.
In this regard, the colorful DFA Sec Locsin is his better, in my opinion.
[As you would note, Joe, I too am an admirer of sorts of our DFA Sec. With the indulgence of our contributor to TSH, Lil. 🙂 ]
I find the Secretary’s tweets alternately infuriating and enlightening. I note that he is now followed by a pack of pro-China advocates. He is doing his job in impossible circumstances, and is not a catastrophe. How is that for a compliment?
I would say a balanced or fair assessment.
His intelligence, command of the English language and political experience — he was a member of the House for several terms, if I recall right — come handy in his current work. I believe he is enjoying himself.
Agree!
Ha?!!!
🤔
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/176575/panelo-rescue-of-mariners-not-ordered-by-unclos-if-they-pose-security-threat
If drowning people are a security threat, do not rescue them???
😡😡😡
So the Chinese Maritime Militia is not guilty until proven innocent.
Most nonsense imaginable, the Admin’s almost desperate effort to defend China. Not the drowning fishermen. Truly incredible and pathetic.
I guess the only thing worse is the defeatist surrender of a president who thinks his duty is burdensome.
Translated Quote.
(You know, with all the outrage and one national official even urging sending the gray ships, warships in the South China Sea, I want it. If I have to choose, I want to take action, but I am not in my boyhood age anymore. I have a duty that is a burden, sometimes more than I can carry. I can almost cry.) (Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)
“You know, with all the outrage and one national official even urging sending the gray ships, warships in the South China Sea, I want it. If I have to choose, I want to take action, but I am not in my boyhood age anymore. I have a duty that is a burden, sometimes more than I can carry. I can almost cry.”
Let us grant that as a true and an honest, from-the-heart, expression. But isn’t that the disastrous result of an earlier short-term strategy or a muddling-along strategy? The better thing to have been done is long-term strategizing with short and medium term moves or tactics in support of the LT strategy. An initial over commitment to China, no thanks to the machinations of Personal Assistant Go, was the original sin.
Many were skeptic of the independent foreign policy and rightly so.
What if we had an honest to goodness policy like that?
Not only is Panelo a supposed lawyer, pero mahina yata sa pick-up ang bata natin. The link is dated 19 June, today. Sen Drilon made that statement about the restriction to rescuing people in distress at sea, very early on.
Wala na yatang masabi si Panelo. PALUSOT lang yan, karl.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/697572/drilon-chinese-vessel-abandonment-of-filipino-crew-a-violation-of-unclos-provision/story/
I found this one and Poe was mentioned here asking for the Chinese to initiate the investigation.
As we now know they sticking to the being besieged allegation and they are telling the Palace to stick to the script.
About Lacson.
In the disqus threads on news about Lacson.
Both sides are calling him fence sitter/ flip-flopper.
Watch “Death of Stalin” and observe how Nikita Kruschchev played by Steve Buscemi plays his game in that movie.
That is Lacson.
I think it was NH who first recommended that here, or maybe it was you.
I remember mentioning that “Death of Stalin” here, but I do not remember exactly now why I did.
It will come back to us.
I’ve noticed. One also said he was a marcos crony/executioner. I’ve not researched that.
Ping Lacson knows more than he is telling
By RACHEL A.G. REYES, TMT
September 19, 2017
Ping Lacson has been in the orbit of power for four decades. Graduating from the Philippine Military Academy in 1971, he was recruited into the Metrocom Intelligence Service Group (MISG), Marcos’ elite anti-subversion squad that gained a reputation for ruthlessness, corruption and impunity. Empowered and massively funded, MISG cops established a deadly reputation for implementing state terror and acting as the regime’s brutal operatives. “These top police,” writes McCoy, “engaged in systemic human rights abuses and syndicated gambling, drugs, or smuggling.”
https://www.manilatimes.net/ping-lacson-knows-telling/351448/
+ Kuratong Baleleng run out
+ Bubby Dacer disappearance
Here is another article, but only mentioning him as one of the torturers per Mc Coy.
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/146867-look-back-philippine-constabulary-marcos
He also worked for Estrada.
Then withdrew support upon his downfall.
He has some bones buried in his backyard it seems.
Yes and if he does run for president, they will be unburied.
As the saying goes — it takes a thief, to catch a thief; or variation of that saying. And an in-depth training in politics from the genuine master himself, not the trainee.
The Tagalog version shows more contempt.
Interesting that phrase you used:: Poe was mentioned here asking for the Chinese to initiate the investigation. Poe doing the safe way not the highway — why not our own people doing the investigation; why ask the Chinese to initiate the investigation. Timidity, unlike her gung-ho of the Mamasapano days. Poe, your slip is showing.
I echo what you feel.
This is proven to be very apt.
“four whoresmen of the apocalypse bend over and take one for China.”
The current blog is turning out to be rich in comments, including the discovery or resurfacing of truths forgotten or unknown to some.
Here is a thought: Trillanes and Lacson and their past misadventures or sins — whether defensible or not. But one thing I share with Irineo: Trillanes is no shoe-pounding Nikita Kruschchev.
I remember asking you about this NH.
Nikita Khrushchev’s shoe-banging incident occurred during the 902nd Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly held in New York in 1960. During the session on 12 October, Nikita Khrushchev, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, pounded his shoe on his delegate-desk in protest at a speech by Philippine delegate Lorenzo Sumulong.[1][2][3]
—-
We need another Komong Sumulong to would go eye eye with the likes of Kruschev.
All we have are those benders.
The more they put this under the rug, the more outrageous they become.
Trillanes faced Arroyo, Enrile and Duterte but he may be out of office for now, but he said he would not be silent.
Past sins- it is relative.
it depends of whom we have forgiven and forgotten.
Have people really forgiven the Marcoses?
Karl, to clarify my own view: Trillanes had some past misadventures which may be defended; Lacson had some past sins which may be difficult to defend. But that is just me.
Thanks for the clarification.
Anak ng tinapa. Has the US lost its spine?
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/698161/us-sees-recto-bank-ramming-an-accident-but-wants-accountability/story/
Why does the ambassador’s statement seem to mirror that of Duterte’s underlings? Ugh. DDS are gonna insufferable
Diplomats would be considered undiplomatic to oppose the host country. The ambassador is also on record as saying an intentional ramming by a militarized boat could key implementation of the Mutual Defense Treaty. It’s up to the Philippines how to use US power.
“Diplomats would be considered undiplomatic to oppose the host country. ”
The previous ambassador would like to speak to you Joe, Lol.
Call my cynical, again but Trump has a history of flip flopping.
Seems like there were more FONOPS during Obama’s time than Trump’s.
Ambassador Goldberg made President Duterte angry and was replaced shortly afterward. An Ambassador is not a political advocate, or ought not be one, but a middle man who can speak with both sides. Ambassador Kim seems to be doing a good job of that. He seldom speaks to Philippine policies or acts unless he has something positive to say. He speaks at a tangent about things like the MDT to avoid any confrontation. He meets with President Duterte now and then.
President Trump is replacing the head of US military forces with a man who is a student of Asia and China. That is telling as to what he thinks is important. The US has been stiffening her pushback by selling military gear to Taiwan and regularly sailing through international waters. I think that stiffening and pushback will continue. Trump thinks (correctly, I think) that China has played the US for a fool, and his policy is to change that. I don’t like a lot of his policies, but I do like his China policy.
THE POWERFUL IMPACT OF AN IDEA REINFORCED AND INGRAINED
What happens to a comfortable family whose father impresses the family of an inferiority complex; and a poor family whose father impresses the family that they are slaves of no one? The first family becomes a Philippines; the second becomes a Vietnam.
Fits perfectly.
Exactly:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2808129072592084&id=932003013538042
Thanks fellows: @Joe, @Irineo. I want to hang on a bit longer to what I consider a defining moment — longer than the typical news cycle of events. Getting sentimental in my twilight years here.
The Vietnamese, specifically those who fought the US are still very proud that they kicked our behinds (rightly so, IMHO). An accomplishment of that magnitude i’m sure goes a long way towards positive national attitude.
Teach winning , not losing. If you’re constantly losing, you’ll assume you’ll keep on losing, have a win or two. This fishing boat ramming, I think could be an easy win. Then parade these fishermen as heroes.
I never undrstood why Filipino officers needed to sit in these types of photo ops, it’s all about optics. Don’t sit, period; don’t get carried when walking in water or mud. Look like a warrior.
Teaching winning is rather unhealthy imho. Trump is a prime example of somebody who will do anything to win. Anything.
My prime example of a “real winner” is in Anthony Bourdain in Vietnam episode where a Vietnamese fighter lived many years underground and surfaced only short before the war ended. He made it clear that all visitors are welcome, including previous enemies. But if anybody would try to occupy his country again, he would fight and kill them. After having said that, he shared a barbequed fish with Bourdain and enjoyed with pride what beauty Vietnam had to offer.
To me, that’s completely different from “winning”. This guy would not fight to win. He would slice your throat because you violated his country. But if you behave, you have gained a lovely friend.
It’s not the size of the dog in the fight. It is the size of fight in the dog. And that comes with pride and “belonging”.
The second is here, you find it in most Filipinos, even the OFW’s who dream of returning. In the students who want to enrich their country, all over.
But the first??? Pride in a self-confessed murderer as president and a whole leadership who’s only priority is to enrich themselves??? Not much to be proud of.
Winning has nothing to do with it. In order to win, you must survive. It becomes impossible to conquer a country when its people are beyond seeing survival as the first priority.
With pride comes an erect posture in pictures. Real pride. Not some superficial ceremonies.
For sure there’s different definitions of winning and warrior (most Vienam vets over here, say they won, the people and politicians back home lost); for others Ghandi is a warrior (albeit for love and justice).
I’d not seen that Bourdain show, but have seen the Filipino one, where the show’s producer’s yaya was featured. I’ll have to Netflix it. thanks.
But I’d say that Vietnamese soldier (BBQ fish dude) is a winner; if he’d been a loser he’d say something like here you can have my daughter or wife as a prostitute or you can ram us with your fishing vessel all day (and all night), same-same with the daughter sentiment really. 😉
So a winner’s attitude is the same as warrior’s attitude, which is by all means don’t take crap from anyone. Maybe that’s the same as Trump as you say, no one’s brought him down thus far after all, but whatever your definition of winner and warrior is, it’s
not only to survive but thrive,
that, is it, Pablo. Simple.
NH, I like that strong, succinct sentiment.
I would add that even if only one sensible scion of that “inferior” family takes it to the heart, a good tradition is set to motion.
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/231854-profile-nuelle-duterte-takes-back-her-name
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=460399917839940&id=100016098071117
Thanks for these Irineo.
Bottomline: Can’t blame the Captain for changing his tune.
Did that niece and her family have existing “drame” with the Dutertes or are her criticisms political all new??? that would paint a clearer picture , me thinks.
*“drama”
LCPL_X, try reading her blog linked from her FB page. She has been critical since 2016 and criticized herself for having been too quiet. I chanced upon her in FB in 2017 and quickly noticed she was for real. Also, her starting her own life in USA inspite of the privilege she could have had is an indicator. Try following her on twitter @nuelleduterte and form your own impression.
Go from here:
https://m.facebook.com/story/graphql_permalink/?graphql_id=UzpfSTEwMDAxNjA5ODA3MTExNzo0MzcxMjY5NTM1MDA1NzA%3D
https://the2016aftermath.wordpress.com/2019/05/09/the-davao-template/
*****
A gem.
*****
And a powerful comment coming from you.
We must look beyond our weaknesses and use all available strengths.
We should choose our battles, but not feel like losers from the beginning.
Another infuriating thing to mention while we are atill at this topic.
We do not question what China is doing at our EEZ, but after Vietnam’s rescue instead of thanking them, we tell them that they have no business in the EEZ.
https://opinion.inquirer.net/122109/thank-you-vietnam
I wondered earlier why the Vietnamese fishermen were so far off.
HK does it again.
It’s former DFA secDel Rosario this time and DOJ sec said he should have learned from what happened to Ex ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.
Grrrrr.😡😡😡
This is short of the Philippines having an extradition treaty with the mainland with all those questioned in immigration because of saying something against Xi, will be extradited to China.
At least it is made clear by the HK citizens that the Chinese gov can’t redo the Tiananmen Square. Here tayo na nga ang agrabyado pagagalitan pa ang naagrabyado, sesermonan, I intimidate. #%^*=*+
I gather that the Maritime authorities of last and present said that even if it was an accident, The Chinese should not have abandoned them and this Piñol telling the Vietnamese that you were not suppose to be there,but I am glad you were. Was that his version of thanks?
Can he tell China to stay out?
I am rambling again and mixing the issues.
Lying Pinol.
Looks like a very casual convo to me. Not!
Offtopic: double-team diplomacy at work. Except the bad guys are double-teaming.
I know I am mad at China and Hong Kong, but why is Del Rosario still carrying a diplomatic passport?
I tried to find it here, but could not.
https://consular.dfa.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77
I don’t know, perhaps it’s not expired? Nonetheless that episode among many is becoming more and more telling in that this puppet government is more interested in becoming a Province of China not only through appeasement but outright following what the Beijing leadership is commanding them to do.
Thanks ML. That is what this government is showing us.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/22/19/so-be-it-del-rosario-says-wont-challenge-dfa-plan-to-cancel-courtesy-diplomatic-passports
I was thinking that it was a privilege of sorts given to former DFA Chiefs, and it is confirmed that it is. Now that privilege will be no more.
I don’t know if the questioning of Sotto that if he left the Senate will he be given such a privilege has anything to do with it.
His diplomatic passport is 5 years.. So probably not yet expired.
Officers
Five (5) years validity
Up to given validity
https://consular.dfa.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77
Thanksx
He was DFA sec Feb 2011 to March 2016.
That means he renewed it before resigning?
The 5 year is from moment of renewing..So if he did renew it in 2015 it will be valid till 2020.
It’s not about the passport, it’s the office/position held. Just merely having an official or diplomatic passport doesn’t do it; you have to have official capacity. Your visit to said country has to be official.
Funny, he said the DFA knew he was using such a passport and informed them as such, and I’m inclined to say that Locsin told Chinese immigration officials a different story.
I don’t think so. I think Locsin is tiring of China. Also, I believe 2 DFA staff from HK were with Del Rosario.
OFF TOPIC BUT ON TOPIC IN ITS PARALLELS
Trump has painted himself into a classic dilemma which may be summed as: Tails, he loses; Heads, Iran wins.
This is because Trump’s rhetoric, playing loose with facts, does not give him a clear option to respond to Iran’s provocations — a direct result of his breaking the Obama-brokered Nuclear Deal with Iran — without risking loss of political brownie points from his political base [having espoused no military entanglements his base has embraced] and taking away valuable time from his Presidential Re-election Campaign. If he stumbles into a war he needs, also, former allies which he has alienated.
As one commenter said, China, Russia and North Korea must be watching this development with keen interest.
One can draw explicit parallels here with the local scene. However, I end this comment without doing so.
Indeed uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. without adding Trump’s peculiar ways.
Uneasily tells lies the clown that wears a crown.
NH & Ireneo, here’s a good article i just read on this, copy/pasted here in full:
Politics & Policy
Trump Doesn’t Need to Attack Iran: He’s Winning Already
The president should hold fire. A military strike would damage America’s interests and play right into Ali Khamenei’s hands.
By Bobby Ghosh
June 21, 2019, 4:15 AM PDT
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-06-21/trump-doesn-t-need-to-attack-iran-he-s-winning-already
What we’re seeing unfold in the Persian Gulf is a confrontation between a U.S. president who doesn’t know when he’s winning, and a Supreme Leader who doesn’t know when he’s losing. If Donald Trump changes his mind again and orders an attack on Iranian targets, he will have played into Ali Khamenei’s hands.
It’s too early to exhale after Trump’s decision to cancel a military strike last night. If he could order the jets scrambled once – without giving Congress or American allies much time to consult and advise – he can do so again. The next time, he may not call it off.
But that would be to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Trump seems to have lost sight of the fact that his “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign against the Islamic Republic is working: Iran’s economy is feeling great pain, and its isolation is deepening. For all of its proclamations of resistance and resilience, the regime in Tehran is plainly alarmed.
In its panic, it has started to lash out in ways that hurt its own interests, and erode the sympathy it has enjoyed in international circles since Trump pulled the U.S. out of the nuclear deal last year. The threat to resume uranium enrichment, and to exceed agreed limits, is already losing Iran the support of the Europeans, as are the attacks on neutral shipping near the Persian Gulf. Khamenei’s humiliation of the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who made a good-faith effort to mediate an end to the confrontation, has cost Iran more goodwill. The shooting down of an American drone was yet another demonstration of the regime’s capacity for self-harm.
And Trump was, for once, playing his cards reasonably well. He stated his openness to negotiations and his desire to avoid war. He dismissed the tanker attacks as “very minor” and attributed the downing of the drone as the work of a “loose and stupid” individual. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also let the Iranians know that if their future actions caused the death of an American service member, it would trigger reprisals.
This is exactly the right response to Iran’s provocations: To brush them off and allow the regime to damage itself in the court of world opinion, even as it is continually weakened by sanctions. For the first time since Trump torched the nuclear deal, it was just conceivable that he would be able to show the Iranian regime up for what it is: A danger to its neighbors and the wider world.
An American military strike now, even if it avoided civilian targets, would risk undoing all that. It will be hard to justify to the international community – and indeed, to Americans – that the shooting down of an unmanned aircraft merits such a response. This would be true even if the Trump administration were to supply incontrovertible proof that the drone hadn’t crossed into Iranian airspace.
Worse, there’s no reason to believe that a military strike would alter the behavior of the Iranian regime. Much more likely, Khamenei would use any American aggression as a way to rally public opinion among his countrymen, even among those who despise him. A disproportionate U.S. response would also let his regime reclaim the sympathy he has lost because of his recent recklessness. Khamenei might be tempted to keep provoking U.S. military strikes for just these reasons.
While it goes without saying that a military strike would panic oil markets and threaten world trade, this would take a greater toll on the U.S. than on Iran. Khamenei might conclude that his economy is in a shambles anyway so what’s to lose? To paraphrase the old saying about wrestling with a pig, a military exchange with the Islamic Republic would hurt both the U.S. and Iran – but Khamenei would enjoy it.
What should Trump do instead? Hold his nerve, keep his patience and let Iran dig itself into a deeper hole. Allow Khamenei to drain the pool of international sympathy for Iran. And allow the “maximum pressure” campaign to keep weakening the regime. Khamenei may never recognize that he is losing. But it’s time for Trump to see that he’s winning.
I must admit to wading and not taking enough time pondering the topic; that there are different [and diametrically opposed] views. The problem is that, with Trump, his itchy twitter fingers and moves; and his domestic political concerns factor heavily in his foreign moves, methinks.
But here is a more nuanced views from Peter Bergen, one of the more experienced US national security analysts, I believe:
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/21/opinions/trump-smart-call-on-iran-bergen/index.html
Interesting too that the political leaders over there have expressed diverging “red lines.” But I suppose that is the “beauty” of democracy.
“itchy twitter fingers” Love that expression. Also the inconsistencies inherent in democracy.
So someone told Trump that airstrikes are so two years ago(Syria).
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1133150/us-struck-iranian-military-computers-this-week-ap-sources
It was interesting, that decision not to strike back. Evidently Donald Trump had no desire to kill Iranians, although his defense hawks (e.g., Bolton) didn’t mind. I think being President is not all that easy, especially when raids like that that killed Osama Bin Laden are undertaken. Or drone strikes. So tough guy Trump decided not to do what namby pamby Obama did do. Trump knows Iranians, so it goes to show that people can be heartless unless it touches them at a personal level. Too bad Duterte did not know any of the fishermen on the rammed boat.
So true.
Obama was about domestic issues (basically , Make America Great Again), he had a hawk as Sec. of State, that’s Hillary. Wars, unintended consequences.
W. Bush was also about domestic issues (Make America Great Again too), then 9/11 happened and it just so happened that he had Bolton and Rumsfeld, hawks again.
Obama & W. Bush listened to their hawks. thus unable to make America Great Again.
So long as Trump doesn’t listen to his hawks, everything should be good. Make America Great Again.
that for me essentially means bring manufacturing/technology back, no more stupid big wars where we don’t benefit, and stop giving taxpayer money abroad with no return in investment.
No more world police.
if you guys notice even in Syria when Trump attacked there, he coordinated with the Russians to ensure no one got killed unnecessarily. We warned them. That is a guy that doesn’t wanna go to war, folks.
Celebrate it. don’t itch to go to war.
@LCpl_X
You forget about the trade wars and its consequences, unintended or otherwise.
karl,
I’m more just focused on M.E. wars, since for some reason (OIL) we always go to wars there.
But as for trade wars, Trump seems to be moving things in the right direction. Now Mexico has agreed to keep asylum seekers from Central America who want to go to the US in Mexico, thus it behooves them not to let them in their southern border in the first place.
As for China, 5G is on hold now indefinitely. Rare earth metals was suppose to be China’s retort, none yet. So there’s a pause.
So I think Trump has stumbled onto something here, that past Presidents didn’t think they had the power to do. Namely re-arrange the status quo of the trade disparity.
I’m no economist or trade expert so, I’ll await what happens, but so far Trump seems to be benefitting from all his shaking things up.
For Middle East wars, so far as we don’t go to any more unnecessary wars there (I’ll be pissed if we again do) , then I’m happy. But I have been on record here commenting that I rather we be friends with Iran than Saudi Arabia.
Shi’a islam is a lot more easy to work with; Sunni islam especially Wahhabism is a big problem, and the Saudi princes are a big problem. The Iranian mullahs are reasonable, though as rich and as dirrrty as the Saudi princes and ulemas.
Iranians are more orderly, thus more reasonable. Saudis have consistently stabbed us in the back, and so long as we keep getting oil, we don’t seem to mind at all. Tariffs I have to wait and see, karl.
Thanks.
I guess they are both problematic.(Saudi and Iran)
I too do not want wars especially with China and India needing much of the oil.
Full spectrum dominance was coined by both hawks and doves, I think.
I just read an article , at the dentist’s office, i think it was MOTOR TREND, where they forcasted that driverless and electric cars will be the norm now, namely because China (now the biggest consumer of cars) want driverless and electric cars.
For so long, American auto, the big THREE, Ford, GM and Chrysler wouldn’t go that route, i’m sure because they are in cahoots with big OIL too, but now they’ll have to if they wanna survive.
I always thought driverless was something pushed by companies like UBER and Lyft, and all the A.I. companies; and electric cars demanded by environmentalist Left coast type, but nope,
China wants, and whatever China wants, they get. So they’ll get driverless and electric cars, for that, I’m happy. so China’s good for something after all, karl, I just hope those damned Chinese stop eating shark fins and pangolin scales.
and of course, ramming Filipino fishing boats, but then again if they pay up and make the fishermen they rammed happy, hey who are we to cry injustice. happy all.
Compensatory justice is ok as long as there areno conditions like forgetting nothing happened.
Mediation and out of court settlements are for dropping cases, but nor for expunging any event.
In 2039, I hope every car is electric and there are more ways for safe disposal of batteries, solar panels, nuclear waste and other renewable waste, if not the ocean is still a waste dump.
I am sure there will still be use for oil if plastic is the villain, they will make petroleum based biodegradable plastic, some Arab scientist will find a way to use oil or the prince will get mad.
OT, today is a good day to follow Sec Locsin on twitter. He is dealing with the boat sinking and passport situation and getting a little chippy.
I will check it out Joe. Btw, I have been following your tweets since last week.
Why thank you! I enjoy the medium for the challenge of getting big meanings into short bursts.
Welcome Joe , I still don’t tweet so I have to google your tweets.One day you might want to add your twitter feed under the latest comments , I mean the one found at the right margin, if there is still space for them.
Good idea. I’ll look at that.
Great!
Done! 🙂
😊😊😊
*****
Looks great!
*****
Thanks
Sure Locsin….and just called the vice president a BOBA and ”can someone give her a brain”
Reach for the context. He’s been dealing graciously with me and others on the passport and sinking issues all day, and had asked Duterte’s ExSec to tell others to shut up so he could deal with the issues in due course, rather than in headlines. He blew up when Sotto and then Robredo made headlines on it. He later apologized to Robredo.
He should just control his twitter outbursts…Not the first time he is using bad language etc. .Nothing professional in it…salary grade 31 Secretary ₱257,809…..
Yes, for sure. Well, I appreciate that he responds to my tweets and takes the time to ‘teach’, sometimes patiently, sometimes sharply, sometimes mysteriously. I follow 2 rules. Others who have more knowledge than me and a different context are entitled to make decisions I would not, and others are entitled to a personality. He tests on both, but that’s okay. Not boring, for sure.
Now if I think I understand the context well, and disagree, I’ll challenge. But with an open mind to actually listen to the response.
Yes, I agree.
Joe,
Any chance you can do a blog analysis or summation or contextualizing of Locsin’s tweets??? I find reading tweets very difficult, I’m not used to the medium maybe, or the format, but these sub-threats on twitter is very hard to follow, i’m sure would be too for many who don’t do Twitter.
make short form into long form, Joe. Thanks.
That flurry is an unfortunate mess. They were talking about how horrible Locsin is for insulting the VP. I was talking about how people respond, and in the doing, coming across as defending Locsin, which I suppose I was. I agree that without seeing related tweets, it is impossible to unwind. I may do a blog on the subject regarding the concepts, but don’t care to dig back into the mess tweet by tweet.
karl,
I’m just surprised that China is actually the one driving the driverless car and electric car, both, into market.
China is more flock or herd mentality, thus i guess makes sense.
Americans are more individual, rugged, thus need to be unplugged and need to drive cars themselves.
I’ll have to find that article now.
Trump had no plan B when he reissued sanctions on Iran.Maybe his plan B will be part of his s reelection campaign.
Plan B is more sanctions.
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/iran-warns-us-attack-imperil-interests-across-mideast-000622142.html
SORRY, I AM NOT DONE YET
PHILSTAR News: Duterte: I am not afraid of China
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/06/22/1928539/duterte-i-am-not-afraid-china#CckFJStwGGpiRm8j.99
It seems, to me, a belabored or seemingly agonized explanation. Again, a quote seems appropriate here: “The lady doth protest too much, methinks”
And what is this? In the same PHILSTAR source, there are these two contrasting news items, one from Duterte’s and the other from DFA Sec Locsin’s:
* Duterte accepts China’s joint probe offer
* DFA chief rejects joint probe offer of China
Interesting that the news items are both datelined June 22, today, and timed only about one hour apart.
ON THE OTHER HAND
VP Leni Robredo visited the 22 fishermen of the rammed Filipino Boat and gave each of them P50,000 in cash assistance, sourced from the Office of the Vice President’s anti-poverty program Angat Buhay. [Angat Buhay is an initiative to assist communities in need across the country. Its resources come from the OVP and the private sector.] Take that DA Sec Pinol — Fisheries being under the purview of the DA.
OOPS
Pinol through BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) gave some 11 fibergalsss-made fshing bancas. [BFAR is one of the DA attached agencies] … In addition, all 22 Gem-Ver fishermen will get financial assistance to tide them over while recovering from their traumatic sea mishap.
Forgive my impertinence, but is this after the Filipino Captain and fishermen had cleared their heads from sea water and said — in contrast to their earlier statements that the Chinese rammed their boat — that it was an unintentional accident after all?
The important lesson here is to be careful about a lengthy dunking of your head in sea water — it has a way of disorienting your recollection of events. Pinol, I suppose, being the head honcho of BFAR knows this.
Sec. Locsin is in battle with Piñol & Guevarra, I think. He says the fishermen’s first statements stand as factual record, along with radio and positioning statements that confirm the Vietnamese accounts, etc. The initial statements stand as evidence until recanted. He accepts China’s proposal which is separate fact-finding and joint resolution of the dispute.
There we go. Sec Locsin has a way of balancing or surfacing a clearer picture when out-and-out lapdogs overdo their lapping. [Methinks, Locsin is wrestling with himself or trying mightily to restrain himself; otherwise, he will do a Miriam Santiago — bless her — on his fellow Cabinet Officials. And Maid Miriam was handy with words just as Locsin is.]
This might be applicable here, Joe:
###
Most Common Hearsay Exceptions
There are twenty-three exceptions in the federal rules that allow for out-of-court statements to be admitted as evidence even if the person made them is available to appear in court. However, only a handful of these are regularly used. The three most popularly used exceptions are:
1) Present Sense Impression. A statement describing or explaining an event or condition, made while or immediately after the declarant perceived it.
(2) Excited Utterance. A statement relating to a startling event or condition, made while the declarant was under the stress of excitement that it caused.
(3) Then-Existing Mental, Emotional, or Physical Condition. A statement of the declarant’s then-existing state of mind (such as motive, intent, or plan) or emotional, sensory, or physical condition (such as mental feeling, pain, or bodily health), but not including a statement of memory or belief to prove the fact remembered or believed unless it relates to the validity or terms of the declarant’s will.
(4) Statement Made for Medical Diagnosis or Treatment. A statement that:
(A) is made for — and is reasonably pertinent to — medical diagnosis or treatment; and
(B) describes medical history; past or present symptoms or sensations; their inception; or their general cause.
(5) Recorded Recollection. A record that:
(A) is on a matter the witness once knew about but now cannot recall well enough to testify fully and accurately;
(B) was made or adopted by the witness when the matter was fresh in the witness’s memory; and
(C) accurately reflects the witness’s knowledge.
If admitted, the record may be read into evidence but may be received as an exhibit only if offered by an adverse party.
cont’d…
https://www.rulesofevidence.org/article-viii/rule-803/
###
If the Philippines had a law-based legal system, they might be relevant. But in a politically based legal systems, such details are relevant only if they can help the political case.
if the fishermen were victims.
now they have been well compensated.
are they still victims???
In Iraq, the US compensated a lot of civilian lives lost with lots of money— blood money.
essentially without victims (having bought their silence) , there is no more crime.
what’s the 3rd party gonna do, re-victimize the victims??? 😉
Pinol gave Php20,000 aid and Php20,000 interest free loan to each fisherman. All taxpayers money.
Leni Robredo gave Php50,000 aid to each fisherman, all from her own non-governmental funds.
What a difference the sources of those kindness were — like Day (Robredo’s) and Night (Pinol’s). Thanks, chempo, for stating the important distinction.
Every year the COA flags the OVP for unliquidated Cash advances, what loophole will they see with this aid?
The Angat Buhay has been flagged
https://www.rappler.com/nation/232881-robredo-angat-buhay-program-planning-documents-audit-report-2018
I’d like to se COA’s example of suitable criteria. My guess is they cannot come up with any because needs are diverse and not easily subjected to systematized qualification. Sometimes subjectivity is the best method. COA also flags agencies for failing to spend all money allotted. So the VP and other agencies get squeezed for not being rigorous, or if too rigorous, for not spending the money. That’s why auditors are among the most despised people on the planet. They impose rules that drive managers nuts.
In addition, the board is not content with internal auditors, they have to hire third party auditors.
Yes, true.
This whole issue of a joint or separate investigation into the Chinese ramming in the Reed Bank is moot and bizarre from a legal standpoint. China and the Philippines are signatories of UNCLOS which specifies in detail that the state in whose EEZ the violation occurs gets to investigate, ptosecute, and use its judicial processes to determine culpability and impose civil if not criminal penalties against the offending party. But China in declaring itself not subject to the Arbitral decision which ruled that according to UNCLOS its 9Dash claim to most of the China Sea is hogwash and which continues to violate international law by occupying and militarizing artificial islands, acts as if it bound only by its laws and self-interest. The Duterte regime by voluntarily setting aside the Arbital ruling and asserting its UNCLOS rights in its effort to appease China in effect is left in the impossible position of neither having the force of military might or international law on its side. Hence the ridiculous spectacle of DFA secretary Locsin tweeting fuck the international community as an option to deal with the ramming. And the very next day this supposedly brillant lawyer is before the UN arguing that abandoning the crew of the rammed fishing boat is illegal under the provisions of the UNCLOS law!? So is he now favoring a separate investigation in accordance with local or international law that neither the Duterte regime or China no longer recognizes? Under what laws and procedures is this separate investigation to be guided by? To be judged by and enforced by whom? Is it not simply the posturing and narcissim that drives his mouthing of obscenities that is at work in the mind of this mental legal midget from Harbard or was that Harvard?
Thanks for the enlightenment. I think the joint resolution of the case is like mutually agreed to self-arbitration. Or bi-lateral cooperation. That’s how it will be postured. In reality, it is, as you make clear, an abandonment of Philippine rights and sell-out of sovereignty. But under authoritarian nonsensical govt liked by the masses, it is what it is.
Thanks again for making things clear and enlightening.
it would be a joint investigation plus a neutral party. Who could that neutral party be, Iran?
Maybe it is North Korea. Gosh.
Locsin mentioned Brunei.
Thanks
Yielding to the President’s position, Locsin tweeted on Saturday that Brunei could be the third party in the joint probe.
“It’s a maritime inquiry with an independent third party, [for example], Brunei,” Locsin said.”
Read more: https://globalnation.inquirer.net/176864/duterte-ph-china-neutral-party-to-probe-hit-and-run#ixzz5re5XgURj
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
Readers of TSoH please DEFINE: a neutral third party/country. A country is a country not a party. In a quest for justice, a country has national courts; to render justice between and among multiple countries there are INTERNATIONAL COURTS.
The UN is not a court for world peace and good order. Precisely, International Courts become useful to effect world peace and order by ensuring constancy of justice among nations. Such courts become useless to people of countries which refuse to be under its jurisdiction.
Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo TRUE, popoy.
so true.
And the victims have been compensated. what’s the int’l court gonna do, compel the victims to tell a 3rd version of events.
let’s face it China won this round.
it’s like when the US paid off a bunch of civilian deaths to their families in Iraq. where was the international courts then??? the pay off is the JUSTICE, folks. that’s how it works in the 3rd world.
“Readers of TSoH please DEFINE …”
This can be considered a definition?:
“The Philippines: A Black Hole Of Lunacy, Lies, And Unkindness”
In any case, …
How is any one of these – using just three examples – to be defined:
1 “Truth”
2 “Love”
3 “Christian”
i7sharp
from: https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/justice-and-fairness/
Different Kinds of Justice
There are different kinds of justice. Distributive justice refers to the extent to which society’s institutions ensure that benefits and burdens are distributed among society’s members in ways that are fair and just. When the institutions of a society distribute benefits or burdens in unjust ways, there is a strong presumption that those institutions should be changed. For example, the American institution of slavery in the pre-civil war South was condemned as unjust because it was a glaring case of treating people differently on the basis of race.
A second important kind of justice is retributive or corrective justice. Retributive justice refers to the extent to which punishments are fair and just. In general, punishments are held to be just to the extent that they take into account relevant criteria such as the seriousness of the crime and the intent of the criminal, and discount irrelevant criteria such as race. It would be barbarously unjust, for example, to chop off a person’s hand for stealing a dime, or to impose the death penalty on a person who by accident and without negligence injured another party. Studies have frequently shown that when blacks murder whites, they are much more likely to receive death sentences than when whites murder whites or blacks murder blacks. These studies suggest that injustice still exists in the criminal justice system in the United States.
Yet a third important kind of justice is compensatory justice. Compensatory justice refers to the extent to which people are fairly compensated for their injuries by those who have injured them; just compensation is proportional to the loss inflicted on a person. This is precisely the kind of justice that is at stake in debates over damage to workers’ health in coal mines. Some argue that mine owners should compensate the workers whose health has been ruined. Others argue that workers voluntarily took on this risk when they chose employment in the mines.
The foundations of justice can be traced to the notions of social stability, interdependence, and equal dignity. As the ethicist John Rawls has pointed out, the stability of a society—or any group, for that matter—depends upon the extent to which the members of that society feel that they are being treated justly. When some of society’s members come to feel that they are subject to unequal treatment, the foundations have been laid for social unrest, disturbances, and strife. The members of a community, Rawls holds, depend on each other, and they will retain their social unity only to the extent that their institutions are just. Moreover, as the philosopher Immanuel Kant and others have pointed out, human beings are all equal in this respect: they all have the same dignity, and in virtue of this dignity they deserve to be treated as equals. Whenever individuals are treated unequally on the basis of characteristics that are arbitrary and irrelevant, their fundamental human dignity is violated.
Justice, then, is a central part of ethics and should be given due consideration in our moral lives. In evaluating any moral decision, we must ask whether our actions treat all persons equally. If not, we must determine whether the difference in treatment is justified: are the criteria we are using relevant to the situation at hand? But justice is not the only principle to consider in making ethical decisions. Sometimes principles of justice may need to be overridden in favor of other kinds of moral claims such as rights or society’s welfare. Nevertheless, justice is an expression of our mutual recognition of each other’s basic dignity, and an acknowledgement that if we are to live together in an interdependent community we must treat each other as equals.
###
from: the Rolling Stones
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
I saw her today at the reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she would meet her connection
At her feet was her footloose man
No, you can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometime you find
You get what you need
I saw her today at the reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she was gonna meet her connection
At her feet was her footloose man
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you might find
You get what you need
But I went down to the demonstration
To get your fair share of abuse
Singing, “We’re gonna vent our frustration
If we don’t we’re gonna blow a fifty-amp fuse”
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes well you just might find
You get what you need
I went down to the Chelsea drugstore
To get your prescription filled
I was standing in line with Mr. Jimmy
And man, did he look pretty ill
We decided that we would have a soda
My favorite flavor, cherry red
I sung my song to Mr. Jimmy
Yeah, and he said one word to me, and that was “dead”
I said to him
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You get what you need
You get what you need, yeah, oh baby
I saw her today at the reception
In her glass was a bleeding man
She was practiced at the art of deception
Well I could tell by her blood-stained hands
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You just might find
You get what you need
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You just might find
You get what you need, oh yeah
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Keith Richards / Mick Jagger
… and this,
Precisely Popoy.
A story of old school Filipino solidarity for a change, something many have forgotten:
https://www.rappler.com/nation/233649-how-gem-ver-crew-were-rescued-by-fellow-filipinos-recto-bank
The Vietnamese of course rescued them first, then the Filipinos used the radio of the Vietnamese ship to call other Filipino ships.
*****
Irineo, thanks.
There is something elemental about fishermen, dealing with the vagaries of wind and sea — and not of men — as they do.
Is it any wonder that most of the Disciples — at least seven of them — were fishermen?
*****
Fishermen deal in truths. The fish are there, or they are not. They also work physically. They are in shape. Many face danger, like the 22. They have the kind of character that users like Piñol can never master.
My tweet re TBL and Leni:
https://mobile.twitter.com/ibrsalazar/status/1143103788666015746
I think it is unlikely to stop when govt is funding it with a huge propaganda budget.
This was the funniest to me, Ireneo!!! i gotta start using this more often, at work.
ps— plenty a US diplomats don’t know the difference either. and why we are constantly handing out FREE stuff, w/out any return.