At the Oscar Awards, Leonardo the Caprio announced that climate change is real. Everyone is listening. And believing.
While scientists and environmental advocates have long rang the alarm bells about the reality of a rapidly changing climate that threatens the global economy, our way of life, even our very existence; it took an award winning actor's declaration to get the world talking.
Revenant, for which DiCaprio won the Best Actor award, had to change shooting locations from Canada to the southern tip of Argentina because the original location in Canada was 'too warm'. That's why, in his acceptance speech, DiCaprio looked very much like a credible celebrity with a cause because he was speaking from his very own experience.
I don't know if it is right that an actor, instead of a scientist or a politician has got us to listen, but it is clear that celebrities have far more convincing powers. At this stage and pace of global climate change, we have not much time to philosophize. It is the time to act.
Monday, February 29, 2016
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
On Manny Pacquiao's Comment on Same-Sex Marriage and the LGBT
Pacquiao has taken so many shots in his boxing career, but perhaps not as much as the insults and criticism he took when a video surfaced with him saying that people who have sexual relations with the same sex are worse than animals.
Those comments, of course are unacceptable in today's standards. It probably has all the elements of how to destroy one's hope of being a senator of the land. It is full of arrogance, even ignorant and those who are hurt by the comment, especially the LGBT community are quick to retaliate. Insults on Pacquiao's person, his prolonged absences in the Congress, his inexperience and incompetence as a politician, everything that could be hurled against him is thrown in any media possible.
Pacquiao's comments though, does not bother me personally. I do not look up to him as a fountain of wisdom. He is a great boxer, yes. But beyond the ring, beyond the entertainment he gives me, he is just like any normal person in the street. He is entitled to his own opinion, however wise or stupid it is. What bothers me is that the mentality of our nation, so awestruck with celebrities, seem to continually grant the likes of Manny Pacquiao that power to affect our daily lives, way beyond the scope of their genius.
The power I am talking about is not the power to raise the blood pressure of any member of the LGBT community, nor of those atheists who are so allergic when the Bible is used as a reference, nor of the non-religious hypocrites of "Asia's only predominantly Christian nation". It is the power that comes with being a congressman, being a member of the lower house that shape the laws of the land.
Balat-sibuyas, illogical and out of proportion. These words may perhaps describe the reactions given to Pacquiao's comments and to the story of Manny Pacquiao as a whole. Balat-sibuyas because only the LGBT are so offended by those comments. Those who are not with the LGBT simply comment and watch, captivated more by the idle talk and rant rather than thinking whether or not same-sex marriage is right for the society. We often wait until offenses against our persons, whether real or imagined are done, and then we suddenly become philosophers, patriots or whatever.
While Pacquiao was a member of the congress, nobody questions his prolonged absences while on training to 'give pride' to our nation. And now that he gave those comments against one of the most vocal groups of Philippine society, his inadequacies as a politician is suddenly ridiculed? Many people on social media call him stupid. If he is that stupid, what do you call the people who put him into power?
It is also out of proportion. Again, Pacquiao is just a boxer. A great boxer, yes. But for him to dominate the headlines of TV Patrol, 24 Oras, etc., covering what he ate, how far he jogged, even Nanay Dionesia's opinions and predictions, etc-----that is just so irritating, primitive and lazy journalism. Whenever he comes home from a win, there is so much traffic in Metro Manila and nobody complains, no politician curses him like the Pope is cursed. Whenever he loses, there is so much talk about cheating, a lot of excuses, a lot of finger pointing. All these translates to a lot of wasted time.
And these, all these reactions speak more about us as a people than of Manny Pacquiao as a person. So please, give the poor man a break. Just don't vote for him, anyway.
Those comments, of course are unacceptable in today's standards. It probably has all the elements of how to destroy one's hope of being a senator of the land. It is full of arrogance, even ignorant and those who are hurt by the comment, especially the LGBT community are quick to retaliate. Insults on Pacquiao's person, his prolonged absences in the Congress, his inexperience and incompetence as a politician, everything that could be hurled against him is thrown in any media possible.
Pacquiao's comments though, does not bother me personally. I do not look up to him as a fountain of wisdom. He is a great boxer, yes. But beyond the ring, beyond the entertainment he gives me, he is just like any normal person in the street. He is entitled to his own opinion, however wise or stupid it is. What bothers me is that the mentality of our nation, so awestruck with celebrities, seem to continually grant the likes of Manny Pacquiao that power to affect our daily lives, way beyond the scope of their genius.
The power I am talking about is not the power to raise the blood pressure of any member of the LGBT community, nor of those atheists who are so allergic when the Bible is used as a reference, nor of the non-religious hypocrites of "Asia's only predominantly Christian nation". It is the power that comes with being a congressman, being a member of the lower house that shape the laws of the land.
Balat-sibuyas, illogical and out of proportion. These words may perhaps describe the reactions given to Pacquiao's comments and to the story of Manny Pacquiao as a whole. Balat-sibuyas because only the LGBT are so offended by those comments. Those who are not with the LGBT simply comment and watch, captivated more by the idle talk and rant rather than thinking whether or not same-sex marriage is right for the society. We often wait until offenses against our persons, whether real or imagined are done, and then we suddenly become philosophers, patriots or whatever.
While Pacquiao was a member of the congress, nobody questions his prolonged absences while on training to 'give pride' to our nation. And now that he gave those comments against one of the most vocal groups of Philippine society, his inadequacies as a politician is suddenly ridiculed? Many people on social media call him stupid. If he is that stupid, what do you call the people who put him into power?
It is also out of proportion. Again, Pacquiao is just a boxer. A great boxer, yes. But for him to dominate the headlines of TV Patrol, 24 Oras, etc., covering what he ate, how far he jogged, even Nanay Dionesia's opinions and predictions, etc-----that is just so irritating, primitive and lazy journalism. Whenever he comes home from a win, there is so much traffic in Metro Manila and nobody complains, no politician curses him like the Pope is cursed. Whenever he loses, there is so much talk about cheating, a lot of excuses, a lot of finger pointing. All these translates to a lot of wasted time.
And these, all these reactions speak more about us as a people than of Manny Pacquiao as a person. So please, give the poor man a break. Just don't vote for him, anyway.
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