For me, it was all a lack of respect.
If only the bosses, the law makers, the generals, those whose asses occupy decrepit seats of power, thought of affording their foot soldiers some respect, this would not have happened. Perhaps, if our law enforcers were paid better, were treated like human beings, were empowered in some way, they wouldn't have to resort to extortion tactics or drug dealing to make ends meet. We forget we not only hire individuals: we hire families. Other people depend on those who work with/for us. So when what they get is not enough, they have to get creative -- in a dangerous way; not as creative though as the higher asses are in pocketing the money meant for our law enforcers.
Respect begets respect, and I believe so does disrespect. You pass on only what you have. Do our law enforcers respect civilians? Why do they always figure in shady rub-outs and claims of mistaken suspects? Why do they insist on detaining 43 health workers? Why do they suddenly appear out of nowhere and ask us for "pang-merienda?" I'm not sure if one would consider this a demonstration of respect. Personally I only give what I get: a snort and a gesture of smelling something foul for every leering look and cat call I get from them.
So if the protectors have little respect for the civilians who have little to no respect for the enforcers, what is to be expected of the media, which will happily cover every booboo anybody, with some authority, could commit? They'll make a dang show of it all! And our free, commercial and highly competitive media industry will be the first on the scene with their own spins to drum up the spectacle of the unfolding tragedy.
To hell with the law and sensitivity in covering crisis situations. The civilians want to see the police bungle the job. To hell with the safety and sanity of the hostages on board that bus: the more blood and gore the better.
To hell with what the world will think about the people of this country and the way we media practitioners, supposedly the fourth pillar of government, represent our people and our race. The point is to get the picture, the vantage point, the live broadcast now, at all costs, even at the cost of innocent people's lives. That's the basic respect that seemed forgotten in the circus that took place today.
If there was really any respect, the media would have backed off and handled it tastefully. They would have figured out the suspect may have had access to reports and images. The media would have figured out they needed to discuss and cover the event with care for the identities of the hostages, and the strategies of the police.
If there was any respect, the government would have supplied more police men with more training, more equipment, more guarantees of being taken care of in the midst of their dangerous, life-threatening work.
If there was any respect, the civilians who suddenly descended on the crime scene like flies would have stepped back and made way for the ambulances and paramedics to attend to the hostages; the would have stayed behind the fences and not soil the crime scene. Most of all if there was respect, they knew they didn't need to be there, and that ogling dead bodies didn't help the situation at all.
When will we start to respect the dignity of others? Are we all just animals trying to claw at one another to get ahead? Have we forgotten that everyone deserves to be treated equally, and that respect is not gained by brandishing a gun, a microphone and camera or claiming bragging rights as the one who witnessed a dead man's brains splayed on the concrete?
This is not what it is to be human. This is not what it is to be Filipino.
If we can all point fingers and find fault in one another, then I believe we can also put our heads together and figure out how we can work on bringing back the respect the world once had for us; we can work respecting one another, and respecting ourselves.
We were all a part of the problem, now let's contribute to the solution. If we have any respect for ourselves, our ancestors, and our children, we have to start by respecting one another.
photo from the Sydney Morning Herald
