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Sat 18 Oct, 2003 01:03 am
President Bush is in the Philippines today for an eight hour state visit. He is greeted equally by protestors and well wishers. The Filipinos have a love-hate relationship with America.
Many of the protestors are burning American flag in protest over the WTO and the farm subsidy issue.
There is also a group of world war II veterans who fought side by side with the Americans as part of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East asking for backwages and benefits promised to them by the US congress which they later took back.
Another group is protesting and asking the American to clean up their toxic waste at the former American bases.
The biggest group of protestors are those that are opposed to Bush's war in Iraq.
On the welcoming side, a group of Filipinos who wanted the Philippines to become a US protectorate (like guam, saipan, virgin island). They also want the US to increase the quota of Filipinos immigrating to America.
The Philippine President on the welcoming side is opposed by the Vice-President who showed up in a rally yesterday supporting the group who are protesting the US war on Iraq.
A rather humorous banner states "Bush go home, we don't want you here and take us with you."
As an American, how do you feel about the flag burning going on while the US President is on a state visit?
Reminds me of the good ol days back in high school. It's good to see folks not backing down from voicing their opinions just because big daddy comes to town for a few minutes.
I find it ironic that it would be called a "state visit." How long have the Filipinos been waiting to be recognized as one of the states?
I think flag burning is as stupid as flags are and I think caring about it lends it symbolistic validity. To have one's opinion heard people do all kinds of silly things, IMO those who are offended by flag burning should deprive the flag-burner of their power simply by denying them the ability to invoke such passion so fecklessly.
I give them the same consideration as a loud-mouthed bum at a bus stop making everyone listen to his shouted ramblings.
I don't think anything of it. It just a piece of cloth in my eyes.
People wear flags on their uglies, their asses, as bras, really ugly sweaters, fly them at clan rallies and use it to start wars....when you get right down to it, how is it any different?
If only Taft were still President, this disgrace would not have happened.
Personally, I live in Canada, and think our flag is really uggo. I'd burn it if someone gave it to me for Christmas.
Cav
I think we have a beautiful flag. It's very friendly looking and red is one of my favorite colors. Everytime I see our flag it makes me want to pick up some mapleleaf cookies :-)
Ricardo - thanks for posting the info, it's good to hear news from afar as told by someone who lives there.
I'm not American but I do think that if one is going to be offended when someone burns your flag then a reevaluation of one's priorities is in order.
As Montana said : Flags are pieces of cloth;
with printing on them. They don't mean a damn thing.
Sure Montana, but you are transplanted, heh heh.
I think the flag would be a lot more attractive with a nice beaver on it, rather than a leaf. Might increase tourism as well.
Or perhaps a loon, to explain Chretien, and why the same symbol is on our dollar.
You could be right Cav because I like Chretien as well, LOL! A bear or loon would work for me as well though :-D
Sooooo, does anyone have any opinions on the issues in the Philippines that inspired the burning of the flag?
On one of the banners:
"Bush go home, we don't want you here and take us with you."
Ricardo, I now know that the Phillipine sense of humor is rich. As for the flag burning, that is their right and if it arouses notice from the U.S. and the rest of the world, it served its purpose..
I didn't realize that your vets of WW11 weren't given their back wages and benefits. That protest alone might do some real good, although I wouldn't hold my breath.
There is also one sour point that some of the old folks are crowing about. It is the bell of Balangiga (not sure of the town) It was during the American-Filipino war. The bell was used by the inhabitants of Samar as the signal to attack. It was a one sided battle, Filipino bolos and spears are no match for American rifles and cannons. The Americans took the church bell as a war momento and it is in display in an Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. 2 Filipino senators, 1 former president as well as the whole town have petition to have it returned but to no avail. Maybe a campaign for its return started by somebody in Wyoming might do it.
Is there anybody there care to take this petition up and write to your congressman or governor?
Ricardo, I don't know if anyone on a2k is from Wyoming, but for those who would at least want to contact the governor of Wyoming as well as the elected officials of any state in the U.S.A., they can be found on this site:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/speakout/wy.html
Even if there isn't anyone from Wyoming, letters from other states, encouraging the return of the bell, might help. Especially in this time of animosity toward the U.S., the act of returning the bell might be helpful in putting the U.S. in a more positive light, at least in the Phillipines.
Filipinos in the US have long history of peaceful protest
Most people in the United States don't know that the farm labor union movement was started by Filipino field workers, not Mexicans under Ceasar Chavez.
In the 1970s, I was part of a small group in the San Francisco Bay Area who organized food caravans to Delano to help the Filipino farm workers survive during their strikes against the growers. Under the leadership of Anne Draper, we packed food, medicines, clothing and money we had collected in our cars and drove hundreds of miles to Delano.
The Filipinos were mostly middle aged and old men who defied the growers with the most magnificant dignity I had ever seen. A young man was among them, Cesar Chavez, who learned well from these older men. They, the men and women, were all gentle people with spines of steel. I so admired them.
BBB
BBB, there is so much most of us in the States simply don't know because it isn't given any press space.
Thank you for that interesting and inspiring story.
BBB, that is really interesting. I came from a Filipino family and my parents immigrated to the US in 1967. We are what is called 2nd wave of immigrants to the US, composed mostly of professionals. Most of these groups are nurses and engineers. The first wave of immigrants were pineaple plantation workers in Hawaii. I never knew there are many farmers in the second wave of Filipino Immigrants. Thanks.
Ricardo, here's a website that explores the early history of the UFW if you're interested in reading more about it.
http://www.cs.colorado.edu/~l3d/systems/agentsheets/New-Vista/grape-boycott/History.html
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