by Wilhelmina S. Orozco
Why is it always so difficult to shift from an authoritarian to a democratic regime? Why is there so much bloodshed nowadays? Way back in the 80's, when we started our pro-democracy movement, it was a breeze going from one rally to another, bringing flowers, leaflets and food. We never bothered if we would be killed by Marcos' forces or not. We just went to those venues in search of a more meaningful existence, that we may be able to regain our human rights.
I remember one Communist diplomat who made a mistake of congratulating Marcos after declaring himself the winner of the fraudulent elections of 86. We were so appalled by his statement and so we asked, where was he all this time?
And now reading what is happening to Syria, we are made to see how the hardline dictator
President Bashar al-Assad could really be digging his heels on Syrian pavement just so he could remain in power, and with two communist countries, Russia and China, backing him up.
Come to think of it, why are the leaders of these two countries so desensitized to the massacres in Syria? Are they afraid that the same thing could happen to them, that the people would opt for a democratic atmosphere and then kick them out? If they are respectful of the rights of their people, then why should they be afraid at all?
Isn't it a very normal occurrence for people to want to be able to speak, act, write and feel freely on their own, while not stepping on other people's toes? What kinds of parents reared the leaders of these two countries that they have turned rigid and unmindful of the rising numbers of widows, orphans and dead? What kinds of methods were used to train their minds and hearts to be desensitized?
One time I met a teacher of Chinese children in physical education. At a very young age, they are town away from their parents so that their bodies and minds would be turned to physical objectives. I asked, don't children need caress and touch as they are still very young, and barely out of their mothers' wombs? The teacher answered that the trainors provide themselves as surrogate mothers. But I think there is really nothing much better than your own real parents around you as you grow up.
When my children were young, I had my parents and the yayas to take care of the children while I had to write and join rallies. At times I brought them, but because of the danger of being hurt, I refrained from doing so. But then, I was always around to see them at any time, unlike in those countries whereby the children were brought to a home away from home to train.
Anyway, given the situation in Syria, I think that the UN has to develop standard operating procedures already on how to deal with dictatorial regimes. The UN cannot possible have country-members with repressive regimes. This is highly anti-UN in character and should not prevail at all.
I suggest that the countries come up with procedures on how to allow people to assert their human rights on a gradual basis, and for the heads of states to allow these steps to be followed stage by stage.
Or are we being cock-eyed optimists?
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