Teddy Benigno wrote in his column dated, Feb. 7, 2005:
None of our politicians today even dares to dream as Ninoy did, battle the Fates unflinchingly, pull out the sword, because they have none. And I ask you: How can this country, which bred Ninoy Aquino, which bred Rizal, Bonifacio, Mabini, have produced the sorry, dismal, revolting gaggle of political criminals and damn fools we have today?
The answer is simple, Mr. Benigno. We never teach our children courage. Instead we teach them how to be wimps. Case in point: we place on a pedestal Ninoy’s daughter, Kris, who is the very epitome of cheap, crass, and unrefined womanhood. So who do you think our young Filipinas want to be when they grow up?
Another case in point: we elect dolts like Erap Estrada and then try to correct that wrong by electing FPJ. Still, we never learn. There’s Noli de Castro, Lito Lapid, Jinggoy Estrada, Jamby Madrigal, and a host of actors and actresses in other public offices with nary a qualification than being a screen icon.
We should teach our children courage. To stand up for their ideas, no matter how insignificant they may seem. To uphold values as God-given rights and not as items to be bartered for position, power and a slot to enter Star Circle Quest.
We should teach them what government should be like: an institution built on the foundations of honesty, integrity and compassion, yet with the firm resolve to punish those who would undermine its responsibility to uplift the lives of the people it governs.
Courage is the very lifeblood of character. Without it we breed Dilangalens, Enriles, Brat Packs, and other Congressional clowns who use their influence so they can stay in power and continue to defecate on the very constituents they vowed to serve.
Our heroes, such as the ones Benigno mentioned–Ninoy, Rizal, Bonifacio, Mabini–should not be called heroes because they courageously died for our country. They should be called heroes because they courageously LIVED for our country, but died in the hands of cowards.
Alas, when we don’t courageously live for our fellow Filipinos, we’re just as guilty of murdering our heroes.
