Are we doomed due to politics? Are you progressive, conservative, rightwing, leftwing, wings of desire? What if MLK and Gandhi are alive these days?

IS it just Facebook? I don't know. Are we human beings really doomed as hell? Just in case our chosen political leader didn't make it? What if Donald Trump wins? Or Hillary Clinton? Will ONE president make a country what it is? Really? People show disgust and frustration with the system--online. Why do we instead go out there and usher change right in our community?

          

          Check this out. Bell Chere is gone. Lex Av Art Fest is gone. What do we have for a community convergence? Festivals that are reeking with alcohol. Our neighbor got shot yet do we talk over dinner? No, we don't because you may serve antibiotics from an Ingles meat. And then we post, "Namaste! Let us heal!" on Facebook! Hallelujah! Post a cool blues/rock gig, 55 will like it but only 5 will show up. Post a beautiful butterfly in nirvana, get 155 likes. Post how great life is because heaven is all in our heads--and that meme of the Himalayas. You'll get 255 likes. All those 410 who "liked" you plus more will show up again in your next Facebook talking cat/holy be thy rainbow post first thing in the morning. A Universe of Likes!

          Whoever wins as next president, life moves on as is. Cyd The Koolcat and Georgia The Babedawg don't care as long as they're fed on time. Food stamps will be given out and wheat bread will be sold irrelevant you supported Bernie, Hillary, Trump or Eric Clapton. Why can't we simply say, "Ah!" And start brainstorming something awesome for one and all this summer? That, we can do that, whoever sits in power. Because it's us the people who will it, not Bruce Springsteen The President. Politics sucks and those who glorify it? I don't know. Chill. Loosen some fibers and get naked (in the tub, I mean) and say more, "Ahhh!" Now I gotta go get Mexican lunch. Fried pescado/veracruz fish and sweet rice.

PEOPLE leaning towards the Democrats (or progressive bloc or leftist mindset) are still fighting as the Republican camp watches in quiet glee. I don't think the Dems will make any effort to convince or persuade the current GOP supporter/voters to their side, no. They call them idiots. And some are even proposing that Bernie runs as an Independent or with another party. Sad. I don't think it's about the candidates or parties anymore—now it have evolved into people's individual takes on stuff. Yes indeed, two warring camps of the Dems are knocking each other out. Let's do the math: The Dems/Hillary are losing possible votes—while maybe the GOPs (in the light of Trump's softer stand in re Republican leadership) are building up their fort for November.

          I remember the fight between two forces in the Organized Left back home: the Rejectionists and Reaffirmists. It eventually spelled the downfall of the Left. But we were not talking about elections. We were talking about a segment of society—but a segment that are valuable as fiscalizers and change-movers. So whoever was elected as President, the progressives treated the chasm as a way to reflect inward—since we are all Filipinos, that's the truth and our country is the Philippines. The country has improved since then yet we are still working things out. At least we are not begging for dough from IMF anymore.

          What bothers me about some people, in the light of Bernie Sanders' nomination loss is how people show hatred against America as their country. I don't think it is right to be ashamed of one's country just because some don't favor a President. When I left my country in 1998, I was angry of the new administration—as I was angry most of my adult life with the Martial Law-propelled dictatorship. But that anger was fired up by my love for my country. Never in my career as a journalist and activist that I felt ashamed of being a Filipino. The Philippines wasn't Ferdinand Marcos as America isn't Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. America are Americans.

          The world is watching and the world isn't dumb. I don't think that an American who struts around the streets of Toulouse, France mumbling “Oh how I hate my country!” will be embraced by the French as their own. Show us how good and brilliant you are as an American—I don't care about your President. Then you will be part of any piece of sociocultural geography you wanna be. Same way as how the media malign the Philippine president-elect. I don't care about what Newsweek says. I care about my people and my country. I am sure if President Rodrigo Duterte starts reincarnating as the despots of the past, Filipinos will be out on the streets again to kick him out. Meantime, Filipinos will always be Filipinos irrelevant who sits in the Palace.

          I love America for what it is as I love the Philippines for the way it is. Like family. I will fight for my family no matter how I argue/d with my dad. Wherever I or we end up, we will always be seen as American or Filipino. We cannot change that. So instead of fighting, why don't we sit down and work things out for the betterment of the collective community and entire nation? When the smokes of elections have simmered and gone, it all boils down to an America to, by and for Americans. Not the Republicans and Democrats anymore. A politician, or political party or a fraction of a nation doesn't make a country—it is the people's majority voice that counts. 
          Yet if we will always question election outcomes in a democratic system—then we will always question stuff and things that don't go our way. I don't like the new president back home but it's the people's will that did it. That's just the way life goes. The people. If I believe that the people who voted for the person that I didn't like need reeducation so the next time they vote a leader, they'd choose better—then I will start regrouping on that end. Advocate and convince and show by example. But I will not call them “idiots.” I may just end up with a bloody nose if I do that. I know how to do it. But I digress.

SOMETHING tells me or asks me, what if Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King or any of the venerated human beings that we love to anchor goodness and greatness--are alive today and then running for political office? Would people be praising them? Or we also diss and ridicule them in social media just like politicians and personalities these days? In my time, saying bad things about superiors, leaders or plain neighbors was subject to reprimand. Many times I was a witness to many gatherings in a cafe or community hall where some people act a little too intensely and started cussing at whoever is on the mic, so they are kicked out automatically and later banned from entering the premises again. 
          Yet in social media people openly and blatantly say whatever they wanna say and make fun of those they apparently don't like and even post incorrect infos that malign individuals and groups, ideologies, religion and cultures. And when some are suspended etc they howl in protest. "A basic human right has been violated!" Back then, it wasn't easy to get published. Even a "mere" letter to the editor or 2-minute spot on live radio had to be screened/edited and/or prearranged.

          These days we are blessed by a wonderful privilege to speak our mind out about stuff and things short or long. We can also freely share new birthday photos of our dog and cat and whatever we had for dinner, side by side with our opinion about a city Mayor's program or a new blockbuster movie--without going through tedious processes. One click, done. Yet we abuse it. We are such spoiled brats.