Blame, truth, and the government 

In the past week we have seen not only the government response, but also the government’s attitude towards their response. While the former might be forgivable given the magnitude of the disaster, the latter is nothing but reprehensible. 

I understand our government’s limitations. It’s not like we aren’t painfully aware of them. And I don’t think anyone wants to make this recent tragedy an opportunity for political grandstanding. But we have to criticize, to point out what’s wrong, to expect our leaders to take responsibility. Then again, this administration is far from exemplary in taking responsibility or admitting any kind of failing. 

 

One of the ways in which the government is covering up its efforts is by re-framing the discussion into, “Either you’re supporting the government or you aren’t doing anything to help.” Lots of people have bought into this. Social network posts abound with the sentiment that we should just shut up and help and support the government. 

 

This, of course, is wrong. 

 

There are many of us who have extended help, in various ways, while also being critical of the government. This “Either you’re part of the solution, or you’re part of the problem” paradigm something that any of my English 10 students could point out as a black-or-white logical fallacy. In the way that they talk, there are no other options

 

What’s worse is that the government is manipulating its media influence to make it seem as if things are not as bad as they actually are. The government has been downplaying figures, insisting that things are going as well as they possible can, and generally denying any and all failings. We’ve seen local media used to portray this perspective. 

 

Civil society has stepped in and provided help to augment government efforts. And social media and citizen journalists have served as watchdogs to make up for the limitations of traditional media. Foreign news agencies have also proved crucial in providing us with information. They have the resources after all, and more importantly they aren’t beholden in any way to local politicians and the government.

 

And while we’re on talking about local politicians, isn’t it something that the foreign aid packs are marked banning them from touching the goods? Like the world already knows that if the politicos get their hands on the goods, things won’t be kosher in any way. 

 

At this point, I think that our country and the world are coming together to do what they can. Food is arriving, volunteers are working, and though the progress will be slow and the process of rebuilding will be long and arduous, the work has begun and it continues. We are a strong, hard people, used to adversity. I don’t know how they are doing it, because I don’t know if I have anything close to the strength that they have, but already students from UP Tacloban have cross-registered and are attending classes in Diliman and other campuses. And I know that a lot of others are rising up, recovering, working through all of this. 

 

What do we need from our government? How about more honesty and less spin? Let’s come to terms with what has happened by acknowledging the extent of what has happened. Let’s take stock of where things have gone wrong. 

 

The problem is that the president and his people are more intent on peppering the blame elsewhere, rather than admitting their own failings. We don’t want them to admit failing just so that we can ridicule them (though for sure there are some who want to do that too). 

 

More importantly, we want to destroy this veneer of selfless service that really covers up a false sense of moral right and entitlement. The government has been happy to point at the LGUs, to blame local government employees like police who were themselves victims of the tragedy. This was wrong. And one would hope that at  least an apology be issued for the unfair implications made of those local officials and employees. 

 

As it stands though, the administration makes it clear that nothing is ever their fault. It was the last president’s fault. It was the storm. It was the LGUs. We’ve heard it, and we know it’s not true. So president and company, by not telling the truth, by directing blame all over the place rather than fessing up to your own failings, you are also contributing to the negativity. You want to be part of the good being done. — KDM, GMA News 

 

---

Carljoe Javier is a professor at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, and the author of the non-fiction book “The Kobayashi Maru of Love.”