Welcome to the first installment of ON THE RED ZONE! ON THE RED ZONE is where we look at posts from various Internet forums and comments from their comment sections by observing their logical consistency, validity, and soundness. If we can notice fully how some commenters have gone wrong and then pin down the reasons why, then we can then avoid making similar mistakes in the future, as well as effectively counter any posts or comments that are patently ludicrous. Not only in the Internet, but out of it as well.
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Today we shall talk about the posts and the comments on the Facebook club I Hate China (http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Hate-China/151088421584732). Founded last September 9, 2010, quite a long time ago, but this club has shown a gleam of resurgence with the recent executions of the three Filipino OFW “drug mules” in China and the failed desperation maneuvers of the Philippine contingent to make the Chinese reconsider. Some posters and commenters have used the club as a venue in order to vent their outrage against the Chinese. Since there are right now only a few anti-China posts there, it is possible to exhaustively analyze many of them. As of Saturday, April 2, 2011, here they are, starting from the most recent:
#1
"WANT TO COME WITH ME TO CHINA?" WHAT - WITH A BUS?
What has Rolando Mendoza got to do with the Chinese turmoil? Also, if Rolando Mendoza lived again, he will get not only the death penalty in China, but also the bricks, the kicks and the sticks from any stray Chinese who sees him. How do you think the surviving relatives of the tourists ought to treat him?
Furthermore, which do you think will lead more Chinese lives to degeneration – Rolando Mendoza or illicit drugs? The Chinese had it already last Opium Wars and they aren’t willing to have it all-out again.
By the way, this comment has no logical content at all. It all smacks of vendetta. What many of the Filipinos want actually want is that the executions be halted, or the sentences of the three convicts lowered to life imprisonment, not to invade China and hope that our Rolando-Mendoza-like audacity can at least claim some Chinese necks. Have we became a nation of warlords?
#2
What has all almond-eyed (“singkits”) people have to do with this? The Japanese are almond-eyed; so are the Koreans and many other Asians. What has being almond-eyed have to do with the recent executions? Furthermore, what has being almond-eyed have to do with mercy and compassion? What did the “singkits” do to us, by the way?
Is it because some ethnic group has this and that features, that some of us immediately brand them as such-and-such? How much do we know about the Chinese, by the way, in order to make judgments such as these?
The poster followed up with a comment:
Surely, one could have pointed out why it isn’t “maka tao”. Unfortunately, he didn’t. He lost credibility points in his first post; he just lost some more points again, this time in clarity. What is there in Chinese law which decisively makes it “hindi maka tao”? Is it the death penalty? If so, the commenter should point out what precisely is there in death penalty which makes it “hindi maka tao”, not sweep the floor here and there, thus spreading the dust and smoke even more.
He should have made some reasons for his assertion – even half-baked ones – because with the give-and-take of opinions in the Net, they can be corrected if they are defective. However, unqualified statements mark the end of discussions. If one party has shown itself to be intractable in a discussion, who is willing to continue the discourse any further?
#3
What has the executions have to do with melamine? That has been three or four years ago!! Where is the logical linkage between the two events? And is it the entirety of China which is to be involved, or the Chinese laws only? Why saw sawdust?
Also, the one who posted this should calm down. Obviously, she is in a cranky mood. She should remember this post which could incarcerate all the rowdy commenters in a corner:
In other words, please state reasons, not subjective impressions. Feelings don’t work for now.
#4
If so, then with the surfeit of killings here in the Philippines, why don’t earthquakes and tsunamis visit us 24/7 ?
Also, earthquakes and tsunamis are natural phenomena, and natural phenomena have scientifically explainable causes. Earthquakes occur because of a sufficiently strong movement of plates in response to the movement of molten rocks below the Earth’s crust. Tsunamis occur because of the sudden release of energy on the sea floor (often caused by earthquakes) which then generates a ‘tsunami wave’ that increases in height very quickly as it travels to the shore. Either way, they cannot be the result of one’s misguided whims, or of prayers to a Christian God to wreak havoc upon the Chinese.
GOD IS MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU THINK. "And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth." - Genesis 9:11, KJV
Such are the misuses of prayer. If misguided whims amount to anything, why not just supplicate, “Save us all from poverty!” Unfortunately, one can say it a million times and still remain poor, while the one who did something about it and didn’t merely wish it will be the one who will accomplish anything.
Further, what’s inherently greedy (“makasarili”) about following the law? Did some Chinese use the events as an opportunity to further their material and/or political whims? Was the ego of the Chinese assuaged or exalted after the events? Why, they didn’t even taunt the Filipinos afterward!
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If we are going to hate China, then beware – it is a neighbor just a few miles away from us. If it chooses to hate us back, then all of us may be smothered, not only in terms of population size, but also in terms of gunpower and economic strategy. Also, the linkages of China with the Philippines does not cover only almond-eyed folks and nigh-incomprehensible speechifying on Chinese TV shows. it also involves Confucius, paper, gunpowder, tycoons, pancit, siopao, siomai, Chowking, Tutuban 168, Chiang Kai Shek College, filial piety, and many more.
If we start hating everything China, then much of what the Philippines has inherited from the Chinese in terms of culture, education, cookery, and arts has to be vanished from the subterranean consciousness. Which, of course, we don’t want to happen.
If those who dislike China really dislike something about it, then they should find out which specific notion about China they actually hate. In the case of the three OFWs, is it the law? Is it the death penalty imposed? Is it the steadfast resolution of the Chinese law enforcers? Is it their perceived lack of consideration and compassion for the Filipinos? Is it their apparent callousness to the Filipino situation? Then they could safely discard their hatred for a singularity – China – which encompasses good as well as bad, and then start nailing more manageable, delimited ideas instead. Perhaps they could start asking intelligent questions such as: Are Chinese laws really merciful? Should the Chinese have been more considerate, given our poverty? Why such furor over the Chinese debacle? Then they would really start doing some research, and then proceed to make more intelligent conclusions, not unwashed prejudices such as those in the four posts and comments examined above.
CHINA's TOO FAR; THROW THEM WHERE IT'S NEAR!
Finally, just as our unsuccessful diplomatic tour proved that we aren’t influential enough to ever move a brick of China’s policies, why not start thinking of our own country’s policies instead? What prompted the Filipinos to become drug mules? What prompted the Filipinos to become OFWs at all? Why do they have to leave this country, anyway? Ever since the 1994 Flor Contemplacion’s case, has the paramount human situation pervasive in the Filipino occupational mentality changed?
Let us ask: What lessons have we learned from the recent executions? Have we learned since 1994 that our ‘culture of impunity’ here (closely related to ‘palakasan’ and ‘awa’) is inapplicable in other countries? That in other countries, the law is what it says it is? And can our nation might do better by applying the solid Chinese resolve to enforce laws deemed fair?
As someone who has intruded the club posted sensibly,
Do you think your tomatoes will land on Mainland China? Throw these where it hurts!
About the Author
Cy has written 2 stories on this site.
An overeager student of logical processes taking place in the Filipino society. "Reason is God; love is unconditional."
35 Comments on “ON THE RED ZONE – Does Hating China for OUR Drug Mule Issues Help At All?”
One brave soul dared to shove the truth in the faces of those who were carried with their emotions of hate against China. Applause is needed. Why blame China when we only have ourselves to blame for electing spur of the moment candidates who really don’t give a crap about our country. Al they care about is when the next pork barrel allocation happens.
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Cy Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 4:20 am
@concerned_citizen
If they really hate China sincerely – then they should stop eating pancit.
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Jenny Matulac Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 10:37 am
If you care to do a deeper research on the pancit, it is not originally from China. Hoy, gising.
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Artemio Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Interesting. So can you cite any definitive or authoritative sources which claim that “pancit” “is not originally” from China? Or better yet, who’s responsible for introducing “pancit” to the Philippines?
Cy Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
@Jenny Matulac
What about, paper. Hmmm.
blueredicedtea Reply:
April 6th, 2011 at 6:43 am
@topic
very silly comments at best for expressing hate to the chinese
they haven’t realized that the chinese government are following their law.
@artemio
its the flying spaghetti monster who invented the pancit and introduced the pancit to us!
Jay Reply:
April 7th, 2011 at 3:50 am
@Jenny
And are you going to imply that spaghetti the pasta, the one with thin noodles is an italian thing? Marco Polo, Silk Road, Western Europe and far east trading, does that ring a bell?
Marami pang “I Hate China” pages sa FB. Eto pa isa: http://www.facebook.com/login/setashome.php?ref=genlogin#!/pages/I-hate-China/109518809104320.
Very sad. We’re just the same level as the Chinese haters of Filipinos. Much worse than that.
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da pinoy typical reaction. blame others for mistakes that he was the root cause of. when will these people start growing up?
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Jenny Matulac Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 10:43 am
Eh galit nga sila sa China. Ini express lang nila ang galit nila. Ikaw ano ka, apologist for China? Buti kong may bayad ka ng Renminbi. Nagpapacute ka yata sa China eh.
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BongV Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 11:36 am
galit sila dahil?
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Jenny Matulac Reply:
April 5th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
It is their own business kung ano man ang dahilan nila. They have freedom of speech di ba? Just like you here. So mind your own business. Dapat nga ang China ang magrespond sa mga rant nila. Pero nag respond ba ang China? Wala. So bakit kayo mag rerespond. Bakit bayaran ba kayo ng China? Tsaka, bakit trato nyo sa kanila para kayong may obligasyon na pagsabihan sila. Diktadura yan ha! Hayaan nyo sila mag rant. Mind your own business. Bakit kayo ba ang ina atake ng hate rant nila? Di naman ha!
Cy Reply:
April 6th, 2011 at 1:58 am
@Jenny Matulac
Once they start writing something in public – it’s entirely the public’s business to scrutinize it if they wish.
AlvinEternal Reply:
April 4th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Troll harder, jerk.
*Daido thumbs down*
What we are talking about here is their senseless hatred on China caused by the Da Pinoy mentality. We are, indeed, a dysfunctional people. Gordon was right.
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Marie Reply:
April 5th, 2011 at 12:26 am
You have just reinforced the point the author was trying to make, Jenny. Thank you!
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Filipinos will never learn from any:tragedy; politicians’ delusions; ineffective religious dogmas, etc..they just love, not to accept responsibilities; looking for someone to blame; like our No. 1, Blame Game Player: Noynoy Aquino.
The Chinese have their laws…if you violate them…you have to pay for them…Besides, they did not invite these Filipino OFW drug mules, to enter their country; with stash of hidden illicit drug…
Away, with this stupidity, we are now showing to the world…this incident is being used by Noynow Aquino Yellow Horde Nazi propaganda machine; to divert attention of the Filipinos, to the pressing issues like: high prices of gasoline and diesel fuel; high cost of toll fees; high prices of basic commodities; widespread poverty and unemployment; land reform agenda; Religious institutions, trying to control our secular political system; etc..
If we can accept our Realities…it would be the first step in solving our problems…The problem here is: Noynoy Aquino and his Yellow Horde Nazis refuse to accept realities and responsibilities…
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They’re angry at China because China did their job properly for them.
China: “Since you won’t execute your own criminals and ensure they don’t trouble society again, we’ll do it for you.”
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Cy Reply:
April 5th, 2011 at 8:41 am
@ChinoF
Proposal: Send half of the prison population to China. =)
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Jay Reply:
April 7th, 2011 at 3:53 am
@ChinoF
They are angry that Chinese government is doing what they say and being efficient about it compared to the Pinoy government officials who says one thing but does another on a consistent basis. The Chinese CAN’T INTO COMMITMENT!
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Cy Reply:
April 7th, 2011 at 7:12 am
@Jay
Finally, our government officials have noticed that it’s the Chinese way (at least for that instance) that guarantees results, not their usual ways of operating a government.
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I found it funny how Ms. Matulac had the audacity to point out that “pancit” wasn’t really from China… Out of all the sensible, mind opening arguments the author of this article raised she found insult in that!! Bwahahaha….
)
Papano aangat ang Pilipinas kung puro “pancit” ang nasa isip!
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Cy Reply:
April 8th, 2011 at 11:11 pm
Proposal – Follow-up article: Jenny Matulac
Agree?
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Jay Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 2:04 am
Its harder to learn intermediary knowledge if you haven’t mastered the basics. Pancit is certainly a basic, which many south eastern Asian countries also owning similar dishes which they would say its origins go back to China as well. Considering how old China as a civilization is (which some Pinoys may contest considering their God fearing minds are focused on Jerusalem in that time period, while China has already been doing stuff during B.C. time periods) I find it difficult to see how pancit DOESN’T originate from them.
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Filipinos should really put this into perspective: China is the current economic superpower, with the second highest military expenditure, political influence across the world that nearly equals the US and the EU, and almost zero regards for international pressure. And their wise idea is to antagonize this nation? Good luck. ;D
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Weizz Reply:
April 6th, 2011 at 10:01 am
Currently playing Total War: Empire.
With my lessons learned from running a country, it is unwise to provoke nations much more powerful than yours. One can’t hope to win against a gun using forks.
I felt so angry at the posts I saw in FB on that day. Mga trolls talaga. T.T
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Jay Reply:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
And that my friends is what a country that uses forks do; go to the internet, invade social network site and spit out ignorant garbage in hopes of looking like legit victims. The irony is they are the victim of their own folly, as the Chinese won’t care and their trolling is so dumb not even Juanonymous would join in.
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@Jenny:
Mind their own business??? Hehe, you’ve just prove yourself that you’re defending a bunch of trolls who were blinded by their senseless hatred. That’s why our country sucks: too much freedom. And China won’t react on their senseless ramblings either since they were all CHILDISH.
What you’re trying to say is…. “Wala akong pakialam sa bansa ko at ayaw kong baguhin ang sistema dahil wala akong alam.”
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Jay Reply:
April 7th, 2011 at 3:58 am
Jenny is too emo to put things in perspective, that the real world doesn’t revolve around PALPAK Pinoy politickings and samba sa DYOZ 24/7 por forgeevness. Philippines have no bargaining chips at all and if she is distraught about the 3 who were executed, she better prepare to have a fresh pair of undies when the media fires up the other 70+ who are dead people walking over there and caught for the same charges.
To reiterate the wise musings of the lyrical talent, Chamillionaire:
They see me rollin’
They hatin’
Patrollin and tryin to catch me
ridin’ dirty!
Pinoys are gonna hate, and hate for all the wrong reasons.
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@ Jenny,
apologist for China? Many people don’t like how strict the Chinese government are. I don’t like how they impose their laws, on their citizens and visitors. But here, how is AP or people who agrees with this article sucking up to China? AP’s pointing out these Filipinos reactions to something that is NOT even China’s fault. Many drug mules who happen to be Filipinos are sentenced to death penalty, it should have raised our awareness enough on how China impose their laws and who they impose their laws on. But did it stop? No. Filipinos should LEARN from this. NOT excuse themselves from everything, and expect God or other countries to do the work for them. I seriously don’t see why do you and people who think like you don’t get this. Learn from these mistakes and these situations will less likely to happen again, so there will be NO ONE or less people to execute, then there will be no grieving for “unfair justice”. You guys put your emotions infront of everything even though if it’s your own mistake, you can’t even think reasonably. It has to be repeated in many articles again and again, even in the simplest terms, for you guys to understand “learn from past mistakes”.
And btw, if there is anyone we know that was/is “nagpapacute” to China, it’s our fame-hungry, ass-kissing, no balls president. We should know, he kisses the ass of U.S and China, next might be Russia.
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Jay Reply:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
There is a fine line with ass kissing and diplomacy. P-Noy at this point has been ass kissing and for those who want to take a stab that the former admin did ass kissing, she also back home with loans and deals from these foreign multi-nationals to help kick start plans and put money in the pork barrel so all 3 bodies of the government have their heads in one place, as opposed to now. But enough of that.
You got it all right. Pinoys even have the GAUL to say “unfair justice” to the Chinese government when they actually (a) had written a law about this and (b) deliver on it. Its a very un-Filipino thing that the Pinoy people sadly can’t understand, considering they have long accepted the inutil-ness of the current government and past ones they let by and tolerated.
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I for one hate the Chinese government (GOVERNMENT, not PEOPLE) for various reasons, but I cannot fault them for enforcing the law, harsh as it may seem.
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tabingi talaga tayo mag-isip, and this gov’t ain’t helping one bit…scholarships for their kids?!! so, forget working hard. be a drug mule. either way, you’re set for life.
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tabingi talaga tayo mag-isip, and this gov’t ain’t helping one bit…scholarships for their kids?!! so, forget working hard. be a drug mule. whether you get caught or not, okay na pamilya mo.
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Jay Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 2:07 am
Apparently their education nor common sense didn’t teach them the definition of a ‘gamble’ in real life. Some people are lucky enough to walk out of a casino penniless or with their shirt on. The dead pinoys walking in China did not know the rules of the game they were playing and are paying with their lives.
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