Because yesterday's senatorial hearing on the Manila hostage crisis was so idiotic, I can't even come up with a title.
In the said hearing, media executives were probed by some of the senators, and I must say, I was disappointed at how it turned out. If I remember correctly, it was Sen. Vicente "Tito" Sotto III who said that the whole point of the hearing was to help the senators in legislating a law (or laws) that would regulate the media in matters, which I assumed, of emeregenices, or when human lives are at stake. I was actually open to the idea, though I have yet to decide on my stand on the issue. If it would help save lives, then, why not?
At the end of the hearing, though, I changed my mind. Some of the arguments posed by the senators were utterly ridiculous, not to mention going round in circles. I can't believe one of them even had the nerve to blame media for the success of the September 11th terrorist attacks! That it's the media's fault why the Philippines has such a bad image on the international front! Why? Should the image they should present to foreigners only be a positive one? (For a moment there, I was reminded of North Korea.) If we Filipinos have a right to know about other nations' dirty laundry, then why couldn't they know about ours? Honestly, it's beginning to sound like censorship, and I don't like it one bit. I'd rather have the media regulate themselves, than for our senators and congressmen to create laws, which can possibly be manipulated by government officials to curtail press freedom. I've never experienced growing up during the martial-law years, nor would I want to. But it sounded like that's where this country's heading for, with matters regarding press freedom at least. No, thank you.
What's even more annoying is that some of these senators are actually
lawyers, who
should be proficient in the art of proper reasoning. But no, they just really failed. Utterly. Your appeals to emotion have totally backfired—in my eyes, at least. How I'm glad I was too young to vote for you back in the 2007 senatorial elections.
My own line of reasoning may be wrong, but, at least, I know better than to pin the blame entirely on the media.
And I'm just so pissed off that I'm going to make this post public. It would probably never be read by most people, but I would be missing my point if I impose censorship on myself, wouldn't it? I already self-censor enough as it is.
kimkhanh for the awesome comic-themed friends-only banner! :D
pleased
sick
frustrated with myself
curious
amused