Freedom of Speech (...and Other Myths Your Political Law Teacher Told You.)

My bad.

I am now persona non grata in certain segments of the population as a certain blog entry offended and outraged particular segments of society (hereafter referred to as “SOS”) who  do not share my (admittedly) warped sense of humor.    

In fairness to them, I admit I was very harsh. But then again, I am no less harsh with myself when I make fun of things I do or say – and again admittedly, I do a lot of (usually unintentionally) dumb-ass things - which invariably end up here, in my blog, being made fun of, by ME.

I am always the first to laugh at myself and don’t mind if others do it too.  Life would be sooooo boring if we just sat around being perfect. Plus, there would be no room left in heaven for all of us saints.

In fairness to myself however, I always made it very clear that this blog was sardonic and satirical and that it should be read not just with a grain of salt, but with a whole saltshaker and then some.

sat·ire : Pronunciation: \ˈsa-ˌtī(-ə)r\,  Function: noun ;  Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin satura, satira, perhaps from (lanx) satura dish of mixed ingredients, from feminine of satur well-fed; akin to Latin satis enough;  Date: 1501   1 : a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn; 2 : trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly.

Thus in my blog, the use of hyperbole as a literary device is not only to be expected, but is in fact, celebrated as an integral part of my mordant and periodically morbid sense of humor. 

Otherwise, I would be writing about the weather. And since we only have two kinds - "hot"  and "hotter than hell"  - I would be boring you all (and myself) to death. 

But then, I should have seen it coming.  Or more precisely, I should have listened to my best friend Rutchie – “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything”. 

She said this so often in college I can hear her voice in my head now.  Or perhaps, certain SOS are correct and I just need a shrink - hearing voices in my head CANNOT be good....

As I recall, neither Rutchie nor any of our other roommates - paging Michelle - followed this advice. Nonetheless, she was right -which is not to say that what she says is possible.

 In that ideal world, not only would everyone only say nice things (and I probably would be mute), everyone would also obey traffic laws and Santa Claus would really exist.  Also, I would be a perfect size 2, politicians would be honest and there would be no famine, no bad hair days, no war, no Kris Aquino movies, no disease and no natural calamities.

Ah…the perils of free speech. 

Clearly, the founding fathers did not foresee the extent of the violent reactions and self-justified wrath that would be unleashed when I chose to exercise my right of expression.  (I need to pick a bone with the Constitutional Convention delegates of 1987 – clearly, the enshrinement of the right to free expression was NOT properly screened. )  

Admittedly my exercise of the right was NOT kind, flattering or politically correct, but then again, you also have the right NOT to read what I write – you can even use the paper it’s printed on as toilet paper. 

It IS after all, a free country and as they say, it’s your butt (I was about to write “ass” but thought the better of it – See! I am capable of improvement.).

They say eavesdroppers will always hear no good about themselves. I don’t know exactly who “they” are - but they were right.   The same goes for blog lurkers.

We Filipinos have a saying – “Bato-bato sa langit, tamaan ‘wag magalit.”  It bears no translation - even a rough translation. (Or maybe I’m just intellectually challenged since because I can’t find any English words to replicate the elegant alliteration and graceful cadences of aforesaid phrase). 

It sort of means that when words of criticism (and all caution, apparently) are thrown to the winds and like rocks, they fall from the sky, those who get smacked in the head by aforementioned generic rocks shouldn’t complain. Otherwise, they run the risk of identifying themselves as the persons adverted to.   

(Ok, that’s very convoluted – you’re probably lost – I lost myself somewhere in the rock analogy as well.)

So to put things simply, I realize that it is only when some small (but noisy) part of you actually believes you could possibly (even a teeny, tiny bit) wrong or guilty of the accusation, that you are most outraged, vehement and defensive.  This is why the truth hurts - otherwise, you really wouldn’t care.   So thanks Rutchie for putting me in the proper perspective.

And this is why I admit I was wrong.  Not for thinking the things I thought, because clearly, I am entitled to that – but for putting them down in writing.  In other words – I should listen to Rutchie more often.

Because as I have discovered, freedom of expression is NOT really free.
(I really need to review my Political Law notes...)

And by way of penance, I’m going to Makati Cinema Square to locate the complete DVD Collection of Kris Aquino’s dramatic films and watch them over and over to atone for my sins.