Insensitive president

Insensitive president

This refers to the article “Arroyo to CIA Chief: Blasts are nothing” (PDI 7/12). I am deeply troubled by these offensive remarks of the president. For a president to say to a visiting CIA chief Leon Panetta that waves of bombings in Mindanao is not a cause of worry is not a joke. It is symptomatic of an insensitive president. The intent of the president may not be one of malice but she can never take back what she said. It is pretty juvenile to make such imprudent remarks amidst the mourning and anguish of victims of these Mindanao bombings.

Was the remark made in jest? That would be unpresidential. We, Filipinos, claim that we are humorous but I don’t see and any humor in these insulting and derogatory remarks of a president. I opine that such uncalled for remarks have profound negative consequences for the people from Mindanao. I consider it too as an affront to our Muslim brothers and sisters.

The president is so fixated with a tunnel view that everything going on in the country is rose-colored and promising. I hope that the CIA chief have also asked people other than the president about what is really happening in the country especially in Mindanao. I am not saying that Panetta cannot get a true picture of what is happening in Mindanao from the president but there is always the tendency for a pro-government people to draw a romanticized picture of Mindanao.

Panetta should realize that telling lies and making deceits are favorite pastime of many of our politicians. Panetta should then be cautious in this country of lies. He should resolve not to be easily swayed by the wagging tongues of liars who deserve some blasts of wet baby diapers.