Don't Get Me Wrong

September 21 -the  day of the Declaration of the Martial Law. The day when our government has put our freedom to rest.

Although several decades have already passed since its declaration in 1972, the time won't excuse us from dismissing thousands of human rights violations committed by our government during those years. I can still remember my politically-active college days when we always handle “Never again to Martial Law!” placards on the streets. Those scenes were supplemented by public film showing in the campus about Marcos regime. We were proud. We were brave. No Marcos loyalists or historical revisionists can make me tired of educating the public about remembering that horrible mistake in the past. 

We realized that an autocratic rule has never been a popular decree. Had it been admired, then EDSA 1 would never happen. There could be no blood spilled on the Philippine soil.

Today, we enjoy the fruits of the labor of our relatives who fought against the Martial Law. We benefit so much from the consequences of our countrymen who sacrificed in the People Power. We are now blessed with so many freedoms. We are nobody but caretakers of it. Do we need again to shed more blood if we take away the freedom bestowed upon us? Let us not waste what our history has offered us.

When we talk of history, we always have to connect it to what is happening at present. I make it a point that history is not just about memorizing names, dates, and places, but rather understanding how history shapes the present and predicts the future.

I am a history instructor and currently facing a potential serious problem in the academe that most in the workplace cannot fully see. Even if this article is for public consumption, I hope that people won’t get me wrong.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Aren't we?

On this age, I see the rise of new Marcoses who love censorship and curtailment of rights. I was once told to take down my post concerning a potential debate over school policy. Since when did the social media prohibit the public from discussing critics? Everyone is free to express their opinion as long as it does not injure the rights of others. I appreciate those who create discourses over different avenues like facebook, twitter, blogspot, google plus, and many more. If only some people in the academe where I am teaching knew how twitter and facebook liberalize oppressed societies in the modern world, then they should not self-impose autocratic rule over these networking sites. Funny that I am referring to respected people who are masters of their own fields and expected to be well-versed on societal issues but remain to be parochial.

More than that, I am quite disappointed on how the horrors of our history are coming right before my eyes. I cannot afford to listen how simple critics towards the administration correspond an immediate expulsion. Why do we deprive the student of his right to education on the basis of his being critical, vigilant, and brave? Where is our mandate to introduce a pool of debates and dialogues when we repress the others from expressing what they want? The mandate of the university belongs to  the students. The absence of the latter does not create the former. I just hope that the “student-leaders” take some time to contemplate on their roles and responsibilities.

Why is it too difficult for the people in the university to just accept the formation of thesis and anti-thesis? The society will always be a spectrum of conflicting values. Why are they so sensitive in dealing with constructive criticisms? The last time I checked, the word "university" means a place where people exchange ideas. 

This writing might put me in the bad light. At least, I allow the school to rethink of itself and repair its internal problems. To my university, let us not bring back the past. We are over with the Martial Rule.