Are You for Duterte, De Lima, Leni or Aquino? The Correct Way to Watch a Political Circus

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As usual, a circus is on among major political figures in the country---Duterte, De Lima, Leni, Aquino and others, with special appearances by the UN and some US diplomats. And it's fun watching them do their tricks. Each of them have their special skills. But the problem is that a lot of people do not know how to watch political circuses. They never learn.

They try to join the circus.

Remember, circus is only for watching, unless you're officially part of the show. Imagine if one from the audience suddenly goes out of the benches and joins the parade of lions or tigers. He'd end up dead meat, literally. Or, imagine a clown or juggler doing a difficult act and you suddenly appear from nowhere and interrupt.

As long as you stay seated in the benches, circus is a fun and entertaining sight to watch.

But people take sides and support a personality. That ruins the circus. I've watched people who claim to be the "thinking majority" lambaste at the "die-hard," rabid Duterte supporters, not realizing that they too are like that when they defend the opposing side. They can't see how they're also die-hard, rabid De Lima or Leni or Aquino supporters.

And they call each other idiots.

Well, in a way, that adds so much fun to the whole circus. The more clowns, the better.

You shouldn't support personalities. Support worthy issues. Especially, support truth. Anyone who goes against truth you should criticize, expose and reject if need be.

Imagine if the circus crowd becomes divided---one group favors one clown and the other walks out because they favor the other clown. The whole show may be affected, Or worse, the circus may be closed down. No more fun, then.

I don't like Duterte as president, but because he is now in fact president, I have to support him. That's what the bible says. I also didn't like Arroyo and Pnoy, but when they were president, I supported them. But it's a conditional support, as opposed to a blind support. I know right from wrong. If Duterte proves wrong I will criticize him. But if he's correct, I'll applaud him. I won't be a Duterte rabid fan as many folks are who embrace everything the guy says. Fanaticism takes away your ability to discern between good and evil.

Neither will I be a rabid Duterte detractor like a lot of unthinking people are (yet they believe they're the smart ones) who oppose anything that comes from Duterte. They'd prove Duterte wrong even in his right decisions and defend his detractors even if they're dead wrong. Such a silly way to apply your intellect, energy and resources.

I'm always loyal to truth. I seek truth, not personalities or popular issues. If anyone is against truth, I don't care how popular he is. I will criticize him. But if anyone is for truth, I don't care what his background is. I'll applaud him.

Constructive criticism is what you do when someone you support (and you have no choice but to support him) makes a mistake and you need to call his attention to it.

Detraction, on the other hand, is willful prejudice against a person based on hatred and animosity. And it's a sign of stupidity, idiocy and immaturity. They just want to put the guy down. What for?

Are you able to decide in favor of someone you don't like? And do it sincerely, too? I have been exposed to situations like this and have become used to it. God's Word tells me not to have biases but to always be fair.

People often squirm or scowl when I side with unlikely people or issues. For instance, Pinoys may favor a Filipino candidate over an American in a beauty pageant because they're Filipinos. But a beauty pageant is not about siding with a fellow Filipino. It's about who's really the most beautiful.

Going back to political circuses, a circus is best left to itself if you want the fun to continue. Anyway, you can never save a circus gone haywire by anything you could do---much less by joining it. Well, one day, if for some reason you decide you want to be a clown or monkey or crocodile, then by all means, join the circus.