Before you start reading, note that the contents below were written a year ago.

On 9/11

This is an email I sent a cousin of mine in the U.S. after he asked me for my opinion about a certain article written by this Canadian. Contained in the email were comments by a friend here in the Philippines and my cousin's reactions to his comments and then my reactions to my cousin's comments. (confusing? he he he)

- this was written five days after the incident occured

"... I saw it(WTC Tragedy) happen as it was being shown on CNN the moment it occured. The utter shock of seeing two of the landmarks of American supremacy being "massacred" was completely unbearable. Knowing how much American pride I have actually absorbed with my short stay in the US, I was really touched and disturbed.

With all the criticisms I've been hearing with in the past few days from different mediums, I really don't know how to react to the inhuman actions set forth on US soil. I feel for the American people, all the hardships America has been through, trempled on by evil acts of terrorism. It definitely is an act against everything the democratic world stands for.

Although I believe that there is a duality in everyone in this world because of the attacks, in a macrocosm, the anti-America and the pro-America. I'm a Filipino, I believe I can say that I am pro-America.

America, so to speak, holds everything I believe in, maybe not all. It saddens me to think that there are elements in our modern world who still live and would die for terrorism. The plans of these terrorists and what they actually did holds much symbolism. The World Trade Center... as it is what it means... WORLD TRADE CENTER... the place for everyone to hold their commercial activities. The attack on this structure symbolizes the attack on the World. The Pentagon, being the stronghold of American(and world) intelligence and military power... same goes. These are structures that symbolize not only America but the free world. Any attack symbolize an attack on us, the believers of a free world.

As my mom would say it, "if America can be attacked like this, anybody or any country can be attacked as well"... It strikes fear on everyone here in the Philippines. With the support of the Philippine government to the US Military and US Government by giving open access to both former US Bases(Clark and Subic) to US Military forces, I believe that says it all and that causes alarm to all Filipinos all over the world. Even if it shows how much we are supportive of the US Government, it makes us a target as well. A developing nation which has issues of its own will now be facing larger and more complicated issues. We have, since the beginning of the 20th Century, bowed down to America.

As for the points my friend had raised, I do believe they were harsh and probably not contemplated on. He does believe in what America stands for in the world but there are just things from personal experience and probably his principles that can't be taken away, maybe for him.

My friend: did america stop capitalising on third world people's money? NO.

My cousin: This is true. It's called capitalism. You want to make money, right? That's why you expand your markets. Is there anything inherently wrong with that? I don't think so. If people are willing to spend their money on a product, then why not? It's called freedom of choice.

Me: Capitalism, is just that... capitalism. There is, however, difference in good and bad capitalism. Making money at the expense of other people's loss can be called bad capitalism. Capitalism which introduces new technology and processes to an outsource company is obviously good capitalism.

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My friend: did the americans close down their sweatshops in africa, india, bangladesh,and the philippines? NO.

My cousin: While I personally despise sweatshops and oppose them, what happens to these workers when they lose their jobs? Can they easily find employment elsewhere?

Me: It's not a matter of losing their jobs whence these "sweatshops" close down, its a matter of creating a decent enough working environment for these so called "employees". There are model US Firms which I definitely commend ,in exempli; Intel and FedEx, but there are others that are just despicable.

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My friend: did they prostitute the young filipina? YES.

My cousin: Or rather, did the young Filipina prostitute herself?  Hey, prostitution exists EVERYWHERE. Hence, it's called the world's oldest profession. So basically, are you saying that without the US, there would be no Filipina prostitutes? I beg to differ.

Me: SOME people say that demand and supply are co-dependent, i beg to disagree... demand controls supply... products are not always supported and/or demanded... The "hospitality industry" could not have been the way it was in the days of Clark and Subic had there been no bases in Angeles(Clark-Pampanga) and Olongapo(Subic-Zambales).
If demand is low obviously supply would be low as well... this definitely doesn't mean that w/o the US there'd be no Filipina prostitutes.

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My friend: did they really bring peace to the world with their diplomatic policies? NO. it's becuase their policy is based on money and self gain. Not on true altruistic intentions.

My cousin: I don't think you will ever have world peace. Ain't gonna happen. Since the beginning of time, ain't never had no peace! But let's see, the US is always there to offer humanitarian aid where it is needed - and where do most countries go to when they need help. Hmmm.

Me: I believe both points are actually reasonable to me... I don't believe in World Peace but I'm hopeful for it. Regarding countries asking for US assistance...okay okay help... I believe the US can't really say no... without us(the developing countries) the US would also suffer... without the US we suffer... bygones...

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My friend: DO you think they were really fighting for human rights out there?! That's one big BULL.

My cousin: I disagree. The US has a strong human rights policy in general. It's not perfect but the US has always supported democracy and the freedoms associated with it.

Me: Hate crimes included? No pun inteded... I guess that's where the "not perfect" comes in... it is, after all, an imperfect world...

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My cousin: And were it not for the US, we probably would not be alive today. The US saved the Philippines during World War 2.

Me: we weren't saved... the US only "protected" what was theirs... the only reason the Philippines was attacked so much was because it was a U.S. Commonwealth then... Singapore was attacked because it was a British Commonwealth.. same goes for Malaysia and Indonesia(Dutch) and Vietnam(French)....
The whole deal on US Philippine history is one that will constantly be debated for generations of Filipinos for as long as there is a Philippines and US...

Mark Twain(Samuel Clemens) once wrote about the way the US was meddling with the growth of the Philippines after the Spanish American War (which was obviously started by the Spaniards) and that the US should've left the Philippines alone after reclaiming it from Spain by winning the war and signing the Treaty of Paris. The way history tells it, the Philippines was supposed to have been let go but it wasn't to be so. Many laws and pacts signed by our "owners" which have abused the Philippines in terms of natural resources and the Filipino people... but of course they say that "that was then"...


*sigh*... the Philippines has been and will probably always be, a country of brown Americans... no matter what we say or do... I'm being true.

As you might have noticed there seems to be confusion with my sentiments for the US... wherein I don't agree with everything the US has done throughout history or will be doing in the future... I will always be pro-America, for I believe in Truth, Freedom, Liberty, and above all, Love of Country!

My heart goes out to those people who lost their loved ones. I pray for the souls of your departed. May they have peace.