Because of the dance photos released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and prominently played up in the newspapers, Communist party of the Philippines founder Joma Sison has had to explain in a press statement today that since it was Christmas, "it was perfectly alright for me to have kodakan [picture-taking], yugyugan [dancing] and kantahan [singing] with the Filipina movie and singing star Ara Mina [and singer-actor] Janno Gibbs."
The man is good in swing, must he apologize for it? Communists, unless they're Iglesia, have the inalienable right to dance whenever they feel like dancing--and not only in Christmas time (they're probably atheists anyway). What does the AFP expect Joma Sison to do? Be dour and sullen until the revolution comes? Dancing should be a central committee-approved method of putting away the ennui of alienated labor.
The Manila Standard Today also carries a picture of Sison derisively decribing him in the caption as "well-fed-looking" like some communist pig in Orwell's Animal Farm.
The one good thing that came out of this unfortunate disparagement of a communist's ability to party is that Joma Sison's website (from which the pictures were culled by the military) is more popular than ever.
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6 comments:
"Dancing should be a central committee-approved method of putting away the ennui of alienated labor."
HAHAHA. panalo! -r.o.
Indeed, Joma's personal page has become 'more popular than ever'! Thanks to the AFP! Hahahaha! Honestly, I didn't even know he has one. Joma will become more mindful than ever now as regards his writings and postings in his personal page. The AFP's accusation of a revolutionary leader like Joma leading a bourgeois life is not at all unique. Joma could have simply dismissed the expose by saying 'nothing is too good for a communist', just like what many other luxurious left-wing leaders in the world today would say whenever they are accused of the same!
I believe that whatever mudslinging and personal assault the AFP launches against Joma; they are doomed to fail to convince his followers -- no matter how true, sound, or logical they may be. This is not in defense of Joma (I do not believe in substantial and essential parts of his analyses and theories for social change in the Philippines). But I believe that there's something in the 'charisma' of Joma! Resolving the mystery of Jose Maria Sison's charisma would be quite a task for his enemies and may even include a vile wish for his death. But then again, even if Joma's charisma dies and be buried with him in the grave, the specter of insurgency will continue to haunt the defenders of the status quo for as long as injustice prevails and poverty deepens. Truly convoluted and complex situation requiring a whole lot of creativity, care, and will! Hopefully in our lifetime! To be for hope! To be for peace!
I don't think the Communist Party of the Philippines' existence for decades will be affected by the pathetic attempt of the AFP - hell! They are bound by their ideology - and not by some 'charismatic' leader (like El Shaddai?).
So for Joma, let's party!
(But the INQ article was really entertaining and kept Charles and I talking about it without noticing the awful traffic along Katipunan Ave. last Saturday!)
Bonn,
One must admit though that PR-wise, the military scored some points with the release of pictures of the partying Joma Sison. Joma probably realized this; thus his release of a statement defending the pictures.
There's the sore point though that needs to be addressed: When will Joma return home? Surely, he can't be forever in exile.
When you ask some people why Joma refuses to return, they invariably say that his life is under threat, that the govenrment would just want him neutralized upon his return.
All probably true, but the Castro brothers returned before they won in Cuba. A revolution cannot be won from abroad. And regarding the many dangers that await Joma Sison here in the Philippines if he returns, wasn't it the Great Helmsman Mao Ze Dong who said that "A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery.... A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another." The threat to one's life is a risk a revolutionary has to take. Which explains why I'm not a revolutionary: I like dinner parties, enjoy writing essays and would probably paint and embroider too if only I know how.
Interesting Ronnel!
You may not be a Maoist revolutionary, but a Marxist one, hahaha (noting Marx's thought about the importance of the arts and literature appreciation)!
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