REVOLUTION FROM THE HEART
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr. from his column LINKS
The Featinean publication, July-August 1995
pages 26, continued on page 23
As I've promised, I'm back again, my dear readers. Many are asking me why the name of my column is LINKS. To tell you honestly, I got that from the name of an international journal of socialist renewal. It is a discussion magazine that rejects the Stalinist and Maoist distortion of the socialist project and take into account environmental and ecological questions, feminism, anti-racism and internationalism.
I chose that name because I believe in socialist renewal. And I did not become a socialist for nothing. Formerly, my life was a reflection of the society where I live. I was molded by many different views and experiences: a distorted education, media, drugs, criminality, graft, corruption, guns, rackets and other bad influences. A need for radical change from within has brought me to analyze myself, the environment we live in, the educational institutions and the government. I know it’s hard to change in the beginning, but I have to. Deliberating myself and examining my conscience, I decide that I can no longer afford to waste my life for nothing! I don't want to live blind and deaf on what is happening in my surroundings. I must kill my old self to replace it with a good one.
I began to ask myself, "What should I do? what can I contribute? How can I help to build a better future?" Alone and confused, and with nothing to support my questions, I began to read many books about history, philosophy, social science, community organizing and many other ranges of topics. Until I read the exploits of Tan Malaca who influenced Crisanto Evangelista (1930) to form union of workers, then the history of the revolutionary movements from KKK, PKP, HUK, HMB, CPP, NPA, ABB and the like. I also read the story of Andres Bonifacio, Gregorio del Pilar, Ninoy Aquino, Alex Boncayao, Edgar Jopson, Lean Alejandro, and other real heroes of the people. The stories of AFP-PNP tandem, the KGB-CIA war, Gestapo, Mossad, Chinese Triad, Japanese Yakuza, Italian Mafia, Bamboo Gang, 14K and other groups were also added to my booklists. I had to choose. I have to search where I'm going to. At last, the time has come that I decided to help the toiling masses, most especially the working class. And I consider it one of the best decisions I ever made in my whole life!
I know I can't do it alone and I know I'm not alone. Many groups and individuals like me also dream of eradicating poverty, rampant crimes, war brought about by racial discrimination, militarism, and other activities that oppress our people and suppress their rights. I don't want to just dream about these anymore. I want these to become a reality. I must act.
Now, I joined a movement that, like me, is critical to what is happening to our society. I found a new ally! A big family where my ideal world and my own interest lie. Yes, the revolutionary socialist movement gave me a chance to renew myself and to become a better person. I must prove my worth! I know that there are full of sacrifices here, but sacrifices are nothing if you know that what you are fighting for is right and just.
I want to make myself clear. The enemy of socialism is not democracy, but capitalism. Yes, capitalism destroyed the real essence of democracy to make it serve them. A president once said, "Democracy is the government of the people, for the people and by the people." Democracy indeed is not for some people. So we may ask, what kind of democracy do we have? Is it the freedom to kill, to massacre people? Is it the freedom to bring suffering to many people?
True democracy lies in the hands of the toiling masses. For me, and I know many will agree, democracy is being free from exploitation, free from crime and oppression, free from poverty. Yes, free from society's sickness! And this can only be found in a socialist world.
Contrary to many people's belief, being a socialist, or an activist, is not bad. What brought havoc to the name of socialism is the Stalinist and Maoist model of socialism. Again, I want to clear something. What collapsed in Russia and Eastern Europe was not socialism in its real sense, but Stalinism. Russia's Josef Stalin was the real culprit why the workers paradise was ruined. He ordered the killing of millions of workers and peasants in his time.
Still, up to now, many pseudo-revolutionaries such as LFS, Bayan, KMU and other remnants of CEGP and NUSP blindly follow the footsteps of Stalin. They may say they are Maoists, but Maoism is just an Asiatic version of Stalinism. For them, armed struggle is the only way out of the problems of society. No wonder why most of them are paranoids! Their leader runs the revolution by remote control, living in airconditioned rooms in a foreign land, while their comrades here are dying in malaria!
Ooopps... Enough, this column might explode! How about discussing it with you personally? Just approach me and I'm glad to help you.
***
A link is always associated with a chain. I believe the strength of a chain depends on its weakest link. Likewise a nation's strength depends on the weakest and the poorest of its people. In world history, we can find that there were people who were considered weaklings, but somehow revolutionized our society. Thomas Alva Edison had only three months of schooling but became one of the world's greatest inventors. Milton, in spite of his blindness, gave us some of the world's best literature. Beethoven, who was deaf, composed some of the world's greatest music. On the other hand, Hitler's propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels has a crippled leg and permanent limp. But he became the Nazi regime's most feared individual. His powerful propaganda destroyed a nation.
***
In behalf of Kamalayan Regional Executive Committee and its entire membership, we salute all student-leaders, organizations, teachers, students, school security guards and many others who in one way or another have given their support and joined the SONA (State of the Nation Address) mobilization last July 24. We also salute SANLAKAS for all their efforts and dedication to deliver the True state of the People (70% GNP - Gutom Na Pilipino). To those who experienced how the police wasted our taxes by firing water cannons at us, we know that you understand what kind of society and leaders we have. Our campaign to have a better future must not end up there. It is just the beginning. Ang again, we call on you: Let us join hands and build our future, NOW!
***
To my friends and comrades: Thanks a lot for your utmost support when I'm down. Your advices and guidance helped me a lot to live a new life again when I'm in the midst of destruction. I hope I'm tough enough to conquer myself. To my Christian allies and Muslim friends: Although we have departed ways because of many differences, I still treasure our friendship. Ang I'll never forget it. To my one and only: Your life is my life and my life is your life. My love for you will never die, it may just fade away. But still, I will prove that I'm worthy to be the king of your heart. Please take good care of yourself always, because I care. No one can take my love for you, even death cannot conquer me! Love lots. To my co-students: Don't forget that your parents are working hard so that you can enroll here despite high tuition cost. Please study hard so that you can graduate on time. And to all of you: Please, take good care of your family, most especially your dear parents. Take good care of your health. Be cool always even if you face tough problems. Hotheadedness will only take you to hell! Remember: Tough times never last but tough people do. See you next issue. I'll be back.
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr. from his column LINKS
The Featinean publication, July-August 1995
pages 26, continued on page 23
As I've promised, I'm back again, my dear readers. Many are asking me why the name of my column is LINKS. To tell you honestly, I got that from the name of an international journal of socialist renewal. It is a discussion magazine that rejects the Stalinist and Maoist distortion of the socialist project and take into account environmental and ecological questions, feminism, anti-racism and internationalism.
I chose that name because I believe in socialist renewal. And I did not become a socialist for nothing. Formerly, my life was a reflection of the society where I live. I was molded by many different views and experiences: a distorted education, media, drugs, criminality, graft, corruption, guns, rackets and other bad influences. A need for radical change from within has brought me to analyze myself, the environment we live in, the educational institutions and the government. I know it’s hard to change in the beginning, but I have to. Deliberating myself and examining my conscience, I decide that I can no longer afford to waste my life for nothing! I don't want to live blind and deaf on what is happening in my surroundings. I must kill my old self to replace it with a good one.
I began to ask myself, "What should I do? what can I contribute? How can I help to build a better future?" Alone and confused, and with nothing to support my questions, I began to read many books about history, philosophy, social science, community organizing and many other ranges of topics. Until I read the exploits of Tan Malaca who influenced Crisanto Evangelista (1930) to form union of workers, then the history of the revolutionary movements from KKK, PKP, HUK, HMB, CPP, NPA, ABB and the like. I also read the story of Andres Bonifacio, Gregorio del Pilar, Ninoy Aquino, Alex Boncayao, Edgar Jopson, Lean Alejandro, and other real heroes of the people. The stories of AFP-PNP tandem, the KGB-CIA war, Gestapo, Mossad, Chinese Triad, Japanese Yakuza, Italian Mafia, Bamboo Gang, 14K and other groups were also added to my booklists. I had to choose. I have to search where I'm going to. At last, the time has come that I decided to help the toiling masses, most especially the working class. And I consider it one of the best decisions I ever made in my whole life!
I know I can't do it alone and I know I'm not alone. Many groups and individuals like me also dream of eradicating poverty, rampant crimes, war brought about by racial discrimination, militarism, and other activities that oppress our people and suppress their rights. I don't want to just dream about these anymore. I want these to become a reality. I must act.
Now, I joined a movement that, like me, is critical to what is happening to our society. I found a new ally! A big family where my ideal world and my own interest lie. Yes, the revolutionary socialist movement gave me a chance to renew myself and to become a better person. I must prove my worth! I know that there are full of sacrifices here, but sacrifices are nothing if you know that what you are fighting for is right and just.
I want to make myself clear. The enemy of socialism is not democracy, but capitalism. Yes, capitalism destroyed the real essence of democracy to make it serve them. A president once said, "Democracy is the government of the people, for the people and by the people." Democracy indeed is not for some people. So we may ask, what kind of democracy do we have? Is it the freedom to kill, to massacre people? Is it the freedom to bring suffering to many people?
True democracy lies in the hands of the toiling masses. For me, and I know many will agree, democracy is being free from exploitation, free from crime and oppression, free from poverty. Yes, free from society's sickness! And this can only be found in a socialist world.
Contrary to many people's belief, being a socialist, or an activist, is not bad. What brought havoc to the name of socialism is the Stalinist and Maoist model of socialism. Again, I want to clear something. What collapsed in Russia and Eastern Europe was not socialism in its real sense, but Stalinism. Russia's Josef Stalin was the real culprit why the workers paradise was ruined. He ordered the killing of millions of workers and peasants in his time.
Still, up to now, many pseudo-revolutionaries such as LFS, Bayan, KMU and other remnants of CEGP and NUSP blindly follow the footsteps of Stalin. They may say they are Maoists, but Maoism is just an Asiatic version of Stalinism. For them, armed struggle is the only way out of the problems of society. No wonder why most of them are paranoids! Their leader runs the revolution by remote control, living in airconditioned rooms in a foreign land, while their comrades here are dying in malaria!
Ooopps... Enough, this column might explode! How about discussing it with you personally? Just approach me and I'm glad to help you.
***
A link is always associated with a chain. I believe the strength of a chain depends on its weakest link. Likewise a nation's strength depends on the weakest and the poorest of its people. In world history, we can find that there were people who were considered weaklings, but somehow revolutionized our society. Thomas Alva Edison had only three months of schooling but became one of the world's greatest inventors. Milton, in spite of his blindness, gave us some of the world's best literature. Beethoven, who was deaf, composed some of the world's greatest music. On the other hand, Hitler's propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels has a crippled leg and permanent limp. But he became the Nazi regime's most feared individual. His powerful propaganda destroyed a nation.
***
In behalf of Kamalayan Regional Executive Committee and its entire membership, we salute all student-leaders, organizations, teachers, students, school security guards and many others who in one way or another have given their support and joined the SONA (State of the Nation Address) mobilization last July 24. We also salute SANLAKAS for all their efforts and dedication to deliver the True state of the People (70% GNP - Gutom Na Pilipino). To those who experienced how the police wasted our taxes by firing water cannons at us, we know that you understand what kind of society and leaders we have. Our campaign to have a better future must not end up there. It is just the beginning. Ang again, we call on you: Let us join hands and build our future, NOW!
***
To my friends and comrades: Thanks a lot for your utmost support when I'm down. Your advices and guidance helped me a lot to live a new life again when I'm in the midst of destruction. I hope I'm tough enough to conquer myself. To my Christian allies and Muslim friends: Although we have departed ways because of many differences, I still treasure our friendship. Ang I'll never forget it. To my one and only: Your life is my life and my life is your life. My love for you will never die, it may just fade away. But still, I will prove that I'm worthy to be the king of your heart. Please take good care of yourself always, because I care. No one can take my love for you, even death cannot conquer me! Love lots. To my co-students: Don't forget that your parents are working hard so that you can enroll here despite high tuition cost. Please study hard so that you can graduate on time. And to all of you: Please, take good care of your family, most especially your dear parents. Take good care of your health. Be cool always even if you face tough problems. Hotheadedness will only take you to hell! Remember: Tough times never last but tough people do. See you next issue. I'll be back.
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