Countering the mass killers

The President of the Philippines will deliver his State of the Nation Address this afternoon. And most of his countrymen will be listening to what he has to say. But I will concentrate on the expressions and reactions of those present as well as on the fashionable outfits of the lady members of both houses, and their spouses, and the jewelry they will display. I will miss the fabulous ternos and heirloom jewelry of the immediate past president, who always outshone the other ladies in the hall when she appears.

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Those will hold my attention, since I won’t be listening to the speaker who has already announced that he will be using Tagalog, a language I just partly understand, more so if the “malalim (deep or traditional)” version is used. I admired more his late mother, with her fascinating accent, and the former president, despite her sometimes outlandish claims, but whose speeches I could easily take notes of. This time, as I did in his previous SONAS, I will just wait for the wire reports later to know what he said.

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Anyway, we all know that he will be dwelling on his drive against corruption and the people already charged in court for graft committed during their terms. I hope he remembers that some are still disappointed that several plunder cases have not been noted yet, so far. But he does have some reasons to feel elated, because it cannot be denied that big investments and businesses have been coming in, probably attracted by his administration’s concentration against the graft and corruption that had turned them off in the past.

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PNoy is lucky in that so many countries, especially in Europe, are facing hard times now, so that big business is turning to Asia for putting in their money, and this will all work in his favor. It is now conceded by some of the former Big Powers that Asia is getting up and gradually drawing in the big money from them. The fact that many of our people have been working in those countries and have gotten to know their ways should also work in our favor – and give credit to the president as well.

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Meanwhile, let us pray for the people of Denver, Colorado in the United States, where an obviously deranged character suddenly got it into his mind that he had to massacre as many has he could in a movie house where the film, “The Dark Knight Rises” was showing. Did he imagine himself to be that dark knight who would reduce the population of that town? From the reports on the crime, the perpetrator, a certain James Holmes, must have prepared very well for his dastardly crime.

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That was a very strange incident, indeed. Holmes is said to be, not only college educated, with a degree in neuro-science, but was even working for a doctorate. He reportedly got his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California in Riverside City – goodness, that’s the city where I stayed until last week, and where I have my home away from home whenever I am in the U.S.! To think that mass killers like James Holmes could be wandering around in that very peaceful and very well-planned and disciplined community!

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Yesterday the news was full of the reports on the Aurora town killing where 12 died immediately and dozens were seriously hurt after Holmes entered the moviehouse and started firing at anybody within sight. The footages showed a very shocked and grieving community, and helpless-looking officials, who could not seem to fathom what had triggered the massacre. Holmes has been arrested, and detained, but even if he gets a death sentence – which is banned in most states of
America – his lone life could never replace those he had killed.

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A sad coincidence is that the media – especially TV, also focused yesterday on the anniversary of another massacre that took place in Oslo, Norway, where about 50 were also killed in another senseless rampage. What is happening in the world now? It does not seem to be enough that the climate has become so unpredictable and often harmful, we also have human beings who seem bent on eliminating as many of their fellow beings as they can. Maybe it is imperative now for us to appeal to our Creator to take us back to the times when we relied on Him and therefore enjoyed His constant protection.*

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