Letters to the Editor
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Fil-Am defends Bush
In order to respond effectively to an argument, one first has to
read it accurately and not misstate it. My point as I clearly
expressed it was that a statesman cannot govern solely by polls
AND that the most meaningful poll is that of a national election -
which Bush has won twice.
Does Mr. Villamora (Letter to the Editor, Dec. 29, 2005) dispute
that?
Mr.Villamora claims Filipinos leave to go to the U.S. because the
Philippine economy is so poor, not because the U.S. economy is
good. Come again? Sounds like the old riddle - Did the chicken
come before the egg? or the egg before the chicken? If he is
right, why don’t fleeing Filipinos flock to go to Russia, Mexico
or socialist Venezuela? Could it have something to do with the
alluring prospects offered to aspiring immigrants by the cruel
capitalist American economy? I leave it to your fair-minded
readers to decide.
Mr.Villamora worries about the $40 billion budget ”cut” in the
multi-trillion dollar 2006 budget. My heart sinks! Does this mean
U.S. spending will be reduced by a massive 0.5 to 1% or so? I
breathed a sigh of relief when I realized the budget ”cut” was
only a reduction in previously planned INCREASES and that spending
will still be up (not down) in 2006 by several percent. Mr.
Villamora somehow conceals this inconvenient fact from his
readers.
Mr. Villamora then ”emits” some 500-plus convoluted words about
Kyoto not one of which refutes my main point - that the science
behind global warming is deeply flawed and controversial so why
hobble the U.S. economy–a major driver in global prosperity in
2005- (to combat an illusory threat?) I will modestly claim my own
personal ”global warming” progress by taking my family to the
Philippine Islands for a tropical
Chistmas-New Year’s holidays with relatives and friends to escape
the frozen Massachusetts winter.
Mr.Villamora again sees ”nothing good” in Iraq because of the
casualties. If he sees ”nothing good” in millions of Iraqi men and
women voters with purple fingers smiling in news photos, then, I
don’t know how to respond to him. This is a heartless view that
sees nothing worth fighting or dying for- not even FREEDOM from
TYRANNY. If most Americans and Filipinos shared his view, the
Philippines would still be ruled by the Japanese military. And
then, he implies that my views about the war in Iraq are invalid
because I didn’t live in Fallujah “while the bombs are raining.”
O.K., since that is the test for credibility of opinion on Iraq,
can Mr.Villamora kindly provide me with his Fallujah address so I
can send him a postcard there?
Finally, Mr. Villamora throws out what he considers a devastating
quote from President Bush about Iraq.- “....we are welcomed. But
it was not a peaceful welcome.” So, what is the point? Once again,
recall Mac Arthur’s return to the Philippine Islands in World War
II. I have seen documentaries and heard stories of the terrible
fighting that accompanied that invasion - anything but peaceful.
But, guess what? Filipinos now live in freedom and at least can
hope for a better future –something Mr.Villamora and his
”peace-loving” Democratic friends would sadly deny to the Iraqis.
Divina Valenciano-Acker
Massachusetts, U.S.A.
