Congratulations to President Duterte
We have all watched the American Election with great interest. Canadians are just as interested as Americans. There are many reasons for this, but during this election season there is one defining character who has electrified political discourse in a fresh way. Of course, his name is Donald Trump. To some, he is a blustering bully. I would contend that it is only those who stand to lose their unjustly wielded power and influence who feel this way. The average person facing every day life appreciates his honesty, candor and lack of political correctness.
Donald Trump speaks off the cuff, telling it like it is. He may slip up from time to time, but his approach denotes the fact that he is his own man with strong ideas on policy. I will take this over heavily scripted politicians who read from teleprompters and cow-tow to special interests and financial contributors. Donald Trump is a breath of fresh air and Americans are sitting up and taking notice.
In the Philippines, a similar dynamic has taken over. Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte is the new President. He won the election with a Trump style campaign, geared toward the people first. He speaks his mind, speaks the truth, even when politically incorrect, and he has solid ideas on policy. He seems to have a genuine desire to make his country prosper and to clean up crime and corruption. Some of his ideas may seem extreme, but they resonate with the main element of Philippine society, who want firm leadership and a better day to day life.
Any god fearing person knows that rape is a terrible crime. A man should be expected to give his life for such a thing. His example will be a deterrent to any man who would force his will on an innocent female. Drugs are much the same. Illegal substances rob families of fathers, sons and providers. They undermine the stability of a culture and steal prosperity and happiness from many. President Duterte knows this and I believe him when he says he wants to do something about it.
As for corruption. It is prevalent in any country. The problem is not unique to the Philippines. President Duterte offers a strong hand to root out this blight on society. A corrupt politician or official is undermining the rule of law and fair practices that are essential to the welfare of an entire society. Instead of setting an example, with honest service and altruistic intentions, a corrupt official muddies the waters and diminishes the trust of many. It needs to stop and be rooted out whenever possible.
There is one other area where President Duterte stands out. It is well known that the Philippines and the Americans are strong allies. This is a good thing to a point. If America wants to help the Philippines, that is one thing, but it should only go so far. The Philippines is a republic. There will be times when it needs to diverge from American policy. If America wants to bully or take advantage in any way, that should be discouraged and it takes a confident and strong hand to do that.
In short, I believe that President Duterte means what he says and says what he means. I have no reason to believe that his actions will not be consistent with this. I am looking forward to the future and will be watching to see the positive changes that come from his firm leadership style. As a Canadian, I also feel that the Philippines is my home away from home. I welcome anything that will bring positive change. I welcome anyone who is willing to stand up and do the hard work it will take to forge a better future for all.
