3rd Semester '10-'11 Issue 1
In recent years, the world has been eagerly waiting for April 29 since it would be the day that another ‘commoner’ would be married to someone who is royal of birth. The royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton is to be the wedding of the century! The wedding that networks all over the world will devote precious air time to, because if you are not covering the wedding you are lagging behind.
If the royal wedding would be the start of a royal couple’s life together, a wedding that is neither royal nor holy had transpired years ago. And such a union is making its presence felt once again after sometime. I am referring to the ungodly union of the Middle East and violence.
The struggle in the Middle East may be traced back years and years ago into the halls of ancient history as its lands became the number one point of conflict as nations upon nations battle it out for the possession of fertile lands with diplomatic weapons such as persuasion, historical records, and the like accompanied by deadly weapons that ranges from guns, tanks, and highly explosive materials among others. But in recent years, the ghastly nuptial vows between these Middle Eastern countries have been renewed and this time it was not international as it was before. It was no longer Iran warring against Iraq or Israel going at it against Palestine, the battle was now found within the borders of countries. And it was a battle not against the wicked anti-government forces and the law abiding government forces-- something that we always find in books as children, it was in actuality the battle of the people against the reign of authoritarian leaders who had impinged on the lives of the people promoting not the betterment of their countries as a whole but the betterment of some but most likely of the self.
Such quest for freedom against the authoritarian regime was made evident in the events of 2010 where Egypt made their call for the resignation of Hosni Mubarak as the leader of the country. It was a monumental event! It was a fist in recent times when a country in the Middle East initiated its own call for democracy or a Mubarak-less country. And in their triumph in February of 2011, countries such as: Libya and Syria, one country after another followed in its footsteps. In a manner of speaking, they have become the modern adaptation of a People Power Revolution. Yes, indeed it may not be as peaceful and as scar-less, and as prayerful as the Philippine original version, but it is nonetheless the effort of the people to regain their human person by regaining their rights and civil liberties.
And so, as Kate Middleton and Prince William start their life together as a couple in love, then the people of Middle East are determined to divorce authoritarian regimes after tending to three grotesque children named oppression, strife, and fear. In the divorce of countries and authoritarian regimes, the possibility of a resultant divorce between the Middle East and violence might give way to a new lover called peace.
Ma. Kathrina Francisco, 2009C
Notice to Readers: The views expressed in the Perspective do not necessarily reflect those of the Academic Committee or UP POLITICA.
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