I know that it is a free country...freedom of speech, right to have your own opinion, etc. WHATEVER.
The Manny Pacquiao-Krista Ranillo story is the biggest news these days, following closely after the Pacquiao-Cotto fight earlier this week. Many are outraged, some don't really care, while others aren't surprised at all. There are SEVERAL opinions being said about this issue, and I'm sure that YOU, my dear reader, have some sort of reaction to all of this hullabaloo.
It's hard not to come across ANY kind of information regarding the Manny-Krista-Jinky love triangle, especially when you're perpetually connected to the internet. True or not, this is the hottest news around. Just this evening, I came across a blog which had several articles about Pacman. It sparked a sort-of "controversy" within the blogging community, and the article garnered a lot of hate mail / comments, from his statement below:
"Until something materializes, as he said in his Cotto post-fight interview, he plans on taking a break, getting some rest, and having some fun. I guess I would assume that this would involve time with his family and also time with his reportedly new flame--Krista Ranillo. To me, I can empathize with Manny regarding this issue, and I think that as long as he takes care of his responsibilities then he should not be restricted of his liberties. I find the situation quite natural and the instinct innate in the human male. I believe that it gives Manny added inspiration, motivation, and/or pleasure in his life, which is something that we all need in life to keep going. Thus, I feel that the media should just let it be. (http://coconuter.blogspot.com/2009/11/manny-pacquiao-on-fire.html)"Other bloggers slammed his statement, saying that he was a chauvinistic pig for condoning immoral acts of infidelity/adultery. Seeing that his readers are mostly Filipino - and presumably Christian - it is no surprise that he received so much hate for actually supporting this kind of behavior from a married man. You would think that he would stop there: either apologize or just shut the hell up. But he just posts this follow-up blog entry in which he tries to justify his words by calling his haters ELITISTS and CONQUISTADORS: (http://coconuter.blogspot.com/2009/11/anomalous.html) In this blog entry, he goes on a round-about explanation of how Manny's actions are justified because it is a "natural instinct:"
"I merely pointed out in my statements that such feelings or tendencies is natural and ever-present amongst animals (especially mammalian species). And, of course, it is a fact that humans are mammals (animals) themselves. And since I feel that it is a natural instinct, then I do not think any external agency should restrict this liberty."One comment pointed out that we cannot completely compare ourselves to the behavior of animals because we have something (supposedly) that they don't: common sense and rational thinking. If we keep on justifying our actions by saying that "Hey, this is natural instinct, this is the way of nature," what kind of society do we expect to live in?
This boils down to morals: what is our definition of morality? Isn't it dictated by social standards? By our social standards (Philippine-Christian setting), adultery is morally wrong, unlawful even. Of course, there are certain cultures which practice polygamy, but we cannot compare our values to their practices because we have different culture bases.
I am all for freedom of speech. I know that each of us have our own opinion on any particular issue (I, myself, am practicing my right to voice out my opinion right now). This blogger (coconuter) has gained a lot of followers/haters because of his opinion. Is it hypocritical to criticize him for expressing what he feels?
Am I wrong to say that he makes absolutely no sense, and he just shows desperation in his pseudo-intellectual arguments of natural instinct, which then segues to accusing his haters as elitist and conquistadors (huh, where did that come from?)? He even has the gall to compare his situation to that of great men such as Socrates and Jose Rizal! Am I wrong to say that he is a chauvinist pig ("Hell yeah, infidelity is natural to men, so we should all practice it, and it'll be ok"), and that I feel sorry for whoever has the misfortune of marrying him someday ("Honey, I will be following my natural instinct and go f*ck every woman I am attracted to.") Am I wrong to feel enraged (especially as a woman) that there are actual men like him who exist in this society?
My opinion may not make sense to you, it may be laden with emotion or irrationality, even. I am just appalled by the realization that many people in our society still have warped moralities such as coconuter's. I thought we were an advanced generation? Aren't we supposed to improve over the years? Or has time corrupted our perception of what is right and wrong?
Oh well. I might be getting riled up for nothing. This just my opinion. What's yours?
