We pride ourselves as being an ideal democratic country, and yet we want to bludgeon to death an artist who offends our religious sensibilities.
We are a society of hypocrites!
We got our hypocrisy from the Spanish friars who taught us fornicating was a mortal sin, and yet impregnated many women.
* * *
If Mideo Cruz depicted Jesus of Nazareth with a penis protruding from his face on a painting, leave him alone.
If we crucify Cruz because we are offended by his work of “art,” we are just like the Jews who nailed Jesus on the cross because His teachings were radical.
Cruz’s work may be “immature and juvenile”—as National Artist Francisco Sionil Jose describes it—but must we punish him for being different?
Let us not forget, my dear friends and readers, that we live in a democracy.
Some wags say democracy—defined as government of, by and for the people—is “demo-crazy.”
Anyone can make a fool of himself just as long as they don’t do physical harm to others.
* * *
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales calls for acts of penance and sacrifice to seek God’s forgiveness for Cruz’s “repulsive work.”
Rosales has designated Aug. 21 to 28 as “Prayer for Reparation” with Aug. 26 as a “Day of Penance.”
“As a Church, we will kneel before our loving God to pray and seek reparation for this public sin,” said the good Cardinal.
This is meant to appease God.
The problem with traditional religions—Christianity, Judaism and Islam—is that they depict God as a petty tyrant who punishes His subjects for offending Him.
But God is not a human being, so He is incapable of human emotions of anger and jealousy.
* * *
May I humbly advise people who think that God easily gets mad and has no sense of humor to read “Conversations with God” by Neal Donald Walsch?
If you keep an open mind while reading the book, you’ll find it makes much sense.
The book, which was on the New York Times’ bestsellers list, changed my life and my view towards life.
* * *
Please pray for former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who is in severe pain.
A doctor-friend at St. Luke’s Medical Center told me GMA’s cervical bone has “disintegrated” and is beyond repair.
Doctors will have to graft another bone from any of her bone structure, such as the one on her hip, to replace the one that disintegrated.
What’s holding her spinal column is the titanium that was put in place weeks ago but which has caused an infection.
The infection, plus the disintegration of part of her cervical bone, is the one causing extreme pain, my source at the hospital said.
She will have to stay in hospital for many months for treatment.
There’s the danger that she might get completely paralyzed if she’s not cured.
Let’s forget her “sins” for the meantime and pray for her recovery.
What you wish upon another comes back to you.
Wish your neighbor well and good things will be visited upon you; wish him harm and it will bounce back to you.
That’s the law of the universe.