Comments on: Was Jose Rizal Really A Pacifist?

By: Maryann

Maryann — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:13:42 +0000

we have different views about rizal. it depends on you on how you will judge his personality. we should be thankful to the effort renedered by him to our country because without him, we filipinos will not be awaken. Rizal’s martyrdom awakens the filipinos to fight against the spaniards.

By: ia

ia — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 17:38:21 +0000

CI, yes, that’s a concrete example.

Paolo, I understand your point as well. But my belief still stands—of course we should read between the lines. All great literature expects us to do that. Of course we can never confirm which one of us is right (and are great literary pieces really great? Did these writers really mean those things?) since Rizal is dead, so I guess this argument won’t end. :)

By: paolomendoza

paolomendoza — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 08:21:16 +0000

Please dont take my rebuttal wrongly.. I love smart conversations. I concede to you and to your teacher, but let me explain my opinion:

We all know that Rizal was a victim of the revolution, not a proprietor. As a writer I think he wrote only what the times suggested were imminent. Did he share the convictions of the revolutionaries? We would be reading between the lines if we said ‘yes.’ (yet we choose to say ‘yes’) But what we know as fact is that, as a member of the La Liga Filipina, Rizal pushed for Filipinos and Spaniards to be treated as equal. :)

By: Pedestrian Observer

Pedestrian Observer — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 04:20:52 +0000

Let me quote Justice Puno’s speech on Independence Day in response to your question IA;

“As long as the Filipino suffers from the lack of proper education, we are not free. Those who cannot understand their rights and responsibilities to society can never be free.”

That says it all isn’t it? Until we allow the politicians to make a mockery of the electoral process we will never be free.

By: ia

ia — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:41:06 +0000

If you said that in our PI 100 class you would’ve flunked the final exam (and the class in general). Do you really think Rizal would write Noli and Fili to convince us to be children of Spain (or any other colonizer for that matter)? I think he’s smarter than that.

By: paolomendoza

paolomendoza — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:30:43 +0000

Our national hero is someone who wanted the Philippines to be a province of Spain, the first great example of a Filipino who wanted to go somewhere else.

By: ia

ia — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 17:08:21 +0000

I guess the only proper response is positive action after all the rhetorical and philosophical analysis.

By: Geo

Geo — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:56:02 +0000

If I think about it, does it really matter right now? I can’t see the benefit of being “free” in our current situation. We can at least relish and promote our history, culture, and heritage.

By: Mia

Mia — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:27:03 +0000

More importantly, are we really free?

No. But then again a more philosophically-minded person would ask if it is possible to be truly free in a world such as this.

By: Mae

Mae — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:21:41 +0000

agree with jhay, I don’t think we deserve the “freedom” we have right now. If we’re going to act like irresponsible and spoiled brats, I think it’s better that we’re under foreign rule. That’s my cynical self talking hehe