When people still assert for social rights

When people still assert for Social Rights

(Or: "Social Justice: more than just doleouts")

Social Justice isn't just about promotion of welfare and ensuring economic stability to the community alone, but also the ensuring humanity the right to have a dignified living in order to serve its role in promoting a moral and just society.  

Motivated by the desire to uphold human dignity, the concept of social justice aims to guarantee that life in society is just in the sense that it encourages freedom, reason, and honor; that the needy and impoverished have the right to receive assistance in a variety of ways, all in compliance with the law; and that these efforts will improve their well-being and enable them to become productive members of society. 

It is unsurprising, however, that the concept will always be associated with the skewed interpretation of "welfare". Social justice, like welfare, is more than just "doleouts"; it also assigns rights and responsibilities in societal institutions, allowing people to receive basic benefits as well as duties, such as taxation, social insurance, public health, public education, labour law, and other examples whose driving force is wealth redistribution and equal opportunity. For as time goes by, words like freedom and justice is increasingly more than just "political", but also "social" in its content, knowing having bestowed rights and duties in society, humanity, being a "social animal" should provide a dignified means for its existence in order to contribute further for the society's well-being as that of its own self as persons. 

Detractors may find social justice "idyllic" if not "delusional", but is it the obvious reason why people revolt against unjust societies because of its yearning for justice? Throughout the medieval and early modern eras, poverty was considered a legal condition and thus entitling the poor the right for immediate and substantial assistance. But the structural unjustness of society- from exorbitant taxes, forced labour, arbitrary detention from authorities, altogether justifies the reason to revolt as to assert the need for justice especially from the poor. And although true that the French Revolution was driven by the rights of Man, that Man is bestowed "natural, unalienable, and sacred" rights to justify such demands such as freedom of speech, press, abolishing arbitrary arrests, and popular sovereignty, the majority of those who revolt against the old order didn't uprise for reasons the bourgeoisie preached, but also social rights and the elimination of social and political inequalities. 

However, the social rights yearned by the toiling masses were not included in the final draft of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen of 1789, and social aims had been limited to "charity" as what Alexis de Tocqueville said in his speech to the National Assembly during the Revolution of 1848. ‘There is nothing [in the 1789 revolution] that gives workers a right in respect of the state […] nothing that authorizes the state to intervene in industry, to impose restrictions upon it’ as he said, making that social provisioning measures only as a matter of government that can be discontinued and not as a matter of right that emanates from the people. But the spirit of the French Revolution doesn't limited to simply political rights alone as realised by the Declaration itself- as calls to include social rights came from all parts – from radical sans-culottes, who also clamoured for price controls, to the well-heeled moderates in the National Convention, who believed that economic freedom would remedy deprivation. Even some anti-revolutionary Catholic priests were espousing social rights at the time while radicals like Saint-Just proposed to confiscate the property of exiles and opponents of the Revolution, and redistribute it to the needy through the Ventôse Decrees of 1794, so was Babeuf who argued that society's individualistic economy failed to serve the common good and that France had to be restructured in a manner that fostered economic sharing. 

The struggle for social justice doesn't stop by a mere government policy nor individual and institutional charity alone. Detractors may try their "bests" to downplay social justice claiming it is all about "wealth and power is distributed equally and fairly among all groups", but no! Social Justice also demands the folk to perform its duty and be compensated justly according to its performance the way Saint-Simon said "from each according to his ability, to each ability according to its work". Even St. Paul the Apostle bluntly said "He who does not work, neither shall he eat" (Second Epistle to the Thessalonians 3:10) that made Lenin call it a necessary principle. De Tocqueville may've dismissed the idea about the state intervening in industry and impose regulations in it, but, the state represents the folk, and the folk are by themselves bound by social responsibility from paying its due to that of obeisance to laws. And whereas these people, particularly the toiling masses seriously performed its duties to society, why deprive them the right to intervene in industry what more of society by depriving its right to be just compensated? Detractors cried Marx because of class struggle, that "a revolution is needed to settle the score, taking wealth and power away from those who have it and redistributing it to those oppressed groups" without understanding why oppressed groups have to seize the means of production away from the established order of things! Social justice isn't about "wokeness" or whatsoever detractors claimed about, otherwise, that is an exaggeration said by those who misunderstood what social justice is!

And to think that today's capitalist order faileth to ameliorate the existing social problem (what more to downplay and thus aggravating it) the failure to include social rights alongside political rights from the toiling masses makes "terror" against the existing order justifiable for them. Just like the French and Russian Revolutions that shook the established orders of the past, The have-nots who took arms and die for just causes were driven not just by freedom of speech, press, or expression alone- but also of land and bread, for they themselves worked hard, enduring everyday pain for the society to live, paying taxes and obeying laws for order to maintain, then why would they who have the duty be deprived of the right? True that there are lawmakers who tried to humanise laws and equalise social and economic forces by the State making justice in its rational and objectively secular conception may at least be approximated and yet its implementors who sworn to promote the welfare of the people rather fail to enact making themselves in the eyes of many appearing to be preserving the unjust status quo, hence making the have-nots resort to the "nightmare" the order is scared of. Critics may be right that the French or any other revolution driven by social change looms as a cautionary tale, but regardless of being dismissed as "dangerous" and thus trying to soften hearts by claiming to be "reforms" the folk still demand what's just and right for the society to thrive as that of humanity and its quest for survival. 

"The red sun will soon shine in the east"

 "The red sun will soon shine in the east"

Forests remain green despite the tremor

As blood of martyrs waters the fervor

The tales of their actions becoming legends

Enough to drown the order's stand

The slander dispelled by the folk's praise

For just like the weapons in hand avenge as they raise

Anger cannot cease from their once tired faces

Having enough of the order foolishly bragging as if "they've won the race"  

Like the ancient incantations and prayers

Speeches and chants trying to dispel suffer

As the city whose smokestacks suddenly stop

Instead shouts of protest overheard till cops drop

The scent of gunpowder still fills the countryside air

Enough to dispel the people's despair

As guns from the folk 'gainst its foes rattle

Continuing that is, the people's battle

The order and its hordes will still try to dispel

The ages old desire with rumor, fear, and rifles peal

Yet the same old fear, and its sister terror

From theirs aggravate the continuing past of error

The "peace" tyrants preach is all but farce

As if a filthy stench from their arse

The homeland cannot be contented with its pain

As the folk in arms will shower them with lead rain

The red sun will soon shine in the east

Whose shining rays enough to scare beasts

This called "fear" by the oppressing tyrants

And hope to the oppressed as becoming defiant

The "peace" been shattered by a reborn race

Turning action into weapon in a forsaken place

Sparks of struggle becoming raging fires

Full of anger, of love, of endless desire

This sun now red glows with shining rays

Enough to call a new dawn, a bright day

Rays to dispel living ghosts

Of scoundrels, tyrants, and its hosts

The bells ringing and the bugles blew

The call: "To arms!" as the folk knew

As in the past still resounds with fleeing foes

Scared of the bright sun in east with its glow

And if obstacles will try to block its bright red glow

The folk will remove till the sun be saw

Call them fools by the order and its hordes

Yet cannot stop them to remove every chunk and block

For this red sun from the east brings the land new life

New strength to empower the folk amid strife

To churn new action, spark new fire

Enough to burn the old order in its pyre

When will we ever hear the storm again?

When will we ever hear the storm again? 

 When will we ever hear the storm again? 

If not see the sea of flame? 

Of glowing red coming from the east? 

Enough to end this ages old pain? 

When will we hear the raging noise

Against the tyrants and its horde 

When will we ever hear the storm again? 

Or shall we set? If not now, when? 

 When will we ever see the flowers bloom? 

If not the trees bear sweet tasting fruit? 

Or feeling the cool ocean breeze? 

Enough to end this struggling heat? 

When will we hear the clarion call 

Enough to respond thy country's call 

When will we ever see the flowers bloom 

Or shall we see? If not now, when? 

 When will we ever see a homeland free? 

From a continuing past of tyranny? 

Of enjoying thy cherished liberties?

 What forefathers desired to be? 

When will we hear the call to arms? 

For all have enough of the order's harm?

 When will we ever see a homeland free? 

Or shall we act? If not now, when?

"The folk has the right for the fire to stir"

"The folk has the right for the fire to stir"

They cry for reform only to be hijacked by reaction

"Freedom" is their call when in fact it is subjugation

For the poor remained poor what more exploited by the "rich"

Worse to see the country treated as a sonofabitch

Such nonsense I see find that "change" impossible

Especially after seeing the same order trying to be infallible

The law and government form may be changed but the people still there

Same old bullshit making the folk in despair

Not surprised if those who support claim there are wonders

Despite rephrased terms enough to remember

But the spirit of those laws nothing but cheap messages

Enough to massage the egoes who misunderstood such passages

If not trying to appease the international banksters

Still acting professionally as any other gangsters

Promising one country and exploiting another

Using terms enough for a nation to suffer

Or claiming they're destroying the bad "oligarchs"

Through "reforms" enough both to bite and bark

Quite doubtful for such works faileth to resolve

Just expanding the pie for new and old exploiters involved

Again not surprised with their actions

Brought by those whose fact they're counterreactions

They would claim they've change the order yet failed to see underneath

The roots that meant to be removed in every beat

So long as the same old people prevail

Those "new laws and form of government" are rephrased tales

And if these same bullshits still occur

No wonder why the folk has the right for a fire to stir

"As Easter begins"

"As Easter begins"

As Easter begins 

The red sun shines brightly 

Over hills and the blue sea 

The morning star shines evenly 

The breeze brings good news 

Of songs calling for redemption 

Flowers of all kinds blooming 

This sets for a revolution 

The message inspires to advance 

Turning every tool into a weapon 

Taking the cross and follow 

The way towards liberation 

Expect hardship, pain death 

But the message continues to inspire 

The folk having enough of the system's wrath 

Taking arms and be fighters to aspire 

Expect the order and its attack dogs 

Belitting the clarion call of struggle 

Trying to downplay the message 

And unleashes its tremeandous terror 

But this doesn't stop the rising 

As the folk and land resurrecting 

The message of resurrection 

In action comes insurrection 

In every hand a weapon 

In every call an action 

Willing to break the continuing past 

Of destitution and corruption 

All rushed to the capital 

Singing songs of determination 

Trying to resist the hordes of reaction 

Like his ressurection the glory is the revolution 

As easter begins 

The red sun shines brightly 

The message is loud and clear 

To revolt is justified and necessary 

Just like the risen Lord 

Who called the folk to revolt 

Take the arm destroy the order 

Who brought the world suffer

Regardless of “actions”, crisis and oppression breeds resistance

 Regardless of “actions”, crisis and oppression breeds resistance

by Kat Ulrike

At first, this note extends greetings this Easter Sunday, for like the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, this note expresses that despite numerous challenges and hindrances, that the nation's struggle for independence and democracy is greater with full of hopes amid continuing socioeconomic crisis, oppression against the folk, and threats to national sovereignty. 

Easter is the occasion when people wished for a lasting peace as to honour its fallen dead. When remembering those who died, or imprisoned because of a belief, heir contributions, sacrifices, are driven by the desire to fulfill hopes, of making the future generation shall have peace in their homes and communities. 

On this, this note remember all of those who have given their lives in the cause of national and social liberation. This note salutes the courage and fortitude of those who have died in this phase of a historic struggle, and thus remember them with honour and pride. 

This note reaffirm the belief that the current government continues to downplay the people's desire for peace based on justice, the denial of a nation's right to self-determination, and the maintenance of social and economic inequality as the root causes of conflict.  

 By refusing to continue the stalled negotiations, the current administration seems to be stubborn in pursuing an offensive that involves bombing of communities, harassing and arresting peace negotiators, to that of involuntary disappearances. These actions, whose basis is “to end decades-old insurgency”, intensifies popular resistance as the current administration continues to be in connivance with entrenched local and foreign interests in exploiting the country and its people. With the support of imperialists, attempts to undermine people’s struggles to the extent of seeking to criminalise dissent has shown remain the order fixated with the objective of “destroying subversion” rather than developing the peace process. 

But regardless of their messages justifying their operations, its actions made clear that the responsibility for the ongoing conflict rests firmly on the shoulders of the ruling class through its government. The rejection of the people’s desire for lasting peace in favour of the order’s deafening silence shows that the ruling class wanted a condition that rather intensifies exploitation to maintain and consolidate further interests. Of course that deafening silence is redescribed as the “absence of war”, but, is that absence of conflict is based on justice? Of answering the cry of the poor and the oppressed? That “peace” of the order benefits the exploiters as they talked it through threat and coercion. 

This note requires no lengthy speech. However, the order does not present the necessity for a just and durable peace to a group of like-minded despots and tyrants. That "peace" they've wanted is a fiction, as the vast majority of peasants, workers, and other toiling people continue to face land grabbing, economic dispossession, poor wages, unemployment, and other kinds of terrible social injustice, making the fight even more just and necessary. And contrary to their statements trying to "win the peace", the present US-Marcos regime has aggravated the situation of the people by serving the interests of foreign capitalists, as that of local economic and political despots to the detriment of the Filipino people’s welfare and rights. "Programs" meant to appease the folk doesn't resolve the problem, but instead to placate the interest-seekers. 

To cut this thought short, the desire for peace means to address the people's desire for justice. The prisons or graves may be filled with those whose reasons as just, but an ever prevailing crisis which trying to be hidden cannot remain hidden at all as it breeds resistance- for regardless of the reprisals from state elements this doesn't stop the people from ever concerning hard issues the order fails to address, downplays, or outright denies; what more the willingness to resist in order for the nation to exist. 

"Christ is Risen! Let the world Rejoice!"

"Christ is Risen! Let the world Rejoice!"

Warm Greetings.

At first, this note resounds the following message: that Christ has risen; let us also rise; let us maintain His triumph over death and partake in His joy.

This message reminds the reader that with his resurrection, those who witnessed comes an expression of amazement, of a renewed faith as the tomb of Jesus Christ, once sealed with a great stone been rolled out, what more encountering a resurrected being, face to face, and touching the pieced hands, feet and side. 

And in his resurrection means hope, as Jesus Christ is risen, that shows he alone has the power to remove the obstacles that block path to life. He faced death yes, as he was crucified, sacrificing his life to absolve the world from sin and misery and was buried- only to rise again on the third day. 

In this note would ask why should the world not fill hearts with hope and joy as Christ rose from the dead? A victory of Life over Death? He is the Christ! He is the Emmanuel that says "God is with Us" and therefore he lives among the people yearning for salvation. His love showeth the redemptive goodness of God that the world needs in this present time. Through his resurrection, the world can now experience life beneath death, glory in the midst of suffering, strength from weakness, and victory despite the agony of defeat. 

Folk! As the world face various obstacles, of "stones" that blocked the path, looking back at Christ and sharing God's gladness  means keeping the promise that "He is with Us" and by His resurrection means giving people life that's eternal. Only the risen Lord who granted each and everyone the forgiveness of sins, for without this, such "stones" that blocked that path cannot be removed. 

In all honesty, this note would state that everyone is still struggling as humanity attempts to combat evil. Yet, that same humanity has experienced pain during the fight, which affected the body, mind, and soul, and thus humanity looked back at Christ, whose suffering and death on the cross have caused people to easily empathize with those who suffer. Of course, some will dismiss the pain and suffering being endured, but as humans who bear that pain and suffering require love and care to rise up and fight back in order to progress forward. For sure, everyone was looking for recent news about the pain of Palestinians, those whose families had been killed by missiles and whose homes had been destroyed; the pain of those who had lost their jobs or were struggling with meager incomes; and the frustration of those who were unable to support their families due to economic deprivation. 

And yet this note talks about resurrection? Again, Christ's resurrection from the dead represents hope. And hope for humanity takes numerous shapes. Of course, such realities are quite "mentally paralyzing," hopeless conditions that cannot be rejected, no matter who merely shrugs or blames the victim for the consequences. But, again, why does this note mention resurrection? Christ descended into hell and rose again, bringing with him everyone who had died, suffered, and was hopeless- and in His rising again shows He the paschal victim brought an immense hope and the immeasurable love of God the world yeans, the insurmountable hope that peace will come, and the miseries, abuses, deprivations, sufferings will end and go away. 

To cut this thought short, as the world celebrates this occasion, again let the folk remember that infinite love of God that overcomes humanity's limit and weakness. This gift means having a renewed will to fight be it against the self or against the world, especially in this time of catastrophe and crisis.