When the young chose not to become their "assets"
(Or "all after the issue between Parents
and their Children as Activists")
It is unsurprising that the Filipino reaction has trying to aggravate the situation- this time by using a personal matter such as parents versus children and the latter's decision as activists.
Started by a post in social media the message appears to be an invoke to worry, especially to parents whose children decided to seek truth from facts and to engage in a struggle one would say costs lives especially on those who take arms.
Worse, to see a senator aggravating a matter. During the senate proceedings he, assuming to be as concerned as the parents, For him would say he supported the parent's call for their children to return home, if not accusing a progressive organisation for "brainwashing"; unsurprising indeed, but, for the children, who happened to be at their legal age and chose to seek truth from facts and fight back, it is their decision to do so and sometimes it involves agruments at home.
For a writer who read those reports would say that it is a usual occasion when young and old are arguing due to a belief. Rizal was once chided by his parents not to engage in radicalism while studying in Spain, even Edgar Jopson who was a son of a grocer was also chided by his father for his radical belief, what more of Gina Lopez who did left her sheltered life and engage in a "life of struggle" such as living in an ashram and in the slums of Africa. For a parent would say it's really worrying to see their children living that way, knowing that they all used to look at them enjoying in the comforts of their homes.
But arms doesn't limit to guns alone as most people think of. Even the pen is itself a weapon, even a computer can also be a weapon, each thing can be a weapon when it comes to battling minds and hearts especially in an era where being concerned is a nature of being a patriot.
But to block the young from being aware is itself contrary to uphelding democracy and freedom that's being invoked altroughout. And in a time of operations Tokhang, Double Barrel, Kapayapaan, and Kapanatagan, it seems that be aware, what more if being concerned, is becoming a crime- what more that Senator dela Rosa did was invoking a renewed call for witchhunts against activists and concerned persons alike- on the basis of "saving the children." if so, then is this the idea of democracy being babbled about by commentators includes opposing the decision of these young adults seeking for radical change?
Truly it is worrisome at first for a parent, but as far as this person knows that not all parents whose children are becoming activists are same as those who "wish to return to their normal lives", normal as in child-like in their eyes. There may be arguments yes, and there are those who out of fear they gave up; yet in the end those who chose to commit in the struggle did not forget the love their parents did, regardless of the arguments. After all, they're human.
But to think that in a time when operations Tokhang and Double Barrel been discussed by policemen, of operations Kapayapaan and Kapanatagan been babbled by the military, then it is unsurprising both which also targeting radicals and concerned citizens alike, then expect each and everyone, young and old, to become aware of such issues, seeking truth from facts, and thus argue against it regardless of the risks.