“Shit happens”.
“Shit happens”. These were the words a former cop turned legislator said in facing the media about the actions brought by those upholding the law some years ago. Their actions, no matter how controversial it would be did reflect the current stance people find it terrifying from its onset while its supporters described it as a brand of deterring crime and terror.
And this continue to resonate still even in this present regime. With same people still in power, it’s been years passed since the regime tries to justify its controversial actions as that of “justice” and restoring “order”. Yet after events which have had such a wide and deep repercussion especially towards concerned folks, these occurrences still made people worry especially when seeing its fanatical supporters, all driven to support their idol right or wrong invoke fear against those who are truly concerned, trying to subvert democracy all in the name of their bastardised order and stability.
Be it “red tagging”, to that of extrajudicial killing, the current regime, just like its predecessor insist to the world first that these as an internal issue no matter how many innocents or those expressing concern, what more those who strongly disagree end harassed or outrightly killed, worse, to be justified in the name of curbing down crime or terrorism while claiming that the justice system or democracy itself in The country as thriving.
Indeed, the justice system is working, that democracy as thriving, but to see the corrupt and the wicked trying to distort just like in the past, all in the name of their “peace and order” as they “red tag”, harass, or silence those who truly concerned. Of course, they would claim these as driven by their zeal to upheld security of all people, but, how many violent crimes have been committed, even to the point of striking someone and causing blood to be drawn! How many slurs in or against the media, how many offensive remarks and deeds committed against those who express concern and opposition against unjust policies and actions? Of seeing innocents killed and be deemed as collateral damages in the name of war against drugs, crime, or terrorism?
It is not surprising that the order will justify or deny people the truth as they insist their narrative. As they insist that life goes on, that their brand of progress and development thrives, that the reality of corruption and injustice thrives as they themselves benefited from the fear and poverty of the folk and its community. They cry rebellion as people increasingly becoming concerned over poverty and injustice, they cry crime as people saw the corrupt nature of those claiming to be law abiding, until when the folk remain mum in these truths? Of getting contented in their narratives that trying to hid the realities how poor and oppressed the country is? Blamimg the opposition for their make believe woes while theirs profited from their corruption? Their words trying to instil us their foolish belief that they make the country great again when its rottness is being seen throughout the year, yet as they appear to be “many” they claim to have the power back but not the hearts of those who wished to see their nation truly great- for instead they wanted those truly capable of serving the folk as they serve God rather than themselves and their interests: “But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten,” (Exodus 18:21).
If this is rebellion then so be it, those who are truly concerned about the nation cannot just stay mum and contented as they pray and work hard for themselves, their families, and their respective communities. It is on their faith in God and in their nation that diminishes the narratives of the corrupt. It tries to substitute for it the shifting sands of “human regulations”, sooner or later lead these individuals or societies to moral degradation.
But despite their words, this doesn’t diminish the people’s quest for truth and justice. The Lord Jesus promised that: “You will have affliction in this world, but take courage, I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). True maybe that the current regime this time tries to “mellow” its image just to appease the world, especially that it tries to curry favour to the developed countries for investments. But the people remains concerned, if not still having deep anxiety as apologists of the order tries to provoke fear against those who truly concerned about the country. And although true that people desired peace, the peace people felt also have experienced the truth of those mysterious words: "Behold in peace is my bitterness most bitter" (Isaiah 38:17).