By Eddie G. Alinea
Aren't they gonna stop? It looks like attempts to distract title defending World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao peace of mind will continue until he faces challenger Timothy Bradley on June 9 in Las Vegas.
This despite the writer himself, Granville Ampong, who created a stir when he wrongly reported that Pacquiao, quoting a verse in the Bible, had despised the third sex and saying they "should be killed," had cleared the air denying the 147-pound titlist never said that.
The 33-year-old eight-division world champ, also, had apologized to all those he must have hurt by his statement opposing same-sex marriage.
Here now comes various organizations claiming to represent Asian and Filipino-American lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender communities calling on the Pacman for a more open and transparent dialogue on the issue.
Which simply means that Pacquiao's apology for mamking such opinion, based on God's Commandments, has not been accepted, that the issue isn't close yet and the "Fighter of the Decade" will have to divert his attention between defending his title and thinking about the controversy comes night of his fight.
For expressing his opinion, which, in the first place, was not borne out of whims but on the teachings of God as embodied in the Holy Book, is facing condemnation, not only from some sectors in the foreign media but from the Philippine press as well.
Which, to many, is quiet unfair because as he said, He's just spreading the words in the Scripture, which he is tasked owing to his being now a preacher and engaged in Bible study.
Pacquiao, in fact, should instead be commended and praised for standing up in defense of his belief as a Catholic. Alone and in the absence of church leaders who opted to keep silence for fear of being feasted upon.
What Pacquiao, a boxer born in poverty, did should have totally erased all doubts that, indeed, he has changed from a wayward guy engaged in womanizing, gambling, drinking and other vices.
By daring to stand proud of his Catholic faith, not afraid to practice his belief not only in words but in deed, Pacquiao just showed the traits and character of a good Christian not seen even among the top honchos of the more than 1 billion Catholics around the world.
His detractors said Pacquiao shouldn't have expressed his opposition to same-sex marriage as it is unfair to those who believe they have the right to lead their own right to live as they wish they should.
But what about Pacquiao's right to express his belief? The same right U.S. President Obama enjoyed when expressed his approval of marriage between individuals of same genders.
Why are those now condemning the Filipino ring icon not condemn, too, President Obama, who incidentally, in approving such marriages completed a 360-degree turn around following his earlier disapproval of the idea? Could it be that Obama's turn around, made on the eve of U.S. presidential elections, was only made to attract the votes of those concerned?
Perhaps foreign media could be forgiven in their criticism over Pacquiao's belief for they, especially the Americans, as the entire world knows, are not the best example of moral and spiritual virtues.
But for their Filipino counterparts to join in the fray, is not right. The Philippines is the only country in Asia whose citizens are predominantly Catholics. Filipinos, therefore, should be the first to come and defend him in this issue.
No comments:
Post a Comment