Philippine mainstream media overreacts to Philippine 'pivot' to China

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It's uncanny that the mainstream media are making a big deal of President Duterte's so-called "pivot" to China.  In the history of the world, countries "pivot" all the time as they seek to do what's best for themselves and not what's best for those outside of them.   Japan and Germany were vicious Axis powers during World War II, but ended up closely allied with the US henceforth.  Did the media make a big deal out of that?  And the former Soviet Union and the US were Allied powers during the same war, before the Soviets decided to challenge US dominance.

What's worse, the media remain in static mode on their concept of "good" and "evil:"  if countries are aligned with the US, they wear the proverbial "white hat," and if not they don the "black hat" as in a stereotypical cowboy or Western film.

The prevailing mainstream media narrative is Duterte is making a "risky" move by "aligning" himself to China.  Really?  Is it "risky" or "deft?"  Furthermore, is it so much pro-China or pro-Philippines?  Is the world what it was 50-60 years ago?  Are the mainstream media watching too many Hollywood movies, stuck in that Captain America versus Red Skull mode?  If they are, somebody should tell them Captain America was created in the context of shoring up patriotism in the US during WWII.  Those days are long gone.

Yes, Duterte's "pivot" does make news but not necessarily in the negative vein most mainstream media make it appear.

The problem in the Philippines is the crabs pounce at the slightest impulse, not realizing what they're doing is not doing the country and society any good.  If there ever were a Backbiting Olympics, the Philippines would be considered runaway favorites in the gold medal tally.

For example, the crabs have been quick to label Duterte "communist" or "leftist."  So what?  Why is being leftist "bad" or "evil?"  Being "leftist" or "capitalist" is in itself amoral.  It's what one does with it which determines whether his or her actions are morally sound or not.  I know countless capitalists who are rotten at the core.

It's time for a paradigm shift.  We've tried "business as usual" for decades and we've gone from one of the most respected nations to a near basket case.  It's time we reclaim our rightful place in the world.  Duterte is trying to make that happen.

Crabs, clam up.


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David Nye as posted on Facebook.


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