THINGS TO MIND By: Doms Paliawan

Can the government have complete control of its citizens through language? This is precisely what Orwell, author of the book 1984, is trying to show. Without language, he argues, we can’t think beyond a primitive level, hence stripped of our humanity.
Some instances show how the party controls the people of Oceania. That totalitarian government is working actively to reduce English to as few words as possible, a revised language called Newspeak. By taking as many words as possible from people’s vocabulary, the government limits the people’s ability to think in nuanced and complex ways.
The regime eradicates all but the simplest words from English. It reduced the scope language can describe positive and negative emotions to the two terms–”good” and “bad.” Intensity can be shown by adding “plus” or “double plus” to these two words. Through these moves, the government stripped the language of its power and expressiveness. It severely censors word choice. What people say in their sleep can lead to their arrest, torture, and death.
The way the government in this future dystopia takes control of its people is through a mixture of manipulation and fear. There is this ever-present threat of the Thought Police, who can watch everybody at all times and see into their minds. Then there is this scheme for the Party to turn families against one another, with children reporting their parents to authorities even for the slightest crime.
This assault on families does not only seek for separation between parents from children, but also wives from husbands, attacking sex itself, making people believe it is but a functional necessity rather than an intimate physical act of pleasure, of love. Finally, and perhaps worst, it is shown through the Ministry of Truth that a crucial way the government can maintain total control is through iron-grip of what happened in the past.
The Party owned or controlled the “truth” of what happened in the past through its constant shifting of historical realities and the various “unending series of victories over your own memory.” It is this that allows the Party to shift allegiance in the war without anybody taking note, and suddenly to have always been opposed to one particular side.
The name given to this process, “Reality Control,” shows how through language the Party is able to literally control reality and people’s perception of it, which is the most effective method of maintaining power over its populace. It’s no surprise then that throughout generations, despotic leaders had always given emphasis to the importance of language in controlling the people. Once the language is controlled, the mind follows.
In our country, there’s but a thin line between liberty and dictatorial form of government. Such oppressive rule could come from a single dictator, like a president, or from a Party dictatorship, such as the Communist Party of the Philippines in case it succeeds in toppling down the government. Either way, we can only expect language control on their part, as a way of eventually controlling us. We hope none of these would come to pass.

FROM A DISTANCE By: Joey E. Clarin

After two decades of trial, the Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos after it found her guilty of 7 counts of graft.
This is in connection with private organizations she set up in Switzerland when she was a government official from 1968 to 1986. Each count carries from 6 to 11 years in prison.
The case however, is expected to be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court and the former First Lady and her family have a formidable stable of lawyers known to be influential with the Courts.
In 1993, she faced a maximum of 24 years sentence when the Sandiganbayan found her guilty of project in a deal that was judged to be “disadvantageous to the government”. She appealed and was acquitted.
At an old age of 89, Imelda might be spared by sympathetic magistrates from incarceration. The conviction of simple graft allows her to post bail. She might do a Juan Ponce Enrile act.
The world has been astounded by the seizure of millions of dollars established to be ill-gotten wealth and deposited in Swiss banks and the Philippine government’s failure to hold anyone accountable for the crime. Switzerland has turned over the deposits to the Philippine government but no one has been brought to justice for the plunder.
The former First Lady is still fighting efforts of the government to seize her collection of priceless paintings. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas also has in its safekeeping jewelries confiscated from the Marcoses as they fled the country.
The question is, whether Imelda Marcos will ever actually suffer the penalty for graft or her conviction will turn out to be nothing but a farce. We know our justice system well enough not to celebrate prematurely.

OBSERVER By: Alvin GZ. Arpon

Former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos is sentenced – 77 years on prison by the Sandiganbayan on plunder as shown by about $200 million stuffed abroad through a foundation she and former President Ferdinand Marcos established during their 20-year rule, 14 years of which under a dictatorship.
Mrs. Marcos was then a member of the Cabinet as Minister of Human Settlements. Before this designation she was a member of the Batasang Pambansa (now Legislative department) and later on as Metro Manila governor.
Well, everyone who lived during the Marcos 20-year rule are aware of what really happened in those days.
But one thing no one can deny, and less mentioned these days is there were so much impressive programs and projects the Marcos era has done. Most impressive is Pan-Philippine Highway that connected all regions from Luzon down to Mindanao. In Leyte stands the impressive and modern San Juanico (former Marcos Bridge) that connects Leyte and Samar. And a lot more.
Back to Imelda
Hereunder are observations that need to be looked into to make the decision of 77 years imprisonment of the former first lady credible.
(1) She is 89 years old. By the time she is released from prison she shall have been 166 years old. Certainly this is not attainable by humans in this present world-generation. Even to reach 100 years old only very few people live this long. Sandiganbayan will say it’s the law; but we say is there no way to hand down credible decisions in order not to appear unsound or stupid?
(2) Why is it that only Imelda is charged of this “crime”. Did she do it by herself only? That’s Impossible. Imelda is not a lawyer and not equipped with the technical know- how as regard this venture that allegedly earned her $200 million.
(3) The biggest question is: why it took about 3 decades, 27 years to be precise for the Sandiganbayan to decide this case?
Of course we know the answers. We don’t have to speculate. BET? Will she spend a day in prison? Abangan!!!!!