What A Wuss!

Now I’ve never been one to keep tabs with current events but watching the Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines shed copious tears in the middle of his speech was such a disappointment. The Chief Justice of the Philippines, crying! What a wuss!

I know that politics in the Philippines is tinged with notes of the telenovela—and as a matter of fact, there are a number of actors in the halls of the Senate itself—but I was surprised to hear such appeals to the emotion coming from the highest judicial officer in the land. I expected him to be much more professional. I expected him to give his testimony with dignity, and answer the various allegations made against him with clear, concise statements—not muddle it up with a litany of his woes, including some anecdote about his grandson which is, as heartless as it may sound, just irrelevant.

There is an appropriate occasion for tears: That’s what my parents have always taught me. When you’re out in the world, you’ve got to be tough. You’ve got to suck it up.

After his testimony, things really didn’t become clearer. But there is one thing that’s clear, at least to me: He’s a wimp. How very unfortunate.