Behind the silver screen, professional sports, high-level politics, so on and so forth – locally and internationally, calls to uphold gender equality and dignity, due protection against dehumanization of all sorts and women empowerment have been espoused and heard.
The movement has expanded. Support groups have mushroomed. At the most, (e.g. #MeToo, #It’s Never Okay and others) have gone viral. I hope this was not just one of those trendy illusions.
Candid and serious alike, conversations and discussions on the matter of respecting women and treating them as able, credible and willing partners in building socially and economically productive and progressive industries, societies and nations have obviously made and left indelible imprints in the minds of many.
Social and traditional media have helped tremendously in spreading the message of women empowerment and have also, to a greater degree, brought about public awareness and consciousness on disturbing and disgusting behavior that barbarians commit against women, or what the uncivilized want all to regard as the “weaker sex.”
No wonder, those who believe that they are that filthy rich and power-laden — to commit evil deeds that debase women and omit moral and legal grounds that would protect society’s so-called “most vulnerable” members – truly merit having their despicable profiles conspicuously emblazoned in Beelzebub’s Hall of Shame.
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My admiration goes to women who stand up for honor and dignity. I will always root for women who have mustered all the honesty, courage, determination and strength to step forward and loudly shout out the misdeeds done against them.
Perhaps, just perhaps, such act would put into closure the hurt they have endured for a long time.
Conversely, I despise those who use “trending concerns” to sidestep, make money and earn a few minutes of fame out of outright lies, deception and misrepresentation.
Allegations of sexual misconduct have been thrown and tossed freely, widely and wildly into the air.
When it will die down or even end, nobody knows.
Those beleaguered with such accusations have vowed to fight and seek the rule of law to clear their name.
Others will not admit guilt and will simply pay to do the same.
Still, more will feign silence and go on playing their malicious game.
Some are behind bars, obviously living in shame.
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Seeing people suffer has never been good news.
What is better is to see people smiling, living together, giving and sharing what is in their hands, hearts and minds, and enjoying a temporary earthly existence as it should be enjoyed and lived.
Before things pass, in style or not, let us continue doing the talk and doing the walk.
There is no expiry date for this kind of work.
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My rhyme: Ditch the itch; or hitch the glitch.
Simply oft said: Don’t do the crime; if you can’t do the time.
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Valentine’s Day, the famous Day of Hearts, is just around the corner.
So they say, the warmth of love is in the cold wintry air.
Feeling nostalgic will never do harm.
At the most, let this rush of pure emotional recall of moments of love and devotion, togetherness, giving and sharing fill our hearts and minds.
Just so it is clearly understood, friends: Feelings and memories are non-transferable and cannot be converted into cash.
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Your Worship, if it is a crime to go back in time, I plead guilty.
Back in the day and since yesterday’s tomorrow, I close my eyes and are all ears as soon as I occupy the passenger seat of a vehicle driven by a brother or a colleague who loves to play and hear sweet decades-old love songs, which poetic lyrics express the mysterious ways of the heart and which refreshing music soothes the weary mind and stressed body. It’s magic, nothing more and nothing less.
In 1960, Bill and Doree Post composed 16 Reasons (Why I Love You), a song that Connie Stevens popularized that same year, when it reached No. 3 in the Billboard Hits list.
The original will always be the best, but a version I usually listen to is that from the Lettermen.
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Of course, there a more than 16 reasons why someone loves another; as there are lots of ways to say I Love You and a lot of ways to show how and why love exists and will always be there for the giving and the taking.
Read and embrace the words of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s immortal poem How Do I Love Thee (Sonnet 43) until it concludes ‘‘… I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.’’
They may have been written ages and eons ago but Holy Books of all religions that embrace love of God and espouse love of neighbor, for that matter, do dwell a lot on love and speak primarily of love.
My favorite is from Christian scripture, as written in 1 Corinthians: “(3:1-3) If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing …” and “… (13:4-8) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
When you have decided on your favorite love quote or note or prose or poetry or music, please share it too.
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Feel-good and sad movie scripts are replete with lots of ways to express love.
Etched in my mind is the line “Love means never having to say you’re sorry” from the flick Love Story (1970).
Quoting a report from The Hollywood Reporter (THR), even the guy who delivered the line thinks “Love means never having to say you’re sorry” is terrible advice.
“You better say you’re sorry!” Ryan O’Neal tells THR.
Agrees his Love Story co-star Ali McGraw, “It’s a crock.”
I see the line from a different plain – the perspective of someone silently but quickly forgiving another person after the hurt.
Unrequited love is not expecting and waiting for an apology or an admission of guilt.
Only those who perceive that their egos are greater than others will seek for an apology.
The humble will seek and follow the ways of Bathala, because they all the love to give and forgive.
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Out of the blue: When someone tells you to burn in hell, think positive.
It may be one of those ways to express love.
Who knows, it might even be the most pleasant way to say that you are loved because you are hot!
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Anyways, bring back the loving feeling and fill the world with love.
Keep on beating. Happy Day of Hearts on February 14 and beyond and forever. #####
