I recently read an FB post complaining about how Google is more interested in one's language than one's country. The poster seems to imply that this is rediculus and superfluous. This is in response to Google adding Cebuano as a language beside Filipino in its search bar.
Threads spoke Filipino and Tagalog being essentially the same, another poster added, isn't this stupid? The FB complainer also compared Filipino and Tagalog as like renaming English to British. I was aghast, and all these coming from Filipinos!
First things first, Filipino is Tagalog, Tagalog is Filipino - at least for now. That is true! Without a doubt. However, Filipino and Tagalog are more than just verbal jousting, it is the story of the Filipino people's arduous struggle to conceive of a comprehensive and inclusive national identity in order to build a working democracy, a democracy that is still in need of a lot of working and a national identity that is anything but comprehensive and inclusive - precisely because the Filipino historical drama is filled with the rape and systematic bastardization of our consciousness as a nation, ensuring that external powers will be able to throw its weight around like a rampaging bull African elephant! Furthermore, the Filipino language is the struggle to incarnate a modern, flexible, and dynamic language that will shape a modern, flexible and dynamic people. Filipino is that desire, is that goal, is that longing to go beyond the cultural depravity that befell on the early Filipino people.
Second of all, Filipino and Tagalog cannot be compared to renaming English as British. Geez! Without being too pedantic, and at the risk of sounding brusque and callous, English lexicographically refers to the people, language, and culture of the inhabitants of England. British refers to a the people who inhabit Great Britain, an island composed of the nations of England, Wales and Scotland. British then is exclusively descriptive of a people, not a language, indeed, Wales have Welsh language and Scotland have Scottish Gaelic language. To equate Filipino and Tagalog as like renaming English as British smacks of intellectual laziness. At an age of technological proliferation, a modicum of academic credulity is but fitting and proper if one does not truly understand the implications of, not to mention the meaning of certain concepts. Plainly, such thinking is pure casuistry and sophistry masquerading as a legitimate intellectual certitude and is a clear manifestation that the very non-existence of a coherent national language as exemplified in Filipino and the so-called "Filipino youths" apparent aversion to such is an indication that the cultural hangover we had during three centuries of Spanish monastic rule and fifty years of American pop culture and pedantic brainwashing has ensured that we most likely will be a people hopelessly unsure of its essence, its direction, its goals and its dreams. Sad indeed and tragic at worst.
Biyernes, Hunyo 7, 2013
Huwebes, Hunyo 6, 2013
Syria's Crawling Violence
As of date, the violence in Syria shows no signs of ending. In fact, it is slowly creeping to its neighbors, with Lebanon clearly its next destination. The palpable presence of Hezbollah in the Syrian battleground is a virtual give-away in this increasingly violent and vicious civil war. In the last few days, bullets and bombs from both the Syrian Army and Hezbollah have been exchanged in Lebanon, and there is no sign that such will not be exported to other parts of Lebanon.
Once Lebanon is fully engulfed, the inevitable next target is Israel, although Hezbollah might not actually fire the first shot. However, the next Israeli airstrike into Syrian airspace might prompt a response from al-Assad, for to do so would mean kowtowing to the Zionist entity, something Bashar will suffer among the Arab world. But then again, the Arab world is divided between the Alawites and it's Arab brethren, with the FSA and other rebel factions being supported by Sunni Saudi Arabia and Qatar, while the Shiite Alawite ruling elite of Syria is backed by Shiite Iran and its proxy Hezbollah.
As long as Russia continues to supply top grade military arsenal to the Syrian regime, and so long as Europe is fragmented in its Syria policy and that it actually does not send arms to the rebels, despite its lifting after two years, will ensure that a stalemate will be maintained in the foreseeable future. In this regard, a stalemate will guarantee that Damascus will remain with al-Assad. Which also means that the civil war will drag on for the next year or two, until something radically different occurs - such as U.S. active military involvement, dim at best under the Obama administration.
If the war escalates to other countries, Jordan could be the next party after Lebanon and Israel. The U.S. has recently sent military paraphernalia to Jordan, a sign that once Jordan is dragged to the melee, the U.S. will too. Certainly, such event will prompt Russia to extend ever more military assistance to Bashar, and finally, a new front will open for American military intervention, unless Obama does not use his assets in Jordan. Which I doubt he won't, since such act would certainly cost the American president political points and haunt the Democratic party in the 2016 presidential elections.
Obama's paralytic response to Bashar's limited use of chemical weapons will only embolden the dictator to up the ante, and Obama will increasingly be shoved to a corner he might not be able to recover from politically. By then, he will have lost credibility among his allies and contempt among his enemies, by that I mean Syria, Iran and Hezbollah. This will fuel another round of brutality and violence the world will have to stomach in the foreseeable future.
Once Lebanon is fully engulfed, the inevitable next target is Israel, although Hezbollah might not actually fire the first shot. However, the next Israeli airstrike into Syrian airspace might prompt a response from al-Assad, for to do so would mean kowtowing to the Zionist entity, something Bashar will suffer among the Arab world. But then again, the Arab world is divided between the Alawites and it's Arab brethren, with the FSA and other rebel factions being supported by Sunni Saudi Arabia and Qatar, while the Shiite Alawite ruling elite of Syria is backed by Shiite Iran and its proxy Hezbollah.
As long as Russia continues to supply top grade military arsenal to the Syrian regime, and so long as Europe is fragmented in its Syria policy and that it actually does not send arms to the rebels, despite its lifting after two years, will ensure that a stalemate will be maintained in the foreseeable future. In this regard, a stalemate will guarantee that Damascus will remain with al-Assad. Which also means that the civil war will drag on for the next year or two, until something radically different occurs - such as U.S. active military involvement, dim at best under the Obama administration.
If the war escalates to other countries, Jordan could be the next party after Lebanon and Israel. The U.S. has recently sent military paraphernalia to Jordan, a sign that once Jordan is dragged to the melee, the U.S. will too. Certainly, such event will prompt Russia to extend ever more military assistance to Bashar, and finally, a new front will open for American military intervention, unless Obama does not use his assets in Jordan. Which I doubt he won't, since such act would certainly cost the American president political points and haunt the Democratic party in the 2016 presidential elections.
Obama's paralytic response to Bashar's limited use of chemical weapons will only embolden the dictator to up the ante, and Obama will increasingly be shoved to a corner he might not be able to recover from politically. By then, he will have lost credibility among his allies and contempt among his enemies, by that I mean Syria, Iran and Hezbollah. This will fuel another round of brutality and violence the world will have to stomach in the foreseeable future.
Miyerkules, Hunyo 5, 2013
Turkey Convulses: Istanbul's Taksim Square Protests
The buzz break in the news nowadays, a respite from a daily dose of Syrian orgy of violence, but no less heartwarming, is the protests rocking Istanbul. Youths from a largely secular side of the Turkish nation protested a few days ago against a plan by Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's AKP party to build a mall, actually an Ottoman military barracks that doubles as a mall, on a park.
FP.com has a smorgasbord of articles written about the issues wringing Turkey at this time, and how Erdogan is slowly undemocratizing Turkey over the years using of course the pretext that since he was elected with a strong majority, then he can do practically whatever the hell he thinks he wants.
Over the last decade, Erdogan without a doubt transformed Turkey into a shining, economically dynamic majority Muslim nation in a sea of autocratic Arab neighborhood. However, Erdogan also effectively stifled and emasculated Turkey's media, ensuring that the press only reports on the things he wants. In addition, he has used the state machinery to harass everyone and anyone who does not agree with him, ensuring a moribund opposition. Clearly electoral success has blinded Erdogan to the essence of democracy. He has slowly become a leader who only represents the religious Islamist side of Turkey.
Unless the Istanbul protests, which has spread to thirty other Turkish cities, somehow induces a much needed bout of self-reflection and analysis in Erdogan, Turkey will sink in into further protests and further chances of violent outbursts, which will in turn incite the government to apply even more harsher methods, which will then embolden the Turkish opposition as represented by the secular youths of Taksim, to mass around Taksim and the potential for a cycle of violence looms ever more clearly.
I am in solidarity with the secular protesters of Taksim Square. Only a secular environment can ensure that all ideologies gets to play in the democratic chessboard - a fundamental quality of any democratic nation.
FP.com has a smorgasbord of articles written about the issues wringing Turkey at this time, and how Erdogan is slowly undemocratizing Turkey over the years using of course the pretext that since he was elected with a strong majority, then he can do practically whatever the hell he thinks he wants.
Over the last decade, Erdogan without a doubt transformed Turkey into a shining, economically dynamic majority Muslim nation in a sea of autocratic Arab neighborhood. However, Erdogan also effectively stifled and emasculated Turkey's media, ensuring that the press only reports on the things he wants. In addition, he has used the state machinery to harass everyone and anyone who does not agree with him, ensuring a moribund opposition. Clearly electoral success has blinded Erdogan to the essence of democracy. He has slowly become a leader who only represents the religious Islamist side of Turkey.
Unless the Istanbul protests, which has spread to thirty other Turkish cities, somehow induces a much needed bout of self-reflection and analysis in Erdogan, Turkey will sink in into further protests and further chances of violent outbursts, which will in turn incite the government to apply even more harsher methods, which will then embolden the Turkish opposition as represented by the secular youths of Taksim, to mass around Taksim and the potential for a cycle of violence looms ever more clearly.
I am in solidarity with the secular protesters of Taksim Square. Only a secular environment can ensure that all ideologies gets to play in the democratic chessboard - a fundamental quality of any democratic nation.
Martes, Hunyo 4, 2013
The World's 100 Best Beaches (according to CNN)
Whereas North America has just ended the current school year and summer is now on the go, we in the Philippines has just about wrapped the summer season and will now begin school year 2013-2014. In view of the summer season in the U.S., CNN released the World's 100 Best Beaches as ranked by its staff. So there, we will know the preferred beaches of CNN staff, and there's nothing wrong with that, besides, its their "news" station.
Rounding up the top 25 beaches are two from the Philippines, El Nido in Palawan comes at No. 14 and Palaui Island in Cagayan Valley comes around at No. 10. While there are many unspoilt, unexplored and basically unmolested beaches in the Philippines, El Nido and Palaui Island comes across as the more popular. Based on the CNN rankings, it can be said without a doubt that the best beaches in Asia are indeed found in the Philippines!
Rounding up the top 25 beaches are two from the Philippines, El Nido in Palawan comes at No. 14 and Palaui Island in Cagayan Valley comes around at No. 10. While there are many unspoilt, unexplored and basically unmolested beaches in the Philippines, El Nido and Palaui Island comes across as the more popular. Based on the CNN rankings, it can be said without a doubt that the best beaches in Asia are indeed found in the Philippines!
Lunes, Hunyo 3, 2013
Will arming the Syrian opposition be Good?
In a piece written for CNN, Anna Macdonald reports that the EU, effective June 1, will suspend the arms embargo against the transport of military weapons to any party in Syria that has been in place for the last two years. Russia responded by affirming its desire to send anti-aircraft missiles.
I agree with the spirit of Macdonald's assertion, that sending weapons to the Syrian opposition will not only prevent bloodshed, it will actually prolong the war in Syria and inflict even more hardships to the civilian population. I also agree that only a diplomatic solution will provide the best prospects for ending the war.
Arming the Syrian opposition, who are not immune to committing atrocious human rights violations against civilians, will only afford them and not to mention provide them, with the means to further inflict indiscriminate human rights violations against the populace. Besides, the Syrian opposition is not really a united and coherent force, which means that the weapons will not be used for its intended purpose, ending the violence, in the most effective and efficient manner. Instead, arming the Syrian opposition will provide various opposition players more ammunition to basically do what they want. The opposition is ruled by various leaders who have their own vested interests at heart, and such interests are not always carried out with due respect to civilian lives. The only uniting force that holds the Syrian opposition is their mutual hatred of al-Assad and desire to topple his government.
The frayed opposition receiving European arms, or any arms of international origin, will only mean that even if they are somehow able to topple the regime, the resulting power vacuum will ensure another bout of civil war in the quest to grab power. The variegated opposition in this nightmarish scenario will now use their foreign supplied guns to eliminate each other, all in the mad rush to hold Damascus in its clasp, with the end in view of ruling Syria.
Providing arms at the current state of the Syrian opposition is simply counterproductive and unreasonable, in large part because the EU would find it difficult to whom to give the arms to, the so-called Free Syrian Army is actually an umbrella organization for all opposition groups, and is not a monolithic group one would like to think. Indeed, the act of giving arms to the FSA will in itself cause friction in that groups will be vying to get the most number of weapons they could possibly grab. Infighting will only add more cracks to an already weak arrangement among its various sub-groups.
The diplomatic solution therefore is the very important and very reasonable alternative. Although it will be exhausting, as fighting would inevitably go on during the duration of its undertakings, at least it will provide a more stable platform in which all parties can have a voice, especially the opposition, which is made up of many mini-leaders, all with their own strategies and even interests.
In addition, as soon as EU weapons gets into the arms of the FSA, Russia and Iran will be even more motivated to supply a greater amount of weapons to the regime, only enflaming the war and ensuring that more civilian deaths and more refugees will pour in to neighboring countries. The drawing possibility of Lebanon being dragged into the war will become even more of a possibility. The Syrian Civil War therefore could open itself another front in which more and more foreign nations will become increasingly sucked in.
The EU should consider that its weapons could only incite further hardships, further suffering and further civilian deaths to an already suffering populace.
I agree with the spirit of Macdonald's assertion, that sending weapons to the Syrian opposition will not only prevent bloodshed, it will actually prolong the war in Syria and inflict even more hardships to the civilian population. I also agree that only a diplomatic solution will provide the best prospects for ending the war.
Arming the Syrian opposition, who are not immune to committing atrocious human rights violations against civilians, will only afford them and not to mention provide them, with the means to further inflict indiscriminate human rights violations against the populace. Besides, the Syrian opposition is not really a united and coherent force, which means that the weapons will not be used for its intended purpose, ending the violence, in the most effective and efficient manner. Instead, arming the Syrian opposition will provide various opposition players more ammunition to basically do what they want. The opposition is ruled by various leaders who have their own vested interests at heart, and such interests are not always carried out with due respect to civilian lives. The only uniting force that holds the Syrian opposition is their mutual hatred of al-Assad and desire to topple his government.
The frayed opposition receiving European arms, or any arms of international origin, will only mean that even if they are somehow able to topple the regime, the resulting power vacuum will ensure another bout of civil war in the quest to grab power. The variegated opposition in this nightmarish scenario will now use their foreign supplied guns to eliminate each other, all in the mad rush to hold Damascus in its clasp, with the end in view of ruling Syria.
Providing arms at the current state of the Syrian opposition is simply counterproductive and unreasonable, in large part because the EU would find it difficult to whom to give the arms to, the so-called Free Syrian Army is actually an umbrella organization for all opposition groups, and is not a monolithic group one would like to think. Indeed, the act of giving arms to the FSA will in itself cause friction in that groups will be vying to get the most number of weapons they could possibly grab. Infighting will only add more cracks to an already weak arrangement among its various sub-groups.
The diplomatic solution therefore is the very important and very reasonable alternative. Although it will be exhausting, as fighting would inevitably go on during the duration of its undertakings, at least it will provide a more stable platform in which all parties can have a voice, especially the opposition, which is made up of many mini-leaders, all with their own strategies and even interests.
In addition, as soon as EU weapons gets into the arms of the FSA, Russia and Iran will be even more motivated to supply a greater amount of weapons to the regime, only enflaming the war and ensuring that more civilian deaths and more refugees will pour in to neighboring countries. The drawing possibility of Lebanon being dragged into the war will become even more of a possibility. The Syrian Civil War therefore could open itself another front in which more and more foreign nations will become increasingly sucked in.
The EU should consider that its weapons could only incite further hardships, further suffering and further civilian deaths to an already suffering populace.
Linggo, Hunyo 2, 2013
Sustainable Economic Growth for the Philippines
A recent report reported that the Philippines grew 7.8 percent in the first quarter of 2013, the fastest in Asia. Taken at face value, it was good news indeed. However, careful analysis will reveal that such growth has been achieved before, only to fizzle out for the next few years or so.
The Philippine economic growth has been Asia's least dynamic, in fact, the most sluggish in the last 50 years. For one, China had GDP of 10 percent of higher for more than 30 years straight, India grew at 7 percent or more for than 8 years straight. Closer to its neighborhood, the major economies of Southeast Asia like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore had GDP levels of more than 7 percent for at least 10 years straight. The Philippines has never grown for higher than 7 percent for even 3 years straight!
The recent GDP numbers for the Philippines is not really surprising, and you need not even be an economist to figure it out. The recent May 13 elections would have been the power behind the surge. In fact, without election related spending, the economy would have barely breached 5%. Although the aforesaid article mentioned growth levels of the different sectors of the Philippine economy, this does not in any way lend profound insights on the real cause of the stellar numbers (at least for the Philippines) for the first quarter GDP.
Even if it is true, and I really, really want to believe that election related spending was not even a factor (which is already a stretch of the imagination as by tradition and experience, the economy always surges during election time, the growth at best would have been another once in a year phenomenon. Come the second quarter, such feat would most likely not be repeated. Indeed, maintaining a growth level at 7 or higher for at least ten years is like praying for a miracle, this has always eluded the Philippines for the better part of the last 30 years.
A personality based political system, a culture of patronage and corruption, a rote and essentially an American based educational system not adapted, fit and relevant to Philippine conditions and poor infrastructure will ensure that such growth will at best be a spark in dark superstructure. Unless the country can sustain a GDP of at least 7 percent or more for at least 10 years that is inclusive and diversified, the Philippines will remain a wasted potential.
Much has to be done, much has to be changed, and much still seems to be the same repeating again. So again, the first quarter GDP is not much of a surprise - the Philippines has been there, done that - many times before.
The Philippine economic growth has been Asia's least dynamic, in fact, the most sluggish in the last 50 years. For one, China had GDP of 10 percent of higher for more than 30 years straight, India grew at 7 percent or more for than 8 years straight. Closer to its neighborhood, the major economies of Southeast Asia like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore had GDP levels of more than 7 percent for at least 10 years straight. The Philippines has never grown for higher than 7 percent for even 3 years straight!
The recent GDP numbers for the Philippines is not really surprising, and you need not even be an economist to figure it out. The recent May 13 elections would have been the power behind the surge. In fact, without election related spending, the economy would have barely breached 5%. Although the aforesaid article mentioned growth levels of the different sectors of the Philippine economy, this does not in any way lend profound insights on the real cause of the stellar numbers (at least for the Philippines) for the first quarter GDP.
Even if it is true, and I really, really want to believe that election related spending was not even a factor (which is already a stretch of the imagination as by tradition and experience, the economy always surges during election time, the growth at best would have been another once in a year phenomenon. Come the second quarter, such feat would most likely not be repeated. Indeed, maintaining a growth level at 7 or higher for at least ten years is like praying for a miracle, this has always eluded the Philippines for the better part of the last 30 years.
A personality based political system, a culture of patronage and corruption, a rote and essentially an American based educational system not adapted, fit and relevant to Philippine conditions and poor infrastructure will ensure that such growth will at best be a spark in dark superstructure. Unless the country can sustain a GDP of at least 7 percent or more for at least 10 years that is inclusive and diversified, the Philippines will remain a wasted potential.
Much has to be done, much has to be changed, and much still seems to be the same repeating again. So again, the first quarter GDP is not much of a surprise - the Philippines has been there, done that - many times before.
Sabado, Hunyo 1, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW: Oz The Great and Powerful (2013)
Oz (James Franco) is a stage magician and con artist who escapes on a hot air ballon after being pursued by a circus muscle head and after being carried away by a tornado lands on the magical land of Oz where he is seen as the long lost Wizard of Oz prophesied to unite the land and bring peace and prosperity. Oz meets Theodora (Mila Kunis) who brings him to her sister Evanora (Rachel Weisz), the Wicked Witch of the East who now rules over the Emerald City. Theodora is smitten by Oz and believes him to be the real wizard. When Oz is sent by Evanora to kill the supposed evil witch Glinda (Michelle Williams) unbeknownst to Theodora, a tinge of jealousy brews which was exacerbated when Theodora sees Oz and Glinda getting along.
Oz realizes that Glinda is not the evil witch, and is in fact the Good Witch of the South and sets to help her retake the Emerald City, which was once ruled by a just and benevolent king until poisoned by Evanora, his own daughter. With the help of Quadlings, tinkers and Munchkins Oz sets out to show to the people of Emerald City that he is indeed the long awaited Wizard of Oz. Using his skills as a magician and con man, he sets out to show to the people of Emerald City that he will unite the land of Oz and expels Evanora and Theodora from the throne.
All throughout, Oz is helped by Finley, a flying monkey rescued by Oz from a lion and china girl, fixed by Oz after her village is destroyed by Evanora.
A remake of the earlier 1939 version, this 2013 issue is replete with moral and social insights that can enlighten and inspire, move and embolden and most of all, entertain and mesmerize. It speaks of the power of friendship, none other exemplified than that built by Oz and Finley and Oz and china girl. Indeed, the journey through life can best be endured and experienced I should say, when we have at least a few trusted and reliable friends, friends who will stick with us through thick and thin. And that friends, the true ones, come our way as we journey through life and we will find them in the most unexpected of circumstances in the most unusual of moments.
Another theme of the movie is the power of messianic myths. The people of Oz where told that a powerful and great wizard will one day arrive to unite and bring peace and prosperity to the land of Oz, when Oz arrives at the most opportune of times, the people of Oz believed that he really was the long awaited wizard. Sometimes such beliefs are exploited by selfish and egotistical persons, as Oz initially did, to enrich and empower themselves and their kin, all to the detriment of the societies in which the rule. Sometimes people are lulled into stupor to believe that only a certain person, only a certain type of person, can save them from their lot, but although Oz never was the great and powerful he is reputed to be, much less a wizard, he saved and united the land of Oz and liberated Emerald City - not because he was great or powerful, but because he made the people believed he was great and powerful, and such belief emboldened the people of Oz to make change itself happen.
Sometimes the people rely on external forces to create change, when in fact, the real power and the real force for societal change is the power of the mind of the people, their own views of themselves and their collective dreams and hopes for a better future is one that really, really has the power to change. Then again, maybe people like Oz are sometimes needed, if only to harness the peoples hopes into a force for change. I have not seen a movie in a long time which somehow externalizes the power of charismatic personalities - people who simply unite the people to bring change that the people can really do by themselves, if only they had the confidence and the wisdom to realize it.
This movie is one for the kids and the family, a great entertainment piece that provides joy as much as it teaches the viewers about the power of the mind to make things happen, and that the rapacious grab for power can and will destroy the humanity of each of us, and tear any family to pieces.
it is also rare for a movie nowadays to eschew sex and violence in its repertoire, and Oz the movie exquisitely does this with aplomb without diminishing its commercial value, not suprising since it earned more than USD 400 million in the box office, almost twice its USD 215 million budget. Kudos to the movie and the people who made it happen!
Oz realizes that Glinda is not the evil witch, and is in fact the Good Witch of the South and sets to help her retake the Emerald City, which was once ruled by a just and benevolent king until poisoned by Evanora, his own daughter. With the help of Quadlings, tinkers and Munchkins Oz sets out to show to the people of Emerald City that he is indeed the long awaited Wizard of Oz. Using his skills as a magician and con man, he sets out to show to the people of Emerald City that he will unite the land of Oz and expels Evanora and Theodora from the throne.
All throughout, Oz is helped by Finley, a flying monkey rescued by Oz from a lion and china girl, fixed by Oz after her village is destroyed by Evanora.
A remake of the earlier 1939 version, this 2013 issue is replete with moral and social insights that can enlighten and inspire, move and embolden and most of all, entertain and mesmerize. It speaks of the power of friendship, none other exemplified than that built by Oz and Finley and Oz and china girl. Indeed, the journey through life can best be endured and experienced I should say, when we have at least a few trusted and reliable friends, friends who will stick with us through thick and thin. And that friends, the true ones, come our way as we journey through life and we will find them in the most unexpected of circumstances in the most unusual of moments.
Another theme of the movie is the power of messianic myths. The people of Oz where told that a powerful and great wizard will one day arrive to unite and bring peace and prosperity to the land of Oz, when Oz arrives at the most opportune of times, the people of Oz believed that he really was the long awaited wizard. Sometimes such beliefs are exploited by selfish and egotistical persons, as Oz initially did, to enrich and empower themselves and their kin, all to the detriment of the societies in which the rule. Sometimes people are lulled into stupor to believe that only a certain person, only a certain type of person, can save them from their lot, but although Oz never was the great and powerful he is reputed to be, much less a wizard, he saved and united the land of Oz and liberated Emerald City - not because he was great or powerful, but because he made the people believed he was great and powerful, and such belief emboldened the people of Oz to make change itself happen.
Sometimes the people rely on external forces to create change, when in fact, the real power and the real force for societal change is the power of the mind of the people, their own views of themselves and their collective dreams and hopes for a better future is one that really, really has the power to change. Then again, maybe people like Oz are sometimes needed, if only to harness the peoples hopes into a force for change. I have not seen a movie in a long time which somehow externalizes the power of charismatic personalities - people who simply unite the people to bring change that the people can really do by themselves, if only they had the confidence and the wisdom to realize it.
This movie is one for the kids and the family, a great entertainment piece that provides joy as much as it teaches the viewers about the power of the mind to make things happen, and that the rapacious grab for power can and will destroy the humanity of each of us, and tear any family to pieces.
it is also rare for a movie nowadays to eschew sex and violence in its repertoire, and Oz the movie exquisitely does this with aplomb without diminishing its commercial value, not suprising since it earned more than USD 400 million in the box office, almost twice its USD 215 million budget. Kudos to the movie and the people who made it happen!
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