I almost choked on my breakfast when I heard this unbelievable news on TV:
“Quezon City Representative Winston Castelo files anti-planking bill.“
Seriously? An anti-planking bill?
I don’t really care whether he thinks planking is a life risk that may be contagious after a horde of student protesters lied down like “planks” (thus, the term) along Espana during the Piston transport strike last Monday. Protesters have always been known to do the most flamboyant acts of protest: gigantic mascots, burning effigies, creating stampedes. Nobody in this lifetime bothered to create an anti-mascot or anti-effigy desecration law because it is what it is: part of the myriad forms of freedom expression – which last I checked, is still applicable in a republic government – and well, in some aspects, quite a trivial subject to make an issue out of (and doing so will only make you look stupid).
I’m not taking the side of those who plank. Personally, I find the act (generally) downright odd and funny. But hey, everyone’s got their own little oddities to flaunt, right? I wouldn’t spend 5 minutes thinking whether planking can change the world or not. Because there are bigger things happening outside that surface where they’re planking on.
What I do find absurd, though, is our politicians think this is a big deal enough for them to seek a bill against it. This is what they do with our taxes. You think it’s a dangerous behavior for kids to see on TV? Then let the parents do their jobs and decide whether it’s permissible or not. Afterall, everything, relies on standardized perception. And all of us have our own standards of what is right or not. The line’s always been obscured, because we were all bred under different terms.
How’s about you pass a bill that will get those poor children off the streets for good? How’s about a bill that ensures every Filipino gets employed? How’s about a bill that carries a sound sentence for the corrupt politician? How’s about you ensure strict and consistent implementation of all the existing bills first before you worry about passing another incredibly senseless law against people who are old enough -and usually rich enough – to stand up against a lawsuit.
Now, if you excuse me, I’m changing channels before I’m compelled to do some planking myself.
