My Comment on the Blogpost The Colour of Politics at The Diplomat

Comment on The Colour of Politics posted at The Diplomat Mar 22, '10 3:19 AM
for everyone

It is correct to state the crucial need to exhibit the superiority of platforms of governance over propaganda colours in electoral campaigning, in order to differentiate alternative candidates from traditional politicians or political parties.

But, is it not very westernized for Filipinos to coin the superiority of red or green colours over other colours? Is it not also traditional and stereotyping to equate those not wearing red as not leftist progressives nor those not wearing green as not environmentalists? Would we be judging the Philippine electoral politics as anemic in character on the basis of lighter or darker colours or of mere preference of colours? Would we not rather scrutinize the program of governance and advocacy issues espoused in the campaign propaganda of particular candidates or politicians having whatever colour preference?

While we crucially need to oppose and expose those candidates without progressive program of governance, we should not on the other hand oppose those candidates having the preference for lighter colours or those who do not prefer red or green but who are having progressive and environmentalist agenda and program of governance;

colour preference should not hence be equated as reflecting either anemic or radical politics;

My colour preference not for red and green should not characterize me as not progressive nor anti-environmentalist. I should not be judged for liking the colour yellow or orange or lighter ones, but on what preference do I espouse for or against the progressive and environmental agenda in the arena of electoral propaganda and campaigns.

It is correct to criticize the political campaign or election strategy having colours alone and no agenda platforms. It is however problematique to criticize a political campaign or election strategy having colours other than red or green yet espousing the program agenda of the progressives and environmentalists.

Colour campaigning can also be perceived as just an election strategy; and it is not enough evidence to conclude that colour campaigning is the reflection of the “anemic” character of Philippine politics, since it is not the use of colours that will differentiate political parties but rather the distinguishment of their political platforms.

In the Philippines, there are candidates who are leftist and environmentalist who just happen not to like the colours red and green; and there are reds and greens who happen to be their own antithesis to their own leftist and environmentalist thesis.

The more progressive synthesis is not based on the collective preference for whatever colours; but rather on the electoral analysis that it is mere power politics not change politics.

The Philippine left movement is again dividing itself to different movements for the upcoming May 10, 2010 elections; on the preference not merely of the political party’s campaign colours of either orange, yellow or green; but on the program of governance each of them preferred to allied with, yet not to themselves as leftists but to those parties who are opposed to reds in between elections.


http://the-diplomat.com/philippines-election-2010/insiders-diary/the-colour-of-politics/