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For the past 17 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
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Journalism 101: Let the experts speak
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IN SEVERAL editorials, we discussed the role of the press in a democratic society. In so doing, our hope is that the public in general would better appreciate why we do what we do.
Honestly, we were not the first ones who thought of those ideas. We are not original in that sense. Those ideas were long conceived and have been germinating, evolving and thriving, long before our newspaper came to be. We owe it to the men and women of yesteryears who bravely expressed their thoughts on what the press should be in a democratic society like the United States, or even our beloved Philippines.
Perhaps it would serve the public good to hear it straight, unedited and without opinionating, from the experts -- political leaders, framers of the Constitution, civil libertarians and revered journalists and writers – what journalism is all about. Here are some quotes from people who have advocated for freedom of the press and its important role in making democracy work.
“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” --Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Edward Carrington, 1787.
“Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it.” --Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 1786.
“I am... for freedom of the press, and against all violations of the Constitution to silence by force and not by reason the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of their agents.” --Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, 1799.
“Let it be impressed upon your minds, let it be instilled into your children, that the liberty of the press is the palladium of all the civil, political, and religious rights.” – Junius, English political author, who wrote various letters to the London Public Advertiser from Jan., 1769, to Jan., 1772.
“The free press is the mother of all our liberties and of our progress under liberty.” – Adlai Stevenson, politician and diplomat, (1900-1965).
“A free press is not a privilege but an organic necessity in a great society. ... A great society is simply a big and complicated urban society.” -- Walter Lippman, American journalist (1889-1974) “Freedom of the Press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticize and oppose.” -- George Orwell, British novelist and essayist (1903-1950).
“Freedom of the press, or, to be more precise, the benefit of freedom of the press, belongs to everyone... The crux is not the publisher’s ‘freedom to print’; it is, rather, the citizen’s ‘right to know.’ “ -- Arthur Sulzburger 1990, American newspaper publisher.
“In order to enjoy the inestimable benefits that the liberty of the press ensures, it is necessary to submit to the inevitable evils that it creates..” -- Alexis de TOCQUEVILLE, French politician and writer (1805-1859.)
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NEW YORK --- In its 16 years of existence – including its pre-incorporation days -- everyone involved in the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) strive to be perfect. Right? Well, everyone’s human and perfection is still an elusive dream.
Theoretically, PIDCI is still a viable organization, which deserves the support of the community. In practical terms, however, because it is run by people who have diverging interests and personalities, it has its problems and weaknesses.
I am not a management guru but as someone who follows PIDCI’s management and its activities, perhaps it may help to point out “seven deadly sins,” which I think affect its leaders and others who may be interested in joining its core leadership.
Warning: These “seven deadly sins” are listed in general terms, and in no way do they reflect a particular trait or traits of a particular person. If you identify with any of the sins being described, do not feel offended, do not be angry for it is a sin.
It is also a sin to tell a lie; white lie may be permitted but don’t over do it – a lie repeated many times becomes the truth, according to Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler’s propagandist. If you are envious of this article and you wish it would have been better if you were the person writing it, keep it to yourself. It is a sin to envy the work of others.
Sin one: Pride
This could be described as selfishness -- the head and root of all sin. At the expense of the community, some leaders take pride in themselves and in their being part of a faction and in the things they think they could do well and accomplish. You probably have heard them say: “I don’t care about your group. This was more convenient for us to do. We’re the best team.”
Team? You’d wonder why after a few months in office, one could see the “team” disintegrate into “my way” or “no way.” Everyone likes to be the chief or the “power behind the chief.”
Sin two: Envy
This differs from that of pride in that it contains always an element of fear. The proud person is deemed self-sufficient, rejecting with contempt the notion that anybody can be his equal or superior. The envious person is afraid of losing something by the admission of superiority in others, and therefore looks with grudging hatred upon other person’s gifts and good fortune, taking every opportunity to run them down or deprive them of their happiness.
Sin three: Wrath (Anger)
Wrath is propelled by bitterness, which is caused by rejection by others of one’s decision, ideas, suggestions, or ignorance. How can anyone deliberate intelligently and with proper decorum when everyone is angry at each other? Or when a faction devises schemes to prevent the other group from succeeding?
Sin four: Sloth (Laziness)
Failure to submit timely reports that are required causes problems in the long run. A well-informed person asks no questions, perhaps. A well-organized record of meeting minutes and financial statements keep the attorney general and the Internal Revenue Service away. This is also refers to leaders who refuse or fail to learn all the essentials of organizational mission and vision creation, parliamentary procedure, time management, goals setting and people-skills.
Sloth can also refer to sloppiness. There are so many ways this sin manifests itself, but here are a few: minutes should reflect what was discussed not somebody else’s suggestions; financial reports should reflect single entries of receipts and expenses, not double or multiple entries that cause misunderstanding or a possible defamation lawsuit.
Sin five: Covetousness
This is an inordinate love of power and the influence that power gives, whether it is manifested by having a group of people cater to one’s desires to lead, to show-off and to wield power by wealth and intimidation in the guise of community service. It is also a person’s desire to be a member of a majority of high-profile committees, to take credit for someone else’s work or idea, and to keep secrets that leads to violation of transparency and accountability issues.
Sin six: Gluttony
This is an undue attention to the pleasures of the palate, whether by sheer excess in eating and drinking, or by the opposite fault of fastidiousness. More generally, it includes all over-indulgence in bodily comforts –the concentration, whether jovial or fretful, on a “high standard of living.” Granted, everyone is a volunteer but prudence in spending food during meetings should be a concern. A policy should be set on spending limits.
Sin seven: Lust
Although this seems quite synonymous to covetousness, in my opinion, lust is an unfailing desire for power and the arrogance that results from it. “I have to be the president of this or the chair of this committee by hook or by crook,” is a statement we often hear from people committing this sin. Or sometimes, we hear another version: “I have to be the president and if I win, I will make you my powerful ally.”
How many times have we heard the expression: “It takes two to dance tango.” Well, lust is the same – it is a type of shared sin; at its best, and so long as it remains a sin of incontinence only, there is mutuality in it and exchange.
So there you are, the “seven deadly sins.” Deadly? It depends on when was the last time you confessed your sins!
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Why it’s a good idea to have an attorney for your interview
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(Part 2)
IN A previous article, I discussed some of the reasons why it is a good idea to hire an attorney for your case, especially for your interview or hearing, rather than trying to save money and do it on your own.
After all, you have waited so long to achieve your “American dream”, so I’m sure that you don’t want anything to happen just as you are about to “cross the finish line”.
At the interview, you may be tired, frightened, nervous, or your mind may go blank for even the most simple of questions, resulting in your saying or doing the wrong thing. That could result in your case being further investigated or possibly being denied, even if you are legitimately eligible for your visa.
While having an attorney representing you does not “guarantee” that your case will be approved, I think that it could greatly increase your chances, for the following reasons:
1. An attorney can brief or prepare you for your interview or hearing. An attorney can explain to you far in advance of your interview (or hearing), what to expect, the types of questions that may be asked of you, and the correct way to answer those questions, etc. In an interview or hearing, you may be asked a question, and you try to truthfully answer the question. But the answer comes out wrong, because you somehow didn’t say what you really meant to, did not provide a full answer, or you may have misunderstood the question, and gave an answer that did not fit the question.
This may spark suspicion, or create additional questions in the mind of the examiner or judge. You may be rescheduled for another interview, and/or your case could be placed under investigation, therefore prolonging the case. With proper preparation and briefing by an attorney, you could possibly avoid this from happening.
2. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documents. Before the interview or hearing, an attorney can make sure that all the necessary and important documents have been gathered, and will be available at the time of the interview or hearing.
This could avoid your “forgetting” to bring some important document to your interview, and then having to come back another day, perhaps weeks or months later, or your application being delayed or denied.
Or an attorney can evaluate your documents, and determine what documents are needed. In other words, the Interviewing Officer may only want documents that have a direct bearing on your case and eligibility.
If you bring a box full of papers that have no bearing on your case, it could possibly complicate matters.
3. An attorney can make sure your rights are protected at the interview or hearing. There are many complications that can arise during interviews. For example, the interviewing officer may suspect fraud, and ask the person to sign a confession. Without an attorney to advise him, this person may go ahead and sign the confession, out of fear and confusion, without even reading it, because he will be very confused and scared, and would not know what rights, remedies, and relief are available to him.
There are other complications that a person may not be able to properly explain to an interviewing officer or an Immigration Judge, like the existence of illegitimate children, discrepancies in birth or marriage certificates, late-registered birth certificates, applications for asylum, CSS/LULAC, DUI’s, or other criminal offenses.
Because of your fear or confusion, you may say things that you didn’t mean to say, or you may wind up signing documents (or “confessions”), that you didn’t read, simply because it was put in front of you. With an attorney accompanying you, the attorney can make sure that the interview or hearing is conducted in a fair manner, and that you are not accidentally giving up any of your rights. The attorney can make sure that your rights are being protected.
WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com
LOS ANGELES:
219 North Brand Boulevard
Glendale, California 91203
Telephone: (818) 543-5800
SAN FRANCISCO:
966 Mission Street
San Francisco, California 94103
Telephone: (415) 538-7800
NEW YORK:
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 2101
New York, NY 10165
Telephone: (212) 808-0300
PHILIPPINES:
Heart Tower, Unit 701
108 Valero Street, Salcedo Village
Makati, Philippines 1227
Telephone: 894-0258 or 894-0239
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