March 1, 2006
Send in the Marines!
My knowledge about the military organization, or any group of uniformed and armed men for that matter, is almost zilch. I see them, I know that they’re supposed to protect he country from invasions of creatures from other planets. And I know that they sometimes create chaos by staging coups and whatever they fancy to stage.
I know too, that the Marines added color to our daily language with such phrases like "Send in the marines" and "Tell that to the marines."
But this started to change last Sunday when I was downed by an awful migraine and I could not go out. But I had to know what’s happening around the country, I relied on the television for updates about the Martial Law masquerading as State of Emergency but whose slips are showing.
It was around four p.m. when a Col. Ariel Querubin disturbed my reverie as I was watching Kris Aquino and Boy Abunda interview former Miss International Princess Ruffa Gutierrez-Bektas. The show "The Buzz" was interrupted and Querubin was flashed calling for civilians to go to Fort Bonifacio. He was protesting the "dismissal" of his boss — Philippine Marines Commandant Maj. General Renato Miranda.
The marines, which we the civilians are supposed to call for succor, were calling for "People Power" — for civilians to protect them! Great. It is what happens if you have a president like GMA.
Learned later in the newspapers that the two –Miranda, Querubin and another one surnamed Lim – closely worked together and had successes and failures together. And as Querubin asserted: Miranda was unceremoniously kicked out from the top Marine post. He was vexed and he looked like he was ready for war!
I just wondered, "What’s the role of the Marines in our society?" They’re supposed to protect the country from invaders who invade the country through the seas, right? At least it is what "marines" meant to me.
But when I was talking to a friend, obviously much wiser than I, she told me about things like the marines are an elite member of the military. They are the ones called when everything else has failed and when situations have turned dangerous, difficult and ugly.
Then this saying "Send in the Marines" came to my mind. "So that is why there’s this phrase, or saying "send in the Marines," I shot back, as if I had just stumbled into something very precious.
"Yes," my friend answered, and the friend proceeded to regal me with information why the government "uses" the marines, but "fears" it at the same time. The bottom line is, the Marines are not easily corrupted, the friend averred.
I will have to research on my friend’s assertions, though.
In America, the Marines "protect American lives, property, interests and security." This could also be the case in the Philippines.
But I’m wondering what "Tell that to the Marines" mean. Well, I know it’s something you tell someone who is telling you a tall tale. But with what’s happening in our country, should we "Send in the Marines?" Or do we shrug our shoulders and "Tell (the events) to the Marines?"
Comments
March 2, 2006
March On! | Blackboard said (pingback):
[…] Yolly with Sunday migraine and all, quipped: “But with what’s happening in our country, should we "Send in the Marines?" Or do we shrug our shoulders and "Tell (the events) to the Marines?" […]