Of Vulgarity and Viciousness

What is the dividing line between candor and vulgarity? Action and viciousness?

Presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is yet again making national and international headlines for his crudeness and guilelessness. Just last week, he was repeatedly placed in hot waters when he made a joke about an Australian missionary who was raped and murdered in Davao during a mission. Among the many tirades of vehement and furious reactions, the ambassadors from Australia and America seem to have infuriated the country’s Dirty Harry the most.

In his latest statement Duterte told Australian Amabassador Amanda Gorely to shut up. This exchange of fiery words between the two has been going on for several incidents. The spark that fueled the would be several confrontations between the two leaders originated from the rape joke Duterte delivered in front of a live audience. The Australian ambassador took it to social media t air out her take on the matter saying “Rape and murder should never be joked about or trivialized. Violence against women and girls is unacceptable anytime, anywhere.” This was followed by an apology by Duterte

The second incident due to his vulgarity that tainted a crack between our foreign relationships happened on a speech he made in front of an audience during a conference with the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies at SMX. He questioned the decisions of possible tourists in visiting Mexico, a country riddled with kidnappings, killings and drugs, according to the presidential candidate. Not knowing that the Ambassador was present in the occasion, he was instantly apologetic informed of the situation.

The third accident was when United States ambassador Philip Goldberg showed support and solidarity with the Australian ambassador during a television interview. According to him “any statements by anyone, anywhere that either degrade women or trivialize issues so serious as rape or murder, are not ones that we condone”.

Snapping back at both the Australian and American ambassadors, the presidential candidate told them to “shut your mouths and sever our ties” if ever he became the president. With this show of crudeness alone, how can we still tolerate his long-standing vulgar mouth if this leads to serious political repercussions? Eventually, viciousness?

With all these incidents, as a Filipino one should start worrying if he was made a president. Ambassadors are technically a country’s presidents in a foreign land. Therefore, they should be shown the respect and reverie that they are entitled to; treated how the actual head of state should be treated. The way the presidential candidate mishandled the situation and reacted to the tirades against these ambassadors are just a peek at his probable governance once he wins the election to the highest position in the land.

Also, it is not the responsibility of a single individual to “sever ties” with a country. The long meticulous relationship between countries built on mutual respect and trust is at risk and on the line. What took years or even decades of building and strengthening by numerous political leaders may crumble due to the recklessness of a single person’s dirty mouth. Has he considered the treatment our fellow Filipinos will be experiencing after his tasteless and undiplomatic statement against these countries? Perhaps the economic effects of trade between these countries were also left alone when he made these statements. How about the potential immigration problems and difficulties? These problems have barely scratched the surface of the possible setbacks and consequences of his statements. The talk of severing ties between our allies is extremely tactless to the point of stupid.

Running a country is difficult. Tact is needed. Diplomacy too. Obviously he is bereft of both.