Herbie Gomez“In a child’s power to master the multiplication table, there is more sanctity than in all your shouted ‘amens’ and ‘holy holies’ and ‘hosannas.’ An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral. And the advance of man’s knowledge is a greater miracle than all the sticks turned to snakes or the parting of the waters.” -- except from the discourse of defense lawyer Henry Drummond, a character portrayed by Spencer Tracy, during a court drama in the film “Inherit the Wind”
I AM endorsing the 1960 film “Inherit the Wind,” an adaptation of a play that fictionalizes the 1925 Scopes “Monkey Trial.” I understand the film had at least two remakes for television but I still go for the original which is in black and white. I am glad that technology has made it possible to restore this gem of a film which is definitely in my Top 10 list of favorite and greatest movies of all time. It is available online. In fact, I found a decent copy of it on Youtube.
This film is still very relevant, and I was reminded of it after our boxing hero Manny Pacquiao’s controversial remarks about same-sex marriage and LGBTs. It was really a “misstatement” as former president Fidel Ramos correctly put it. But then, Pacquiao’s remarks also highlight how bigotry is an ally of ignorance, and how it can breed very dangerous ideas if left unchecked and unchallenged.
We learned a few things about how Pacquiao’s brain works. Two things may be said of Pacquiao based on the falsehood that he peddled, and the really horrible things that he said:
First, he knows little or knows nothing at all about zoology. If he did, he would think twice before saying that LGBTs are worse than non-Homo sapiens because “animals don’t engage in homosexual acts.” Wrong, Manny. There is actually a long list of animals that do display homosexual behavior.
It really makes me wonder where our boxing champ got this falsehood, and how many Filipinos like Pacquiao actually believe that they can get more scientific knowledge from pastors than science teachers. Did you hear that from peddlers in the commerce of faith, Manny?
There’s a good chance Pacquiao would win a seat in the Senate given his popularity and financial resources, and the Filipino voting behavior. That makes me very worried because that means this country would have a science illiterate for a senator deciding on important matters pertaining to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), among others.
Second, Pacquiao is outrageously bigoted--the only reason why he opposes a proposed law that would allow LGBTs to excercise conjugal rights is because the Bible tells him so.
A good scientist would always be grateful and humbled if proven wrong by a new discovery; he would correct his embarrassing mistake. We have seen this with the Pluto debates, and the subsequent “demotion” of this celestial body in our solar system which we had thought, for a very long time, was a planet.
But a religious bigot is a different kind of primate--he would remain proud and in denial even if his position is shown to be scientifically incorrect. For a bigot, everything that is incompatible with his belief system is wrong--and how dare anyone question the “gift of revelation” that has been bestowed on him!
Bigots are dangerous because their positions cannot be swayed by good reasoning, and often see other people who challenge their views as the real bigots who are disrespectful of their faith and who are incapable of receiving any extraterrestrial revelation.
Invoking “respect” has always been the last card of the bigot who has no more answers to give in a last-ditch effort to win an argument by default. But why should any faith that promotes discrimination and offends human intelligence be exempted from public scrutiny especially when it influences legislation, dictates government policies, and prevents our children from being taught real science in school because the discoveries are incompatible with dogma?
Let me state without batting an eyelash that the for-the-Bible-tells-me-so line is simply an unacceptable argument in this public debate about same-sex marriage, and about the way our society has been treating members of the LGBT community. Anyone, er, any group that bases its opposition to a proposed 21st century law on writings by Iron Age tribesmen from the Middle East must be prepared to submit these ancient documents for public examination.
I say such manuscripts--the original, and not the translations of earlier translations--must be authenticated, their origins determined, and their real authors identified for purposes of establishing credibility. Extraordinary assertions and claims about these writings, if any, also need to be demonstrated. If these cannot be done, then these Iron Age documents have no place in the public discussions, much more in congressional debates.
One moment, Pacquiao apologizes for offending LGBTs; the next, he maintains that he is right that their homosexual behavior are detestable based on his religious readings. So, Pacquiao is not against gays, only gay acts. So what do you want gay people to do, Manny? Take a vow of celibacy and wear gowns?
Believe you me, there are two hairaising things in this world I don’t wish to see in my lifetime. The first is, two naked men having sex. The second is, Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao having sex. That is not to say that they should be barred from doing what they want to do behind closed doors. That is biology at work, and definitely, none of our business.
“Can’t you understand?” asked Drummond (Spencer Tracy) in my favorite court drama scene where he defends a science teacher being tried for teaching Darwinism. “That if you take a law like evolution and you make it a crime to teach it in the public schools, tomorrow you can make it a crime to teach it in the private schools? And tomorrow you may make it a crime to read about it. And soon you may ban books and newspapers. And then you may turn Catholic against Protestant, and Protestant against Protestant, and try to foist your own religion upon the mind of man. If you can do one, you can do the other. Because fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding. And soon, your Honor, with banners flying and with drums beating we’ll be marching backward, backward, through the glorious ages of that 16th century when bigots burned the man who dared bring enlightenment and intelligence to the human mind!” I couldn’t have said it any better myself.
Bigotry has infected societies beginning from the first Homo sapien who started asking questions about his existence. There was a time he didn’t understand why a volcano was “angry.” After dropping and feeding it with a few animal sacrifices, perhaps, including babies, the volcano calmed down, and his conclusion was, something underneath was satisfied and found his sacrifices acceptable. There you have it--the first religion.
Pastilan.
