Do You Really Want a "Benevolent Dictator"?

A sure way to incite a heated debate in the Philippines is to start talking about politics. It can be an easy turn towards a slippery slope where words turn into knives and intentions become a stabbing motion aimed at opening up old wounds. With a presidential election just around the corner, the scene can easily turn into a clusterfuck of a knife fight.

Tonight, I saw this on Twitter:

This country needs another dictator. Minus the unnecessary killing. Masyado ng spoiled and pilipinas.

It was posted by a celebrity with a large audience and has been retweeted into permanence.

Even though the tweet has long been deleted and the poster only remorseful due to the backlash, its effect has triggered a lot of emotion. However, direct response to the tweet has been decidedly mixed. Well, more like two-sided.

One group expressed their anger and dismay at what they've deemed to be an ignorant perspective and disrespectful to those who have lived, suffered and died during Marcos' period of martial law. These people equate dictatorship to Ferdinand Marcos' rule and will only end in further degradation of the Philippines.

The other group, well, they actually agree that the Philippines needs a dictator. They feel a 'benevolent' dictator can rule with an iron fist while wearing a velvet glove. That this new leader can and should instill discipline among his countrymen without resorting to Marcos tactics.

I personally share a similar sentiment as with the first group… though, I can honestly say that I empathize with the second group.

I can see how much easier it'll be for people if someone with wealth, influence and support of the military were to take power and start dictating how things should be. Of course, as long as this person does it with the country's well-being in mind and is not using their power for personal gain. I can see how a leader with a brave vision for progress and the willpower to execute on that vision would be in demand. Citizens want to see someone rise above the corruption and possess the capacity to not become a victim of a system so entrenched in misconduct and unscrupulousness.

I can see how it'll make lives better and how much easier it will be. But it's such the wrong thing to wish for.

I'm not going to get into whether or not a man is capable of such virtues. That's a whole other philosophical debate. What I want to point out here is the laziness.

Yes, laziness. It's such a lazy point of view. It's lazy to want a benevolent dictator. I'm purposefully using the word 'lazy' even though it can also be interpreted as form of resignation. I personally know people that express the desire for benevolent dictator. They've wished for it with resignation and out of exasperation regarding the current situation in the Philippines. I respect their opinion and I still maintain respect for them but I call them out on it. It's lazy.

It's lazy because it's an implication that you want someone to fix the problems for you. It's lazy because it's an admission that you don't possess the determination to be a part of the solution.

I understand the need for a leader to take charge. The next president needs to be a willful individual and an excellent administrator. But I also recognize the importance of an inspirational figure capable of motivating people to realize their full potential. They need to be able to influence people to be helpful to fellow citizens. They need to influence others to be better people by being a good person himself. That kind of inspirational figure isn't likely to be a dictator. I know that they are, at least, not lazy.

Filipinos aren't lazy, right?