The US of A had a grand birthday celebration on the 4th of July, which placed Mt. Rushmore National Memorial very much in the news. Holding the 244th anniversary of America’s independence at the majestic mountain beneath the colossal monument of four of the US’s greatest presidents was President Donald J. Trump’s way of extolling himself before his sycophantic supporters. It was another political exercise to “make America great again,” Trump’s campaign slogan that carried him to his successful presidential bid in 2016.
The iconic monument which served as a background for the event was carved into the granite wall of Mt. Rushmore in Black Hills region of Keystone, South Dakota and features the giant faces of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. For his reelection bid in 2020, Trump’s new campaign slogans are “Keep America Great” and “Promises Made, Promises Kept.” Looking down on what is happening in America now under Trump’s watch, the four presidents must be turning in their graves.
Ignoring the advice of medical experts and the resurging cases of Covid-19 infections, which had hit over 50,000 cases per day before the holiday weekend, Trump went ahead with the July 4th commemoration which observers viewed as a political show to revive his floundering presidential campaign. Ignoring the protocols, the administration organized a massive crowd consisting of his political base without proper distancing and the audience mostly wearing no face masks. President Trump made an impassioned plea and railed against his political foes that he claimed wanted to defame America’s heroes and distort the country’s history by destroying the country’s famous landmarks. It was a dark message typical of Trump and a departure from the traditional Independence Day presidential address, which normally talks about peace and unity in America, and bringing the country together. The pompous event was highlighted by a magnificent display of air power by the US Air Force, followed by a dazzling show of fireworks. It was sad that the pandemic, which has ravaged his nation, was only briefly mentioned by Trump at the beginning of his speech. It was a day of revelry well attended by Trump’s partisans from the State of South Dakota and visitors from other states numbering several thousands. One uninvited and unseen guest who had a great day mixing with the crowd was the coronavirus. A victim who traveled to South Dakota—Kimberly Guilfoyle, girlfriend of Donald J. Trump Jr. and an active campaign official of Trump—tested positive for coronavirus. A pandemic has no respect for holidays and acquaintances of the president.
We had our own version of Mt. Rushmore National Memorial. Sculpted on the mountainside of Pugo, La Union was a 30-meter (98 feet) high concrete bust of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos. It was built upon the orders of Marcos using government funds in 1978 but completed in 1980 at the height of Martial Law. Like Mt. Rushmore which was constructed on land grabbed from the native Indians, the Pugo statue was controversial as “the land used was grabbed from the indigenous Ibaloi people” as reported by Wikipedia. It was an impressive monument which travellers would not miss on their way up to the city of Baguio using the Marcos Highway. The self-glorification project was financed by the Philippine Tourism Authority to serve as the centerpiece of Marcos Park, named after the president. The park, however, was not completed before Marcos was deposed. The monument was allegedly destroyed by treasure hunters who thought that treasures were hidden inside the bust. Another report revealed that the statue was destroyed by the NPA under the Molintas Command, which claimed responsibility for the bombing. The group claimed that “it is an abomination that has to be eliminated.” Had the Pugo statue remained to this day, it would stand as a ghastly reminder of the ignominy and suffering of our people under a detested regime.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a plan to rebuild the busted Marcos bust by repairing what remains of it. It had been badly defaced but the profile is still intact. Revisionists of history won’t stop until the facts are substituted by falsehoods; they won’t cease and desist until lies prevail over the truth. The late strongman put up his own monument using government money in a public park named after himself while he was still alive at the height of his power. On the other hand, our main international airport was named after Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. more than four years after his death. Out of delicadeza, the law, RA 66398, renaming the Manila International Airport to Ninoy Aquino International Airport was enacted without executive approval on our martyr’s birthday on November 27, 1987. Ninoy shed his life in the tarmac of Naia felled by an assassin’s bullet. His martyrdom led to the People’s Power Revolution that ousted the ruling dictator. From the parliament of the streets, we now have a free-wheeling Congress with some members who have seemingly forgotten the supreme sacrifice of Ninoy to regain the freedom that they now enjoy. Let’s continue to honor Ninoy and bear witness to his conviction that “the Filipinos are worth dying for.” Even John Wayne got his airport in Orange County, California.