SUNDAY, SEP 25, 2016. HAGATNA, GUAM. Members of the Concerned Catholics of Guam and the Laity Forward Movement continue to their weekly picket line on the steps for the Hagatna Cathedral Sunday morning. Messages on their signs have changed slightly -- now calling Apostolic Administrator Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai a failure and demanding he go home to Rome.
I just watched this latest video of the protest in front of the basilica. While I commend you all for your efforts to express yourselves in a protest, I don't think it's having as great an impact as it can have. From what I observed, you all look like zombies walking back and forth, while a beautiful song is being sung. I live in the states, and I've seen many a protest here and there. The ones that grab the most attention and make the biggest impact for their causes are the ones that are loud - so loud that it draws in a bigger crowd to join in. May I suggest you get bullhorns and megaphones and make everyone hear you (not just see you). Your signs are the only thing expressing your anger. But it may be hard for others who see you there to get motivated to get just as angry when you're having prayer vigils and singing nice songs. Get loud and angry. Make Hon hear it in your loud, angry voices. There's nothing quite like hearing Chamorros get angry when they've been wronged. Just think about the woman at the airport when the Gennarinis arrived. Remember that the entity you're up against does not play nice and therefore does not deserve your politeness in protest. Please don't take my comments as negative. I just thought a different perspective might help.
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea how much rose "zombies" have already accomplished. In fact it is the very fact that they don't act angry and make noise that is so powerful.
DeleteWe not only won't take your remarks negatively, we won't take them seriously. Have you ever seen a picket line?
DeleteNot while the Mass is being celebrated inside, no. All other times make as much noise as you can.
DeleteAs we respect our Cathedral, silence is more powerful than screaming, etc. You must have been gone from Guam a long time since you seem to not remember how HOT it gets very early in the morning. I have been gone for 40 years and when I was home in August, I stayed in the air-conditioned house as much as I could.
DeleteI respect your perspective but the "Zombies" know what they are doing.
sorry, @anon 7:34, but what the picketers are doing is vastly more powerful than what you suggest. yes, loud and in-your-face currently is in vogue in the mainland. while that might reach people's ears, what the people outside the agaña cathedral are doing reaches and resonates within people's hearts.
DeleteAnonymous at 7:34 PM, we may look like "zombies" to you but trust me most of us are praying — sometimes mentally — as we walk … we are not walking mindlessly. And sometimes walking is all some of us can manage to do. As JDR at 8:18 PM mentioned, it does get hot very early in the morning so you can just imagine how hot it gets during our picketing time. Many of us on the picket line are Senior Citizens, some using canes and walkers. One of our most faithful picketers actually hires someone to push her wheelchair for 45 minutes — she may not be able to walk, but she makes it a point to participate. I can be seen midway through the video pushing my Rollator with my homemade DEFROCK APURON sign. Trust me, with my RA-induced chronic pain, it takes a great deal effort for me to walk in the heat 0900-0945 on Sunday mornings which is why much of the time my prayer is mental. I'm happy to report that I have managed to participate in 12 of the 15 picket lines since 12 June.
DeleteFurthermore as Anonymous at 7:50 PM pointed out, Mass is being celebrated inside during the last 15 minutes of our picketing. As angry as we are we do respect that fact.
There are many ways to protest. The Sunday morning Cathedral-Basilica picket has its special design taking into consideration the issues of the protest and context under which this regular weekly picket takes place. From what I see in the photos and videos from afar posted on JudngleWatch and those found in online news, the Cathedral-Basilica picket incorporates key elements of effective protesting, some of which are (1) maintaining peaceful and orderly picketing; (2) keeping on the move; (3) maintaining adequate space between pickets, and (4) holding picket signs with a bare minimum word phrase that people can read quickly, but will stay in their minds for a while after. This particular picket is a protest on Church-related issues. It contains Christian elements of peace and respect that include consideration for the celebration of the mass which is in progress just a few yards away. Prayers are said in place of the bull horn amplified protest chants that you suggest. The picket signs sufficiently convey the grievances of the Faithful. In this context, it is in the picket’s silence (and in quiet prayer) that their message is deafening.
DeleteAnonymousSeptember 25, 2016 at 7:34 PM, Sundays we picket. All picket lines are protest but not all not all protests are pickets. Picket lines are disciplined, orderly and law-abiding. Picketers carry signs to convey a message or messages not to express anger.
DeleteThe message or messages are statements of the cause that the picketers support. People who support the message are expected not to cross the picket line. Our picket line has grown five fold since we started in June. We have it on good authority that AA Hon hates our picket Lines. One of our rallying cries arose on the first Sunday that Hon was here and said the pickets would be gone in two weeks.
What you have seen on TV has little application to our situation. What you saw on TV:
"The ones that grab the most attention and make the biggest impact for their causes are the ones that are loud - so loud that it draws in a bigger crowd to join in."
People have joined our picket lines over the weeks because they identify with our message, not because we are loud.
The Gennarini arrival was not a picket nor was it directed at church officials.
7:34PM -- since you're not here doing something pro-actively and being a solution to our issues (thus you have no idea what's really going on) may I also suggest that you just continue observing from that distance, quietly?
ReplyDeleteWhy is everyone complaining about something. They might as well drive out EVERY CATHOLIC on island. smh. cant please anyone these days.
ReplyDeleteIf you are not on Guam, join us in praying the Holy Rosary from 9am to 9:45am Sundays ChST. We are peaceful. We are acting on our duty as Catholics to call out injustices, give voice to those who can't, and protect what has been handed down to us through the teachings of the Church. There are people who do not want to hear us. We pray for them, too.
ReplyDeleteI keep spelling Hon's name wrong for my signs. I didn't realize that it is Hon Tai "Fail". I will get it right by the next picket.
ReplyDeleteNo problem, Hon can go home because Apurun has already said he is the ARCHBISHOP!! Haaaaa. Actually, Hon may have to go home to Hong Kong. Or go to Rome with tail between his legs and eat table scraps from Filonis table. No wine for you hon-ey!
ReplyDeleteInspiring video. Thank you all for your dedication.
ReplyDeleteAnon 7:34 From what I saw, Mikey Crisostomo backers were in that protest. We know they are from Toto parish and marched in support of him being bull-whipped by Hon. Jeff n Mikey two little boys teaching their flock how to retaliate by disrespecting their superiors. If the Vatican wasnt as merciful as they are with you AND had they removed your collars ... lets see where you both would be ! Lets see who will march with you then.
ReplyDelete7:35 AM, I see that you'd rather have the Vatican remove the two priests' collars instead of Apuron who is credibly accused of rape, sexual abuse, and caused spiritual, emotional, and mental anguish to many of the priests and the faithful. FYI, priests take a vow to serve God, therefore they answer to God. Their "superiors" are mere mortals just like everybody else.
Delete7:35 AM--
DeleteAnd even though many from Toto went to support the picket, the church was STILL full for Pale Mike's 9:30 Mass!! The Catholic Faithful on Guam will not sit by and watch our good Priests be abused just because they stand up for what they believe. Face it: the only collar to be removed will be Apuron's.
Anon @ 7:35 AM
DeleteYou crack me up and bore me at the same time. Nothing you say has any merit or credibility starting with your name. Go back to gnashing your teeth over at your beloved Pius' blog.