A deadly vocation

While driving my daughter to school, my partner and I were having this heated debate about the recent massacre in Maguindanao, killing among others, more than two dozen innocent print and broadcast local reporters who were only there to do their job.
"Ganyan na ba talaga ngayon ang tao? parang hindi na tao yung gumawa nun a...."
"Ganun talaga e. Nasa kultura nila yung an eye for an eye..."
"Wala naman ata yun sa Koran a...Tsaka magpa-file lang ng candidacy, me ginawa na ba syang masama sa angkan nya?"
"Ganun talaga...realidad kasi yun..."
"Realidad? Tao lang ang gumagawa ng ganong realidad. Ang pagiging brutal ng tao ba ang sa tingin mo ang realidad ngayon?..."
"E ganun talaga ang way nila...talagang namumugot sila ng ulo..."
"Kahit merong hindi naman kasama sa awayan ng angkan angkan?..."
"Dinale lang sila para walang eyewitness..."
"Lahat sila?..."
"Ganon talaga pag me gyera..."
"Josko napunta na tayo sa gyera sa Mindanao. Pero di ba sa rules of engagement kahit sa gyera hindi dapat ginagalaw ang reporter?"
"Dapat...pero nagkataon andun sila..."
"E yun ang trabaho nila e..."
"E yun ang realidad e..."
"Sa Mindanao?"
"Dahil sa katagalan ng gyera dun, yun na ang realidad nila..."

Man, this argument has gone places where it shouldn't be going! I got so exasperated and extremely irritated...though he did have a point. But I was not about to give up.

"Kaya ayokong nakikipag-argue sa yo e..."
"E ba't ka ba emosyonal?"
"Syempre naging reporter din ako! Muntik na rin akong mamatay no! Kahit wala na ako sa field, apektado ako. Sabihin mo ngang andito ako, safe, nagpapatakbo ng isang FM station, pero mga kapatid ko sa hanap buhay ang mga yan. Nakaka-shock dahil ang dami nila!"

At this juncture, tears came rolling down my cheeks (good thing I was wearing shades that time).

"O tigilan na nga natin ito, umiiyak ka na e..."
"Nakakainis ka kasi e, sana naintindihan mo ako."

We had reached an impasse. I know engaging in a debate with my partner about the incident won't change things. All I know is, I was deeply affected...because I used to be one of them and I feel I still am. A journalist will always be a journalist. She will continue to express using the mighty pen (or keyboard, as the case may be).

At least I was able to tell my partner how I felt.

Stop Killing Journalists...a hope for peace in Mindanao...