The Indifference of Collaborators & The Silence of the Audience

This is a theme that metamorphoses into the same over and over again in Ilokano literary history.

As an insider looking in, I can only grieve for the younger generation of writers who know only one way: the herd mentality of elders, not necessarily men alone, but women as well.

For here is what it is now, over here and yonder: there is but one and only one Word with respect to Ilokano literature, and it is the Word of the self-righteous who can afford to laugh in the face of injustices committed by a number of wannabe and inutile leaders.

Manong Amado Yoro, esteemed for his passion for what is right and intolerant of the excesses of others especially their endless need for power and their greed for recognition, wrote in one of the emails going around that one group kept on with the guffawing in light of the steps taken to right the wrongs done by someone who had wormed her way to power.

What a delight they could have had.

For indeed, these are writers who should know better, who should be sensitive to oppression and all those things that should be the focus of the pen to expose for the world to know.

What has happened to Ilokano writing is something the younger generation will have to work out, redeem, salvage, save.

Indeed, the indifference of collaborators.

Indeed, the silence of the audience.

In Elie Wiesel's 'Night,' night is here.

Honolulu/
August 11, 2011