Listen to “One Day More.”
Itaguyod ang Katotohanan.
It is time to be COUNTED!
Join us at the Friday Inter-Faith Prayer Rally
Ayala cor. Paseo de Roxas — 4:00 to 8:00 PM
Where former President Cory Aquino and Jun Lozada will join us as we make the call for Truth and Accountability.
Black and White Movement, together with Hyatt 10/La Salle 60, MBC, MAP, Manindigan,
and other professional and church groups will assemble at the
AIM (Paseo de Roxas) Parking lot at 3:00 PM.
Please join us.
Sa Totoo Tayo. Now Na!
Today there will be people from all walks of life and different generations and varying political and non-political persuasions, coming together to make a stand.
It’s unfortunate that the focus on Makati will obscure the efforts being made elsewhere in the country. Whether a rally in Cebu City, or elsewhere, the only divide I see is between urban and rural Filipinos: though the majority, for some time now, of Filipinos are urban dwellers. I strongly believe the sentiments among urban Filipinos are converging while rural opinion won’t be far behind.
Returning to today’s rally, the authorities are pulling out all the stops: PNP renews warning about communists, terrorists at rally. They’re spooked.Yesterday, something remarkable happened at PUP, see: PUP bomb threat fails to stop Lozada. And something else happened, see: Dirty Tricks in Uniffors.
But two bloggers say it best.
Market Manila declares he will be there:
Because we live in a democracy by choice. Because not speaking up when you know something is wrong makes you an accomplice to the wrong. Because I think everyone must be held accountable for their actions, particularly where their actions impact the welfare of millions. Because of the increasingly brazen disregard for the laws and even basic ethics that should apply to educated individuals. Because in many ways, I am embarrassed to be in the same gene pool as those who are perpetrating and then possibly getting away with such outrageous actions. Because of dozens of other reasons I will keep to myself as I know you get the point.
A reply he gives to a commenter is zeroes in on the issues even more:
mapster, I agree that we have to do everything we can everyday. I pay my taxes and a LOT of them. I have never ever slipped a policeman lunch money. I have voted with a conscience and watched at the polls. I have volunteered services for politicians or candidates which I thought rose above the rest, and I have never accepted any gifts, compensation or positions for the effort. So yes, I think we have to do our daily bit. But I also used to believe that we had a high corruption rate because we were poor… and that somehow the petty corruption of the streets and licenses, etc. were a function of poverty. But that is simply not true. The folks who are implicated in multi-billion scandals are well to do, and as someone above says, how much money do they need to live a decent and comfortable life? And the Hello garci scandal was offensive precisely because it suggests that the elections themselves are rigged, hence the votes of the people are ignored. At the very least, we have to indicate a great deal of displeasure and let everyone know they can’t get away with these kinds of behaviors.
As for being in the company of crooks and wannabees as some intimate above, I think in all democracies people from all walks of life will band together for similar causes, though they all may not look, sound, or be the same. While some of the folks who will be there at the rally this afternoon are opportunists and perhaps not folks I would normally look up to, many others could or should be every day folks who simply want to say, TAMA NA! And while I am not the biggest of Cory fans, I think she IS someone to look up to and her presence is only one of the minor reasons I would show up this afternoon.
I agree with other sentiments about changing the system et al. But I would agree more that we need to change the people on a massive scale with folks that really want to do the BEST for their country, a noble and difficult scenario, I concur.
As for others, you are definitely entitled to your opinion and free to choose what you will, can or want to do. With Marcos it took 20 years to reach the “boiling point.” In subsequent administrations the flare ups occurred with less time required. But at some point, when we all are personally so incensed or affected directly, you too will feel the need to do something.
If you re-read the post above, I would like to point out that I only said that I WOULD BE GOING. Not that I thought all of you should as well, that is obviously your choice.
Touched By An Angel says,
Though not a popular choice by our Catholic Bishops, I believe, GMA has to go. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has to go.
I truly believe that The President and her people have engaged in so much lying that they can no longer recognize the truth even if it stared them in the face. (PDI) As to the next step to take, I will take one step, one day at a time. I do not have the answers yet but in time, I will discern it. Our Filipinos will discern it. I will be there at the The Interfaith rally…
Among young people, there will be those, like on a red day who will be there, as will Tristan’s Mental Assylum ristan’s Mental Assylum and Jamel Ignes who is attending a rally for the first time! (for the religious, see melo touch). Other young people share their views, and efforts at discernment: a slice of wine.. and a shot of cake.. points out the dividing line and respects those who have decided to speak up against the President. There are others who are still uncertain, yet watchful, like Prudence and Mandess, and such as student Timmyland or who remain ambivalent, who will not go but who will be keeping those gathered in their thoughts, see OFW jihAn.zillA. Sh, and Yeweifang’s blog .
Among more senior bloggers, Red’s Herring puts everything in perspective:
If the events that have led to People Power I (EDSA Revolution of 1986 or EDSA I) are any guide, revolutionary uprisings go through certain levels (of consciousness): First, the underlying belief by a sizeable segment of society that the rulers and certain institutional arrangements have lost legitimacy; second, certain intense participants or change agents have gotten around their sense of powerlessness and come to realize they have the power or capacity to effect the needed changes; third, the disaffected members of society have more or less formed a consensus as to the nature and or scope of the changes they desire to occur in lieu of the illegitimated rulers or arrangements, whether be it about a total systemic overhaul, a “regime change,” an extra-constitutional overthrowing of a corrupt or immoral government, etc.
My sense is that People Power III has already reached the first and second levels of consciousness described above. However, before the Great Beast “could take care of itself” today it has yet to hurdle the third level of consciousness.
For one, I have noted even the reformists in the military and the progressives in the civil society are still tentative about the scope and the nature of the changes to be sought (note should also be taken for instance that the mere suggestion during the Manila Peninsula “uprising” that a military junta was being contemplated has not sit well with potential supporters), while other veteran people power practitioners are apprehensive the next exercise “could again end up repeating a vicious cycle of simply ‘moving on’ in circle, and not leaping onward or to a higher ground” or a “new qualitative state.”…
…Now, the question once again: Why is People Power III taking its time?
My own take is: There is yet no general consensus among potential people power participants and activists, as has been in EDSA I or EDSA II, as to what change to aspire for and institute.
Arguably, proposals for reforms or transformations, at odds with each other for the most part, still abound. To cite a few: some who believe the two EDSAs were both a failure aim this time to act against a failed system and plan to overhaul it either according to some rigid ideologies or based merely on the “best practices” of ongoing successful experiments; other groups are just angry and frustrated because of “relative deprivation” (middle class weighed upon with a looming downgrade to the next class complain how come only their counterparts in other regions are having all the fun); still others are focused only on struggling for control of the state apparatuses and effecting “regime change” while keeping both the political and economic structure intact; and specifically, accused coup leader and now detained senator Sonny Trillanes is eager to transform the nation “without reinventing the wheel” or whereas Bishop Francisco Claver can only entertain the belief that “our problem comes down to this: how to correct the aberration that is the present administration without destroying the stabilizing structure that is our democratic system of government.”
…As a result, reactionary moves from old and once reliable alliances, the CBCP in particular, are silently taking place in the form of tokenism (a plea to President Arroyo to take lead in the fight against corruption) and diversion (a call for a new brand of People Power through “communal action”).
Mon Casiple on the part of the political pundits, observes,
The nature and circumstances of this political crisis is such that it can only have one resolution: the end of the Arroyo regime within the context of the existing electoral democracy. From there, it may result in the affirmation of this electoral democracy and thus the integrity of the 2010 elections. Or, more remote, it may lead to the ending of the electoral democracy itself. At any rate, these are the days of reckoning.
The people’s consciousness and readiness to action are developing by leaps and bounds. The usual tactics by the GMA administration are not working anymore and proved to be ironically pushing faster the momentum for change. From the JDV triumphal ouster to its present travails, the Arroyo administration has rapidly traversed a half-circle towards a downward spiral.
What’s Casiple referring to? I can only guess, but think of this. Did you notice the article, 52 governors troop to Palace to show support for Arroyo ? A friend encountered one of these governors on a plane bound for Manila, and the governor prattled on about how he was going to Manila on business -only for my friend to see the governor on TV lurking near the edge of the gathered governors. Said my friend: you see, they’ve begun to get embarrassed over their support for the President (the governor knew my friend’s an oppositionist; but a mere month ago, the governor would needle my friend and crow about the President every chance he got). And the news leaves an even bigger question hanging: what of the other 29 governors?
Recall that one of the officials proclaimed a convenor of the Loyalist rally in Manila on Feb. 25 pointedly told the media, “oh, I’m in Manila doing shopping.”
While Amando Doronila notices that:
Speaking to a joint meeting of the Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines and PinoyME Foundation last Feb. 26, Aquino did not make a pitch for another People Power uprising, to the disappointment of many people. She merely called on President Arroyo to step down, saying it was the least disruptive way out of the “severe moral crisis” facing the country. She said, “She must give way to a credible government that could lead by example. Given our concern to protect the moral pillars of democracy, the extra-constitutional removal of the President is not an ideal we would want to aspire for.”
Aquino’s call for restraint was echoed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, which in a pastoral statement on Feb. 26, called on the President to allow her officials to tell the truth about the slew of allegations of corruption related to several government transactions, but fell short of demanding her resignation. Instead, the bishops urged the President to be “part of the effort” to seek the truth.
The coyness of Aquino and the disappointing position of the bishops restraining people power highlighted the departure from the dynamics of 1986, when Aquino rode the crest of a forceful people power movement driven by the activist archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin, and the mass civilian participation in street protests in support of the military mutiny led by Marcos’ Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Constabulary chief, Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos.
Today’s configuration has lost the fervor for mass action of 1986. It tells us that today’s movement is not based on mass action to bring pressure on the key support institutions of government to defect, such as the military and the bureaucracy. Today’s movement has changed emphasis. It has shifted its cutting edge from confrontation in the streets to bringing moral pressure on government. The shift is not exerting a powerful pressure on government officials to step down. It emboldens them to stonewall.
Though as the Inquirer editorial today points out,
We realize that, in itself, the language of the recommendation (“Urge the President and all the branches of government to take the lead in combating corruption wherever it is found”) seems to be neutral. But in the present context, it actually disregards a fundamental reality. In the scandal over the National Broadband Network, the President and her men have been less than forthright in telling the truth. That, in fact, is one of the reasons we have a crisis in the first place.
Apropos of the bishops, read An Open Letter to the CBCP at Brown SEO.
(courtesy of pedestrianobserver)
Pag may umiyak dito, tiyak issue of National Security at serious crime yun. Ayaw niyo maniwala? Tanungin niyo doon sa batang lansangan na umiiyak dahil kinantsyawan ng mga kalaro, declare kaagad ng State of National Emergency ang nanay niya.
Queen’s Gambit as proposed by grand master Solita Monsod:
4. Ooops, Military Knights might take over
5. Queen exiles nominal King
6. Its OK, nominal King always not at play when things heat up
7. Bishops, Knights, Pawns pacified? Maybe
Meanwhile, Super Pawn spews more charges to heat up the play.
Mob Boss Pawn aka “Sec, may 200 ka dito” is rumored to have fled the board.
Also, there’s so much venom in Grand Master Manolo’s box, it’s hard to call the play.
new discovery- a nice excuse for ad hominems, jumping to conclusions and begging the questions: i skipped logic 101 but i’ve been taught courage
I guess we can agree that if we eliminate (or at least ‘moderate’) the level of corruption in government, then desirable policies such as government ownership and control over real-estate will become more feasible, and that would be good for economic development.
We know that in its present condition, there are a lot of desirable activities we would like the government to do but, because of corruption, we cannot entrust these tasks to them. Because of this, there has been an understandable temptation to avoid engaging with government altogether and try instead to take refuge in the market by concentrating on private efforts at improvement through entrepreneurship, or to limit the scope of our public engagement to community-oriented (e.g. GK-type) activities.
There is definitely a place for these bottom-up approaches, but the NBN/ZTE scandal (and the sell-out of the Spratly’s) has shown that there are limits to such an approach. Even if we leave government alone, it will still find a way to screw us. This is why active engagement by the public, including people power, makes more sense. We cannot make government irrelevant. We can only try to make it work for us.
@cvj
yes, PEA-Amari, Fort Bonifacio, Smoky Mountain, Baseco, even MRT, etc. government decides to privatize when a very influential crony/oligarch could profit immensely. there’s a possibilty, it may happen again at Veterans.
@cvj
@cvj
which brings the point that, stripped of the drama and the hype, this political crisis is a quarrel between two rent-seeking families on the rent/spoils (per Sen. Santiago). Mayroon nga lang Lozada.
ALL,
If we can’t handle these new commenters – ehm, these new “aliases” then how can we handle real democracy and a democracy where all classes participate.
mlq3, i couldn’t care less if my “credibility†is questioned by anyone who doesn’t count in my book. what i write, i write. anyone can take it or leave it, refute it or agree with it.- bencard
my apologies your highness! we are not worthy to stand in your presence! my as*! you’re so full of yourself! amd what book is that? xerex?! what a joke! get off your throne. spoken like a true gma lapdog that you are! take it to the court…did we here that before? from gma and her minions and just to be rebuked and embarassed by the supreme court time and time again! sue me! bite me!
Oligarchs are as oligarchs do. If the people remain apathetic then, you’re right, the fight will remain at their level. That’s why we have to make our voices heard so that it will not be just about them. We cannot afford to keep quiet if only because we are the ones who will be paying for the loans that would otherwise have been undertaken by these rent-seeking elites.
brianb,
real democrazy = mob rule
i admit it will not be perfect and peachykine after gma is kickout of malacanang. and we have to punish every single person involved in committing evil against the nation. let us not commit same mistakes post edsa I & II where the guilty individuals are allowed back in and free as a bird. we should bring back death penalty, only for those in the government and found guilty of crime against the nation; graft and corruption. it maybe the entire government, but it will be good for our country to finally get rid of the evils en mass.
it will be a long and painful process and big learning curve is needed, but getting rid of arroyo and her minions will be a start and a very good one. if you want to completely eliminate the termites in your house you have to find the queen termite and kill it then the rest will die as well! any pest control or termite terminator expert will tell this. this will work our country as well.
“real democrazy = mob rule”
People never chooses chaos and anarchy if they really had a choice, mindanaoan.
dont bet on it. some people do. and that’s why we must think hard if it’s true we really don’t have a choice
It’s human nature to seek stability. Sociopathic behavior exists and some people are in so much pain it makes them desire chaos, but humans in their most normal state are creatures of stability. This is the underlying cause this progress and change. Even war is a desire for stability. Countries don’t go to war because they desire chaos, they go to war in search for more peace.
brianb,
some desire instability to open political opportunities. that is what we should guard against. some people are enraged, maybe rightly so, for the right reasons. most i think are deliberately agitated. we all should be careful we don’t play into the hands of those who have an agenda, on both sides of the fence.
BrianB:
Wars are fought for either survival or dominance, not for peace, which is the opposite of war.
I share mindanaoan’s concern: what is the sort of stability we are aiming for? After EDSA ’86, our history as a nation is spotty, and our politics evolved into a dog eat dog affair. Ironically, the only moment of peace we had was under the presidential term of FVR who, to his credit (like him or hate him), peacefully handed power over to Erap.
Our only hope is to develop and maintain civic virtues through institutions that transcend personalities, especially presidential terms. The formula for getting there is tricky and tough as hell.
@bencard
Hala sige, please EDUCATE ME.
Name me a place in the world where the president’s remit is to “Act according to her/his interpretation of the constitution”.
blockquote>ca’t, sorry, i broke the rule. but this is the last time i’m addressing this troll who calls me “panero†(lol).
No problemo. Trolls are trolls no matter what handles they assume. Usually they make use of disposable alternicks so that when they self-destruct, they can always go back to their other regular handles.
When they lose their cool, they also lose. Imagine a lawyer verbally abusing commenters just because they differ in their opinion. Paano kaya sa korte yan. Minumura rin ang kalaban. But I know dito lang yan. Kasi di siya kilala. Pag sabi niya duwag, tama sa kaniya. TOINK. SPLAT pa sa mukha. mwehehe
JMCastro
“Wars are fought for either survival or dominance,”
People want to survve and they want to survive for as long as they can without threat (that’s why men used to hunt wild beast for sport). We want to dominate for the same reason. Peace is the purpose of these things. Inner peace, peace of mind, a peace and stable way of life.
bencard<——damsel in distress!
the ca t <—–the prince in white and shining armor ready to rescue the damsel in distress! prrrrrrrr.
now that is so sweet. lol. 🙂
brianb,
your effort is valiant, but this ‘war to search for peace’ is simply bunk. wars are waged for so many reasons. it is a delusion to think you’ll have peace after your war.
Oh yes, to put something sweet in otherwise comment box getting toxic.
At least there is one bencard that prevents this comment box from becoming a mutual admiration club.
Don’t you get tired of hearing echoooooooooooooooooooos?
Toink.
Wars are fought for various reasons as already been ‘exhausted’ above.
But the most important thing to ask,
WHO INSTIGATED THE WAR?
“your effort is valiant, but this ‘war to search for peace’ is simply bunk. wars are waged for so many reasons. it is a delusion to think you’ll have peace after your war.”
I’m saying, in the anthropological level, war, fighting is done to end the threat. The root cause of all other “Interests” in war. Oil, territory, religious causes… war waged to end the threat of running out of oil, of running out of land of food and of religious
This is not an effort, what are you talking about?, to make peace from war. I am merely stating the need for conflict in human nature. This need arises from threat. To end threat, what is the purpose? But peace.
Riddler,
I could be wrong but 2 posts of yours aren’t exactly consistent.
Hi cat, i think you are the most abused Cat in this blog. Don’t worry, i already asked the animal activists in Malacañang to rescue you. 🙂
brianb,
there are indeed anthropological theories of war, but none seems to have anything to do with peace. or are you trying to develop a new theory?
effort- i mean your effort to defend your position, because i think it’s so untenable. frankly, i’d already like to drop the subject, ok?
what is peace to you?
from the dictionary: “freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility : you can while away an hour or two in peace and seclusion.”
You’ve father never shouted at you or spanked you because you were noisy. War can be like that, a shouting or a spanking.
i
War s man’s struggle for peace everlasting. This is basic, Philo 101.
And it is not MY position. I just mentioned it because some propagandists like to think of an absolute evil who loves death, war and destruction. If you believe that there is this kind of evil, then I suppose you don;t get why war is rooted from man’s desire to have peace.
“War s man’s struggle for peace everlasting.” lovely
Nash,
I think what is meant is a “working knowledge” (for want of a better term) of the Constitution.
There are sections or provisions in the Constitution that certainly (may) have not been brought yet before the Supreme Court for proper interpretation depending on cases at hand.
JON Limjap,
The way that I think Estrada can not run for the Presidency again is also the same that I think would restrict PGMA as based on the “current” Charter.
Bencard,
I didn’t hear the prayer so I can’t say if they did state that or not. But I don’t think the idea is lost on them.
If they didn’t do so in that public gathering; then they may have done so in their parishes.
However, even in Bicol where part of the calamity has occurred; Bicolanos have held their own “masses for truth”. A mass was held in St. Stephen Parish in Ligao City, hometown of ZTE-NBN star witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. officiated by Bishop Quiambao along with other priests.
In the homily, they acknowledged that Albayanos have been reeling from natural disasters but added that they (Albayanos) “could no longer take man-made calamities†brought about by graft and corrupt practices by people in government.
@justice league
were masses held, with the same theme, in other parishes? it seems that such event in Lozada’s mileau would be a given.
Diego,
Same theme as what?
If you are referring to similar “masses for truth” then yes like in Lipa, Bacolod, etc…
If you are referring to exactly the part wherein they can’t take man-made calamities due to corruption, then I can’t say.
There were however “themes” on man-made calamities due to logging etc. which some members of the Church alluded to as greatly enhancing the effects of the rains.
Bencard,
It seems Dato Arroyo’s Libmanan was more heavily affected than I thought.
The Social Action Centers of the Catholic Church have already started relief actions several days before the inter faith rally as continuous rains have affected Bicol and Eastern Visayas provinces.
They state that
“Ten parishes from the Prelature of Libmanan’s nine towns have been affected since February 18. Over 10,000 families have been affected. Farms have been submerged in water for a number of days. The Prelature’s Social Action Center concentrated its relief efforts in the towns of Libmanan, Minalabac and Milaor.”
Oh don’t you worry about me. I can always scratched whenever I want to without changing my costume to different personalities.
And I do not have to be diplomat to be diplomatic. Almost got one though, offered to me by one of friends I knew.
But even then, I condemn wrongdoing of any kind.
justice league, it may very well be that “the idea is not lost in them”. but isn’t it unchristian to prejudge? is it proper, at all, for a bishop, priest or nun, to pray for the downfall of a person he/she doesn’t like, and to call her “evil” and “corrupt” just because it’s popular to say it?. Jesus said: “whenever two or more people are gathered for me and in my name, i am right in the middle” or words to that effect.
who do you think is in the middle of the “interfaith prayer rally”? a vengeful “god” surrounded by avenging “angels”?
i don’t think a Christian church would be engaged in a business of hate.
Hay Beha,
Condemn wrongdoing of any kind daw, pro Gloria ka, lahat ng kagaguhan ni Gloria, wala kang sinasabi!
Pwede bra beha? Magpakatotoo ka! Pro Gloria ka, hanggang ngayon, ayaw mong aminin!
Beha!
“and i do not have to be a diplomat to be diplomatic” the Ca’t.
i concur. and i might add: one can appoint a diplomat but one cannot give the brains to go with it.
btw, c’at, is “diplomat” a permanent title, as in “presidente erap” according to jinggoy?
Hindi ka pa naliligo, nagseshadow boxing ka na. Ingat, baka mabuntal mo sarili mo. Toothbrush ka tuloy. There’s something betweenyour teeth. Masama ang amoy na lumalabas sa bunganga mo.
I really do not know what’s the rule in the title because there are different ranks in the diplomatic corps.
What I do know that people in the ranks of cultural and press attaches are not really diplomats. They are just attached to the diplomats. Thus the word attache.
I know only of one title that can be used lifetime, that being of a Dean of a college or a university.
Si Jinggoy? You make me laugh. Up to now, he considered his father the president while he is enjoying the status of being a senator in the current governance. hoho
bencard:
http://www.catholicdoors.com/faq/qu43.htm
so what do you think of those people who are working in makati? they make usi muna, stayed a little while then go home. they were never there to join these professional rallyists.-Ca T
Speak for yourself, Ca T. Professionals i’ve been with in the rally really joined Friday’s event with genuine interest for truth and accountability. That some of them went home ahead of the rest didn’t mean they were there participating nonchalantly as seemed suggested by your “usi muna” description.
Yep, they were in a hurry to catch their rides home.
That style is called
“Certificate of Appearance” attendance. They just show themselves in the first few minutes or an hour and then simply disappear later. So much about the talk for the search of truth. 🙂
Ca t, I wouldn’t expect you to understand our efforts at being one with many who are asking for this gov’t to be more decent in dealing with transaction involving national coffers/pratimony in the way we know it. Because, just like the rest of the arroyo apoligist, you are expected to see no evil,hear no evil, smell no evil on the innumerable scandals that the arroyo admistration has committed.
@justice league
siempre, we all need a working ‘knowledge’
I don’t think ‘knowledge’ was what bencard meant.
For someone who claims technical knowledge, this attorney, who is paid for his legal ‘expertise’ used the words ‘the president…acts…according to his/her interpretation of the constitution”….
😀
So all I am asking is, where on earth is this the case because certainly, when I was in elementary it was taught to me that this is not part of the head of state’s remit. Ke sa USA or sa Pilipinas, hindi yata ganito. Ewan ko kung binago. Eh kung binago, saan ang memo because I was absent in class….
@alaskadora
malala na kasi ang cognitive dissonance ng mga gma apologists na mga iyan kaya ganyan. hayaan na natin silang manahimik sa enchanted kingdom nila. atsaka, nang-aasar lang mga iyan dahil wala naman na sila sa pilipinas, they are rubber necking.
Bencard,
“17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
I can only surmise that they took “much” of that to heart and probably think a lot on the intention in bringing forth the so called fruit.
No sense then telling them not to judge so as not to be judged since they likely think its worth the gamble.
Nash,
Well only he can tell you what he actually meant, but I think he ended your discussion already.