Pacman Is Not A Hero

     My teacher asked us to make a speech regarding a current issue. I have no idea to what topic should I focus. Til one time as I searched the net, I have read the criticism should I say of an Italian Jock named Adam Carolla. It, well, struck my mind. And I found this topic interesting. Well actually the topic I was thinking of was not about the discrimination but the wrong treatment we are doing to Pacman. We treated him as a hero where in fact it should not be. 

     My speech goes like this. You may not want it but I think it's the truth. And this is just my opinion. :))

“All you fucking got is just an illiterate guy who happens to smash other guys in the head better than other people. Really, you want some guy with brain damage running your country? Why don’t you get your shit together? What happens when Floyd Mayweather beats him? Does your country go into depression?” How do you feel being again tirade by another race? Well, of course it hurts. But have you asked yourself that somehow there is a little truth behind those passages? I, myself, should admit that somehow, maybe 10% of me agreed to this discrimination. The Philippines have treated Pacman as a hero. And that treatment is not a good image of the country.

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, popularly known as Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, is undeniably a Filipino who has been a victim of poverty. He has been dropped out of high school due to the extreme financial challenge. Despite of the situation he had experienced, he strived hard to make a name in the boxing world and earn various achievements including the 7 titles he got and the only boxing champion of the world who gained these awards. He, indeed, deserved to be called the ‘World’s Greatest Ever’. The life he has made him an inspiration to all. He proved that there is hope in standing up. But do these reasons enough to call him a hero?

I have formulated two reasons on why we should not connect the word hero in his name. But first, let us take a look at the meaning of hero. According to Mr. Webster, a hero is person who is a demigod, great and brave man. Well, Pacman fought bravely to win his fights. But does fighting bravely necessarily mean a heroic move? Maybe yes, if that does not include money. Involvement of large amount of money is a big factor to not consider him as a hero. Are we sure that he really fought for the country as what he kept on saying? What if money will be taken out? We could think about him as a hero but do you think he will fight inside the ring? That is the logic of it. If money is involved, we cannot assure that he speaks the right.

Another thing that we should take it for consideration is the fact that boxing is an inhumane sport. Imagine the hero we are taking into account is smashing the head of his opponent just to defend himself and the crown to any ‘humiliation’ it might bring if he loses. It violates the Principle of Human Life. And a hero should be a model to all. That means if he violates life, there is a tendency of us violating too. That is also, I think, why some Filipinos were also pursuing their boxing careers nowadays.

We always feel fulfilled and overwhelmed every time he wins the fight. There is nothing wrong about it. We became proud of ourselves that we are Filipino. We became proud because of his achievements that uplifts the Filipino race and not because our ‘hero’ won again. It should not be about knocking one down to push yourself up. Remember that anything that goes beyond is off the beam. It is something that we should observe to. So why do we need to say that he is a hero if he just give achievements to the nation?  Instead of regarding him as a hero, why not just a pride of the country if he just make the Filipinos proud of him? I hope you think it over again because I guess the discrimination mentioned above is the fruit of overrating Pacman into a hero.