Skin whiteners and MacArthur AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 04/20/2010

Skin whiteners and MacArthur

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 04/20/2010 Last week, this column discussed MacArthur of the Philippines, a hymn of praise to “the General” (as his wife called him) by Fernando Ruiz. As we saw, Mr. Ruiz clearly regarded Douglas MacArthur as little less than a god. But why? Could it be because, as Mr. Ruiz writes, in “the history of Filipinos’ long struggle for freedom... Gen. Douglas MacArthur was the only white man who appeared like a rainbow to reinvigorate their quest for freedom and democracy.” But MacArthur did no such thing, of course. He arrived as a junior officer in the army of occupation in 1903, toward the tail-end of the US war of conquest that left hundreds of thousands of Filipinos dead. His father, Gen. Arthur MacArthur, appointed military governor in 1900, took the view that Filipinos required “ten years of bayonet treatment.” Bataan? MacArthur only visited his men there once, despite his claim to “love them.” It was MacArthur who started the myth that the Japanese outnumbered his forces and, despite the fact that it was debunked years ago, Mr. Ruiz dutifully repeats it. Liberation in 1944-45?.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100420com4.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Unusual FRONTLINE Return to the wild, wild west NO HOLDS BARRED When good men do nothing AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Skin whiteners and MacArthur SILVER LINING Susano for Erap FEATURE Dream vacation spot in Lebanon at enemy’s gate