Abraham Lincoln and the Vampires

Now showing in Philippine theatres is a movie about United States’ 16th president entitled “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” directed and co-produced by Timur Bekmambetov, written by Seth Grahame-Smith from his book with the same title. Lincoln, played by Benjamin Walker, is portrayed in the novel and the film as having a secret identity as a vampire hunter. Now I understand why my daughter asked me the other day if it is true that the famous American who abolished slavery and preserved the Union really became a vampire-busting hero. I told her that that’s the biggest joke I’ve ever heard. But nowadays they are making movies out of a historical joke, aren’t they?

True, Abraham Lincoln is the most prominent figure in America’s history. Many authors wrote about that mysterious man. Sadly, Lincoln’s politics remained in his time and only few understood it today.

Lincoln was both a pundit in politics and a stern advocate of a principled cause. Not only that, even when dealing with his political rivals, he sincerely considered them friends and did not maliciously and arrogantly attacked them. It was said that during the Civil War Lincoln had occasion at an official reception to refer to the Southerners as erring human beings rather than as enemies to be exterminated. An elderly lady, a fiery patriot, rebuked him for speaking kindly of his enemies when he ought to be thinking of destroying them. "Why, madam," said Lincoln, "Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?" Politicians as some of us are, we must keep our sanity intact in dealing with our rivals and critics. Personal political vendetta would just make us sacrifice the good image we have cherished since the time when the Mangyans still lives in the lowland and the population of the Tamaraw was still high. People of this breed, no matter how high the positions they occupy in the government, are like vampires that suck the blood of good values running in the veins of our youths. Ours is a situation where contradictions divide us thus never forming a coherent whole.

A truly respected politician, even in the middle of a criminal or administrative case, real or otherwise, must find ways also to promote ideals for friendship. As public figures and public servants, we have to put friendship in a high place. Let us learn to teach and practice friendship to our children and children’s children.

For such trait, Lincoln was respected even by his detractors. Even in times of crises he remained firm and calm, polite and friendly. I want to see him leading the league of politicians who practice “free- for-all” friendship in public office and not with Buffy and the other vampire hunters. By the way, coming up next is another movie called “Abraham Lincoln Vs Zombies” directed by Richard Schenkman.

With these, I would not be surprised if in the future, after the independent film “Noy” in 2010 starring Coco Martin, a Filipino flick on the president fighting the “aswangs” and “manananggals” would hit our cinemas!

Seriously, publicly demonstrating our arrogance is the biggest horrible joke that we encounter today. It’s the longest running joke in the province’s political scene, too long that cannot be captured even in a full length horror movie…

-------
(Photo: 1.bp.blogspot.com from movie stills)