What do coups and snow have in common?
November 29, 2007
Newsflash: Another coup attempt in the Philippines, read more here. Our prayers are with our Filipino brothers and sisters. I don’t mean to make light of the resulting curfews and such, but I couldn’t help but comment.
We have employed Filipino engineers for several years and it seems as though every few months someone attempts to overthrow the government in the Philippines. Each time the government quashes the coup the president gives the people another holiday (i.e. a day off from work). The coups seem to be relatively bloodless and as a result our employees do not fear them, instead they seem to enjoy the added holiday. Internally we call these days ‘coup days’ in the tradition of ’snow days’ (i.e. neither make much sense to me).
When I was growing up in the Berkshires we would have fairly common snow storms and as a result school would be cancelled ~ we called them snow days. It always struck me as silly that we would drive by the school on the way to the ski slopes for a day of fresh powder. I didn’t complain, but I still never really understood the concept. I guess that is the hope of the Filipino leaders ~ distract your people from the instability by giving them a day off. It doesn’t make sense, but what do they say about ‘gift horses’?
