"Oh my bags are packed ... I'm ready to go ..." Okay, okay, Keith will not forgive me for that one. Seriously, I'm off to a journey unknown and only God leads the way. Couldn't get any better than that.
I'll fill in the details when I get back, but this is another milestone for me. I get to lead devotionals (gulp), one night so keep me in prayer that I stay true to God's word.
Pray for Keith too. These separations are difficult considering we're "attached at the hip" most of the time. But hey, God's work comes first right.
God bless you all in the name of His Most Holy Son.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Geez Folks, It Was Just A Joke
The premiere of ABC's Desperate Housewives on Sunday, September 30, 2007 was in the news recently. The popular, series caused quite a stir of controversy and elicited outrage in the Filipino community because of a joke delivered by one of the series' main characters that seemingly disparaged the reputation of medical schools in the Philippines.
The uproar and the outrage was sudden and widespread. By Wednesday of the following week, being from the Philippines myself, I was in receipt of a few e-mails from Filipino friends and colleagues who were in the thick of the outrage. Here is a portion from one of the emails I received:
This type of derogatory remark is not only unnecessary and hurtful, but is also unfounded, considering the presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the health care industry. Filipinos are the second largest immigrant population in the United States, with many entering the U.S. and passing their U.S. licensing boards as doctors, nurses, and medical technicians. In fact, the Philippines produces more U.S. nurses than any other country in the world. So, to belittle the education, experience, or value of Filipino Americans in health care is disrespectful and plain and simply ignorant.
As Filipino Americans, we need to band together to ensure that this type of hateful message is not allowed to continue on our television and radio airwaves. Given the recent amounts of media attention that has been given to Michael Richards (against African Americans), Isaiah Washington (against gays), and Rosie O'Donnell (against Asian/ Chinese Americans), it is ridiculous that this type of hateful speech made it through various screenwriters, the show's producers, the show's actors, and ABC itself. Yet, this isn't the first time that negative remarks have been made about the Philippines or Filipinos in the past.
In recent years, we've heard one too many "dog eater" comments by "comedian" Joan Rivers on the red carpet or in her stand up act, and I believe that it is about time that we stand up for ourselves, so that this type of hateful speech never happens again.
Another e-mail was a PDF copy of the letter sent by no less than the Philippine Consul-General of Los Angeles to a producer at ABC expressing it's "strong displeasure" and citing the Philippines as a "top Medical Tourism destination with many foreigners, including U.S. Citizens who choose to undergo surgical and other medical procedures ... in recognition of its high quality and reasonably-priced medical services."
In yet another email, a Filipino Congressman called for "Terri Thatcher" to apologize for her remarks made on the show. (And, sometimes, I wonder why we, as a people, become the subject of many jokes)
I read these emails and somewhat followed the bruhaha that ensued with little or no care whatsoever until I heard on Friday morning that ABC bigwigs issued a non-apology apology over the events and my whole attitude towards this spectacle changed. People for crying out loud, it's just a joke!!! It's not even in the same category as a Rosie O'Donnell diatribe against some ethnic minority. It's not hateful speech, it's a joke! Geez, if every Tom, Dick, Harry, Juan, or Pidro take offense at what everyone else says then our society is doomed. Doomed I tell you.
Okay so what ABC aired wasn't exactly in good taste and yes maybe something like that deserved some kind of firestorm, but to this extent? It's not even real life people. My goodness, it's a television show, a work of fiction - it's not real. Why are we allowing 2 seconds of mindless airtime define our community or our National Identity. Are we unable to separate fact from fiction that a tasteless joke can galvanized us to this level of civic involvement when events occurring in real life leave us absolutely apathetic as a community? This is so absolutely petty and the saddest part of this is we've brought unnecessary free publicity to an already inane show. Oh and by the way, thank you for advertising the Philippines', "reasonably priced" medical services. If it's so affordable that foreigners flock to the country to get nipped, tucked and altogether altered, why can't the majority of the Filipinos living in the country afford them or even basic healthcare! (Another time, another rant)
Here's a suggestion, let's not worry about what other people say about us and start worrying about how we present ourselves to the world by our deeds and accomplishments. A year from now no one will remember the dialogue, but this seemingly ill-tempered, although well-meaning, response will go down in the annals of our history and I'm not sure this is one of those achievements we can claim with pride.
Let's choose our battles wisely and not play into every insensitive, dumb, untrue remark, gesture or issue that will invariably occur for the sake of generating humor. Repeat after me: It's just a joke! That being said, can we now move on to real life and show the world the real difference we are capable of making.
The uproar and the outrage was sudden and widespread. By Wednesday of the following week, being from the Philippines myself, I was in receipt of a few e-mails from Filipino friends and colleagues who were in the thick of the outrage. Here is a portion from one of the emails I received:
This type of derogatory remark is not only unnecessary and hurtful, but is also unfounded, considering the presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the health care industry. Filipinos are the second largest immigrant population in the United States, with many entering the U.S. and passing their U.S. licensing boards as doctors, nurses, and medical technicians. In fact, the Philippines produces more U.S. nurses than any other country in the world. So, to belittle the education, experience, or value of Filipino Americans in health care is disrespectful and plain and simply ignorant.
As Filipino Americans, we need to band together to ensure that this type of hateful message is not allowed to continue on our television and radio airwaves. Given the recent amounts of media attention that has been given to Michael Richards (against African Americans), Isaiah Washington (against gays), and Rosie O'Donnell (against Asian/ Chinese Americans), it is ridiculous that this type of hateful speech made it through various screenwriters, the show's producers, the show's actors, and ABC itself. Yet, this isn't the first time that negative remarks have been made about the Philippines or Filipinos in the past.
In recent years, we've heard one too many "dog eater" comments by "comedian" Joan Rivers on the red carpet or in her stand up act, and I believe that it is about time that we stand up for ourselves, so that this type of hateful speech never happens again.
Another e-mail was a PDF copy of the letter sent by no less than the Philippine Consul-General of Los Angeles to a producer at ABC expressing it's "strong displeasure" and citing the Philippines as a "top Medical Tourism destination with many foreigners, including U.S. Citizens who choose to undergo surgical and other medical procedures ... in recognition of its high quality and reasonably-priced medical services."
In yet another email, a Filipino Congressman called for "Terri Thatcher" to apologize for her remarks made on the show. (And, sometimes, I wonder why we, as a people, become the subject of many jokes)
I read these emails and somewhat followed the bruhaha that ensued with little or no care whatsoever until I heard on Friday morning that ABC bigwigs issued a non-apology apology over the events and my whole attitude towards this spectacle changed. People for crying out loud, it's just a joke!!! It's not even in the same category as a Rosie O'Donnell diatribe against some ethnic minority. It's not hateful speech, it's a joke! Geez, if every Tom, Dick, Harry, Juan, or Pidro take offense at what everyone else says then our society is doomed. Doomed I tell you.
Okay so what ABC aired wasn't exactly in good taste and yes maybe something like that deserved some kind of firestorm, but to this extent? It's not even real life people. My goodness, it's a television show, a work of fiction - it's not real. Why are we allowing 2 seconds of mindless airtime define our community or our National Identity. Are we unable to separate fact from fiction that a tasteless joke can galvanized us to this level of civic involvement when events occurring in real life leave us absolutely apathetic as a community? This is so absolutely petty and the saddest part of this is we've brought unnecessary free publicity to an already inane show. Oh and by the way, thank you for advertising the Philippines', "reasonably priced" medical services. If it's so affordable that foreigners flock to the country to get nipped, tucked and altogether altered, why can't the majority of the Filipinos living in the country afford them or even basic healthcare! (Another time, another rant)
Here's a suggestion, let's not worry about what other people say about us and start worrying about how we present ourselves to the world by our deeds and accomplishments. A year from now no one will remember the dialogue, but this seemingly ill-tempered, although well-meaning, response will go down in the annals of our history and I'm not sure this is one of those achievements we can claim with pride.
Let's choose our battles wisely and not play into every insensitive, dumb, untrue remark, gesture or issue that will invariably occur for the sake of generating humor. Repeat after me: It's just a joke! That being said, can we now move on to real life and show the world the real difference we are capable of making.
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