This is about Rowling’s revelation of Albus Dumbledore’s sexual preference. However, let me make it clear that I’m not here to start a gay rights issue. I am not making anti-gay statements, for the record.

According to her statement, she had never mentioned anything about that till then because “she had never before been asked directly.”

The funny thing in my opinion, is that for how casually Rowling mentioned that he was gay, never did any proof of that statement appear in the novel. Who’s to say whether she really did have that in mind from the beginning, and didn’t just think that up later on to “shake things up”? If she was trying to sent a pro-gay message, then why not just come out with it in the novel itself? Her only supporting evidence of it was her statement that Dumbledore was secretly smitten with Grindelwald, but who’s to say that that wasn’t just something she decided to add on a whim?

“He is my character. He is what he is and I have the right to say what I say about him,” defended Rowling.

The question was whether he would find true love or not. Even if he was gay, you wouldn’t expect her to say it like that unless her decision to do so was driven by a goal that required her to say, outright and above all, that he is simply gay. Why not something that answered the question instead of something that scratched her itch (and that of the fans) to include a gay character in the story?

Because technocally, his sexual preference was never an issue in the book. If she really wanted to fight for gay rights and not just make fans and the media and bloggers go crazy, she wouldn’t have done it this way.

In the end she does admit that her book was written for political purposes, against authority, bigotry, and the like. But to me at that moment, she stepped out of her shoes as a woman of literature, threw that statement out in all directions to see what happens. It seemed to me in poor taste.

She cannot honestly say that the fuss surprises her. Really.

Technorati tags: rowling, gay, harry potter, dumbledore, grindelwald, carnegie hall

Sorry I’ve been gone for some time. Anyways, I found out about some arguments regarding the Teri Hatcher issue, and I’d just like to expound on my views I suppose.

On the argument that Filipinos have racial slurs as well against other countries, which are “perfectly alright” for us:

In the first place, I don’t think those slurs on our side are okay at all. Indians or Chinese people should blog/write/rant about it if they feel the need to. It was politically incorrect, in my opinion, regardless of the fact that some Filipinos do it too.

On the argument that Filipinos should be used to democracy as a free exchange of such slurs, as part of freedom of speech:

As for democracy, that is not the way it works. There is always responsibility involved, that’s why there are still things like “slander” and “libel”. It isn’t the terrible racial issue that people are (or should be) reacting to, it’s the implications and repercussions of people thinking that Philippine med schools are in fact, not good enough to develop good doctors. It’s the same reason Mattel apologized to China, because although the stigma may have some truths in it, it is not fair to generalize.

On the argument that it is just a show:

I agree. In fact I didn’t give much emphasis to it. I was just reacting to a simple slur, in a show. A short post, that’s all, in fact the worst I said was “Misinformed much.” BUT I don’t presume to know how actual Philippine med students/school officials feel about it, nor should any of us discount their position, if they should be offended.

On the argument that Filipinos shoud get used to it, as they will always be a minority in the US:

I both agree and disagree. I agree, because I somehow feel that this was blown out of proportion, even with discussions like this, this isn’t really about Desperate Housewives now, is it? I agree that Filipinos should take these things in stride, as we can never control people’s opinions. I also disagree however, to the implication that Filipinos should not react at all. When you are slapped, don’t just laugh and shrug it off. Don’t slap back, but make it clear that you do should not be slapped.

That’s all. Actually, I may be saying too much already, and may be contradicting myself with the “didn’t make a big deal of it” stance. But, for people who say we’re overreacting, they sure posted a lot as well, for an issue they say should not be this big.

What are we really arguing about?

Technorati tags: teri hatcher, racism, discrimination, desperate housewives

As a journalism student, I was taught through all four years to develop a hatred for the word sensationalism. We were taught that many journalists do it, but we should hold on to what we know is right, when it’s us out there.

Sensationalism - noun. 1. Subject matter, language, or style producing or designed to produce startling or thrilling impressions or to excite and please vulgar taste.

But even before graduating, we attended a seminar with some highly respected journalists as speakers. When asked about something that related to sensationalism, they just said that it could not be helped. After all, they needed viewers.

And at that moment, I and some other aspiring journalists in my batch, came crashing to that sad realization, one that made even more sense after we had graduated.

The media delivers news to people. In order to deliver news, they need to stay on the air. In order to stay on the air, they need sponsors. In order to get sponsors, they need viewers. In order to get viewers, they need to catch their attention. And to do that, they need to sensationalize.

And it doesn’t even stop there. Sensationalizing does more damage than from an ethical standpoint. The more that corruption (albeit truly existent) is highlighted, the more people will believe that there is no hope for their country, and this mindset will affect everything they do. From the way people work, to the crime rate, to the way they vote, and their willingness to cooperate with even the “good guys” in the government.

And that gives the media more stories to cover. Rinse, repeat.

It’s been years, yet my diploma is still rolled up, unclaimed.

Technorati tags: media, corruption, vicious cycle, sensationalism, bad news, news, journalism, journalist

From Desperate Housewives. Much ruckus about it. If you missed the news that’s got the Philippines extending her claws, here’s the scoop:

The officials cited a recent episode where actress Teri Hatcher, who plays Susan Mayer, asked whether the person attending to her during a medical consultation “can I check those diplomas because I want to make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines.”

Taken from AFP.

Well I’m not a doctor, but I can imagine it’s a real bummer to have stayed in school for about a decade and then be told you’re below par.

Fact: The US is actually looking for foreign nurses and healthcare professionals, Philippine nurses in particular, what with the scarcity of nurses on a critical level. Philippine nurses make up 10% of all practicing nurses in the US.

Filipinos are not given additional training before being allowed to work in the US.

Misinformed much.

Technorati tags: teri hatcher, racial slur, racism, philippines, filipino, medicine, nursing, nurse, doctor

You may have seen Fox’s coverage of the Sally Field speech, where she made a statement about the war. She won the lead actress award for her role as a mother whose son served in the army in Afghanistan. Toward the end, Fox censored her speech. Watch the video, you’ll see.

Just two points:

One. Why did they censor that way? Why not just bleep it? Or take out the sound? I don’t get it. I don’t think what she said was out of line, that they’d cut out that much.

Two. Despite how panicky she seemed, I actually admire her much for that. I hope that mothers got something from that, anything at all, for whatever it’s worth.

Technorati tags: sally field, emmy, mother, war, afghanistan, speech

Okay I have nothing against Kathy Griffin prior to this, and although I am not denying my bias, her Emmy speech was just uncalled for.

After receiving her award she said, “a lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award,” but “no one had less to do with this award than Jesus.”

“This award is my God now!”

Well the last line, a lot of people say, and that’s her deal. But with the first part, she was just looking for trouble. How much thought does it take to realize that for many people, that doesn’t count as a joke?

Well, I hope along with being famous, she wasn’t intentionally looking to be notorious. This is definitely gonna stain.

Technorati tags: kathy griffin, emmy, Jesus, God, speech

There’s been news on Mother Theresa, the “Saint of the Gutters”, and how her secret letters apparently revealed 50 years of doubt, a period of not feeling the presence of God in her life.

Well, I don’t know the whole story and I haven’t read any details, but I did catch this one part from one of her letters to a certain Rev. Michael Van Der Peet:

“Jesus has a very special love for you,” she assured Van der Peet. “[But] as for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great, that I look and do not see,–Listen and do not hear–the tongue moves [in prayer] but does not speak … I want you to pray for me–that I let Him have [a] free hand.“

I think that’s a perfect example of what I think faith should be like. Or how we should be like regarding many things.

Many times people get caught up in emotions, like things are only real when they feel them. I beg to differ, feelings are highly subjective and situational, not to mention they are very fleeting. If we only love those who are nice or good to us, then that is not real love. If we only have faith when things are going our way, or if we have reason to say we feel God’s presence, then that is not faith. Those are just human reactions, the way I see it.

Like in her letter, she started and ended with how she believed in Jesus and what He can do, despite not feeling any reason for that faith. That is true love, not an emotion but a commitment — that even if she could not feel it, she held on to her certainty of it, she gave it away, she gave it back. That is true faith, the light we find, and the one we make, that shines when it’s darkest.

Technorati tags: mother theresa, faith, God, Jesus, love, emotion, commitment, light, darkness

By now many of you are probably familiar with the Aspartame scare. There are so many sites and books out there about the dangers of the additive (which experts claim is actually an addictive drug), but for all that fuss, it makes you wonder why it’s still in your drink.

Well, I’m not here to talk about the actual side-effects, or preach about why it should be avoided. In case you want to learn more on what they say Aspartame can do to you, you can check out the 92 Side-effects, which surprisingly includes “death”.

So what’s this really about? It’s about the miserable cycle that keeps us in fear of such a sweet taste.

When companies come up with products, with such chemicals (fluoride being among them btw), we buy and get used to using them. Like when I first heard about the supposed dangers of fluoride, I instantly thought — it can’t be that bad. After all everyone I know brushes his or her teeth at least twice a day.  But what about the statistics? That point-something-something percent that in fact, did experience these side-effects? What if I wake up one morning and realize that I fit nicely into those statistics?

So we don’t do anything until it’s too late. And the media doesn’t do anything till it’s too late. Correction, the media is involved, but only to a certain extent. And the companies, despite naggings, will not do anything — perhaps until something major happens. While this isn’t a revolt, I just think it’s pretty strange.

I could sum it up in this make-believe statement from Diet Cola Drinker X, “Yeah, I heard there was something up with this. But it can’t be that bad, can it? If it were, the government would tell me, and anyways I’ll worry about that if something happens.”

To which the government replies, “We’ll worry about that if something happens.”

I think governments should settle it once and for all. We shouldn’t have to pick whatever we want to believe on something like this.

Technorati tags: health, aspartame, side effects, diet cola, toxins, poison

The UFC, or Ultimate Fighting Championship, as seen on pay-per-view and some cable channels, has become the most popular mixed martial arts organization. It’s become more popular than the NBA playoffs (as shown by number of viewers), and apparently even HBO’s 2006 PPV boxing matches. If you aren’t familiar with MMA (though I doubt it), it’s free-form caged matches — bloody, brutal, ugly — all in the name of sports. This is what some dub as “real fights”, because since there is no fixed way of doing things, you really have to rely on your instincts, quick thinking, skill, and hope your body’s tough enough to take the relentless blows. This is a totally different level of fighting. 

Depending on your way of thinking, the above picture could either be simply surprising, liberating or it could be disturbing. Female fighters in an MMA arena — one about to deliver a heavy punch, and the other in the fetal position. What do you think?

FFF stands for Fatal Femmes Fighting. It’s a female MMA event, where apparently some females with otherwise ordinary lives have are getting their excitement. To quote one of the fighters:

“To be able to potentially break somebody’s arm is pretty cool for me.”

Umm okay. First yes, let me admit that I’m NOT a fighter (most I’ve done is punch a boy in 3rd grade) nor am I all that athletic. I don’t have a terribly exciting life, but it isn’t all that boring either. UFC president Dana White (male), says that they have no plans on making a female division, and that he doesn’t like the idea of girls beating each other up in cages. Is it condescending, sexist even? That’s surely how some, especially Fatal Femmes, choose to see it.

But there’s something odd with these matches, in my opinion. Even the men will say that these all-female catfights are “more brutal, more barbaric” than those in the UFC. And that quote up there is something that brings shivers up my spine.

Have we been so consumed by the image of weakness that society’s associated with us, that we so hungrily jump at this opportunity to demonstrate power? It does sound barbaric, it does LOOK barbaric, and in some lights and angles, it doesn’t even seem like a sport anymore.

I’m not a follower of MMA, so I do hope this doesn’t apply to all fighters. When we demand respect, I hope we don’t overdo it. I hope that’s really not what this is about.

Technorati tags: ufc, fatal femme, mma, martial arts, fighting, ppv

[Click to see full-size. From http://www.zanetti.net.au]

I remember a canned tuna commercial I saw a few times on TV, they showed pictures of an abandoned console, an empty mall, and other abandoned stuff. Basically they were what we commonly perceive as things that kill society. They showed the people instead having fun at a huge park. While that’s not exactly what I have in mind with this post, I guess it’s a good illustration for my real point. But let me start with a question. By whose standards is going to the mall and playing games a bad thing, as opposed to running and having picnics in the park?

Before you react, please read on.

I actually really want to talk about the Internet. My work right now is very focused on the internet, and the moment I get home and into my room, I turn my laptop on and check my mail, my blog, my other emails, my friends’ blogs, some social networks, and when I’m done with that I start chatting with some people who are on Yahoo Messenger. Basically, I live a pretty internet-based life. And maybe you, reading this, are in the same situation.

Does that make me antisocial?

Social networks. As of now I’m in 4, but I’m only semi-active in one, because I’m usually lazy to do what the others are doing. It seems more like a highschool/college thing to do anyway. But it’s there, and when I check, I do sometimes find something worth noting — a friend’s birthday which otherwise I wouldn’t have remembered, a relevant announcement. Blogs. Only a handful of my friends actually tell me what’s going on in their lives anymore. They usually just post in their blogs, and expect me to read, and whenever I do catch them and ask how they’re doing, they usually say something like “Oh that? Well, it’s in my blog.”

Personally, I find no offense in that. I myself, evidently, am a blogger. Just when I thought that there couldn’t be anything more basic than the blog, Twitter came along. And the common sentiment from those in line with certain canned tuna commercial makers is simply, “What ever happened to human contact?”

On one hand, I agree. I grew up in a small town where you didn’t have to “set” playdates for kids, kids were the ones always itching to go out and play with the neighbors. There and then, we loved sitting on the rooftop, watching the stars, singing to tunes on the guitar (I sound so old), and yeah you get what I mean. Where I grew up everyone knew everyone, from the baker, the barber, the old lady around the corner. But since we moved from that place, things changed. I noticed it. I used to think that it was the place, but I realized it was the time. It just so happened that that particular place hadn’t caught up.

Information age, that’s what they call it. Everyone is using the internet, almost anything can be found on the internet, and the internet has replaced some basic social functions — there’s online dating, email, online games, chatrooms. There’s almost nothing left that can’t be “replaced” by something online. It’s inevitable that technology will continue to improve at an accelerating pace, and along with it, transactions and communications.

So in this highly automated world, there’s another way to look at these things that have replaced our normal interaction. The information age can’t be stopped, and everyone’s subconsciously aware of it. While some people view Twitter as suicide of the social being, in a way I see it sort of like the opposite. If Twitter had not come, I wouldn’t normally call or text other people what I’m doing at any point. So if anyone cares, if anyone wants to get this small semblance of a connection with me, they can check my Twitter. And what I don’t normally get to say in person, I get to express through my blog.

So I guess that image up there isn’t too appropriate, so consider it pure satire. Point is, with everything that’s going on in terms of technology, it seems like although physical human contact and presence is ideal, these things aren’t actually what kill the social web we so humans need so badly. To me, they actually seem like desperate attempts to hold on to it.

Technorati tags: blog, internet, network, antisocial, society, life, twitter