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