Just to respond
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
October 25th, 2007 at 9:40 am
I was surprised at J.K. Rowling too. I have gay friends, and I have nothing against homosexuals, but making Dumbledore was a big WTF? for me. It was a totally unnecessary comment, because it didn’t add or take away anything from the storyline. It seemed more like a whim than an actual plot device.
“He is my character. He is what he is and I have the right to say what I say about him,” defended Rowling. We’re not questioning that, but that line just sounds so… petulant. “I wrote him and I will make him be what I want to be! So there!” Sorry, but it sounds like a kid being bratty. Heck, she says that Dumbledore and Grindelwald are best friends in the novel, and then she “retracts” it by saying the former has had romantic feelings for the other? It’s insane. She should’ve inserted Dumbledore’s sexual preference in the story, whether early on or not, just so she doesn’t look like an attention seeker now. It’s as if she made that statement to be talked about again, because the Harry Potter fever is slowly dying already.
And please, no fan hate, please. I love the novels, and I respect J.K. It’s just that what she did was totally incomprehensible for me.