A Case of the Pot Calling The Kettle Black (Updated)
Let me just remind the commenters in my blog post about Malu Fernandez:
If you cannot make the appropriate intelligent counter-argument to Malu Fernandez’s assertions, then DON’T RESORT TO NAME-CALLING. It just goes to show that maybe Malu Fernandez may be right about some people in the middle class not being educated enough. Show that you have the kind of wit that is intelligent and not like the “acerbic wit” she pertains to. And you don’t do that by using uncouth words one might only hear from children fighting in the playground.
I do believe that we have a Malu Fernandez in each one of us, in one form or another. Well, hypocrites may disagree. But come on, be true to yourself. Can anyone really claim that he doesn’t have any prejudices? That’s preposterous. To think that a certain U.S. school isn’t popular enough to flaunt and that to be a fashionista one must be slim are already forms of prejudice.
Go examine yourselves. You can cast the first stone but remember why you’re throwing it in the first place.
* * * * *
Here are some blogs about the Malu Fernandez issue that I like. I think it would be better if most bloggers would emulate the way they posted about the issue. These posts aren’t highfalutin nor pretentious. They speak their mind and poke fun at the issue but still, with utmost civility.
- What We Have In Common With Malu Fernandez by Ganns
- Malu Fernandez Flies Economy Class by Bryanboy
- Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word by the Zen Bitch
- The Hullabaloo That is Malu by Dementia
- Mala Malu Nuestra Senora de la Matapobre by Manuel Quezon III
- Moral Issue of Elitism
- Let Them Eat Cake by Sparks
- Here’s Wishing Malu Fernandez, the Divalicious *slash* Witty *slash* Well-Read (Not!) CAKE-EATER a Belated Bastille Day by Jester
- Look, Malu, I Don’t Believe It Was You by Jester
- I Pity The Fool by
- Between The Writer and The Editor by Jayvee Fernandez
- Where Humor Ends by Sassy Lawyer
- Malu by Sean
- Keeping It Real On The Malu Fernandez Issue by Benj
- Don’t Be Malu Fernandez by Agent Grey
Filed under: News And Social Issues, People, The Philippine Blogosphere by Prudence
Hello,
You are right Prudence because we should hate what she did not she, right? I was ashamed really when I forwarded some posts to my yahoo group whose members are my classmates in high school about Malu and they did not even gave a damn (is my spelling right?) about Malu. It means they are matured enough not to care about my post which I said about malu as roasted pig. Maybe because lots of my batch are fat already hehehehe.
Good point. Though I hold that there’s nothing wrong with the “pot calling the kettle black” it’s a recognition of something common in both of them that’s worth pointing out and there are times that lashing out at each other is the only way both sides would notice and pay attention to what the issue is.
Has there ever been a painless and blood-less childbirth?
Still, we all have something to learn from this. I’m just glad this issue can finally lay to rest.
Alam mo, isa sa mga bagay na natutunan ko tungkol sa isyung kinasasangkutan ni Malu Fernandez ay kung hindi sumiklab ‘to ay hindi ko matingnan sa dictionary kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng
“acerbic”
Thanks Tess for the links and this post. I only found time to read it just now. I guess after a storm, it is good to have an assessment and feedback on how everyone dealt with it and learn from there.
to Edward:
Or maybe it’s because they’re busy living their lives and working for their survival, which is more important. Or that they just accept that she said those things because of her bias and just let it go.
to Jhay:
“Though I hold that there’s nothing wrong with the “pot calling the kettle black” it’s a recognition of something common in both of them that’s worth pointing out and there are times that lashing out at each other is the only way both sides would notice and pay attention to what the issue is.”
— The difference lies in the manner by which the pot calls the kettle black and what it uses to lash out at the other.
We are rational beings and we should act that way.
“I’m just glad this issue can finally lay to rest.”
— Yes, I really want to get this over with. But somehow, some people just can’t let go.
to ormocanon:
Then, good for you. At least now you know the meaning of the word
to Janette Toral:
I do hope people will pick the important lessons from this issue. I’m just afraid, however, that the whole thing has been blown out of proportion and that a mob mentality could easily ensue. Something is just holding it back, but barely.
somehow ms fernandez live in a country where stone throwing is not one of the punishment for insensitivity or in some other society maybe considered blasphemy. try to invite the mob in Iran to cast the first stone and every one will be glad to do it.
that aside, somehow, there is always prejudices and biases in everyone of us. we recognized that long time ago, but left unchecked it could create far worse than the Nazism and the Facism had wrecked in the Past.
That was why when we decided to write our own Charter back in l982, (before, it was done by the British) we made sure that Section 1 of the Charter is the provision that will put justifiable limitations to all our rights clearly define in statutes in accordance with democratic principles in a free and fair society.
We followed it by declaring that all individual is Equal before and Under the Law without discrimination of any kind.
and to top it off, a statute under the Criminal code against promoting hatred in any form… so we can keep our biases and prejudices privately and within our own…thanks and best for all…
Sana we all can learn to disagree in a very diplomatic way. True “freedom of speech” should be responsible and not reckless.
Have a nice week ahead doc!
They just did the same mistake of Malu Fernandez. Just like the cliché, no one can correct a mistake with another mistake.
[...] they must abide by or else chaos will ensue. What I am against is a small group or people, or a Malu-Fernandez-type-mobocracy that feigns moral ascendancy over individual bloggers and writers and journalists of all [...]
nanggugulo lang.. hehe…
i just loved that ‘throw the first stone, i dare you..’ i actually had an entry of the same theme in my previous blog, but its way off topic for this issue. anyway, as always, we can’t please everybody.
i thought the issue is dying out as well (turned out may pahabol pang eksena regarding a come back?), but i have a different sentiment brewing in my head right now… hmm… im still wondering if i’d make a post about it. oh well..
doc, i believe you’re one of the few who took this issue with real wisdom and wit. kudos! controlling your emotion, something that is still a work in progress within me..
Ive been indifferent towards the whole Malu Fernandez issue because I cant bother wading through all the filth that’s been written and said (save for the actual article and Benj’s entry on it). Thanks for your linking the above entries!
“that aside, somehow, there is always prejudices and biases in everyone of us. we recognized that long time ago, but left unchecked it could create far worse than the Nazism and the Facism had wrecked in the Past.”
— this is what I’m afraid is already happening in the Philippine blogosphere. Arguments flying to and fro are healthy. But when bloggers start to act like a raging mob, that’s when it starts to be scary and dangerous. The hate comments that I’ve read directed to Malu Fernandez reminds me of the Lord of the Flies and 1984.
to Lalon: I just hope people will understand that there’s no such thing as absolute freedom. While we may have all the right and freedom to express our dismay over those things that offend us, we have to always remember that the right to opinion doesn’t only belong to us. It also belongs to the other side of which we’re trying to argue with. And I also hope people will remember that they are rational beings, not suicidal animals, so we should behave as rational beings should.
Thank you Tess.
I hope we can turn this around.
to Agent Grey:
Yup, these are the same people who wouldn’t admit that they themselves have the prejudices like Malu Fernandez.
to andianka:
Actually, they have all the means to throw whatever stones they want to throw. All that I’m asking is that they remember well why they’re throwing it in the first place. Some people just got so overwhelmed perhaps by mob mentality that they got deindividualized and took on the identity of the group. That is, the group that is so against the bigotry of Malu Fernandez that they themselves turn into bigots.
to Helga:
I do know what you mean by having to wade through all those posts, looking for the more sensible ones. While that we all have the right to express what we think about this, not everybody acted like adults, but rather settled to being like children throwing tantrums.
to Benj:
Show them that this issue can be settled by behaving rationally and not by mere ranting. Good luck and have fun at the taping!
[...] done nothing to elevate the discussion or approach the issue constructively, unlike Nick and Tess. This will be the last time I’ll ever write about the Malu Fernandez controversy on this [...]
yeah right Prudence!! if they really are contrite and sincere, why did they let Malu Fernandez continue writing in their publications?
Maybe, Pol Sci should be taught in elementary?
Sa pagkakaalala ko sa Pol Sci ko even criminal have rights that MUST be protected.
Mob rule? No way. Reject it.
What saddens me is that many Filipinos are plastic. Kunwari anti-discrimination pero sila rin yung unang nanlalait sa mga maiitim, maliliit, igorot, ita, bumbay, instik, arabo….
We get what we deserve. We deserve to be a former-asean-power-turned-one-of-the-regions-poorest because many of us still prefer a barbaric mentality and when one tries to be as civil, lawful and constitutional, bigla kang idedeclara na persona non grata just because you do not agree with their uncivil acts