The Desperate Housewives Episode Controversy: The Unpopular Perspective
Have you seen this circulating in emails?
“Okay, before going further, can I check these diplomas ‘coz I would just like to make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines.”
- Susan Mayer, Desperate Housewives
Wait, before you make a comment or write in your blog that the scriptwriter for the episode, the producers, and even the actress Teri Hatcher are all a bunch of ignorant racists so burn them in hell (oh, don’t you dare misquote me on that), stop for a minute and think again. What did she say again?Okay, rewind to several lines before that aforementioned statement.Susan (Teri Hatcher’s character) went to see a male, Caucasian gynecologist:
MD: Well, everything seems normal. But, you say you’ve been having irregular periods?
Susan: Yeah, you know, one month off, two months on. That happens, right?
MD: Have you ever experienced night sweats? …. (few other lines here)
MD: How about hot flashes?
Susan: OK, whoa. I’m gonna stop you right there. I’m way too young for that, please refer to your chart.
MD: Susan, I know for a lot of women the word menopause has negative connotations. They hear aging, brittle bones, loss of sexual desire…
Susan: Before you go any further, can I check those diplomas? I would just like to make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines…
(transcript of the conversation from Dr. Bautista’s blog)
If you’re one of those who may have stopped at reading the statement by Susan in which she demands to see her gynecologist’s diploma because she’s not satisfied with the diagnosis and already made up their mind that the TV show has just insulted Filipino health care professionals and Filipinos in general, let me ask you for some of your time before you sign-up for that petition or go screaming “Boycott Desperate Housewives! Racist Americans!” or something to that effect. I will not try to convince you not to feel insulted, as you are feeling now, because it would be futile to tell one person not to feel something that he’s genuinely feeling. Rather, I’m wishing that you’d listen to what I say, no matter how different it is from your perspective. And still hoping perhaps, from the additional information, you might just change your mind.
If you’re one of those who think that some people have made unnecessary fuss about this issue, then I also wish that you’d continue to read on.
To continue the story, the gynecologist is a Harvard graduate and diagnosed her as being in menopause. However, later, we’d find out that Susan’s actually pregnant, hence the diagnosis was wrong. Moral of the story? Even a Harvard medical school graduate can make a wrong diagnosis. No matter how much we are under the impression that graduating from such schools automatically makes one a good doctor. No conclusion was formed in the episode that Philippine educated doctors is equal incompetency.
Also, I would just like to add that I do agree that what the character, Susan Mayer, said was dumb because it would be rather difficult for anyone, for example, a Philippine medical school graduate to fake his diploma and be able to practice medicine in the U.S. Why? Because in the application process during the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (or USMLE), the applicant is required to submit to the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates or ECFMG a copy of their medical diploma and then, in turn, the ECFMG will return this copy of the diploma to be certified by the medical school. The medical school will, then, mail it back to ECFMG, verified that you indeed graduated in the school. An additional measure to prevent falsification of documents is submission of an identification information sheet that is certified by the medical school to ECFMG.
The little statement above from a recent episode of Desperate Housewives, plus the video from Youtube, have spread like wild fire through blog postings and emails and, believe it or not, has prompted Malacañang and several PMA (Philippine Medical Association) doctors to compel the producers of the TV show to apologize to the Filipinos for the “derogatory” remark. The Filipino-American community also started a petition that has been circulating in the health-related and OFW mailing lists. They’re demanding that “the episode be edited to remove the ignorant and racist remark”.And it’s undeniable that the blog postings have been a big part in creating the awareness that there has been a statement like such was made in a certain TV show that some Filipinos watch. Most were hurt, some are annoyed, while some did not feel insulted at all. There are those also who’re calling for a boycott of the show (although at this point, I don’t know if there really is an organized movement out there to really pursue a boycott that could be reminiscent of the Malu Fernandez Controversy).
But if there will be another call for a boycott (aren’t we getting tired of these?), I definitely would not be in it. First of all, I’m a doctor and I didn’t feel insulted by the remark at all. Nor did I think that they’re taking a shot at Filipino doctors and other healthcare practitioners. How can anyone take seriously such a remark coming from a ditzy, bitchy character from a TV show?
And to argue that it’s correct that they can absolutely demand that the TV show remove the offending segment, since majority of those who’ve seen the clip got offended, is a democratic fallacy. Even if a majority of the population in a given society holds a particular opinion, it does not necessarily have a bearing on what’s true. Majorities can also be wrong. Just imagine what would happen if a mob institutes a censorship on what is to be written and what is to be shown on TV. If that time comes, I’ll just fervently wish this mob isn’t composed of narrow-minded blobs or else we’ll be left with Teletubbies all day.
As for the government and the PMA getting entangled in this issue, I’d say it’s not necessary. Why don’t they immerse themselves into thinking how we could improve the status of Philippine health care and give better incentives for our health care professionals to stay in the country than whining about a fictional Caucasian female who’s ignorant of Philippine medical schools?
And lastly, why do we have to bother about all of these? To show them that the community of Filipinos here and abroad is a power to reckon with? That we can topple any writer, institution, or TV show that criticize us? That to hurt the pride of the Filipinos is a sin?
I recall this conversation with a friend of mine in Chikka earlier. He said that he find the DH remark annoying. And you want to know why he said that? He said it annoyed him that the character have to pick Philippines. Why can’t it be Cambodia? Malaysia? Thailand? So, I told him, his last statement is actually racist. Then he just laughed and told me it’s because we ought to love our own. But is that correct? Love our own country while we demean others? Be racist to others while we’re angered that others are racist toward us?
Personally, just recalling the number of times my schoolmates had poked fun at how Korean girls dress up in school and how Iranians smell is enough to convince me we’re damn racists ourselves. Only that we don’t like it when the joke’s on us.
Others who blogged about this: (Links that are in bold typeface are my favorite posts about this issue)
- Desperate Housewives, Philippine Medical Schools and How Many of You Got it All Wrong
- Who’s Desperate? by Dr. Martin Bautista
- Anti-Filipino Slur on Desperate Housewives? by AJ of Baklaako.com
- Another Perspective on the Latest ‘Racial Slur’ Issue by Frances Paola Doplon
- Desperate Housewives on Philippine Med Schools by Sassylawyer
- My Take on This Desperate Housewives Shenanigans by FeistyMomma
- Desperate Housewives Shenanigans Part Deux by FeistyMomma
- Desperate Housewives Flap by Doctor Anonymous
- Problems of Context and the Oversensitivity of the Desperate by Jon Limjap
- Desperate Housewives insults Filipinos by Michelle Malkin
- Desperate Housewives jokes about Med Schools in the Philippines by Yuga
- What Should You Do Before Condemning Desperate Housewives? by Rico Mossesgeld
- A Call To Boycott Desperate Housewives? No Thanks by Karlo of Pinoyblogero.com
- Reacting and Over-reacting to Desperate Housewives Script about RP Med Schools by Lester
- Desperate Housewives on Pinoy MDs by aloyloy
- Personal Branding by Sonnie Santos
- An Open Letter of Apology to the Cast and Crew of Desperate Housewives by Mike Villar
- Anatomy of a Mob by Doctor Anonymous
- Batuhan: Desperate Housewives by Allan S.B. Batuhan
- Are You Offended That I’m Not That Offended? by Eugene
Filed under: Books, Movies, Music, TV, News And Social Issues by Prudence
Exactly. Couldn’t think of anything else to add.
[...] tess: Love our own country while we demean others? Be racist to others while we’re angered that others are racist toward us? [...]
[...] Tess Termulo has argued this exhaustively and comprehensively and its clear that she knows what she’s talking about. Though I don’t necessarily agree with everything that she said, I think the main points regarding the incongruence between the credibility of distinguished Filipino doctors and that of the hapless writer of Desperate Housewives was well discussed and realized. As you may know by now, Tess is a doctor from some Philippine Med School. [...]
[...] Prudence [...]
finally!!! someone who’s not so sensitive, I’m beginning to think that Filipinos are a bunch of “nana” konting bunggo lang pumuputok agad…
I think it’s best to read about this issue from a Filipino doctor’s point of view. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, Dra Tess!
Thanks for putting things in their proper perspective.
Some people have been making mountains out of molehills regarding this issue.
I guess its just the way things are.
Some people get offended, some don’t.
[...] as we’re riled and bickering over a “racial slur” in a TV Show and crying that our national pride has been hurt, dozens of people in Myanmar are being arrested [...]
Great stuff Tess! You’ve added context to the discussion.
Well said. What’s very interesting is the diversity of opinions, particularly from the Filipino community, on this incident.
Tess, It is true that it is very hard for a “fake doctor” to go through accredition in the U.S., but what about some fake doctors who just hang their diplomas without even accredited? And this is true to some procedure that are not covered by insurance or public funding but are paid directly by patients. Police and the College of Physicians and Surgeon here, already during the years has discovered quite a few “fake doctors” practicing non government funded procedures, and even a few got accredition with fake papers with the conspiracy of “some” schools or their official..I know for facts that some recognized institutions in some countries are issuing papers for hefty some.
But anyways, having a sister and her husband practicing medicines in the U.S. after years of hard work for their accredition, it could be hard not to feel affected..had it happen here, it could be a very serious constitutional issue as it is already enshrined in our charter that discrimination of any kind is a violation of constitutional rights and slurs and racial comments that could promote hatred or demeans a particular individual or group is punishable under the criminal code…
That widget doesn’t work for me. It keeps spitting out: “no name given… please try again here”
But I went over the “here” link to enter my details.
I’ve been out of the blog reading loop for a while now, so I found out about the Oct. 4 date too late… to blog about it on that day.
Oops, silly me… I posted my above comment in the wrong post. It’s supposed to be for the “Free Burma” entry. O_O
TO Mae:
Well, may iba nga na ganoon. They cannot handle differing opinions, although they may say that it isn’t so. The way you handle the criticisms will reflect how you really feel about it.
to Joni:
Thanks for appreciating my view
to Ormocanon:
That’s why when I think people aren’t listening already, I’ll just keep quiet because no matter what I say, they’ll take it against me.
to Rico:
Thanks. I know that my view on this issue isn’t exactly what the majority thinks. But that’s the scary part of having a group out there, marching out with torches and all (I’m speaking figuratively, of course). You can get overrun if you don’t go with their flow. So better to stay on the sidelines for a while.
In a world where different races coexist, respect is mandatory, sensitivity a must. A joke is only good if done in taste and not at the expense of any person.
Filipinos the world over rose in indignation but I hope we can be this united in demanding from GMA accountability and good governance. The country is wracked with corruption and political killings and yet we don’t see the vigor from Filipinos.
to Doctor Anonymous:
Yes, it’s quite interesting that there are a lot of different opinions out here regarding that issue. The more interesting part is how some of those who felt offended about the DH episode is also annoyed that there are those who don’t feel the same way they do.
to vic:
You’ve got a point there.
However, I think we’re also guilty of what we’re accusing the TV show DH has done. If only perhaps I have the time to peruse all our Pinoy movies and list all those movie scenes where dialogue contain racial slurs (against Americans, Arabs, Chinese, Koreans, etcetera), I would have done so, even if only to prove a point. But I don’t have such time. Some will defend that it’s not seen internationally. But, hell, we have cable TV, don’t we? Our Pinoy movies are also shown in many other countries. Even if not all foreigners can understand our language, through context, they could have understood what the dialogue is driving at.
to fruityoaty:
It’s okay
Too bad the widget isn’t working in this blog
Prudence, But movies are different medium as they are not public shows. whereas the t.v. show DH is a public show, available to all without having to pay and is not rated or caveat that it may contain dialogue not suitable for all audiences. All movie shows here have warnings of its contents and the audiences have choices.
And for our own shows that contain derogatory dialogues, they should have been protested years ago. Even private conversation where racial slurs are uttered, everyone has the right to protest.
I relate to you my very own experienced about 30 years ago. In my job, there were very few employees that are non-whites, but due to affirmative action policy by the government, my manager had to hire all kinds of nationals. Our first south Asian race employee (from west indies) was a butt of joke around.
One morning before work start, he was late and the manager took a liberty telling some racial joke about his “race”. There was a big laughter among the “bigots” and I held my temper. As soon as the group had done with their morning good laugh, and at the top of my voice, I told our Manager if he Still Have Some Funny Jokes to Tell about us Filipinos, I will Gladly leave the Room. That statement stunned everyone and for next 13 years I had been in the Company, not a single racial joke had been said again and come l982 when our Charter came to being and now everyone has to keep theirs in Private, lest they’d be sued for rights violation..and we became Equals under and before the law…
to vic
I get what you’re trying to say about the movies. My only point there, perhaps, is that it’s not actually accurate to say that our local movies aren’t seen in other parts of the world. It can be viewed and there are those foreigners who could hear about it. The difference perhaps to the situation we have with DH is that DH is seen regularly in different parts of the world. But still, those local movies aren’t really limited in our country.
As for the pinoy movies, there are still current movies that have racial slurs. I guess most Pinoys just laugh and don’t bother with them because these are jokes that aren’t directed at us.
I understand what you’ve gone through, being Filipino in a foreign land. And nobody told those who were offended that they cannot protest that they took offense at that. It’s only that in our opinion I don’t think they should not have been too bothered by it. The difference with your experience and in the DH show is that the DH show is fictional and yours, of course, is in real life. People should expect to hear such things coming from Susan Meyer because she’s ditzy.
Now I’m awaiting what the bloggers reaction would be to the Jon Stewart show, in which he labeled the picture of our former president Cory Aquino with the word slut. I haven’t seen the episode so I will reserve judgment there. However, at this point, I’m not hearing too much ruckus about it.
I think flips should take jokes as jokes. Jokes abound in the Philippines, too. A convicted drop-out former president who’s been the brunt of jokes take jokes in stride in his palatial jail - similar to Escobar’s self-made jail in Colombia. That’s right guys. Flips imprison corrupt government officials in palaces - so that the incumbents if convicted with similar charges get to chose their palace jails, too. Going back to this convicted president, this guy reportedly replied when his doctor said he will apply local anesthesia to his wound, “Money’s no problem. I can afford imported anesthesia.”
Where in the world doctors would downgrade themselves as nurses just to get to the US? Where in the world medical board toppers surprisingly come from low-end diploma mill med schools? Where in the world med students have to re-take board exams even if they passed the first one? Only in the Philippines because of money and corruption. Money really gets you around in the Philippines. It’s not what you know but whom you know (you can bribe).
A mother brought her child to a Flip pedia. “What wrong with the kid?”, the flip doc asked. The mother says the kid’s not been eating. The flip doc replied, “… maybe he’s not hungry.” - as his findings.
You can’t blame Flip docs and nurses if they see their American patients as zombies or cadavers they used to dissect at their low-end med schools. It’s green bucks they’re after, you know and nothing more. They’re just like any US migrant who would do anything in their country just to get to the Big Apple or anywhere in America.
Anyway, ABC’s apology is merely a marketing ploy and they’re laughing their hearts out of this brouhaha.
What’s a bit disturbing for me is how local news is actually covering the issue. It’s like they’re fanning the flames and just report on the negative–no interviews from people who actually saw the entire scene and had a different opinion about it.
I love the Daily Show with Jon Stewart and I found it a little funny that people got offended with a show that’s obviously satirical. In it’s own way, it actually provides more in-depth analysis of socio-political issues than big news programs such as FOX and CNN. Again, I think the problem is that we pinoys tend to focus on one thing rather than take in the whole picture. React ng react agad.
the whole staff (including the actors) must take responsibility over what statement would they portray on a story. before having any scene acted upon by the actors, the script must first be checked for competence, for accuracy to avoid libelous projections. now, what happened to The Desperate Housewives is an opposite of what i just said. if i’m not mistaken, that show is aired in many parts of the world. accusing Philippine med schools of anomalies in front of billions of viewers is degrading. that accusation was only on TV but that would greatly affect those who intend to go abroad! apology may be accepted, but not totally. the degradation has been served, it’s hard to be reversed.!
Call me unpatriotic, but I’m embarassed for SOME Pinoys who took this thing to unreasonable levels.
It’s one thing to react and point out what makes that line wrong, actually that’s a good thing that we did that… but it’s another thing to demand ridiculous things other than the apology ABC gave…
Sorry but to me, this kind of “desperation” only makes us look intellectually and emotionally immature…
americans….sucks….
with all these bruhaha going on, for all we know a Filipino scriptwriter wrote that line coz he/she is familiar with the fake diplomas sold on streets or the test fiasco last year.
wouldn’t that be the icing on the cake.
whatcha think Tess? LOL.
I found an interesting perspective on the subject from another Filipino blog here:
http://asbb-foreignexchange.blogspot.com/2007/10/i-was-going-to-conclude-ten-letters.html
Some food for thought to digest, certainly.
to dexie:
Hahaha! Could be a possibility
That would have made a ruckus.
I think maybe in the future we should institute an anti-racism police force. I wonder who’d be in that group, how members will be recruited, what criteria, etcetera.
to dexie: (continuation)
Of course, I’m joking about the anti-racism police, unless, of course, I get misinterpreted again. Hehe.
to Ben Brillantes:
Thanks for posting that link. Will check it out later.
to Not so desperate flip:
“You can’t blame Flip docs and nurses if they see their American patients as zombies or cadavers they used to dissect at their low-end med schools. It’s green bucks they’re after, you know and nothing more. They’re just like any US migrant who would do anything in their country just to get to the Big Apple or anywhere in America.”
— I don’t think Filipino health care practitioners should be guilty of earning “green bucks”. People who have successfully worked in the United States earned their keep.
I’m not offended by the DH episode because I read the dialogue as referring to “so and so” medical schools that exist in this country. But I do not agree to demeaning those who had to go to the United States to practice their career and earn at the same time. Because everybody do work for their own survival and we should not begrudge them for it.
to psychogoddess:
a lot of people wanted to fan the flames, I fear. Many are already satisfied that the show apologized and all. But I don’t understand why there should be other things done about it, like making an episode that promotes Filipino health care practitioners as one of the best in the world. Even if the media is a powerful tool that can make or break an image, the best thing we could do is look into ourselves and see what is making such negative impressions upon foreigners. Whether we admit it or not, there are unresolved problems in our health care system and medical education. We should fix this and then the image we will be creating will be more favorable. Also, the reason why I’m not so offended by the DH episode is because I believe even if there are so and so medical schools in here and that this could not given enough foundation of knowledge, it’s up to the people (the doctors, nurses, med techs, PT, etcetera) to hone their skills and thus be recognized as good health care practitioners. We could not blame some people for having a prejudice against some medical schools (they may prefer a certain school over another) because they have experienced something connected to it that’s why they formed such prejudices. What we should do about this is prove that we’re good health care practitioners. I know most of those who’re employed abroad are doing these everyday of their lives and it’s a continuous and never-ending process, I think. They will always have to strive harder and harder because they’re in a foreign land.
to Igster:
Unfortunately, this issue has fueled a lot of exchanges of hate and angry comments and blog posts. And since the TV show already issued an apology for it (which in my opinion is unnecessary), then we should just move on and work for the betterment of ourselves.
Hi Prudence, Ill tell you a story. I ahve a friend who is also a Filipino Doctor. She is not practicing but her husband does. Her Husband’s father is also an MD (Filipino graduate as well). She is a fan of DH. She and her husband like you did not feel affected by the derogatory remark made by Susan(DH). They had the same reasoning as you did. Susan(DH) is expected to say those things anyway. And who would believe her character anyway. Its only a TV show. She also mentions that we should not care, since they have loyal patients, they make more than enough money. They couldn’t care less. After pondering this, Here was my reply…Good for you since you did not
feel affected by it and I respect your views and
opinion very well. but always remember that its not
all money…though its nice to have lots of
it..but.the issue of that show was Credibility.
Yor husband may have established this with their
loyal patients…because they are truly good
doctors….but not to those who are uninformed, or who
have not met him yet. See if we let this pass..its
an admission of guilt..(thats how most people perceive
it)…and this becomes a stereotype of a Filipino
Doctor, it will haunt us later on. Maybe New
Patients may become harder to come by or worse…Your
kids or grand kids who may want to study medicine in
the Philippines…and come back to the U.S., Remember
our practice is predicated upon our credibility, and
if this is undermined…we can lose our
practice…Just a worse case scenario which is not far
from happening. By that time Money can’t buy
credibility…just my thoughts on the matter if you
don’t mind me sharing it…
After that, her next reply was…This issue might get bigger…mas nakakahiya. I replied that I felt the same way too, initially, but the show DH has a commanding audience. 23 U.S. viewers (multiply them with next day gossip). Made me realize that we need to make a stand.
She later understood.
I do not see how you can feel the possible impact this may have on our practices here. Maybe later on you will understand when you are here already. I will not get into the discussion about Racism (just read my comment on the Sassy Lawyer), or regarding the few unpopular views, the mob mentality etc.
I am speaking about myself, and countless other Filipino Doctors that I know (classmates, fraternity brothers, Old Alumnus, etc) who are practicing here. in the U.S. (99% against and agree with the petition - all Doctors!!! This is aside from the countless non-MD, whites, etc). Like it or not we were affected. My opinion here is an ounce of Prevention is worth a pound of cure. Credibility my dear. Treasure it well, coz without it you are nothing in practice. Anyways…just wanted to add to the discussion I live it up to you to ponder…whatever you say afterwards is respected…sincerely
23 million viewers - correction aside from the spelling
Also, Regarding you statement “People should expect to hear such things coming from Susan Meyer because she’s ditzy”
Not so - Unfortunately…only but a few can distinguish reality from made-up. Media is a very powerful tool…Fashion, smoking, what the stars are wearing, casual Sex etc. Thats what advertising is all about ..it convinces a lot of people….I hope that it wasn’t so, and hoped that people are as smart as you…but unfortunately this is not the case. Myself included. I was just watching a show on Comedy central…the comedian says that driving a toyota prius(small hybrid car) - was for gay men! I wanted to buy one, para tipid sa gas…who cares what he said…then you think…hmmm is that how most people perceive the people driving it?…I don’t know…but he said it…must be what is current thought…Now why should i buy that car instead of the civic hybrid (almost the same with the prius anyway - in terms of gas economy - but the styling unable to distinguish from a regular civic) Ofcourse, why bother with this thoughts if I bought the prius. So Buy the civic na lang, no “gay association”.
Now you may say, mahina ka naman. can you see the truth…he was a comedian….unfortunately I don’t go out in bars..or be uptodate on what’s in the HOOD…Our own nature takes over…buy the best…no one can say anything…Just apply the Toyota prius with “Filipino Docs” and the Honda Civic. for the U.S. docs..thats your answer…
to BetanMD:
Thanks for sharing that. I do appreciate it really because I want to know how MDs in the U.S. really feel about this issue.
Reflecting upon the previous events, I think one of the root causes why Filipinos are so offended by this remark is the fact that MDs have to continuously prove themselves to them, even working to show we’re several times better than their colleagues. I do realize the hardwork the Pinoy health care workers have to go through just to flourish and survive in foreign lands. And then, they’re not very much appreciated about it. And neither do the MDs here were appreciated much. But the point is people, as a race, already made a stand, protested that it isn’t a very good remark, that it promotes racism, etcetera. But to demand such things as having an episode where the characters promote Pinoy MDs as the best doctors, etcetera, having scholarship grants are just too much and not parallel anymore with what the stand started with. And to think that others have begun labelling those who weren’t as offended as socially irresponsible and apathetic, which is unfair.
This shouldn’t divide us. What we should do is look for those mistakes we’ve committed and correct them. And hopefully this will give us a more favorable image. I know even if we’re undeserving of such derogatory remarks, people will keep on making them because they’re ignorant. But we really cannot control everybody’s mindset.
For me, the apology (though for me unnecessary) is enough. We’ve pointed out where they got it wrong. So we should just move on.
Thanks for commenting, by the way. That’s another good perspective on things.
to BetanMD:
“toyota prius(small hybrid car) - was for gay men!”
— I just have to laugh at this one. I didn’t know that. Hehehe.
I agree that the Apology is worth it. the rest of the request…like asking for donation - “crazy - we sound so desperate for money, and the Lawsuit - I don’t want this to drag on much longer than it should. My point is at least it was challenged! enough said. Lets go on with life.
About the Toyota Prius - for gay men - See, we are starting a rumor…probably not true , but I wouldn’t buy it especially if it was red. hahahaha. Not that I have anything against gay (defensive mode) Checkout gaywheels.com
Toyota Prius for Gay men (About women?) That would be a good endorsement for Toyota in this part of the world. Our gay men and women are no longer Closeted. They are as proud of their “sexual orientation” as that of the “macho man” who as the the song in Les Mis noted there ain’t much there. If anyone of you visit Toronto or Vancouver or any Major city in Canada, don’t be surprised to see same sex couples holding hand in hand walking down our streets. And maybe have to watch out for the Prius before you cross the Street. But Civic is consistently holding the crown as the best selling of all cars, including trucks. It has all the quality of the economy car, plus value for the buck and it’s sexy…
to BetanMD:
Well, there are perceptions that people have about which cars are sexy, which are more “manly” or “womanly”. I haven’t experienced gay men having a different taste in cars compared to non-gay men. But that’s an interesting rumor to start, anyway. Hahaha
to vic:
“If anyone of you visit Toronto or Vancouver or any Major city in Canada, don’t be surprised to see same sex couples holding hand in hand walking down our streets.”
— Oh, how I wish same sex couples here would have the same freedom to express themselves. Though I want to think that Filipinos have become more accepting about the same-sex relationships, one just cannot ignore that there are those who’d still make cat-calls or who’d look at these couples with disdain and judgment.
prudence,
The rights and freedoms gays and lesbians enjoying today didn’t come in a silver platter. They were won in a long and hard struggles of the members of their communities, led by George Hislop, who didn’t live long enough to cherish his lifelong crusade for the rights and now through many decisions by the courts and the affirmation of the SC, they are treated as Equals and to discriminate against them would be violating the Constitution and the specific statutes.
They are (same -sex couples) now entitled to all benefits accorded the union of man and woman, including widow’s pension and parental leaves. for the background of George Hislop long and arduous struggle for rights and freedoms check this entry in wiki…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hislop
thanks and happy thanksgiving…
What a relief to discover islands of level-headedness in this sea of this mob madness. Thank you, Prudence, for daring to take a contrary view very early on and for compiling links to sites advocating more measured responses. Nice to know we’re not alone. What disturbs me, though, is the apologetic tone of these posts. Most of the bloggers seem to be bracing themselves for the inevitable onslaught and preface their posts with lines like “I know many people will probably hate me for saying this but…” What I want to say is - don’t do that. Don’t apologize.
It seems the majority (assuming they really are a majority) has yet to realize that free speech doesn’t mean only their speech is free and doesn’t give them license to gang up on people who dare to disagree with them. In the same way that we have to endure their histrionics, so, too, must this so-called majority allow others to express dissenting views just as loudly - or simply walk away and stop listening or reading. What is not part of the liberal bargain is for them to pillory their critics in an effort to bully them into silence. And they’re not going to learn if dissenters apologize for - or worse, back away from - expressing legitimate opinions that happen to contradict what the larger group believes.
We are a maturing democracy, and given our history of colonial and class subservience, these displays of popular empowerment are actually encouraging…to an extent. Rights like free speech are double-edged, and we all have to be as mindful of our responsibilities as we are of our liberties.
[...] isn’t so accurate really. But for sometime recently, traffic spikes due to searches for my post about the desperate housewives controversy (but please, no more of that, as I’m already nauseated thinking how ugly the discussions [...]
Yes, I think I have to agree with what this guy says on his blog:
http://asbb-foreignexchange.blogspot.com/2007...
———-
I will end my commentary on the whole issue by simply asking why we think it is perfectly alright for us to do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch...
and this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch...
and even for one of our most respected politicans to say this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch...
but when anyone dares to poke fun at a segment of our population like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch...
everyone immediately cries racism and discrimination?
Greetings! I completely agree with you and have blogged about it elsewhere. It’s refreshing to hear a reasoned opinion of the issue from an actual Filipino medical doctor. One of the things I value most about living in the United States is the premium society places on free speech — in theory, anyway, if not in practice. It’s something that — the very active press we have notwithstanding — Filipinos have yet to really grasp, and the fact that the country ranks as the 5th most dangerous nation in the world for journalists only underscores the situation.
At a time when the vast, vast majority of healthcare students currently in the Philippines indicate in various surveys that they plan to emigrate the minute they are eligible only points to deeper problems than what some character on an American show (however popular it may be) says. Unfortunately, it’s a very easy distraction that the powers-that-be can use to draw attention away from the more serious issues that face Filipinos today, particularly the rampant fraud and corruption that contributes to the decaying of our home country. Not to mention that it’s terrifically embarrassing for us that, given all the problems our country faces (the aforementioned corruption; the continued murder of journalists; the flood of Filipino professionals leaving the country; the kidnap-for-ransom tragedies), the nation would choose to lock its collective attention and wrath on what is essentially a tiny, tiny storm in a tiny, tiny teacup.
And don’t even get me started on the humiliating reaction my compatriots had to The Daily Show satire on women presidents, notably the so-called “slur” of Corazon Aquino. I understand that Filipinos are not known for their appreciation and understanding of satire and irony, but honest to God, can we at least gain some perspective?
Love your blog!
Cheers,
Marjorie
Glad to find an MD who chose the “unpopular stand.” I posted not one but three articles on the issue because I am simply exasperated with the way ‘our’ kababayans are dealing with this issue! Check them out when you have the chance. I enjoyed my stay in your blog. Your site is very content-rich and I like the clean layout. Mabuhay!
http://sinigang-dmeemai.blogspot.com/
[...] - I think this issue has shown the ugliest side of the blogging community (by the way, see my blog post about this issue). For most, it has only been a heated discussion whether the episode had made [...]