Racism

I noticed that the last two posts here in a manner are anti-American, especially the last one by Gyzmo. (The first is the hate letter then the one by Mr. Alejandro Roces, which is a little anti in a way only).

Well, I think they only show that we Filipinos do not take matters sitting down when foreigners speak angrily to us. I mean, seldom does it happen where Filipinos look down upon other peoples, especially the Caucasian kind. In fact, we look upon them as superiors at times. Not me, though. It all started when my father inculcated in me the importance of Nationalism; not patriotism, but nationalism.

It reminds me of the Ali Mall, that very old mall in Quezon City where pedophiles hangout. Rumor has it that before the great boxer Muhammad Ali left the Philippines after his famous fight here against Joe Frazier dubbed as “Thrilla in Manila,” Marcos threatened the guy into investing here first, or else…

But that’s just a rumor my mom told me. Ooops. Be that however, one way or the other, we don’t have to be cowed into submission by anyone, but not that way—by threat. Not by a dictator who imposes everything, including foreigners.

There are things I love about America. One of them is their sense of humor. My college bud Anthony Powers epitomizes America’s knack in cracking jokes. And although he’s just half-American (the other half, Filipino), he’s more of the Northern Hemisphere than from the tropics. I must admit that Powers (we call him by his last name) makes me laugh more than Jonas, although it would be unfair to Jonas for making this comparison.

But what’s the point. Racism only exists because people do not understand each other. Sometimes it’s because they DO NOT want to understand. About that hate letter, well, that’s just one person who became judge to all Filipinos. Maybe Filipinos in America are simply different from the ones who live here. I mean, anyone can spit on the street back here, can litter and can drive drunk without ever being caught, since, well for the love of God our police have neither breath tester nor that thing to detect if the drunk has been over speeding.

Now when you take away that kind of freedom, what kind of Filipinos do you expect to have? Some law-abiding, stiff citizen? Of course not all my statements are true. I only mean to say that many Filipinos abroad—especially those who grew up there—are a lot different from the ones who grew up here. And there are a lot of crazy Americans who are racists and embrace the idea of being one. And there are the good ones like Powers.