High Noon in Rosslyn

October 19, 2007  --  Got something to say?
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Our Town by Jon MelegritoBy Jon Melegrito
Why Does This Sound so F******* Familiar?
That was the opening line in author Luisa Iglorias blog on Thursday, Oct. 4, entitled Dont play that song again, Sam.
Nevertheless, she continues, despite having heard other gazillion versions of this before, a slur is a slur is a slur.”
Igloria is referring, of course, to the insulting remarks made by Terri Hatchers character in the ABC-produced sitcom, Desperate Housewives. By now, most everyone already knows what the offensive scene is all about.

Yes, it sounds familiar because Joan Rivers made a similar slur a few years ago when she was hosting an awards show on prime time. While taking a commercial break, she told the viewers to walk their dog. And then she added: If youre Filipino, go eat your dog. The network apologized after a deluge of protest calls, but not much happened afterwards. It was business as usual.
The popular comedy show, Frazier, also inflicted a similar insult by depicting Filipino women as mail order brides. Demonstrations followed, led by the Filipino Civil Rights Advocates (FilCRA) which picketed studios in the Bay Area. As expected, they got an apology but not much else.
Two years ago in Chicago , the NBC TV5 president met with Filipino American community leaders who demanded an apology regarding a news report identifying an alleged rapist as a Filipino. NBC apologized, but community leaders wanted more. As a result of some serious discussions with management, the local TV station started covering issues that were critical to the community. Like the Filipino World War II veterans. NBC made amends by paying more attention to our concerns,” says Jerry Clarito, a FilCRA member and now an elected official in Skokie . We got coverage every time we hold demonstrations. This eventually led to Sen. Barack Obama signing up as sponsor of the Veterans Equity bill. In the past year, NBC TV5 has broadcasted several reports highlighting the positive contribution of the community.” Although its still business as usual,” Clarito believes that being at the table with management yielded concrete results.
In the face of disparaging and demeaning remarks, silence is not an option. As Igloria aptly puts it, these recent insults not only denigrate the quality of a Filipino medical education, but by extension replay and reinforce an entire history of racist and colonial stereotypes. It is the same kind of mindset, wearing the cloth of sincere well-meaningness, that asks me if I know where to get good house help. It is the same kind of mindset that questions our speeches and texts even in their most lucid forms, that suspects plagiarism where there is none, that turns our professional credentials over and over in its hands looking for the flaws it is convinced reside there. It is the same mindset that uses the same tired and crappy accident of birth theory to explain why a separate standard must be used to examine our art, our ideas, our publications, our accomplishments.”
Igloria concludes: This recent instance of bias and racial stereotyping is so unforgivable in these times when it should be difficult to find excuses for misinformation in the so-called first world. Its a song Id rather not hear again.”
No doubt, thats how Dr. Jun Anthony Quion of McLean feels as well - and the many others who demonstrated with him (including his wife Nathalie and five children) one Saturday in front of ABCs affiliate station in Rosslyn. It was a lively, angry crowd that gathered at noon. They waved placards and yelled out chants, ABC - Shame on You!.” And they vowed to come back if their demands arent satisfied.
ABCs apology might help soothe our seething anger at the insult,” Quion says. But the damage has been done. A true and sincere apology should include a serious attempt at addressing the ignorance and prejudice of the writers and producers of the show.”
Why, indeed, should we be viewed differently?
Thus the massive outrage, angry petitions and letters. Ive never seen so many Filipinos so riled up over a slur, one observer quipped. But its a big deal.
So, are we overreacting? Are we just venting our anger, making lots of noise just to get heard?
As Filipinas Magazine publisher Greg Macabenta puts it, Clearly, we should do more than protest this particular insult. We must now face the fact that solidarity and empowerment are the only way we can gain respect in this country. Otherwise, we can expect to hear more racial slurs in the days ahead.”
The fuming and the fury in the last few days demonstrate that potential. We can be united if we want to. Out of this experience, there is hopefully a growing sense that we can harness our energy to fight other battles, like our Filipino World War II veterans struggle to win equity and justice and the movement for just and humane immigration reform. If we can cry Boycott, then we should be able to translate that passion in the ballot box come November.
There is another valuable lesson as well. We need to build coalitions among ourselves and with other civil rights organizations in order to strengthen our collective voices and political clout. More than just marching and chanting on the streets, we also need to develop sophisticated skills in engaging corporate America in a non-adversarial manner . Getting them at the table, for instance, and opening up a constructive dialogue. We may yet get them to fund scholarships, hire more people of color as writers, producers and directors, and encourage their contribution to non-profit foundations that promote racial harmony and cultural diversity.
We will only be taken seriously if we act reasonably and professionally.
Now that we have vented our anger and outrage, let us move forward with a firm resolve to seek corrective action by taking the high road.
E-mail your comments to jonmele@aol.com

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