Comments on: Philippines: ‘Desperate Housewives' Uproar Continues http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/10/15/philippines-desperate-housewives-uproar-continues/ The world is talking. Are you listening? Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:43:17 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: migs http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/10/15/philippines-desperate-housewives-uproar-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-1516115 migs Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:00:08 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/10/15/philippines-desperate-housewives-uproar-continues/#comment-1516115 "Who’s going to be targeted usually depends on who’s the US’ perceived enemy of the hour, and while the latter may currently include North Koreans, the current disfavor of the month are <b>Arabs, particularly Iranians</b>." and in the first place, iranians are NOT arabs. “Who’s going to be targeted usually depends on who’s the US’ perceived enemy of the hour, and while the latter may currently include North Koreans, the current disfavor of the month are Arabs, particularly Iranians.”

and in the first place, iranians are NOT arabs.

]]> By: Chris http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/10/15/philippines-desperate-housewives-uproar-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-1200242 Chris Mon, 22 Oct 2007 09:00:27 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/10/15/philippines-desperate-housewives-uproar-continues/#comment-1200242 I understand why certain Filipino-Americans and Filipinos have been offended by the off-hand and disparaging remark uttered by Terri Hatcher's character on one episode of Desperate Housewives about the quality of Filipino medical schools; however, I believe the protestors have misunderstood what really was presented. Terri Hatcher's character has consistently been portrayed during the entire series of Desperate Housewives as an annoying, ditzy, narrow-minded, and often socially awkward individual. On a typical episode, she usually puts her foot in her mouth and manages to insult or offend another character or even a whole group of individuals. When her character made the throw-away comment about Filipino medical schools, the remark was not intended to be a statement that the audience should take as fact as to the quality of Filipino medical schools; rather it was supposed to reflect the ignorance of Terri Hatcher's character about the medical community and to reflect her apprehension about getting a medical exam from her new neighbor. Quite frankly, the Desperate Housewive characters are not meant to be role models, one or the other of the women has uttered a disparaging or unflattering remark against almost every ethnic group or type of individuals. Furthermore, I think if any group has a right to be offended about how they have been potrayed by the show, it would be gays and lesbians. Every gay character has been shown either has a target for violence (at least one early episode made a vicious joke about gay bashing), a cheap stereotype played for cruel laughs (for example, the character of Edie Brit in one episode makes a nasty comment about what a fellow gay realtor supposedly did the hot tub of a home he was trying to sell), or as a crazy sociopath (the son of character Bree Van De Kamp, Andrew, spent the first two seasons of the series running over old ladies, black-mailing and mentally torturing his mother, and basically behaving as a despicable individual). Where were Filipino-Americans and Filipinos when Desperate Housewives insulted and defamed their gay friends, neighbors, brothers, sisters, coworkers, etc? Either we all need to learn to have thicker skin and realize that what some silly characters say and do on satirical t.v. show is not meant to be taken seriously, or else if hurtful comments are to be challenged, then they should be challenged when uttered against any group of individuals, not just the group to which we ourselves belong. Finally, I think any American who has had even minimal contact with the nation's health care system realizes the invaluable role that Filipino-Americans and Filipino nationals play in the U.S. healthcare system. As a boy growing up in Indianapolis, a city which does NOT have a large Filipino community, the Filipino-American father of a friend and fellow classmate was the head of Cardiology for one of the largest and most prestigious hospitals in the city--and even that many years ago, no one would have ever have thought to question his medical credentials; in fact, he was highly respected and well-liked. I understand why certain Filipino-Americans and Filipinos have been offended by the off-hand and disparaging remark uttered by Terri Hatcher’s character on one episode of Desperate Housewives about the quality of Filipino medical schools; however, I believe the protestors have misunderstood what really was presented. Terri Hatcher’s character has consistently been portrayed during the entire series of Desperate Housewives as an annoying, ditzy, narrow-minded, and often socially awkward individual. On a typical episode, she usually puts her foot in her mouth and manages to insult or offend another character or even a whole group of individuals. When her character made the throw-away comment about Filipino medical schools, the remark was not intended to be a statement that the audience should take as fact as to the quality of Filipino medical schools; rather it was supposed to reflect the ignorance of Terri Hatcher’s character about the medical community and to reflect her apprehension about getting a medical exam from her new neighbor. Quite frankly, the Desperate Housewive characters are not meant to be role models, one or the other of the women has uttered a disparaging or unflattering remark against almost every ethnic group or type of individuals. Furthermore, I think if any group has a right to be offended about how they have been potrayed by the show, it would be gays and lesbians. Every gay character has been shown either has a target for violence (at least one early episode made a vicious joke about gay bashing), a cheap stereotype played for cruel laughs (for example, the character of Edie Brit in one episode makes a nasty comment about what a fellow gay realtor supposedly did the hot tub of a home he was trying to sell), or as a crazy sociopath (the son of character Bree Van De Kamp, Andrew, spent the first two seasons of the series running over old ladies, black-mailing and mentally torturing his mother, and basically behaving as a despicable individual). Where were Filipino-Americans and Filipinos when Desperate Housewives insulted and defamed their gay friends, neighbors, brothers, sisters, coworkers, etc? Either we all need to learn to have thicker skin and realize that what some silly characters say and do on satirical t.v. show is not meant to be taken seriously, or else if hurtful comments are to be challenged, then they should be challenged when uttered against any group of individuals, not just the group to which we ourselves belong. Finally, I think any American who has had even minimal contact with the nation’s health care system realizes the invaluable role that Filipino-Americans and Filipino nationals play in the U.S. healthcare system. As a boy growing up in Indianapolis, a city which does NOT have a large Filipino community, the Filipino-American father of a friend and fellow classmate was the head of Cardiology for one of the largest and most prestigious hospitals in the city–and even that many years ago, no one would have ever have thought to question his medical credentials; in fact, he was highly respected and well-liked.

]]> By: » ‘Desperate Housewives’ Uproar Continues http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/10/15/philippines-desperate-housewives-uproar-continues/comment-page-1/#comment-1199672 » ‘Desperate Housewives’ Uproar Continues Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:02:07 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/10/15/philippines-desperate-housewives-uproar-continues/#comment-1199672 [...] Here’s my latest contribution to Global Voices: [...] [...] Here’s my latest contribution to Global Voices: [...]

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