Mama's House

Saw the word Filipino here and naturally came across this bit of news:

We are writing to express concern and hurt about a racially-discriminatory comment made in an episode of Desperate Housewives on 9/30/07. In a scene in which Susan was told by her gynecologist that she might be hitting menopause, she replied, “Can I just check those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they are not from some med school in the Philippines."

Filipino blogger responses can be found here.

My immediate reaction upon reading that was so what? I was not offended as a filipino at all. I was more offended that it wasn't that good of a joke. It would have been funnier if she said, "Can I just check those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they are not from some online med school." Not much funnier, but funnier still. Of course, online graduates would probably have taken offense.

Then I began thinking, why is it that it didn't offend me. It is obviously a derogatory remark aimed at Filipinos. Is it because I relate more to the american rather than the filipino in the filipino-american that I am? Or is it because I'm not a graduate from one of those prestigious med schools in the Philippines? Or is it merely because it was intended as a joke not so much targeting filipinos, but racists themselves?

From pinoymoneytalk:

Had the line been mentioned matter-of-factly in a news or documentary program, our protest would have been valid. But lest we forget, Desperate Housewives is a dramedy — a drama AND a comedy. Everything said there should not be taken seriously. For one, Susan Mayer was definitely in character — insensitive, arrogant, and stupid — when she delivered the line.

So let me get this straight. A racist remark is made by a tv character portrayed as insensitive, arrogant, and stupid. Sounds like a pretty damn accurate portrayal of a racist to me. If anything, we filipinos should be thanking the show for its accurate portrayal of those who would say anything derogatory about our med school graduates. Heck, if I were of a different minority I would be calling for equal time and demand that this Susan Mayer make racist remarks about my people.

Maybe it was not clear to everyone that watches the show. Perhaps the writers should have dumbed it down and have the good doctor say that it was a racist remark that can only be made by the insensitive, arrogant, and stupid. I mean we are talking about a tv audience here - I can say that because I'm a tv audience member.

Also, really?! And by that I mean, is this even something getting all riled up about in the first place?! As pinoymoneytalk says, this wasn't mentioned as a matter-of-fact statement. And if there are viewers of that show who rely on it for cultural education then there are far greater problems that need to be addressed.

Anyway, ABC has already issued an apology.