Okay, honestly, I don't really mind about what's going on in the world right now. But that doesn't mean I don't care...
By seeing the news yesterday, a certain Facebook User gave a racist comment about Filipinos when Ms. Megan Lynne Young, representative of the Philippines, won Miss World 2013 out of 126 contingents. And being half-Filipino myself (a part of me being Chinese), I was proud of another achievement garnered by the country despite the political issues regarding the pork barrel scam and the MNLF attack in Zamboanga City during the past days. At least that cheered us up disregarding all negativity that we see in the news today.
Now, going back to the first statement of the previous paragraph, I was trying to resist the urge to make a comment and was just trying to figure out what she exactly said that caused Filipino (and possibly other nationalities) Netizens the rampage, only to find out that her statement was indeed not just racist... but very insulting to the credibility of the Filipinos.
This post would be a two-sided point, both for Ms. Devina DeDiva (the alleged racist user... I wonder if this is even her real name or just another troll) and for the Filipino Netizens who are in defense of such an insulting comment.
First off, to Ms. DeDiva, I wonder why you made such insulting remark against Filipinos and why you have not even a slight conscience to apologize. You treat us as if we're not human beings and as if we have no feelings. I understand that you have a right and a freedom to share your opinion because this is a democratic planet but I feel sorry that you are abusing such right and freedom. As a Filipino, I feel hurt and insulted with such remark. I understand why you called us "maids" because that is the common work that Overseas Filipinos have. The correct term though is "Domestic Helpers". There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, it's a noble job since these Filipinos sacrificed their quality time with their families to work outside the country just to support them. It's a sad reality for us to face.
Calling us uneducated in general insults us Filipino Professionals. Most of us in this country are Engineers, Nurses, Doctors, Chefs and other profession that you also see in your own country. Even though we may be a "poor" country, but citizens are striving for economic growth. We don't just "clean toilets", and we are not smelly because we take a bath everyday. We sacrificed and worked a lot of hours just to give our present and future generation a better education that would cope up to the changing world. And when you said "Maids are not to looked down upon." You are such an insensitive person. I hope your parents taught you well and has not taught you to display your attitude in such a manner... It's really a shame that you are somehow expressing yourself in such a way that people (especially Filipinos) to disrespect you and did no harm to you.
Second, to my fellow Filipinos. Let us stop wasting time fighting with her. It's her opinion. I know that we are hurt and degraded but what good will it give if we just kept on hating on and bashing her. I know that we need to defend ourselves and our dignity but it is not through social media rampage. Let us just work hand-in-hand to prove her wrong and not letting anger fill us up that we will actually become just like her, insensitive and ignorant. She is also a person who may or may not know what she is saying. If she does, then that is her judgment. Let us not stoop down to her level. And as I have observed, she is not willing to even give what we're asking for, an apology. So why should we even bother. Leave her alone, all this rampaging is making her famous, which is what she wants. Let us just pray for her as a Christian country. We have more bigger issues than this. We are Christians. We believe in the teachings of our Saviour. Revenge is not the Christian way, rather, we must learn to be humble and to forgive. We must approach her with kindness and care despite the hurt.
I hope I have said enough.
Nurse Rie.
