That racial slur on “Desperate Housewives” - your opinion matters
It appears there was a racial slur on the ABC hit show “Desperate Housewives” recently.
In a recent episode, Teri Hatcher’s character Susan Mayer asked a physician attending to her during a medical consultation, “can I check those diplomas because I want to make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines.”
The Philippine government is asking for an apology from the show’s producers, on behalf of Filipino professionals, while many others are wanting Filipinos everywhere to boycott the show. Some others are saying we should temper ourselves, after all the show is a comedy and nothing should be taken seriously.
Michelle Malkin weighs in -
It raises the question of the Aggrieve-o-Meter. Some ethnic and racial groups are higher rated than others. It’s apparently politically correct in Hollyweird to deride the credientials of all Filipino doctors. But not other groups.
Unfair? Yes. Rotten double standards? Yes.
And I stand in a similar way.
So maybe it’s just a show. But would the writers have been more careful if the slur was against Muslims, Blacks or Hispanics? And ok, so it’s a comedy. But no one besides Filipinos, and those who know the people, would have caught this as a joke. To us Filipinos, though, this is NOT a joke, but an insult against our medical professionals. Because in fact, there are increasing number of nurses and other medics being recruited from the Philippines by hospitals into this good land precisely because of our skills and education.
Sure, not every Philippine medical school passes the US standards, and we did dig ourselves a hole with the recent nursing cheat. And maybe we do need to prove to the rest of the world how good we are. But those who passed, and serving patients in the US have proven themselves worthy of their calling.
So, what about you? Should we boycott “Desperate Housewives”? Should we shove it under the rug and pass it on as a joke? What’s your opinion about this?
Tags: desperate housewives, teri hatcher, joke, racial slur, filipino, medical, profession
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POSTED IN: Arts and Entertainment, General: Philippine Culture, News and Events
October 3rd, 2007 at 6:07 pm
[…] The Filipina Soul […]
October 3rd, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Yes it was a horrible slur against Filipinos, however, I would not be angry and bring myself down to the level of those airheaded, bubble-brained, moron, nothing more than sex symbol characters played by what I hope are women who have a fraction of dignity, self-respect and, dare I say, common sense in real life! I refuse to take anything any one of them says as an insult, as I would be merely putting myself on their low-standard level.
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:39 pm
It ‘might ‘ be a racial slur, but it’s a valid point.
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:22 pm
My opinion? I am not sure if the words said reflect teri hatcher’s beliefs or sentiments. But if we are to point an accusing finger, and POINT an accusing finger we must at some”narrow minded, egotistical, racists - it should be at the show’s producers and writers. And perhaps, a little at teri hatcher for being too ignorant to even notice such a sensitive human issue.
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Filipinos should just regard this as a joke. If the word “Philippines” was replaced with a different country, would the average Filipino still take this too seriously? I think not. “Desperate Housewives” is meant to be a comedy for people’s enjoyment. Besides - in fifty years people won’t even remember this whole issue.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Absolutley!
The Filipino people need to stand up for themselves here in USA.
Others with less ground to stand on do!
Why not the good Filipino people that came to USA through proper channels?
“To sin in silence while others doth protest makes cowards out of men.” Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Don
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:38 pm
The filipino doctors are indeed a very good doctors around the world you can always find a filipino doctors in every hospital not only in asia but in europe as well
October 4th, 2007 at 12:09 am
why did the actress in Desperate housewife afford to say such a line? was she allowed it or was it just her insane intention to downgrade a race??well ,the filipino nurses need nothing to prove to the world we are the best we just need a little respect (though respect is not demanded it’s earned)
October 4th, 2007 at 12:37 am
It’s not only the attitude of other Americans like Teri need to be polished but also the kind of media they have. In any manner they want their tv shows to be, whether comedy, drama or action, the delivery, the dialouges and the scripts must be screened well in order not to cause hurt to any watching public. There wouldn’t be any reaction if they’re sure that those who watch their show are purely Americans. What if written in the script is America rather than Philippines? Is Teri going to deliver it more? For sure, she would react in rage because of such a deregatory remarks on America. Same thing that caused the Fil-Am people to react in rage. So, Teri and all the people behind airing that show…APOLOGIZE NOW!!! Before all what you caused gets back to you.
October 4th, 2007 at 1:29 am
[…] (United States Medical Licensing Exams) which consist of 3 parts to get into residency… Grace @ Filipina Soul wants to know …would the writers have been more careful if the slur was against Muslims, Blacks or […]
October 4th, 2007 at 4:53 am
If the show was meant to be funny,,the said episode definitely is not! And this coming from the advocates of equal rights and land of opportunities!Shame on you for using the show to put people down!
They seem to have forgotten that America is a land built by immigrants!
As MArtin Luther King Jr. once said “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere
ignorance and conscientious stupidity”.
October 4th, 2007 at 6:53 am
Well, I suggest that Filipino medical workers in the US start collecting records or statistics of medical malpractice/errors and find out what percentage of those doctors involved graduated from medical schools in the Philippines.
With all humility, I can proudly say that my fellow Filipino Technologist and I started the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology in the whole Middle East and Africa in 1985 when this imaging modality is still in its infancy in the United States.
October 4th, 2007 at 8:22 am
omg people need to calm down it was just a joke! focus ur attention on more important things!!!
October 4th, 2007 at 9:34 am
I would be mad if I was A Filipino, it’s like saying i want to make sure there aren’t any black people. I’m tired of these racial slurs.
October 4th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
I agree with lisa u need to get over it next week some black guy will make fun of white people, a chinese guy blacks, and a white guy latinos it goes around we all laugh and move on if your so offended mybe u need to watch some early stuff of Carlos Mencia
October 4th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
I f u ask me this wont be a big issue next week and alot of people sound jealous of teri hatcher o what an air head come on people ur all crazy i am not being a typical american here just saying IT WAS A JOKE, why is it racist. Also none of u so called phillipno doctor advocates on this message board use proper grammar
October 4th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Oh my god. People are actually mad about this?! That’s so ridiculous! There was no racial slur you closed-minded grey-vision Politically Correct jerks! How are people not angry that someone will get so up-in-arms about this?! This is like that crazy communist prick in New York City trying to ban “bitch” and “ho.”
October 4th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Well, I guess if she had said that “she wanted to make sure that his diploma was not from some Southern state” I guess that would have been alright. Right? I mean we hear the South being put down on tv and movies constantly but I never hear anyone complaining about that stereotype.
That’s ok, right? But don’t ever make a joke about any ethnic group. That would never be allowed.
October 4th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
I’ll just copy paste here what I wrote in my blog:
Usually, I stick to my guns on certain issues but gone are the days when I would fight about every single thing. I’d rather choose my battles wisely. And on this issue, it’s not what I would call as worth ‘involving the government-type of’ fighting for.
Remember those times when you watched a show which featured Arab terrorists, illegal immigrants from Mexico, mouthwash drinking native Indians (because they cannot afford alcohol), Black muggers, smelly Europeans and stupid Americans? Did you see any of them asking for an apology?
Remember thinking that the movie “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” was actually funny?
How often have you heard and/or uttered these: “chekwa”, “intsik beho”, “bumbay? ang baho nyan, uy 5/6″
I am also against name calling or culture bashing but hey much as we would like for it to be otherwise, WE DO NOT LIVE IN A COLOR-BLIND WORLD. There are bigots all over. Many people are careless with their words, thinking that it would not matter if they insult one race or another.
I just think (again, this is just MY opinion) that there was no need to go ape shit over this issue. There are other great ways to refrain people from stereotyping Pinoys.
After getting a hearty thank you for helping a patient, Philippine Medical degree holder doctors in the US could just say welcome and “I learned a lot in the Philippines” or something to that effect. OA, I know but it does help spread the good word. Besides, do you really think that those who hire doctors in the US even watch shows like Desperate Housewives?!
Someone I know (who is an MD in Chicago) reminded me of the time when med students in Fatima topped the bar exams because the Philippine Medical Boards sold them the test questions. And a similar incident occurred with the nursing exam last year. News about these things spread, you know. And sometimes, it evolves and becomes a stereotype.
I am all for fighting for what is right but learn to prioritize if you want to involve the government. There are tons of issues out there that needs to be taken cared of. There are times when we just should learn to let go and laugh about things.
October 4th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
plus, as mye mentioned in my blog, “i didn’t think it was a racial comment…i thought it was being prejudiced about the Philippine med school - it’s jacked.”
October 4th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
On a writer’s perspective, I think Teri really said “demeaning words” when she specified the Philippines. As a Filipino doctor working in America, it would be a hard joke to swallow, around the competitive workplace in America. As a nation, those words nailed our doctors on the cross. Forget Pontious Pilate, Teri Hatcher ?
October 4th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Honestly. Every race, every stereotype and both sexes are constantly being targeted by the media. They prey on people’s inheriant closemindedness and they love getting people all in a tiffy. It boosts their ratings. It is not meant to be personal. You are going to take it that way, you have a right to and noone can say otherwise but if you are going to bitch equal rights why not be up in arms when someone speaks of a race, gender or stereotype other then your own? I’ll tell you why. You don’t give a damn. Noone gives a damn about racial slurs, most do not take them seriously and the more offended those races or groups get the WORSE it will actually be for them. People will think what they want regardless of whether you boycott. There are plenty of countries with shitty school systems, as a member of said country you should accept that and deal. Just like colleges vary from city to city but people never go into detail. Why? It’s just easier to ASSUME the whole nation is one way. It’s wrong but we are human. For the quality of your own life unless it was a president or a political leader or like person. Let it go. It’s not worth you getting upset over. You will prove people wrong by living a good life.
October 4th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
YES it was very racial!
October 4th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
I think that was an insulting comment to make. You can insert any ethnicity and it would be hurtful to someone. TV nowadays is just pitiful-That’s why I don’t watch.
October 4th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
[…] don’t consider it a racial slur. It’s a very fine line that divides an insult against Filipinos themselves, and one against […]