An Issue of Racism

Racism

Racism has been one of the major issues that the world had dealt with over its history. It has resulted to various trials and turmoil to human race and claimed lives of millions of people around the globe. We already have the example of Adolf Hitler trying to exterminate the Jewish race. Polpot murdered millions of his own people just to achieve the so-called “cleansing of his own race.” In fact, in my own opinion, racism is the worst crime that a man could ever imagine.

Until now however, I really cannot understand why people haven’t learned from its history. Or is it true that history repeats itself?

About a week ago, an issue about racism exploded concerning the Filipino people. ABC network of the United States showed to the world that the issue of racism has not been over with the Americans. In one of the segment of their TV program “Desperate Housewives”, Teri Hatcher (one of the cast) wants to check the diploma of her doctor, a diploma that “should NOT be a graduate from a medical school from the Philippines.” This statement has insulted the Filipino race around the globe.

My heart bleeds for my fellow Filipinos, not only for our doctors, nurses and all other medical graduates. Such a statement is completely a “RACIST” statement and shouldn’t be said in the face of the Filipinos. It is an irresponsible statement by some racist American writers who has the guts of showing it to the international community.

My dear American friends, is this a kind of world you want to live in? A country that separates itself among the others believing that you are higher and above among the entire human race? Is your food very different from ours? Nor your body waste at least smells better than ours? No my friends, you are still humans. We eat almost the same food and our body wastes smells the same. And all of us will be facing and will be judged by the same God.

There is nothing wrong to be proud of your race, but arrogance can and will claim its price. No wonder why America has lots of enemies around the globe.

Yes, I admit that Filipinos may not be as blessed as the Americans do in terms of political leaders, economy, standard of living, or even finances. But still, it doesn’t give any right to any American individual to insult any race. Black or white, Asian or Caucasian, they are all the same, they are still humans. We may not be that blessed as you are, but we deserve respect as much as we gave you.

Filipinos may not be that rich, but we are not ignorant nor fools that you can control because of your money and power. We may be fund raisers as some of us are, but we are not thieves who grab money without a return. After all, all of us started to raise funds in one way or another.

I myself have lots of American friends. And perhaps many of you are now reading this letter. I am neither a political leader nor an anti-American writer. I am just a humble Filipino citizen, who strives hard and by this simple letter would contribute to uplift the dignity of my people.

I love my American friends and perhaps none of them is like the writer who wrote that segment. My dear friends may you know this; we do not serve our Lord because we want you to help us and be dependent on your resources. We serve the Lord because “4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-6.

We may be asking something, but we do this believing that perhaps God has blessed us through you and not by you. And if for any reason, this will cause you to undermine, insult, or look down our race, and treat us as a lower kind of people, and for worst a slave, please, I am asking you to stop and forget praying for us. I just don’t want you to be guilty of hypocrisy or perhaps we really do not deserve your prayers. Better not to say anything than to let us feel different and kill our inner beings. I would rather choose that you do not pray for us than helping us but take away our dignity.

My dear friends, I hope that you understand how those words hurt us that much. But don’t worry; you can still count with Christian Filipinos to pray for you even if perhaps you have not loved us that much. For we are true and sincere in our prayers as much as how we love our neighbors, friends, and even those people who do not love us. No wonder why we know and can easily adopt languages from different countries. It is because we love first.

To the writer of that segment, that’s below the belt pal. I hope that you will wake up. You owe us an apology and respect. Watch the video yourself and imagine if we are the one saying that to you and to your people.

To all Filipinos, my blood, my people, Mabuhay kayong lahat!!! God knows how you strived hard for the betterment of our country that never again will be insulted by any foreign race. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!!!

God bless you!!!