Let me give you a brief history of why I wrote this blog. One would possibly think what I actually do with my time other than scroll through the incoherent news feed from Facebook. As a matter of fact, I do spend my time taking care of my child. That, has always been my number one priority. I also ensure that my house isn't in total chaos. It only takes about 3 hours to clean a very small apartment.
First topic from this morning was regarding a principle who gave a good advice to the young teenagers graduating high school. While scrolling down through the comments, there was a young lady criticizing this man for being an adult who doesn't understand "us" teens and then proceeded to tell him about how her life as a teenager was a bust. I did write a comment directed towards her, "Lady, you don't speak for all teenagers." I'm pretty sure, this opinionated teen was unaware that the principal had ever been a teenager. Sure, I tend to rant to my fellow friends and family about my childhood days. I'm pretty sure they're worn out hearing the same old rant from time to time. It's not like I have a way to physically remove all those memories from my brain.
Second topic from this afternoon, was about people being fat, or too thin, gay or straight, people being too proud to wear their religion on their sleeve or too heathen to care about others. As much as I like to say that people are entitled to their own opinion, I will not allow myself to cater to hateful ridicules. I rarely share such ideals on my wall. Okay, I get the message. Some are intended for amusement, some for encouragement, and some posts made were merely due to plain boredom. Truly, I ignore the sentiments of blatant hateful messages about someone's race, color, weight, gender and/or other prejudicial nomenclature. There were few sentiments I had made where I took a stand to declare their point of view unethical and biased. When I do make comments, I do so by not addressing the general public of what I think "my" people would feel about their sentiment. As a rule of thumb, I do not speak for all people. I speak from experience. Even then, people tend to misconstrue the intention of my comment.
Last topic for this evening, was a blog from a Korean author who reviewed the upcoming movie, 'Cloud Atlas.' I have yet to read the book or watch the movie for that matter, but as an aside, this author, who had been adopted by American parents, has a racial stint about Hollywood's facet with Asians portrayed by Americans. Thank you for pointing that out, Captain Obvious. I certainly wouldn't have known. Hollywood has a style of theatrics they enjoy portraying. Unless you become rich enough to own all of Hollywood, you can be their guest to change their point of view around on how Asians as a whole should be portrayed. We are talking about 55 Asian countries. I did an intensive research on this author just to prove myself wrong from the assumption that he was ever raised by his natural parents. To much of my disappointment, this guy had never lived or set foot in Seoul; let alone raised by his natural parents. His only saving grace in his opinion was, that he married a South Korean born woman. Seriously, you're living vicariously through your wife's experience to make a stint about Hollywood's depiction of Asian people? He should know by now that in this day and age, American people have grown culturally aware of different ethnicities living in their country. Have some fucking gratitude to your American parents. Do you know how many Asians stereotype "Banana Boat" Chinese Americans? That, is as foreign as you can get: a lot of Communist countries expect their descendents to respect their elders. From what I have been reading from the Census (since I did work for them), more Americans are accepting the idea of inter-racial marriages. Hollywood isn't the only Film Industry of the New World.
Yes, I am aware that I am culturally different from other Filipinos. As much as I understand the sentiment this author has portrayed, he does not speak on my behalf or for the rest of Asia in that matter. Believe me, I've met very few pockets of places where Americans get hostile toward someone who isn't a "White" person or born as a "White" American. If he seriously wants to address people by color, he should have at least identified himself as an American of Asian descent. Instead, he identifies himself as a Korean person. You sir, are a fraud. I don't proclaim myself something I am not. I am a Singlay Filipino. I did not grow up in the Philippines. Therefore, I have no leverage on any political opinions of the Philippine government nor the insight of a Filipino culture as a whole. I was raised to be American despite my familial residence in a Foreign Muslim country outside the U.S. Even then, I am oblivious to American culture. There is none to speak of. America is a conglomerate of Latin America, Refugees, 19th century Pilgrims, British Colony migrants and African Enslaved Captives.
So why bother ranting about another guy ranting about race? Honestly, that wasn't my point. The fact of the matter is, I am an individual. I have my own point of view, my own moral values and responsibilities, including my very own cultural lifestyle. Sure, there are some family traditions I've kept to pay respect to my heritage and ethnicity. I'm still me regardless of my skin color, cultural background, ethnicity or ethical values.
After a long haul of trying to think up of something to get the excitement off my chest, I just ask myself what is it that I am really passionate about? This may sound egotistic to some people but, honestly who doesn't think a lot about themselves?
I am important to myself as much as I give importance to people I love and respect. I may be an individual, but I play an important part of my life in this world. That is to be: ME. I am defined by the way I treat others and how I relate my opinions to the public. That, is all.
If you want to rant, go ahead and rant. Vent as much as you like. But don't generalize the subject as if the whole community has appointed you (the aforementioned people above this paragraph) to speak on their behalf. Honestly, who died and made you our representative? 🤔
Published 8/8/12
Edited 8/30/22
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