I recently responded to a post over at Irene’s Daughters.  Cayce writes about going home for the holidays and encountering some not-so-savory comments from family members:

For me, it’s not just limited to participating in activities where people will remember to thank God for the bounty of America, while ignoring the past and present pain our riches have cost others.  We never neglect to give thanks for the troops, but often forget all those civilians killed in the crossfighting.

It’s also the fact that in many of these family gatherings, there will be open use of racial slurs, or stereotypes.  Because ours is a white family, we are a meeting of “us” that can launch into conversations about “them.”  Do I confront these things?  Make passive-aggressive sarcastic comments (as I’m prone to do)?  Should I make a scene or let these things pass knowing that this will be my children’s only exposure to most of the folks for a whole year, and my husband and I can clean up the mess later?

My response:

I understand where you’re coming from, I am the only anti-racist in my white family as well. I understand why you’d want to wait until after the gathering and fully explain to your kids that what Grandpa Joe said was racist and unacceptable. However, there’s a few things to keep in mind with that method.

First, let me tell you a short story. One time, I was visiting my spouse’s family in Florida. We were on the beach, and my spouse’s father was grilling while the rest of us sat at the picnic table nearby. While he was grilling, he began to make fun of the Asian family at the next picnic table. He made little “ching chong” noises and contorted his face to make it look Asian. He thought he was being really funny. But after a few minutes, I spoke up and said, “You know, Gary, it’s rude to make fun of people. They didn’t do anything to deserve that.” He acted like he had no idea what I was talking about, and how dare I disagree with his racist behavior? Things were tense for a while, but after that Gary knew he couldn’t act that way around me. And maybe, just maybe he changed the way he behaved around other people, too.

Letting the racial slurs pass will signify to your kids that they should not stand up against discrimination, but rather let the person be hateful all they want and silently disagree. I think this is a huge problem with many white families. We feel like it’s not our place to say something when we hear a racial slur; we feel like we have to be polite and accepting of other people’s opinions, even if they are hateful. It should not be this way. For too long, we have convinced ourselves that we will “clean up the mess” later, as you put it. How much later? Two days? Or two hundred years? We have the power to call attention to hateful words and we should use it. Because if we do nothing to stop hateful words, those words turn into hateful actions.

I know it is uncomfortable to be seen as confrontational, especially around your family during the holidays. But if your main focus is on your kids, then I think a constructive comment would sound like this: “Grandpa Joe, I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t use that kind of language around my kids.” You are not attacking them personally or making a scene, and you send the signal that their words are unacceptable to you. If he asks why, tell him that you are teaching your kids that all people, regardless of culture, religion, or skin color, are equal, and comments like his can be confusing to your kids.

What about you, readers?  How do you respond to family members’ racist/sexist/homophobic comments?

Yes. 

Today I took The Virgin Mexican (who I’ve become really good friends with) to this art store up in Reseda.  Apparently this was the closest place that sold these special brushes he needed for his anal painting teacher.  Being the marvelous friend that I am, I chauffered him there and back.

As we dragged ass in traffic on the 101 back towards campus, this too-new red Mustang in the left lane begins revving it’s engine and pushing stupidly close to the car in front of it.  Now, clearly the Mustang wanted to move over.  But instead of using blinkers, or even just waiting for the enormous gap behind me, it made a scene and tried to bully me into stopping for it. 

Sorry, I’m just not that kind of driver.

So as I passed the Mustang, I hear the blonde little twit inside yell, “BITCH” right before she moved behind me.  And that’s fine with me.  I’m not really bothered by such insults.  They’re thrown around all the time, and at this point, “bitch” doesn’t mean much to me.  So the Mustang starts tailgating me and acting a fool, as if that’s supposed to effect my driving at all.  Remember, we were in bumper to bumper traffic.   If she had messed up and hit me it would be her ass.

She eventually moved over to the lane to my right.  As she passed, she leans out her window and yells

LEARN HOW TO DRIVE, NIGGER!

and gives a final bob of her head almost as if to say “That’s right, I said it.”

I could tell this girl was no older than me.  Her professionally bleached blonde hair and expensive ride clearly indicated she had money, and presumable, some kind of clout (at least her family).  And yet she’s running around calling people niggers? 

This isn’t the first time I’ve been called this vile name, but it was the first time it was directed at me personally and in such a violent way.  I was so shocked I couldn’t and didn’t say anything for a little while.  The Virgin Mexican, repeated in awe, “What a fucking bitch.  What a bitch.  I can’t believe that fucking bitch.”  Then he said he was really sorry I had to hear that, and apologized on behalf of the human race.

It mostly just made me really sad.  Once someone calls your a racial slur, it never goes away from you, and you can’t help but wonder when you meet someone, “Is that what they’re thinking?  Do they think I’m a nigger?”. 

Before you think I’m crazy and believe every white person is racist, slow you’re roll.  Unfortunately for intelligent white people who don’t live blissfully ignorant of the big world around them, there are people like this girl running around and thwarting all progression of racial relations.  That girl may not have ever met a black person in her life, but I bet you she has.  I bet you she shook their hand.  Maybe she even has one little black friend that she hangs out with in group settings.  And each time they say or do something disagreeable for her, I bet she thinks, “Fucking nigger.”

And that just makes me sick. 

So I can’t help but wonder how many people I know in my life are like that.  I call them an acquaintance.  I think he or she is pretty cool.  Maybe I even wish we’d hang out more.  And really their a piece of shit.

What made matters worse this afternoon was that as we got off the 101, I stop at the light at the end of the ramp and guess who is in front of me. 

That’s right.  That blonde bimbo.

I had to ride next to her for the next 20 or so blocks before we got to campus.  And I knew based on her Missouri plates – she goes to USC.  Why else would she be riding around South Central? And the idea that I will share an alma mater with this girl is one of the most disheartening parts of this story.  This bitch is probably riding back to her sorority house to study for comm or broadcast journalism or some other major with special accommodations for airheads before running to a frat party and letting her boyfriend’s best friend jerk off on her chest.  I had to ride alongside this waste of life that weaseled her way into my school and I didn’t say a word.

Not a peep.

All I wanted to do was lean out the window and yell, “How many times did you have to suck your daddy’s dick before he bought you that car, cunt?!”  I wanted to find some trick way to get her to total her car.  I wanted to elbow her in her pretty front teeth and smash those huge sunglasses that kept me from ever being able to recognize her on campus.  But I didn’t do anything.  I was just really sad.

In the end, I wish she hadn’t affected me.  She accomplished her goal.  My feelings got hurt.  But if I should meet a bleached blonde bimbo from Missouri, I’ll ask her if she drives a red Mustang.  If the answer is yes, I’ll be sure to tell her how disgusting she is.  How she is the biggest waste of money her parents ever invested in, and the fact that an idiot as ignorant as her could manage to get any kind of degree is a testament to what a failure the US education system has become.

The End.

With Alotta Love,

zee zee cakes

Laila Rouass and Anton Du Beke

Via The Guardian

The BBC has received 63 complaints after it emerged Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke called his dance partner Laila Rouass a “Paki”.

The dancer issued an apology after the News of the World revealed he had used the offensive term to describe the actor Laila Rouass, his partner on the BBC1 show.

Du Beke reportedly said Rouass, who is mixed race, “looked like a Paki” after she turned up to a rehearsal with a spray tan. Rouass is said to have stormed out of the rehearsal two weeks ago.

 A BBC spokesman said: “The BBC does not condone offensive language in the workplace. Anton Du Beke has apologised to Laila, who has accepted his apology.”

What an ignorant little fool!

I bet he uses that racist term and more on a regular basis.  

I wonder if old Anton here votes BNP….

I get home late from class and am treated to two bizarre AP news stories via ESPN. First up: Eddy Curry to miss 3-5 days of training camp with a torn calf muscle.  Um, what?  How can a torn muscle be fixed in 3 days? And just by draining blood? How would that help?  And Eddy’s expected back in camp tomorrow — are we supposed to believe this? He’s going to sit on a folding chair watching Darko post up Marcus Landry for 2 days then be magically ready to play? Even more strangely, the piece mentions that “the injury is common in tennis players.”  As if Eddy Curry half-heartedly lumbering up the court in a scrimmage is even remotely like tennis. I don’t think any piece of NBA news this short has ever raised this many questions. It’s about 75 words long and I feel like you couldn’t tell the real story in a thousand.

The other story is a rather impressive effort to talk about and around an alleged racial slur without mentioning it directly, regarding the apparently endless Jayson Williams case.  Favourite quote: ‘”The hardest thing for me is figuring out when I actually learned about this racial slur,” Lember said. “I can’t say with any precision when I learned or even how I learned. I would be purely speculating as to when it became clear in my mind.”‘ Bizarre.  I’m sure this whole mess says something about the fucked-up state of the American judicial system that I’m too tired to expand upon.  Fun facts from Jayson’s Wikipedia entry though: he once wormed his way to a beastly 17 offensive boards in a game against the Pacers, and he was a two-time member of the NBA’s All-Interview team (whatever the fuck that is/was), which manages in retrospect to be at once obscure, ironic, and pretty creepy, like OJ’s (yes, this one) epigraph to Breaks of the Game about the importance of character. They should do a lecture tour together.

HA to the HA. Turns out Michael Baisden’s racist ass got dropped from yet another radio station, this time in Detroit. You must know by now this very excellent news pleases me to no end. As I posted many times before, I was hoping other stations would follow suit and drop him and BAM!!! They are! Could it be because of his blame shifting and blatant finger pointing? Maybe it was because of the way he keeps racism alive by continuously “stirring the pot?” Wait; maybe it was because he didn’t turn over all the charity money that he was begging/ campaigning for? Who really gives a shit? Apparently not the public (aka the listeners) who want him gone. Look, the guy is an a-hole so good for you Detroit station that dropped him. Gold star! Oh, and speaking of “gold star,” thank you Lil “uncovered main vein” Wayne for not naming your baby some jacked up name…like you have in the past. Oh hell, why we are on the “gold star” topic, good one Obama. Thank you for nailing it on the head without using a racial slur. Double gold star for you because you’re sexy. Yeah, I said it.

Ever go to a website preferably a blog or YouTube and after you’re done reading/listening/watching whatever, you go and read the comments, it could be about computers or fold-up tables but it somehow turns to racial slurs? Doesn’t really matter who started it but the fact that people have gotten so comfortable with spewing out those slurs that it comes naturally to most. My point is this, those who have to remind someone of their race online wouldn’t have the gall to say anything to that person offline. Even them entertaining the idea of actually saying what they say online to someone offline would have their father’s father breaking out into a sweat.

This isn’t about a one specific race this is about all races because all races fall fault to these type of online behaviors. Its just fascinating to see these insecure, weak rebuttal, lower than scum individuals get backed into a corner and all they can mention is someone’s race, whether they’re sure about it or not. I remember one time on this here blog, someone called me a “honky” because on my profile I had on here [I had no picture up] it said “all I listen to is rock music and nothing but”. I had to laugh at him because he just stereotyped someone without even knowing anything about that person. Why do people worry about someone else skin pigment so much? Its not going to solve anything and its for damn sure isn’t gone to make the world stop spinning. “Look, a NIGGER on the INTERWEBS!” *gasp!*

I truly hope these people who are calling people honky’s, niggers, spics, crackers, rednecks, wetbacks, coons, porch monkeys don’t think people are actually losing sleep at night because they called someone said slur. If it help the insult-ee sleep better at night fine but I don’t think your font can do much damage.

I truly believe most of these people who are doing this behind a computer don’t have the slightest clue to what half the slurs they’re spewing actually mean. I guess I can take 3 minutes to define a few…

Cracker

A racist insult used by Blacks against white people that seemingly isn’t wrong, yet it is illegal for us to defend ourselves and call them darkies or nigger. Racism against whites is racism just the same, people.

Coon

A derogatory term for black people. Similar to “nigger“. Originally a shortened form of the word “raccoon“, used in reference to the animal. The black eye masks and nocturnal habits of the animal paralleled the characteristics of typical robbers and thief’s. The stereotype was then applied to black people.

Honky

A derogatory term for a Caucasian person. There are three main theories for the origin of the word:
1. The word originated from the practice of white males wishing to hire African-American prostitutes in the 1920’s, and going to the appropriate part of town while honking their car horns to attract the whores. Some versions state that the reason for this was that the white men were too afraid to actually stop in those neighborhoods, so the honking would bring the hookers to them. Others say that since few African-Americans could afford cars back in that time, the honking signaled a higher-paying white client and would quickly gain the prostitutes attention.
2. The term comes from the word “honky-tonk“, which was used as early as 1875 in reference to wild saloons in the Old West. Patrons of such disreputable establishments were referred to as “honkies“, not intended as a racial slur but still a disparaging term.
3. A “honkie” is a variation of “hunky” and “bohunk“, derogatory terms for Hungarian, Bohemian, and Polish immigrant factory workers and hard laborers in the early 1900’s. African-Americans began to use the word in reference to all whites regardless of specific nation of origin

Nigger

A term used to describe a black person, who is stereotypically considered bad, poor, lazy, addict or criminal. This term was first used during the period when blacks were discriminated against and used as slaves. The white people would yell at them and call them a “filthy nigger” when they were slacking of while working out on the fields. This is why the word is so frowned upon today, because blacks feel they are losing their sense of control and being discriminated against just like those hard times. It is considered a racial crime when a white person uses the word nigger.

Porch Monkey

A derogatory for a person of African or African American decent. BUT it could also mean a generally lazy person. This term came to be when you think of African Americans sitting on there porch chatting it up. Also in the movie Clerks II, the sequel to Clerks, Randal tries to reclaim it as a new term for lazy people. And thus offends several customers and his boss.

Red-neck

An inbred, conservative, white, bigoted, farmer from the deep south of america. [I don't really like this definition and I'm too lazy at the moment to find another one].

Spic

A highly offensive term referring in a derogatory manner to a Hispanic person, i.e. born or descendant of natives of Spain and/or any Spanish-speaking country or territory in Central America, South America or the Caribbean.

Wet-back

A derogatory term used to describe illegal immigrants from Mexico. This originates from them jumping the boat and swimming to shore [undetected] hence having ‘wet backs’.

So those out there who take joy in calling people these things but didn’t know what they meant, well here you go. Now you’re an educated internet bully. Also if anyone reads this, can someone tell me if they ever heard of a Black person [in this time frame] get arrested for calling someone a racial slur. I’ve always wondered that, seems they are always in the news for everything but that.

Justin Barrett is a Boston Police Officer who used a racial slur to describe the Harvard professor Mr. Henry Gates Jr.  The police say he used the racial slur in an email referring to the arrest of Mr. Gates.  In his federal suit against Boston and the mayor, Mr Barrett is claiming his civil rights have been violated.

Officer Justin Barrett said in the suit filed Monday that Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and Police Commissioner Edward Davis acted as “prosecutor, judge, jury” by saying that Barrett faces termination. The police department and city are also named as defendants.

I don’t believe Mr Barrett has a leg to stand on!  There is no room for bigotry in any department of authority.  I am sure the police department and the laws of Massachusetts agree with me.  Mr Barrett was in the position to act responsible and he choose not too!  Now you have to pay the price of your racist words and inflamatory behavior Mr Barrett!  We cannot tolerate such behavior from a person with any power!

UPDATE: Larry King Interview

By Calvin Palmer

A Boston police officer was placed on administrative leave today pending a termination hearing following racist remarks allegedly made in an e-mail.

Officer Justin Barret, 36,  a member of the National Guard is alleged to have made racial slurs to describe Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates in an e-mail to fellow guardsmen and the Boston Globe.

A spokesman for Boston police said: “Police Commissioner Ed Davis was made aware of a correspondence with racist remarks and yesterday removed the officer of his gun and badge.”

Boston’s mayor, Tom Menino, was quoted referring to Barrett as a “cancer in the department” and calling on him to be fired.

The mayor said that Barrett was trained in racial profiling prevention and had shown no signs of racial discrimination in the past.

Barrett’s union, the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, said they condemn and “strongly denounce these statements as being offensive and hurtful”.

But the union added that investigators should consider all the facts and not rush to a conclusion.

Police said Barrett does not have previous violations with the department.

The email allegedly written by Barrett lambasts Gates for getting into an altercation with police.

“I am not a racist, but I am prejudice towards people who are stupid,” reads the alleged diatribe — containing frequent grammatical and spelling errors — against Gates and the Boston Globe newspaper.

“He has indeed transcended back to a bumbling jungle monkey.”

Gates was arrested for disorderly conduct in his home near Harvard University by a white police officer who was responding to a report of a possible burglary. The charge was later dropped but the case sparked a national debate over racial profiling, one that was intensified when President Barack Obama said Cambridge police “acted stupidly.”

Meanwhile, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer accepted the resignation of Lee Landor, his deputy press secretary, after she called Gates a racist and referred to President Barack Obama as “O-dumb-a”.

Landor’s comments on Facebook were inappropriate, Stringer said in a statement.

Landor defended her entries, but added: “It is understandable that a black man encountering police will be suspicious of racial profiling, based on the long history of racism in this country.”

[Based on reports by the Associated Press and AFP.]

by NickieWild

Is racist language still acceptable in the United States? As with most things in social science, the answer depends on the situation and people involved. Recently, the television program on the CBS network “Big Brother” self-censored an episode where two contestants used a derogatory term to describe fellow contestants who were of Mexican descent, as well as making anti-gay remarks. Compare this incident with former Georgia Senator and Governor Zell Miller’s statement that President Obama should be prevented from making trips abroad by fixing him in place using “Gorilla Glue.” Quoting Miller:

“Our globe-trotting president needs to stop and take a break and quit gallivanting all around. I think (chief of staff) Rahm Emanuel ought to get some Gorilla Glue and put it in that chair in the Oval Office and say ‘Sit here awhile.’”

This is a real product, but the racial overtones are hard to ignore. Some have questioned Miller’s use of this terminology (instead of using the more traditional reference to “Krazy Glue”). Clearly, racial slurs, whether overt or covert, are still used frequently. But they seem to be much more likely to get negative attention than ever before. Sociologist Eileen O’Brien explores this issue and writes on why people choose to adopt “antiracist” stances.

Read More

From Antiracism to Antiracisms by Eileen O’Brien

Download Episode 55 Big Brother 11 Week 1

Allison is back to talk to Big Brother Mike about all the happenings in the Big Brother house from the first nominations to the first eviction. All 3 episodes! It has been a crazy week in the house so sit back and relax because this is going to be a bumpy ride.

Over the past week, my friends and I have been playing on a new roller hockey court that isn’t too far from my house.  Prior to that, we’ve been playing on a relatively unused basketball court (pictured above) for months, which has been fun for recreational hockey/pick-up games, but we really wanted to play on a better surface and actually use a puck instead of a ball.

We finally found a roller hockey court where a good number of people play at.  Although competitive, no one plays a rough game, there are people of all ages, and unsurprisingly, everyone is White.  Except for me (also pictured above) and my brother.  Being the only person of color at a hockey court isn’t something new to me.  When I played for an in-line roller hockey league in high school, I found myself getting self-conscious about it when people, including my teammates, would poke fun at my first and last name.  I remember one time, a couple of kids I played hockey with called me a “a stupid Afghanistanian” when I was carrying my hockey gear off the court.

I find myself operating under White gaze a lot, if not always, especially when I’m playing hockey with people I don’t know.  I can’t help but think about how they perceive me, a brown-skinned man, playing a sport that is filled with predominately White athletes (at least here in the United States and with what we see in the NHL).  If my friends and I are playing hockey on our old basketball court, I don’t feel like I’m going to be judged if I’m wearing my Pakistani cricket jersey or my Egypt and Turkey soccer shirts.  I don’t worry about it because I’m playing with my friends — people I know.  But when it comes to going on this new hockey court, I feel that if I wear a jersey that says “Pakistan” on it, people will be gunning for me or treating me in a rude way.

Maybe I’m thinking and assuming way too much, right?  Wrong.  Yesterday, before I went to the new hockey court, I swapped my red Egypt soccer jersey for a red Nautica t-shirt.  I figured, “I don’t want to deal with people giving me smack about my shirt saying ‘Egypt’ or making some stupid racial slur or whatever.”  I got to the court, laced up, and said “hi” and “what’s up” and “how’s it going, man” to all of the people there.  Everyone was friendly, conversational, and pretty much just wanted to have fun.  So far so good, I thought.

Since there were so many people, we played with line changes, and I think I played at least six shifts the entire day.  I ended up doing really well too and scored four goals.  When everyone packed up to leave, my friends and I said “good game” to everyone and that was the end of that.  Fun day, right?  Well, today, my friends and I played at the court again and a friend of mine told me, “Oh man, I have to tell you something.  When you scored your second or third goal yesterday, this kid on the bench said, “f****** spic!”  My friend said he was going to say something, but before he could, someone shouted at him and said, “yo, watch your language!”

It kind of messed up the rest of my day.  I’ve noticed that some people at that court try to play more aggressive against me (as opposed to others), and it could be because I stick-handle really well and they’re just trying to steal the puck from me, but then there’s another part of me thinks it’s because of my skin color.  Playing hockey for a long time in my life means I’m familiar with how the frustration and aggression levels can rise when you’re on the losing team or not performing as well as you would like to.  When you factor in a brown guy scoring most of the goals for the other team, would it be wrong to assume that the frustration could build into a racial slur?

The word choice of the person who delivered the racial slur just shows us even more how racists don’t even know who they hate.  It shows how ignorant, childish, and idiotic they are.  I am familiar with the racial slur, I know it’s directed towards people of Hispanic descent, but since this is the first time I was called it, I decided to run a few online searches just to read about it’s origins and use.   Reading about it just made me angrier and I don’t think it’s appropriate to share that information here.

I don’t care if people mistaken me for another race, there isn’t anything wrong with being Latino, Asian, Arab, or anything else.  What is offensive is when people use racial slurs — there is simply no excuse for it.  It’s offensive, it’s racist, it’s flat-out wrong.  If he thought I was Arab, he would have used another racial slur; if he thought I was South Asian (which is what I am), he would have had a racial slur for that too.  The point I’m trying to illustrate here is that I refused to wear a “team Egypt” soccer jersey for the sake of avoiding ethnic/religious stereotypes, but since I’m brown-skinned, I ended up getting stereotyped anyway.  How do you hide your skin color, right?  Thank God that I don’t wish I could hide my skin color, but what about the people who do wish they could hide their skin color just for the sake of avoiding conflict?  Maybe there are times when I do feel that way.

If there is something positive that came out of this, it’s that it reminded me that people of color face similar struggles.  I would say that most people assume I’m Indian (which is correct and incorrect at the same time, lol), but there have been a few people who mistook me for Latino, Arab, and even Greek.  When I hear a racial slur that is used against other people of color, it not only angers me, but also makes me think about the struggles they experience.  There are so many different stereotypes applied to all of us and they are experiences that we all share.  Most of the time, when I’m sharing some of my experiences with racism with a fellow person of color, I feel comfortable because I feel like they can empathize and understand where I’m coming from.  This person who used that disgusting word may have thought that it was “ok” or “acceptable” to use it, but I doubt he understands how hurtful it is.

I try to stay positive about it all.  At least someone on the bench told him to shut up, right?  Much Love to everyone who has experienced any form of discrimination, hate, or racist bigotry in their lives.  Keep your chin up, friends.

Hagamos una porno, Zack and Miri make a porno, Kevin Smith, 2008

¿De qué trata?: Zack (Seth Rogen)y Miri (Elizabeth Banks) son dos amigos que se conocieron en el instituto y a los que les cuesta afrontar la edad adulta pues, a sus veintimuchos años, se ven inmersos en deudas. Para hacer dinero rápido deciden montar una empresa para grabar porno amateur con sus amigos. Mientras rueden las películas, descubrirán que sentían algo más el uno hacia el otro que la platónica amistad que les había unido hasta ahora.

Debo decir que para mí Seth Rogen y Elizabeth Banks nunca se habían visto mejor interpretativamente; y esto en parte se debe a que Kevin Smith tal vez es cierto que no es un buen director técnico/visual pero lo que sí es y a nadie le queda el menor resquicio de duda, es que es un buen escritor, y que además con el tiempo ha mejorado en labores de montaje y como director de actores, a parte que siempre ha expresado un enorme fanatismo por el viejo y muy querido cine de diálogos. Smith es uno de los pocos que podría competirle a Tarantino en cuanto a quien hace más diálogos descarados. Smith nada más es más vulgar. Smith siempre hace el trabajo sucio. ¿Puede ser una comedia dulce y sucia a la vez? Todo indica que sí.

La solución de todo, hagamos una porno...

La disfruté mucho y sin verguenza. No he conocido a nadie mejor que Smith para que las conjugue de todas las formas posibles para darle un sentido a algo (de visión obligada en audio original) Además la historia tiene muchas situaciones y secuencias llenas de sinceridad. Pero también, como es normal en Smith, tiende a excederse en varias cosas. Incluso algunos ya estarán hartos de su amor por el Hockey o por la saga de “Star Wars” como ya es conocido.

Es curioso cómo una película puede ser tan contradictoria a la vez; la censura de Estados Unidos se ha encargado de perseguir la peli más inofensiva y azucarada de Kevin Smith. Porque bajo el tema del porno, los tacos, y algún que otro desnudo, se esconde el esquema típico y tópico de película romántica que hemos visto ya hasta la saciedad, de hecho el argumento es increiblemente previsible.

Vale la pena ver la película solo por algunos gags que son realmente de partirse la caja, algunos simplones y/o escatológicos pero no por eso menos efectivos. Lo de menos en la película es el argumento y la historia entre los protagonistas que no tiene ningún interés y está como metida con calzador. Lo que realmente vale la pena son las situaciones que se producen durante el rodaje de la porno, los actores friquis que escogen y el humor guarro en general.

Al grano: No por que en la silla de director diga Kevin Smith la película tiene que ser divertidísima. Sin embargo cumple a ratos a pesar de su esquema romántico y se le agradece ser mucho mejor que Jersey Girl. Pero la verdad sea dicha y no es el mismo Smith de los 90s. La salva el singular carisma de Elizabeth Banks a quien por fin se le disfruta increiblemente.

* * * / 5

It’s too un-Australian to bash Indian students just because they don’t have the color or because they can’t speak in an Australian accent. Very recently, I was going through newspaper articles about some of the incidents that happened with international students..which shocked me. I am also shocked that the authorities are silent with this issue. The international students come to this country, they study, pay their tuition fees, pay taxes, and eventually gets a knock from the local Samoan thugs. I am not outrageous about general Australians but we do face many social realities as new citizens or migrants which we never spoke about even though some of those realities are worth mentioning to others. Last month I went to Amsterdam and a local guy asked me whether Australians are too racist or not because they read and hear lots of incidental stories. I really felt a shame that time.

We choose this country because we love this country, it’s weather, liberal lifestyle and multiculturalism. What I believe is Australia is a land of beauty where all citizens regardless of race, color & ethnicity should live with harmony. We should learn how to be tolerant to  cultural diversity.

These days, things have changed.  Australia is now no longer a nation like it was when there was a “White Australia Policy“. In those days, the country’s legitimate owners (Aborigines) were being deprived of their rights other than some benefits.  Then there was the infamous Pauline Hanson and some others. Pauline is neither the immigration minister nor she has the right to speak racist comments since her ancestors were migrants. Lucky Pauline, she was not raised in a different country; otherwise who would have led this low minded and prejudiced one nation party!

I reckon these racial tensions have escalated just because of two reasons. 1) There are some people like the racist and fraud Pauline Hanson who tries to influence the general population; 2) The government or the state is unaware how to handle a multicultural society (try learning from US or UK).

From my little knowledge about the history of Australia, the country can no longer be labeled as a racist country since racism exist more or less everywhere on earth. But the silence from the government authorities in mob attacks represents a lenient approach to diversity. Bruce Haigh’s article can provide more insights about the Rudd government’s governing methodology. If the authorities and the law enforcement bodies do not take necessary actions or steps to eradicate these tensions, it will escalate to a serious peak which may lead towards a low profile Australian image to the world. Tourism, trade realtions, people perception and off course revenue earnings from higher education will be in jeopardy.

You win some, you lose some.

Manny Pacquiao’s drubbing of Britisher Ricky Hatton, Charice Pempengco’s soaring star in the music world, the critical acclaim for Filipino opus ‘Kinatay’ at Cannes Film festival, Filipino kids topping an international robhotics contest.

The world is toasting Filipino excellence on various fronts but over in Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin jokes about getting a Filipina mail order bride with comedian David Letterman asking Baldwin to get him one, too.

Not too long ago a Hong Kong journalist called the Philippines “a nation of servants” while further in the past Filipino doctors were slurred and even revered Cory Aquino labelled a “slut” in a parody news show surviving America’s readiness to elect a female leader.

I can’t but wonder through what prism foreigners see Filipinos given how widely-scattered we are across the globe and how Filipinos have entered the foreign consciousness, being among the most sought after skilled and blue collar workers.

Should we therefore rage against the latest ill-considered slur.
Nah, it’s just one of those things.

What’s really more important is that wherever we are, Filipinos should continue to strive to be the best we can be and hold our tri-color up high.

Pinoy Pride, Pinoy Dignity is immeasurable.

UPDATE

Actor Alec Baldwin has now made a public apology, as reported by the Huffington Post.

(Thanks to my old friend and colleague Vivian Zalvidea for her heads up.)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alec-baldwin/an-apology-regarding-my-l_b_205766.html

I’d like to offer an apology and a clarification to remarks I made recently.
While on the David Letterman program, I joked that I might need a “mail-order bride” to achieve the goal of having more children in my life. I believe that most people understood that this was a joke and took it as such. (A dated reference, no doubt, and another sign of my advancing age.) However, I do apologize to anyone who took offense. The comments of some Philippine government officials come as no surprise to me, either. Even the one by a former action film star-turned-Senator who beckoned me to come to the Philippines so he could “beat” me over my comment.
Such anger and frustration about the issue of sex trafficking is understandable. The Philippines has suffered significant problems with the issue of sex trafficking and I would like to turn your attention to the work of an organization called Love146 that my brother Stephen educated me about. Visit their website at www.love146.org and learn of the important work that is being done, in various regions of the world, by Rob Morris and his co-founders and staff.
I had met with Rob in New York, some months before the Letterman appearance, in the hopes of helping him raise money for this group. Again, I apologize for the perceived insensitivity of that remark and ask you to visit the Love146 site

Bong, Hayden, & Sex Videos

In a privilege speech Tuesday, Sen. Bong Revilla hit Dr. Hayden Kho for recording his kinky sexual encounters with actress Katrina Halili and several other women. People who have seen the videos say they were really shocked by the sexual acts – although they were more shocked to hear Bong Revilla lecturing Hayden Kho on morality.

Lawmakers, feminists, and even his colleagues in the medical profession slammed Dr. Hayden Kho for the spread of his explicit sex videos. But here’s the strange thing: Sen. Bong Revilla, in a privilege speech Tuesday castigated Hayden Kho for his alleged immoral act. Now that’s like Jose Miguel Arroyo criticizing Ferdinand Marcos for being corrupt.

Sen. Bong Revilla had written the Professional Regulation Commission to revoke the license of Dr. Hayden Kho saying his recent acts were insulting to women. In retaliation, Hayden’s parents wrote the Commission on Elections to do a recount of Revilla’s votes saying his victory was insulting to Filipinos.

After Sen. Bong Revilla’s privilege speech, other senators expressed interest on the issue, and even suggested that a probe be conducted on the “Hayden files”. Panfilo Lacson and Jamby Madrigal, in particular, wanted to know if there was “double insertion.”

The sizzling videos of Dr. Hayden Kho and Katrina Halili so outraged Sen. Bong Revilla he was compelled to bring the issue to the Senate. He was really angry. But if you think you’ve seen Bong at his angriest, wait ‘til he sees the video of Hayden Kho banging Rufa Mae Quinto.

In a privilege speech, Sen. Bong Revilla denounced Dr. Hayden Kho for being a “maniac” – to which the embattled Hayden replied, “Bakit? Sino ba ang may walumpu’t walong anak sa iba’t ibang babae? Ako ba?”

This just in! A cause-oriented group promoting the welfare of senior citizens has begun to draft a statement against Hayden Kho. This is in preparation for the anticipated spread of the Hayden Kho-Vicki Belo sex videos.

Reports say militant group Gabriela will support Katrina Halili if she decides to file a case against Hayden Kho… prompting the celebrity doctor to issue statement clarifying that he’s not an American serviceman.

Vicki Belo was reportedly watching a newscast with a group of highend clients when a portion of Bong Revilla’s speech lambasting her beloved boy toy was shown. The utter humiliation melted her face.

Rumors say Katrina Halili and other women who had sex with Dr. Hayden Kho will surface to tell their side of the story. Yes, they are now ready, and are no longer afraid. To give you an idea how prepared they are, they all agreed to appear in a TV ad called “Ako Mismo… Ang Nasa Video!”

Have you seen the explicit videos of Hayden Kho with his victims? That was like the ghastliest thing Filipinos have ever seen… since the TV debut of Mar Roxas’ “Padyak” ads.

Remember when Jun Lozada was hailed by the UST community when he spoke against the ZTE-NBN deal? They trumpeted the values learned by Lozada from the priests of UST in full-page print ads. I’m wonderin’: was UST alum Hayden Kho absent when the priests taught the same set of values?

Bong & Alec Baldwin

Even before he spoke about, and against Hayden Kho, Bong Revilla was already in the news slamming Emmy Award-winning actor Alec Baldwin for his alleged “racial slur” against Filipinas when he guested on the “Late Show with David Letterman.” Baldwin joked about Filipinas as mail-order-brides. Can you believe it? Neither do I. Bong Revilla watching Letterman?!? ‘Di nga?!

Super Lotto

Nobody has won Super Lotto’s jackpot prize of 116 million pesos… although every lotto bettor who’s seen the Hayden-Katrina videos felt like a winner.

Survey Says…

On the Martin Nievera national anthem brouhaha…

Impose the law: 49%

Law? What law!?: 29%

Deadma: 22%

We have a new survey. Please vote now.

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“Pornography is the attempt to insult sex, to do dirt on it.”

~D.H. Lawrence

Ilan kaya ang na offend ni Chokoleit sa kaniyang pagpapatawa dito lalo na sa reference niya sa mga trisomy, yung tinatawag ng ibang Mongoloid (mali itong katawagan, dapat na baguhin)!

Kapag pinoy ang pinagtatawanan o kinukutya abot langit ang ating apela, pero kapag tayo ang tumatawa sa patawang nag iinvolve ng ibang tao o lahi, bakit tila nakalilimutan natin ang maging maramdamin.