source:www.philstar.com news MANILA, Philippines - A graduate from an American university posted "racist" remarks over actress Megan Young's win at the Miss World pageant on Monday. "Miss Philippines is Miss World? What a joke! I did not know those maids have anything else in them Ha Ha Ha," Facebook user Devina DeDiva said in a post that immediately earned over 400 shares on the social network. Following comments such as those by India national Hitesh Punjabi defending Young and Filipino overseas workers, Devina attempted to justify her opinion. "Majority [of Filipinos] are maids and one won such a title! It's shocking and dumb!" she added. On Tuesday afternoon, DeDiva's name which has since been changed into Arabic on her Facebook account topped Twitter's list of trending topics in the Philippines as the microblogging site went abuzz on the racial slur. "Majority [of Filipinos] are maids and one won such a title! It's shocking and dumb!" she added. On Tuesday afternoon, DeDiva's name which has since been changed into Arabic on her Facebook account topped Twitter's list of trending topics in the Philippines as the microblogging site went abuzz on the racial slur. Meanwhile,Monique Wilson said something that's really life changing for me...DeDiva, who has since deactivated her Facebook account, said, “Miss Philippines is Miss World? What a joke! I did not know those maids have anything else in them, Ha Ha Ha.” She described Filipinas as “poor,” “smelly from cleaning toilets” and “underprivileged.” Monique, who found DeDiva’s comments “terrible,” said it smacks of discrimination against Filipinas. “No one has the right to discriminate against any race. That slur was certainly a form of discrimination against Filipinos. Why do we see maids as being lowly? Why? They do an honorable job. They contribute to society and are well-respected and well-appreciated in many countries . We have to be proud of that and not allow people to demean us in that way.” Monique, whom Tony award-winning playwright, performer and activist Eve Ensler chose as global director of One Billion Rising, a movement that aims to end violence against women and girls, thinks the public outrage should make Filipinos think. “Are we getting mad at the fact that we were called maids, or are we getting mad that someone is being discriminatory against us?” The seasoned theater actress condemned DeDiva’s slur as a form of violence. “When you say, ‘Maid ka lang,’ what does it mean? We see them as lowly. Let’s not succumb to that level of discourse. We have to educate the people who think that way and talk about the value of our domestic workers.” PERSONAL REALIZATIONI was so enraged the first time I watched it on ABS CBN's evening news.It's like you're so happy and you're celebrating,dancing and all but then you bumped into something then you passed out? That's what I felt right after watching it and I'm getting angrier every time I come across this news.
Then I read about Monique Wilson's stand on yahoo news and I never felt ashame than before.She said one thing that changed my perception about racism and this I will never forget.She said; “Are we getting mad at the fact that we were called maids, or are we getting mad that someone is being discriminatory against us?” All those feelings of anger of being discriminated were suddenly gone and was replaced with shame and guilt.I really haven't thought of this myself.What made me angrier,was it something she said that generalized all Filipina's or it is something that wounded my pride as a Filipina to be called just a maid and uneducated and I'm being defensive? I really thought I was fighting against racism but the sad truth is,my reaction towards it is another form of racism towards maids and other people who had been working decently. I never realized this myself until Monique pointed out that equality is not about thinking myself highly than others.It's not about who's more paid or educated.Equality is about respect to other people regardless of what they do and their educational attainment. I was watching Megan's interview with BBC in London.The interviewer said it was actually amazing when they found out that Philippines is one of the countries who tops the record of having equal rights among men and women.And in her follow up question,she asked Megan how she is supposed to start in her country considering the major obvious problems of the country such as poverty,lack of education,population and women having to leave the country to work overseas. I realized everywhere in the world majority of people will really have this thinking about Filipino's and I personally get aggressive and defensive everytime I hear nasty comments about us being just maids,third world,stinky or so whatever.And I want to think most of us would feel that way too when something like this is being thrown at our faces. But today,I learned that we cannot change and please everyone specially with these kind of stereotyping.I also understand that these people who usually throw nasty comments are coming from something else.Actually,in my personal experience,most foreigners who knew someone or met an actual Filipino usually say something nice. I'm always against racism.Atleast that's what I thought but I never realized I was one hell of a racist myself.And to be able to gain respect from others,that respect should start within me.My thoughts and my perceptions about others sometimes are shameful if only there's a chip that can expose all the contents of my mind.I admit,there's a huge percentage of me being a racist most of the time the way I think and react to certain things.I learn today that the reason why I feel angry everytime someone said something negative about the Filipino's is I'm being defensive because I look down on other people's job.Why does it anger me to be called just a maid? Because I know what that job's worth.People look down on such jobs and shame on me for being one of them.I never verbally said something against someone but God knows the content of my mind and heart. Monique was right,Let’s not succumb to that level of discourse. We have to educate the people who think that way and talk about the value of our domestic workers.” Today,I learn one of the biggest lessons in life.And to that DeDiva girl,I hope she learn to appreciate even the lowliest job that she can think of because without them,the world is a total imbalance.They help in making the world a better place and we have no right to look down on anyone regardless of who you are.
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