Jon Stewart vs Desperate Housewives

Just as the Desperate Housewives racial slur issue dies down with an apology from the show’s producers (well, at least for rational, open-minded people, the story has already lived its worth), Pinoys meanwhile get hold of an episode of Comedy Central’s political satire The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, in which former President of Corazon Aquino is labeled a “slut.” The episode aired last September 18 in the States (note that the Desperate Housewives episode aired on September 30 in the US), and the discussion was about whether the US was ready for a female President (Hillary Clinton is currently leading among Democratic Party “presidentiables”). Former President Aquino’s picture was shown with doodles and the word “slut” in what appears to be a parody of an infamous gossip blog where pics of Paris Hilton and other celebs are scribbled over with expletives and other offensive words/drawings. Pictures of former Israeli and British PMs Golda Meir and Margaret Thatcher were also ridiculed. See the whole clip on Wake T-Rex’s blog.

Arguably, there is much less reaction to this issue than the storm unleashed by the racial slur on Desperate Housewives. Considering especially that the Today Show episode aired a week earlier than the Desperate Housewives episode, I am led to think: why did Pinoys in the States let this pass? Doesn’t this qualify as “hate speech against Filipinos” also, knowing that former President Aquino is considered a Pinoy icon and is identified with the Philippine democratic movement? Why the differential treatment? It it was really about Pinoy pride, why the double standard?

Both shows are comedic satires. The Today Show focuses on political jokes, Desperate Housewives meanwhile is somewhat a social commentary on the perversions of middle-aged women. In both shows, it was neither the intent nor the purpose of the storyline to malign or offend specific personalities or groups. The script on Desperate Housewives was more likely commenting on the fact that the US is flooded with health care workers from the Philippines, or on the neurosis of middle aged women when it comes to issues of aging, or even on the fact that the US is a racist, discriminating society (thanks to Pam for this thought); the script was more about these things than about the incompetence or even second-classness of holders of diplomas “from some medical school in the Philippines.” On the other hand, the episode on The Daily Show was clearly attacking the American insecurity regarding the possibility of having a woman President, more than it was about the “sluttiness” of Mrs Aquino. So why was hell raised over the Desperate Housewives slur?

I might be wrong, but it is my honest observation that, among the blogs, articles, reviews and commentaries that I read about the Desperate Housewives issue, the reaction of the writer/commenter (whether he/she was pissed or not with the racial slur) was more or less also dependent on the writer’s level of intimacy with the issue (with some exceptions, of course). Blogs made by doctors (especially those practicing in the States) were more or less united in condemning the show (Atheista, Blupanjeet, Daysleeper); other Pinoy blogs meanwhile, opined that they were either only slightly offended or would rather let the issue pass (Wake T-Rex, Pinoyblogero, Basa Pa). The dominant comments on “neutral” sites were those of level-headedness or of “taking a joke as a joke,” while the comments on sites made by health workers were mostly pro-petition, pro-apology, and pro-boycott. The original petition calling for an apology was promoted primarily by Fil-Am doctors; now that the apology is issued by ABC, this is also the group that is calling for more extensive action as repayment for the supposed damage done (like a pro-Phil Doctors episode on Desperate Housewives).

So, again, let me ask, if the whole brouhaha over the racial slur in Desperate Housewives was indeed about Pinoy pride, then why is this comment about Cory Aquino being neglected? Both were arguably done in bad taste, and both maligned prominent personalities/groups identified with Filipinos… why the double standard? In the past, Filipino domestic helpers have been the subject of jokes and caricatures on American TV (ie, Will and Grace, etc), why is the issue not as loudly broadcast as the noise created by Desperate Housewives? Why the differential treatment?

Or, is it possible, that this was not about pride in the Filipino race after all? That, rather, the complaint against Desperate Housewives was a movement initiated, promoted, and fueled by those who have a specific interest in the issue (with some exceptions)?

I agree that Pinoy MDs have every right to be offended: their standing in the American communities that they serve (see me roll my eyes at this point), and their profession and work was somehow belittled by the Desperate Housewives racial slur. It becomes clear by analysis, however, that the intensity of the reaction was heightened not because of the fact that the line was racist (assuming that it was in fact racially motivated), or that it affected Filipinos as a whole, but rather because of its effect on a specific demographic’s vested interests. In this case specifically, a very powerful and influential demographic was involved, one that refuses to be belittled by slurs that escaped the script editor of a TV show.

When asked about her comments to the offensive broadcast, Mrs Aquino reportedly said that she will just pray for the show’s creators. The spoiled brats picketing in ABC’s parking lot should learn from the admirably mature former President.