Will Rogers, who wrote 4,000 nationally syndicated newspaper columns, once said “I hope we never live to see the day when a thing is as bad as some of our newspapers make it”. What would he say now when he reads a politically incorrect article against the Philippines written by Chip Tsao in HK Magazine?
Allow me to quote the article: "The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen on board. We can live with that—Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That's no big problem—we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke.
"But hold on—even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don't flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.
"As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.
"Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings.
"Oh yes. The government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout 'China, Madam/Sir' loudly whenever they hear the word 'Spratly.' They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, 'Long live Chairman Mao!' at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. I'm not sure if that's going a bit too far, at least for the time being."
A letter of apology is issued but I think it's too late and it is not heart felt. He is merely washing his hands by saying: "The ’servant’ is a sacred term. A Hong Kong government official is a civil servant. We are all servants to God, right? I’m now aware that I’ve crossed the line and I offer my public apology,” We aren't stupid enough to fall for this! It's a sick alibi! I mean, look at the context in which "nation of servants" is used. I quote " The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don't flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter." Now, tell me what the "nation of servants" connotes ? It tends to cling to the negative connotation of the word servant.
It's poor journalism at it's finest! The editor of HK magazine should have done a better job in making sure that what is presented in their magazine is suitable to be published. The editor should make sure that everything published is honest and he or she is accountable to the public for it. HK Magazine should foster the culture of self-criticism and to encourage adherence to both codified and uncodified ethics and standards of journalism. The lack of scrutiny on the part of HK Magazine is a big blunder. They will have to pay the prize of having their image tarnished by the racist remarks of their columnist, Chip Tsao. It is such a shame how he wrote inaccurate depictions of the Philippines in his ignorant column! It's really sick that the magazine allowed a politically incorrect column.
I pity how democracy is abused in this context. I feel sorry for Chip Tsao because he failed in being a fair and credible columnist. It just goes to show that even his training in BBC is put to waste by distasteful comments that he published. It's a waste of space in the magazine. It has done more harm than good!
Chip Tsao said he wants to visit the Philippines soon but I'm sorry the doors of the country are closed to enemies of the state. He is comparable to a terrorist who incites conflict and havoc. In fact, he should also be banned from South East Asia by ASEAN for insulting a member country. It would be a such a satire if he was hospitalized and find out that majority of quality health workers like doctors and nurses all over the world are Filipinos. Who would take care of CHEAP tsao? Do I hear assisted euthanasia?
What do you think about Chip Tsao? I challenge you to speak out against racism and discrimination. Speak out! Don't you just love the line from the national anthem "Sa manlulupig di ka pasisiil?".
