Maybe I am wrong on this post. Perhaps there are not as many people my age, or at least old enough to remember when punch lines like my headline above played a part in any number of uncouth, racist and often very derogatory “jokes” that were heard every day … what, the police arrested the worng black man and locked him away for the crime, well ha, ha, ha, they all look alike to me … sadly that’s the generation I grew up in, and I’m proud to say I feel my country has made significant progress from the days (only 45 years ago, I know many of you were already alive then) when state governors could blatantly include in their inauguration speeches “… segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever”. Enough of that, we have along way to go still, but I think many would agree that progress has been made and even if you are a staunch Republican and hate the Democrats I don’t think there’s a thinking American left today who could listen to Barak Obama and then tell a “they all look alike to me” joke.

photo credit: burgermac I’ve mentioned before and was reminded again today that one of the aspects of “culture shock” many Americans will not be prepared for if they come here to the Philippines to live is the lack of any pretense at Political Correctness. A Philippine official will often “beat around the bush” all afternoon to avoid calling a convicted criminal a crook, or exercise some other form of delicadeza or obfuscation of the obvious. Sensitivity to racial differences are not a normal part of the day to day speech patterns of even high ranking officials.

A day or so ago some official moaned to the press that the administration was allowing “overstaying”

(itsel a slanderous statement since “overstaying” is an actual crime and you better be able to prove such an accusation when you make it aginst US service memebrs in public … but hey, he only made the blanket lie about Americans, and our own military at that, so why worry?)

by American servicemen and thus “giving up Philippine sovereignty”. Like any smart political establishment, Malacañang took that statement seriously and today “debunked” it, unequivocally.

American troops come and go in this country. The soldiers all look alike so it’s as if they never leave.

It was with such levity that Malacañang dismissed allegations that visiting forces from the United States appeared to have become a permanent fixture in the landscape of Zamboanga City and other crisis-torn parts of Mindanao.

“They are replaced every now and then. They leave, contrary to the critics’ impression that they have not left,” said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita…. Full Americans all look alike article here.

Recently an American supplied Philippine Air Force C-130 crashed near Davao City. Philippine officials made the news by stating that the US was responsible for the crash and the loss of life becuase we, the US, must have supplied a defective aircraft. Well technically, those aircraft aren’t legally “given” to allied countries, a formal transfer occurs in which a dollar changes hands for the title to each multi-million dollar aircraft. I’ll go on record today and offer to buy back any “defective” C-130’s the Philippine Air Force wants to sell back for a buck a piece … just to avoid the embarrassment of my own country “crooking” our freinds here in the Philippines. I believe in fair play.

Immediately after the crash, the Philippine government, finding that they had no means to locate the downed aircraft, asked for and received assistance from the US Navy. A ship was sent, at US expense, of course, and located the crash site. In return a senior Mindanao offical called a press conference and complained vociferously about the US Navy coming into Philippine territorial waters to “spy” on the Philippines. I guess that was his way of saying “thank you” for helping the country locate the remains of their dead service members. OK, you’re welcome, sir.

And then yesterday I found out that the US servicemen who have been serving for years in Mindanao — at the express request of the Philippine government — risking their lives on a daily basis, living apart from their families,and putting up with the other well recognized hardships of military service are nothing more than “overstaying look alikes”. Hmm, as a guest here, I guess I better say, thanks again.

Bottom line? If you have a thin skin, especially about people who ask for help from our military brethren, receive it for free in the spirit of unity and graciousness, and then have to listen to unfounded accusations of criminality and racist comments from the highest levels of government, better not come to the Philippines … because this is just a normal week. If you’re a high profile Filipino upset about one thing or another, if things just aren’t going right for you, no problem, you can always find an American to blame it on.

Related posts:

1. She’s Back ;-) Update on spouse’s trip
2. Let’s Go Davao

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