Nationalism (Is it good? Is it bad? Is it too much? or is it too little?)
By kingguy3
@kingguy3 (41)
Philippines
September 6, 2009 7:48am CST
I've been walking around ayala and several places lately, going to different websites and forums(epspecially Mangafox forums and the rest.
And the most common thread or topic being passed around is about us Filipinos having too much nationalistic pride...
Were they racist in some ways? or Were they right in some points?
I don't know myself, but ever since a Filipino like me or you starts bragging about the Philippines in some way(or Defending it) people come barging in saying : "Stop it, we don't care about your country, *insert racist comments here* ".
Take for example: When the hit TV show "Desperate housewives" used that racist comment on us. Filipinos started to go into well-say "rampage-mode" over that specific topic. But, when I went to several forums all they said was "Why make fuss over it? When Americans tend to talk racist about other countries? They don't get angry at us, but Filipinos send an army of rallyists in front of our embassies?"
I was like.... "Woah!, Who realy should win in such debate?"
I don't know, I just felt like, I know that we want to protect our Dignity as a Filipino, but too much Pride and Protection is like a dotting parent on an airheaded child or a Palace heavily guarded and doesn't let the royalties leave it. The country grows on his own normally, and I know we, the people,carry it's growth. But what do other people think of us? Are we being too selfish? Are we being like a fascist community where we believe that Filipinos have the higher right on things?
I don't know the topic myself. I know it's just self-satisfactory to answer it myself. That's why I'm asking people like, on what's your say on this.
Final words:
I know that we must protect the our country. I know that our past is too much troubling for us. I know that we be against discrimination. But I know that we must think globally not only on just ourselves, we must observe the world in a different way as the world observes the proper,normal and high-regarded growth of our own.
I know this might be silly or something, but my race is not Filipino, not American, or any other country. I'm Human(I don't care if people have proven that Human is not a race, In Symbolic terms, It is more appropriate for me that it is for the world)
1 person likes this
6 responses
@KaraKATAD (246)
• Philippines
7 Sep 09
I think that it's very important to be nationalistic and to be proud of your country. It's necessary for people to cooperate in order to make our economy go back to the way it's supposed to be.
Now on that thing about the "Desperate Housewives" comment, I know I'll probably get a bit flamed but I think it's blown waaay out of proportion. I mean for goodness' sake. Everyone makes racist jokes, it's common. For those who had a rampage about it should get over themselves. seriously. Even Filipinos make fun of our race, and the races of other people. It's all in good humor, it's not racist at all. I don't think it's a matter of nationalism, it's more of trying to get seen and popular by being angry. It's the exact same thing toddlers do when they're not given enough attention, they CRY, they SCREAM, they ARGUE.
The REAL kind of nationalism is when you STAND BY YOUR COUNTRY and make it a BETTER PLACE for future Filipinos. Rather than OFWs who leave their families here. I understand that they need to get money, but like Cory Aquino said "COUNTRY BEFORE SELF".
@kingguy3 (41)
• Philippines
7 Sep 09
I know, everyone's a bit racist in some point. And I like your quote there by Cory "Country before self".
There are more examples other than the Desperate Housewives incident.
I'll give another example:
Whenever I see Pacquiao on the weighing scale, and both he and his opponent show off first. Most(or all) of the crowd boo at him, while give the opponent a warm welcome. Notice that after the bout, the fans of the opponent will certainly just say "That Pacquiao's just another cheat, don't be like him, give *insert other country bouter* a rematch"
@Ingkingderders (3832)
• Philippines
6 Sep 09
Hmm.. I think you have a good point.. sometimes, whether we admit it or not, we tend to overreact.. specially when bad things are said about our country or to one of our countrymen.. I admit, I too do feel bad whenever I hear these kind of things, specially if I know that it's not true..
We maybe really over protective.. but who can really tell whether it's too much already?
I think the nationalism really just stems from how our parents teaches us and it's already in our culture, for some people they may not show it towards their own country.. but we just happen to be just very "showy". LOL.
Anyway, I don't really know if I'm making any sense here.. the point is, when somebody says something bad about our country.. before you react, think about it first... maybe it's true, you just won't accept the fact that your country is really perceived that way...
okay, I'll shut up now. hehehe. 
@fatherblogger (673)
• Philippines
7 Sep 09
Definitely, loving your country rather than others is a good trait. Japan became a great nation in terms of technologies not because they are good but because they really love their country.
If I think someone is discrimminating me because of my race or I was fellow Filipino being discrimminated, then I wil do my best to protect him.
However, I am not really thaty sensitive when it comes to unintinentional scenario like the one on Desperate Housewife although I still respect those who reacted.
For me, the most important trait of a person is how he respect others not only in color and race, but also inj religion.
Thanks! 
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
7 Sep 09
I agree that there's a lot of controversies of shows in other countries that involves our own country. It's part of colonial mentality to some because some are still not that open-minded to people in other countries, they just think of us as third class or third world people
.I used to passionate about hating this kind of people, but you know it's alright,our time will come when they will respect us fully..
Powerful Nations have so much problem to tackle than our own. I think it's a blessing in disguise we are what we are now because God's Love for us is much stronger than any other countries who are more powerful in this planet.
I know this isn't it the end, but we should always proved ourselves to be the best and not always get offended by these jerks useless remarks. I believe most of them really really really needs to get a life for thinking of us as low-lifes, and some just jealous or hate us for no reason.and some hated us too because of some of our pinoys gives a bad reputation or doing worse things that gives some Foreigners wrong impression about us..despite of the problems in our country, we are still demanded by other countries because of our ability to work and adapt to a new environment.
I agree also that we are just one human race, but that can't be given an importance unless an Alien starts bugging us and threatened us with extinction or destruction, i hope we shouldn't wait for that to happen..
I am just lucky to be a FIlipino now..
@PinoyBPOJournal (143)
• Philippines
7 Sep 09
Nationalism for me is not in words that you say that you are filipino, you wear the three stars and the sun design tshirt or anything like that because that is just a fake expression of nationalism. The true nationalism in my opinion is when you help your fellowmen succeed in his endevour, have discipline, in return raises our dignity as filipino people. I think it is just right to react if the filipino people's name is maligned elsewhere, because if we tolerate it then we will be forever inferior to ourselves. We must assert that we should be respected but again we need to show the world that indeed we are respectable as a nation.
@cherrc (661)
• Philippines
7 Sep 09
hi there! i believe everyone is a little bit racist somehow. sometimes it deals with the gender, work or even status in life. let us not set aside that in some instances, media has the tendency to influence us. admit it or not, it has big impact to the people. i also dont know how to figure this out because it has long been an issue even before we were born. but here is what i know personally--- as long as we know who we are and where we stand, no matter what we do, it will never loose our value. ΓΌ
