Unintentional Prejudice

Everyone's a Little Bit Racist
Avenue Q

Princeton:
Say, Kate, can I ask you a question?

Kate Monster:
Sure!

Princeton:
Well, you know Trekkie Monster upstairs?

Kate Monster:
Uh huh.

Princeton:
Well, he's Trekkie Monster, and you're Kate Monster.

Kate Monster:
Right.

Princeton:
You're both Monsters.

Kate Monster:
Yeah.

Princeton:
Are you two related?

Kate Monster:
What?! Princeton, I'm surprised at you! I find that racist!

Princeton:
Oh, well, I'm sorry! I was just asking!

Kate Monster:
Well, it's a touchy subject. No, not all Monsters are related. What are you trying say, huh?
That we all look the same to you? Huh, huh, huh?

Princeton:
No, no, no, not at all. I'm sorry, I guess that was a little racist.

Kate Monster:
I should say so. You should be much more careful when you're talking about the sensitive subject of race.

Princeton:
Well, look who's talking!

Kate Monster:
What do you mean?

Princeton:
What about that special Monster School you told me about?

Kate Monster:
What about it?

Princeton:
Could someone like me go there?

Kate Monster:
No, we don't want people like you-

Princeton:
You see?!

You're a little bit racist.

Kate Monster:
Well, you're a little bit too.

Princeton:
I guess we're both a little bit racist.

Kate Monster:
Admitting it is not an easy thing to do...

Princeton:
But I guess it's true.

Kate Monster:
Between me and you, I think

Both:
Everyone's a little bit racist
Sometimes.
Doesn't mean we go
Around committing hate crimes.
Look around and you will find
No one's really color blind.
Maybe it's a fact
We all should face
Everyone makes judgments
Based on race.

Princeton:
Now not big judgments, like who to hire or who to buy a newspaper from -

Kate Monster:
No!

Princeton:
No, just little judgments like thinking that Mexican busboys should learn to speak goddamn English!

Kate Monster:
Right!

Both:
Everyone's a little bit racist
Today.
So, everyone's a little bit racist
Okay!
Ethinic jokes might be uncouth,
But you laugh because
They're based on truth.
Don't take them as
Personal attacks.
Everyone enjoys them -
So relax!

Princeton:
All right, stop me if you've heard this one.

Kate Monster:
Okay!

Princeton:
There's a plan going down and there's only one parachute. And there's a rabbi, a priest...

Kate Monster:
And a black guy!

Gary Coleman:
Whatchoo talkin' 'bout Kate?

Kate Monster:
Uh...

Gary Coleman:
You were telling a black joke!

Princeton:
Well, sure, Gary, but lots of people tell black jokes.

Gary Coleman:
I don't.

Princeton:
Well, of course you don't - you're black! But I bet you tell Polack jokes, right?

Gary Coleman:
Well, sure I do. Those stupid Polacks!

Princeton:
Now, don't you think that's a little racist?

Gary Coleman:
Well, damn, I guess you're right.

Kate Monster:
You're a little bit racist.

Gary Coleman:
Well, you're a little bit too.

Princeton:
We're all a little bit racist.

Gary Coleman:
I think that I would have to agree with you.

Princeton/Kate Monster:
We're glad you do.

Gary Coleman:
It's sad but true!
Everyone's a little bit racist -

All right!

Kate Monster:
All right!

Princeton:
All right!

Gary Coleman:
All right!
Bigotry has never been
Exclusively white.

All:
If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
Even though we all know
That it's wrong,
Maybe it would help us
Get along.

Princeton:
Oh, Christ do I feel good.

Gary Coleman:
Now there was a fine upstanding black man!

Princeton:
Who?

Gary Coleman:
Jesus Christ.

Kate Monster:
But, Gary, Jesus was white.

Gary Coleman:
No, Jesus was black.

Kate Monster:
No, Jesus was white.

Gary Coleman:
No, I'm pretty sure that Jesus was black-

Princeton:
Guys, guys... Jesus was Jewish!

Brian:
Hey guys, what are you laughing about?

Gary Coleman:
Racism!

Brian:
Cool.

Christmas Eve:
BRIAN! Come back here! You take out lecycuraburs!

Princeton:
What's that mean?

Brian:
Um, recyclables. Hey, don't laugh at her! How many languages do you speak?

Kate Monster:
Oh, come off it, Brian!
Everyone's a little bit racist.

Brian:
I'm not!

Princeton:
Oh no?

Brian:
Nope!

How many Oriental wives
Have you got?

Christmas Eve:
What? Brian!

Princeton:
Brian, buddy, where you been?
The term is Asian-American!

Christmas Eve:
I know you are no
Intending to be
But calling me Oriental -
Offensive to me!

Brian:
I'm sorry, honey, I love you.

Christmas Eve:
And I love you.

Brian:
But you're racist, too.

Christmas Eve:
Yes, I know.
The Jews have all
The money
And the whites have all
The power.
And I'm always in taxi-cab
With driver who no shower!

Princeton:
Me too!

Kate Monster:
Me too!

Gary Coleman:
I can't even get a taxi!

All:
Everyone's a little bit racist
It's true.
But everyone is just about
As racist as you!
If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
And everyone stopped being
So PC
Maybe we could live in -
Harmony!

Christmas Eve:
Evlyone's a ritter bit lacist!

There was a statement made last night that irked me. I really didn't intend to be emotional when I pointed it out to the person who posted it until I realized that I started to feel strongly against it.

It was a birthday greeting for a gay friend from a straight guy followed by the words, "oks lang maging gay ryt? basta napatunayan nyo ung worth nyo at di kayo pabigat sa lipunan at lalong lalo na sa pamilya nyo, oks lng yan! [sic]"

Because I felt that the said statement was kinda off, I immediately raised my points to the person involved. He said that he mean well and I believe him naman. The thing is, he might not be aware of the impact his statement has. Sabi niya baka I'm just being sensitive about it and overreacting a little bit. Nasa tao naman daw na magbabasa 'yun kung makakakita sila ng mali sa sinabi niya.

So I calmed myself down. I find it difficult to express myself rationally when I am overwhelmed with emotions. What I did though was asked a few gay friends about the said statement. Do they find it quite offensive? All of them agreed with me which has proven that I wasn't overreacting.

My point is, bakit kailangang bigyan ng kondisyon ang pagiging bading? Bakit OK lang maging bading kapag na-achieve mo na ang kung anu-anong bagay? Hindi ba dapat OK maging bading, period? (O hindi OK maging bading, period.) No questions asked. No conditions set. With such a statement, it is safe to say, as well, na OK lang maging batugan basta't straight?

When I pointed those things out to him, I felt that he became defensive. Feeling niya 'ata inaatake ko ang pagkatao niya, even saying that he has a lot of gay friends. I wasn't making a personal attack on him but rather only on the statement he made, saying that it is prejudicial whether intentional or not. He may have gay friends but still, he doesn't understand what it is like to be one or be nagged by the constant feeling that we have to prove ourselves to the society. Yes, like he said, that it is a given fact that gays are discriminated in society but does he have to rub it in?

Isa sa napagtungan ko said that he kinda lives by the same belief. Heck, pati nga 'yung binati talaga na may birthday didn't find anything wrong with the post until I pointed it out to him. However, it's one thing to put it upon yourself and another for people to instill it upon us. "Personal conviction 'yan, " as what CV says. It's enough that we are already hard on ourselves, 'wag na nilang dagdagan pa 'yung pressure.

Each of us have our own prejudices. Minsan nga, aminin man natin o hindi, lumalabas 'yun with the things we say or do. Magugulat na lang tayo na ganu'n pala ang pananaw natin sa ilang bagay. Hindi rin naman tayo masisisi ng husto dahil tinatak na ito ng lipunan sa 'tin o maging ng ating sariling pamilya mga bata pa lang tayo. But there is always a chance to correct some of our preconceived notions. Hindi naman sa dahil 'yun ang kinamulatan natin ay dapat nang ipagpatuloy o hayaan na lang.

Yes, may mga bading na pariwara o nagkakalat o kahiya-hiya. Mayro'n din namang straight na ganu'n, di ba? Ang pagkakalat ay hindi exclusive lang sa isang gender. Ang kahiya-hiyang ginagawa ay hindi dapat isisi sa gender ng tao, kundi sa mismong tao, straight man o bading. We shouldn't conclude that because he's of a certain gender, nakakagawa na siya ng kahihiyan. At lalong-lalong mali na isipin ng mga straight na basta bading, papatol kung kani-kanino. May taste naman ang bading, 'no! (Ang iba riyan, akala mo kung sinong gwapo na kung makaiwas sa bading ay akala mo pinagnanasahan na. The nerve!)


(There was also an incident that happened months ago. The story there was that there was someone posting nasty things against someone on a forum. The attacks were quite personal and below the belt. That person seemed to know the other person he was attacking, yet masked himself behind a pseudonym. A friend, protecting the other person, commented, "Bakit ayaw mong iharap ang sarili mo? Bakla ka siguro!" It had raised my eyebrows. Huh?! When does backbiting become synonymous to being gay? Bakit ba ang daming negative words attached sa pagiging gay?)

Like what the song says, everyone is a little bit racist. And it's difficult to be politically correct all the time. But at least let's be sensitive about other people's feelings. Avoid making generalizations. Words can be powerful at times and we should be careful in using them. At kapag feeling mo naaapakan ka na, stand up and protect yourself. Dahil kung di mo 'yun gagawin, sino pa ang gagawa?

(To the person involved, if you're reading this, OK na tayo. I just had to write it to make a statement, as well. This is more of a reference to the general public and not on you alone. Nasabi ko na naman 'yung mga gusto ko sabihin sa 'yo at ganu'n ka rin naman. Tulad ng sinabi ko sa 'yo, I just had to vent out. You're a good friend, and hopefully it'll stay that way.)