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College Town Party Paper Calls Gay Men "Freaks"
Ah, college life. All-night study sessions in the library. Professors challenging the conventional wisdom. Snowball battles on the quad.
Get real.
For students at the University of Missouri-Columbia, college is all about casual sex, meddling parents, foul-mouthed friends, and partying until you puke -- that is, if you believe the portrayal in The Booze News, a new weekly newspaper that glorifies the wonders of heavy drinking.
The publication's founders, a pair of University of Illinois graduates, call The Booze News (motto: 'Today's News...Under the Influence') an over-the-top satire modeled after The Onion, the popular parody newspaper started by college students in Madison, Wis., that has since gone global.
But some Missouri students and local business owners aren't laughing. A Booze News book review about interracial gay adoption that referred to the two male parents as 'freaks' drew a formal protest and request that university officials censure the paper.
Several downtown business owners have thrown out the free paper, which has published seven issues, afraid of offending customer sensibilities. Even some campus fraternity houses deem the material too edgy for members.
'The paper is not for 8-year olds,' said cofounder Atish Doshi, a 2004 Illinois graduate from suburban Detroit. 'It's about being immature college kids. That's what makes it successful. We don't take ourselves seriously.'
Success has come quickly for Doshi and Derek Chin, who said they started the paper three years ago 'as a complete joke.'
The Booze News can now be found at Illinois State, Indiana, Iowa, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, along with Missouri and Illinois.
Doshi, who works in Chicago with a full-time staff of six, said he expects to expand to another dozen campuses in the next year.
'I would love to be at as many schools as possible,' Doshi said. 'There will always be college students.'
For Missouri senior Kyle Ali, a Chicago native, such a scenario is troubling. As a peer educator who works to control drug and alcohol abuse, Ali said The Booze News sends the wrong message, humorous or not.
'This is a publication that clearly condones high-risk behavior,' he said. 'There's nothing that talks about alcohol poisoning or drunk driving.'
A recent issue of the Missouri edition does contain a public service announcement by the U.S. Department of Transportation about the dangers of drunken driving. There's also a small disclaimer that the paper 'in no way promotes, encourages or supports binge drinking and/or underage drinking.'
'This newspaper is designed for entertainment purposes only,' the disclaimer reads.
More prominent, though, are features on the local bartender of the week, alcohol reviews, drink recipes, drinking game instructions, and guidelines on how to beat hangovers.
The paper's Web site boasts that its writers, editors, and advertising sales crew members 'are drunk at least four hours a day, six days a week' but assures readers that 'we are not obnoxious drunks.'
The recent article about the adoptive gay couple -- a supposed book review in which the unidentified author looked solely at the cover of the children's book -- crossed the line from satire to threatening speech, said Ali.
He wrote a letter to other campus activists and the university's vice chancellor of student affairs urging a potential boycott of local businesses that distribute the weekly paper.
'That article was specifically threatening to the social environment on this campus,' he said.
The paper's managing editor, who has since stepped down, acknowledged in a note to readers that the article, though intended as humor, 'went a little far.' Doshi said he regretted publishing it, adding that the writer has since been fired.
Broader community acceptance in Columbia will come with time, Doshi said.
'Everyone thinks and does the same thing at some point in life,' he said, 'but when they see it in print and have it become a realization, all of a sudden it's morally wrong.' (Alan Scher Zagier, AP)
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Again, where do you draw the line??? It's just a medium of entertainment to some people but it wasn't entertaining at all to others.
When a person expresses a point of view or belief, when is it okay and when does become unacceptable? Just a few examples.....
Margaret Cho - She's a comedian and many think, even I, that her content is funny. But it's not everyone's cup of tea yah know?
Passion of the Christ
South Park
Queer as Folk (to some, I've heard, the show doesn't really draw the real picture about the gay community when others look at like it's the bible) But it's just entertainment.
KKK
That guy who goes to funerals or gay events and calls everyone an abomination or something.
There are some others too....I do not know exactly where the line is..all I can do is participate to what I agree and disagree with until the issue/s are refined and rules are made.
I think it really just boils down to what we can all do to live in harmony...despite all our differences.
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zoozoo6
Total blog posts: 1
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Read the article at the bottom of this e-mail re: ABC Network letter of apology for the racial slur statement during the Season 4 premier showing of "Desperate Housewives".
Being one of the signatory of the petition, I am pleased to see the speed with which it made ABC Network apologized, and rightly so. I have been a believer in wanting to use our voting and buying power to show support or non-support for those who make decisions that affect our common interest as a global Filipino Community. My comment to the petition follows:
"This racial slur demeans our Filipino community and has no place anywhere. I demand for ABC to issue a public apology. Remove this kind of statements from your shows, regardless of what race or community the statement speaks about. It is out of character for ABC to have allowed this kind of racial joke to be included in their show."
ABC Network says sorry for 'racial' slur
The producers of the hit TV series "Desperate Housewives" on Thursday issued an apology for an insulting line that belittled the practitioners of the medical profession in the Philippines.
"The producers of Desperate Housewives and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offence caused [by the insulting remark] in the season premier," ABC Network said in a short statement of apology obtained by ABS-CBN North America News Bureau.
ABC Network added: "There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines."
The network's apology came after the Filipino community, particularly Filipino health workers, in the US and doctors in the Philippines deplored the insulting line uttered by actress Teri Hatcher's character, Susan Mayer in the show's Season 4 premier aired Sunday.
In one of the premier's scene Mayer asked for the credentials of the gynecologist who examined her and told her that she was approaching menopause.
Mayer said: "Can I check those diplomas 'coz I just want to make sure that they're not from some med school in the Philippines."
Malacañang on Wednesday also condemned the insulting line and asked the producers of the show to issue an apology.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the TV show belittled the abilities of Filipino doctors and sent a message that Philippine medical schools produced "substandard, inferior" medical practitioners.
Ambassador Willy Gaa of the Philippine Embassy in Washington has also sent a protest letter to ABC Network. The letter reflected the Filipinos furor over the insulting line.
North America New Bureau chief Ging Reyes, meanwhile, reported that some members of the Filipino community showed discontent despite the apology.
Reyes said Filipinos are demanding for a retraction of the insulting line in one of the episodes of the TV series. Filipinos want to see a scene where the medical profession in the Philippines is being praised by one of the characters.Angry doctors
Dr. Jose Sabili, president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), told ABS-CBN's morning show "Umagang Kay Ganda" that he had already talked with the president of the American Medical Association (AMA) and discussed Mayer's insulting line.
Quoting the AMA president, Sabili said the line was "out of bound."
"It's not good for us. They shouldn't have said those [insulting] words, because we all know that there are good doctors who graduated in the Philippines. That's uncalled for," Sabili said in another interview on Wednesday.
Sabili, who was attending the World Medical Associations General Assembly in Copenhagen, Denmark, said the AMA president had promised him that medical associations will act against the producers of the TV series.
Sabili said the PMA will study the possible cause of negative perceptions of medical schools in the Philippines. He said "diploma mills" and negative write-ups of medical schools in local newspapers could have contributed to the negative perception.
"I have to verify this. We will definitely act on this because this will destroy the reputation of Filipino doctors," he said.Online petition
Filipino Americans have also expressed their outrage over the remark and have launched an online petition demanding an apology from ABC Network.
The petition also demands that the episode be edited to remove the "ignorant and racist" remark. As of 4:16 pm Thursday, some 15,533 people have signed the petition.
The petition also points out the major contribution that Filipinos and Filipino Americans make in healthcare in the United States:
"[A] statement that devalues Filipinos in healthcare is extremely unfounded, considering the overwhelming presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the medical field. Filipinos are the second largest immigrant population in the United States, with many entering the U.S. (and successfully passing their U.S. licensing boards!) as doctors, nurses, and medical technicians.
"In fact, the Philippines produces more US nurses than any other country in the world. So, to belittle the education, experience, or value of Filipino Americans in health care is extremely disrespectful and plain and simply ignorant. Many of the hospitals in major metropolitan areas of the US (and the world) would not be able to operate without its Filipino and Filipino American staff members."
Jay Ngo, a Filipino health professional from Riverside, California in the United States ABS-CBN News that the episode was an outrage, saying, "the healthcare industry, including the best hospitals, is full of Filipino medical professionals."Forum reactions
The message board of the "Desperate Housewives" website was peppered with threads regarding the issue.
One poster, using the alias "hunnybee07" wrote:
"America has been very fortunate to have been served by many [Filipino] nurses and physicians. It is quite ungrateful of Americans to make such remarks. Even if it were meant to be a joke, it apparently hurt an entire nation. The Filipinos deserve an apology. One day, when you are old, it could just be a Filipino nurse by your bedside and then you would know why you should have taken back any insults against Filipinos, especially Filipino medical practitioners."
Another poster, "MommyDO12", who claims to be a doctor in the US said:
"As a Filipino-American who is both a doctor and trained here, I get that your comment is quite ignorant. True, many Americans go overseas for medical school because they could not get in to schools here. However, there are a GREAT number of Americans and Europeans who go to so called "third world" countries because the education there is cutting edge AND affordable. I'm up to my eyeballs in student loans.
"Why do you think Americans are now rushing to the Philippines and India for surgeries unavailable here in America? There are hip surgery techniques that have been developed there that result in less recovery time and have less mortality.
"Please, get educated before jumping onto the obvious bandwagon of "get over it" because you can't possibly understand being berated. Even my husband, who is Caucasian, took great offense to the comment and is the one urging me to stop watching the show in protest."
One poster, who used the alias "berikyut", was long on passion but fell short on English skills.
"What the hell...Talking but about the philippines in your premier... "Let me see your degree making sure is now from somewhere in the philippines"? For you information if you go to hospitals most nurses/doctors there is from philippines & is hard worker & very good...So I suggest you think about your comment before you say it or if it's a joke It should be funny ( that is why it's a joke) DUH!!! I usually like you in the show specially watching you in superman before...NOW forget it....that's why you never win an emmy!!"
This prompted a reply from "Dr.Java02" asking, "Do the nurses/doctors learn grammar and spelling over there?"
With that development, do Filipinos now need to prove that they can master English grammar as well as Western medicine?
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aray
Total blog posts: 1
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Spankz
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I wrote about this yesterday in my blog and I still don't see why people are making such a big deal out of it. So what if Filipinos make up a huge percentage of the health care industry? That argument is a real stretch. Not every Filipino got his or her degree or license to practice from a school in the Philippines.
Why didn't anyone from Grenada start an online petition against Kelsey Grammar when his character Frasier made fun of a colleague who got his degree from the University of Grenada in the episode entitled "Shrink Rap?" It's because they had better ways to spend their time than to complain about something they saw on network television.
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aray
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I didn't necessarily feel offended by it because I'm not part of the Filipino medical industry...I just thought the "joke" was tasteless. Besides, not everyone have the KIND of sense of humor that ABC has. Maybe it's just a joke to most Americans but because of cultural differences the Filipinoes don't find it as just a joke...I think we all have to try to be sensible (i think that's the word) to everyone. And we also have to avoid stereotyping people or generalization....that's kind of a sensitive topic for all of us.
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zoozoo6
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This political correctness crap is whats ruining this country. It seems like you can't say anything without somebody crying about it!!!
If you don't like it don't watch it!!
Don't expect other people to change stuff just because YOU might be offended.
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aray
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aray
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If you don't like it (what I write about) then stop [reading] it.
I can express my own opinion whether someone want's to listen to it or not. Don't tell me to stop.
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zoozoo6
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fat f*ck Rev what a big joke sharpton, getting people all riled up about nothing.
Oh and more importantly, I love breaking your balls.
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aray
Total blog posts: 1
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Dear Kababayan and Allies:
I heard through the grapevine about a remark made on an episode of
"Desperate Housewives" last night. The scene entailed Teri Hatcher's
character (Susan) at a hospital, being told by her gynecologist
that she might be hitting menopause. Susan replied, "Can I just
check those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they are
not from some med school in the Philippines." If you go to abc.com,
you watch the full episode and witness the scene at about 18:50
minutes into the
episode.
This type of derogatory remark is not only unnecessary and hurtful,
but is also unfounded, considering the presence of Filipinos and
Filipino Americans in the health care industry. Filipinos are the
second largest immigrant population in the United States, with many
entering the U.S. and passing their U.S. licensing boards as
doctors, nurses, and medical technicians. In fact, the Philippines
produces more U.S. nurses than any other country in the world. So,
to belittle the education, experience, or value of Filipino
Americans in health care is disrespectful and plain and simply
ignorant.
As Filipino Americans, we need to band together to ensure that this
type of hateful message is not allowed to continue on our television
and radio airwaves. Given the recent amounts of media attention that
has been given to Michael Richards (against African Americans),
Isaiah Washington (against gays), and Rosie O'Donnell (against
Asian/ Chinese Americans), it is ridiculous that this type of
hateful speech made it through various screenwriters, the show's
producers, the show's actors, and ABC itself. Yet, this isn't the
first time that negative remarks have been made about the
Philippines or Filipinos in the past. In recent years, we've heard
one too many "dogeater" comments by "comedian" Joan Rivers on the
red carpet or in her standup act, and I believe that it is about
time that we stand up for ourselves, so that this type of hateful
speech never happens again.
Please join me in expressing your concern, disappointment, and/or
disgust to the producers of ABC.com. You can sign the petition at
http://www.petitiononline.com/FilABC/ or you can reach them directly
at abc7@abc.com.
And please feel free to forward this widely to other Filipinos/
Filipino Americans/ Asian Americans/ and other allies.
Sincerely,
Kevin Nadal,
Filipino Performance Artist/ Activist
knadal@gmail.com
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I understand it is just television and when it comes to the arts there is freedom of expression. The character that Hatcher played is just a character and maybe even a racist (against Filipinos) character. Fine...but I wonder what that could mean to the millions of non-Filipino viewers. That was a hurtful remark against Filipinos which was really not necessary. It seems that the show really was setting itself up for controversy...and we all know that controversy equals ratings. Well we'll see if they will lose Filipno support.
But I think that even though it was just a remark by some fictional character...it is ignorant to say that it won't affect the viewers negatively. So if there's a chance that one Filipino took offense to the remark, there's also that chance that one non-Filipino to use that remark or to start thinking that way.
Is it really being blown out of proportion? I don't know. Hatcher's character should have just attacked the gynecologist's professional skills and American diploma (which I'm sure the gynecologist had to acquire to be able to practice) and not turn it into a racial comment.
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zoozoo6
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You people should probably complain about the George Lopez show he makes fun of mexicans all the time.
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aray
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zoozoo6
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CPJason
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I haven't been to a BGCC event in years. I def need to check it out again. It was so much fun the first time!
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aray
Total blog posts: 1
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Well I just hope no one gets sidetracked here..that the kids still did a bad thing and the kids still need to be punished for it. And maybe punish the "white" person responsible to mistreating the kids.
The beating was a mistake. The punishment was a mistake. We all know two wrongs can't make it right.
Hahaha..I just remembered that controversial Abercrombie shirt that said "Two Wongs can make it white."
Stereotypical but funny.
I hate A&F...they need to update the "all american" look....because that look ain't just "white with a spec of black" no more....it's more like a rainbow now....lol besides..the real all american look is the native american look..which is BROWN!
HAHAH. j/k
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