Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Global Warming of the Whities


America is still run, in the main, by whites, but that is changing. That huge mass of white America is melting, very much like a giant Antarctic iceberg under attack by warm seas. Indeed, white America is eroding most rapidly at the outer edges, where racial tides wash relentlessly inland. The coastal cities of Los Angeles, New York, Miami, New Orleans and Dallas (hah) are no longer white. They are a giant hodgepodge of mixed races, black and brown and yellow. Los Angeles is less than 50% white, I know, because I used to frequent the ethnic restaurants there, from Indian to Japanese to Thai to Cuban. You like variety in what you eat, Los Angeles is the place to go.

One big splash of American ethnicity landed smack dab in the President's Oval Office at White House.

Think there will ever be a white Philippine president?

The Philippines is different, for sure. More resistant to the floods of foreign ideas and looks. It is strange to me.

On one hand, you have this very rich country, America, that has always welcomed the "huddled masses" from afar. The nation gave them resources and opportunity, and from that opportunity and their own drive to succeed, wealth arose and became abundant. On the other hand, you have this very poor country, the Philippines, which does not welcome immigrants, preferring instead to hold its resources and opportunity for its own huddled masses. Wealth grows not abundant at all.

It is the thinking, the consistency of thought, in the Philippine mind that confuses me, and amuses me. It is this same old same old "100 percent" mentality that I wrote about a few blogs ago. You are either Filipino or you are not, and if you are not, stay that way. In other words, "keep out". A Filipino is special, a racial line to be preserved.

But it is like all the closed-in cross-breeding generated a bunch of high-strung thieves who are out for themselves and not anyone else amongst the huddled masses. So the huddled are also muddled masses without the inclination or determination to grow and expand and learn and innovate and take care of one another and compete. It is a giant black hole of self-service that concocts little in the way of new ideas or problem-solving.

Americans are blunt, too, you might have noticed. They don't worry so much about their own face, and let others take care of theirs.

The preservation of the Filipino seems to go beyond race to patriotic loyalty, as if being non-Filipino were a security threat. Dual citizenship, common in America, is begrudgingly handed out to Filipinos who have returned from overseas. It is like the Philippines gets angry when Filipinos adopt foreign citizenship because it gives them the right to vote overseas, or gives their kids the opportunity to be president or win American Idol. It's envy maybe. Meanwhile, white guys like me are not openly welcomed as a citizen here. Not trusted. Might take something away, rather than add it.

The Filipino iceberg is built of denser ice than American, I guess. Less trusting ice.

I suspect that a Philippines open to foreign investment and full involvement of outsiders, as citizens, would create both wealth and trouble. Wealth for all the innovation and exploitation the inbounds would bring, and trouble from the anger of the natives left behind, or dragged about on the coattails of the new rich.

Maybe it is good to be closed, huh?

Of course openness could also energize the land and bring it into the fold of competitive nations and allow it to grasp a big batch of that wealth building in Asia. Inspire Filipinos old and new to become determined and innovative and productive. Qualities today often missing in business and government enterprise.

I also observe that the Filipino race, although marked by brownness and falling on the shorter end of the elevation scale, is remarkably varied as to facial features. Eyes come in all shapes, from narrow to round, although just about all brown. There are no blond Filipinos, like there are in Samoa, where 10% of the population mysteriously has blond hair. Faces are oval or triangular here, or even thin. Man, no one looks alike.

So as near as I can tell the only thing consistent, physically, is the color brown. And that ranges across the entire hue from almost white to almost black.

I have also come to observe that personalities of Filipinos vary widely. There are as many personality types as there are people. Most fun-loving, indeed, but some introvert, some extrovert, some loud, some quiet, some curious, some not so. Some like to read or speak English, and others are fine in a smaller space. There is no one-sized personality that fits all.

So I am kinda like wondering, ummmmm, if the only commonality is brown, why are Filipinos so rabid about sealing their nation off from the non-brown world? Why does it build high sea-walls that hold back the floods of fresh thinking and wealth washing across from the greater world?

To preserve the color brown?

My grandfather, a rather handsome but kinky old coot, taught my mother to swim when she was about 5 by taking her in a boat to the middle of the lake and throwing her in. She had to swim to live.

I think Filipinos are afraid of being thrown from the boat they are on, into the big, dynamic, warm sea that surrounds them. Or afraid of jumping into the water, as if swimming were something a Filipino did not know how to do . . .

23 comments:

  1. New York City white population keeps shrinking. It is about 40% now. One of the reasons for it is that there are no more emigrants coming from Europe.
    Funny that you think a white man will not be elected as prez of the Philippines anytime soon. I think it is a self esteem issue.
    I think most Filipinos prefer the USA be white. Filipinos I don't think they share our enthusiasm of diversity of races at the expense of the white population. They don't trust others I guess. They like to mix with us to make those mix babies among other things.

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    1. Right, I think there is a line we are supposed to stand behind. Diversity is not a goal here, or accepted even. And I'm not sure why. Fear mainly, I suppose, the underlying reason for most stereotyping.

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    2. I think Filipino race is the most diversified race in the world. Allow me to explain and perhaps you will reconsider your statement that "diversity is not a goal here, or accepted even."

      Historically, the Filipino race is a mixture of White, Malay, Chinese, Spanish, portuguese, Japananese, Indian and many other races I have missed. You know that negretoes is the native filipino and they are short and black-skinned with curly hair. Right?

      Well, do you know what happens when a white paint is mixed with a black paint? You know and I know that the result is interestinly brown which is probably why brown eyes is dominant among Filipinos.

      Another case study that I want to relate to you. I take my son to a prep school for three years. I observed that there are few white kids in the class; a diversified version of white and brown genes all mixed up together producing white children. Parents, including myself welcomed and adored these children as if they belong to the family. I did not see fear among the parents, I saw acceptance.

      Where is that negative feeling is coming from where you felt that you are being rejected? Funny, I dont understand, but I know you are married to a Filipina. You see, I have many white friends married to a filipina during and after my military service.

      On the other hand, if you happened to watch TV entertainment show, you will be surprised that there are lots of Filipinos who look like white. One of them could be the next white President of the Philippines. Never know bro!

      I used to say OMG, they dont look like Filipino at all.

      Yeah, I think Filipinos are changing too in term of physical features as a result of race diversity, but I am not too sure about their mind set (crab mentality).

      Its Jack

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    3. Jack, you know that points out my glaring idiocy, thinking that somehow a good mixing of races would end up producing whites. That's funny. I'm looking for whites in the Philippines when that simply can't be in a good racial mixing. Brown it is!

      Thanks for the slap upside the head on that one.

      I will hold to the point about immigration, however, that the Philippines is not open from that standpoint. That is not a racial perspective, but one of nationalism, or preserving the Philippines as a closed "tribe" or clan.

      And, although I agree there is a lot of cross-mixing, the point Attila makes below is also true. There is a lot of wariness and lack of comfort when whites and Filipinos are put together in social settings. Somehow, one on one, it works better. I don't know if that is the shyness Attila mentions, or face issues, or what.

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    4. Joe, you are embarassing me with your self-deprecating humbleness; however, that is a respectable values.

      I am not too sure if I could support that notion Joe. Philippines is a member of ASEAN nations and there is no visa requirements between them. Although I dont have the figures how many were allowed to immigrate in the Philippines, I have to ask, who in hell wants to immigrate in a third world country like the Philippines? Why one closes its door when nobody wants to go through it?

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    5. Well, damn, you caught me coming again from my white American place, as if we were the center of the world. I'm not aware of visa requirements for other countries, so for sure my perspective is limited. I have no idea why a Vietnamese or Indonesian would migrate to the Philippines. I know why an American or European would. Price, climate, scenery, being taken care of in ways that we can't in the US unless we are rich.

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    6. Honestly, I will let you get way with that because I will switch to the American side just to support your premise that America is the center of the world and will always be.

      Yeah Joe, allow me to add a package why they want to come to the Philippines where our homeboy Amb Thomas got into trouble: Sex tour, it is a lucrative underworld business. A thing like that kind of incident, Filipino unites to defend the montherland with vigor. No, I didnt participate, if you ask.

      Hey Joe remember sepo-sepo? I could tell you how it is done if you didnt know.

      Its Jack

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    7. Sometimes ambassadors should not be overly, ummmmm, candid. Leave that to us. I didn't know, and don't want to know! (Nice to have a sense of humor visit once in a while; takes the edge off of things.)

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  2. I like the fact that you touched on the whole trust issue with us. Speaking from my own experience, people here are very superficial, not wanting to get to know the person, just make a judgement based on one glance. I can't quite go into detail about it, but i think that not letting direct foreign investment(for example) in this country stems from a fear of being run over again, being turned into another country's plaything. Being African-American and Filipino myself, it took me years to make friends with people who could say that they trust me. It's the fear that plays into their minds. Of course, the funny thing is, a small majority of Filipinas would rather have foreign husbands. many of us brag about how much of a melting pot we as a people are, yet scoff at the idea of dual citizenship. lemme know if you wanna pick my brain more.

    Ybañez-Anderson

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    1. Ybañez-Anderson, welcome to the blog. Easy judgment, little trust. There you go. I think being brutally colonized would leave some sensitivities, for sure. But it is time to work out of that, I think. It is impossible to be self contained and generate the kind of wealth needed to get rid of the incredible poverty here.

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    2. You sound like a very opinionated lady -- something that isn't prized in "macho" Philippines. No brownies measured up to you since you found them too shallow?

      Fear of the FDI isn't just xenophobia and fear of getting "colonized." Who's blocking entry of other foreign market players? Maybe those who stand to lose if they get run over by "progress." Who's that? You have your traditional oligarchs and agenda-based groups (read as leftists).

      Your oligarchs will probably go with foreigners if they have a nice chunk of the action. Your leftists...well, you know they want an even application of poverty in society.

      Here's a thought: Maybe the average Filipino hovers just slightly a bit above the poverty line, skimming a bit off the surface, to even worry about investors. Among the poor, those who stand to benefit from an infusion of job-creating investments, I don't think blocking FDI is hardly a conversation piece over a meal of pagpag or instant noodles for five.

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    3. Thank you Ybanez-Anderson. Since you give me liberty to pick your brain I might just do that, you see, I follow the market and we, the Banko Sentral bend-over backwards many times over to stimulate foreign investment. Point is that foreign investment is highly welcomed in the Philippines without any kind or form of fear. Like what they say: "Its the Economy, stupid," no pun intended.

      Looking at the big picture, I am a Fil-Am and could speak about trust whom they mistakenly assume that Filipinos are distrustful to Foreigner; therefore, they feel unwelcomed. It is unfortunate that they feel that way, but I think they mis-read their attitude.

      I think that attitude I implied, is not distrust. Has anybody thought that it could be too much respect? You see, in the philippines, there are many social classes where if one is not within their social class level, they will not interact with that group which is mistakenly perceived as shyness, distrust, or even label them as a close tribe. I cant blame you guys; when I got here in 2004, I feel unwelcomed too because when I try to initiate a conversation, they are unresponsive and just look at me as if I am going to mug them. I now understand the social class and accepted the fact of life in the Philippines. I asked them not to call me Sir, but they wont stop until I just accepted defeat. Yeah, too much respect could be destructive.

      Yeah, It took you many years to make friends. Its mutual bro. My housekeepers have four children and it took them many many years to come up to my house to use the CR. It is a wonderful life. It takes a while to gain that trust especially when you are a foreigner.

      Its Jack

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  3. Anonymous, If I'm not mistaken one time you were a brown Fiipina and now an African American and Filipino and also Mr. Ybanez whatever. Funny anyway I don't really care as long you share your honest opinion.
    I don't think Filipinos are the trusty type back home. They also don't feel comfortable getting to know foreigners directly. When I'm with my fiance they take her apart with questions about me and us. She get's interrogated by taxi drivers and at carinderias etc. often the questions are very private and sexual but most of the time not one question towards me. Foreigners are no approached and not engaged in conversations so they have no ways of knowing us. Is it the combination of shy issue and trust issue?

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    1. Shy and trust and face, I suspect. And macho behind the scenes.

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  4. From: Island jim-e (aka-the cricket) rocking chair!

    From the ripe old age of "almost-70"ish I here 'stand and
    deliver...!":

    1. I am a citizen of the world by choice, education and travel
    experiences. I have never met a fellow travler of any so
    called ethnic background that I did not enjoy visiting
    with (for the exception of the pickpockets, etc.)

    2. I have Italian "2 x Img" parentage and ancestory...born
    (and survived NYC,NY, USA) survived the "draft" into
    Vietnam, married for 35 years to my island "treasure"--
    so I consider myself only " half PH"...!

    Note: For the first time in the history of the USA the
    so called "white-folks" are out numbered by "the others"!

    3. Observations: Rats leaving a sinking ship do not vote-
    sit around and take surveys, or even bother to ask why!

    They do not waste time, don't need "life-jackets" as
    they have a inherantance of being swimmers and surviors!

    4. The bottom line is "what are we/you/I doing to do to
    help save our individual and collective skins?

    Are you up for the Darwin concept of Survival of
    the Fit...adapt or else...the choice is ours!

    We can (and I hope will) act in a positive way
    and do the right thing now, today, and each day
    following sunrise...or we will be weeded-culled
    out!

    It is only by their/our/ fruits-results are we
    measured! At the end of the day, regardless of
    what is said, not said, only the "fruits"-
    aka-results really count....!

    The rest is just smoke and mirrors fed to us by
    the "rulers", king-makers,dominators, preditors,
    blood-suckers, VIP-its, big shots, politic,
    clergy and so-called mis-educators...!

    I hope we can still learn how to work our
    salvation together!

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    1. Jim, good to read your commentary, which is rich with history and a few riddles and some good wisdom. Also, you remind me I need to find a good rocking chair . . .

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    2. Hey Jim, I am kin-spirited among vets. I was in Iraq twice and Gaeta, Italy for almost 5 years.

      Of course we can still learn how to work our salvation together. Least I thought that is what I am trying to do here. Every nice words is salvation.

      All the best and hope to hear from you again.

      Its Jack

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  5. JoeAm, thanks for the welcome. I think now is as better a time as ever to really try and pull ourselves out of this rut and open up to the world even more, as long as we can get our education system to a better standard.

    brianitus, actually, I'm the male product of such union, haha. But: isn't it also in the interest of the average Filipino whether or not it matters? I guess the question is, why shouldn't they be worried about where their next job comes from? Also, i just wanted to ask: Could that fear also stem from somewhere else? Perhaps the fear of not being able to compete?

    Jack, I like that other viewpoint of "too much respect". It sounds like a better alternative to the "superficial" justification that I use most of the time when thinking about it in my head. Sounds like friendly and accommodating only applies to the same social class, haha. And now that you mention it, interaction between these social classes is funny as well. I have a friend who always thinks of me very highly just because I drive a car and he uses the pedicab. Everyone just HAS to be different.

    Attila, I think it's what JoeAm said and the plain curiosity and wonderment that comes from such a partnership.

    Ybañez-Anderson

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    1. @Ybañez-Anderson:
      Four words -- Le yikes!My bad!

      Yup. It should be an interest. But it's not as pressing a concern as thinking about where to get the next meal.

      If you're pressing for the relaxation of constitutional controls over foreign investments, that's a different matter altogether. That will require political will to fend off pressure from both "patriots" and other (vested) interest groups. You need not worry about the masses. They don't have a hold on it anyway.

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    2. Ybanderson, if you followed what happened at the airport between Tulfo, Barreto, and Santiago, then you know what happens when two different social classes collides. The higher class thinks they are demigod and I passionately hate that attitude.

      Delighted you catch up quickly.

      Its jack

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    3. brianitus, that's a sad truth, ain't it?

      Jack, i've been living under a rock the past few days, and i'm just reading about it now. the one thing a could say is that these people have to pull their heads out of their asses.
      i enjoy reading these posts, esp. after scanning what the gang at AP and GRP have to say.

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    4. Jack, that just shows you that "class" doesn't come with an upgrade/downgrade in "social class." I've met people from upper to lower segments of the social spectrum. Most of my experience has been generally positive. The trouble starts whenever someone thinks she/he is above everybody else. Personally, I just don't pay attention to these people.

      If I'm going to think I'm above everyone else, I might as well act the part properly. LOL. Kiddin'

      Ybanderson, yep. It's the sad truth.

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  6. Anonymous I try to follow you with your experience: Surviving the draft to Vietnam and the visiting Iraq twice?

    "...if one is not within their social class level, they will not interact with that group which is mistakenly perceived as shyness, distrust... I got here in 2004, I feel unwelcomed too because when I try to initiate a conversation, they are unresponsive and just look at me as if I am going to mug them. I now understand the social class and accepted the fact of life in the Philippines."

    This line from you made me think o lot. Trying to understand it. So alien.

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