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David Letterman vs. Gov. Sarah Palin: Jokes in bad taste and an "epidemic" of (in)sincere apologies?

6/12/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

When Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo was caught in an foul phone call in the “Hello Garci” case, she had no choice but to apologize to the Filipino people. When the seemingly straight arrow US Senator Tom Daschle was found to have evaded taxes during a background check, he apologized to the Americans.

Many followed through with their own mea culpas for certain wrong-doings. Bernard Madoff did so for defrauding his trusting clients of $65 billion in his Ponzi scheme. Dr. Hayden Kho was “remorseful” for spreading his scandalous sex videos which humiliated his girl friends and insulted the medical profession.

Now it’s late-night comedian David Letterman’s turn to apologize for making fun of Gov. Sarah Palin and her family. Letterman, the 62 year-old ageing laughbag who should know better, made some sexual jokes on Willow, one of Palin’s underaged chidren of having to fend off Eliot Spitzer (a sexual problem) and getting raped by Yankees sportsman Alex Rodriguez during a New York visit.

The joke relates to the hateful and long-standing rough handling of Palin who espouses conservative beliefs on pre-marital sex---obviously her freedom to do so being in America.

After offending people, which of these public apologies are real? Where is the sincerity? In spite of the outrage from tolerant people, why is the mainstream media, TV, and cause-oriented groups silent of the mockery of the Palins?

The conservative family from Alaska was offended and issued a statement which was quickly answered with a lot of back-hand humor by Letterman to the delight of his fans. Had Gov. Sarah Palin never run for vice-president during the last election, her family could have been left alone. For her conservative views, the governor of Alaska had been a target of unfair "minding" by secular individuals who don't agree with her opinion.

It looks like USA is degenerating into a warped society whose beneficient culture is going down the drain. At the expense fairness and in the guise of humor, some people like Letterman have become insensitive. Mockery seems in vogue for certain people, but off-limits to others like Pres. Barack Obama's children.

Political correctness takes a double standard. For those who watched Letterman “apologize” in camera, many are struck by the (in)sincerity and appalled by the hideousness of his jokes. (Photo Credit: gettyimages/ Fame/ Extracomposite; http: extratv.warnerbros.) =0=

UPDATE: June 16, 2009--- Amidst vociferous protests and criticisms versus David Letterman, the late night comedian apologized to Gov. Sarah Palin and her family. Letterman said for a joke that was wrong. Gov. Palin who protested that such joke was degrading to women----encouraged disrespect and exploitation of to certain group of people, accepted the apology.

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Labels: apology, comedy, culture, David Letterman, Dr. Hayden Kho, entertainment, Gov. Sarah Palin, insult, Justice, political correctness, Ponzi, Totie Mesia, truth

Burger King withdraws ad which Mexicans find racially offensive

4/16/2009 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

Barely a month of bashing by the Hongkong magazine columnist Chip Tsao who insulted Filipinos as a "nation of servants," the giant fast food chain Burger King has to apologize for its new hamburger ad released in Europe.

It featured a tall lanky red-shirted American cowboy and a pudgy guy of diminutive stature wearing the Mexican flag in an advertisement. The commercial comes as a poster with a corresponding TV clip which has stirred the ire of Mexicans who threaten to take legal action.

Mexico’s ambassador to Spain Jorge Zermeño took offense on the poster which he said showed an erroneous and demeaning stereotype of Mexicans. The controversial ad introduced the hamburger “Texican whooper” using the Mexican flag inappropriately.

In a response to the complaint, Burger King wrote a letter to the ambassador saying the food company didn’t mean any harm to the Mexicans, but nonetheless, the food company apologized. Burger King promised to remove the derogatory commercial.

The move to get over the issue quickly by issuing an apology and withdrawing the commercial must be the most logical thing to do. There have been some instances of demeaning portrayals of a group of people which show racist tendencies in others. Putting Burger King on notice about the laws against desecration of the national symbols such as the Mexican flag sends a message of the need for respect.(Photo Credit; NY Daily News; ER M@rshall) =0=

RELATED BLOG: "Hongkong’s Chip Tsao & his cheap racial slur against Filipinos" posted by mesiamd at 3/31/2009

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Labels: advertisement, apology, Burger KIng, commercial, flag, insult, Jorge Zermeño, Mexico, political correctness, racial slur, Totie Mesia, With all due respect

Cory’s EDSA II apology opens controversies & distrust among Filipinos

12/24/2008 | Posted by Anonymous | Edit Post

Calling the EDSA II revolution a mistake, Corazon (Cory) Aquino, one of the leaders of the movement which ousted former Pres. Joseph (Erap) Estrada from power has brought the nation into new controversies. The sudden confession of the ailing former president opened wounds--- sowing confusion among doubting Filipinos who bewailed the endemic poor leadership in the national government.

Rather than bridging the often-repeated "reconciliation” among warring political parties, the demure housewife and former chief executive unwittingly exposed the short-sightedness and immaturity of leaders who stood as huge obstacles to the progress of the country. There were those who surmised if cancer and treatment had put her on tremendous strain; her ability to think sanely as before might have taken a beating.

As a devout practitioner of Catholicism, the former president who’s trying to define her legacy as an infuential public servant may have scored high on matters of faith, but she has placed the people in a void of uncertainty whose damage is too early to quantify. The effects are likely to cause lasting shockwaves on how politics will be played in government affairs like the next presidential election. They will cut across the way people will view what is morally right and wrong as they rule over the scandals that see no end.

By seeking Estrada’s forgiveness, Cory repudiated the collective action of her party and those who pushed for an end of blatant thievery, corruption and ineptness during and after Estrada’s administration. The damning evidence of incompetence and plunder laid bare during the 6 years of trial reduced the public to docility and silent acquiescence---- a treacherous problem of Filipinos no wanted to touch.

Like a modern-day soap opera, Estrada’s dizzying legal battle and his privileged imprisonment shown in TVs, radios, and newspapers ended in a conviction hailed by the people. But it was quickly reversed by Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo (GMA)--- herself, a sore symbol of almost all things that had gone wrong with the country. Many believed GMA, the current prexy with an outrageously low approval rating of negative (-30) cleverly pardoned Estrada for political convenience. It was unclear though whether Cory's apology to Estrada was linked to her frustraion over GMA's mishandling the government. Cory called on her to resign amidst uncurbed corruption as the wagons of Estrada's political come-back had rolled in from the first station.

Because of Cory’s change of heart, there are deepening doubts on whether Filipino leaders are up for the job of steering the country to better times. In spite of the early justifications and defense for the widow of Benigno (Ninoy) Aquino, her position strengthens the chance of the come-back of the Estrada and his "weather-weather" gang. The Filipinos are left in an impasse: Wala na ba talagang ibang mga magagaling at matitino?

The demoralizing effect of Cory’s declaration puts the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) leadership, a staunch supporter of EDSA II on the defensive. It revives anew the questions on church-state separation and the constitutionality of the power take-overs which left a serious lingering leadership vacuum in all political fronts.

Most of all, it irreparably damaged the Cory brand of uprightness and wisdom she shared with her martyred husband Ninoy Aquino, leaving Filipinos one less of a person to trust and emulate. (Photo Credits: Joe Galvez; Marcial Pontillas21; Marcial Pontillas21; gmaresign; Marcial Pontillas21; Marcial Pontillas21)=0=

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Labels: Accountability, apology, cancer, Catholic, Corruption, Cory Aquino, EDsA II, Joseph Estrada, moral values, political correctness, politics, Pres. Corazon Aquino, Roman Catholic Church, Totie Mesia

UP Ibalon Bicol

David Letterman vs. Gov. Sarah Palin: Jokes in bad taste and an "epidemic" of (in)sincere apologies?

Burger King withdraws ad which Mexicans find racially offensive

Cory’s EDSA II apology opens controversies & distrust among Filipinos

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