Floyd Foulweather

As if the hostage tragedy hasn’t tainted the image of the Philippines enough in the eyes of the world, along comes boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. unleashing a flood of trash talk on Manny Pacquiao. If you think that’s strictly Pacquiao’s business and does not affect the rest of us as Filipinos, think again. The world has a bad habit of going by stereotypes, and if Pacquiao’s ring prowess has had a positive effect on our people, Mayweather’s insults have also had a negative ruboff.

I’m reacting as a self-respecting Filipino should. While Pacquiao’s calibrated response was proper -- he being the champion with the record and the title that Mayweather covets -- the rest of us cannot simply let the slur pass. When vile-tongued individuals are allowed to get away with slandering Filipinos, onlookers and kibitzers tend to get into the act and join in the insulting spree. We can’t allow them to make virtual punching bags of us. Slanderers must realize that there’s a price to pay for their insults.

Back in the mid-1980s, a disc jockey of KMEL radio in San Francisco simulated a Pinoy ordering "dog sandwich" in the course of his show. This was reported by an irate FilAm radio listener to the office of Advertising & Marketing Associates, USA, which, at the time, was producing a weekly magazine show, Manila, Manila, on KTSF TV Channel 26. I happened to be the recipient of the complaint and I promised to do something about it.

I reported the slur to the Federal Communications Commission and was informed that the radio station could be held accountable for it. I then called up the KMEL station manager, told him of the FCC’s opinion, and demanded an on-air apology. The offending disc jockey, who was doing his show at the time, was forced to publicly apologize for the insult.

In late 2007, Filipino doctors were insulted in an episode of the ABC series, Desperate Housewives. In one scene, Teri Hatcher, one of the stars of the show, while discussing her oncoming menopause with her gynecologist, questioned the latter’s credentials and quipped, "Can I check those diplomas? Because I want to make sure they’re not from some med school in the Philippines."

The Filipino American community immediately protested the insult and more than 50,000 signed an online petition, initiated by Kevin Nadal, condemning the show and ABC Network. The National Federation of FilipinoAmerican Associations (NaFFAA) organized protest demonstrations at the offices of ABC and retail outlets of Disney and demanded an apology. ABC apologized and vowed to be more ethnically and culturally sensitive in its programs.

Mayweather’s verbal attacks require a similarly vigorous and angry response from our community. While his obvious intention was to demean and diminish the stature of Pacquiao as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, Mayweather also demeaned the rest of us.

Of course, the tirade merely served to expose Mayweather as a mean, envious, frustrated, and completely insecure juvenile delinquent whose parents failed to imbue with manners. Small wonder. Floyd Mayweather Sr. set a record for profanity and Barnum and Bailey quips in the weeks leading to the Pacquiao bout with Ricky Hatton. Of course, Mayweather Sr. ended up like a dog with his tail under his legs after his ward got knocked out in two rounds. At least, the Briton fought like a man. Mayweather Sr. spewed trash like a sewer.

And now comes his son, Floyd Mayweather Jr., trying to outdo his old man in bad manners. For a pugilist who claims to be "the best," Mayweather is an embarrassment not only to boxing but to sports in general. In case that juvenile brain of his hasn’t figured it out yet, the essence of sports is sportsmanship. And in case his potty mouth hasn’t learned to verbalize it yet, the essence of sportsmanship is fair play.

Mayweather subsequently "apologized" for his tirade and claimed he was "just having fun." The idiot can’t even tell the difference between being insulting and being funny. He can’t tell the difference between fair and foul. Indeed, this character should, from now on, be known as Foulweather.

Floyd Foulweather. Alias Potty Mouth.

In case Foulweather’s dad hasn’t told him yet, Pacquiao’s patronizingly civilized description of his insults as "uneducated" was as devastating as a left hook to the chin of Hatton. The contrast between Foulweather’s below-the-belt attack and Pacquiao’s matter-of-fact dismissal of it told a glaring tale of who the better man is. It certainly isn’t the one whose punch-drunk brain can’t tell the difference between right and wrong.

NaFFAA has, once again, taken up the cudgels for our community. It has released a statement strongly condemning Foulweather’s racist and homophobic remarks and has also asked civil rights organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the leading African-American civil rights group, to censure the boxer.

Below is the official NaFFAA statement:

"NaFFAA condemns racist and homophobic rant against Filipino boxing champ.

"Washington, D.C. -- The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) has strongly condemned boxing star Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s blatantly racist and homophobic attacks against Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao in a YouTube interview released two days ago. In the vitriolic video, Mayweather called Pacquiao a ‘whore,’ a ‘little yellow chump’ and a ‘midget’ several times. He also said that he will force Pacquiao to ‘make some sushi rolls and cook some rice’ and ‘we’re going to cook him with some cats and dogs.’

"Pacquiao had challenged Mayweather to a fight in the ring, but so far Mayweather has refused. Instead, he has defamed and slandered Pacquiao with baseless accusations that he uses performance-enhancing drugs.

"’We are outraged by Mayweather’s racially offensive remarks,’ says NaFFAA National Chair Greg Macabenta. ‘This disgusting diatribe against Pacqiuao is a racial slur against all Filipinos and Filipino Americans and an embarrassment not only to the boxing community but to all Americans. Talking trash may be common between boxing rivals, but Mayweather’s racially laced profanities brazenly crossed the line of decency and respectability. Pacquiao, on the other hand, has taken the high road and acted like the gentleman that he is.

"’We call on the National Boxing Association and state athletic commissions to censure Mayweather for behavior that is both abhorrent and demeaning to boxing fans and to the whole world of sports. We also call on the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to reprimand the boxing star for insulting people of color. We are further asking all civil rights organizations to stand in solidarity with us in denouncing this racist and homophobic rant. Mayweather’s apology is unacceptable and he must be made accountable for his damaging statements.

"’At a time when immigrant communities are being viewed with increasing suspicion and mistrust, Mayweather’s cruel, abusive and hurtful remarks can only stoke more hostility, derision and resentment against individuals who look foreign by virtue of their looks, their size or the sound of their names. Coming from a boxing celebrity with millions of fans around the world, Mayweather’s shameless and reckless conduct unfairly paints an entire racial and ethnic group with a broad brush and seriously undermines America’s core values of inclusivity and racial tolerance.’"

We urge every Pinoy who does not relish being called the names Floyd Foulweather inflicted on Pacquiao to pass on this protest statement. Remember, Potty Mouth didn’t just insult Pacquiao. He insulted the rest of us.


Source: http://www.bworldonline.com