Wednesday, September 9, 2009

"He who without grammar mistakes, let him throw a stone at her first."

There are people who continue to impress me with their huge egos and what I perceive as stupidity. Take for example some of hubby's cantankerous relatives. I mean, really... tell me what do sophisticated people need --- to realize that migrants are struggling to be accepted, and will therefore remain to laugh with an accent (to borrow the title of Firozeeh Dumas' book LAUGHING WITHOUT AN ACCENT)?

I was particularly offended by the recent emails that circulated among the cousins. Hubby being a cousin, received copies of them as well. I did too. One particular brilliant cousin attacked the immigrants who talk with heavy `North African´accents. I think, the pathetic guy meant Moroccan accent. His email ended with a question. The question being, "what will our children learn in school if they have these people's kids for classmates?"

Another obnoxious cousin replied about how amused she was with these people who absolutely need LOTS OF help in the grammar department. Such arrogance. I wanted so badly to email this cousin and borrow a line from the Bible (quoting in bad taste, if I made add)... but what the heck? That line being.... "He who without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."

Oh yes, I wanted to give them a piece of my mind, and tell them all to get lost. But I am blogging instead.

I am blogging about it NOT because I am fuming mad. Neither do I hate them nor do I want to sollicit pity or sympathy here. I am blogging because I am outraged. Outraged by our behavior towards each other. Outraged about their indiscretion and ignorance. Outraged and scandalised about their incorrect image of migrants. Outraged and upset about their utter disrespect and lack of compassion.

This kind of behaviour made me think of myself... whether I feel the same way whenever they speak in what I will call here as Klompen-English. You know, like, "I go with the bike to the city" (ik ga met de fiets naar het centrum). Or when they say HEPI to mean happy; or LOOKI to mean lucky.

This brings me to my next question. Are we just as indiscreet, ignorant, incorrect, disrespectful, and incompassionate as these cousins? I wonder.

20 comments:

Mel said...

such arrogance! such sense of superiority! such pathetic people!

buday said...

Prejudice is really brought on by ignorance. If THEIR children will go to school with "THESE PEOPLE" they will learn that there are colorful, rich cultures outside of their own. They will also learn to look beyond skin color, gain friends, and broaden their minds.
Salamat Isay for coming out with this. Grabe siguro an ngili-ngili mo ha, hehe.

Jesusa said...

marissa, i'm glad that you have a way to vent. you're actually very lucky and i am lucky as well to read this. talagang sometimes, makamumundo kun minsan when some people forget that we are all different in many ways, language, culture, etc. this reminds me to be more accepting. thanks.

cherie said...

purbaran daw tabi niya mag tagalog kay kitaon ta man an grammar niya. aber, nano man kuno an masasabi niya sa mga 'pure' na taga didi na tituyo an 'dis' for 'this', 'dat' for 'that' o an 'ain't' o an 'she DO, DON'T she?' o si bush (the younger) 'is our children learning?'

Droomvla said...

masiramon ngani pagparatulan. kundi sabi ngani ni junjun, nanu ngaya kay mag edukar ka sainda? pabayae lang ngaya sinda san pagka ignoramus ninda. lol

Unknown said...

This sort of things makes me mad too! Let's just feel sorry for these "cousins", I guess they haven't been outside their "dorpjes" very often, and ergo, they know very little of the world outside. Or probably they are the kind of people that go abroad, but just spend the 10 days roasting on a beach without showing the least interest in the local culture and people.
As I was reading, I thought exactly the same as buday: their children will be probably better persons thanks to the multi-cultural atmosphere they'll enjoy at school.
I don't know what I would've done if I had received emails with those comments. I don't think I could've refrained myself from giving them a piece of my mind. But hé, I'm a crazy foreigner :o)
Cheers.

Droomvla said...

@Aledys: I actually went ballistic over it. But it doesn't help... especially because some of these people have this gi-normous (gigantic-enormous) sense of entitlement --- you know, they think they are entitled to air their own opinion,... nevermind if they run over other people's feelings.

Some decent cousins reacted though and asked to be removed from the family e-group. I think I will do that too.

Droomvla said...

@Mel: Very well said. Thanks for dropping by. I haven't seen you in the circulation for quite some time now. :)

Droomvla said...

@Buday: Iba an naiisip ko sadi na ngaran mo tabi Cinderella! hahahaha

You are right. It's ignorance. But like I said, I don't want to "educate" these people by pointing out to them what you aptly said here.

Droomvla said...

@Jesusa: yeah, my blog is my space in the cyberworld where i can dispose all my emotional luggage and GARBAGE. LOL

But this incident actually taught me a lesson too. :)

Sol said...

I am very impressed by your action against their lapses.... mas mayad na didi ka nag comment at least safe.... you won't hurt them and they won't hurt you even more.... dagdagan mo na lang ang pagtitimpi mo... =)

rwidiani said...

the difference between us and them is that they don't mind to speak up their opinion, which they're so proud of. sometimes i wonder is it just a positive thing or just a form of being rude and insensitive.

i wonder whether those cousins know that you also read their emails. would they change the tone if you react?

Anita said...

Oh-oh ! During my first years in Holland I was mockered by a friend of my husband. Criticised, made fun, and so forth. I reached the conclusion he was free to think whatever he wanted to think - I am not here to change peoples's visions about the world. He became a lonely voice in the desert and the only person he was ridiculing was himself.

Droomvla said...

@Sol: Hi, Sol. Nalagalag ka daw ulit. hahahaha Amo, no comment na lamang ako para di na magdako an issue. :)

Droomvla said...

@rwidiani: Hello, Ret. I know what you mean about the over emphasis on freedom of speech here.

I figure that if I react on that email, that it will just become a saga, and those cousins will not change their minds about what they think. So, it's pointless. But if I see them in person, they're really gonna get it from me. It's better that way, I think. :)

Droomvla said...

@Anita: Hello again. Yes, you are so right. We are not here to change people's vision about the world. You know, it will all bounce back to them anyway. lol

thamarai said...

A very though provoking post...I think sub consciously we are all prejudiced in some way and these demons come out when we are conversing in close circles....imagine us talking the Moroccan language (not sure what that is), but I bet all of us including the Dutch would have several such grammar problems..;)

vee harris said...

Yea sometimes people in our families forget where they come from, and they think putting other people down makes them superior. Well it shows ignorance on their part. Do not judge, only God can judge us.

Droomvla said...

@Thamarai: It's true. We all are prejudiced at some level. But their audacity shocked me. Anyways... :)

Droomvla said...

@Verna: True, it's not our place to judge. But I think that sometimes when we are blinded by anger, we say things that are not pleasant to hear which may sound discriminatory to a listener (or, in my case, a reader).