Why the Arrogance, James

I was utterly offended, and still am, after reading this particular article written by James Soriano which was published by Manila Bulletin on 24 August (when I checked tonight, the article was no longer accessible in their site). No matter how I read it, or how many times I read it over and over, his message was clear. And sure did he send his message across.

Maybe we all are guilty, even at one point, that speaking the English language makes us a little better than those who cannot. That speaking it gives us a little more pride for ourselves. That speaking it meant we had more privilege and thus giving us the confidence that it would take us to places. Yes, we all are guilty of it.

But saying that Filipino is the language of those who had less opportunity than us is what I could not comprehend. Labelling it as the language of tinderas, manongs, and katulongs made it just very offensive, if not discriminating.

Yes it is the language of the learned since it is the medium of instruction in classes, the one officially used in the government offices, hospitals, court rooms and the like. A privileged person surely will understand every single English word there is. However, to not speak, think or even pray through it does not mean you are not amongst the learned. It is merely by doing so that we are who we are, Filipinos. Neither it makes one become American by speaking in English.

He might have forgotten that the English language only aids us to compete in a globalised world where English still remains the lingua franca. The language helps us indeed, like how it helped him express his opinions and views to others. It is through it that he became equipped to write a column for a prestigious newspaper company. That through being educated in an institution, where even our national heroes have attended, make him a talent, a pride. It is undeniably because of one's proficiency in English that they attain places somehow.

But to have learned and have perfected it does not put him in the position, or even have the right, to associate the language to those "who wash their dishes". For him to imply and conclude such things only displayed his arrogance. Even Rizal, who was a polyglot did not take pride in being such to an extent of degrading those who were not like him. Instead, he had a fervent plea to love our own language. 

I disagree more when he said that it is acceptable in a "society of rotting beef and stinking fish" as he put it. It should be all the more unacceptable for him to accept that kind of mindset just like that, because I, we know he is "learned". He should know better that it is but a challenge to move forward globally, competitively while we do not forget to love, promote, or respect at least, the language that makes us who we are, Filipinos.