Jessica Sanchez, one of the latest symbols of Pinoy Pride, came to the Philippines for the American Idol finalists’ concert last Friday, September 21. Now if you all remember who Charice (Pempengco) is, her manager Courtney Blooding came out with a rather innocent and innocuous tweet where she asked “…why do the Philippines claim Jessica Sanchez?” Philippine media and Filipinos, predictable as ever, picked up on it, and even sparked a discussion and hashtag on Twitter #PINOYpride. Some Pinoys even tweeted replies to her rather strongly.
Why don’t we try answering Ms. Blooding’s question calmly and logically, for a change?
Let us get straight to the point: Filipinos claim Jessica Sanchez (as one of their own) because they know how to do little else. Filipino pride (or diminutively, Pinoy pride) is a hollow knee-jerk reaction of Filipinos whenever someone with a semblance of Filipino blood makes it big outside the Philippines. And it this Pinoy pride that makes them react the same way, each and every time.
Let me explain this further by elaborating three (3) characteristics of Pinoy pride:
Filipinos are saddled with a massive inferiority complex
The biggest tell-tale sign of Pinoy pride is that Filipinos need validation from foreigners that they exhibit/possess good qualities. This to me is a sign of a massive inferiority complex. You’ve got to admit though that perhaps almost 400 years of being under foreign influence has had adverse effects on the self-esteem of a nation. The thing is, look at the Japanese. Why did they rebound very quickly after being devastated during the Second World War? How were the Germans able to rebound after being bombed to smithereens? There has to be something else that’s keeping the Filipino from progressing.
Oh yes, Filipinos are not loyal to a higher collective ideal that is a “nation”. They are loyal at best to their clans, at worst, to themselves. There is no collective “Filipino” to speak of, only several indigenous ethnic groups living among and despite each other. If Filipinos refuse to come together how can you expect them to appreciate for themselves what gold lies in them/in front of them?
And to illustrate this point further, one only has to see that a by-product of Ms. Blooding’s tweets is an ongoing comparison among Filipinos of who is better: Jessica or Charice. Isn’t there enough room to like both of them? Why does everything have to be a false dichotomy for Filipinos? Why do individual Filipinos have to insist that their personal choice is better than someone else’s? This, again, to me, is yet another manifestation of that inferiority complex we collectively suffer as a people.
Filipinos have no collective achievement to speak of
As is the case with Jessica, Lea Salonga, Manny Pacquiao, and Charice, to name a few, Filipinos have hailed the individual accomplishments of Filipino artists abroad and trumpeted them as collective accomplishments of the entire Filipino ethnic group. Whether or not you agree with me, I assert that this is a fallacious and utterly ridiculous and stupid thing to do. These people succeeded because they put in the hard work needed to succeed, and not because of their Filipino heritage.
Filipinos do this as an escape to the reality that as an ethnic group they have no collective achievement to speak of. They are predisposed to be lazy, and prone to take the easy way out, which is why they exhibit this behavior. It is much easier to project yourself onto a successful person than it is to make yourself one.
Filipinos do not posses the operational efficiency of the Singaporeans. They do not exhibit the discipline of the Japanese. They have no engineering capability like the Germans. They have no martial tradition to speak of. These are all too hard for them.
Filipinos do not recognize gold that’s staring them in the face
Filipinos have the unenviable position of comprising a society that doesn’t know gold even if it’s hiding in plain sight. On top of that, they are a society renowned for perverting ideas and for turning gold (once they’ve seen it) into utter crap. Where else would you find a street revolution glorifying mob rule trumpeted as “democracy”?
If you’re looking for an example, look no further than the four (4) names I mentioned above. These people would not have become what they are now had they stayed in the Philippines. Filipinos are not the type to invest in developing talents long-term; they want immediate returns, and they want them NOW. After they’ve bled you dry, they dispose of you.
Filipino society is, by default, one that values mediocrity, conformance, and deference to elders above innovation, imagination, and out-of-the-box thinking. The minute Filipinos sense someone or something sticking out, they pull it back down. Filipinos ostracize people and ideas that are different; they are predisposed to judge these instead of trying to understand and learn from them.
Here are several more quotables from Ms. Blooding:
“why do the Philippines claim Jessica Sanchez? Jessica was born an raised in the US. I don’t THINK she speaks tagalog.
“which, to me, makes her true American. How many people in the US come from mixed cultural backgrounds? We r a melting pot.
“AND I just read that this concert is her first ever trip to the Philippines….
“isn’t a Filipino passport kind of a big indication of citizenship and a lack of one a big indication of no citizenship?”
“If only the people of the Philippines would stop looking elsewhere and focus on local things, maybe they could see the value of many of of the great people and resources there. Many great things and people there. It’s just a group mentality that it’s not good enough.
“It’s kind of a turn off to a foreigner such as myself cuz it can come across as ungrateful for the talent and resources god gave.”
“there is room for everyone an people will love or hate no matter what. But I just think it’s kind of wrong to say Jessica is part of Filipino pride when she is American before anything else.
“And the more I think about it, I start to get insulted on many levels. Ph can’t claim something that is made in USA. And they only wanted to claim Charice after people in the USA put value in her. It’s wrong for both singers. Sorry, I’m just feeling a bit indignant about the situation.”
“I mean if she had to mark on a form a particular country or culture, what would be? I assume American,”
“Please don’t condemn me for asking a cultural question,”
Well, sorry to disappoint you, Ms. Blooding. Filipinos condemn themselves routinely for asking cultural questions, what more foreigners? Not to say that it’s right, but they do it just as a scorpion can’t help but sting.
[Photo courtesy OKMagazine.com.]
oh well… what would you expect from this Pinoy Pride dementia?
they really need to take a hike…
Sorry to tell you this my friends, but Jessica Sanchez could not find the Philippines on a map before American Idol.
… ah, the wonders of your vaunted educational system that we are adapting…
… someone give me a palm to push my face in.
My first contribution to GRP was American Idol In Its Irrelevance Is Relevant To Us. Jessica did not grow up on Wowwowee unlike the pinoy so what is their common bond?
The common bond is the musicality of Pinoys. The love of music and our talent to express our feelings through songs.
Don’t tell me you didn’t see that?
Go anywhere on Earth. There is some form of tea, some form of wine and some sort of music. To make a long story short, name a culture that doesn’t love music. The Europeans gave the world classical (Mozart, Brahms etc), the Americans gave the world jazz ( Louis Armstrong, Coltrane, Davis, Charlie Parker) and blues (Robert Johnson, Bo Diddley ). In that context what is the pinoy common musical bond? What genre of music did the pinoys give teh world? Love of music is by no means a pinoy monopoly. I have a very simple formula on which to gauge musical significance. If that person never existed how different would music be? What that formula does is it makes people who sing songs already made famous by other people irrelevant.
Face it : Arnel Pineda is even less original than Hagibis. Yet he is lauded as a Pinoy icon.
This whole notion of expressing feelings through songs for me does not count if the song touched a whole lotta people before you were ever given your stage. I still don’t see this common bond other than the currency of pansin.
If you want my idea of true expression of emotion through song I dare anyone out there to grab a good pair of headphones and listen to the entire album.I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got by Sinead O’Connor from start to finish. She wrote most of that and for me personally she is so raw and expressive that I sometimes feel uncomfortable. Like I walked into an argument between scorned lovers . After twenty years it still registers with me. If listening to a Charice album or a Jessica album can really touch a person like that or with that intensity fine. I just priotize my music listening over my flag waving and will not call the product of a show known for disposable stars as a big thing.
Frankly, I expect answers not questions from you. But anyway, to expound and make clear the discussion let me address to the best of my ability those concern you just raised.
You asked, what’s the common bond between the Pinoys and Jessica Sanchez, and I opined that, aside from sharing the same stock genetically, they are bonded by their musicality or love of music. In reply, you said all culture love music and wondered what genre did we give the world to proclaim love of music.
Our musicality is not about giving genre to the world, it’s about sharing it. It’s about absorbing, spreading and enjoying it. And proof of that are the Lea Salongas, the Charice Pempengcos, the Freddie Aguilars, The Regime Velasquez, the Arnel Pinedas, the APOs, the Juan Dela Cruz Band, the Eddie and Boy Katindigs, the Ryan Cayabyabs, the George Cansecos, the Ruben Tagalogs, the Cenon Lagmans, the Jose Mari Chans, the Bobby Gonzales, the Apl-D-Aps’, the Sylvia La Torres, the Basil Valdez’, the Banig Robertos, the Tillie Morenos, the Levi Celerios and numerous other Filipinos who performed and exhibited different genres that exposed, enhanced and enriched the musicality of Pinoys.
You can go on and believe what you think is true. You have your own biases and favorites. Just remember this, the love and feel you have for music is also shared with you by millions of Pinoys. And you know why?
Because you are a Filipino.
So what are you saying? That other countries citizen’s can’t sing or tone deaf? I don’t get it.
Everyone loves music in one shape or form. And people can all sing, in varying degrees of excellence.
And even disregarding the level of excellence, appreciation for the “musicality” of the person varies as well. This is not a “Filipino” only trait.
I really don’t get where this was meant to go as a counter argument. Sorry.
‘There has to be something else that’s keeping the Filipino from progressing.’
I heard that the Illuminati has been blamed.
from your article: These people succeeded because they put in the hard work needed to succeed, and not because of their Filipino heritage.
Thank you.
That is exactly what that Emmy nominee said: he proved he was worthy of the nomination.
He EARNED it because he worked for it, not because he is Pinoy.
The pinoy is an attention seeking missle. KSP is the root of all evil.
I like your article, since it is as you say. Projection it is indeed.
I do have a question though, why the pseudonym? One must be able to stand up for what they say. Unless you are a collective posting under one name. Just wondering.
Keep up the good work.
I would like to think that the idea presented is much more valuable than who presents it.
I think Ms. Courtney Blooding’s statement, as reported on this article, is an innocent one made out of ignorance and sheer doltishness. I said that with all honesty and not just to spite Ms. Blooding. Ordinary Americans like Ms. Blooding has a mind-set that everything revolves around America. Issues outside US, they’re practically witless, stupefied and a bit cockamamy. A number of times I caught a glimpse of a portion in Jay Leno’s Tonight Show entitled ‘Jaywalking’ where they feature ordinary Americans answering ordinary questions ranging from political, history, social, etc. That segment was an eye-opener for me. The answers were so bad and ridiculous non-American viewers will have an impression that Americans are stupid idiot about their surroundings. To better understand what I’m saying watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Url1HL6oExk
Anyway, so long as Filipinos do not claim LeBron James or Jessica Simpson or George Bush or other Americans who doesn’t have a tinge of Filipino blood in their ancestry, it’s fine with me.
Hmm… Well I can’t help but disagree but please hear me out.
For one, the segment “Jaywalking” is making a comedy of how Americans don’t know their own history, culture and what have you. Of course they will focus on those who really mess up the answers. If they showed people giving correct answers, where is the puchline in that?
If you were to put the same segment here in the Philippines, couldn’t you as well put a similar piece that revolves around Philippine history, culture and similar topics and find people’s answers laughable and maybe even humiliating?
The point I believe is Jessica Sanchez was never home grown. Her talents were never nurtured and trained here nor did she grow up here. As such, the only thing Filipino about here is the blood that comes from one or both parents. But that doesn’t make the Filipino.
To take a twist on the example, why is it the Fil-Chi success stories are sometimes twisted by locals and then in turn made into villians just because they have Chinese blood in their ancestry even though they were born and raised here?
That to me is just wrong. Let’s say for example the likes of Henry Sy, Lucio Tan and their respective heirs continue to thrive in the country and maintain their foothold, would you then condemn them for managing to control majority of the market share and blame their chinese ancestry for claimed unscrupulous business practices?
This is just a thought. And I hope no one takes any offence in it. I just find the comparison of the two baffling.
True, but they don’t only focus on mess up answers, people really give mess up answers. In fact, after sometime, the staff of the Tonight Show conduct some sort of a special wherein previous contestants of ‘Jaywalking’ are pitted against each other to battle it out in the studio. In it, the contestants gets to answer, mess up or not, questions from Jay Leno. And in it also, the contestants, impromptu, give not only real but also mess up answers. And unfortunately, majority of the answers combined are mess up answers.
That is possible, but the point in giving the “Jaywalking” as an example is to show that ordinary people tend to be a bit detached from issues that are really not within the range of their capability. Ms. Dooling, according to the article above, is Charice Pempengco’s manager. I don’t know what her other expertise is but I would assume that she is neither an anthropologist, social scientist or an expert of culture and people. Because if she is, she could have answered her own question as to why Filipinos claimed Jessica Sanchez. So, in that aspect, I would refrain from putting too much weight on her question and not treat it too seriously.
That is true. But my take on that is, I’d rather focus on the positive than quibble on that part of Jessica’s person. Why did I say that? Well, if I see that Jessica, herself, is happy and recognize and welcomes with open arms the reaction and the postulation of Filipinos of her being one of them, that would be enough for me. The issue of being a real or true Filipino would only matter if Jessica categorically express reservation and hesitation, if not outright refusal, about her personal heritage.
You have a point there and there are instances that that kind of situation happens.
Hi, Thank for the reply.
If I recall correctly, the Jaywalker’s competition in the studio is actually selected from the most messed up answers from the actual jaywalking segment. It is funny when you compare against your own knowledge and you end up knowing the answer as opposed to them just not knowing at all. Basically, they are mocking themselves and the contestants are just there for the fun of it or temporary limelight. Maybe one of them hopes to become like “Ross the intern” so they put up with it.
As for Jessica not outright denying her Filipino heritage, I think it is more of a strategic business decision. She has nothing to gain by denying her Filipino heritage or the claims of Filipino pride being labeled her. However, if she does deny it and cites those things I mentioned, she could come up to some of her “fans” as ungrateful and basically not worth their time (except to bash). As such, she loses market share/potential for sales (records, songs, and tickets) and loses her ability to draw from her livelihood which is singing.
I am not saying she is wishing the labeling of Filipino pride stops, but rather I am saying that it makes no sense from a business standpoint for her to do so and she can just let it slide (whatever her belief) and just continue to do what she does, which is sing.
The issue here isn’t whether Ms. Blooding is ignorant or doltish or whatever. Whether Americans can correctly answer trivia about their own country is irrelevant.
The point here which you missed is that Filipinos don’t take too kindly to being asked even what are otherwise harmless questions about why they act certain ways, in this case, with Pinoy pride. So why do Filipinos get jumpy and defensive all of a sudden, hmm?
Besides, if you’re telling me that Ms. Blooding has no right to ask such a question because Americans are “stupid”, quote unquote, I cannot accept that assertion on two counts:
1) That is an argumentatum ad hominem – tu quoque variation
2) She’s Canadian, they’re not the same.
But you know, it’s so easy to start a rumor that so-and-so celebrity like the ones you mentioned above has Filipino blood, and Filipinos will take the bait hook, line, and sinker. Why? Because as I said above, they know how to do little else.
just say it ‘am proud …not pride
Of course Jessica is embracing it. Embracing it means money.
Ed,
Your immortal words “KSP is the root of all evil” have yet to be matched. Hahaha.
Poor Jessica, for being maliciously alluded to, she has become a collateral damage on the effort to insult Pinoys. Very sad.
As was said before and I believe it needs to be said again.
This is her livelihood, and the Filipinos basically presented themselves as a deluded fanbase just because of her Filipino blood. This is not to say she can’t sing. I’ll go to that later in my response.
So as she stands, she automatically gets a country as a fanbase and it’s many inhbitants and citizens (including those outside our shores) as a target market she tap into. From a business standpoint, she has more to lose for even just showing bewilderment as to why she has become Filipino pride just because of her blood. And because you stand more to lose that to gain, what then is there to do? Simple, GO WITH THE FLOW! If it keeps the ball rolling, why burst the bubble right?
See, here, masses and the media focused on her specifically because of the “Pinoy Pride” mentality and the invisible forced label on her head that Filipinos seem to see. What would have been the situation if we had a 10th place AI finalist on the same who was pure Filipino, born and raised here but recently moved to the US to pursue her dreams?
My hunch, they will still lean towards Jessica Sanchez and just include the 10th pace as a side bit because, heck, every loves the “winner” or the one placed higher more anyway right?
The point I am trying to make is, the context as what it means to be Filipino enough to be proud of is so twisted and convuluted now that just about a drop of Filipino blood in a successful person’s system is enough for people to show for “proud to be pinoy”.
Really? Is that really we want as a country? To degrade ourselves into seeking out success stories with some hint of Filipino ancestry just to give us a feel good factor? Are we are a country really that incapable of producing our own sources of pride that we have to lower ourselves to such a practice?
Appreciation is one thing, labeling is another.
Let me paraphrase your closing sentence: Appreciation is one thing, flag waving is another.
As a country we are just moronic in embracing the trivial and ignoring the crucial.
Case in point. Politicians that design and pass laws that will affect us for the rest of our lives are picked based on name recognition. Not merit or track record. Nobody cares to do leg work on that but they will go bananas over a half Mexican. This website would not exist if the Filipino wasn’t so dysfunctional.
I don’t get it. How can a mere recognition of someone else’s roots and acknowledging her talent be taken against people whose only intent is to be identified with it? How can a purely positive act of admiration be a source of evil deeds? How can a spontaneous reaction of affection or endearment to someone because of affiliation be cruelly called “twisted and convoluted”? Is it really now an offense to do that? Why are Filipinos being singled out on something that other people are also doing?
What and who want what’s for the country? Why are you turning a positive acceptance and adoration of something as innocent as talent for singing to a negative? Why look for source of criticism on it and what benefit do you expect to get from the friction it will create? Is the purpose to help or drive a wedge and in the process spread intrigues and disunity among the people?
Are we really this pathetic that all we see about us is negative? Have we turned to something despicable and loathsome losers that we no longer think properly to differentiate what’s proper or not? As people, do we no longer care about the feelings of other that we put greater weight on things that are offensive and destructive? Of giving importance on things that will divide rather than unite us?
For sure, no one is forced to submit to ‘Pinoy Pride’. One is never criticized because he do not subscribe to feeling good about being Pinoy. If no one is being taken to task because of being a Pinoy, why complain and criticize? Why go against and offend people who haven’t done anything wrong against you?
And that’s the multi-million dollar question, my friend.
This Jonas is a professional troll. As the great Parallax used to say “he’s just a time waster”.
the manager was desperate to make noise for her skunk talent and had to use JSanchez for her purpose. what a shame!
No reason to be desperate because they are not on the same level. Charice has already proven a lot. Has penetrated America in so short a time and captured the whole of Asia. Jessica is still trying to make a mark on Billboard. She has a lot of proving to do. Charice has already made a lot of noise even before Jessica joined AI. To say that she is being used by Charice’s Manager for their purposes is just lame..You dont use a person who is no better than you.
why would she? Charice is always hot topic everyweek, that her every move is big news. Their family & team dont even accept interviews anymore coz they dont need publicity. Courtney was just having a question about this mentality… Courtne is just concern that why cant we like artists as humans & not by race…
your choice of word shows how dumb you are .many times people who lost the argument are resorting to name calling and using foul words to defend themselves.
pinoy pride? too much sometimes it’s not necessary, it’s becoming OA.
Damn right! As OA as giving a banner story to some cab driver who returns a lost item found in his cab. What? Is honesty such a rarity that the media goes gaga over it? As OA as those jologs who comment “Proud to be Filipino” on every You Tube trailer of that latest Bourne flick. Isn’t it funny that the Cambodians were so cool and quiet when Tomb Raider was shot in Cambodia? Yes it’s too OA that it’s suffocating already.
it’s just a simple question and the phil media can’t answer it right, instead they criticized the person as if they are perfect because of their pinoy pride, it’s about time someone said something. phil is too sensitive when there’s is no need too and yet they bashed criticized people who has done nothing but pride to their country, yes iam talking about charice and this ricky low media guy is talking shit…
umm wake us up when sanchez has a hit on billboard or has two motion pictures right now she done nothing to prove her worth so courtney has no need to get attention for charice when all teh retarded media in ph has been doing since america took notice of charice.
My take on this is, why cant people just say “I am proud of Jessica”, why Filipino Pride or proud to be pinoy? Jessica is an American, born and raised, I dont see a reason how she became a Pride of the Philippines? Example, the Gymnast from USA who has a tingle of Filipino blood in her won the Team competition at the London Olympics, can we call her Pride of the Philippines or Proud to be Pinoy? When she received her gold medal, they played the USA Anthem, now how can we call her Pride of the Philippines? I dont have anything against calling people our Pride but we have to think first before we say it.
Charice was not recognized in the Philippines until she got popular in other countries. Same thing with Jessica, she was not recognized until she became a finalist in AI. “Their talent doesn’t have anything to do with their ethnicity”. They’re simply great singers and performers. Ms. Blooding was simply asking questions based on her observations and I don’t see anything wrong with that. Some people are just too sensitive about it.
Ricky Lo’s article is so biased, he didn’t even post the entire tweets of Ms. Blooding. The way he wrote it makes people mad at Ms. Blooding.
Filipinos have a misplaced sense of nationality. Moving here in the States have opened my eyes, how lost we are as a a nation. we like to be Westernized and I admit, I was part of the problem but coming here, I finally understood what it means when Americans say “I’m proud to be American.” It’s not about Individual success but it’s their way of life– trying to make it when the odds are impossible, having equal rights and freedom, etc. We, Filipinos on the other hand, garner the same pride through entertainment- We’re so behind when it comes to nationality. Our “Filipino Pride” is misplaced, illogical and just utterly ridiculous– it’s the 21st century but it feels like we learned nothing. Same mentality, same views on status, race, etc. We can’t even have our own identity because we copy so much from the West. And we bash those who actually worked hard to make their name known outside of the country.
Crazy crazy crazy. That is all.
true
From what I see in the PH news is corruption.
I think you’re still lost my friend because you continue to assume things as you think they are and not as what they really are. The issue has nothing to do with nationality or even a sense of it. The issue is about reality and the overwhelming appreciation of Filipinos of what they think is a source of pride for them.
Look, instead of explaining what you think of the issue, you took the opportunity to bash Filipinos, your countrymen, on something as innocent as admiring talents. Nothing is more crazier than that. What is wrong in liking somebody as talented as Jessica Sanchez? What’s wrong if Filipinos treat her as one of them? What’s wrong if they see her as a source of pride and deserving of praise and admiration?
I don’t get it. Filipinos, even on instances where they project positive and optimistic disposition still gets to be criticized and insulted by their own people. I don’t mind foreigners expressing their ignorance on other people’s behavior of praising excellence and talent. That’s the reason why they’re called ‘foreigners’ in the first place. But I take exception to Ms. Dooling’s statement because of a possible conflict of interest, her being the manager of Charice Pempengco.
But that’s for another post.
Jona-s, salutes for articulating your views and being steadfast on all the arguments you had posted here. You were never swayed from your opinions and, you know how to ignore the name-calling and irrelevant replies from some.
As much as I agree on overrated “Pinoy Pride”, I also agree that Ms. Blooding’s statement should be treated as an ignorant question… not an opportunity to bash on Filipinos pride.
Here’s one to bash on “Pinoy Pride”: – The best ang Pilipino saan man sa mundo!
When asked by a foreigner what it means, I resolve not to explain.
I understand, it is really hard to explain something that you don’t or never share with others, like a foreigner. What hurts is if a fellow Filipino will ask you about what ““Pinoy Pride”: – The best ang Pilipino saan man sa mundo! means. Not to be rude, pero hindi ba parang nakaka-asar kung Pinoy ang magtatanong?
True or not, we’ve been raised hearing those words, chant, mantra or whatever you call it. That Pinoys are the best, that we are talented/skillful people, that we can do almost anything or be at par with almost anybody in the world, etc. And to be modest, we’ve proven it. However, we’re not the only one who does that. Other countries too have the same fighting words to cheer their people. So, it’s normal.
With regard to Ms. Dooling, intially, I saw her comment as innocent of malice. But later on, putting two and two together, she having been employed as manage of Charice, I realized that maybe she said those things not only as an innocent inquiry from a stranger but a disguised question really meant to focus attention on her client. I think she got the attention she want but I don’t know if she likes the results it garnered, especially the part where some people spoke against Charice.
Before I forgot isn’t it Ricky Lo is charice god father?
I myself is filipino,and I don’t agree of Pinoy pride. They are both talented and they worked hard. Courtney is right, Jessica is not filipino, she is american and I think that is also one of the reason that Jessica is only second cause some of the american that vote for her on the 3rd final change their mine due to the fact that lots of filipino comment on facebook are annoying. Philip Philips is a champion but you never heard american say, proud to be an American,or American pride. only Filipino’s. Why not support the two, Jessica and Charice for their talent,
i agree with this article 100% because i truly agree that there’s something wrong with us filipinos,being abroad in a long time made me realize that filipinos are truly behind because of our own crab mentality,how can we proud of our ethnicity when we are the first to bring down our very own?in reality we are a lost tribe which something bothered me most.