The Weight of Words: Reflections on Ethnic Slurs

This posting is inspired from a recent event here at THD. A few months ago, Our African-American Driver resigned on the spot, after a resident called her the 5 letter derogatory word beginning with a N as alleged. However, I talked to the resident who was rumored to do it, and she categorically denied it. So the truth remains elusive.

Moving Forward,  here's my posting and reflection on Ethnic slurs. For a list of its ethnic slurs and their origin visit:       

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs

The Weight of Words: Reflections on Ethnic Slurs

I have been thinking lately about the power of words. Not the uplifting kind that inspire us or bring us closer together, but the darker side of language—the words meant to cut, to isolate, to remind someone they do not belong. Ethnic slurs fall into that category, and they carry a weight heavier than most of us like to admit.

Every culture, it seems, has developed its own arsenal of insults aimed at outsiders. They often start as labels, nicknames, or crude descriptions of appearance, speech, or habits. But over time, they take on venom. They become shorthand for a whole web of prejudice, history, and inequality. A single word can summon centuries of exclusion and humiliation.

I sometimes wonder why societies cling to these words. Part of the answer lies in power. Slurs are never just random insults—they are tools that keep someone in their “place.” They are a reminder of who is dominant and who is marginalized. Even when tossed off as a “joke,” their impact lingers like a scar.

What is perhaps most striking is how these words can echo across generations. A slur used against a grandparent doesn’t simply vanish when times change. Its shadow lingers in the stories told at the dinner table, in the way families teach their children to brace themselves for a world that may not welcome them fully. The pain is inherited, even when the words are no longer spoken.

At the same time, language is never static. Some communities have attempted to reclaim the very words once used to degrade them. In certain contexts, the slur becomes a badge of pride, an act of defiance: “You cannot hurt me with this word anymore.” But reclamation is complicated. It doesn’t erase the history, and it doesn’t give universal permission for use. What empowers one person can still wound another.

I think often of how slurs survive in more subtle ways today. Sometimes they are hidden in online memes, or in coded language meant to slip past polite society. Sometimes they are softened, rebranded, or disguised as humor. But the intent—exclusion, mockery, control—remains the same.

So where does that leave us? Perhaps it begins with recognition. We cannot pretend these words are harmless. They carry too much history, too much blood and struggle. Yet, by examining them openly, by teaching younger generations their weight and their history, we can strip them of some of their casual cruelty.

In the end, it comes down to a simple truth: words matter. They always have. They shape our world, our relationships, and our sense of belonging. And while ethnic slurs remind us of the darkest corners of human speech, our refusal to accept them as “just words” is one step toward something brighter—toward a culture where dignity speaks louder than derision.

Meanwhile, 

In a stunning medical discovery, scientists have found a previously unknown organ hidden deep inside the human throat. This new organ, a pair of salivary glands located near the upper throat behind the nose, was detected accidentally while researchers were studying cancer patients using advanced imaging technology.

For centuries, anatomy textbooks listed only three major salivary gland pairs, the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands. The discovery of this hidden set, now referred to as the tubarial glands, adds an entirely new piece to our understanding of the human body. These glands are believed to play an important role in lubricating and protecting the upper throat and nasal passages.

The finding has huge medical implications. Knowing about the tubarial glands could help doctors avoid accidentally damaging them during treatments like radiation therapy for head and neck cancers. Protecting these glands may prevent complications such as chronic dry mouth and swallowing difficulties, improving patient recovery and quality of life.

This remarkable discovery proves that even in the 21st century, there are still secrets left in human anatomy. It reminds us that the human body is more complex and mysterious than previously thought, and that groundbreaking discoveries can still reshape science and medicine.

Lastly, here are the top ten Words That Wound: A Reflection on Ethnic Slurs and Their Origins

The image above is a human face partially covered by a mosaic of broken words, with the words blurred or fragmented so they’re unreadable. The fragments look like shards of glass — dangerous, sharp — but they’re falling away, revealing the person’s real face beneath.

Symbolism:

• The blurred fragments represent slurs — present in history, but robbed of power when they’re not given full form.

• The broken glass effect conveys the harm of these words, while also suggesting that harmful language can be shattered.

• The emerging face symbolizes dignity, resilience, and the humanity that slurs try but fail to erase.

Language has always been a double-edged sword. It can uplift, bind us together, and carry stories across generations. But it can also cut deep, leaving scars that linger long after the moment of speech has passed. One of the harshest examples is the persistence of ethnic slurs — words invented to reduce entire peoples to stereotypes, often in times of conflict or fear.

As someone who loves words, I’ve often reflected on how these expressions didn’t appear out of thin air. They were forged in the fires of history: wars, migrations, misunderstandings, and prejudice. To look at them honestly is not to endorse them, but to understand where they came from and why they still sting.

Here are ten of the most well-known slurs, paired with their origins.

• “Chink” emerged in the 19th century, tied to Chinese laborers who crossed oceans to build railroads and mines. The sound of the word mimicked mockery of their language and appearance.

• “Jap” was a neutral shorthand before WWII, but Pearl Harbor weaponized it into an insult of suspicion and hate, used against Japanese Americans even in internment camps.

• “Paki” appeared in Britain in the 1960s as South Asians arrived to fill labor shortages. Instead of welcome, they met brick walls of racism — the slur was shouted on streets, painted on walls, etched into memory.

• “Kraut” reduced Germans to sauerkraut jars during two world wars, a way of dehumanizing an enemy through cuisine.

• “Mick” branded Irish immigrants in the U.S. and UK as poor, unwanted outsiders, their common “Mc” surnames turned against them.

• “Spic” grew from mocking the accented English of Spanish-speaking immigrants: “no spik Inglis.” A language barrier became ammunition for exclusion.

• “Wop” greeted Italian immigrants in early 20th-century America, rooted in the word guappo but twisted to imply lawlessness and unworthiness.

• “Kike” followed Jewish immigrants through Ellis Island, likely tied to Yiddish-speaking newcomers who signed with circles rather than crosses.

• “Gypsy” carried centuries of stigma for the Romani people, wrongly thought to be from Egypt, forever associated with thievery and deceit.

• “Gook” rose in U.S. military slang during the Korean and Vietnam wars, a way to erase individuality and humanity from the “enemy.”

Each of these words is a fossil of a particular historical moment — immigration waves, wars, cultural clashes. But unlike fossils, they are not frozen in stone. They live on in memory, in prejudice, and sometimes, sadly, in daily use.

Why revisit them? Because pretending they don’t exist doesn’t erase their power. Understanding their origins helps us strip them of mystery and exposes them for what they are: tools of fear and control. When we speak openly about them, we reclaim a little bit of that power for ourselves.

For me, this is less about the words themselves than about the stories they carry. Every insult tells us something about who was seen as a threat, an outsider, or simply “other.” And every reflection reminds us that the same weapon can be blunted — by awareness, empathy, and a refusal to repeat the cycle.

We inherit the language of the past, but we don’t have to inherit its cruelties.

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Personal Note: During my first year in Graduate School in Chicago in 1960,  I heard someone called me chink and told to go home. At that time, I did not know the meaning of the word, So, I just ignored it and had no effect on me. Today, If I heard that word, it would probably hurt, but since I am Filipino- American, I rather heard the word flip(just kidding). 

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THD Saturday Afternoon Concert- Claudio Medeiros

I attended Claudio's afternoon ( 1 hour) concert yesterday. I enjoyed it very much, specially the popular Latin hits, Besa Me Mucho, el Choklo, Jealousy Tango, Sway ChaCha and other old time Latin favorites that reminded me of my younger years in the Philippines. Here's the flyer misspelling Claudio's last name.

   

CLAUDIO MEDEIROS
PIANO, BASS AND KEYBOARDS

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This Legendary Jazz Pianist began his music career at the age of four under a private teacher. He then graduated in 1955 from the Academy of Music in Portugal. In 1961, He studied piano classical music at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada under teacher Harry Heap. Claudio has played all style of music from Jazz and Easy listening to Rock. He also sight reads and conducts orchestras. Claudio has performed in several famous venues the last forty years such as the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, MGM Grand in Reno, Nevada and the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, Ca. He is also a veteran Jazz performer that has performed at the Concord and Santa Maria Jazz Festivals. Claudio is currently a solo Jazz recording artist and regularly plays with Jazzmatazz. You can listen and purchase his recordings through Cd Baby website,  www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1216218/a/Millenium.htm

Claudio is the driving piano sound behind Jazzmatazz and is filled with excitement and enthusiasm for the band. He like Rodney Burge is also an experienced master of the Left Hand Bass and thus doubles on Bass for the band. Claudio looks forward to lasting success with Jazzmatazz. He is also excited and ready to share his gift of piano playing with all the Jazzmatazz supporters and fans. 

EQUIPMENT:
YAMAHA 88 KEY KEYBOARD and PREMIUM GRAND PIANO 

OCCUPATION: 
PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN, PIANO AND VOCAL INSTRUCTOR

MAJOR INFLUENCES:
BILL EVANS, DAVE BRUBECK
See New Jazzmatazz website https://www.jazzmatazz.org

Lastly, here's my photo of the Day: Arroz Valenciana from my Place of Birth

  

A Not Well-Publicized Facts in Philippine History

William Draper, the British commander, led the successful conquest of Manila in 1762, placing the city under British control for two years. However, what many don’t know is that Draper came close to dying at the hands of a Filipino warrior.

José Manalastas, a fierce Pampango warrior, led a daring counterattack against the British forces just one week after Manila's occupation.

Manalastas and his men, armed with bows and spears, launched an assault on the British camp, managing to penetrate the defenses and reach Draper’s tent.

In a dramatic encounter, Manalastas engaged Draper in a duel, even managing to stab him in the chest before being overwhelmed by the British forces.

Draper later praised Manalastas’ bravery, admitting that had the Filipino warriors been armed with better weapons, he would have certainly perished.

This act of valor is a lesser-known chapter of Filipino resistance during the British invasion of Manila, showcasing the courage of Filipino warriors even in the face of overwhelming colonial power.

Meanwhile here are the other Countries That Were Once Part of the British Empire. The Philippines is not in this list.

The British Empire was the largest in history, ruling over nearly a quarter of the world’s land and people. Its reach spanned every continent — shaping borders, cultures, and histories that still influence the world today.

Examples of former British territories by region:

Asia

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Yemen, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Iraq, Jordan, Israel/Palestine, Cyprus, Hong Kong

Africa

Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Mauritius, Seychelles

Americas & Caribbean

United States (13 colonies), Canada, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenada, Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica

Oceania & Pacific

Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu

Europe (selected)

Ireland, Malta, Gibraltar, Cyprus

At its peak, people used to say:

“The sun never sets on the British Empire.”

Meanwhile Did you That :

In the 1600s, a mysterious babaylan named Tapar led a daring revolt in Oton, Panay, rejecting Spanish rule and creating his own fusion of Christianity and native beliefs.

Declaring himself a divine leader, he wore women’s clothing and claimed to speak with spirits, forming his own version of the Catholic Trinity and the Virgin Mary.

When a Spanish priest tried to stop him, Tapar had him executed, sparking a brutal crackdown. 

Spanish forces slaughtered Tapar and his followers, displaying their bodies on bamboo poles and feeding them to crocodiles as a gruesome warning to others.

Even the sacred image of their Virgin Mary was not spared, meeting the same fate.

Lastly Did You Know That?

The Chinese presence in the Philippines dates back to pre-colonial times when Chinese merchants were essential to trade. During the Spanish era, the Chinese were restricted to Manila’s Parian, but their skills in commerce kept them around.

However, the game-changer came during the American Period (1898-1946) when anti-Chinese laws were lifted, and Chinese immigrants were granted full citizenship. This shift allowed them to integrate fully into Philippine society, especially in business, politics, and education.

Families like the Sy, Tan, and Gokongwei built business empires, shaping industries such as retail, manufacturing, and real estate—making Chinese-Filipinos central to the nation’s growth! Half of the top ten richest Filipinos has Chinese Ancestry.

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I feel a little blue today as I post this reflection of My over 90-years here In Planet Earth 

A Life in Reflection: My Journey as a Blogger, Civil Servant, and Witness to Change

When I launched my blog in 2009, I didn’t set out to build a legacy. Truthfully, I just wanted a place to think out loud, to put order to the flood of information coming at me each day. I remember my very first post: it was short, almost tentative, like dipping a toe into unfamiliar waters. I wrote about a news item that had caught my attention, more commentary than confession. But when I hit “publish,” something shifted. My thoughts weren’t just mine anymore. They were part of a larger conversation. That’s how it began—quietly, modestly.

Before that, my life had followed a very different rhythm. I spent my career at the Food and Drug Administration, a place most people don’t think about unless they’re worried about their food, their medicine, or a national emergency. At FDA, I learned how decisions made in cubicles and conference rooms ripple outward into the lives of millions. It was steady, serious work, and while it wasn’t glamorous, it mattered.

September 11, 2001, was a day when all of that came into sharper focus. I was working when the news broke, watching with disbelief as the towers fell. In the days that followed, there was no time to process the shock—we were too busy adapting. There were concerns about bioterrorism, about the safety of the drug supply, about whether the systems we relied on could hold under such strain. I remember one meeting where we reviewed protocols for handling potential anthrax contamination. The weight of responsibility was overwhelming. I walked out into the crisp September air that evening, carrying the silence of colleagues who knew that the world had changed forever. That moment marked me, and it stayed with me long after I left government service.

Blogging, when I began it years later, became the outlet I didn’t know I needed. It gave me a way to return to questions that haunted me—about resilience, about fear, about how societies respond to crisis. But it also opened up space for wonder. One of my most memorable posts was about a scientific breakthrough: researchers had managed to restore vitality in aging monkeys. Not mice, not lab cells—monkeys, our closest cousins. I remember typing the words, pausing as I thought: if science can truly make the old young again, what does that mean for us, for me, for the way we measure life? Writing about it was my way of wrestling with the awe.

I didn’t only write about science and politics. Culture found its way in too. When Paolo Pasco, a Filipino-American Jeopardy! champion, burst into headlines, I felt a rush of pride that I had to capture on the page. Growing up Filipino-American, I knew how rare it was to see someone who looked like me celebrated on such a stage. That blog post wasn’t analysis—it was joy, plain and simple, and readers responded to it with their own stories of pride.

The blog also gave me permission to explore darker corners. I once wrote about the origins of ethnic slurs, not to sensationalize them but to strip them bare, to show how language can wound, exclude, or diminish. That post drew heated comments, some supportive, others angry, but I welcomed it. Blogging taught me that writing isn’t about agreement—it’s about engagement.

In recent years, the writing has grown more personal. I live with stage 4 kidney disease, and I made the deliberate choice not to pursue dialysis. I remember the conversation with my doctor when the options were laid out on the table. Dialysis might buy me more time, but at what cost? To be tethered to a machine, to spend what energy I had left in clinics and waiting rooms—it felt less like living and more like surviving. I chose otherwise.

That choice has given me a new perspective on time. Every post now feels both urgent and calm. Urgent, because I know my days are numbered; calm, because I no longer pretend otherwise. I’ve even prepared a final blog post to go live when I am gone. In it, I want readers to see not just my illness, but my life: the FDA years, the aftermath of 9/11, the reflections that carried me since 2009, and the community of readers who walked alongside me.

Looking back, what strikes me most is how connection threads through all of this. Blogging has introduced me to readers I’ve never met, people scattered across the globe who take the time to read, to comment, to argue, to share. There’s a quiet miracle in that. One man sitting at his desk, typing out reflections, and somehow those words find a home in the minds of strangers.

I don’t pretend my blog will change the world. But it has changed mine. It has given me a voice outside of bureaucracy, outside of illness, outside of silence. It has given me a place to be fully present in history as it unfolds—and to leave something behind when I no longer can.

If there is one thing I hope readers take from my words, it’s this: keep bearing witness. Pay attention, whether in writing, in conversation, or simply in how you live. Because life is both fragile and vast, and none of us gets to keep it forever. But we do get to leave a trace.

This blog is mine.

And until that final post arrives, I’ll keep writing. Because the world, for all its chaos, is still full of things worth noticing.

Meanwhile, here's my photo Sculpture of the Day- Bacchus and Ampelus

Paolo Pasco- Filipino-American Jeopardy Champion

This posting is inspired by Paolo 8-day Winning Streak closed to 200K that ended yesterday  

Paolo Pasco: A Filipino-American Champion Changing the Game on Jeopardy!

As a long-time Jeopardy! fan, I’ve watched countless contestants stand behind that podium, clickers in hand, and face off in the ultimate test of knowledge and nerves. Every now and then, though, someone comes along who feels different — not just another trivia master, but a true game-changer. Paolo Pasco is one of those rare champions.

Paolo’s rise on Jeopardy! stunned fans. With his calm presence, quick recall, and razor-sharp wagering strategy, he quickly made his mark. But what makes his story even more inspiring — to me personally, and to so many others in the Filipino-American community — is that he’s not just a trivia genius. He’s a Filipino-American genius.

Born in 2000 and raised in San Diego, Paolo grew up with the kind of curiosity and intellect that later propelled him into the world of puzzles. He’s more than a contestant; he’s a professional puzzle constructor. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times, and beyond. For those of us who have struggled just to finish the Saturday crossword, it’s staggering to think that Paolo is one of the minds actually creating them. He even served as an assistant crossword editor at The Atlantic and has run his own puzzle site — shaping the very games that others labor over with pencil and eraser.

Paolo is also a Harvard graduate (Class of 2022, computer science). While at Harvard, he was profiled as a “Filipino-American puzzle constructor” who grew up in San Diego. That detail matters. Representation matters. As a Filipino-American myself, I know how meaningful it is to see someone who shares our heritage standing tall in spaces where we haven’t often been visible. Watching Paolo thrive on national television, while knowing he’s also innovating in the world of puzzles and games, fills me with pride.

Now based in New York, Paolo continues to shape the puzzle community while carrying the title of Jeopardy!champion — and possibly a future Tournament of Champions contender. His blend of intellect, creativity, and cultural representation reminds us that success is not one-dimensional. It is not just about winning games or collecting titles; it’s about breaking ground, opening doors, and showing what’s possible.

For me, Paolo’s story isn’t just about Jeopardy! — it’s about visibility, excellence, and pride. He has shown the world that Filipino-Americans aren’t just participants in the cultural conversation; we can be leaders, innovators, and yes, champions.

Here’s to Paolo Pasco: a name we’ll be hearing for a long time, both in the puzzle world and on that famous Jeopardy!stage. For additional details read:

https://www.djournal.com/lifestyle/arts-entertainment/jeopardy-5-things-to-know-about-champion-paolo-pasco/article_a37f0c60-7188-5d2a-a6c6-90667322be69.html

Meanwhile, 

A previously unknown Pablo Picasso portrait of his muse Dora Maar was unveiled in Paris on Thursday, ahead of its sale at auction house Drouot with a reserve price of eight million euros ($9.5 million).

Painted in 1943 and kept in private hands since 1944, Bust of a woman with a flowery hat has never been exhibited publicly. Specialists described the oil-on-canvas work as “exceptional” and a milestone in Picasso’s career.

The portrait depicts Maar, a French photographer and painter who inspired around 60 of Picasso’s works, including The Weeping Woman and his wartime masterpiece Guernica.

The sale comes amid a slump in the Picasso market, with 2024 sales totaling $223 million, down from $597 million the year before.

Finally, Did you know that.....

The Philippines is one of 18 mega-biodiverse countries in the world, home to two-thirds of the Earth’s biodiversity and between 70% and 80% of the world’s plant and animal species.

It ranks fifth globally in the number of plant species and harbors around 5% of the world’s flora. Read the full article here: https://agriculture.com.ph/.../endangered-philippine.../

Some Hope for me and other CKD Sufferers

A Phase II trial of lubiprostone for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in August 2025 that included 150 patients, though the efficacy analysis included 116 patients. The trial evaluated lubiprostone's potential to reduce kidney function decline in patients with CKD, with the full results published in the journal Science Advances in late August 2025. 

Trial Details: 

• Name: The LUBI-CKD TRIAL.
• Design: Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled.
• Participants: 150 screened patients, with 116 included in the efficacy analysis.
• Setting: Nine centers in Japan, from July 2016 to December 2019.

Findings and Implications:

• PPrimary Goal:

  ThThe trial aimed to assess lubiprostone's effect on kidney function decline. 
• MMechanism:

  LliLubiprostone was shown to increase spermidine production, which is thought to immprove mitochondrial function and provide a renoprotective effect. 
• FFFuture Research:

  TThe research team plans to validate these findings in a larger Phase III trial and to exexplore biomarkers that predict treatment efficacy. 
• PPotential:

  ThThis discovery suggests a new therapeutic strategy for managing CKD, focusing onon preventing the progression of kidney damage rather than just managing sysymptoms. 

Note: While the initial statement claims lubiprostone reduced decline in kidney function, this is likely referring to the preliminary findings and overall results of the Phase II trial, not necessarily a direct outcome of just 150 patients' observations.The study also noted the cohort's lack of diversity, which could affect the generalizability of the findings.

Meanwhile, 

Scientists have developed a groundbreaking universal cancer vaccine that trains the immune system to fight virtually any type of cancer. Unlike traditional therapies that target specific tumours, this revolutionary vaccine activates a broad immune response, allowing the body to recognise and attack multiple cancer types effectively.

Preclinical studies in mice have shown astonishing results, with tumours—including those resistant to conventional treatments—being eliminated. When combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors, the vaccine’s effectiveness skyrockets, offering new hope for patients battling aggressive or hard-to-treat cancers.

This innovation represents a massive leap forward in cancer treatment, moving from personalised, high-cost therapies to a potential standardised solution that could be accessible worldwide. Scientists are now preparing for human clinical trials, aiming to confirm these results and transform the future of oncology.

The universal cancer vaccine has the potential not only to save millions of lives but also to change the way we fight cancer forever. The era of a truly global, immune-powered defense against cancer may finally be within reach.

Finally, Did you know that.....

The Philippines was nearly self-sufficient in rice before the Marcos era? By the late 1960s, strong harvests and early Green Revolution gains gave the country near self-reliance.

But during the Marcos years, corruption in the fertilizer industry, mismanaged agricultural policies, and weak rural investment led to declining productivity. As a result, the Philippines shifted from near self-sufficiency to being one of the world’s top rice importers—a status it still struggles with today.