Negative stereotyping

We felt that the service crew were rude when we had our breakfast at a fastfood restaurant near our hotel. Because we spoke a different English accent and they couldn’t understand us completely, they showed discourteousness by sighing in disgust. My friends, some of them first-timers in Hong Kong, were a little dismayed. But our negative experience with the locals was erased by a lady at the elevator.

Recognizing that we were Filipinos, this Cantonese woman hollered, “Mabuhay! Kumusta kayo?” (Greetings! How are you?) She even ended with “Pogi ka” and “Maganda ka!” (You’re handsome and beautiful.) We encountered her not only early in the morning, but late in the evening, too. That was God’s way of cheering us up.

At times, we stereotype people, even those close to us, our co-workers, household help and others. Often, this results to disdain and derision. But God loves all people even if they are not of the same faith. Because we are called to be Jesus’ disciples, we should love them, too. We will not just have peace with other people, but also with ourselves.