I just wanna add I'm a grown man......I think for myself........so in my thinking.........purposely slanting your eyes in this manner is going to pull up a red flag in my head as the wrong thing to do. They might not be racist but they did a very ignorant thing. Instead of saying "I have asian friends" he should of said "I realize now this may have been ignorant on our part".....but I guess you have to understand that it is ignorant to actually admitt to it.

So yeah.....so to take it a step further to what another poster was refering to if the olympics were ever held in africa.....would a team all in black face be a sign of tribute?

Posted by EnySpree:

I just wanna add I'm a grown man......I think for myself........so in my thinking.........purposely slanting your eyes in this manner is going to pull up a red flag in my head as the wrong thing to do. They might not be racist but they did a very ignorant thing. Instead of saying "I have asian friends" he should of said "I realize now this may have been ignorant on our part".....but I guess you have to understand that it is ignorant to actually admitt to it.

So yeah.....so to take it a step further to what another poster was refering to if the olympics were ever held in africa.....would a team all in black face be a sign of tribute?

next time it's in japan, they should all wear camera's around their necks and black nylon socks about halfway up their shins.

Spanish Womens Basketball team did the same offensive display in their photo shoot.


http://www.theimproper.com/Template_Article.aspx?IssueId=3&ArticleId=2146

Sadly, this news isn't surprising, since the Spaniards are well known for their rampant racism. In 2004, Spain's soccer manager, Luis Aragonés, publicly referred to French footballer Thierry Henry as "that black ****" while monkey chants greeted Henry and other black soccer players on the field.

British race car driver Lewis Hamilton (who is black) experienced similar abuse during a competition in Barcelona, with Spanish fans sporting blackface and T-shirts that read "Hamilton's family." (see picture)

In these 2 examples you brought out, of course I did feel embarrased about them when they happened, because they were indeed clearly racist actions, especially that picture mocking Lewis Hamilton, which those idiots tried (and still try) to justify saying they were on carnival (which noone cares).

I think those are not even remotely close to the "infamous" picture though and I would find it incredible if someone thinks they are... but whatever, I have had enough with this matter. Unfortunately we have some problems with racism, just like everywhere I suppose. Stupidity and ignorance are global problems, not just Spanish problems, though some people are kind of trying to state otherwise.

Posted by EnySpree:

Hey....nobody is saying the Spanish are any more racist than any other group. Its the classless, ignorant picture they (teams) took.

So what was the point of bringing out examples of racism in Spain at this very moment? And Im not talking about NYKBocker post, just about the news in general who have done the same in some specific places. Thats why I said ... what I said that I dont want to repeat again.

Posted by EnySpree:

DarkKnicks you from Spain or something?

LOL!

Sorry for messing the topic a bit.

I've never held the idea that people from Spain were any more racist than any other country. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. To be honest I think Spain has a pretty positive perception in the US(not like those French) so I think Darknight can relax. Americans in general don't agree with this type of thing. We all have our idiots. In the US there are without a doubt fans that would love to show up to games in black face and make monkey sounds(remember Patrick Ewing at Georgetown), but luckily in our arenas they don't put up with it. So it's surprising to us to see it go on somewhere and that's why we respond so harshly.

Crazy fans at sporting events spew all kinds of hateful things at athletes so it never really surprises me regardless of what country your playing in. Unfortunately some fans feel that by paying for tickets that gives them the right to say anything they want to a athlete.

Posted by Bippity10:

Back to the subject. I'm pretty sure that the reaction of the Chinese in China is different than the reaction of Asian Americans because they come from different cultures. I don't think Asian Americans or anyone else should apologize for being offended by this. And I don't think anyone has the right to ask them not to be.

the reason Asians living in Asian countries may not be offended by this is because they're the majority in the countries they live in, & they seldom have to be subjected to ignorant stereotypes & gestures like this that ridicule them... growing up as a minority in a non-Asian country as i have, i'll tell u right now there's been more than a few occasions where some ignorant little kid has slanted out his eyes to me or made some ridiculous "ching chong" comment after i walk past thinking that's some funny ****... i'm pretty sure some of the other minorities on this forum can speak to similar type experiences based on ignorant stereotypical ridicule they've been subjected to as well...

it always amuses me when people think certain things shouldn't offend someone else as if they can speak to the feelings they should have... seriously guys, unless u've actually walked in those shoes u really have no idea what u guys are talking about, & i mean that not as an insult, but as a point of fact... some Asians like highfivesucka or whoever else might not have been offended by it, & i also don't think it was meant to be a racist insult... it was just an idiotic & moronic marketing idea that shoulda never happened & for idiots to try & defend it by saying they have Asian friends or whatnot just shows even more of the same ignorance that this all came out of in the first place.

Posted by TMS:

Posted by Bippity10:

Back to the subject. I'm pretty sure that the reaction of the Chinese in China is different than the reaction of Asian Americans because they come from different cultures. I don't think Asian Americans or anyone else should apologize for being offended by this. And I don't think anyone has the right to ask them not to be.

the reason Asians living in Asian countries may not be offended by this is because they're the majority in the countries they live in, & they seldom have to be subjected to ignorant stereotypes & gestures like this that ridicule them... growing up as a minority in a non-Asian country as i have, i'll tell u right now there's been more than a few occasions where some ignorant little kid has slanted out his eyes to me or made some ridiculous "ching chong" comment after i walk past thinking that's some funny ****... i'm pretty sure some of the other minorities on this forum can speak to similar type experiences based on ignorant stereotypical ridicule they've been subjected to as well...

it always amuses me when people think certain things shouldn't offend someone else as if they can speak to the feelings they should have... seriously guys, unless u've actually walked in those shoes u really have no idea what u guys are talking about, & i mean that not as an insult, but as a point of fact... some Asians like highfivesucka or whoever else might not have been offended by it, & i also don't think it was meant to be a racist insult... it was just an idiotic & moronic marketing idea that shoulda never happened & for idiots to try & defend it by saying they have Asian friends or whatnot just shows even more of the same ignorance that this all came out of in the first place.

Excellent point. Asians in asian countries most likely has never been subjected to this kind of insult, hence this display probably did not even register as an insult and just registered as something foreigners do. I however have been insulted by the slanted eyes, ching chong comments and was told to go back to Vietnam when I am not even from Vietnam. This all hapenned before my growth spurt which shows you 2 things. Bigots are ignorant and cowards.

TMS...I have friends that are FOBs and they did not understand the insult while others that are either American born or have been in america for awhile are extremely insulted by this display.

Humans are born ignorant. Some people become more knowledgeable and less ignorant by being open minded to new experiences and trying to understand them. Others just remain stupid because of their close-mindedness and/or growing up in a homogenous environment.

I was once in a supermarket in Florida, and this white teenaged employee came and asked me “why are there so many different kinds of Asians? Like Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, etc.” I was in shock for a second, but snapped out of it, and responded “Well, there are a lot of different types of Europeans. You got people from England, France, Spain, etc.” The employee looked as if he’s in a deep state of reflection. I just left chuckling with the thought, “at least the guy is trying.”

Not just non-Asians are ignorant. I was in China, and witness some ignorant conversations and interactions with the Chinese natives and non-Chinese natives. Haha, even my study abroad partner thought I was stupid because I am American Born Chinese (ABC)… until I beat her in Chinese Chess and Ping Pong. Then, did she realize not all ABCs are dumb.

But if you do go to another country where they have access to American channels, some of the natives have the impression that Americans are stupid. So, you might have the burden to fight off the image that Americans are dumb like Paris Hilton and the stars of Jack Ass. Or you can careless and have some fun by just perpetuating that image.

I don't believe humans are born ignorant. I believe children are born pure. Its the ignorance of the world that corrupts them.

I do believe people can awaken themselves but some are so deeply brainwashed by this world that they can't see anything else.

2 things.....

I have dreads and I have to admit.......they are pretty bushy. A supervisor said something like this to me as I was signing out: "I know you don't think I'm gonna let you go out like that?" Of course I was like "Excuse me?"....."she goes on, "oh no you need to do the rest......get miss marley or somebody to twist that up for you. Why don't you get them done?".......I was completely offended by what she was saying to me. I wanted to go crazy on her but I said "that's not me". Then she retreats, "I can't say nothing cuz I tried to do that myself but my hair is too thin".......I'm like "too thin?!?!?".....she was like "yeah, *they* said my hair was too thin to lock. I need to put egg in my hair to make it thicker".......I'm like, "Egg? That's nonsense".......another lady tried to key in cuz she can see I'm getting annoyed, " well I put mayo in my girls hair"......so I end the bull**** but parting with, "everything you are saying is non-sense because people said I didn't have the hair to lock and I have dreads down my back. Well let me get outta here have a good night".......

Ignorance is bliss......you know its 2008 so it should be against the law to be ignorant with Google available. Everyone has a pda, or a smart phone or something with internet access. All you gotta do is google "dreadlocks meaning" and you will be wide awake to why people do this to their hair. You will also stop saying, "are you jamacian? Are you a rastafarian?".....there is a big world out there.

Also people are also shocked to hear I'm vegetarian too. They get snotty and insulting, talking about protien and being sickly and even if I'm gay. Its crazy the things people say if they hear something out of the norm. I've had people say, "yeah but you gonna get mad skinny".....meanwhile I have been vegetarian for 3 years now and I was 215 a month ago. They also try to belittle me saying "yeah right I bet you have a steak every once in a while, cuz you need to eat meat once in a while, any doctor can tell you that" really? Why do so many people live this way? What is it about meat that says you have to eat it?

I dunno man......I tend to study ignorance too much. Its a never ending battle within myself not to take it personally. People will be slaves of this earth for eternity.......how peaceful and happy this world would be if they would dare to question it.