Racist?

[myhc]

so do we have any actual Asians who want to comment on this? Or have we had any here who will admit their Asian-ness? I'm guessing they're the only ones who can intelligently comment on how offensive this really is, and not a bunch of nerdy white kids. For example, what if the Spanish team was making fun of Battlestar Galactica, how would you guys feel then? Yeah, exactly.

I'm Korean. Am I offended? You bet I am. That's most certainly a racist gesture, one I've unfortunately run into a handful of times in the past and been jumped a couple of times because of it. You tend to never forget the ugliness behind gestures/comments like that after being chased by 3 dudes with pipes after getting the whole mock Bruce Lee bit. So no, I'm not going to "get over it" like someone said earlier. Having said that, I think you have to look at intent. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say they probably didn't have any kind of malicious intent when they took that picture. Stupid? Ignorant? Incredibly immature? Absolutely. I know Pau Gasol appologized and I accept it. Learn and let's move on. Now I just hope our boys destroy Spain by 30.

[debo]

its more immature than racist. but at the same time, who cares? not me. let the Spaniards and Chinese work it out.

[monosylab1k]

Jason Kidd actually had a great point about this. What if this was the U.S. team that did this? Every last one of them would be villified and David Stern probably would have suspensions ready to hand out to everyone involved as soon as they got back.

It most definitely would have been considered racist, and the rest of the world would have gone completely ape over Americans mocking Asians in that way. But since it's some silly Spaniards, it's "no big deal".

Making that slanty eye gesture is just as offensive as if they had gotten dressed up in blackface. But for whatever reason there's a double standard, actually two of them. A) because they're European it's more acceptable to the rest of the world, and B) because they're making fun of Asians and not black people it's more acceptable to America.

[RonMexico]

Jason Kidd actually had a great point about this. What if this was the U.S. team that did this? Every last one of them would be villified and David Stern probably would have suspensions ready to hand out to everyone involved as soon as they got back.

It most definitely would have been considered racist, and the rest of the world would have gone completely ape over Americans mocking Asians in that way. But since it's some silly Spaniards, it's "no big deal".

Making that slanty eye gesture is just as offensive as if they had gotten dressed up in blackface. But for whatever reason there's a double standard, actually two of them. A) because they're European it's more acceptable to the rest of the world, and B) because they're making fun of Asians and not black people it's more acceptable to America.

I'll disagree on point B because I think it's unacceptable to make fun of both black people and Asians and I'm a huge racist. Although I expect that if China wins the medal count, there will be an increase in Asian hate-crimes.

[Spuradicator]

I'm Korean. Am I offended? You bet I am. That's most certainly a racist gesture, one I've unfortunately run into a handful of times in the past and been jumped a couple of times because of it. You tend to never forget the ugliness behind gestures/comments like that after being chased by 3 dudes with pipes after getting the whole mock Bruce Lee bit. So no, I'm not going to "get over it" like someone said earlier. Having said that, I think you have to look at intent. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say they probably didn't have any kind of malicious intent when they took that picture. Stupid? Ignorant? Incredibly immature? Absolutely. I know Pau Gasol appologized and I accept it. Learn and let's move on. Now I just hope our boys destroy Spain by 30.

You are Korean, not Chinese.

[ambchang]

Judging whether the gesture was inherently racist based on the reaction is flawed. Some people can take a mean-spirited attack and let it roll off their back, while others can take an innocent comment as an offense.

By definition, the team find humour in the appearance of one race, which is racist in and of itself. There really is not point arguing this.

Were they intended to mock? Probably not, but to run a full page ad with race jokes while, I assume, they have no knowledge of the taunts received by East Asians based on this exact joke in "comedies" of the 50's and 60's is ignorant .

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

It certainly is insensitive, insulting, immature and unnecessary, but I doubt they are all card-carrying KKK members.

An apology would be appropriate... and fire whoever thought that picture would be a good idea!