Spanish NT in Racist Advertisement?

[Dtown2]

I agree. Worst racism of any country I've been to.

I kind of agree, and I kind of don't. I've seen far far worse open racism in other countries. However the US has a bad history of institutionalized (closet) racism.

When it comes to sports and racism, I wouldn't rank the US in the top ten. Political correctness is drilled into everyone to the point where they know a slip of the tongue will get you fired or at least fined, and in the case of fans booted from the stadium. This is of course a double edged sword.

 

[stickkeys1082]

Once again, who cares?

This is basketball......

 

[Picek2]

When it comes to sports and racism, I wouldn't rank the US in the top ten. Political correctness is drilled into everyone to the point where they know a slip of the tongue will get you fired or at least fined, and in the case of fans booted from the stadium. This is of course a double edged sword.

we are going extremely offtopic but Guantanamo is really politicly correct..
and it is a part of US policy..
but lets not go there..
and about fans on american stadiums/halls,, I don't find them rascist..
those who are rascists aren't attending games..
in Europe they do, atleast at football (soccer) games..

 

[beychang2]

well if I was a Chinese I would have see it as a joke, it was crafted to be a joke by Chinese marketing and I am sure that the mind behind it must have knew that Chinese people would see it as such. It seems that it bothers more the British than the Chinese....hmmm I wonder why?
i love to hear from a Chinese poster their thoughts!

Well, I think it's OK and I don't know that gesture before. Maybe a little bit improper. Even it's intended I don't care about it, cause I think racists are just a bunch of idoits.
PS: this is my first post here, and I'm watching the Croatia vs Russia game live on the laptop now, it's a little lead by the Croatians in the halftime.

 

[Dtown2]

we are going extremely offtopic but Guantanamo is really politicly correct..
and it is a part of US policy..
but lets not go there..
and about fans on american stadiums/halls,, I don't find them rascist..
those who are rascists aren't attending games..
in Europe they do, atleast at football (soccer) games..

Oh come on, I already said we have problems with institutionalized racism, no reason to play the Guantanamo card. It's like the nuke in these arguments without going completely off the deep end.

Some of the stuff in soccer though is mind blowing, nothing like it in the US since Jackie Robinson debuted in baseball.

 

[Samuel2]

You should know that there is a campaign in British media which try to label Spain as "racist". The racist abuse that Hamilton suffered in Spain was in fact 5 fools(yes only five) with painted faces and wearing tshirts with the phrase "Hamilton Family". That's all. British press also said that there were people wearing gorilla masks, but "forgot" to say that those didn't insulted Hamilton, and there were people wearing as rabbits, bullfighters, etc..(hint: it was Carnival that day).

Hamilton was booed all the day, but not because the colour of his skin (if you don't follow the F1 season, it's hard to explain what happened in 2007).

The Luis Aragones issue was totally different, but still is a single person who did it.

The slit-eye gesture means nothing to me. I think that in 2006 spain players weared those japanese headbands as a tribute to their hosts. For me it's the same. For those who want to bash Spain players...

 

[achinet2]

I don't belive what I'm reading, I repeat again. It was a CHINESSE adverting. Few days ago, here in spanish tv said that the, perhaps, less known player Berni Rodríguez, is one of the moust famous in china becouse he is in big pictures with that gestures in his eyes along the chinesse roads, and also in chinesse tv in an CHINESSE ADVERTIN BY THE CHINESSE COMPANY LI-NING. That's ALL. It is an absurd discussion. Why moust of you whant to belive that here in Spain we are so so so idiot?

 

[stuart2]

stuart no offense but I don't think american citizens should give lectures about racism to anyone..

Oh geez, no offense taken! Tell me more about your awesome and wide-ranging points of view!

Stuart

 

[Genjuro2]

Honestly, I don't really care if it's looked as racist in Europe or America. I would only care if the advert looks racist in Asia, and since it's a Chinese company doing it, where's the problem?

I would only be concerned if a Chinese newspaper is calling it racist.

Brittish press is crap, almost as much as Spanish (sport) press.

 

[geeup2]

And is it just me or has the Guardian changed their initial article in the last few minutes to take out the part about the Courier company. Indeed, if it was a Chinese company that ordered this pose, it changes things...

No, there are two articles. The earlier one does not mention the courier company. The later article does.

Sunday August 10 2008 05:54 BST
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/10/olympics2008.olympicsbasketball

Monday August 11 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/11/olympicsbasketball.olympics20081

The basketballinspain article only mentions Li Ning as their jersey sponsor but there is nothing said about this ad.

 

[stuart2]

The slit-eye gesture means nothing to me. I think that in 2006 spain players weared those japanese headbands as a tribute to their hosts. For me it's the same. For those who want to bash Spain players...

Y'know, I normally don't get into the threads like this, reminds me of the good old days...

No one wants to bash the Spanish players, I know I haven't. I understand it's a Chinese advertisement... but some of you are unwilling to even open their eyes to the fact that it may be offensive to others, in other countries without downing America or the British as this and that?

In the context of it being in Spain, or even in China, the dynamics are entirely different, I get that. Why would a Chinese person in China, surrounded by other Chinese people be bothered by such a thing? No Chinese kid is running around making slit eyes to taunt other Chinese children. Do you know where I getting at?

And ok, the slit-eyed gesture may not be an offensive in Spain. OK.

But in other parts of the world, where asians are minorities, I think it's a lot distasteful - probably why the ad wouldn't fly in other countries. Do I look down on Spain for that? No. Do I apologize for the United States being sensitive to those type of things, absolutely not. I know that makes a lot of you lose respect for me, but i'll be able to move on.

Listen, I don't look at the Spanish players any differently, I understand there are cultural differences. From my American perspective (whether Picek wants to grant me that perspective or not), I just think the advertisement was in poor taste. Is it in poor taste in Spain? I guess not, but that doesn't make my perspective any less valid.

Stuart

 

[Genjuro2]

But in other parts of the world, where asians are minorities, I think it's a lot distasteful - probably why the ad wouldn't fly in other countries. Do I look down on Spain for that? No. Do I apologize for the United States being sensitive to those type of things, absolutely not. I know that makes a lot of you lose respect for me, but i'll be able to move on.

I understand what you mean, but I don't think the advert is meant to be shown anywhere but in China and Spain.

 

[Samuel2]

No one wants to bash the Spanish players, I know I haven't. I understand it's a Chinese advertisement... but some of you are unwilling to even open their eyes to the fact that it may be offensive to others, in other countries without downing America or the British as this and that?

You know, spanish players aren't the most loved in this forum, and this could a perfect excuse for those who don't like them to bash'em. I wasn't thinking on you specifcally (or any other person really). I understand that can be misunderstood for those who think that is a offensive gesture, but it's the responsability of the journalist to check the facts and if it's considered offensive in a chinese or spanish context before linking this with other "racist" incidents don't you think?

And what I said about sport related british press is true. The Hamilton incident was exaggerated to an unthinkable level.

 

[mayteromanl2]

I missed it. Exactly how did the Guardian declare "all Spanish nation racists."

Also, if Henry called the Spanish team "bastards" does that really excuse the racial remark made? Unless call the Spanish bastards is racist now...

Believe me, in Spain, in general, we are not racists, but what happen is we tend to make jokes of everything, or maybe not only jokes, as an example, if you are driving and another car 'does' something you are going to shout..... i.e. if the driver is over 50, "viejo!!!" (old), if she is a woman "mujer tenía q ser" (something like....'shit, a woman again......'), and if he is a black man, or a chineses.... but it's not racism, believe me.

But in england probably say this because of Fi, last year's stuff with Alonso, mistreated by the media, and by McLaren, so, what did we do?? making jokes about Hamilton... or even insulting him...but no more problems.

Well, I'm here to talk about 2nd Sapinsh victory.... 16 - 17.

At last Reyes came back to the bench!!!!

 

[mayteromanl2]

The slit-eyed gesture as a form of racial mockery doesn’t even exist in Spain. Actually, you would have a hard time trying to explain to a Spanish that this could be seen as a derogatory gesture in other countries with more racist background.

PS- Spanish people just love the Chinese. Half the adoptions made in Spain are of Chinese orphans. Spain is in fact the country where more Chinese are adopted in the world.

Ohhhhh my God!!! that gesture!!! you what is it in Spain??? its a nice gesture simulating chinese eyes... we have always do that, and is not offensive at all.....never!!! just the opposite!!!! it's really close.

ufff..... cultural differences!!!!

You're totally right, chinese people are very estimated in spain, and there are lots of chinese children, lots and lots....and not only babies, and not only healthy. We were very concerned about what was happening there, especially with female babies.

 

[FRANKY 132]

This ad was not very funny. Stereotypical humor is just not funny anymore in 2008. Plus it could actually lead to misunderstandings, eventhough it could only happen in extreme cases.

Having said that, Spanish people are one of the last ones I would call racists. Same goes for their NT players. They do have character issues but I would never even think about saying they are racists.

Personal opinion here.

 

[Vasileios Spanoulis2]

The way China came out in that game tells me they took offense to that.

 

[Fedfan2]

Spaniards did a little stupid advertisement and english media found the chance they are ALWAYS looking for to bash them.

This advertisement's target group: Spain and China
Is this considered offensive and racist in any of these countries? No.

I didn't know that before you made an advertisement,you should look in books and research for decades to find if it's offensive to some kind of nationality or culture around the world,that this isn't even aimed for?!
Then I guess we should officially protest to all thousands of ads and photos in the medias of ppl posing with their hands open in front-I call it a Muza and if by some accident I see it in the street in New Jersey I'm going to be seriously insulted. ..

and about USA being one of the most racist country??While I have never lived or visited there,I just challenge ppl to just stop for a minute and use their head.This is a truly a multicultural,multi ethnical,multi coloured society.And as such it can only be judged and compared with others similar.
So you Picek before you go and throw your blow at usa maybe you have other great examples to throw in of utopias?
Because last time I checked Croatia and Greece wasn't big multicultural and multi coloured societies. Most european countries aren't and those who are,are so in a much lesser degree,for far less years and still face serious racist issues.
I also like to think my country is all light hearted and hospitable and nice as it's pictured in tour guides and in the mind of most of its naive citizens.
Unfortunately after having heard my mother's "lecture" a thousand times, of "of how I should find a good nice and preferably well put man to marry -as long as he's not albanian of course!-because she's going to have a heart attack ..well I have some difficulty to believe it.

We are all the same sh!t whether we like to believe it or not.

 

[Levenspiel2]

This ad did not strike me as offensive, either. And I don't think China's big effort today was in any way related to that.

As for the 5-men monkey show against L. Hamilton, it was purely racist no matter which reasons lie behind it. And if they could do it, then it's not only those 5 people but anyone allowing them; other spectators, organizers, etc. It was a shame and could not be ignored.

But I agree in great part with Fedfan. Almost all nations have bits of that poison, including ours, even though it's somehow different.

 

[7772]

I dont see racism in this picture. Racism is related to hate, and there is no hate. I also like to make fun sometimes about asians, but I also respect them and admire theyr hard working and creative nation. This article is propoganda