Furor Over Spain's Controversial Slit-Eye Basketball Photo

[passenger]

Spain's Basketball Federation has published a good luck advert for their men's team, the world champions, in which they stand pulling at the sides of their eyes in a slit-eyed gesture.

There is no obvious intention to upset their Olympic hosts in Beijing, but the irresponsible picture is likely to cause controversy and could be interpreted so as to lead to accusations of racism.

Spanish sport has been mired in rows over racism in the last few years. In November 2004 black English footballers were subjected to relentless racial barracking from home supporters in a match in Spain. Before the World Cup there were calls for Luis Aragones, then Spain's football coach, to be sacked after he called Thierry Henry a "black shiiit". And last year Lewis Hamilton suffered racist abuse during testing for the Spanish grand prix near Barcelona.

 

[azmike74]

Spain's Basketball Federation has published a good luck advert for their men's team, the world champions

First they think they are the best basketball team in the world?
Second, they think it's funny to make fun of people's physical appearance?
This almost seems like April 1st.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

This isnt really worth reading without a chance for a team rep to comment.

 

[BC867]

Here's what Pau Gasol had to say about it.

“It was something like supposed to be funny or something but never offensive in any way,” said Spain center Pau Gasol, who also plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. “I'm sorry if anybody thought or took it the wrong way and thought that it was offensive.”

Gasol said it was “absurd” people were calling the gesture racist. “We never intended anything like that,” he said.

Point guard Jose Manuel Calderon said the team was responding to a request from the photographer.

“We felt it was something appropriate, and that it would be interpreted as an affectionate gesture,” Calderon, who plays for NBA's Toronto Raptors, wrote on his ElMundo.es blog. “Without a doubt, some ... press didn't see it that way.”

Neither do I.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/olympics/articles/2008/08/13/20080813spainphotoON.html

 

[shazaam6]

It's a fact that Chinese eyes are slanted kinda like that.

What do you think they mean by it?

People imitate others all the time. Sometimes it's positive.

When Nash split his nose open against Parker's head, the next game Phoenix fans imitated him by wearing bandages on their noses the next game.

I think they are saying, "We are in China, we look like the Chinese." Light-heartedly imitating a feature of the population to be taken in a positive way and nothing more.

When ask why were they posing that way, what was the answer Gasol gave?


Now that you've heard it wasn't meant to be racist or mocking, but go ahead and give it meaning that wasn't intended because you want to take offense and start ****. Because that is the story that gets people to react and read...........even if it is B.S.

SHEEPLE

 

[elindholm]

I think they are saying, "We are in China, we look like the Chinese." Light-heartedly imitating a feature of the population to be taken in a positive way and nothing more.

That's absurd.

 

[Joe L]

It's a fact that Chinese eyes are slanted kinda like that.

What do you think they mean by it?

People imitate others all the time. Sometimes it's positive.

...sometimes.

When Nash split his nose open against Parker's head, the next game Phoenix fans imitated him by wearing bandages on their noses the next game.

a bandage in honor of a basketball warrior shows support for your player. Mimicking a race that is considered your foe in competition is tasteless to say the least.

Maybe when the Olympics are held in Africa, the Spaniards can paint themselves black...eh?

I think they are saying, "We are in China, we look like the Chinese." Light-heartedly imitating a feature of the population to be taken in a positive way and nothing more.

You think?

When ask why were they posing that way, what was the answer Gasol gave?

a lame excuse?

Now that you've heard it wasn't meant to be racist or mocking, but go ahead and give it meaning that wasn't intended because you want to take offense and start ****. Because that is the story that gets people to react and read...........even if it is B.S.

What you heard were excuses. The coach admitted it was the same as poking fun at a person's height. Now if it wasn't mimicking then why does he compare it to "tippy toeing" to imitate a tall person? Nuff said.

 

[dodie53]

it's the photographer's fault..

he requested the team to pose like that

 

[shazaam6]

Paint themselves black.......??????
They didn't paint themselves yellow. Why go there?
This wasn't about color, but you just brought it up, making it about something it isn't.
Why get all worked up about what it isn't.

Talk about what they did and why they said they did it.
It may be in bad taste, but it was explained as not meant to offend.

People are sheeple. The camera guy says do this, some are uncomfortable but do it anyway. Camera guy says it will be funny. It is not as funny as he thinks.

 

[arwillan]

i don't find it to be "offensive". in bad taste, yes. but i'm pretty sure spain didn't mean to upset anyone or cause any fuss.

 

[Shzm13]

I think you're racist for thinking that's racist. You racist.

 

[joshstmarie]

clearly people take themselves way to seriously, that picture is hilarious. why is everyone always so hypersensitive and looking to call racism. get a life.

 

[mojorizen7]

All i can say is that you've got to be smarter than that.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

It's a fact that Chinese eyes are slanted kinda like that.

What do you think they mean by it?

People imitate others all the time. Sometimes it's positive.

When Nash split his nose open against Parker's head, the next game Phoenix fans imitated him by wearing bandages on their noses the next game.

I think they are saying, "We are in China, we look like the Chinese." Light-heartedly imitating a feature of the population to be taken in a positive way and nothing more.

When ask why were they posing that way, what was the answer Gasol gave?


Now that you've heard it wasn't meant to be racist or mocking, but go ahead and give it meaning that wasn't intended because you want to take offense and start ****. Because that is the story that gets people to react and read...........even if it is B.S.

SHEEPLE

You must be registered for see images

 

[shazaam6]

Thank you
Ohhh mighty judge.
My first fail.

 

[cly2tw]

It's not about whether Spain's players had any racist intentions consciously. It's about the perception in general public. Is it a way many Westerners would make fun of Chinese? Like the "chingchong" comments Shaq made, and apologized for, a couple of years ago? If those gestures do have some discriminating connotation in public opinion, then the Spanish players should be at least more sensitive about it.

 

[Shzm13]

So i should get all butt hurt every time i see you "gringos" wear big mexican hats?

People need to quit trying to make something out of nothing.


Why the hell would the chinese consider this racist or get offended about it when they're living in a world of segregation themselves? Its a damn joke that this makes the news, yet the lack of womens rights or the fact that blacks (amongst other races) are STILL not allowed in some chinese "public" facilities does not.

I wish more people from more nations would do this just to be a big ray of sunshine in all you uptight douchebags' faces.
-

 

[shazaam6]

That's absurd.

Really???????? Do you think they would just bust out the chinese eyes if they were getting their picture taken in any other country that doesn't have people with slanted eyes?

I don't. So that is the whole light-hearted joke right there. Nothing else meant. IMO

 

[cly2tw]

So i should get all butt hurt every time i see you "gringos" wear big mexican hats?

People need to quit trying to make something out of nothing.


Why the hell would the chinese consider this racist or get offended about it when they're living in a world of segregation themselves? Its a damn joke that this makes the news, yet the lack of womens rights or the fact that blacks (amongst other races) are STILL not allowed in some chinese "public" facilities does not.

I wish more people from more nations would do this just to be a big ray of sunshine in all you uptight douchebags' faces.
-

Right. Because of the marked words above, the Chinese deserve some words or jokes put on them, from guys like you or Sharon Stone (in that karma comments to the earthquake), right? Don't you savor those moments and feel satisfaction Miss Stone must have felt?

Your very post here justifies the concerns or the "furor"!

 

[Shzm13]

Yeah, i also like to travel to third world countries and feast on triple cheesburgers in front of starving children. I mean, their situations already pretty bad anyway, right?? How worse can one guy make it..






Clearly that wasn't the point i was trying to make. China has worse segregation problems to worry about than the mens spanish team taking a "goofy" picture. If they really cared about racism and segregation, their government would've addressed it by now.

Oh, wait..

 

[cly2tw]

Clearly that wasn't the point i was trying to make. China has worse segregation problems to worry about than the mens spanish team taking a "goofy" picture. If they really cared about racism and segregation, their government would've addressed it by now.

Oh, wait..

Well, for one, it's not really Chinese press but rather some western press commenting on this issue.

Also, the segregation problem you seemed so deeply believe in must be really a good reason to pay the Chinese people back in kind, right? Sharon Stone, are you?

 

[mojorizen7]

You must be registered for see images

Wow.

 

[Joe L]

So i should get all butt hurt every time i see you "gringos" wear big mexican hats?

People need to quit trying to make something out of nothing.

Again, how can you compare a dominant racial trait to cultural attire? They are not the same. I am Hispanic too and I don't see how wearing a Mexican hat compares to mimicking the most obvious physical trait.

Why the hell would the chinese consider this racist or get offended about it when they're living in a world of segregation themselves? Its a damn joke that this makes the news, yet the lack of womens rights or the fact that blacks (amongst other races) are STILL not allowed in some chinese "public" facilities does not.

So because they are oppressed by their government, they should man up and take it because that is what they're used to? Because they're government won't allow blacks in certain facilities, they deserve it?

I wish more people from more nations would do this just to be a big ray of sunshine in all you uptight douchebags' faces.

By the way, I do not think ANYONE said it was racist. I said it is very insensitive towards another race and it isn't funny at all. Maybe we should keep posting in this thread showing our disdain for this sort of stuff so this could be a big ray of sunshine in all your "ignant" faces

 

[elindholm]

Really???????? Do you think they would just bust out the chinese eyes if they were getting their picture taken in any other country that doesn't have people with slanted eyes?

I can't begin to imagine what your point is.

So that is the whole light-hearted joke right there. Nothing else meant. IMO

Things that are funny or acceptable in one culture aren't funny in another. As a mundane example, I remember from my visit to Brazil that the "okay" gesture (making a circle with your thumb and forefinger) is considered obscene, sort of like our flipping the bird. I tried to remember not to make that gesture but kept forgetting, and that was embarrassing.

To be ignorant of these cultural differences is insensitive. To be unaware that Asians find "slant-eyed" references insulting is to be out of touch beyond belief.

Would you have the team line up in a swastika formation before a game against Israel? "Oh, we just thought it would be funny, you know, because historically Jews have found swastikas kind of threatening, and we're trying to beat them today, so it's like a metaphor. Geez, it's only a shape. It's a historical fact that there are Nazis. Everyone needs to get over themselves." Or maybe a team from an arab nation should show a video of the World Trade Center collapsing before a game against the U.S.

It doesn't matter whether you intend offense -- if you know it will be offensive, and you do it anyway, that's insensitive.

People insult each other all the time, and I don't think a federal case should be made of this, because we need to be able to accept the insults and move on. But there's simply no way that any reasonably cognizant person could not recognize that the picture is insulting.

I always laugh when someone in the workplace gets mandated "sensitivity training," but I guess the need for it is wider-spread than I often realize.

 

[shazaam6]

I can't begin to imagine what your point is.

My point is simple, they were persuaded to do this only because the photographer thought it would be funny to do in China. That is it. Poor taste? Yes, I think so, but not extreme like your swastika scenario where millions were murdered vs reference to an obvious physical trait.

Flipping the bird with the OK symbol is kind of funny if you reverse it and think about someone coming to America and giving the middle finger as a way of saying "ok".

elindholm: "So you understand what I told you?"
Response from foreigner: "Yes, I understand you perfectly." Then flips bird at you.





Things that are funny or acceptable in one culture aren't funny in another. As a mundane example, I remember from my visit to Brazil that the "okay" gesture (making a circle with your thumb and forefinger) is considered obscene, sort of like our flipping the bird. I tried to remember not to make that gesture but kept forgetting, and that was embarrassing.

To be ignorant of these cultural differences is insensitive. To be unaware that Asians find "slant-eyed" references insulting is to be out of touch beyond belief. I think most were ignorant from the explanations I read.

Would you have the team line up in a swastika formation before a game against Israel? "Oh, we just thought it would be funny, you know, because historically Jews have found swastikas kind of threatening, and we're trying to beat them today, so it's like a metaphor. Geez, it's only a shape. It's a historical fact that there are Nazis. Everyone needs to get over themselves." Or maybe a team from an arab nation should show a video of the World Trade Center collapsing before a game against the U.S.

It doesn't matter whether you intend offense -- if you know it will be offensive, and you do it anyway, that's insensitive. True

People insult each other all the time, and I don't think a federal case should be made of this, because we need to be able to accept the insults and move on. But there's simply no way that any reasonably cognizant person could not recognize that the picture is insulting.

I always laugh when someone in the workplace gets mandated "sensitivity training," but I guess the need for it is wider-spread than I often realize.

Sensativity training sounds interesting, may be humorous too. Some people are so insensative that it is funny to hear as long as no one gets hurt. Usually they are labelled as an "a hole" and people just move on and avoid them.