Spain’s Racist Blunder at the Beijing Olympics

[...] First we have a swimmer exposing himself during his victory celebration of sorts.  Now it’s Spain’s NBA team posing for an advertising photo as they make fun of Asians. You can read more about it here, here and here. [...]

I think the US/UK obsession with Political correctness has reached incalculabe limits.

If they had posed with a cowboy uniform for the Atlanta olimpics, nobody would have mind because everybody would understand that it was a gesture of confraternation with the hosts. What better to show your admiration to the host country than to join them?

When one is a racist, one has to make sure that the racism is not on show… maybe that is the problem with the US and the UK..to much focus on trying to hide the real nature of their actions.

just a quick addition:
The Chinese Ambassador to Spain has reported that the Chinese Government and Chinese people consider this add neither “racist” nor “offensive”. They consider it to be a humorous “wink” to Chinese people.. a nice gesture.

To Miriam,

First, the Chinese people booed the Spanish team the very next day after the discovery of this racist ad. Second, the Chinese government had no comment regarding this and had not issued a official comment. Stop telling lies to try to make Spain look better.

Everyone know how Spain treats non-Spaniards. Just stop trying to justify an insensitive racist act. Why do all Spaniard who get caught committing a racist act always try to justify it? Spanish person try to justify it? Spanish politicians, coaches, fans all have a long history of discrimination against non-Spaniards, its well documented.

[...] seems that Spain’s Women’s basketball team adds to the social blunder of the men’s national team. The women posed by a similar advertising [...]

Miriam, the chinese ambassador in spain does not speak for asians around the world. it is obviously in their interest to put some sort of damage control on this story.

As a person of chinese descent that was born and raised in Canada, the photo is extremely insulting. This was the shit I had to put up with growing up. The slanty eyed gestures were always made with malicious intentions.. to insult and hurt and I can guarantee you it has never been made to me in humor. Even if the Spanish team had intended it as a joke, it is still a racist joke. Imagine if the team had taken a similar picture aimed at Africans, but with other derogatory gestures? Such as the stereotypically larger lips? I am sure there would be huge outrage worldwide. However, somehow, it seems racism against Asians is more tolerated.

Racism is racism.

Waw. Following the same overreacting pattern, I should ask: “Should we punish all the fans of Pau Gasol that have been wearing false beards of paper?” Because, you see, they are clearly doing a mockery of Pau and every bearded men, aren’t they? Why they ridiculize a bearded basket player like that? Ein

C’mon, people, let’s be serious. For me, it is obvious that the intention behind Gasol’s fans gesture is exactly the same as in the photos: an affectionate identification, a wink. A way to say “all of us feel like being chinese these days” or the like. Is childish to make slanting eyes? Yes, of course. As childish as wearing false beards. Is it a crime, to be childish that way?

Now, have some people used that gesture with offensive intention, outside China? Yes, of course. But, well, if you can’t discriminate between intentions, it is a very interesting ability, indeed. And now, are there racism and bigotry in Spain? No doubt there is. A lot. And now, please tell me a single country where there is not. (Indeed, I can’t see any shortage of racism against spaniards among these comments).
In brief, I regret any offended feeling among asian friends, but I have to tell you: the offence was more in your own mind (because of painful memories, that’s right) than in the spaniards basket players’ minds.

As for the non-asian “offended” people…, well you might consider that piece of ancient oriental wisdom: “when you point your finger blaming someone, please remember that three other fingers are pointing toward yourself”.
Finally, if anyone happen to be interested in basket, I suggest not to make so big a fuss of this, relax and enjoy the next saturday USA-Spain match. Much better.

In spanish slanting eyes are called “achinados” meaning “chinese-like”. Yes, chinese people have slit-eyes. How can that be offensive in any way???
It’s not about political correctness it is far beyond that…it is so stupid that hurts. If you are asian and you get offended because of this photo you should really get some help because you have some serious self-steem issue.

Only the press of Anglo-Saxon culture sees racism in these photos. If Chinese and rest of the planet do not feel offended; the one who is going to ask the Spanish for pardon for everything what is said?

How can you say that is racist?! It is clearly a affectionate gesture and totally unassuming.

maybe it wasn’t the funniest gesture in the world, but I don’t think they mean to be racist, c’mon… please…don’t insult spanish people, maybe you can say it wasn’t ‘appropiatly’, but it’s too hard to call someone racist …don’t you think?

Of course the non-asians would say its not insulting. You people have not gone through childhood where people make fun of your eyes and pulling at them. It was not a joke back then and its not a joke now. Its very offensive and how would you Spaniards feel if we made a “joke” calling u guys spics and who says all Chinese have small slanted eyes??? Does that mean all Europeans have HUGE long pointed nose?? I know plenty of Chinese people with big eyes. People need to stop judging and acting so immature. I’d understand a 5 year old doing this but grown men and women?? What is the world coming to.

Look, it just isn’t a nice gesture at all. What’s with the whole paper beard thing temax was talking about? All men can grow beards it’s not a racial thing so that debate isn’t worth mentioning. Also Miriam about the cowboy thing… well cowboy is dressing up and a type of culture. That’s more like respect and showing appreciation by actually dressing up and getting into the spirit. If I look at you butt naked I wouldn’t know if you are a cowgirl, so again another debate not even worth mentioning.

The slit eyes westerners like to do is a mockery and to some orientals it’s offensive because as it happens they suffer the slit eye issue as they happen to just grow an extra flap of skin. Not all orientals have it but the majority do and unfortunately they suffer at school from brats because they think they are better.

If a particular race thinks they are better than another race then that is racist.

The slit eyes is an offense, not a kind gesture. However, some people like the slit eye look, some see it as exotic and would like to have eyes like the orientals to be fair. But as far as it goes, pulling your eyes back to an oriental is offensive because in my experiance it was never as a kind gesture and probably to most orientals alike.

Perhaps we’re overeacting the issue but at the same time if you knew it can be offensive…. don’t do it and publish it, it’s not on.