See photo Here

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The Spanish-language paper El Mundo has a piece debating whether the ad was racist that basically calls out the British press for trying to smear Spain's good name. But they miss the point. Whether the picture was made in good fun is irrelevant. It was a ridiculous idea that was bound to upset a lot of people.

It's baffling that nobody involved in the picture -- from the photographers to the players -- even seemed to consider that this ad would be looked at negatively. Did it not occur to somebody that it might not be a good idea to mock an entire continent before the world's largest athletic competition that, by the way, happens to take place on that continent. Were they not aware of an invention called "the Internet" that allows pictures taken in Spain to be transmitted all over the world for the eyes of everyone?

And now that the inevitable controversy has hit, they're still defending themselves when a simple, "the ad was in poor taste, we apologize" would have sufficed. This story would be slowing down if the Spanish Basketball team had apologized immediately. Now it's just picking up steam.

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Some analysis here.

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Reading the full article I'm left wondering two things: How did the author of the article deduce that there wasn't any offense intended by the advertisement (and like it matters anyway), and who actually put them up to it.

At the same time, I honestly can't help but actually wonder if this is somehow fake news because it's just that absurd, and in a way, I'm waiting for someone to e-mail and say "Gotcha!" because you really just don't think this is going to happen nowadays - I mean seriously - this is messed up.

Someone. Anyone. Please tell me this is a joke.

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Edited to add: Ha, I wrote the above before reading BCG's link, where Angry Asian Man says:

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There's stupid, and there's insensitive... and then there's what the hell were they thinking?

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Yuh-huh!

[ 13 August 2008: Message edited by: Michelle ]

[ 13 August 2008: Message edited by: Ken Burch ]

Mind you, they did get rid of a government which was sending aggressive troops to the Middle East and then pull their troops out.

Although we haven't managed to do that yet, we are certainly superior to them when it comes to not giving offence in photographs.

[ 13 August 2008: Message edited by: Ken Burch ]

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Originally posted by unionist:
Aren't these Spanish people hilarious?

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Originally posted by bigcitygal:
There are some excellent and intelligent comments following the links and text.

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Yes, indeed. But then there are some like this:

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I know I’ve seen countless Bollywood films which contained highly racist scenes whether in regards to Black people or Asians. I wonder if countries which are not as culturally diverse, because of lack of exposure to the issues, just don’t realize how offensive such things can be. However, Spain I’m assuming is a bit more diverse than India and really should know better.

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Originally posted by unionist:
, we are certainly superior to them when it comes to not giving offence in photographs.

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Originally posted by Michelle:
Maybe we could focus on the anti-racist responses instead, as bcg requested?

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Originally posted by Michelle:
Maybe we could focus on the anti-racist responses instead, as bcg requested?

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I'm having trouble understanding the guidance being given to this thread, so I will try again.

My belief is that we should pay far more attention to our own anti-Asian racism and stereotyping than someone else's far away. Is that thread drift?

Latest example: the media scandal/sensation about how the opening ceremonies at the Olympics were "faked", primarily because one little girl was seen singing with the voice of another. Then, yesterday there was a "humorous" story about how the organizers fill empty seats by hiring hordes of applauders, identically dressed in yellow outfits, training since last October to cheerlead in unison, not even knowing what sport they're attending, all very happy - etc.

The whole subtext (not very far below the surface) is about a culture which is submissive and obedient, where the individual is unimportant, perhaps even disposable.

I have seen not one iota of sensitive or even curious journalism about Chinese culture, society, everyday life in the lead-up to these games. The coverage is racist and xenophobic through and through. And that's the "friendly" part, the part that isn't outright bemoaning the absence of our flavour of "human rights" in China.

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unionist: Racism is much more and much deeper than a juvenile gesture by some jocks.

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From the comments from the Racialicious link above:

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What I find most upsetting is that picture touched many many hands before it hit the news stands. The sports editor, editor in chief, copy editor and the dude who printed the newspaper all saw it and didn’t think it was offensive enough to pull. Also, the newspaper didn’t issue an apology.

It’s pretty sad.

(snip)

I remember a long time ago in my fifth grade class, my teacher would “joke” about Asians by pulling his eyelids like that. His justification was that he was simply explaining the physical differences between Caucasians and Asians. It prompted an entire class of white students (myself included) pulling on our eyelids and laughing at one another. I’m humiliated and ashamed to admit this now.

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From the blog of a Racialicious commenter:

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Here’s what LA Laker player and member of the team Paul Gasol had to say, “If anyone feels offended by it, we totally apologize for it.” What kind of half-assed apology is that? It’s pretty much like saying, “I’m sorry that you took it wrong.” ARE YOU SERIOUS? And here’s what Spain’s coach had to say, “All of the Spanish people are close to the Chinese people mentally.” What does that even mean? Apparently other team members are stating that they felt pressure from Seur (who the ad was for) to make this picture happen. Should they get a pass because they intended no harm? I think not. Even if you were personally comfortable displaying racist sentiments (and make no doubt, this is racist in nature), as a team who is representing something larger than yourself, how could you feel compelled to appear as a band of bigots?

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I don't watch the Olympics or their coverage, no matter the country, based on my "bread not circuses" philosophy and a general lack of interest in watching sports. But what I've gleaned from blogs and friends' reports is that the Western media's got nothing. Nothing except not-old-and-buried Orientalist and racist tropes to fall back upon, standard anti-commie stuff, and the old trump card, as you called it, critique of human rights as current with the reigning democracies of the day, ie, us. It'll all be over in a week or so and then we can go back to the normal pillaging and looking forward to the bullshit of the Vancouver 2010 fuckwaddery.

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Originally posted by bigcitygal:
I no longer give out BCG Approved (TM) stickers.

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Oh sure, a blatant attempt to make the current ones on the market increase in value!

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Originally posted by Michelle:
Anyhow, I don't think discussing the huge problem with this picture in any way absolves our own society of our own racist ways. If this were to happen here, you'd probably get just as many people offering defensive reactions to being called out on it.

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The Chinese media will say nothing about this because the Communist Party controls it. The Party wants these games to be China’s crowning glory (see the replacement of the “homely” girl singer with the “cuter” girl singer and the removal of people from their homes). Thus, it will likely instruct its media to state that the Chinese people accept the team’s apology and then try and sweep the whole incident under the rug.

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So, it's the responsibility of China to condemn anti-Asian racism in Spain!

There are other comments along the same lines.