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Olympics: Spain and the height of cultural insensitivity
This is a full page advertisement that has been running here in Spain. It's an advert for the courier company that has sponsored the Spanish Basketball Federation to the Olympics. The photo is the Spanish basketball team, in full Olympic kit, pulling their eyes back.
Of course it has created an uproar in the international media for being offensive to the Chinese. However, people involved in the making of the ad as well as the national team, don't see what the fuss is about as it was done with good intention; ask any Spaniard how they feel about this and they will chuckle.
Having lived in Spain for over two years now, nor the advert nor the Spanish reaction to this is surprising to me. It is common in Spain to hear people call Africans and African/Americans "negros" (blacks); if you behave badly, you could be told that you are behaving like a "morro" (Moroccan). Although these comments are of racist origin, I have to say that I don't find the country racist at all. In fact, I find Spain is most welcoming and accepting when it comes to people of different race and culture. Things like this are not taken seriously here but the Spanish don't understand the consequences of such acts outside their own country.
All that said, I do think that this advert is unacceptable and embarrassing for Spain to project on an international scale. When the Spaniards say they didn't mean to offend or that it was just an "affectionate wink", as much as I truly believe them, it was a colossal mistake.
Filed under: Arts and Culture
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Baron Aug 13th 2008 9:46AM
People just need to relax. Everyone gets so bent out of shape over things. It's usually not even a majority of people, just a small minority that is leading some politically correct charge against someone else. Do like I do when I am being called a honkey or cracker by black people that I ride my bike by, just chuckle to yourself. If they want to be racist or whatever, it just serves to be funny to me because it shows ignorance on their part, not mine (oh, on a side note, if the roles were reversed, there would be some civil liberties group hot on my heals).
stacy Aug 14th 2008 11:01AM
I find this repulsive and disqusting, what a way to represent your country, its a disgrace to mock any race whether it was a joke or not. Here we have the olympics, which they made it very welcoming and spent a lot of money welcoming everyone, every race, and people wonder why we can't move on past racism. Well how about I call u a wetback, a spick etc. and oh by the way, I'm just joking. what a disgrace, and I thought Spain had a lot more class than that. And for all those who say we need to loosen up, the next time their is a riot, just loosen up a bit.
Baron Aug 14th 2008 11:32AM
Apparently you missed the fact that I stated I am called "raciest" names by people of another race when I ride through their neighborhoods, which just makes me chuckle a bit b/c I know it is done out of ignorance. Calling me a wetback or a spick would really give me a kick though, since that would be really far out of context. As far as a riot, well, if people weren't so keyed up on things in the first place (I mean really, your team lost the soccer match so you are going to go start a riot), they wouldn't happen.
ken Aug 15th 2008 12:21PM
We are all made differently. Some have body odour that kills, while others have no body odour. Some have genius brains as a nation, others are just plain dum. To make fun of a dum person would be wrong just as it is wrong to pull your eyes back to mimic the host country of the olympics. Shame on the Spaniards.
PRETTY EYES Aug 14th 2008 7:43PM
White, caucasians, europeans, whatever you call yourselves these days, always try to rationalize their deep seated hatred and prejudices. It is sad, that in the year 2008, people still do not have respect or understand the diversity of human nature. It is almost embarrassing to know that Spaniards, many of whom are mixed with Asians and Africans, are so ignorant as to allow themselves to stoop so low as to mimic the physical attributes of people, in their own country. MEDIA IS RACIST, PEOPLE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THE SAME RACISTS THAT ASSIST IN THE ANNIHILATION OF EVERY ETHNIC GROUP ON THIS PLANET, RULE THE MEDIA. IT IS NOW TIME TO TURN OFF CHANNEL ZERO. Whites, or people not of color, should realize that melanin is the only difference we have. We are all humans. Flowers are different, animals are different, and in a few years, Whites will be the minority in America, and soon in Europe. So learn to get along with all people, and judge people on the content of their character and not on the color of their skin, shape of their heads and or their bodies. We all are humans that have contributed to the great universe and when we realize that we all need each other, respect for one another will take place. There is only one race and that is the human race, and we are losing this race.
Baron Aug 15th 2008 12:28PM
Man I wish that this would allow me to reply to you and not to myself! OK, last thing I'm going to say on the matter b/c I'm not sure if you are replying to me and not reading what I'm saying or if you are speaking in generalities. Anyway, if you are reading what I'm saying, I am essentially saying (going to put it very simply) is that 1) we are all basically the same, regardless of color (there is a little bit more than simply melanin) 2) racism is b/c people are ignorant 3) and finally people should take it easy and not get so upset b/c of points 1 and 2 - i.e. we are essentially the same and racism is from people that are ignorant (I mean, if someone said you were racist b/c you called whites people not of color, when in fact I'm sure there isn't a bone in your body that gives any sort of superiority to any characteristic of a particular color, I'm sure you would think that was a pretty dumb idea and say that people shouldn't get upset that you said it)
Tim Dawson Aug 13th 2008 10:20AM
How depressing that everybody takes things so seriously these days. It's so easy and so much fun to accuse people of being racist.
These Spanish people are manipulating their facial features to make their eyes resemble eyes native to the far-eastern regions of the globe. It's amusing. How on earth does it discriminate against anybody or make anyone feel bad? It's not like they're making fun of anybody here. Anyone who feels offended should go away and grow a thicker skin.
wendy Aug 14th 2008 11:48AM
Well, if your people got a big nose, then would you feel any better if we dressed up with big red clown suits?
Irv Aug 14th 2008 1:54PM
"It's amusing." It is the height of ignorance to insist that making fun, no matter the intention behind it, of another race of people is funny! Tell that to Asian-Americans who for years have endured such taunts not only by children but adults with closed minds. Tell that to Native Americans who have been taunted with the "whoo hoo" hand to the mouth taunts by children and adults with closed minds. This is "How on earth does it discriminate against anybody or make anyone feel bad."
"It's not like they're making fun of anybody here." So who is laughing, certainly not the people who are being targetted by such racist-light stupidity!
"Anyone who feels offended should go away and grow a thicker skin." Okay, Go away then. I am a Native American of the Pima, T'hono O'dham and Nez Perce tribes indigenous to this continent. Where are you going? Back to Spain? Oh, and the thicker skin? Those races who have had to grow a thicker skin since the white man violated these shores can tell you a thing or two about thicker skin!
John Aug 13th 2008 11:09AM
While the Chinese eyes joke may have been in bad taste, your offense at the word "negro" is silly and ignorant.
"They call African American 'negros' blacks". What are they supposed to call them? Afro-Americanos, Africanos-Americanos? That sounds stupid! No one in Spain or Latin America, for that matter, ever says African-American, the word is "negro" because that's the word for the color black.
In the US, we may consider that negro is a pejorative, and prefer black or whatever new term Jesse Jackson comes up with this year but the American racial hangups should not be hoisted on the rest of the world. I still remember the CNN anchor reporting on riots in France; she actually said that the riots were triggered by the death of an "African American" from Morocco. Another reporter I remember interviewed a British athlete and asked him how it felt to be the first "British African-American" medal winner in his sport. The guy reminded her that he was black and British not American. He was too polite.
jean humphreys Aug 14th 2008 9:04AM
I feel no need to post, since you have already expressed my feelings so well. Thanks
Mikey the Nail Aug 14th 2008 11:39AM
Well, unless they were born in Africa or somehow hold dual citizenship with an African country, in reality they're just plain old Americans.
My ancestors came from Europe. I don't call myself a "European-American."
I say we do away with the ethno-centric descriptive words and get back to the old melting pot!
Alfredo Aug 13th 2008 12:05PM
Hi all!
I was shocked today when I read that this photo has caused such a revolution calling us "racists" for what is just a wink to the chinese. First, our basketball team was asked to pose this way by a photographer, in any way the idea came out of them, and secondly, how could this be considered an offense in every paper, in a country which offensses almost the rest of the world with his politics, restriction and the like... I think we should have a wider look to the world instead of focusing in what is nothing but a wink...
jawa_edan Aug 13th 2008 12:11PM
I bet when four spaniards painted their faces black, dressed up as monkeys, and with "hamilton family" inscribed on their tshirts didn't mean harm to Lewis Hamilton. Apparently it's OK to do that in Spain. Not to mention taunts to black soccer players by their spanish counterparts, by both spanish players and spectators. Being called "Black shit", Monkey gestures etc.
Racism and Spain? No, the issue wasn't over sensitivity.
Aubie Aug 14th 2008 7:38AM
The colossal mistake is letting an idiot like you write and much worse publish an article such as this
WagnerCLW Aug 14th 2008 7:41AM
I doubt that many black people in Spain are American. Hence, African American is blatantly incorrect. What is wrong with using the word "black" to describe someone? I take no offense at being called "white." Eventually on our globe, everyone will be a little of all races and we'll end up being like Tiger Woods and Soledad O'Brien. Then the whole race issue will be moot.
Vladimir Cuellar Aug 14th 2008 7:49AM
Political correctness going "LOCO"...Relax people and have fun...
Long live USA and Spain
Reggie Aug 14th 2008 10:27AM
What's even funnier. The ad company that took the picture was a Chineese company because the shoes that the Spanish players wear are made by a Chineese company. The company has been called "The Nike of China"
Mad Dog Aug 14th 2008 7:58AM
Spanairds are pretty racists. Overall they hardly have any other ethnic groups, at least not on the scale like the U.S. I don't buy this story, it was blatant racism and I know the Spanish know better than this because I lived there for 8 years. Still, the majority are really polite and extremely friendly. They should have known better about this ad though.
dgnug Aug 14th 2008 8:04AM
What a bunch of damn cry babies !! "Oh don't hurt my feelings" Oh you said something to offend me" Friggin please people... the ones who claim to be the most offended are usually the ones who offend the most. The chinese have such pitifull human rights records they should worry about treating their own citizens like humans instead of slaves or whether someone makes slant-eye gestures in a picture. Words and gestures are just that ...words and gestures. If you find them offensive then ignore them ....its that simple.