Is this racist? (pic)
 

http://celebdirt.net/china.jpg


Spanish basketball team poses for offensive picture



By Chris Chase

Updated: 4:43 p.m. EDT

Spain's Olympic basketball team posed for an advertisement prior to the Games which appears to show all its players slanting their eyes, a move that could offend its Olympic hosts in Beijing. The ads, for a Spanish courier company, appeared in the Spanish-language newspaper La Marca.

As the uproar over the picture has grown today, more information about the advertising shot has come to light. The New York Times reports that Spain's basketball team is sponsored by Li-Ning Footwear, a Chinese company founded by Li Ning, the final torchbearer who was hoisted along the top of Beijing National Stadium during the Olympic Opening Ceremony finale. The ad reportedly references the Spanish team recently extending their contract with the footwear giant for another four years.

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.

The Organization of Chinese-Americans has released multiple statements condemning the picture. George Wu, deputy director of the group, said, "it is unfortunate that this type of imagery would rear its head during something that is supposed to be a time of world unity." Response in Beijing has been muted so far.

Madrid is thought to be one of the frontrunners to land the 2016 Summer Games (the site will be announced next year). Could this controversy hurt Spain's chances of landing another Olympics?

Interestingly, the Spanish basketball team took on China tonight, winning 85-75 in overtime. No word on whether Pau Gasol was on the receiving end of any elbows from Yao Ming. The Chinese crowd did have a message for the Spaniards though, booing vigorously during the game.

i poked u on facebook!!!!!!!!!!!

lol no that's not racist, its just funny!

Poke this!

I think it's funny as hell, but the Chinese got pissed.

I heard the Spanish coach saying that they are yellow because the pee in downwind....

I added you :)

now you have a message on your wall :winkwink:

Time for the world to lighten-the-fuck-up... seriously :2 cents:

Shit is getting ridiculous -- it's almost like people are looking for controversy these days.

how else are they going to make their eyes slant?

i dont even care anymore

Who cares but in this politically correct world you can't offend anyone.

it could be perceived that way but its no lie or necessarily a bad thing that chinese have slanty eyes.they know it,we know it,everybody knows it!i say the pic says we're goin to china and gonna enjoy it.Like if you go to Australia and start callin everyone mate just for fun.they should have been smarter though,China makes a big deal of everything.I thought it was humorous and i dont consider myself racist at all.

absolutely looking for things to fuckin trip about!:thumbsup

Me love you long time!

btw: do you know "one hung low" ?

I didn't see any sign of racism... People nowadays seems to be super sensitive..hmm

I see this as... poor taste, not racist. Yes, they most certainly should have not done this... but good grief, they never would have done this if they were actually racist. They did it in fun. Stupid, but fun.

shouldn't have done it but it doesnt seem like something to get in a stress about!

The chinese are too sensitive.a dumb pic but I'm sure it was in jest

The Solution
 

http://www.equilibriumfans.com/Poste...neseTaiwan.JPG
Hot Linkage - The Solution

Ignorant, dumb, not funny and certainly racist:(

Way to treat a host country!

Just think what someone will come up with if Chicago wins 2016:helpme

If you can't see that then you're part of the problem.

rofllllllll

Yes, it's racist.

yep sure the hell is.

China is one of the most racist countries on earth. So fuck em!

Witch hunt sponsored by the PC brigade.

hahaha sure is

Not racist, just incredibly stupid.

This pic is more gay! :)

I think Japan is more racist:thumbsup

Spain didn't like it when in the 96 euros, an English commentator said the reason they all had moustaches was to remind them of their mothers. So if they can't take a joke they shouldn't do that.

But this country *spain* is seriously racist, the older generation bigtime.

Racist or not it was bad judgment.

agree :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

Awesome movie

We need a good world war to put things back in perspective again - this pansy ass bullshit is getting out of hand! :2 cents:

They must have knew this would not look good and come back to them at some point surely ??

I cannot see any racist act on that...

I find it funny as hell.

stupid yes, racist maybe

I am ashamed to say I thought it was pretty funny, but I think it is because of how stupid the Chinese are being towards allowing other countries athletes into their country. Definitely racist, definitely bad judgment like Sarah said.. but still kind of funny


can't we laugh at it because the ones who did it proved how stupid they are?

spaz

Spaniards that just don't get it.
But that ain't a shocker, since it comes from a society that still supports the beating of women. From a society that just recently made it illegal to murder your wife for belittling some spicano's machismo.


Nah. Them Limp dick mudflap sporting greaseballs ain't racists.