Is the Spanish basketball team all racists? You decide

Tenigma · 08-13-2008, 04:45 PM

This is an ADVERTISEMENT for a courier company in Spain. These men are the Spanish Olympic basketball team. [See more photos in this article here.]

The New York Times, which I guess has too much taste to republish the photos (and probably doesn't want to give anymore face time to the advertiser) wrote:

Quote:

“It seemed to us to be something appropriate and that it would always be interpreted as an affectionate gesture,” José Calderon, the point guard who plays professionally in the N.B.A. for Toronto, wrote on an Internet site. “I want to express that we have great respect for the Orient and its people.”

He signed off with a line that — based on the interpretive values of the typical American audience, at least — might have been better off stricken.

“Some of my best friends are of Chinese origin,” he wrote.

They will probably still be his friends but they may have to wonder how Calderon and the Spaniards could actually believe that mimicking a people’s physical characteristics could be intended as a show of solidarity and respect. These players are citizens of the global basketball community, which now stretches East to West. They should know better.

Pshhhyeah, that's right, "some of my friends are Black."

I mean, PLEASE. This is just downright insulting.

PS: It's "ASIA" you doofus. "The Orient" is straight out of the 1930s because it is a comparison to the Occidental part of the world (The West for us modernites). Oriental furniture = OK. Orientals = not OK. ASIANS.

Gemini Cricket · 08-13-2008, 04:47 PM

Ugh.
That is lame of them.
Bleh.

innerSpaceman · 08-13-2008, 05:22 PM

Hahaha, the Orient!! Ah, yes ... that will appease your friends of Chinese origin for the slant-eyes group gesture!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Strangler Lewis · 08-13-2008, 05:51 PM

I can't wait for their affectionate gestures when the Olympics are in Israel.

Alex · 08-13-2008, 06:48 PM

There's a Jew gesture? I did not know this (unless it is horns or something) and will now have to spend time trying to think of something maximally offensive.

Strangler Lewis · 08-13-2008, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

There's a Jew gesture? I did not know this (unless it is horns or something) and will now have to spend time trying to think of something maximally offensive.

They're pulling back part of their skin to emulate a physical characteristic of their Olympic hosts. If the Olympics were in Israel . . .

Alex · 08-13-2008, 08:28 PM

Oh, I see. We were on the same wavelength then since that was where I was going with my own creation.

innerSpaceman · 08-13-2008, 08:45 PM

yeah, me too ... with the obvious exception that that's a photo of the Spanish basketball team I'd have rather seen at the top of this thread.

Alex · 08-13-2008, 08:58 PM

Of course mine ended up involving both a circumcision gesture as well as horns. I was wondering if involving a friend to provide a tail would be too complex.

LSPoorEeyorick · 08-13-2008, 09:32 PM

Is there a gesture for "pound of flesh"?

08-13-2008, 04:47 PM	#2
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Ugh. That is lame of them. Bleh.
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08-13-2008, 05:22 PM	#3
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Hahaha, the Orient!! Ah, yes ... that will appease your friends of Chinese origin for the slant-eyes group gesture!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
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08-13-2008, 05:51 PM	#4
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	I can't wait for their affectionate gestures when the Olympics are in Israel. __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
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08-13-2008, 06:48 PM	#5
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	There's a Jew gesture? I did not know this (unless it is horns or something) and will now have to spend time trying to think of something maximally offensive.
	Submit to Quotes

08-13-2008, 08:28 PM	#7
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Oh, I see. We were on the same wavelength then since that was where I was going with my own creation.
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08-13-2008, 08:45 PM	#8
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	yeah, me too ... with the obvious exception that that's a photo of the Spanish basketball team I'd have rather seen at the top of this thread.
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08-13-2008, 08:58 PM	#9
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Of course mine ended up involving both a circumcision gesture as well as horns. I was wondering if involving a friend to provide a tail would be too complex.
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08-13-2008, 09:32 PM	#10
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	Is there a gesture for "pound of flesh"?
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