A picture of the Argentine team pulling back the skin on the side of their eyes in an impersonation of Chinese people has emerged on the internet following similar, widely-criticised photographs of the Spanish Olympic basketball men's and women's teams.
Last week a photo emerged of the members of Spain's Olympic women's tennis team pulling the same pose ahead of a match against China earlier this year.
The picture of Argentine women's football players Maria Potassa, Eva Gonzalez, Fabiana Vallejos and Andrea Ojeda was first published on August 5 in the Argentine sports newspaper Ole to accompany a preview of the team's first match of the tournament against Canada.
It was taken a week before the Spanish ads and did not cause controversy at the time but has since surfaced on the internet.
The picture of the Spanish basketball men's team ran as a newspaper spread in Spain as part of a publicity campaign for team sponsor Seur.
Some of the Spanish players involved in the photos are said to be shocked that people may find them offensive because the gesture is apparently not considered offensive in Spain.
Madrid is one of the four finalist cities to host the 2016 Olympics and some Spanish commentators have suggested that the race row is a conspiracy to damage its chances.
Spanish centre Pau Gasol, who plays for the LA Lakers, said: "It was supposed to be funny or something but never offensive in any way. I'm sorry if anybody thought or took it the wrong way and thought that it was offensive."
Point guard Jose Manuel Calderon said: "We felt it was something appropriate, and that it would be interpreted as an affectionate gesture. Without a doubt, some...press didn't see it that way."
Juan Antonio Villanueva, the communications director for Madrid’s 2016 Olympic bid, said: "Spain is not a racist country -- quite the opposite."
However, Spain has a repeated history of racism in sport. Earlier this year Lewis Hamilton was abused in Spain during testing ahead of the Spanish grand prix.
Last year, Carlos Gracia, head of the Spanish motorsport federation said prior to the Brazilian Grand Prix: "It is ironic the racists in England are having to rely on a coloured pilot."
In 2004 Spanish national football coach Luis Aragones made abusive racist comments about French striker Thierry Henry.
In that same year English footballers including Carlton Cole, Jermaine Jenas, Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips were abused by Spanish fans who made monkey chants.
Comments
A long, ongoing story, this one. Rather than condemn the Argentinians, and particularly the Spanish, it's probably better to encourage them to change - to accept that everything is global now and people are different. It wasn't that long ago that these people were repressed under military dictatorships (both Spain and Argentina). In comparison with much of the developed world, they are behind in their acceptance of differences between people. They hadn't experienced much of it. It was only 30 or 40 years ago that the UK thought it was acceptable to feature racist comedies on TV - everything from Till Death Us Do Part to Love Thy Neighbour to Rising Damp. The Spanish and Argentinians have not yet caught up. That said, with the global spotlight now on such nations, such faux pas are blown up much more than of old. Clearly, that there is something peculiarly insensitive in the Spanish psyche is supported by all these examples of sporting racism. Add to it the utterly cynical and contemptuous insertion of fully able basketball players in wheelchairs at the last paralympics (didn't the Spanish win gold for this as well?), and you get a sense of how 'different' the Spanish are themselves. They no doubt thought it funny. We see it at best as naive, at worst as incredibly insensitive and destructive. But, if we believe that this is not the way to behave, then we have to make up our minds whether punishment or incentive is the way to change it. The Poles and Ukrainians (others not known for their acceptance of different coloured skin) have been given the next European Football Championships. Not as a reward for progress. More as an incentive to change. If the Spanish get the 2016 Olympics, they will have to change. They will have to catch up. And none of this is to say that we should let any of this stuff happen without comment. As China itself now knows. And when the focus turns on London 2012, we Brits will discover exactly what the rest of the world things of us. And we, too, will be shocked and surprised.
Gosia - 20/08/2008
I agree, they have to catch up and wake up from the naitivity.
racist b*stards - look at the smiles
@ Mark... I applaud your prose sir. Well written and on the mark.
A good response Mark, but i'm a little disappointed with the sweeping generalisation 'there is something particularly insensitive in the Spanish psyche' ... i know a few Spaniards and they are all horrified that these sportsmen and women have been so naive. Pulling a 'slit eyes' gesture is never 'funny or something', even in Spain, but unfortunately, as is so often the case, the stupid actions of a minority have damaged the reputation of an entire nation
CF - 20/08/2008
Great comment Mark - and great point about 2012. The spotlight will be on the UK for the next four years, not just the games fortnight, and we'll undoubtedly have some uncomfortable moments of our own during this time (not necessarily along the same lines, I hasten to add).
I am sure they are horrified, but just look at recent history. It isn't a blip. This kind of thing makes international headlines on a semi regular basis.
What a lot of sanctimonious holier than thou load of bullshit.
Why don’t you ask the nearly 1 million Brits enjoying a life in Spain how racist the Spanish really are?
Whole areas of Spain have been turned into little Britain and yet the local Spaniards tolerate these imbeciles who on the whole still insist on only speaking their own language, only eating their own pathetic excuse for a cuisine and even though they have lived in Spain for years still continue that most British of habits – alcohol abuse.
Or indeed the more than 11% of the countries population that are now foreign born and happily living in Spain – one of the highest in Europe!
You will find that far from racist in fact the average Spaniard – a British derogatory term incidentally that is made up of the words Spanish and bastard - is highly tolerant and respectful of other cultures.
I have lived in both the UK and Spain and I know very well who is the more racist from first hand experience.
The UK is so far up itself with political correctness - probably due to a guilty conscience on the racism that GB has inflected on the world and for which we are all still paying a price for – add to this that most pervasive of British practices; hypocrisy and you get the level of arguments posted on this subject.
Uninformed, under researched and banal.
Being a British born Chinese, like a lot of kids from different ethnic backgrounds, was subjected to the odd racists gesturing and remark but nothing too serious.
That was Briton in Enoch Powells days(God Bless his llittle Hitler tash!). I was in primary school when I first experienced it and the ringleader was a few years older who set the example for the younger ones. Their tone and manner: mixture of naivity and ignorance.Fast forward to the future to grown men and women proudly wearing their countries colours - in full colour online - representing king or republic, mimicking a 6 year old (sad f--ks!). Whoever put them up to it is taking the mick out of them? The only corporation who'll hire them in future will have the initials KKK written on it.Clearly, some of the talents in the photo don't understand what they're doing - they're not even pullng back hard enough with their finger tips.This posting is just the tip of a tongue lashing. Carry On Spain! Argentina I spit on your corn beef!!
I often find that in general the racism card is used quite liberally these days. Thats not to say that what was demonstrated in the above article was right in any way. /But in this day and age where news can travel faster than you can say vamoose it was a pretty naive to think the image would not be beamed around the world 10 times over and not offend someone at least! Often people don't look at the bigger picture. This could be for one of three reasons, insensitivity, ignorance or just a blatant lack of common sense. I think that latter plays a far greater role in most issues! The insensitivity and the ignorance can be pointed out and changed but individuals that lack common sense....well, how easy would it be to change an entire nation's inbuilt way of thinking? On the flip side of the coin, we condemn the act but what about the reactors....i.e the responses of the observers of this act. It's always good to highlight what is wrong but as the first person to comment on this thread pointed out, just leaving it as a disapproval really doesn't acheive very much. Chnage would be required, a change in the way of thinking but back to my original point.....how do you change a lack of common sense?
If it is perceived as racist, it is racist. Keep to this simple guideline and sports persons and advertisers will not go far wrong.
The average Spaniard – a British derogatory term incidentally that is made up of the words Spanish and bastard. Can you please tell me where you researched that from?
But I would agree with you Evangelos that we do tend to forget our own murky past pretty quickly and finger point with abandon.
PS. Luis Aragones was fined 2060 euros - and then he successfully appealed against it. Even Sepp Blatter condemed the situation and he's as dodgy as Jack Walker.
I am reminded of an excellent letter in the latest Viz from one Ena B Sharples.....
"How can the Spanish Formula 1 fans be racist, as surely they are foreigners themselves?"
Evangelos - I agree with what you say - us Brits are pretty bad too, but I don't see your point, does that make it ok? You don't in any way condemn or defend the photos, merely use it as a chance to have a bit of a rant.
I guess it starts with political correctness - albeit sanctimonious - but it soon becomes the norm and acceptable behaviour for the next generation coming up behind. This is where we are now - which is why such images are outrageous to the average person in England now. Of course there is hope - we were just as bad in the eighties - so really you're just like us - only 20 years behind.
I think those knocking the UK are being unfair when it has nothing to do with these Olympic incidents. Spain has an appalling recent record in football and F1, whereas racism been stamped out of sports in the UK such as football following a massive effort by the relevant bodies. One of the great things about the hugely successful Team GB is its ethnic diversity and the medal winners have come from not only different ethnic backgrounds but also different sections of society.
@ Evangelos. Spaniard has nothing to do with Spain + Bastard, it derives from the French Espaignart which, in turn, owes its roots to the latin Hispania.
Your Brits in Spain point is rubbish, too.
Does saying all Argentines are racist, make you a racist?
Evangelos. I do share your sentiments about the sordid history of British colonialization. You can see it every Saturdays congesting at the beer and wine section in our local store in Singapore. The great redeeming thing about the British is their ability to queue up in an orderly manner unlike some unruely societies. I was reminded the other day that its okay for a Plymouthian to say how shitty Plymouth is(UK seagull city) but not okay if you're not a Plymouthian. If the offending photos were of Chinese athletes doing the slitty eyes would it still be offensive? It would be funny (to me) if they were,say,trying to advertise a pair of sports spectacles with a narrow frame to the Chinese market. But I would dare say a fellow Chinese countryman brought up in Britain with internet would point out the politically incorrect nature of the pose to the Chinese papers faster than you can shout ole! Like any where in the world there is racism of different degrees: subtle or in your face. Having travelled around Europe and lived and worked in many Asian cities, if you make the effort to speak the local dialect it does pay dividends! I do take your point about the low-level integration into Spanish society, but I'm afraid you can't only point the finger at just the Brits. Many Europeans think of Asia as only Pakistan and Indian? Asia encompasses countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia,Brunei, Australia and more with its own cultural taboos! This slitty eye incident will not only upset the Chinese in mainland China, but the millions of Chinese living in different parts of the world, who're well educated and politically,socially liberated. And what about the Japanese? The Koreans? Aren't they all descended from the Chinese? With the China Tibet issue in the Olympic limelight the last thing any country wants is to be associated with a lack of cultural and political insensitivity especially during a high profile event.
B Li - 21/08/2008
I am Chinese and I don't feel this ad is insulting me at all. In our culture slit eyes are not considered bad looking. Having been in the UK for 6 years, I can understand why it is inappropriate in here. I have to say that the damage of this ad in mainland china is quite limited.
B Li. Is it an abbreviation of 'belie' meaning to give false representation or account?
1. Let me make it very clear that I condemn any maliciously intended racist or gender directed actions or references by anyone – Spanish, Argentinean or Brit.
Knowing the Spanish character and sense of humour as I do, however these gestures were not designed to offend, naïve yes, clumsy attempt at humour yes, directed very much at their culture yes, racist no.
The gesture has its roots in a facial grimace to amuse very small children accompanied by a play on words and the Chinese linguistic inability to pronounce any words with the letter “R” converting it to an “L” instead, and translates to literally “Mandarin Chinese”.
I personally do not find it funny, and neither do I understand it, but appreciate and respect that it is part of their culture and is not meant to offend.
2. My rant as you put it was direct at the fact that everyone bar a few enlightened individuals labelled a whole nation racist.
3. The self-satisfied criticism forgot to mention the London Metropolitan Police being labelled “institutionally racist” not that long ago and the recent racially motivated knifings in the streets of London.
Neither have there been any racially motivated riots or gang fights in the streets of Madrid by the way.
Personally I prefer the daft gesture of mimicking the eye shape of a Chinese person - see B Li post as to whether it is considered insulting - to having a racist police force or a young life being snuffed out simply because they have the wrong colour skin and happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
4. I applaude the intentions of Politically Correct behaviour.
However, Political Correctness has regrettably and in my experience only served to “hide the issues under the surface” in as racist a culture as the British or any other European nation for that matter.
The chattering classes can fool themselves and pat each other on the back that they are helping to eradicate racism, but pay a visit to what is left of the East End, various parts of South East London or Essex and scratch the average white Brit – not too deep mind - and you will to your amazement find a “rabid racist” lying dormant underneath - its in the Brit DNA mate!
Racism everywhere else might be a cacophony in Britain it’s a symphony.
Lastly the origins of the word Spaniard, whilst not referenced by any online etymological source – no doubt due to PC editing - came from the V. S Pritchett book “The Spanish Temper”.
As I recall it came into popular usage post that historical event that only Britain seems to remember - particularly if a big football match is coming up - The Spanish Armada conflict of 1588.
But then again when football is involved Germans are Krauts, the French are Frogs, the Argentines are Argies etc. etc.
Racist Britain no mate never.
Glass houses and stones come to mind.
@ Evangelos - you seem to have quite a limited experience and knowledge of parts of the UK such as South East London and Essex whch you've made some quite generalised and inaccurate sweeping statements about. Of course there are closet racists in these areas in much the same way you find them anywhere else in the UK or any other part of the world. But there are many many very liberal minded, decent hard working people residing in the areas you mention who have been very warm and welcoming to the influx of immigrant populations these areas have experienced not just recently but for hundreds of years. Racism is usually based on ignorance and one thing you have in abundance dear cheap is ignorance. Your verbose defence of Spain also makes me think it is even more racist than I had already assumed from what I have seen such is the desparation in your long-winded rant. The UK is one of the most ethnically diverse and welcoming socities on the planet. Open your eyes you fool.
Couldn’t Tessa Jowell instruct the Spanish and Argentine governments on how to secure political correctness in advertising, perhaps by promising public-service expenditure, deregulation, etc?
If B Li and Evangelos are both right, it's an interesting question that if neither the people saying something thinks its racist, nor the people its meant to offend think it's racist then is it racist? I would guess so as its not meant to be endearing to the Chinese is it? It's meant to be mocking. Also, British people are clearly still quite racist in general, as the Daily Mail is our most popular paper, as well as Evangelos point about football "when football is involved Germans are Krauts, the French are Frogs, the Argentines are Argies" as it's right on the mark.
@ Mark Smith. Your inability to present a cohesive argument without resorting to insult is only matched by your blatantly ignorant use of grammar punctuation and bad sentence construction.
Well, you know what they say only the English can’t speak -or in your case write - English – especially if they hail from that hovel that is South East London. Only someone from “across the river” would defend that particularly nasty part of London the way you are doing.
@ EZee as you know call yourself, (why have you changed your name? Afraid to be linked to your foul-mouthed ignorant rants?) - the only person throwing insults around is you as you just did in your last post. You seem to have a rather large chip on your shoulder.
Two bags of King Edward's to be precise, both equally balanced.
Changed my name as I am getting into this blogging lark and thought I would make it easy for idiots like you - less keys to press on the keyboard.
WHEN..... will everyone realise... The West can never `join` with the East. China knew it was attracting attention when it won the bid... some people still laugh at the disabled, sometimes a defence mechanism.. not meant to cause offense.. Our own Prince Philip has let slip comments.. but then.. he sometimes does.. known fot it. These comments often end up arguing smong themseleves forgetting the original article. We can no longer make any comments about the Islamics without attracting trouble.. they look world wide.. is that OUR problem? I dont think so.. free speech as long as we dont upset anyone, not possible. Try to please everyone, not possible. Rant and rave all you want, nothing is going to change.
@Keith Geddes. Finally someone who gets the point – FREE SPEECH – and the realities of the issue we have been discussing.
@EZee - VS Ptichett is plain wrong, and pound for pound, your grasp of English grammar ain't so hot either. Learn how to use its/it's before you start upbraiding others on their solecisms.
Comments
Mark Griffiths - 20/08/2008
A long, ongoing story, this one. Rather than condemn the Argentinians, and particularly the Spanish, it's probably better to encourage them to change - to accept that everything is global now and people are different. It wasn't that long ago that these people were repressed under military dictatorships (both Spain and Argentina). In comparison with much of the developed world, they are behind in their acceptance of differences between people. They hadn't experienced much of it. It was only 30 or 40 years ago that the UK thought it was acceptable to feature racist comedies on TV - everything from Till Death Us Do Part to Love Thy Neighbour to Rising Damp. The Spanish and Argentinians have not yet caught up. That said, with the global spotlight now on such nations, such faux pas are blown up much more than of old. Clearly, that there is something peculiarly insensitive in the Spanish psyche is supported by all these examples of sporting racism. Add to it the utterly cynical and contemptuous insertion of fully able basketball players in wheelchairs at the last paralympics (didn't the Spanish win gold for this as well?), and you get a sense of how 'different' the Spanish are themselves. They no doubt thought it funny. We see it at best as naive, at worst as incredibly insensitive and destructive. But, if we believe that this is not the way to behave, then we have to make up our minds whether punishment or incentive is the way to change it. The Poles and Ukrainians (others not known for their acceptance of different coloured skin) have been given the next European Football Championships. Not as a reward for progress. More as an incentive to change. If the Spanish get the 2016 Olympics, they will have to change. They will have to catch up. And none of this is to say that we should let any of this stuff happen without comment. As China itself now knows. And when the focus turns on London 2012, we Brits will discover exactly what the rest of the world things of us. And we, too, will be shocked and surprised.
Gosia - 20/08/2008
I agree, they have to catch up and wake up from the naitivity.
Luke Worth - 20/08/2008
racist b*stards - look at the smiles
AwallafaShagba - 20/08/2008
@ Mark... I applaud your prose sir. Well written and on the mark.
AwallafaShagba - 20/08/2008
er - no pun intended
Stuart Aplin - 20/08/2008
A good response Mark, but i'm a little disappointed with the sweeping generalisation 'there is something particularly insensitive in the Spanish psyche' ... i know a few Spaniards and they are all horrified that these sportsmen and women have been so naive. Pulling a 'slit eyes' gesture is never 'funny or something', even in Spain, but unfortunately, as is so often the case, the stupid actions of a minority have damaged the reputation of an entire nation
CF - 20/08/2008
Great comment Mark - and great point about 2012. The spotlight will be on the UK for the next four years, not just the games fortnight, and we'll undoubtedly have some uncomfortable moments of our own during this time (not necessarily along the same lines, I hasten to add).
Gordon Macmillan - 20/08/2008
I am sure they are horrified, but just look at recent history. It isn't a blip. This kind of thing makes international headlines on a semi regular basis.
Gelos Grapos - 20/08/2008
What a lot of sanctimonious holier than thou load of bullshit. Why don’t you ask the nearly 1 million Brits enjoying a life in Spain how racist the Spanish really are? Whole areas of Spain have been turned into little Britain and yet the local Spaniards tolerate these imbeciles who on the whole still insist on only speaking their own language, only eating their own pathetic excuse for a cuisine and even though they have lived in Spain for years still continue that most British of habits – alcohol abuse. Or indeed the more than 11% of the countries population that are now foreign born and happily living in Spain – one of the highest in Europe! You will find that far from racist in fact the average Spaniard – a British derogatory term incidentally that is made up of the words Spanish and bastard - is highly tolerant and respectful of other cultures. I have lived in both the UK and Spain and I know very well who is the more racist from first hand experience. The UK is so far up itself with political correctness - probably due to a guilty conscience on the racism that GB has inflected on the world and for which we are all still paying a price for – add to this that most pervasive of British practices; hypocrisy and you get the level of arguments posted on this subject. Uninformed, under researched and banal.
simon yung - 20/08/2008
Being a British born Chinese, like a lot of kids from different ethnic backgrounds, was subjected to the odd racists gesturing and remark but nothing too serious. That was Briton in Enoch Powells days(God Bless his llittle Hitler tash!). I was in primary school when I first experienced it and the ringleader was a few years older who set the example for the younger ones. Their tone and manner: mixture of naivity and ignorance.Fast forward to the future to grown men and women proudly wearing their countries colours - in full colour online - representing king or republic, mimicking a 6 year old (sad f--ks!). Whoever put them up to it is taking the mick out of them? The only corporation who'll hire them in future will have the initials KKK written on it.Clearly, some of the talents in the photo don't understand what they're doing - they're not even pullng back hard enough with their finger tips.This posting is just the tip of a tongue lashing. Carry On Spain! Argentina I spit on your corn beef!!
Dee Mistry - 20/08/2008
I often find that in general the racism card is used quite liberally these days. Thats not to say that what was demonstrated in the above article was right in any way. /But in this day and age where news can travel faster than you can say vamoose it was a pretty naive to think the image would not be beamed around the world 10 times over and not offend someone at least! Often people don't look at the bigger picture. This could be for one of three reasons, insensitivity, ignorance or just a blatant lack of common sense. I think that latter plays a far greater role in most issues! The insensitivity and the ignorance can be pointed out and changed but individuals that lack common sense....well, how easy would it be to change an entire nation's inbuilt way of thinking? On the flip side of the coin, we condemn the act but what about the reactors....i.e the responses of the observers of this act. It's always good to highlight what is wrong but as the first person to comment on this thread pointed out, just leaving it as a disapproval really doesn't acheive very much. Chnage would be required, a change in the way of thinking but back to my original point.....how do you change a lack of common sense?
Mark Pawlak - 20/08/2008
If it is perceived as racist, it is racist. Keep to this simple guideline and sports persons and advertisers will not go far wrong.
harry fowler - 20/08/2008
The average Spaniard – a British derogatory term incidentally that is made up of the words Spanish and bastard. Can you please tell me where you researched that from? But I would agree with you Evangelos that we do tend to forget our own murky past pretty quickly and finger point with abandon. PS. Luis Aragones was fined 2060 euros - and then he successfully appealed against it. Even Sepp Blatter condemed the situation and he's as dodgy as Jack Walker.
Rory Sutherland - 20/08/2008
I am reminded of an excellent letter in the latest Viz from one Ena B Sharples..... "How can the Spanish Formula 1 fans be racist, as surely they are foreigners themselves?"
Luke Worth - 20/08/2008
Evangelos - I agree with what you say - us Brits are pretty bad too, but I don't see your point, does that make it ok? You don't in any way condemn or defend the photos, merely use it as a chance to have a bit of a rant. I guess it starts with political correctness - albeit sanctimonious - but it soon becomes the norm and acceptable behaviour for the next generation coming up behind. This is where we are now - which is why such images are outrageous to the average person in England now. Of course there is hope - we were just as bad in the eighties - so really you're just like us - only 20 years behind.
Darren Davidson - 20/08/2008
I think those knocking the UK are being unfair when it has nothing to do with these Olympic incidents. Spain has an appalling recent record in football and F1, whereas racism been stamped out of sports in the UK such as football following a massive effort by the relevant bodies. One of the great things about the hugely successful Team GB is its ethnic diversity and the medal winners have come from not only different ethnic backgrounds but also different sections of society.
ormiston groove - 20/08/2008
@ Evangelos. Spaniard has nothing to do with Spain + Bastard, it derives from the French Espaignart which, in turn, owes its roots to the latin Hispania. Your Brits in Spain point is rubbish, too.
William Fowler - 20/08/2008
Does saying all Argentines are racist, make you a racist?
simon yung - 20/08/2008
Evangelos. I do share your sentiments about the sordid history of British colonialization. You can see it every Saturdays congesting at the beer and wine section in our local store in Singapore. The great redeeming thing about the British is their ability to queue up in an orderly manner unlike some unruely societies. I was reminded the other day that its okay for a Plymouthian to say how shitty Plymouth is(UK seagull city) but not okay if you're not a Plymouthian. If the offending photos were of Chinese athletes doing the slitty eyes would it still be offensive? It would be funny (to me) if they were,say,trying to advertise a pair of sports spectacles with a narrow frame to the Chinese market. But I would dare say a fellow Chinese countryman brought up in Britain with internet would point out the politically incorrect nature of the pose to the Chinese papers faster than you can shout ole! Like any where in the world there is racism of different degrees: subtle or in your face. Having travelled around Europe and lived and worked in many Asian cities, if you make the effort to speak the local dialect it does pay dividends! I do take your point about the low-level integration into Spanish society, but I'm afraid you can't only point the finger at just the Brits. Many Europeans think of Asia as only Pakistan and Indian? Asia encompasses countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia,Brunei, Australia and more with its own cultural taboos! This slitty eye incident will not only upset the Chinese in mainland China, but the millions of Chinese living in different parts of the world, who're well educated and politically,socially liberated. And what about the Japanese? The Koreans? Aren't they all descended from the Chinese? With the China Tibet issue in the Olympic limelight the last thing any country wants is to be associated with a lack of cultural and political insensitivity especially during a high profile event.
B Li - 21/08/2008
I am Chinese and I don't feel this ad is insulting me at all. In our culture slit eyes are not considered bad looking. Having been in the UK for 6 years, I can understand why it is inappropriate in here. I have to say that the damage of this ad in mainland china is quite limited.
simon yung - 21/08/2008
B Li. Is it an abbreviation of 'belie' meaning to give false representation or account?
Gelos Grapos - 21/08/2008
1. Let me make it very clear that I condemn any maliciously intended racist or gender directed actions or references by anyone – Spanish, Argentinean or Brit. Knowing the Spanish character and sense of humour as I do, however these gestures were not designed to offend, naïve yes, clumsy attempt at humour yes, directed very much at their culture yes, racist no. The gesture has its roots in a facial grimace to amuse very small children accompanied by a play on words and the Chinese linguistic inability to pronounce any words with the letter “R” converting it to an “L” instead, and translates to literally “Mandarin Chinese”. I personally do not find it funny, and neither do I understand it, but appreciate and respect that it is part of their culture and is not meant to offend. 2. My rant as you put it was direct at the fact that everyone bar a few enlightened individuals labelled a whole nation racist. 3. The self-satisfied criticism forgot to mention the London Metropolitan Police being labelled “institutionally racist” not that long ago and the recent racially motivated knifings in the streets of London. Neither have there been any racially motivated riots or gang fights in the streets of Madrid by the way. Personally I prefer the daft gesture of mimicking the eye shape of a Chinese person - see B Li post as to whether it is considered insulting - to having a racist police force or a young life being snuffed out simply because they have the wrong colour skin and happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. 4. I applaude the intentions of Politically Correct behaviour. However, Political Correctness has regrettably and in my experience only served to “hide the issues under the surface” in as racist a culture as the British or any other European nation for that matter. The chattering classes can fool themselves and pat each other on the back that they are helping to eradicate racism, but pay a visit to what is left of the East End, various parts of South East London or Essex and scratch the average white Brit – not too deep mind - and you will to your amazement find a “rabid racist” lying dormant underneath - its in the Brit DNA mate! Racism everywhere else might be a cacophony in Britain it’s a symphony. Lastly the origins of the word Spaniard, whilst not referenced by any online etymological source – no doubt due to PC editing - came from the V. S Pritchett book “The Spanish Temper”. As I recall it came into popular usage post that historical event that only Britain seems to remember - particularly if a big football match is coming up - The Spanish Armada conflict of 1588. But then again when football is involved Germans are Krauts, the French are Frogs, the Argentines are Argies etc. etc. Racist Britain no mate never. Glass houses and stones come to mind.
Mark Smith - 21/08/2008
@ Evangelos - you seem to have quite a limited experience and knowledge of parts of the UK such as South East London and Essex whch you've made some quite generalised and inaccurate sweeping statements about. Of course there are closet racists in these areas in much the same way you find them anywhere else in the UK or any other part of the world. But there are many many very liberal minded, decent hard working people residing in the areas you mention who have been very warm and welcoming to the influx of immigrant populations these areas have experienced not just recently but for hundreds of years. Racism is usually based on ignorance and one thing you have in abundance dear cheap is ignorance. Your verbose defence of Spain also makes me think it is even more racist than I had already assumed from what I have seen such is the desparation in your long-winded rant. The UK is one of the most ethnically diverse and welcoming socities on the planet. Open your eyes you fool.
John Bunyard - 21/08/2008
Couldn’t Tessa Jowell instruct the Spanish and Argentine governments on how to secure political correctness in advertising, perhaps by promising public-service expenditure, deregulation, etc?
Justin Driskill - 21/08/2008
If B Li and Evangelos are both right, it's an interesting question that if neither the people saying something thinks its racist, nor the people its meant to offend think it's racist then is it racist? I would guess so as its not meant to be endearing to the Chinese is it? It's meant to be mocking. Also, British people are clearly still quite racist in general, as the Daily Mail is our most popular paper, as well as Evangelos point about football "when football is involved Germans are Krauts, the French are Frogs, the Argentines are Argies" as it's right on the mark.
Gelos Grapos - 21/08/2008
@ Mark Smith. Your inability to present a cohesive argument without resorting to insult is only matched by your blatantly ignorant use of grammar punctuation and bad sentence construction. Well, you know what they say only the English can’t speak -or in your case write - English – especially if they hail from that hovel that is South East London. Only someone from “across the river” would defend that particularly nasty part of London the way you are doing.
Mark Smith - 22/08/2008
@ EZee as you know call yourself, (why have you changed your name? Afraid to be linked to your foul-mouthed ignorant rants?) - the only person throwing insults around is you as you just did in your last post. You seem to have a rather large chip on your shoulder.
Gelos Grapos - 22/08/2008
Two bags of King Edward's to be precise, both equally balanced. Changed my name as I am getting into this blogging lark and thought I would make it easy for idiots like you - less keys to press on the keyboard.
Keith Geddes - 22/08/2008
WHEN..... will everyone realise... The West can never `join` with the East. China knew it was attracting attention when it won the bid... some people still laugh at the disabled, sometimes a defence mechanism.. not meant to cause offense.. Our own Prince Philip has let slip comments.. but then.. he sometimes does.. known fot it. These comments often end up arguing smong themseleves forgetting the original article. We can no longer make any comments about the Islamics without attracting trouble.. they look world wide.. is that OUR problem? I dont think so.. free speech as long as we dont upset anyone, not possible. Try to please everyone, not possible. Rant and rave all you want, nothing is going to change.
Gelos Grapos - 22/08/2008
@Keith Geddes. Finally someone who gets the point – FREE SPEECH – and the realities of the issue we have been discussing.
ormiston groove - 26/08/2008
@EZee - VS Ptichett is plain wrong, and pound for pound, your grasp of English grammar ain't so hot either. Learn how to use its/it's before you start upbraiding others on their solecisms.