I'm Chinese and grew up in a very small town in the Midwest, so I've encountered occasional racism, or at least hints of it, in the past. I know what overt racism is. Now that I'm in California, it isn't really an issue anymore, but anyway...

I don't find Shaq's comments racist. He didn't say anything that isn't said a million times a day behind closed doors, amongst friends. If anything, I think the major mistake Shaq made was making those comments in public, where people are politically sensitive and used to hearing politically correct things.

To me, Shaq was poking fun at a racial and cultural difference between himself and Yao Ming. I don't see anything wrong with that - it's not like he had some malicious intent behind it (at least not from what I can discern), and he certainly didn't say anything against all Chinese people. But then again, I've always been of the opinion that people are hyper-sensitive to anything that can be even remotely stretched into a racist comment. I mean, racial differences are real, cultural differences are real, language differences are real, why be so serious and sensitive about them, and pretend that they don't exist? It's one thing to use them against someone in a harmful manner, but it's another to acknowledge their existence and crack a joke or two about them.

Bottom line for me, Shaq made a comment that may have been in poor taste and judgment (considering the American audience), but not racist. If anything, I don't think it's the Asians or blacks that are getting crapped on the most these days; I think it's the white folks - they can't do or say a thing without getting branded a racist and sued.

Btw, random thought - did you guys know that the Chinese (overseas that is) have a brand of toothpaste that translates to "black man toothpaste"? It even has a picture of a black guy on it. The rest of the world, perhaps due to less racial diversity, but also due to less politically-correct cultural attitudes, is much more relaxed about things like this.

 

****Bottom line for me, Shaq made a comment that may have been in poor taste and judgment (considering the American audience), but not racist****

Wow, it's attitudes like this that has prevented the Asian community from making the same headwaves that other African Amierican and Hispanic organizations have, like the NAACP. Ok you DONT see SHaq's actions as racist? I am asian, I am offended by his comments. I feel that they attack my heritage (even though I am Korean). His comments disrespected my ethnicity and thus me. You don't call that racist? Let me ask you, Let's say that one of your co-workers refered to you as (insert your first name) Ching Chong Ling Lou as a joke. take that same worker and he called you that at a seminar with hundreds of people there. Take that same worker and he called you that in front of MILLIONS of people. Still think it's just bad judgement? Let me ask you, how do you think Yao feels, knowing that he cant verbally retaliate (because of his language), in a foriegn land, with the media on SHAQ's side, and with the majority of Basketball players in your league and TEAM being african-american? You think he may feel a little intimidated? You bet. Attack Yoa's B Ball skills, or his inexperience, but dont bring race into it. Let me ask you one other thing, Even after all this, how do you think Shaq's commments will affect the young impressionable kids that idolize shaq? Imagine, some young child some where making the same comments to another young asian child. Is Shaq racist? You bet, just like everyone else in the world. But does that excuse his comments? No, it is up to the ASIAN community to take appropriate action when something like this occurs. I have ALREADY written to the NBA have you guys?


***It's one thing to use them against someone in a harmful manner, but it's another to acknowledge their existence and crack a joke or two about them.***

You don't think Shaq's comments are harmful? I feel disrespected, as well as many others based on the responses in this thread. Bottom line, this "joke" has hurt many people.


***Btw, random thought - did you guys know that the Chinese (overseas that is) have a brand of toothpaste that translates to "black man toothpaste"? It even has a picture of a black guy on it. The rest of the world, perhaps due to less racial diversity, but also due to less politically-correct cultural attitudes, is much more relaxed about things like this.***

But we arent in China. We are in American.

YOU GUYS WRITE TO THE NBA!!!!!!!!!!

Bobby

 

HwangTKD -

I understand and respect your viewpoint, and only ask that you do the same of mine. The opinions stated in my post are mine only, and I don't see why they should be congruent with yours.

Bottom line for me is, I don't care what people say. If it doesn't leave physical bruises on me or take money out of my wallet, then I don't give a damn. The line "you can call me anything you want, just don't call me collect" pretty much sums up my feelings.

My co-workers can call me whatever they want, in front of anyone they want. They can call me Ching Chong Ching Ching, I really don't care at all. It's just not something that matters to me. If that upsets you, then hey, sorry, that's just how I am.

Anyway, I won't get into a pissing match with you or anyone else over my opinion, because I see no need to defend it. The only thing I do ask is that you don't insinuate that my attitude is the kind that prevents the Asian community from making inroads. Trust me, I know the attitude you speak of - it's the passive approach to everything, the thinking that it's better not to make waves. I know plenty of folks like that, and can assure you that I'm not one of them. If something moves me enough, trust me, I'll bust a motherf**ker's lip as hard as the next guy. It just so happens that Shaq's comments, and others like it, don't bother me. Call me apathetic if you want, because it's probably pretty accurate; but, passive I'm not.

So, in response to your question, no, I don't see Shaq's comments as racist. And I don't know (or care) how Yao Ming feels, or how Shaq's comments may affect children - I only know how I feel. I see Shaq doing a Chinese accent and karate chop motions, and I think "hey there's a guy who thinks like me, who isn't afraid to watch his mouth in the name of political correctness, and who isn't afraid to poke some fun at the differences between cultures, and yes, even races". I would've thought that way no matter what race the comments were about. Like I said, my OPINION is that people are hyper-sensitive about these things. Your OPINION differs, so I applaud you for writing the NBA, but don't expect me to do it as well.

Like I said, I grew up in a very small town smack dab in the middle of the Midwest, and was one of the very few non-white kids at school. I know what overt racism is, and in my mind, Shaq's comments don't even come close.

Take care.

 

Bobby:

 

Shaq just has a poor sense of humor. He says stupid stuff usually. For instance, "Sacramento Queens". I don't think he's racist, but I think he should have kept his mouth shut. I remember reading an article about him and Phil Jackson. In the article it stated that when Phil goes on and lectures or gives long speeches, he usually tunes out. His attention span is not very long, so he's not the smartest guy on the block.

There is a sports radio station here in Dallas. Everytime they would say Dat Nguyen's (linebacker for the Cowboys) name, they would follow it by some prerecorded racial slang. I believed that was racist, thus I emailed one of the host. He replied back and agreed that it was wrong and told me that they would stop doing that.

Some people that say just "let it go" doesn't know how it feels to grow up in a predominately white or black community. They have not been subjected to this stuff.

Growing up I was a target of several racist slurs. When or if that stuff happens now, I just beat the person's ass. But that hasn't happen in awhile, cause they see that I can probably whip their ass!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cyber_x
[B]Like I said, I grew up in a very small town smack dab in the middle of the Midwest, and was one of the very few non-white kids at school.

 

Who cares about what Shaq has to say? He is just a baller, just to be here to play ball, and that's it. He is not running for office or anything.

If it was George Bush who said that, I would start to worry.....

 

I don't know where the overt racism came from, and I don't care to pry that deeply into it. All I'm saying here is that Shaq's comments don't offend me as a Chinese person.

Many of you disagree with me, and that's fine. I've stated my opinion, and I see no need to defend it or justify it to anyone else.

Bottom line is, I'm not someone who gives a crap about what people say, and I'm aware that I'm less easily offended than a lot of people. Shaq's comments don't bother me, and they don't seem racist to me in the least. Everyone is free to interprete and judge that however they want - you can't change my perceptions, and I can't change yours.

 

This question needs to be answered, do you think Jackie Chan's line in Rush Hour "Wassup My ****A!" was a racist? If you say yes, than get your head checked. IF you said no like you should be saying, than Shaq's comment wasn't racist. He never act uponed it, he jokingly said it. He apologized for it. Get over it. I don't like shaq's dominate ego on the court, but that is just his style. He likes to act hard, but deep down he's prolly a little girl.

These topics get so heated up when it clearly is asked, Do you believe or not, say yes or no, don't right a hole essay please. That's like .01 bytes added to txt file. Oh shit i think i'm writing a whole essay right now.

-The End.......

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cyber_x
[B]I don't know where the overt racism came from, and I don't care to pry that deeply into it.