[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tanqueray
You know that you aren't going to win this argument.

 

I'm an american of european ancestry, from the south. I dislike the term "white". My friends and I would refer to jacked up cars modified, painted or otherwize accessorized in a tacky or distasteful (to us, of course) way as 'rednecK'. almost by definition, the term while used in this manner as an adjective, is also a noun- which always referred to persons of northern European descent who had lived in the american south for generations, and are ignorant, it is a pejorative. it didn't and doesn't offend me because I don't think it describes me, but I'd take offense if someone referred to me or my car using the term (although I hope I could laugh it off!). The word actually fits the acrs many refer to as "riced out" I go through this long winded description because I think of "rice' as describing tacky, tastless changes to the appearance of a japanese car, and the race of the cars owner does not neccessarily have to be "asian" for me to think of the term. BUT because I have learned that some Americans of asian descent find the term racist, I choose not to use it.

my long winded 2 cents!
Don

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SilverFog
[B]Yes, and I do not carelessly use the word in mixed company either.

 

Actually I think it is more about racism in general and who should be making accomodations for whom. The thing I don't like about the policitical climate in the last 10 years or so, the PC years so to speak, is the idea of limiting things to the least common denominator. If one person gets offended we "ban" a word, or an idea. I say to heck with that. I'm part Asian and have no problem with using the word "rice" to describe a tackily modified vehicle. Why? Because I don't care whether the person who "riced" it out was white, black, asian, red, purple, or blue. Therefore anyone who would call me a racist for using the word "rice" would be mistaken. And anyone who would get offended by my using the word "rice" has their own issues that I don't feel the need to compensate for by limiting my vocabulary. People need to lighten up and look at the context of a comment and interpret the meaning instead of focusing on keywords like "rice".

 

I was having lunch with a friend of mine the other day and as we were about to pull into a parking spot, another car cut in front of us and took it. My friend said "That lady just jewed us out of our parking space..."
My friend is not a neo-nazi or white supremacist. In fact, he is one of the nicest guys I know... I am certain he didn't say those words out of deep seated anti-semitism... but I was really offended by the term.

I am asian, and I have always been offended by the usage of the term "rice" to describe tastlessly decorated or modded cars. I think it is insensitive and mean spirited.

At the same time, I dont think that enforcement of politically correct speach is a good thing. I think people should be free to speak in any manner they choose. Not to say that we should just put up with it. I think it's important that these offensive terms are discussed and pointed out. If someone still chooses to use them, knowing that they are offensive, then that is a their own concious choice.

Racism is very deeply ingrained in all of us. If someone told me that they were not racist, I would immediately call them a liar. It's there to a certain extent weather we are concious of it or not. I remember a co-worker of mine arguing to me that racism in america was dead... that it was something trumped up by minorities to gain advantage. He points out all the african american's walking along the street (We were in Atlanta during some gathering of African American professionals) and says "Look at all these people.. they are all professional looking... african americans in California are all gang-bangers."

j

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tanqueray
[B]

Someone on this board keeps repeating, "Whites control Hollywood and put down Asians"

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Strike
[B]Actually I think it is more about racism in general and who should be making accomodations for whom.

 

Yes it is, and reincorporating the first half of my statement into your understanding -- am I, or have I been, carelessly using the term 'rice' ?

 

I'm not saying your did, and I agree with your argument fullheartedly.

I'm meerly pointing out (to everyone, not just you) that this is the most mixed company you will ever experience. It's like talking out loud in a pitch black room with 10,000 other people around who you know nothing about.

 

I think it's good for this to be over. I think there were a lot of mix feelings about this, and I'm sure it would be hard to convince those who is used to using that term daily. I think everybody has a belief system in which creates structure in their life and it is hard for that structure to be changed without chaos and dis-orientation. However, I believe that certain things must be thought through before it gets used so quickly and so widely.

When the first asian import scene started, the import cars didn't have much power or technology to keep up easily with big blocks in domestic cars, and I think the idea of drag racing imports were little ridiculous to many domastic hot rodders back then. So like anything it gets made fun of and I don't think 70's were a good time far as racial relationship between any race. I don't want to suggest that any one of the members here are racist or close to that, but when people gets irratated by that term, then maybe it would be a good idea to reconsider how using that term might effect your self image.

I think cars are cars and when the owner of that car does something to it, then the car becomes more personal and dear to them, like an engraving on a pen or other similar doings. I think it is the reflection of the car owner onto their cars and if we are judging the car then we are judging the owners freedom of expression. Honestly, I think there are really ugly, and tasteless cars out there, but I better know what the owner is like before I make a remark on that car. I do this because I think it's shallow to judge anything by it's skin. I know the chances are narrow, but it could have a nsx engine transplant with a custom twin turbo with that ugly stickers and pepboys racing stripes. So I just want to thank all the members for their input.