If you were truly an adult

[Gaisaradatsuraku!]

If you truly were an adult you would understand that you are dealing with a young person who may have had a bad personal experience (or know someone who did) with one of the few foreigners she has come in contact with. With the amount of riff raff that rolls up in Japan, is this surprising?

Haven't any of you ever uttered words like japs or kike or spic or whatever at some point in your life out of some frustration. Comments like this have very little meaning. In addition, let's face the fact that bigotry is a natural human reaction. We are animals and survive because of our power to associate. Eat a poison plant, throw up and don't eat it again. Walk into a cave and get bit by a bat, don't go in again. Interact with different tribes and get killed, don't try it again.

People, this is the nature of the human animal and to try to beat bigotry out of people or to try to shame someone into being "open minded" is absurd. When will you ever learn? You might as well try to force people to be celibate.

What Kotatsuneko, as a teacher, should be doing is demonstrating that he is just people too. Confrontation is not the solution here and it would be childish to deal with a child in that manner. How about acting like a positive role model? Do you have what it takes?

[Gaisaradatsuraku!]

This post should have been appended to the Gaijin Trash thread and is in response to Kotatsu's unfortunate student!

[ramchop]

If you truly were an adult you would understand that you are dealing with a young person who may have had a bad personal experience (or know someone who did) with one of the few foreigners she has come in contact with.

I'd say it's more likely that the racism has been inherited from friends/family, but you never know, and shouldn't make assumptions (especially when dealing with kids). The rest of this post I'd agree with.

[GuyJean]

Haven't any of you ever uttered words like japs or kike or spic or whatever at some point in your life out of some frustration.

Um. No.

Comments like this have very little meaning.

I was mostly joking around before, but I DO think racist comments have meaning.. IMO.

GJ

[kotatsuneko]

wow i get a whole post all to flame lil ol me?

jap hasnt had any racist meaning for decades now, wake up.

coming from south east london, being racist is about as natural as a politician telling the truth..

do you have what it takes to stop being an annoying ignorant racist motherfucker?

have a nice day

[Naniwan Kid]

jap hasnt had any racist meaning for decades now, wake up.

That is actually an interesting statement.

When a WWII vet says "We killed a lot of Japs that day," does it have meaning? It is a pretty heavy sentence. Having not experienced war first hand I cannot guess what those guys (and gals) went through, but for them to "own" the word "jap" is hard to argue with. It dehumanizes the fact that they killed fathers, brothers and sons. It makes it easier for the veterans to deal with.

As a multi-year resident of Japan I will admit I use the term...like "jap music" or "jap car" or "jap style" but usually with people who are "in the know" (in Japan). It makes expanations shorter, and also gives me a little power over the daily "gaijin this" or "amerikan style" comments shot at me, but it is strictly a verbal power, and probably not healthy.

To say "Jap" has no meaning means that "nigger", "wetback", spic" and all those words have no meaning. I don't think this is true.

As individuals we create in-groups and out-groups. I am an American. I am a male. I am a gaijin. I am not a Jap. I am not a bitch. I am not a homo. We meet people, test the water, figure out what language works with that person or group, and then communicate.

But there are plenty of people that are against using those terms, and I have to agree with them, though I may not be the poster boy for their campaign.

So the girl said shit about gaijin. Like I said in the other thread, this is a "teachable moment" as even if it doesn't OFFEND you, it is a term built with racist meaning, even if she didn't know it. If my son referred to a classmate as a "nigger" he would surely hear about it, even if his usage had no racist intent.

[American Oyaji]

kotatsu,
we've been through this before. It may not have hurtful connotations for you, but it DOES hurt those whose family's were put into concentration camps during WWII in the U.S. American citizens whose livelyhoods and businesses and homes were taken away from them.

you are really hardheaded about this arent you.

Try going to the USA and call ANY black person nigger.

Make sure you have your will filled out first.

[Big Booger]

Jap is just an abbreviated way to say Japanese as naniwan points out. It can also mean: A Jewish-American girl or woman regarded as being pampered or overindulged. It can even mean like a slanted eyed SOB from Japan. Depends on the intent. Chink on the otherhand is totally offbase, as is nigger, slant eye, gook, spear chucker, porch monkey, wetback, spic, sand nigger, jigaboo, peckerwood, cracker, commy, white devil, jew, fag, etc.. etc..

But what gets me most is people calling themselves these names. Of all the above, nigger is the only one used by the group that is most offended by it.

I don't see a Chinese walking around saying, "Yo Chink, let's go swammy dang down to the crib yo"

or better:
"Man get yo kike ass outta here.. I'll meet yo ass at the gogue (synagogue) yo"


I think we all create meaning to words and phrases depending on how you were raised and where you were brought up. Environment plays to this crap, and that is all I have to say about it. Genetics or any natural thing doesn't create racist ideologies AFAIK.

Haven't any of you ever uttered words like japs or kike or spic or whatever at some point in your life out of some frustration.
Um. No.

you may not have uttered those words but I am sure you have some prejudiced, racist thoughts ever now and again. Regardless if you want to bring it to the surface or not, subvertly it is there, regardless of where you grew up. Unless of course you were raised in a pack of wolves, then you might just hate all humans

Just throwing piss to the wind. what is worse is people who never say that shit, but walk around with it pent up inside and use that pent up emotion subvertly to discriminate. I'd rather someone call me a nigger to my face as act sweet and kind but on the inside they are a rolling racist machine.

As for calling someone a nigger, I know people who'd do it, and you'd shit your pants to say anything to them. There are quite a few loons out there. Depends on the situation. At a KKK rally, yeah it might go down a bit better than say at a Panter cookout

[American Oyaji]

JAP - Jewish American Princess

[Gaisaradatsuraku!]

Haven't any of you ever uttered words like japs or kike or spic or whatever at some point in your life out of some frustration.

Um. No.GJ

Uhhh, you're saying that in no point in your life you have never even said to yourself something along the above lines....mmmmm, you're losing credibility. I suppose you have never beat off either right?

Comments like this have very little meaning.

I was mostly joking around before, but I DO think racist comments have meaning.. IMO.

GJ[/quote]

They are no different than any other insult.

[Gaisaradatsuraku!]

wow i get a whole post all to flame lil ol me?

jap hasnt had any racist meaning for decades now, wake up.

coming from south east london, being racist is about as natural as a politician telling the truth..

do you have what it takes to stop being an annoying ignorant racist motherfucker?

have a nice day

Suck my dick you little bastard. I guess everybody from South East London is the same right? That in itself is a gross fucking exaggeration and generalization which indicates you have no concept of thinking about yourself or anyone else except in black and white terms. What that kid said was perfectly normal. She told you the truth and a lot of people think exactly like she does about a lot of people. Getting off your high motherfucking horse you dumb piece of shit. No wonder you like dead end jobs. You are not capable of an original thought.

This is undoubtedly hopeless you little turd, but do try to be an adult instead of playing the victim. Set a positive role model for once in your life and show you can rise above it (unlikely).

[cstaylor]

I'm with Gai on this one... there are plenty of empty-headed people out there, so what's one more 13yr old recruit for the army of ignorance?

Of course, you could have reminded her that it was foreigners that made it possible for her to vote.

[DJEB]

Haven't any of you ever uttered words like japs or kike or spic or whatever at some point in your life out of some frustration.

I for one haven't. I could be unusual, but I'd like to believe that 99% of the members of this board are similarly "unusual".

In addition, let's face the fact that bigotry is a natural human reaction.

I don't accept that as established fact.

[DJEB]

Haven't any of you ever uttered words like japs or kike or spic or whatever at some point in your life out of some frustration.

Um. No.GJ

Uhhh, you're saying that in no point in your life you have never even said to yourself something along the above lines....mmmmm, you're losing credibility.

Before I get the same response, let me repeat my previous answer. No, I haven't. Anyone's belief or lack there of is irrelevant to what I have said during the course of my lifetime.

[American Oyaji]

DJEB, its kinda hard to take you seriously.

(It's the avatar man. 'scuse my french, but its freakin goofy)

[DJEB]

DJEB, its kinda hard to take you seriously.

(It's the avatar man. 'scuse my french, but its freakin goofy)

It's about as goofy as it gets.
But I still haven't used racial slurs against anyone in my lifetime. I'm not given to calling people stupid either, although I have done that (someone in my family worked with for the gov't with the developmentally challenged).

[GuyJean]

Uhhh, you're saying that in no point in your life you have never even said to yourself something along the above lines....mmmmm, you're losing credibility.

I'm not spouting shit here]I suppose you have never beat off either right?[/quote] What do you think the National Geographics were for?

When I was pummelled by Samoans in Hawaii, I was an angry Haole.. But I also didn't make that one bad experience shape my view of Samoans.. I have great Samoan buddies in the States; Although I don't drink with them.

I may generalize, but I never use a racial epithet in my generalizations. Do you? Oh, yeah.. It's Gai I'm talking to; retract the question.

GJ

[cstaylor]

When I was pummelled by Samoans in Hawaii, I was an angry Haole..

And you survived? Damn, you're a hardy breed...

Care to tell us how you became a punching bag for the locals?

[DJEB]

When I was pummelled by Samoans in Hawaii, I was an angry Haole..

And you survived? Damn, you're a hardy breed...

Care to tell us how you became a punching bag for the locals?

Yeah Guy, if you tell us the story, I'll buy you a margarita. Oh, wait. Never mind.

[GuyJean]

Care to tell us how you became a punching bag for the locals?

Try joining a mosh-pitt of locals at a Chile Peppers concert; Territorial pissings.. It was my first few weeks in Hawaii..

After a couple months I got a tan, and those same locals who beat the shit out of me, picked me up while hitch-hiking.. I was scared shitless, but smirked the whole time. They soon recognized me from the wound on my eye; I gained respect for some reason, they scored me weed, and I never had trouble again.. The Waimanalo Brothers; Cowboy hat wearin', territorial Samoans..

I also joined a gym and befriended a 70 year old local. I think he helped spread the word that I was 'tolerable'.. Hawaii, or actually Aloha, is a small island; People talk.

GJ

[American Oyaji]

KAMEHAMEHA

[GuyJean]

if you tell us the story, I'll buy you a margarita. Oh, wait. Never mind.

Had too many Long Islands tonight. Must sleep... Night.

GJ

[GuyJean]

KAMEHAMEHA

Refresh my memory]http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/kamehameh[/url]

Waimanalo Bay is amazing! With underwater caves, and great surf!
http://www.pixi.com/~isd/waimanalobay.html

GJ

[American Oyaji]

No...hehe.

Thats the name of a King.

Kamehameha Statue

It's also the name of an attack in DragonBall Z

[Gaisaradatsuraku!]

Haven't any of you ever uttered words like japs or kike or spic or whatever at some point in your life out of some frustration.

I for one haven't. I could be unusual, but I'd like to believe that 99% of the members of this board are similarly "unusual".

In addition, let's face the fact that bigotry is a natural human reaction.

I don't accept that as established fact.

You are 99% full of caca if you think I believe that one.

[Gaisaradatsuraku!]

Haven't any of you ever uttered words like japs or kike or spic or whatever at some point in your life out of some frustration.

I for one haven't. I could be unusual, but I'd like to believe that 99% of the members of this board are similarly "unusual".

In addition, let's face the fact that bigotry is a natural human reaction.

I don't accept that as established fact.

You are 99% full of caca if you think I believe that one.

[Gaisaradatsuraku!]

DJEB, its kinda hard to take you seriously.

(It's the avatar man. 'scuse my french, but its freakin goofy)

It's about as goofy as it gets.
But I still haven't used racial slurs against anyone in my lifetime. I'm not given to calling people stupid either, although I have done that (someone in my family worked with for the gov't with the developmentally challenged).

Whoa. I am not asking if you literally have used racial slurs (i.e., called someone something to his/her face). I am saying I think a lot of people think in these slurs at least some point in their life. And, frankly, these slurs carry little meaning to the "speaker." They are just another form of insult rather than some insidious character flaw. My feeling is that virtually all of us carry this "character flaw." That is black, white, yellow, brown. We all have thoughts about the other that are linked to how we look.

Remember, bigotry isn't just a "negative" view either. You can be biased FOR someone because of what they are or where they come from. That characteristic is extremely common and freely voiced (because it isn't discouraged) and is ample evidence that most of us think in racial terms to some degree. If you are biased for someone you have to be biased against to (the ying and the yang can't be separated).

[Naniwan Kid]

I am saying I think a lot of people think in these slurs at least some point in their life. And, frankly, these slurs carry little meaning to the "speaker." They are just another form of insult rather than some insidious character flaw.

I have never, wither to someones face or under my breath, said "fucking chink" or "damn nigger" if I have gotten bad service from a person of color. I have to agree with DJEB. If your first reaction to getting bad service in a Viet Namese restuarant is to have the word "gook" or "slant-eye" pop in your head I think you have some racist tendencies to work on. That IS NOT normal.

Of course we see people's race. You hear of those extreme P.C. folks that say stuff like "I didn't even notice he was black." or "I don't see people by their skin color." I would think this is more insulting than being called a racist term, as at least with the racist term you know where the person is coming from...[/quote]

[GargoyleTS]

Well damn! I think I may be ok then. I don't think racial slurs about poor service at restaurants. I think "f*ckin idiot!" if they are bad and refuse to tip (and yes, I know what they make and that people have bad days). Wait, I may be racist. At the chinese (they call it that, not me) restaurants, we tend to get what my freinds and I refer to as "Ninja Waitresses" because of their disturbing, yet awe inspiring, ability to instantly appear at the table and go unnoticed until they reach for a glass to refill and they can get to any part of said table regardless of how we sit (like a large round table near a wall with no physical way to get between people). Or is this racist, since we all know and acknowlegde the fact that Ninja are Japanese, not Chinese?

[Crispy]

I wouldn't dream of saying "jap", musta been the fact that I was raised in Seattle, with plenty of Japanese in school and such. However, I don't think anyone ever explicitly told me that I couldn't...

My grandpa on the other hand was a waist gunner in the pacific theater of WW2. Uh...yeah.