Far-Out Far East Rickshaw Rally

[Taro Toporific]

'Inappropriate:' Asian-Americans view on Baptist's VBS curriculumThe Associated Press / Dec 8 2003
NASHVILLE - "Rickshaw Rally," the Southern Baptist curriculum for next summer's Bible school, features a race through Japan with children running through Tokyo streets, climbing Mount Fuji and diving for pearls.
But its use of stereotypical images - including rickshaws, kimonos and chopsticks - has upset some Asian Americans....
The main complaint about the "Far-Out Far East Rickshaw Rally - Racing to the Son" material is the prominent image of the rickshaw...Some also have complained that the Vacation Bible School promotional materials are distributed in a container that looks like a Chinese food takeout box.
....[an anti-] Web site devoted to "Reconsidering Rickshaw Rally."http://www.geocities.com/reconsideringrickshawrally/

[devicenull]

i fucking hate christians.... thanks for the reminder

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

i fucking hate christians.... thanks for the reminder

Ah me too. I know this is going to be a bitch of a one to. I told my girlfriend since october that I woul dhave nothing to do with christmas. Already she "knows" what i am going to buy her. Its just bloody blackmail. I dont want her to buy me anything I dont want to do anything. I dont even want to here about it. Yet i dont want to make here sad. She is Japanese why dose she even care about it. I asked her and she said its a couple thing, more bloody emotional blackmail.

[Kanchou]

(Part of a letter from the accused)

"The Far East theme was chosen by this group because of the colorful and exciting possibilities that it held, not to mention the opportunity to remind boys and girls in America that all cultures need to learn about Jesus."

Last time I checked, 99% of Japan doesn't care what you think. Just be glad this isn't the Edo period...

"We have not included anything in our materials other than the wonderful and fun elements of the Japanese culture that we have discovered on our own or delved into through research."

....hahahahahahahahahahahaha....

[devicenull]

i fucking hate christians.... thanks for the reminder

Ah me too. I know this is going to be a bitch of a one to. I told my girlfriend since october that I woul dhave nothing to do with christmas. Already she "knows" what i am going to buy her. Its just bloody blackmail. I dont want her to buy me anything I dont want to do anything. I dont even want to here about it. Yet i dont want to make here sad. She is Japanese why dose she even care about it. I asked her and she said its a couple thing, more bloody emotional blackmail.

meh, it's annual gift giving day.... do it on the solstice instead

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

meh, it's annual gift giving day.... do it on the solstice instead

I give her gifts all the time. At the moment I am a bit broke. Its bloody expensive having a girlfriend on normal occasions. I just dont have the cash for any imediate holiday. I dont think there should be any set time on presents as it only leads to expectation.

[Big Booger]

Are rickshaws a sign of poverty? All the one's I see in Kyoto look elegant and are certainly a part of Asian culture. I think the title of the curriculum is interesting and I see nothing wrong with it..

It would be like an Asian coming to America on the "Cowboy Crossing" or something similar.

I hate this PC bullshit and I wished these fuckers would rot in hell!

[devicenull]

Are rickshaws a sign of poverty? All the one's I see in Kyoto look elegant and are certainly a part of Asian culture. I think the title of the curriculum is interesting and I see nothing wrong with it..

It would be like an Asian coming to America on the "Cowboy Crossing" or something similar.

I hate this PC bullshit and I wished these fuckers would rot in hell!

it's a bit different than your little cowboy situation. they made a disgusting mesh of asian cultures and called it japanese. for fuck's sake... CHINESE FOOD is being called japanese. they might as well find a way to throw some kimchi in on the mix too. This isn't so much PC, it is ASIANS who are saying they are offended, and rightfully so. PC would be some random group not at all related to the situation deeming it to be offensive and filing legal action.

This entire thing is just further proof of christianity's ignorance. The ultimate irony of course, is that japan has never found a need for christianity and has a wonderfully amusing history of dispatching missionaries in ironic ways on many occassions.

This seriously sounds like a case of "someone thought up a clever phrase, before thinking up an idea for the actual program", then their "research" didnt give them what they wanted, so they bullshitted it together. The tragedy will be that over a million kids will be exposed to this bastardization... and I can guarantee that for some, this will be their first "experience" with "japan".

i fucking hate christians

[jingai]

These guys are funny...

Some of our editorial team have actually visited Japan so that we would be as true to the culture as possible

Wow, setting the bar high! Actually visited? Wow. I bet they saw a lot of rickshaws and samurai wherever they went...

[Big Booger]

I never read in any of that about Chinese food being labeled Japanese.. I did read that a 7th grader did a report on Japan using chinese takeout boxes....

A seventh-grader who did a report on Japan that included Chinese takeout boxes...

And this is what also was posted:


"We're getting really great response from across the country, saying it's the best curriculum we've done," said Mary Katharine Hunt, LifeWay's Vacation Bible School project manager.

She said the rickshaw was chosen because it's a "fun form of transportation" found in tourist areas of Japan. Other symbols were used because "kids are very literal-minded. We had to have things they could wrap their minds around."

Missionaries in Japan, a Japanese pastor and media consultant helped develop the materials. Hunt said some changes were made to the Web site and its music to address concerns.
---------------------------------------------------------------

What I can't stand is the fact that even if they had tried to make it more PC, some fuck would still be pissing and moaning about it...

THIS IS NOT LIKE NORTH KOREANS singing FUCK THE USA, or anything like that...

Not a word from the PC crowd for that shit...

I am not protecting those that made the materials.. even though a JAPANESE PASTOR HELPED IN THAT PROCESS....

What I am saying is that no matter what the fuck they did, if it has anything to do with race, ethnicity or any of that shit in the US, it's subject to this BULLSHIT.

[Caustic Saint]

THIS IS NOT LIKE NORTH KOREANS singing FUCK THE USA, or anything like that...

Actually, South Koreans sang that, and the title of the song is "Fucking USA." I've got two different mixes of it as MP3s if you want 'em.

[Robato]

I think the asians are being too sensitive.

They should rename the school book title to "Jap" so that it wont be so offensive.
This is a joke people

I never read in any of that about Chinese food being labeled Japanese.. I did read that a 7th grader did a report on Japan using chinese takeout boxes....

A seventh-grader who did a report on Japan that included Chinese takeout boxes...

Its plastered everywhere. The entire course COMES IN A CHINESE TAKE OUT BOX!!


Here is a picture of a girl with the chinese take out box.
http://www.lifeway.com/yourvbs/

Some also have complained that the Vacation Bible School promotional materials are distributed in a container that looks like a Chinese food takeout box.

The entire VBS package comes in a tin in the shape of a Chinese take out food box (available separately to be given as souvenir gifts for VBS teachers)

This is why it is distributed in a Chinese take out box....

But "a group of white Americans in Tennessee are deciding this is the way they want Asians to be portrayed," Rah said. "And when Asians say it's offensive, they're not taken seriously."

Nothing screams authenticity than a theme song to the words of

The chorus to the theme song: ". . . wax on, wax off, get your rickshaw ready... to the far out, far east"

Because I live in Japan, I know that everyone walks around in rice fields wearing straw hats in the shape of an upside down wok...dad would get a kick out of getting one of these

"Our daughter went on a summer mission trip to Okinawa and brought back her Dad a straw peasant hat, so he is all set."

I understand that if this is about derogitory racism...then its being sensitive...but you have to admit that the book company is pretty damn ignorant about Japan to be teaching ANYONE about it. Im gunna have to agree with devicenull's comments....its more or less mixing many things in that are oriental and calling it Japanese.

by the way, where the hell in Japan can I find a rickshaw...I would like to ride in one.

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

by the way, where the hell in Japan can I find a rickshaw...I would like to ride in one.

Although we a sworn ememys: There are rickshaws in asakusa just turn right from the station and at the entrance of the shrine there will be about 10 people begging for you to ride in their rickshaws. It costs 1000 yen.

I have just been to this site. I cant say show strongly I hate these blind religious types. But their site is bloody well designed. It has a java script so it changes the children, a white girl , a white boy and an indian girl with Token in the corner. I get the impression they are trying to pc to an amerikan audiance. But pretty much ignoring their subject.

What the hell is with the chinese take out boxes. the could at lease made an effort and got some eki ben(eki bento). Even in china they dont have thoes style take out boxes. thoes children look like they have never used hashi in their lives.

I clicked on the link g-force damb i was expectina graphics card boy was i dissapointed.

[Robato]

by the way, where the hell in Japan can I find a rickshaw...I would like to ride in one.

Although we a sworn ememys:...

Thanks for the info!

[Taro Toporific]

[Caustic Saint]

[gomichild]

My Mum and I rode on one in Kyoto - couldn't resist climbing in behind a well-toned boy in bicycle pants...

[Big Booger]

THIS IS NOT LIKE NORTH KOREANS singing FUCK THE USA, or anything like that...

Actually, South Koreans sang that, and the title of the song is "Fucking USA." I've got two different mixes of it as MP3s if you want 'em.

From Rob Pongi's Site:

This is a very shocking anti-American propoganda video made by North Koreans and previously broadcast on South Korean and Japanese Television. English translation titles by Rob Pongi.

that is the first I was exposed to it and I assumed it was made by North Koreans as Rob pointed out on his site, but that it was broadcasted on SK and Japanese TV.

[Caustic Saint]

THIS IS NOT LIKE NORTH KOREANS singing FUCK THE USA, or anything like that...

Actually, South Koreans sang that, and the title of the song is "Fucking USA." I've got two different mixes of it as MP3s if you want 'em.

From Rob Pongi's Site:

This is a very shocking anti-American propoganda video made by North Koreans and previously broadcast on South Korean and Japanese Television. English translation titles by Rob Pongi.

that is the first I was exposed to it and I assumed it was made by North Koreans as Rob pointed out on his site, but that it was broadcasted on SK and Japanese TV.

Yeah, I know what Rob's got up on his site. I can't say for sure where the video originated, but I know for a fact that the song is from South Korea.

[Big Booger]

Well,
You do live there Maybe Mr. Pongi got his source flipped or something.

[GuyJean]

i fucking hate christians.... thanks for the reminder

You hate anything related to anyone representing anything.. Your diluted hate is smelling more and more like a strong whine..

The Japanese Buddhist Monks annoy me. Tell me, what do the monks do for local communities, besides take their money and not pay taxes? What do they give back to society?

GJ

[devicenull]

i fucking hate christians.... thanks for the reminder

You hate anything related to anyone representing anything.. Your diluted hate is smelling more and more like a strong whine..

The Japanese Buddhist Monks annoy me. Tell me, what do the monks do for local communities, besides take their money and not pay taxes? What do they give back to society?

GJ

buddhist monks are .... stfu

[GuyJean]

buddhist monks are .

Why? (And I specified Japanese Monks, not Buddhists in general)

Actually, this is a serious question I have: Does the temple give back to the community? Do they give money to a family who's house has burned down? Buy uniforms for a kid's sports team with no money? Give refuge to the homeless? Help people with addictions? Etc...

I ask only because I don't know the answer..

Nam Ryo-Ho, and a bottle a rum.

GJ

[devicenull]

buddhist monks are .

Why? (And I specified Japanese Monks, not Buddhists in general)

Actually, this is a serious question I have: Does the temple give back to the community? Do they give money to a family who's house has burned down? Buy uniforms for a kid's sports team with no money? Give refuge to the homeless? Help people with addictions? Etc...

I ask only because I don't know the answer..

Nam Ryo-Ho, and a bottle a rum.

GJ

more important question, did they do anything to irritate me or piss me off? did they fuck around with another country's international image to make a fast buck?

when a christian walks up to me on the street and tries to jesusrape me, they dont stop till they are satisfied... non-christians stop if i tell them i am not interested, and that is if they even come up to me on the street in the first place.

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

GuyJean> If you just come to japan for one day, buddhists monks will of contributed to you life. Maybe not directaly but everybody is connected. For instance if all the shrines, temples, tori around have you ever visited any? Its hard to to notice them. They were built by japanese monks. You may of even photographed some. Is that not contribution enough. Even if you dont see beauty in them what of your friends. They may of contributed to your friends happiness. Then the said frind decides on that day to do something good for you.

Japanese Monks may be on the frindge of society but everybody is connected. They give up the ideals of money in the search for something better. Its unfortunate that they still need money to actualy live in this world, so they beg.

If you really want them to contribute to you. In a material way there are many temples in Japan that you can actualy stay for free in. (Although some also require that you pay) Maybe staying the night in a temple would open your eyes to the waste, that you call the 'community' you might get more in return but it wont be of finnantial value.

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

more important question, did they do anything to irritate me or piss me off?

They piss me off because they get to wear cool clothes like raiden out of mortal kombat and i have to wear boring 'normal peoples' clothes

[GomiGirl]

GuyJean> If you just come to japan for one day, buddhists monks will of contributed to you life. Maybe not directaly but everybody is connected. For instance if all the shrines, temples, tori around have you ever visited any? Its hard to to notice them. They were built by japanese monks. You may of even photographed some. Is that not contribution enough. Even if you dont see beauty in them what of your friends. They may of contributed to your friends happiness. Then the said frind decides on that day to do something good for you.

Japanese Monks may be on the frindge of society but everybody is connected. They give up the ideals of money in the search for something better. Its unfortunate that they still need money to actualy live in this world, so they beg.

If you really want them to contribute to you. In a material way there are many temples in Japan that you can actualy stay for free in. (Although some also require that you pay) Maybe staying the night in a temple would open your eyes to the waste, that you call the 'community' you might get more in return but it wont be of finnantial value.

What load of bollocks!!

I have stayed with buddhist monks many times and everybody who drops in leaves money to sustain them as they don't go out and actually earn anything except what people tythe to them.. ie the people around where they live almost pay "guilt money". They get paid handsomely for weddings, funerals, New Year etc and then they in-turn send a percentage to their "brotherhood".

The local community takes care of their local monk because it makes them feel better to be charitable to somebody who is on a higher calling than the regular working joe smoe.

Now don't get me wrong - I think that buddhists are great and have gained much from the phillosophy but please don't romantise it NeoNecro. All religion is based around money (in part). The more you pay the more benefits you get for your immortal soul. Sorry to be cynical.

[GomiGirl]

BTW neo.. GuyJean does live here and knows a helluva heap more about life than you do my young naive friend.

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

What load of bollocks!!

A little harsh I was trying to calm this thread a bit and this is what i get for it. Nicely worded.

I have stayed with buddhist monks many times and everybody who drops in leaves money to sustain them as they don't go out and actually earn anything except what people tythe to them.. ie the people around where they live almost pay "guilt money". They get paid handsomely for weddings, funerals, New Year etc and then they in-turn send a percentage to their "brotherhood".

And what religion does not do that? But you can still parttake on what you want for free. Traditionaly buddhists did do small jobs but in todays society its just not feisable.

Now don't get me wrong - I think that buddhists are great and have gained much from the phillosophy but please don't romantise it NeoNecro. All religion is based around money (in part). The more you pay the more benefits you get for your immortal soul. Sorry to be cynical

Is romantising something so wrong. I would much prefer to live in a quazi dream world to put up will all the shit that 'normal' life gives me.

BTW where did you stay with them. Because of my bad Japanese I have not been able to find to many places in Japan I wish to go to.

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

BTW neo.. GuyJean does live here and knows a helluva heap more about life than you do my young naive friend.

Is that so. wow you really opened my eyes GomiGirl. How did I manage to survive all a long?

Just because anybody lives in a place longer bares no relevance on how much they have gained. Going from your gaijin office to your gaijin aparto everyday is not really exposing yourself to a different culture. Maybe all the laser printer cartredge fumes have got to you head.

All life is based on the observers perception. As this perception cant be quantified. How the hell do you know how much I know about life?

Was it really nessesary to bitch at me? I want not even trying to be hostile and I get this shit from you... It just shows you have a couple of things to learn your self. P.S. stay away for the laser printers they are known in induce retardation in mice.