What in the world was the Spanish National Team thinking? At the very least, this photo would be considered juvenile and in poor taste. And though I've been assured this photo was not meant as racist, the least the Spanish National Team should do is issue an apology to China. In this world, perception becomes reality, and intentions count for nothing.

I was just reading about this. Shocking and disappointing. I haven't seen anybody make that gesture since I was a kid. It was insulting and racist then... and beyond the pale now. [I should disclose that I am of Asian descent.] I was cheering for Spain, but I may switch my allegiance to Argentina.

Edit to add: the LA Times article quotes from Jose Calderon's website.

"Anyone who would like to interpret this differently is absolutely confused"? What a load of crap.

While I believe that no offence was meant in the photo/ad, one wonders: Did nobody... no player, no sponsor (I believe the ad was for a Spanish courier company), nobody from the newspaper, did nobody ring alarm bells that this photo might be inappropriate? What was the reaction of the Spanish people? Did they think that the photo showed the players' affinity or friendliness towards China and the Chinese?

The 'slanty-eye' gesture goes hand in hand with being called a "Chink," which, mercifully, hasn't been directed at me since I was a kid. Perhaps there are not many Asians in Spain, and such a gesture is not seen as derogative.

We'll chalk it up as a misunderstanding.... but will keep a wary (slanty) eye on them from now on.

Another pic emerges. I guess Spanish people just like getting chinky with it.


Jason Kidd speculates on what would have happened if Team USA did the slanty-eyed thing:


But in the end, it's all just funny, no?

This is much ado about nothing. What really irks me is that the tyrannical multiculturalists who berate Americans for not being open to or understanding other cultures are the same ones who are getting all fired-up indignant and offended about this. The Manhattan/Malibu/Marin County cocktail party set needs to figure out that not every single human being on the planet is obliged to worship the same God of Political Correctness that they do.

OK, a little background ... I am a Filipino with a very Italian first name and surname and a very Spanish middle name (my mother's maiden name, natch). When I lived in Spain, I can't count how many times a Spaniard told me that when he saw my name, he wasn't expecting an Asian. And then he would make the very same slant-eyed gesture! I'll grant you, I was a wee offended the first couple of times, but then realized that while such a gesture would never fly in the States, it apparently is socially acceptable behavior in Spain. And not once did a single Spaniard mean the slightest offense. When, uh, a friend was traveling in Cuba, he ran into the same thing. Even his official visitor contact, university educated, a world traveler (almost unheard of amongst Cubans), and an Air Canada employee, made the slant-eyed gesture!!

Unfortunately, there is far too much nastiness and mean-spiritedness in this world. And yes, when dealing with that BS, you should get damn offended and stand up for yourself. But honest to God, this just isn't one of those times.

It's a good thing the American team didn't do this or heads would be rolling, and the NBA would probably take some action. Even though the NBA is now international they won't do anything to non American players.

Yeah, I'm not buying the whole "people are just too sensitive" spiel. While this behavior may not be offensive to people in Spain it is clearly offensive most everywhere else. Not sure what kind of bubble they live in. Here's and article that mentions some other issues they've had regarding racial insensitivity. Including fans donning blackface and a coach using a racial epithet in regards to a rival black player. They're on a worldwide stage and need to show much better judgement. You'd think that the Spanish NBA players would've absorbed enough in the States that that kind of gesture wouldn't be acceptable.

Of course it's offensive. Jose Calderon's "some of my best friends are Chinese" is not only embarrassing, but underlines the basic point that the Spanish (and their apologists) are missing - racism is not merely an individual attitude based on intent.

I personally see the picture as one taken in good fun with no harm intended, but I agree that someone on that shoot should have said no - over fear of what the reaction would be if/when the general public were to view that picture.

I think in the title of your thread you meant "What was Spain thinking" smokey16. My editor partner has an extreme cultural bias against anyone who makes minor mistakes in spelling, and it only pisses me off when he obviously misses the point being made. But I've learned to be less sensitive to it.

But on the subject of the Spanish National Basketball Team's slitted-eye gesture he, being Australian, would probably immediately appreciate the humor, a sort which is very common privately among Australians, though they would never be so crass as to do it in public. That does not prevent him and other gay Australians from far more commonly having had Asian sex-partners than Americans of any ethnic group probably would (except maybe other Asian-Americans).

Yet he would also probably admit that racism against Asians can be just as prevalent in Aus as anywhere. Familiarity can breed contempt as well as understanding. It depends on the individual.

When I was in Spain I never experienced overt racism that I noticed. But I was also with my partner who is white most of the time. Also I am probably easily recognized as African-American and the Spanish would see me as "American" rather than an African immigrant, many of whom are illegally in Spain and no doubt experience considerable overt racism. Barack Obama got a dose of misunderstanding when he commented about Pennsylvanians resorting to "guns and religion" when under economic and social pressure. It was widely, and inaccurately perceived as a racist comment against "working white men" throughout the country.

I'm only concerned with what the Chinese (primarily) and other Asians think about this. Clearly they are the ones who have the right to be offended. What we Americans think is irrelevant IMO. That said, if it were the Americans who did this, there would be a whole lot more outrage.

I wonder how he crowds are treating the Spanish hoops team and the other Spanish athletes.

Thank you very much. I had not even noticed it.