Spanish men's team causes a stir with offensive ad

Did the Spanish men's basketball team inadvertently poke itself in the eye with an advertisement in a Spanish sports newspaper that shows the team members making slit-eyed gestures?

The controversy began with this story by Sid Lowe, a reporter for Britain's Guardian newspaper. The headline on his piece: "Olympics: Spain's eye-catching faux pas."

El Mundo, one of Spain's largest newspapers, didn't run the advertisement. But it does have a story with a photo (above) of the advertisement question. And the headline for El Mundo's story translates as "Racism or an affectionate gesture?"

Meanwhile, Olympian and Toronto Raptors player Jose Manuel Calderon tries to ease the tension on his website. (Also worthy of note: Calderon, Pau Gasol and the Spanish team on Tuesday upended China, 85-75, in an overtime victory in Olympic basketball play.) Here's part of what Calderon had to say:

I would like to share a story with you about something that happened with the Spanish National Team that someone interpreted incorrectly. It happened in the photo session where the Spanish National Team was introduced; one of our sponsors asked us to pose with a “wink” to our participation in Beijing, we made an oriental expression with our eyes. We thought it was something appropriate and that it would always be interpreted as somewhat loving. Nevertheless some of the European media did not see it this way.

From here I would like to declare that we have a huge respect for the East and their people, some of my best friends in Toronto are from China and one of our Spanish National Team sponsors is the Chinese brand Li Ning. Anyone who would like to interpret this differently is absolutely confused.

Getting back to basketball, now we have to prepare because the next game against Germany will be at nine in the morning, so we have to get up at five. I hope that our “foolish” day is now history.

Hope springs eternal.

-- Greg Johnson

Photo: The Spanish men's basketball team in an advertisement that has sparked controversy over whether it is racist, ill-advised or funny. Credit: El Mundo

Comments

[Sean]

Unfortunately, Spain hasn't had its knuckles rapped enough. Not only do they derisively call South Americans, "Sudacos", but seem isolated in a way that England was until the 1960's. Let it be known that the stereotype of the Spanish waiter was Manuel in "Fawlty Towers" that would be considered less than "affectionate" by modern Spaniards. Pull the ad, retract the message.

[duke]

You know what I would do to an unwelcome visitor - I would ask him/her to leave. I think the Chinese will be too gracious to do just that. They will give their visitors, who had traveled from afar, that they can accept an apology and continue to be hospitable. However, I think the Spaniards need to learn a good lesson that they are not superior to other races. People are judged by their conducts as moral human beings. If it is truly a mistake - let it be a lesson learned.

Now back to the game!!!

[Franklin]

It's good that Americans, who's a.m. radio waves and Hollywood movies are free from any racism against Hispanics (whom they lump together) are here to help out with racial sensitivity and suggestions of sanctions against the entire country of Spain, which they know nothing about except that they probably don't like them.

[Simon]

I guess the spanish racing fans who wore black-face to honor Lewis Hamilton were also being affectionate, and the ones making monkey calls at Ashley Cole were doing the same... oh and the soccer coach calling Tierry Henry a "black sh*t" actually meant "super guy"

[Steve]

PC-obsessed Americans and Europeans are probably 100 times more offended than the Chinese, because Americans and Europeans are instructed by their TV's and newspapers to feel offended.

[Carlos Tenerio]

I lived two years in Spain and can say that Spanish people are a little special when it comes to sense of humor. They mock anything and anybody without giving it a first thought. They relish in making nicknames and crude comments about people (specially foreigners) based solely on their looks and demeanor, Black people are particularly vulnerable and elicit very direct comments and sometimes outright verbal abuse. I have witnessed this first hand, and really felt for the poor inmigrants from Africa living there.. If you visit Spain, beware that groups of people out at night partying or in traditional festivities should best be avoided by tourists of non caucasic origin. They will engage verbally and loudly and will make very offensive racial remarks, not necessarily slurs, mostly wise cracks and pantomimes that hopefully the intended target will not understand or misinterpret as something innocuous. For them this bullying and mockery is normal, they have been doing it for ages, like cheering animal cruelty in bullfights. In rural areas, they have a sinister nickname for a knife: the Matamoros, (morish..slayer), and they think this is funny and clever. Needles to say, they don´t consider any of these things offensive, just funny. Strangely though, they become very sensitive about being treated with cliches themselves when they are abroad.. in other words, they need to be taught a lesson, so that they can grow up and mature, either by the olyimpic committee or somebody else.

[Nate]

Why do all racist say they have a friend of that race? It is so obvious that he and his team is so ignorant to even remotely think that the "oriental expression" might be offensive.

No Jose, we are not the "confused" ones. Please step outside your world and join the rest of ours.

I would love to hear Pau explain this. Does he not realize he plays in LA?

[Francisco Gonzales]

Why is it that when we dress in traditional Chinese outfits it is not offensive and when we stretch our eyes out with our fingers to pretend we are Chinese it generates racial sensitivities?

Why is it that when you give a black person a flower it is a gesture of friendship, but when you give him a banana it becomes a total insult to his humanity?

Why is it OK for an Asian woman to buy opaque stockings for her Western friends and not OK for her to buy them shaving kits?

Why is it acceptable to comment on a man's hair colors and curvatures, but not very nice to comment on the contours of his receding hairline?

Why is it that when we eat another culture's food we build cross-cultural relationships and when we cringe upon knowing what is in the food (hot dog) we destroy that relationship?

Why is it that when we shave our hair to look like chemotherapy patients we are elevated to being supporting sympathizers, but when we limp along those who have lost a leg we become harassing idiots?

These questions transcend race and gets to the fundamental question: what is appropriate human behavior in this very culturally and racially diverse world? To lighten up and laugh may be one way. How about getting an education and doing some traveling first?

If we are going to laugh, laugh at our own uniqueness rather than make fun of the differences we see in others. The former portrays a healthy level of self-confidence. The latter projects inner insecurities. Maybe this is why the Spanish ad was so offensive.

The offensive nature of the Spanish ad is not in its intentions, but in its lack of what we know and feel is appropriate. Otherwise, it would not have been so funny to those who do not understand its prejudice.

[Paul]

You, anglo-saxon people, are crazy... You are obsessed with the politically correct language. Your minds are so sick that you thing that a joke, a funny comment or an affectionate gesture is extremely offensive, even if it is make with a good intention and in a respectful way. However, in fact, you are the most racist people in earth...but the important thing is not to publicly show any unpolite expression. USA and UK, your culture is defined by two words: HYPOCRISY and CYNICISM!

[Steve Raso]

I think it is refreshing that people are made fun of, I'm offended that people care so much. It is not our job to pass judgment on others, it is the job of the people being made fun of to stand up for themselves.

[JT]

Busted! The Spaniard team is racist. The Spaniards are playing dumb that they didn't know it was racist. The slant eye gesture is the most childish racist act of insult to Oriental people. Boycott Spanish products. Spain is an inferior country and this is the only way that they can feel good about themselves. It proves that Spaniards are plain dumb kids. Spaniards need to grow up.

[El Hombre Malo]

The main factor here is intent.

Did the spanish team meant to be offensive? No.

En of the question, the rest is bull crap...

[drayden]

this is very offensive to me.. i couldn't believe it. they represent their country, now i think their whole country are racists

[George]

JT - I agree with your comments and believe the Spanish Olympic Basketball Team revealed themselves to be ignorant, if not racist and insensitive. I would love to honor your suggestion to boycott Spanish products, but alas, there aren't any. None at least that I can think of. Spain contributes little or nothing to our lifestyles - intolerance aside. However, this isn't about the Spanish people. It's about some over-sized, under-talented basketball players who are immature and stupid. Speaking of immature and trying to stay focused on b-ball. I'm a huge Laker fan and couldn't be more disgusted with Pau Gasol. He plays like a girl and cries on every play worse than a little girl. In fact, I'm sorry to compare him to a little girl since most girls I know have more spirit and maturity than Gasol. Here's hoping that Andrew Bynum returns full force next season and relegates Gasol back to the bench where he belongs - or better yet, back to Spain where he and his chums can spend the season poking fun at others.

[HC in Colorado]

Humor is seen differently in different cultures. Humor, alas, is not universal. It's okay for Monty Python to sing "I like Chinese." It's okay for NY merchants to say "Yeow" instead of Yao, when Mr. Yao walks into their store. It's all in fun, and it was just commercial interests at play here. However, it's not okay for the Spaniards to poke fun at the Chinese. Oh no. But, really, does this have anything to do with insensitivity, or with the usual anti-Spanish bias that permeates our national culture in the USA? After all, a Spaniard won the Tour de France, and another Spaniard won at Wimbledon within the past year. Come on. We can't have the wheels falling off the wagon now. Spain and Spaniards should be kept in their place.

[Fernando]

Spaniards are able to laugh of ourselves with Spanish topics, like bullfighters or guitarrists... or something like that.
I think there is a problem about English and North American people with races. For us, to have asian eyes or black skin is not an insult, is wonderful! For example, if I pretend to imitate an African, I paint my skin in black, and again is not an insult, is the truth! They have a black skin, like ebony and that is not an imperfection (in your subconscience you may think so, because your reaction). In the other hand it might be not politically correct, because of different interpretations.
For me there are three levels of racism:
1) False racism, that is only polliticaly uncorrect (like this photograph)
2) Verbal racism, that is obviously untolerable (like Luis Aragonés, Spanish coach),
and
3) Physical racism, for example, guantánamo or the mexican border. Or the brazilian killed by the English police, only for being black!! Physical racism is the worst!
I don't doubt that there are some Spanish racists, but this is not the case, and is not a generallized thinking.
I really encourage that all of us look inside ourselves to detect real racism. I'm sure you will surprise!! Spaniards are a mix cultures and races, like arabs, north africans, european and recently south american and also from far East.
I also want to remark the potentially intentions of American media, due to the competition between Madrid and Chicago for the 2016 olympics. That's the reason why Chinese authorities didn't blamed the photograph, and only english and north american media have been expressed the "worldwide" opinion.

[Fernando]

George, You have demonstrated us that you are not a racist, you are a huge male chauvinist. Is it an insult to "play like a girl"? Probably a lot of girls play better than you!! So you are against the women rights!! And american people are also male chauvinists... This kind of things occurs when you get out of context the sentences.
I'm Spanish and we have arab, latin, german, south american and iberian blood. In fact we are really a mix of cultures since centuries. English and American people had only Anglian and Saxon blood. Chinese, Afroamericans and Latinamericans live in England and USAi n guettos, appart of the caucasians .

[Silvie]

The Spanish are racist. Period. Anyone who has lived there knows this. It stems from their lack of experience with immigration and other cultures. Most Spanish people are born in their small town, move to Madrid or Barcelona for work, vacation on the Costa del Sol and retire in Baleares. I wonder what percentage of Spaniards have passports. This isn't an excuse, just an observation that they are less aware of what's appropriate - and they are as a culture pretty irreverent. This team stunt is of no surprise to me.

[George]

Fernando - There's nothing wrong with playing like a girl. Unless, you're a seven foot, 240 pound man who earns millions of dollars to play as a professional athlete. I've already apologized in my earlier post to little girls everywhere for comparing them to the sniveling immature cry baby who is Pau Gasol. Perhaps now you would like me to apologize to babies too? Additionally, you couldn't be more wrong about American people being of only Anglican and Saxon blood. America is the most diverse country in the world. Perhaps that's why it's the most successful and why you are living amongst us - or at least reading our news media. While you choose to believe that "Latin" and African Americans only live in U.S. ghettos - you again show you're whack sense of reality. Many Americans of all races and ethnicities thrive and live happily in America and England. It's time for you to wake up Fernando or go back to Spain - and take the cry baby Pau Gasol with you.

[Nikos T. Plakas]

It's racist because for a very long time (and to this very day) white people (and others) used things (like eyes and other physiology) to demonstrate some sort of racial dominance.

And George, Spain won a world champion in basketball with Pau Gasol at the helm.

[Sean K]

You know what's really interesting? I'd be wiling to bet that pretty much all of the people sticking up for what the Spanish team did are either of white or Hispanic descent, so they wouldn't recognize racism if they saw it. The reason for this is because neither whites nor mexicans who live in the USA have experienced the kind of racism that has been directed at asians, blacks or jews. Mexicans do experience racism in this country, I'm sure, but nothing on the level of mass campaigns of violence and terror, slavery, and indentured servitude. Also, racism is an accepted part of both white American and Hispanic culture. When they find out you don't think YOUR race is superior, they get a confused look on their face, like "I thought every race thought this way"...

[LZ]

I'm Chinese-American, and I am offended. Period. If it were just my personal offense at stake, I wouldn't be taking the time to write this message.

The problem is that because of the ad, they continue to perpetuate long held racist stereotypes and gestures against Asians. It's the asian children in and outside Spain that will pay as victims mockery and bullying. As a child in America, I've experienced this, even in progressive places like NYC and LA.

This kind of foolishness is ridiculous. That whole team and everyone involved is either racist or supremely ignorant. I doubt it's the latter.

[Fernando]

George,

I respect the US culture, but the most important country for its cultural heritage is Turkey, with more than 175 different cultures in his history, or Ecuador with more than 100 ethnic groups in a small country. US is the most powerful country of the world, I know, but is not the centre of the Universe. The recent history of US is really amazing and we have a lot of things to learn about this, but don't remember that the original race living there was lead almost extintion. Nowadays they are confinned into "reserves" like zoological gardens.
By the way, previous to the China-USA basketball game president Bush said to Kobe Bryant "Kick them" refering Chinese oponents. I know this is a sentence without bad intentions, commonly used in the USA, but in Spain it sounds like aggresive and racist. Fortunately I understand that this sentence is only a joke, because my cultural bagage.
If spaniards were racists we would have a lot of problems travelling, and this does not occur, opposite the US citizens that they are not welcome in a lot of countries, like muslims, africans and some south americans.
Finally, I really live in Spain, perhaps you think I live in the US because you only read local news, but I love read worldwide.
I think this false image of racist people could dissapear if you visit us, i will be very pleased to host you and your friends.
P.S. Meanwhile in the TV there is an American film that ridilculize Greek people, it's a joke not racism!!

[Phil Peterson]

Culturally, Spanish people see apology as being weak in character. This is absurd of course. My ex wife was from Spain and she neve apologized for nothing. She was an insensitive mean woman that I finally divorced. She was angry all the time and she smelled too. Those Spanish basketball players are no different then my wife. If one could marry a basketball team, one would surely divorce this one. They're a disgrace to their country and I hope the Chinese ban them from participation in the Olympics. Not just Chinese, but ALL Asians were insulted by the Spanish idiots. May they lose to the russians!

[Genuinesol]

This is not the first time Spain has been portrayed as an ignorant country due to the racist mentality some of its citizens seem to have. Take for instance the soccer player that was mocked because he was black (from Brazil I believe) and members of the audience in Spain begin to make monkey gestures and throw banana peels at him. They made a fool of themselves! Then remember the girl from Ecuador who was attacked because she was from Latin America and was speaking Spanish? Then we have this and none of this makes Spain appear well in the public eye and it is sad because I am sure that in spite of these few ignorant people who must be unhappy since they are filled with hate do not represent the people of Spain as a whole or so I hope.