Do you see any difference in these pictures?

There really isn't much difference is there...?

Racism is not limited to just one form.  It can be a defining characteristic of an individual or a nation.  It can be a word, an image or a gesture with harmless intent but none the less with racist under tones.  Which brings me to the published image of the Spanish Olympic Basketball Team making slant eye gestures while the games are being held in China.

Questions have been raised concerning reactions over the image.  The most curious one actually questions why are people offended...?  Because in view of some... there is nothing racist about the image.  Its just an attempt at humor or it's being viewed out of context.  If I've learned one thing through the years on the internet... it is how differently my customs, morals and values as an African-American citizen can differ from people of other races and nationalities.  Certain beliefs and ways of thinking which are common place in my society... just isn't the same elsewhere.  But there are still many common bonds which unite us throughout the world and one of which is typically intolerance of racism.

As measured by American standards... this is a racist image,  It does not mean that the people who are in it are racist or that the country of Spain is racist on a whole... but this team is a representative of the best of Spain.  As representatives they carry a certain burden on thier shoulders... and one of those burdens is how the Spanish will be percieved through thier actions.  It paints a picture of Spain being at the least racially insensitive.

There are several sources which would comfirm and possibly better explain to those whom would challenge this notion why we as Americans and those of like mind would call the Spanish picture racist.  The United States of America has a 'not so proud' history of open racism which was enforced by government policy and instilled into private sectors of American society.  From this was born a high level of racial sensitivity as the country eventually took actions to do away with racism, in all of its forms.  Racism, unfortunatelty still exist in America... but now-a-days it is viewed as part of a degenerate sub culture and propogated by small specific groups and individuals.  Of course there is a often a problem identiying those who are still racist and how they influence the society because many keep thier beliefs hidden as they wish to aviud a form of prejudice against themselves and thheir racist beleifs.

Sources of negative stereotypes relevant to the Spanish image derive from various early American media including he cinema and politiical cartoons.  Images of Chinese with slanted eyes, buck teeth and coke bottle glasses were common place.  In cinema those images combiuined with over the top accents and behavior painted a very offensive picture.  These images were not unlike another more notorious form of cinematic and political stereotyping known as 'black-face'... a stab at African-Americans.  But these were not the only ethnic groups in America to be potrayed negatively.  Others negative stereotypes took stabs at Native American Indians, Jews, Mexicans and people of Arabic decent among others.

However as the nation has tried to mature and enforce 'civil rights' these images are no longer common place, but as I said... the racial sensitiviity born from them is now pat of our culture.

Which bring me to these statements.  I've noticed that many people from other cultures around the globe speak of American society as if they 'know' American society... but don't realize that they more often than not... are basing thier views off of propogated 'stereotype' themselves.  If they truly knew our society... they would have no question as to why we would find the Spanish Basketball team's slant-eye gesture offensive and racist.  But the most ironic part about this situation is that if this were the American team which had done this action... the international outrage would have been phenominal to say the least.  Many other nations are quick to denounce the American government and its values... but will not hesitate to hold us accountable vs. our own values which they too often claim not to share.  It is a double standard that Americans actually don't mind to much.  Because hey we know the real deal.

They can always put us down... but they are always trying to come live here, always duplicating our culture, enjoying the fruits of our creativity and while thhey always condemn of for 'interferring' in political matters around the globe..... if another country lined an army against thier borders... they go crying for 'big brothers' help.

I don't believe Spain is necessarily a racist country... but the gestures in the picture are none the less racist and offensive.  I do beleive, however, that the Spain as a nation may in fact be racially apathetic.  Lastly argueing with people who have never shown any sensitivity as to how offensive thier words can be to others over an issue like this is pointless.  It is a way of thinking which won't change.  People like them will never view acts such as this as offensive unless it is directed towards them.  If you were to openly link thier countries to its 'allies' (which they were not) of the past who commited genocide in the name of racial superiority... you may see a pattern.  As nations... they were ignorant to the most devestating act of racism in modern world history.  It is not unreasonable to assume that just as American culture has been grown to be racialy sensitive based on the past... their cultures may have grown to be raciallly insensitive.  Does anyone think as cultures they would get ruffled over a picture?