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Originally Posted by 81MC
Just want to point out, I have literally never called Karen a racist term. I’ve said it’s a stupid practise in a few different ways, maybe even called it stereotypical, but not racist. (At least i hope, because that’s very much not my aversion to that term).
Also, no, the guys are not pretending to be Asian. They are pretending to be ‘ninjas’. Call me bat#### crazy, but is it not exceptionally offensive to ‘asians’ to equate Asian and Ninja?
Again, I don’t understand. It would be okay if they were ‘Asian’; Not Japanese feudalists practising ninjutsu, but any Asian? If it were Vietnamese fellows, would they look close enough?
Or, is it the satire that’s ‘racist’? If the argument is seriously that anything that doesn’t respect the full gravity of something is offensive, were in for a world of ####.
And the font? I can’t even debate that, because it’s so ridiculous.
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I think you argued Karen was a racist term in the Morons of the Pandemic thread. But I couldn't tell if you're just mad for the sake of being mad or if it's an actual issue you were having. So I dunno really.
I think the easiest way to look at it is from a positive example. Chief Osceola of the Seminole tribe rides his appaloosa out to center field and plants a burning spear before every Seminoles home game. It's absolutely chilling. Everybody goes freaking nuts. In in a world where you can't let your kid dress up as Pocahontas for Halloween, this "mascot" kind of sticks out like a sore thumb. The difference however is that the tribe is an equal partner with the school. They were consulted and allowed to display their own culture as they see fit. It's not a stylized version of what our culture expects it to be. It still angers some other people and tribes, but it works for the majority of people on both sides. It's not a white guy in a bobble head suit carrying a tomahawk.
Ninja as a term is a bit like Benihanna...invented in the 60's and representing an exaggerated version of what western culture wants to believe is true about all Asians. I suppose this is offensive to some and puzzling to others. In all honesty I would not have give it a second look other than to think it was kind of a dumb way to advertise and the two guys looked like dorks. But I do think I get why some people find it offensive now.
There are also definitions on line that suggest "Ninja" is offensive...
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(US) A derogatory term for Asian Americans. Derived from the perception that most or all Asian Americans are ninjas or otherwise are skilled in martial arts and/or advanced assassination techniques.
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