Thursday, August 14, 2008

Spain Spain Spain....remember...the intent is NOT the same as the impact..act accordingly

I will not condone or show the picture of these knuckleheads making these gestures. I do not want to give them any more press than necessary because it is appalling.

"In the past the Spanish have been left in no doubt as to the sensitivity of racial issues internationally, especially since Spain's football manager, Luis Aragonés, made his infamous remark about Thierry Henry, monkey chants greeted England's football players in a friendly game in Madrid and the formula one driver Lewis Hamilton was subjected to abuse in Barcelona." -Sid Lowe The Guardian, Monday August 11 2008, Article history

During the World Cup games in Germany, racism was a VERY prominent concern for FIFA and officials from every country participating but more among the fans than by the actual athletes..

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/worldopinionroundup/2006/05/racism_shadows_germanys_world_1.html


China bans black people during the olympics from drinking!

http://shanghaiist.com/2008/07/18/the_racist_games.php

For a country with the motto of One World, One Dream...we recognize with all of these examples that we are still a LONG way away from recognizing the need to respect people in general as well as their cultures.

Regardless of how much affection the Spanish teams may want to use as their excuse to having accepted this stint, it is deplorable and embarrassing and China had every right to boo them with enthusiasm. Pau Gasol said,"it was “absurd” people were calling the gesture racist.

“We never intended anything like that,” he said.

Mr. Gasol, intent does not equal impact. Everyone who was offended was within their right to do so. To do what you did sir, regardless of your reasoning, was in poor taste. It is surprising that NOBODY stood up to think that this might offend someone.

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