"The portrayal of an Indian as being lazy and dumb and stupid is what it depicts," Ronald Rocha told a panel meeting at the Mission Trails Public Library last night. "A lazy, meaningless person."

Uhhhhh no. It's just a guy taking a nap. He could be on siesta. People are way too sensitive these days. Sports team with an Indian nickname? THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! You said "Polack" instead of "Polish person"? THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!

Do they not have siestas?

Walker: You said "Polack" instead of "Polish person"?

Does anyone still say that these days? In any case I think the proper demonym is "Pole".

How can they tell the ethnicity the cartoon character when the face is not visible?

PC idiots.

Walker: You said "Polack" instead of "Polish person"?

AS A PERSON OF POLISH DESCENT, I AM OFFENDED!

WHERE'S MY MONEY????

Arkanaut: Walker: You said "Polack" instead of "Polish person"?

Does anyone still say that these days? In any case I think the proper demonym is "Pole".

I'm confused by this. I worked with a polish developer who insisted that he be called pollack.

Speaking as a Canadian, I certainly don't mind the stereotype of a plaid-wearing hoser with a beer in his hand, slow-witted, saying, "eh?" all the time.

But that's just me.

A pic of a sombrero wearing guy taking a nap in the middle of the day????


OOOOOOOOOhh, how offensive.

Would these be better?

There should be a Photoshop contest to create a replacement offensive racial stereotype.

/I vote for an Eskimo snoozing against an igloo.

Of course he is sleeping. He must be exhausted from stealing all of our jobs.

They should paint a huge cock on the wall instead. People love it. It's the new age.

bwilson27: They should paint a huge cock on the wall instead. People love it. It's the new age.

The age of bi-curious?

I'd have more sympathy if I hadn't seen that same caricature in every Mexican restaurant (actual Mexican restaurant managed and run by folks from Mexico, not Chipotle or the like) that I've ever been in.

As an American of Irish descent, I understand where they are coming from.

I would probably be upset if someone was using a logo of, say...a fighting leprechaun, or associated the Irish with binge-drinking.

Luckily, our culture only picks on brown people.

Let's see....

Here's a sleeping cowboy:




Here's sleeping nurses:




Here's a sleeping black man:




And a sleeping white man:




And a sleeping ninja:

But still, I get the point. If images of sleeping Mexicans were abundant compared to images of people of other nationalities sleeping, then obviously that makes it a stereotype. (And it's a LOT easier to find images of sleeping Mexicans than it was to find these other images.) Whether it's a NEGATIVE stereotype or not is another matter: To me I see a guy who knows the smart thing to do during the heat of the day.

I see no stereotype.

The lesson here is: there's absolutely nothing you can do or say that *won't* offend someone, somewhere, so just live your life as you see fit and don't worry about the whiners.

Arkanaut: Walker: You said "Polack" instead of "Polish person"?

Does anyone still say that these days? In any case I think the proper demonym is "Pole".

The only people I know who still use polack are family members, who are, well, Polish. About half the time its used a bit insultingly but more of " that person is a dumb old fart who happens to be polish" as opposed to an epitaph on the level of say n*****

Well, I THOUGHT the ninja was sleeping, but he appears to have slipped away.

Yeah, I can't think of anything more offensive than referring to a particular culture's warriors as "Braves." Worse than Hitler.

"the trial of Chief Innawampo", from Parks and Recreation.

Lord_Dubu: I'm confused by this. I worked with a polish developer who insisted that he be called pollack.

It's kinda like a milder form of the Nword. It can be used insultingly, or as a casual endearment. Sounds like your developer isn't into making a big deal out of ethnicity. You can also probably get away with calling him "Stosh" or "Ski".

Yeah, it's not like people take a break in the hottest part of the day in Mexico.

Years before digital photos were invented, I missed a truly unique photo opportunity involving the image of the sleeping Mexican.

A small Mexican restaurant opened in my town. The owners painted a sleeping Mexican under a cactus on their shopfront window. Unfortunately they did not do very well and went out of business. Then a Chinese restaurant moved in, and painted the words "Chinese Restaurant" on the window without bothering to remove the sleeping Mexican picture!

A Chinese restaurant with a sleeping Mexican? Now that's a classic. I will always be sad that I missed taking a photo of this before it was eventually pulled down.

Lord_Dubu: Arkanaut: Walker: You said "Polack" instead of "Polish person"?

Does anyone still say that these days? In any case I think the proper demonym is "Pole".

I'm confused by this. I worked with a polish developer who insisted that he be called pollack.

Ponzholio: Would these be better?

Except for the fact that people in Mexico pretty much LOVE Speedy.

As hinted above, I suspect that the 'icon" of the sleeping Mexican is based, not on racism but on the custom of the "siesta". This is a key cultural difference between not only natives in Mexico but the Spaniards of Spain and the cultures which depict them in such icons.

Just as the French man is represented by the striped shirt, béret (which reached its peak a few years after its invention in 1929, just as the movie industry was in full bloom), the bicycle, the gitanes and the baguettes, the Spanish-speaking world is represented by the Siesta.

Icons are not racist in essence, but only in their use and misuse. We all use short-hand and we are all subject to such psychological realities as "availability" and pre-conceptions and stereotypical thinking.

Coins have flip sides, and so do symbols. They are not wholely good or bad.

In the American South West, you'll find a lot of cultural kitsch involving natives, Mexicans, cowboys, but also the atomic age, the aero-space industry, aliens and UFOs, the military, etc. To some it is offensive, to some tiresome, to others amusing, and so forth.

There's no right answer on when or how to deal with stereotypes unless they are being extremely offensive and intentionally being used as propoganda, in which case they are fair game for shiat-kicking.

Snarfangel: There should be a Photoshop contest to create a replacement offensive racial stereotype.

I do have a new racist stereotype.

Filipinos are great protesters.

I was stationed at Schofield Barracks, HI back in the 80s. During my time there, Marcos was housed at the Air Force Base across the street. Hawaii has a large and opinionated Philipino community, so they protested regularly. But here is the thing: when Philipinos protest your location, they show up on time, don't threaten anyone, and leave the place cleaner than they found it. Best protesters you could ask for.

Arkanaut: Walker: You said "Polack" instead of "Polish person"?

Does anyone still say that these days? In any case I think the proper demonym is "Pole".

I think it's about as common as calling someone a bohunk.

..and not just that. Don't ever leave your home, buy a product, say something or perform any task without first checking to see if any stick up the ass reactionary group that might possibly be offended.

(hot)

Ed Finnerty: As an American of Irish descent, I understand where they are coming from.

I would probably be upset if someone was using a logo of, say...a fighting leprechaun, or associated the Irish with binge-drinking.

Luckily, our culture only picks on brown people.

Farking Ginger...

I'm born and raised American, but my fathers family hails from Sune Sweden. If there are any Scandinavian farkers out there: do you have any examples of offensive Swedish stereotypes? Apart from mid 70s porn, ABBA, sweaters, lutefisk, and not being very fun that is.

Many of the WB cartoons were made in Mexico at the famous "Termite Terraces". This was an early example of out-sourcing--today the work is usually done in South Korea where there is a massive work-force with the skills and aptitudes required by the animation industry.

The voice of the Circus Bear, Bruno, which sounded Eastern European to me when I was younger, is based on one of the WB bosses, who was a Mexican.

It's not surprising that Mexicans love Speedy. He is a classic "culture hero", like Coyoté, Raven, Brer Rabbit, and so forth. He is the little guy who gets the better of the powers that be and who has the style and spunk to beard the lion while he protects the defenceless.

New Racist Sterotype: Mexican guys are good drivers,

When in I was in LA I noticed every Mexican guy I saw was a good driver. Noticed it all the way back to KC as I drove through the southwest and even here, too.

e5wsf: How can they tell the ethnicity the cartoon character when the face is not visible?

It ain't the British Ambassador under there. Mad Dogs and Gringos go out in the mid-day Sun.

fireclown: I'm born and raised American, but my fathers family hails from Sune Sweden. If there are any Scandinavian farkers out there: do you have any examples of offensive Swedish stereotypes? Apart from mid 70s porn, ABBA, sweaters, lutefisk, and not being very fun that is.

The Capital One ads with "Peggy"

Everything everyone is saying about this not being inherently racist, etc. etc. is totally spot on.

But even if it was, aren't we talking about a potentially historic site? History has a lot of racism in it. It is actually valuable to preserve that so that it is not forgotten. Yes, clips from old Disney movies and other media are painful reminders of just how racist this country used to be. And yes, they're offensive. And yes, people should be upset and shocked and horrified that that sort of thing used to be main stream.

No, they should not be destroyed and never looked at again. History isn't always something to be proud of, but it is always something to learn from. Scrubbing away the ugly parts serves no one.

Of course, that's all irrelevant because its just a stupid cartoon, but that's what came into my head when I saw the headline, so god dammit, you're going to hear about it.

WhippingBoy: The lesson here is: there's absolutely nothing you can do or say that *won't* offend someone, somewhere, so just live your life as you see fit and don't worry about the whiners.

True.
I am offended by people who take get offended by something that was done years before they were born. See, these pictures are part of history and that kinda goes along with an historical landmark.
F*ck off you PC people. Go be offended elsewhere.

There's Indians. American Indians. Know several. would get your ass kicked if you dare call them "Native Americans." Hell, I'm Native American.

Then there's "Red Dot Indians." . . . self explanatory. I guess you could say "Convenience Store Indians or Motel Indians.

fireclown: I'm born and raised American, but my fathers family hails from Sune Sweden. If there are any Scandinavian farkers out there: do you have any examples of offensive Swedish stereotypes? Apart from mid 70s porn, ABBA, sweaters, lutefisk, and not being very fun that is.

Short answer:No.

Anyone remember these guys?

Ponzholio: Would these be better?

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Speedy was a smart, brave and very energetic mouse, I don't understand why he would be offensive - that, and I loved those cartoons. As for the sleeping guy - all I see is a guy sleeping in the heat of the midday sun. Not lazy, and certainly not stupid (what else should you do in a desert at midday?). If you find it so offensive, I would think keeping the image within the context of the building is the best thing to do - teach future groups of schoolkids on a bum-numbingly boring school visit that back in the day, people were racist and this is how it was portrayed. If you remove all the example of old-style casual racism you remove part of the history of how much of a struggle it has been for some people,

The old old Taco Bell sign has got the sleeping Mexican silouhette. This was pretty common back in the day. The best thing about the old Taco Bells was the fire pit which eventually was eliminated due to too many older brothers throwing GI Joes into it.

Tom_Slick: The Capital One ads with "Peggy"

Hmm. I thought that guy was from somewhere in Eastern Europe.

ga362: Then there's "Red Dot Indians." . . . self explanatory. I guess you could say "Convenience Store Indians or Motel Indians.

While we have the hood up, is "tech support indian" offensive or not?

Guess everyone should stick to drawing Pit-Pat the magical pan-sexual non-threatening spokes thing.

Submitted First With a Better Headline: Everything everyone is saying about this not being inherently racist, etc. etc. is totally spot on.

But even if it was, aren't we talking about a potentially historic site? History has a lot of racism in it. It is actually valuable to preserve that so that it is not forgotten. Yes, clips from old Disney movies and other media are painful reminders of just how racist this country used to be. And yes, they're offensive. And yes, people should be upset and shocked and horrified that that sort of thing used to be main stream.

No, they should not be destroyed and never looked at again. History isn't always something to be proud of, but it is always something to learn from. Scrubbing away the ugly parts serves no one.

Of course, that's all irrelevant because its just a stupid cartoon, but that's what came into my head when I saw the headline, so god dammit, you're going to hear about it.

The Princess and the Frog seems awfully jarring when you consider the time period it's set in.

It's interesting how we bowdlerize and sanitize the past, giving racists reason to ask "what all the fuss about, things weren't really that bad back in the day." Because they aren't even aware of how in your face and woven into daily life racism was. Hell, in European thought up to the world wars, racism was considered to be A Good Thing, which is frightening.

Dr.Zom: New Racist Sterotype: Mexican guys are good drivers,

When in I was in LA I noticed every Mexican guy I saw was a good driver. Noticed it all the way back to KC as I drove through the southwest and even here, too.

That's because they pay for auto repairs out of their own pocket.

_{Wait, come back! Was it something I said?}

and it's Sunne, btw

THX 1138: Anyone remember these guys?

Are those the Texas Toads?