What Travis fails to differentiate is intent with effect. Were people offended? Yes. Was it the intent of the Spaniards to offend? Likely not. They have apologized and explained there was no ill will intended. There was obviously a degree of ignorance from the Spanish federation/photographer/sponsors. However, North Americans are hyper sensitive in our age of political correctness.

Let me present an analogy. Y’know Jose’s three-pointer hand signal? On the court, it represents a trey. In everyday usage, it means OK! But it could mean something very different in another culture that you are entirely unaware of. Hypothetically, let’s say you’re an Olympian and are posing for a Volkswagon ad for an Olympics held in Germany. The photographer suggests you give the OK hand gesture while standing in front of a VW Jetta and the German flag with a smug look on your face. The photo becomes a billboard ad on German highways. The next thing you know, people are calling for your head and accusing you of being a disrespectful jerk. You are completely baffled. Follow the link to find out why: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_gesture#Okay

Part of what makes these topics so heated is I think many of us seldom share are feelings about race and culture and when something like this comes along we all speak out and find out that there are many different views in the world we live in.

However you feel on this issue. I ask you to remember that we are all here because we are Raptor Fans. Please do your best to respect that fact. I think the comments made by Spaniard are painting a lot of folks with the same brush. I don’t see what the problem with the photo he displayed a link to would be. if anything it was more mocking the United States Media who had been all over the American Team for under performing.

But all that being said let’s try to be good to each other and let’s not take one questionable act and turn it into a bunch more based on our comments. I really try my best to keep a happy mood to this blog. Make everyone feel that they are a part of it. I would ask that you all try to embrace that concept in your comments.

I am just saying this so we don’t have these things get to far out of hand.

Thanks Your Dino Blogger ( The Ref )

- And this whats wrong with the American athlethes saluting? Theres nothing wrong with that. They didn’t go to Japan and try to make alien eyes. It’s not racist at all.

Spaniard
-I know people should just take a joke and are a little bit sensitive to this stuff. But that Spain photo was definitely racist. http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2008/08/13/spain-topper.jpg Yeah people making those Chinese eyes. As a Chinese American this is very racist to me and very hurtful. Chinese people are not Aliens. This is what a elementary kid does to bully asian kids. I don’t except this kind of stuff from professional athlethes some of which are in the NBA. Hey your Spanish but if somebody went up and took a photo wearing stuff like this http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/goldeneye123/Mexicans.jpg You would probably call that racist. What if the olympics was held somewhere in Africa and Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro painted their faces black like Al Jolson http://www.subvulture.com/archive/white_xmas_al_jolson.jpg. Would you call that racist? I know it was done as a harmless joke but its still racist.

And finally the key to this pretty stupid thing: The US media just wants to hit Madrid as a potential host for 2016 olympics, they want the games back in the USA.

-Your Spanish national team make racist photos. What the hell did the US do? Why are you attacking them? They were not involved at all. You seem racist yourself for saying something like that. The US was not involved at all. Whats pathetic about the whole thing is I don’t think the Spainish National Team even apologized. They just denied the thing and said it was all done in fun and people need to take a joke. And dumbass Jose Calderon says I know a lot of people with chinese decent in Toronto.

It is clear to me that the attitude in Spain to all of this is much different from here. I do agree this issue has got far more attention than I even thought it would. Bottom line it will help the United States play the roll of good guy in a battle vs Spain.

I wanted to note as well Kobe Bryant has been scouting himself and been in attendance for ever game Spain has played so far including the game vs China.

I think this whole picture thing has a lot of angles to it but it really was taken in a negative way here as in North America our society has become very much a one of political correctness( That may not be a word but what the hell ) Ultimately it should be interesting to watch this basketball contest with Spain and U.S. I am staying focused on basketball or trying too. I do think the Spanish Basketball Federation is more at fault than any individual player. They should have understood that this could happen. But in the end I do not think anyone in Spain meant this to be a act of racism. If Spain was going to attack anyone with an act of controversal nature it would make sense it would be the United States not China. China was and is no threat to Spain in a basketball sense despite a great game played by China it is clear Spain is a better basketball nation at this point.

PS The Lakers this year were predicted to not even make the NBA playoffs. Kobe was demanded a trade. It was a miracle that the Lakers even made the NBA finals. The Boston Celtics once they got Garnett and Allen were expected to win. And not winning one meant disappointment.