Yeah, I think it is racist, but more importantly — what’s the point? What did that have to do with the ad? Just stupid.

Why is it racist? if a white person makes eyes to look “asian” it’s racism, if an asian makes his/her eyes to look biger or dies hair blonde it’s ok… nobody complains? People, there’s so many serious problems in the world…

Pure racist, not only will asians find it offensive but i’m sure there will be some pretty angry native americans aswell…

Racist? Only a selfish jerk would think it wasn’t. All I’ve read is how people should look at it objectively from the Spanish point of view. How the “Spanish” felt about the whole thing, because THEY were obviously insulted, How dare we question their integrity. How it’s no big deal. Every attempt by the spanish was to minimalize everything. Whatever happended to the Chinese people it offended. Firstly, I am not Chinese but it seems pretty obvious that it would and did offend a great many people of every nationality and race. It offends me. Whoever thought of this should be reprimanded and fired, if not for being racist then how about for being a stupid idiot. Why is this even a debate? The Chinese were offended. End of story because they have every right to feel that way. Why are the spanish telling the Chinese how they should feel. If I were Chinese I would tell the Spanish to go @&#% themselves. If you don’t believe that then why did the Chinese crowd boo the spanish team when they played the Chinese in basketball. To my recollection the Chinese have been very hospitable hosts and have cheered every team, regardless of where they were from, except for the spanish. Would that tell you anything. How arrogant for anyone to say “well in spain WE are not racist and this gesture should mean nothing…what’s the big deal?” That only tells me how ignorant that culture must be. “WE meant it as a joke”? What’s so funny about it? Everytime I see somebody defending themselves and making excuses for what they did, which was wrong, it only makes me lose respect for that person. Be a man. Be responsible for you actions. Take credit for the harm you do. Ignorance, and I don’t believe them being ignorant, is not an excuse for being racist. I’m sure the Nazis thought it was funny too when they were committing genocide. How about this. Let’s test this theory. If the Spanish people do not think they are racist then I say they elect an Asian president dressed up like El Cid. I bet that would strike a few nerves. Or how about this. Make a movie with Denzel Washington playing the role as Don Quixote. A few feathers ruffled? If hospitality is any priority or benchmark with the IOC and if the Spanish, especially their own Olympic Committee and Athletes, i.e. international representitives, do NOT consider this a blantantly RACIST act with no exception, then I would hopefully think the IOC have enough sense to reconsider any thoughts of having anything to do with Spain. By the way, making gestures or comments like that, is only a means of trying to hide their own insecurities/shortcomings and often means they somehow would like to be superior or feel that way towards another person if not an entire race. How about if Jesse Jackson ran for president in Spain. I love sombreros, tacos, and tequila in spain. Run that comment. I only meant it in jest. Now tell spanish people how they should look at it from my view point. It was not meant to offend. In my country people say that stuff all the time. I meant it as a friendly gesture. Whats the big deal? Why you cryin? As George Lopez would say. Now everybody lets go get some tacos. I’m being scarcastic and trying to prove a point. The scary part about the whole thing is that it is going to run, still, as an ad in a major paper in Spain. Should that say something about that country. Hey, why not put some swaztikas on their arms and have them do the nazi salute too?

The only racism involved here is in the eye of (some) beholder.

If the Olympics were held in Sweden, and there was a similar photo with the Spanish players wearing a blonde wig, would it be considered a racist gesture? No. Why?

Isn’t blonde hair a physical defect being mocked?

Oh, is it then that having slit eyes is a defect?

Well, for some observers it seems so. Not for the Spanish.

Let’s see…the Spanish basketball team is heading to China and in a rather whimsical photograph, tug their eyes to make them look more like those of the Chinese (who, in case you have not noticed, do have slanted eyes). Where is the racism? Where is the hatred at the root of racism? Would someone take offense if a Chinese athlete had dressed in a matador suit prior to heading to the Olympics in Barcelona? I think not. In this world one must take things in the spirit in which they are meant and not look for hidden nefarious overtones.

Ultimately, this is absurd. A Chinese company paid the Spanish team for the ad. A Chinese company approved the ad. If they did not find it offensive why does a British newspaper find it offensive and feel the need to tell the story internationally? It couldn’t be because London is competing with Madrid for the 2016 Summer Olympics could it?

well, I have slanted eyes and I find it slightly offensive. Let me put it this way, if I go to a country full of people with long nose, I don’t make gestures of pulling my nose to emulate their long nose. Even when done affectionatelly, they might think that I’m trying to point out their “difference”, which may put some people in defensive mode. Just my 2 cent.