Olympic snowboarder's 'street' style offends Japanese

seriously? vending machines selling used panties?

not sure hipocrite works, but disgusting comes to mind

snowboards suck. and snowboarders are a bunch of douche bags.

Telemark is where it's at. I can free heel around you weiners while you're still strapping on your bindings and hopping like a bunch of frogs to get across the flats, and I ski up hills while you're putting on your snowshoes, the only place you dominate is in the half pipe.

and who cares about the damn half pipe?

Im just razzing you, it's cool, just not as cool as telemark.

Pow! Socko! Zing!

Actually, I would hope that I would have the presence of spirit to say instead: "I think it's cool that we can allow people to have opinions that totally creep me out"

But, then again, it might take me a few moments to get there, 'cause I'm so 'tardiated.

There is a huge difference in wearing a swastika or insolently the " swastika of the south" in my opinion, on your uniform and leaving your shirt untucked or having a certain hairstyle, he did nothing to bring a message of hate, and comparing him to that is ignorant and ridiculous.

calling me ignorant, eh?
the dreadlocks have a very specific meaning of resistance within the Rastafari movement. They are not some fucking fashion statement to be coopted by a bunch of snot-nosed wannabe urban rebels. Some of the early leaders of the Rastafari movement specifically stated that they did NOT want non-blacks to wear Dreds for that reason.

On the other hand, I did not say that Dreadlocks=Swastika. I used a more extreme example to demonstrate how offensive some would find that message, and voila, out you came. (and by the way, for you to call the Stars and Bars the "swastika of the south" is very revealing of A: how little you know about that flag, and B: your own bigotry and ignorance about Southerners)

Let me point out another, less extreme example: a US hockey player was chastised for wearing a "Support the Troops" sticker on his helmet. That sticker was interpreted as a political statement that was inappropriate. He had to remove it.

to the Japanese, this kid's dreadlocks are a very open political statement, a clear sign of rebellion and in their opinion, disrespect.

You may not see it that way, but guess what: you ain't japanese, genius! so who are you to tell the Japanese what they should and should NOT find offensive?

I like that picture. Lol.

dude, are those athletes really giving the black power salute? no shit?!

yep. there we go again.

I think you made some good points. Oddly, the complaints I heard were more about the disrespect for the uniform than for the dreds, but maybe you're right. Still, I think it's pretty stupid when I see white kids and now japanese kids trying to "act black". It's one thing if a white kid grew up in a black neighborhood and all his friends had a way of acting and so it wsa just "natural" for him to fit in. Cool, that's a cultural thing. But unless this little Jap kid actually grew up around blacks, then what's he trying to prove.

There is something else that really should be discussed, and that's the meaning of Dredlocs. We all know they are associated with the Rastafarian religion, so my question is, did this kid become a Rasta? Or is this just a fashion statement? My understanding of the teachings of Rastafarian religion years ago was that Whites were NOT supposed to get Dreds because it had a very significant religious connotation for the Rastafarians.

If that's wrong, blame it on the book about the history of Rastafari movement I read in college. But that's what the early leaders said.

"this little Jap kid ""
Is that really called for?

Jap. Short for Japanese. Just like Nip was short for Nippon, the japanese word for Japan.

I didnt' call him a slope or a chink, I just shortened it to Jap. Just like Dreds are shortened from Dredlocks, Rasta from Rastafarian, etc.

Yes, except for the fact that "jap" has huge negative overtones as fallout from our extremist positions and attitudes from WWII. Even after all this time it is still the 'J-word'

Oh yeah, the usual multi-culturistic distractions... must be politically correct, or you're quickly tagged as a racist, thereby attempting to strip any validity to which one says in order to add credibility to their perspective at the expense for those they oppose...

...would have loved to elaborate...Changi, Kokoda, Diggers in POW camps...brings up memories, but my generation will never forget...sigh...I've diverged, I know, but I take my hat off to him...hope we see more rebellious displays from the new generation...thanks, mate...

Wow, are your knickers in a twist. Your justifications are so well placed to create the impression that a pejorative would actually be a GOOD idea.

Smart Republican thinking.

the olympics are not "the Pros' its a collective of Pro athletes and amateur athletes. Also in the snowboarding "pros" it is perfectly acceptable who he is. Get your facts straight.

But this isn't just about him, he's representing his country.
When you're on a team, you have to make sacrifices, because the team is bigger than any individual.

When you are representing someone else, your image is not your own anymore, you're sharing it with the people you represent.

sounds like you were being a bit of an ass. To be going to school in Michigan and wear an Arizona skull cap is a nice little "fuck you" to the people putting you through college.

We have a few words for people like that: ungrateful, unappreciative, inconsiderate.

This isn't basketball, or volleyball. When he's flying down hill on skis by himself, it is all about him and only him. If he wins, he gets a gold medal and his country gets credit for it, but he takes the medal home, not his team or his coach. When he loses, he's out of it by himself.

What sport have you ever competed in and mastered at the level that he has ?

well, the world according to keith. so now the olympic spirit has nothing to do with national pride, it's all about selfish ego.

in that case, the little asshole as adopted your value system quite well, hasn't he?

wow. that was a very insightful comment. totally unexpected. I'm not sure I agree...but I'll have something to think about thanks to you.

...walk alone ..

if they answer not your call, walk alone ...

if they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,

open thy mind and speak out alone ...

~ Ghandi...

this is one of the stupidest posts I've ever read.

"all humans are beautiful"? Really? were Franco, Mussolini and Hitler beautiful people?

that's taking it to an extreme, so how about drug lords who murder? Al Capone? How about terrorists?

OK, still extreme. So how about people who commit fraud? Armed robbery? Drug dealers? Pimps?

Still extreme? you see my point yet? Not all people are beautiful, there are monsters and then people of lesser extremes who are nonetheless horrible and do damage to their society.

the cultural values that have made Japan great are precisely the ones that you now presume to denegrate. It was their sense of honor, dedication, responsibility, hard work, that made Japan great.

so what you're now saying is that disrespect and selfishness are the values you think should be accepted?

your head is full of SHITE

This article or new coverage is not speaking about things this individual has done or his apparent crimes on humanity at the winter games, its speaking of his appearance. When i stated that all humans are beautiful I was speaking of appearance. If you think that comparing a Japanese snow boarder who felt like unbuttoning a button and having a couple nose pairings to a pimp, a murderer, or for Gods sake Hitler, you have issues. This is not in any way a reflection on work ethic or the cultural value of Japan. He is in the Olympics representing his discipline because he worked hard to get there. And Im pretty sure a silver medal on the worlds biggest winter sporting stage is considered honorable even in a society that has been so militant and traditional for so many thousands of years. And in further response to the Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco comment, just because 3 apples in a entire orchard are rotten you don't throw away the entire crop, or lose faith that apple can grow into something good and delicious and serve a positive purpose. Again if you do please seek professional help, because you are dentin to have a life void of love, passion, and faith. Also please do a favor to yourself and research "Hip Hop" culture and what its truly about before vomiting out misinformed accusations on the desecration it has caused in inner cites, how about heading up out community outreach, stay in school programs, and of course the avocation of music programs in or schools and communities. Use of profanity usually shows a small vocabulary and lack of knowledge of how to express oneself more clearly. Have a nice day!

OK, so you weren't talking about substance, but just shallow physical appearance. so "all people are beautiful" means all are physically beautiful?

Again, what the f* are you smoking? Is Rush Limbaugh beautiful?

Remember, nothing can grow without change. You shouldn't be offended, they're not out to get you.

Shouldn't we be more offended by the bread-and-circuses aspect of our international obsession with the Olympics?

You really don't understand Japanese culture.
To us Americans, it would be like a US Olympian showing up in nothing but a G-string or something outrageous like that.
It has nothing to do with racism.
The Japanese are criticizing him because looked unprofessional while representing them because his clothes were unkempt.
He would have gotten the same criticism with or without the dreads.

"he's representing Japan"

Puleeeese.

ha ha thats funny. They should.

Exactly.

Good grief, it doesn't have anything to do with hip-hop or Black culture.
Hip-hop is actually really popular in Japan. And, Black people aren't looked down on in Japan, they're just foreigners like every other foreigner.
They're mad at him because he looked unprofessional- that's it.

WORD!!!! Somebody gets this. Thank you

I agree, it shouldn't matter what the hell he's wearing or how he's wearing it, his skill is whats important. Individuality is what makes a person who they are and should ALWAYS be encouraged!!

There is no team in Snowboarding...Your missing the point.

American culture stresses individuality AND teamwork. The Japanese are only interested in the "appearance" of a team, because in their culture individuality is suppressed.

Bravo. And long may it wave (I hope, or shoot me now)

Your kidding me right... Did you really read back what you just wrote.

That's it, you tell'em jahbini. . . Btw, where have you been? I've not seen much of you here until just recently

Well, nursediesel had me in chains in the closet. It was fun, but ...