One (Obama) monkey stops show

What a bunch of babies - it was in Japan for God's sake..if they do not like it there then leave. Talk about not knowing where they are and who they are - this tells a story WAH WAH

Ancient hindu saying: "Do what you have to do but don't tell me so I can say that I don't know"

Modern American political saying "Do what you have to do but don't tell me so I can say I didn't know"

My advice - ignore them all

The outrage? Manufactured

I have to say as an African American I'm not really affected by the Japanese ad. Sometimes representatives of my race can be a bit sensitive. The Japanese do have a thing for monkeys, and both candidates have been making the change argument. So, I have no malice toward the commercial gurus behind this one.

Now that moronic, racist bartender in Georgia, on the other hand...

Seems to me that any Westerners actually living in Japan should be aware of the Japanese affection for monkies. Unless, of course, said Westerners are entirely self absorbed chuckleheads who are totally uninvolved with the the local culture... in which case why would anybody care if they're mistakenly insulted?

Don't forget they have a strong sense of racial and cultural superiority, which perhaps explains the insensitivity.

I think if you knew exactly what many Japanese thought of black people, you might not be so willing to chalk this up to an innocuous cultural misunderstanding.

One legacy of European imperialism is that it the resultant mass migrations across continents exposed most of Western civilization to a huge variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and forced the numerous cultures living side-by-side to seek, at a minimum, a begrudging co-existence. This is an experience that Asian societies have not had to contend with (save the occasional intra-Asian ethnic tensions in border regions), and I suspect it is for this reason that Asian cultures remain some of the most outwardly, unashamedly racist cultures on Earth.

More diversions from the real issues that define Obama, who will cover 15 million illegal immigrants with federally subsidized health insurance, dramatically driving up costs and forcing federal rationing of healthcare. As in the U.K. and Canada, you will not be permitted certain medical procedures if the bureaucrats decide you are not worth it. or the fact that Obama will legislate a 60 percent tax bracket for upper-income Americans, killing all initiative and innovation. He will raise the top bracket to 40 percent. He will apply FICA taxes to all income, not just that under $100,000 as at present. So add 40 percent plus FICA’s 12.5 percent plus Medicare’s 2 percent plus state and local taxes averaging, after deduction, at 5-6 percent, and you have a 60 percent bracket. Or that Obama will double the capital gains tax, saddling the 50 percent of Americans who own stock with dramatically higher taxes.
And that Obama will double the dividend tax, hitting elderly coupon-clippers now retired and depending on fixed incomes. Punitive taxes is a hallmark of Marxism and Obama has it covered in spades. Nobama. No way.

i'm a black man. and i find this video HILARIOUS. for two reasons:

1. i'm a Republican and i dislike liberals like Obama.

2. monkeys look nothing like black people. so the idea that the term is a racial slur against blacks is asinine.

the video is funny to me.

All blacks are not "African Americans." If they are living in Japan, are they then not "African Japanese?" Blacks in Britain are not African American. Or in France or anywhere else. Or were these people in Japan American citizens of African heritage? The article does not explain. The careless use of racial terms is demeaning.

Ummm...isn't this complaining coming from the same political party that has been portraying George Bush as a chimp for the last 8 years?

Wait, so all the years of comparing Bush to an chimpanzee are now reversed because B.O. was referenced in a Japanese commercial?

Hypocrisy to the maximum. This is change I can believe in. Next thing we know, Barack Obama's camp will start promoting fellow corrupt leader Rezko to Sainthood.

Just another case of words being taken out of context.

What a crock!!

Where was the outrage, especially from the liberal media -- CNN, NY Times, ABC, CBS, NBC, etc. -- when the likes of Jesse Jackson used the expression "Himmetown" 9sp??), Sen. Bobby "KKK" Byrd used the "N" word, etc. These were said and used within our borders.

And now CNN speaks up? I take the side of the Japanese.

They probably got the idea from The Swamp (June 8) in a column called "Hillary Clinton's Movement," one Obama supporter referred to the presumptive Democratic candidate as a "monkey."

"sorry guys....the democrats could run a monkey as the candidate and still win. very few people want mccain. barack does not need hillary, and would be a fool to take her. she's much too headstrong to play 2nd fiddle. she will do anything for more power.....even run as a supporter of the man she claims is not fit for the job...it's rediculous. he should pick john edwards.

Posted by: Jacob | June 8, 2008 11:57 AM"

Back when our current president was in the early years of his candidacy, there came a website parody that compared pictures of Bush next to pictures of monkeys. Was pretty funny, in some pics the monkeys looked more intelligent.

If its okay to parody the white guy with a monkey...

Sure it is offensive. I am white and I would be offended. Did anyone notice that George W. was drawn like a monkey?

Diversity issues can be complicated. The Japanese are also notorious sexists. If you note the audience of African Americans commenting on the issue in the video...eight out of nine are male.

Attention Obama supporters, get over yourselves! Not everything is about him. The vast majority of people in Japan are Japanese. This ad is directed at them and they are not offended. They probably are not that interested in American politics and won't connect it to Mr. Obama. You are the ones doing that.

What are they complaining about? Zim Bomba is married to that chimp, Cheetah.

What's truly comical is that people like Frank James and his ilk call the President of the United States "Chimpy" on a regular basis yet they have their panties all in a bunch over this Japanese commercial.

What a bunch of panty waste. Why does everything have to be race related. Heck, tomorrow when I eat a banana it may be called rascist as well.

Once again, the only race that can be offended is all races except White. As a Catholic Anglo-Saxon, it is OK to make fun of my race, my background and my religion. But God forbid you have fun with anyone elses. The PC sensitivity has gone way overboard here.

If I were the monkey I would be insulted to be compared to Obama.

Why waste your space with this stuff? At times you have credible news and at times you go with more rag. I thought I would see the piece in Newsweek: GOP Fears That Obama Will Get a Boost From Foreign Travel.

You must be trying to appeal to some readers that like the rags.

Yeah, that's right. How could anyone think in the entire world that comparing an african/black male with an ape or monkey is somehow rascist? Geez...people are so oversensitive.

It's not like blacks have ever been compared to primates. And even if they ever were, what would be so derogatory about that, I mean basketball players get compared to them all the time...

Seriously folks. Wake the heck up. Just because they do it in Japan doesn't make it acceptable here. Maybe you people forgot, but we've had a bad history with race relations...which has been totally one sided. Unfortunately, this history continues as we've seen rascist ads used in various political contests even in 2008. Even if you don't find anything rascist accept the KKK, you have to admit regardless of your party loyalties and beliefs, this is just not cool.

Yeah, and there was recently a big uproar when a white female murder victim was to be buried in a 'black cemetery'. Hello, what is up with that? Sounds like racism to me. Those that scream the loudest and practice the same thing they are screaming about are showing their over-the-top hypocrisy; having it both ways is NOT going to work. Life's recommendation; if you can't take it, don't dish it. The world will be a more peaceful place for all.

Truth is, Obama is going to make a monkey out of McCain, if McCain doesn't do it to himself first. Face it, the old man can't even remember what he says from day to day. Either he's flip flopping, or having daily "senior moments." I'm talking about his assessment his own knowledge of economics, his position on immigration, his belief that we need to meet with and talk to our enemies, his abhorrence of torture....

But George Bush IS a monkey!

Racism in Japan against Blacks is far from new. Products are still routinely sold there using images from America's legacy of slavery and minstrel shows.

Toyota refused to buy ad time on American TV shows geared to Blacks. The company was rather open about its prejudice barely a decade ago.

Colgate Palmolive sold a toothpaste called 'DARKIE' and sold less when it tried renaming the popular brand 'Darlie.' Ad graphics relied on 'Sambo' imagery. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_olJueNsYQ&watch_response

I doubt this ad even raised an eyebrow over there.

One monkey won't stop the Obama show! Gillian Welch knows of which she speaks.

lets get one thing straight, people - the obama campaign has not said anything about this. if african americans living in japan are offended (and get to be on tv to tell everyone so), so be it. but don't fall into the classic trap of thinking that all black people speak for obama and vice versa.

well, he's no chimpy mchitler

Give the monkey a banana.. That ape is most likely smarter than any politician in any party anyways...
This topic is a waste... its really a non-topic.... where's my delete button?

I'm a monkey and I'm offended that I'm automatically affiliated with Obama. No more specie-ism from you people!

I guess they wont be playing the movie "Planet of the Apes" on BET....

Fafolo!

I cannot stop laughing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alright to be fair, if you wanna make a monkey out of McCain I'm game for that too...

I find that the "MEDIA" loves to promote the "MAFIA" people love to watch shows that show Italians as gagsters, drug dealers, murderers, etc. In fact the owners of CNN Time Warner have a news show called NY1 and they have a segment called "WISEGUYS" Hillary Soprano did a video releasing her song that was a take off of the last show of the Sopranos.

Italian Americans have to wake up and get a lot more vocal on how we are shown in the media.

How many people know that Giuseppe Garbaldi was born on july 4th 201 years ago. I could go on, and on.

Do you know how many Italians were "LYNCHED" by whites. yes "LYNCHED by "WHITES"

Wake up Italian Americans and fight just like the other ethnic groups to when they are shown in an un favorable light. Lets start with CNN owner Time Warner and their NY1 "Wiseguys" show. Tell themto change the name.

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com
ps.This election is all about shoes, yes shoes do we keep them on or do we take them off and never put them on again when we board a plane. it's that simple. On shoes or off shoes

Step one for Mr. Zell to save money is to shut down his absolutely useless Washington bureau.

These people are silly.

And they're actually getting paid by the Tribune Corporation.

where was the outrage when obama and his supporters slured italian americans with his "garlic nose" ethnic slur. obama engages in race politics. he is guilty of racism. he cannot complain when his own tactics come back to haunt him. obama is just a hack politician.

By the way, the monkey could well be any politician. Obama isn't the only candidate who tosses around the word "change" like handfulls of confetti.

It seems the crybabies wish to wussify Japan as well.

Lighten up, people. You cannot expect the entire world to think as narrowly as you.

In fact, we don't WANT that.

I thought we are supposed to be sensitive to other cultures, and celebrate the differences?

That's what my kids are taught - no culture is better than another blah blah blah.

So why should anyone, particularly Liberals, be upset at what another culture thinks is funny for an ad?

SO I guess the WW II posters and cartoons showing Japanese as a small, yellow race with glasses and huge buck teeth wasn't a bit racist because they were only meant for an American audience.

I have lived in Japan for five years now and the Japanese follow American politics alot more than you think. It's difficult to explain I think because American news doesn't really broadcast the things going on around the world it seems unless it is of interest to Americans. Japan on the other hand has alot of journalist for thier country and do not have much to report so alot of them venture out to get other stories from around the world. I don't have time to fully explain i'll do it later peace!

So do you think the fact that the company's mascot had previously been a monkey and its use in other previous commercials was all a big plan leading up to this "change" commercial?

Speed Racer's companion was Chim Chim the chimpanzee, not a monkey.

Not one single person quoted in the entire article is associated with the Obama campaign. Why run this piece to smear Obama? Psuedo-journalism at it's finest.

Really, I think the Japanese were picking on ALL Americans. Given the nature of politics in this country, can you blame them?

Nothing but more whiny, victim speak from the Obama camp. Getting very old. Guess that's what happens when your "change" platform is nothing but a tired old liberal agenda.

If you study Darwin, he maintains we all have evolved from apes. Therefore, I suggest we all look like monkeys. Some people ACT more like they have the brains of monkeys, but not Obama.

What I find more insidious is the quiet and racist "whisper" campaign going on by some white to other whites they fear may vote for Obama. I've already had the phone call from my sister, no less, claiming Obama goes to "the wrong church." We're not speaking to each other right now!

Ignorance is never a valid excuse for any action that hurts, belittles, or angers a people. For those who are apathetic to this issue remember life is too long for you not to go through the same, if not worst, experience.

It's rather arrogant of us to assume the Japanese should censor their ads due to racial tension in the U.S. We really need to get over ourselves.

AND HOW MANY TIMES HAS BUSH BEEN PORTRAYED AS A MONKEY,GIVE ME A BREAK! GROW UP PEOPLE! ITS FUNNY EVERTHING AGAINST HIM IS RACIST AND HIS BLACK THEOLOGY RHETORIC ISNT? TALK ABOUT THE DOUBLE STANDARD

Here is an idea. Why don't people stop being so sensitive, every time I read or watch the news there is some new "outrage" over something someone said and most of the time it is not even newsworthy, yet we see it for weeks. Liberals need to relax and focus on real issues instead of complaining about nonsense. I am a Republican but think the Bush caricature as a monkey is quite funny, case closed, I didn't complain about it for weeks. Remember Obama's copied "just words" speech? How about we start living by that saying and stop blowing these stupid stories out of proportion.

It gave me my first laugh of the day. It really is funny if you just get over yourself.

While I can understand the sensitivity by the "African-Americans," too often folks are too sensitive and look to be offended.
I remember a number of years ago, a Hispanic group was "offended" by the Taco Bell chihauha. Funny thing, I work with a many Hispanics and they loved the Taco Bell chihauha and couldn't understand the uproar.
Let's not be so darned hyper-sensitive. It makes the world a much happier and better place.

anyone else remember the outrage that we all called over the top and unfounded when that Belgian cartoon was floated around the middle east....lets be conscious of the fact that our racial relations and history are different in this country then anywhere else so don't be a hypocrite and apply OUR cultural standards to others

Are you people reading the story who keep saying Obama supporters are mad at this or The Obama camp did this? They said blacks in Japan are in an uproar....Not here...Obama camp said nothing about this...People who are quick to comment on subjects without reading the story are just trying to push their own agenda...

Umm.. it's their mascot... so if their mascot was a donkey would the DNC get pissed too? Also, does CNN search youtube.com to see how they can find any reason to make articles against the great Obama? This commercial wasn't viewed here, no one in America would ever see it, but now CNN has brought it into the forefront and why? To show that a company who has a mascot of a monkey or to make everyone go 'poor Obama' ?

Whatever happened to TBS's "Monkey-ed Movies?" Those were funny...or are those considered offensive too?

It seems to me that some of the negative comments re monkeys are from some people who are simply jealous of all of the hard work that Sen. Obama has done to get here. His supporters have worked tireless and will continue to do so. Now, the racist man who owns the bar in Atlanta is a racist to the core. It just shows you how some people are stooping so low that it makes them look stupid. If this Atlanta man who has these monkey tee shirts understood that he looks more like a monkey than a lot of people - perhaps he would stop. Again, the negative comments given by people on this blog is making them look like morons!

All monkeys look alike to you? Wrong answer.

Here's a photo of a Japanese monkey:
http://www.rspca-pix.com/image/Japanese-Macaque-or-Snow-Monkey_694200.jpg
That is NOT the kind of monkey the company was portraying in their ad. For whatever reason, they copied an African monkey. I doubt they revere African monkeys they way they revere their local monkeys.

If I were the CEO of that company, I'd be in an in-depth meeting right now with their advertising agency, asking them a lot of questions about just how they came up with this idea, and the people involved. One hires an advertising agency in part to avoid issues like this - they're supposed to be professionals and know what they're doing. It's why they get paid the big bucks.

That said, I'm happy to cut the company itself some slack and figure they just learned something about globalization.

Tactic of 'race-baiter card'. Smear your opponents as racists, and if there's no evidence for the claim, accuse them of using 'coded language'. There is no authoritative racial code-book, so the charge is easy to lodge. The Obama campaign need not make such accusations directly, sine sympathetic media writers will do so. Game played with Bill Clinton and now with a monkey! Obama being an African-American everything and everyone is used in the 'rac-baiter card'.

funny ad... I love it!

Americans just need to get over themselves. There is A)nothing in the Constitution which grants the right to NOT be offended B)nothing stating the views of America are the views of the world. Who are we to think we can just impose our cultural insecurities or issues on other societies? Oh, wait...we are still in the Bush Administration...

Typical Swamp drivel. I clicked on the article thinking that somehow in the US there was a Obama monkey commercial. Seeing how this is in Japan, I fully realize that the point of this article was to make people think that the Republicans put out an Obama monkey ad. Bravo on the backhanded race baiting article.

It does not take Lancelot Link to spy the racism inherent in the ad. For abject institutionalized racism, Japan beats out the USA, and that's saying a lot.

Monkeys are enjoyable animals. Those who protested the use of these animals in a Japanese ad are too sensitive to live outside the U.S.--- where they can control by protesting, using the "race-baiting" technique. This is destroying this political campaign and making normal people question the motives of those who use skin-color as a weapon.

I don't get to decide what's offensive to someone else. If I call you a cracka, and then say "You shouldn't be offended. Crackers are a delicious snack that everyone loves" - are you any less offended? NO! Offense is the purview of the person who is offended. Others don't get to decide what is or is not offensive to someone.

So, what's your conclusion? You dance on both sides - the ad may or may not be racist. Do you have an opinion? What an idiotic post...

Who's complaining? The Swamp does the same nonsense that reporters do: "some African Americans living in Japan..." were offended. I defy you to interview one of them and try something new like reporting a fact. How many compalined? Three? Just another typical irresponsible post by the smear...I mean the swamp...

does this mean I can no longer say monkey?.Monkey will now be known as the "m" word. When I go to the zoo I'll have to say let's go to the "m" exhibit, or I'll have to tell the kids "stop the "m" business. Who's runnin' this nut house?

they jsut spent 8 years calling bush a monkey. too bad.

I think peopletakethings WAY too seriously. Does it even matter?! Just go out and have fun with it.

I thought we all came from monkeys..... or something close. the monkeys should be insulted with being compared to humans........

Yeah I guess it would seem funny if it's not your race they're poking fun at. But humans of all races are full of flaws. racism is ignorance...would expect more from the intellectual Japanese.

joliet mike, you are right in regard to calling bush a monkey. The Monkeys should be outraged since they have a much higher intellengence level. Other than that I can only wonder if Rove has taken a secret trip to Japan.

It's a new day in race relations, it's an old day in race relations.

Break with the past, remember the past.

These elections are so confusing.

Yes, the logo of the company is a monkey. But the Japanese are well aware of the "Change" slogan in the current US election and to pose the monkey, in a suit, in front of Change is clearly a reference to Obama.

BTW, there are several African-Americans "living" in Japan. They're members (or former members) of the US armed forces. Those on active duty can't just up and leave the country because they're offended, now can they?

Why should Japan pay so much attention to OUR culture for an ad viewed in their country. Certainly we Americans are not that courteous so why do we expect it of others?

The United States, England and Japan should never look down there nose on Nazi Germany.

Bingo. Cultural sensitivity. Older folks will remember the Frito Bandito. How about the worldwide outrage by Muslims over a cartoon depicting Mohammed?

On the other hand, it is "art" when urine and feces are mixed with symbols of Christianity. Or the acceptance by the American households to depict white men as idiots in television programs, while "the smart ones" are usually female (or young)?

Double standards.

omg, the group pictured here is being waaaaaayyyyy too sensitive. really, they have no better cause to chase?

When you're parodying something, you have to do your homework first. That's especially true when you're parodying something from a foreign country or culture. If you don't do your homework, you will offend people. A good example of that is the American teacher in a Muslim country who asked her class to come up with a name for a stuffed animal. When the most popular choice was Mohammed, she didn't go into a huddle and find out first what repurcussions the selection of that name might have. She just went ahead and named the stuffed animal Mohammed. As a result, she found herself in some serious hot water, which she got out of only with the help of some diplomatic intervention.
I understand why some African-Americans living in Japan were offended. Representation of black people as monkeys is an EXTREMELY sensitive subject.; It is bound to generate some very negative knee-jerk reactions.

change wrote: "It seems to me that some of the negative comments re monkeys are from some people who are simply jealous of all of the hard work that Sen. Obama has done to get here."

Hard work?!!
The guy who was elected to the Senate by the people of Illinois has done NOTHING for Illinois! All he's done since becoming our senator is run for president.

The guy has NO experience!

God help America if he is elected.

How pathetic. I expect we will soon witness the Al Sharpton -Jesse Jackson boycott (shakedown). I doubt the SWAMP will report on that however.

It's all a plot by the village of Carpentersville to ban the use of the word "Monkey." Seriously - this is ridiculous. The Japanese should be more upset at those clowns on the North Side with their Fukodome shirts and headbands...THAT was intentional. This was just a company making an ad using their mascot. Relax people!

Dear Gonzales - "racism is ignorance...would expect more from the intellectual Japanese." Hilarious!
Ironic only begins to decribe your post. Er, hopefully you're being ironic. . .

Charlie, when you try to be sanctimonious and condescending you need to do your homework first. That teacher was from England, not the US.

I'd like to see the hyper sensitive in this country do this: GET A LIFE! The nation of Japan has their own frames of reference and may or may not translate to here.

Besides, as a European American, I've seen gross disrepect shown to many great Asian friends by blacks and whites alike.

I think we should file a class-action suit on behalf of the proud donkey. No longer should the DNC be allowed to mock and defame this noble animal by impersonating it as their mascot.

Astute commentary on many facets of US life. The response is also enlightening. I'm sure the rest of the world loves the fact that we're in Iraq fighting a war that many feel oppresses the Iraqis, and the second an American's feelings get hurt, there is outrage. No wonder the rest of the world can't stand the USA - we're a sanctimonious group obsessed with our own rights and feelings, while we have not qualms about crushing those of others (like the right to free speech and the right to represent the US POTUS as a monkey).

Well I am an AUSTRIAN-AMERICAN and i think its too too funny. The Obama cheerleaders think everything revolves around them ,., IT DOESN'T - you'll get the full message in November...TOO TOO FUNNY ol LMAO !!!

Do americans have the right to be offended by ads which appear in another country? Do we really think that our standards and cultural standards have to be adopted by everyone? I think this another example of American cultural arrogance. I also think that Senator Obama has implied that we have to have better relations with the rest of the world. That means we should not try to force our cultural standards on others even if we find some of their practices personally offensive. This is especially true if something takes place in another country and not the US. Our rights and standards should stop at our borders.

Look I know the Swamp writers take themselves a wee bit too seriously when they censor the comments. Having commented over an entire year on here I had the chance to observe and partake..I'd really want to know how my repeated effort to put up something before Liz ever came along with it didn't make it. Or why my offbeat input isn't making it. Anyway, Gd forbid someone thought differently then the yeah and neah on here. Frank is a real diva along with Christi and Oliphant. They're the only ones that seem to have a problem getting things up even when they are on topic not spam and not obscene. Now I don't know why my comments don't make it through. But I do know that your new addition to the family Katie Fretland has a knack for bringing us more or less a variety show of non-news. So therefore I have no I idea why anyone else can't offer offbeat insight on topics when one of your own professional writers can't seem to offer anything other than off beat stories on pool reporting of Obama, picture books on Obama, Google tracking, denying fist bumps, fox news wanted ads, cost of McCain's lapel pins, what traders think, who makes a better barbecue guest, or reporting on what the news reporting is mostly reporting on for a given week (unity).. look I have all day I can keep submitting the same comment over and over again. Partly because I'm young and know that your dense 40 something writing core is too much into itself to have anyone who might think differently share their opinion with everyone.

You want my opinion on topic. Your reporting is monkey business. Your comment approval is monkey business. It seems to me that most of the July reporting is made up of more non news than news. It seems to me that pro Obama spam bots who will go over the top in talks of Obama and world domination or proBush spam bots who will go over in their Muslim haterd get by when normal people expressing an opinion (no agenda) do not. In conclusion, I'm not surprised that a monkey ad in Japan is what gets a rise out of the American psyche versus Do voters care about the Supreme Court? It's the tip of the ice berg of the type of news they are fed everyday and therefore can process. They care about an ad in Japan that made one of their politicians look like a monkey. Frightening. The Supreme Court can wait. Maybe Racism should ponder that. It has a better chance of infiltrating US society through the US court since no one is paying attention than an ad that was obviously catering to the trend in Japaneses culture (where everyone's mind is at right now.) You know monkeys are hot with youth and Obama is known for being hot with youth because of change. Why not put the popular cuddly beast on a podium tie it with the popular thing in politics, American politics of change..to market the young buyers.

Good Way for the media to write about Obama with including nothing about his nothing campaign....

Japan isn't just "as racist as other countries." It's one of the most racist places on earth. A third-generation Korean/Japanese cannot vote in Japan, because, even though born there of parents born there, he or she is still by law "Korean," and thus "inferior". It's 2008. This is a global economy. Americans live in Japan, Japanese in America. They watch CNN. They knew what they were doing, and the commercial IS racist.

Still Here: I hope you think long and hard about what kind of person attacks a young intern like that. You should feel sorry.

"Still Here: I hope you think long and hard about what kind of person attacks a young intern like that. You should feel sorry."
Posted by: Still Here you should think | July 3, 2008 4:38 PM
If and when said young intern takes journalism seriously, then she will be taken seriously as a journalist.<br.
Will this be censored?

Still here-- that sounds like a pretty slanted view of Ms. Fretland's work. Here are some articles by her that you passed over in your nice note: Obama's softening on Iraq troop withdrawals, human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, North Korea's nuclear crisis, McCain in Latin America on free trade, CIA leak, Tony Rezko, Scott McClellan, Obama's campaign snubbing two Muslim girls in headscarfs.

The Enemy: You are so sadly misinformed of history, you should be embarrased to speak your western-centric, ignorant opinion. There is a substantial amount of ethnic diversity in Asia even though, yes, many of us may have similar features. Do you not think that Chinese imperialism didn't similarly effect exposure to different cultures across Asia to some degree? If you think the borders of Asian countries as you see them on a political map today have always looked that way (keep in mind, Chinese civilization existed long before Greek--even Mesopotamian--civilization was even a glimmer on the continent), then you are sadly and completely mistaken.

To Tom_J: Since when are your portrayals of animals restricted to the ones native to your country? *Monkeys* are considered cute, not Asian monkeys, not Japanese monkeys, just monkeys. You know, the way we think pandas are cute despite pandas having never roamed the forests of America. Or how when we show puppies, they aren't all breeds native to America. Think about it.

Lets take a moment to appreciate just how much Americans can misunderstand Asian culture just as much as Asian culture can misunderstand America. A monkey in many Asian countries isn't considered a stupid animal--look at how monkey gods and monkey warriors and other similar imagery exists across several parts of Asia. Is it fair to take an Asian object (the commercial was made for Japanese audiences, not American audiences so there was no reaon for their market research to consider the American point of view), translate its meaning completely, and judge it based on Western standards? Being in Japan right now and seeing just how rude and ignorant of Japanese culture American tourists can be (along with tourists of other nationalities, I'm sure), I think this incident may be more misapprehension rather than giant racist insult.

As an Asian American in the US...how many times have I turned on the TV or gone to the movies to see a ridiculous portrayal of a Japanese character. Please stop looking to be offended, it cheapens where real racism has occured and where people have truly been damaged.

Unbelievable: Your understanding of my post is unbelievable. Equally so is the fact that I was referring to the month of July. The trend being non news up until July 3 3:00 when I commented. The trend was more non news in that time frame.. In a span of just the first two days of July it was mostly non news being brought up by this particular writer.

Still Here you should think: I think the type of person that thinks interning is not meant to be a bed of roses because it might just enable shoddy professionals down the line...and I don't know if she's an intern or not. I know she's a new contributor to the Swamp and her pieces stood out. Meaning after a while you weren't surprised to see her name under a headline about nothing.

It is written that all men are created equal. Are all men monkeys or human?

I am so glad the pull the commercial due to content and it was offensive for people of African descent (including Teklemariam).

To some extant, I do not care I they are 100 percent black or one percent, they are offensive to them. Laurence Herman "Gus" Versluis (a truck driver) has extremely small amount of African ancestry, and he is rolling over his grave right now, and Emmanuel Driggers (African Man) and his ancestors is not going to like this.