this sounds silly, but sometimes we need light racism in our lives. take for example comedians, they (most of the time, excluding richards) use racism in their material all the time. its funny. and i'm wondering, why do you say jap, but refer the word "nigga" or "nigger" as the "n word?

Frank--I totally agree with you. There is no place for such gratuitous racism in movies or in society, but unfortunately, it reappears again and again. It is like what Jews have had to endure for more years than I care to recall. "Jews are Christ-killers!" Some years ago, one of the Popes decided that Jews today should not be blamed for something that may have occurred 2000 years ago. What a guy! How charitable of him to come around to that opinion after a couple of thousand years of torture, imprisonment, ghettos and outright murder.

You have to wonder at how the writers might have been sitting around one afternoon, trying to come up with gags for The Goods. One says, "Hey, how about we make Jeremy's character say something funny about Japs and Pearl Harbor. That would be really hilarious, wouldn't it?" Apparently anyone with any sense or an ounce of sensitivity was not present at that moment, someone who would say, "No, that sounds really racist and inappropriate and most of all, not funny." If that rational person had been there, the writers would probably have written him off as a spoilsport or something more offensive--GAY. but that's another subject for another time. Thanks, Frank for taking a stand. You are a good man--a hu-man.

Frank, what did you think of the film Tropic Thunder and the way Asians were portray as the bad guys?

Mr.Buckley, I'm new at this bloging and all and I posted my coment on a differant blog of yours. what I said was,you are a man pierod. I'm native american(redman) german(nazi) irish(paddy) dutch.I concider myself a man. Now if you need me to come over to LA and have a little talk to whom ever. I belive I could explain well enough that at least how it feels to not like something. add a little extra but I belive you under stand.

Thanks for this, Frank. I'm glad the movie's tanking, because I couldn't stand seeing the ads everywhere - and I couldn't believe Paramount was promoting it with THAT scene ("Japs" carefully excised from the TV ads, but in used in all its glory in the online ads).

For the record, on December 7, 1992, someone threw a brick through our window in San Francisco, smashing the glass above my then baby daughter's changing table. No one was hurt, but fifty years after Pearl Harbor, SOMEONE wanted to send a message and it wasn't funny at all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRANK.

Thanks for the post Frank. I am glad you had the guts to address this issue head on. FYI: I am a 3rd generation Japanese American born in a concentration camp (Heart Mt., Wyo.) My Dad served in the Army Military Intelligence Service (MIS) in WWII protecting the rights that these film makers seem to enjoy. Apparently they fail to appreciate the sacrifice made to preserve these rights and by whom. I wanted to share an anecdote that may speak to why the word "JAP" is taken so lightly by some but not all. I grew up in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic part of LA. In school a racist activity was started by some, where the Japanese American students were victimized during a "get buddha day." Japanese Americans were nicknamed "buddha heads." Anyway groups of students would roam and assault Japanese Americans physically while yelling racial insults and mocking our culture. Many of us were raised not to fight and get into trouble. One day I asked one of the perpetrators why they targeted Japanese Americans. His answer was succinct: Asian Americans were easy marks because they were stereotyped as "school boys" who were passive and would never complain. LESSON LEARNED: Just as you and Guy Aoki stood up , the Asian American community must also break the stereotype of the passive, non-complaining people. The studios know that there will be hell to pay if they defame any other racial-ethnic group but with the Asian American community the term "JAP" and/or "Chink" is exploited for a cheap laugh because we do not register a strong grievance. Even for the non-Asian community, this is a concern. When one of us suffers at the hands of prejudice , we are all diminished. I would invite anyone to visit the Japanese American National Museum to gain a fuller understanding as to why the term "JAP" is more than just a racial slight. Last thought: Evil will prevail when good people do nothing. Domo arigato.

Frank,

You should be happy to know the reviews for this dog have been less than stellar. After this weekend, this film will die the death it's due. Also, I think the real person you should blame for this is Will Ferrell, he has made a career of doing stereotypes and he produced this film.

Frank:

Thank you for blogging again. We missed your thought-provoking blogs.

I am the daughter of two Japanese Americans. Both of my parents were born in California, but were sent to internment camps along with many other Japanese families in California.

Both my mother's family and my father's family were farmers who lost everything when they had to leave their homes. When they returned from "camp", their farms were ruined. Their neighbors had leased out their farms to other people, without my grandparents permission. Every member in the family had to go out and get a job doing anything they could, because the farms were not going to be able to support the families that year. My grandfather went into a deep depression, and he became an alcoholic. He died when I was 4 years old.

My mom told us the story of how she was with her brothers -- who were both serving in the U. S. Army -- but the storekeeper would not serve her a soda, because she was a "Jap". He said that he would serve her brothers, but NOT her.

When I started a new job in Fontana, this nice gentleman asked me where I was born. I told him, "California." I just thought he was just trying to see how many of us were naive Californians.

Then he asked me where my parents were born, and I said, "California."

He was shocked and said, "Wow! You are more American than I am."

I just looked at him and thought, "What a jerk. And I bet you don't even realize what your statement just told me about you."

And just when you think that this was just an ugly part of our history and we have moved on, some stupid idiot puts out a film using racial slurs. I, too, saw the trainer for "The Goods" and felt insulted. I will definitely NOT see that movie.

Thank you for giving us an opportunity to discuss our views.

I loved seeing you and your family on T.V. riding in the Nisei Week Parade. Your son, Sebastian, is adorable. What a little character. Congrats!

Frank I forget to congratulated you for this blog, we miss you and when we find that you are giving us something to think about it, so is nice every now an then to have deepest thoughts and share them. Thank you so much and enjoy the parade.

Does not matter if it is a movie, a commercial, nor in a daily basis everiwhere racism is racism we can't change that. In nowadays we find racism at schools, jobs and everywhere. I understand in first hand what it is. Just last year all the kids in my granddaugther classroom were every day making fun at her, just because she doesn't like to workout because she was shy because was overweight (she is now making a big effort to cutting all the food she likes and doing walking ever day so she is loosing weight), even when I told the teacher, she didn't do anything. She told me she did not notice anything wrong. Some weeks ahead I talked to the principal and told her about it, and do you know what I get? An intervention not only for her but for my other grandchildren too. That finished when I ask my daughter to move the kids to another school. But the thing is why even at schools we have to find that the racism is still there, it supposed to the teachers had a good education that they have to teach good behavior to the children. Like Ramiro Rodriguez said "there is no place for RACISM"

Frank - Good to have you back and congrats on the parade recognition. Also thank you for another very well-written blog which makes a valiant point.

I was especially pleased that you mentioned that racism is wrong no matter who is doing the name-calling. When one group ridicules another it is wrong.

Some very good points were made by others regarding a dated movie or tv program. But also, I have seen the same apply to more recent sitcoms or dramas. Flipping channels and viewing shows aimed at different target audiences shows one ethnic group (or character) is being ridiculed on one channel, but that group is the one doing the ridiculing on another program. Seriously, I was amazed how one ethnic group is portrayed on one station targeted to one demographic. So, in a way racism still exists even when names aren't being called by how some stereotype characters are scripted.

Frank - it seems you have gained by being enriched by two backgrounds and cultures. I wish more people had that understanding.

-m

Mr.Buckley,

I agree with you that there is no place for racism in films today. I have not seen the trailer for this film, but I would say that it's a safe bet that it makes fun of an overweight person as well. I also have to add that there is no place for using overweight people as fodder for laughs as well. As a person who is overweight, I have been the butt of jokes for most of my life. Both on TV and film, overweight people are the last group that can be made fun of and get away with it. It needs to stop. Writers for TV and film will just have to work harder at being funny.

Racism ends when good people speak out.

. . .

Bob, you know a few years ago Blazing Saddles was on regular (broadcast) TV and all the N-words were edited out, but none of the Asian slurs were. I can still clearly remember sitting there wondering why it was not okay to use one slur, but it was still perfectly okay to leave in the line "Dock that Chink a days pay for sleeping on the job."

"The Goods" was one movie I was going to see, but not anymore I don't believe in racism - we are all part of the "Human Race!"
My Parents came to this country from Mexico and I was born here. I was always taunted with names because I was latino attending a predomintly all white school. My white peers did not play with me although I spoke English. It was until a girl came from Korea her name was Helen Cho. The other students surrounded her in the yard making fun of her calling her "Slant Eyes" and "Jap." I broke the circle and took her from the hand away. I remember her crying. I told the teacher and she told us the only reason they bugged us is because we were different. So I know first hand what racism is. Although we were young- we were victims of racism, segregation, and prejudice. I don't recall of I ever told my parents.

One thing I have learned is to have life touch you in a meaningful way. Don't be afraid of a challenge. Cherish your dreams, friends, family and your youthful growing experiences. Work to make life better for everyone, no matter how different from you they may be. Dream a better world, work to make the world better and make a difference in the world by your presence in a positive way! Frank Buckley thanks for blogging the attention. There is no place for Racism!
Peace, Love, & Unity

Frank, thank you for this posting. It seems apparent that none of the "people" (using the term loosely) involved with this film are familiar with the heroism shown by the members of the 442nd in WWII.

I attend an art class through adult ed and one of my classmates was interned in the area near Canyon de Chelly (Chinle) during WWII. She has spoken about that experience and has returned there regularly through a program that relates art to the experience there.

My classmate has shared the art that she and the others in the program have created during their visits. The art they have made is amazingly forgiving of their experiences.

Enjoy the parade (and I liked seeing your family and visitors on-set today)

As the daughter of a Japanese mom and a Caucasian dad, I find your post to be very moving. I have seen the clip you mention, and .. honestly .. it made me uncomfortable, but not overly so. Having said that, reading your thoughts truly moved me and my heart broke just a little bit. I don't know how else to explain it.

Thank you for sharing.

It would one thing to use the term "Jap" in a historical film of the 1930s-1950s (or 60s?) since the term, although a racial slur, was more commonly used. But times have changed. We try to keep those things a part of history rather than perpetuate them.

I recently watched Mel Brooks's film "Blazing Saddles" with a group of about thirty-five friends. All the laughs came on cue.... but afterward, there was discussion about how this film could NEVER be made in today's society.... even though Cleavon Little's character really had the upper hand on all those white yahoos.

It will be interesting to see what the backlash might be... and if it actually drives more people to the box office or not.

Frank, in the late '90s I took my family to Hawaii. Early one morning we went to Pearl Harbor. Before you get on the launch to see the USS Arizona Memorial, they make you watch a movie about the Pearl Harbor attack. My kids and I were seated in the theater, and beside me sat a Japanese man with his family beside him. We watched the very moving film and exited the theater. I remarked to my kids, who were pretty young back then, what an amazing world it is where we can watch a film depicting a horrible battle in an equally horrible war and yet sit side by side with a family we might have viewed as our enemy in the 1940s.

There's no place for racism or hatred in this world. I'm so glad you blogged about "The Goods." I definitely will not watch it.