Queens U bans sumo suits

[capricorn]

The Queen's University student government has declared the sumo suit an instrument of 'oppression', and cancelled a food-bank fundraiser that was to feature two sumo suits.

Then, the university issued an apology for having not recognized earlier that sumo suits are deeply offensive to Japanese sumo wrestlers and their culture, and blasts the organizers.

We recognize racism as the systemic oppression, both intentional and unintentional, of individuals and groups based on racial or ethnic identities.

Regrettably, those of us who were aware of the event did not critically consider the racist meaning behind it. Asking students to wear these suits and partake in the activity appropriates an aspect of Japanese culture. This is wrong because it turns a racial identity into a costume; the process of putting-on and taking-off a racial identity is problematic because it dehumanizes those who share that identity and fails to capture the deeply imbedded histories of violent and subversive oppression that a group has faced. The event also devalues an ancient and respected Japanese sport, which is rich in history and cultural tradition.

http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/posted/archive/2010/03/29/sumo-suit-apology-letter-the-full-text.aspx

To cancel a food bank drive based on such idiotic logic is truly pathetic.

And whatever happened to the concept of fun at our universities while doing good deeds for the community.

[g_bambino]

And whatever happened to the concept of fun at our universities while doing good deeds for the community.

Well, this is, after all, the same university that dreamt up the conversation police. The administration there seems to have made it a goal to become the best living incarnation of the hand wringing, politically correct, apologist pansy stereotype.

[Muddy]

What silly nonsence. Should we stop all laughter in case it offends sad people! I am an uneducted old man but I wonder about the smarts of those in our universities and especially the wisdom of the leadership. I hope I have not offended Queens University deep thinkers.

[M.Dancer]

[Jack Weber]

What silly nonsence. Should we stop all laughter in case it offends sad people! I am an uneducted old man but I wonder about the smarts of those in our universities and especially the wisdom of the leadership. I hope I have not offended Queens University deep thinkers.

I swear these "deep thinkers" get paralysis through analysis.

Insulting to Japanese people that putting a suit on that makes a person look fat...Uh..Sumo wrestlers are fat!!!!

Did any of these "deep thinking" bedwetters delve into what some Japanese think of Caucasians?

Does the word "Gaijan" mean anything to these twits?

Did the bedwetters realize that the Japanese have not admitted war crimes during the 2nd World War?

That's ...I don't know..Kinda insulting on a level a few notches higher than a Sumo suit...

Did the bedwetters lok into immigration in Japan and wonder why it's such a homogenious society??

Way to go Queens bedwetters!!!

And these are the people who are supposed to lead us in the future!!!!

Edited March 31, 2010 by Jack Weber

[Wilber]

Have any of these idiots watched any Japanese game shows?

[Muddy]

Have any of these idiots watched any Japanese game shows?

And the stupid whites they humiliate!

I rember being in a TV debate and the question of how we owe so much to Japanese Canadians for what we did during the war . I agreed only that what we did wrong was take their property.There were fifth columnists in the Japanese community It was not a pleasant time for our boys and nurses in Hong Kong at that time. Those who lived envyed the dead the Japanese were so cruel. Yet Liberal Canada was so intent on apolagizing to Japanese Canadians it never occured for them to be making as big a fuss for an apolagy from Japan for the sadistic cruelty inflicted upon our soldiers and nurses.

[DrGreenthumb]

Did the bedwetters realize that the Japanese have not admitted war crimes during the 2nd World War?

I don't know, did you realize that the Conservative government may be also guilty of war crimes, and instead of allowing an open honest investigation into their complicity in torture have used every trick in the book to thwart the investigation including shutting down Parliament for months?

I think the Sumo suit ban is dumb, but bitching about other countries not taking responsibility for their war crimes is a bit much when our country hasn't been forthcoming about our own crimes.

Edited March 31, 2010 by DrGreenthumb

[Argus]

I swear, the dumbest people in Canada all work at universities.

[Wilber]

Anyone who has watched much Japanese TV will know that when it comes to getting people to do the most idiotic things, they are second to none.

[Wilber]

It's unbelievable how good our so called "intelligentsia" have become at dreaming up things to feel guilty about. They have far too much time on their hands.

[Moonlight Graham]

This is the dumbest thing i've heard of in a long time.

[Sir Bandelot]

Consider this from a larger perspective. Who is it that gets offended? Japanese, probably older Japanese.

Why does it matter? Why shouldn't the students have some fun while doing good deeds that benefit society? Good question, seems reasonable.

What I see is, the problem comes down to corporate sponsorship, and how any organization that has important ties to financial sponsors has to be concerned about protecting those relationships. And certainly a university like Queens which is world reknown will have Japanese professors and probably some research relationships with other schools and companies in Japan. If those groups might feel "touchy" about the sumo suit that ridicules a sensitive aspect of their culture, it becomes a money issue.

And that's all it takes, friends. Economics trumps virture, in the realm of corporate whoredom we will even sell our own fundamental values of freedom etc., for the money...

Just my "two cents", not worth much I know

[Muddy]

Letters to the editor in the National Post from Japanese students says it all today. They are furious at the ban.