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CafePress.com
If, for whatever reason, you feel the need to diss the Canadians (or any other nationality or ethnicity), CafePress has the shirt for you,
CafePress, the online store where independent artists and merchants can sell T-shirts, mugs and other collectibles, has removed pages promoting anti-Mexican products after Latino bloggers and news sites brought them to public light this week.
It's not the first time CafePress — one of the biggest online retailers in the world — has wandered into critics' cross-hairs for selling merchandise that would generally be considered racist or otherwise offensive, and given the way the site works, it won't be the last.
First, some background:
CafePress this week pulled down 10 pages offering merchandise with explicitly anti-Mexican themes after Latino media outlets picked up posts by the blogs Tex(t)Mex and Latino Rebels, which noted that CafePress had an "Anti-Mexican Gifts" section.
"Looking for the right funny gift to express your hate and racism towards Mexicans? Well, CafePress has got the goods for you," Latino Rebels observed.
CafePress removed the pages, as well as pages in a second section called "Anti-Mexico." It said it regretted "any problems or concerns caused by the images in question."
 M. Alex Johnson is a reporter for msnbc.com. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. |
Case closed, right?
Wrong.
Quick searches of CafePress on Thursday evening showed hundreds of pages offering merchandise explicitly labeled "Anti-French," "Anti-Arab," "Anti-African" and so on. And there's still plenty of anti-Mexican merchandise on CafePress, like this bumper sticker:
CafePress.com
So what's going on?
What CafePress did was to disable the specific search terms "Anti-Mexican" and "Anti-Mexico" in response to this week's publicity. Much of the merchandise is still there.
The same sort of controversy came up before, for example in October, when CafePress removed merchandise that appeared to promote violence against illegal immigrants.
And it will keep popping up, because CafePress is largely an automated site. There never was a dedicated "Anti-Mexican" section. What there was was a search results page for the term "Anti-Mexican," generated dynamically by its computers when someone asked for it.
You can test it yourself. On the CafePress homepage, plug in any keyword you want plus "anti" into the search field and you will get back a page generated on the fly from CafePress' database of products.
For example, try "Anti Canada." Among the many T-shirts, bumper stickers, mugs and so on is the T-shirt at the top of this post.
CafePress confirmed in a statement that it doesn't pre-review what merchandise sellers sell there:
The range of user-designed products varies widely in topic, taste and political opinion. CafePress' independent design community spans the globe, with users representing multicultural and multinational ideals and sentiments. As such, users may upload designs that some find distasteful or offensive, but are nevertheless consistent with our policies for expressions and content on our website.
The company said customers could notify it of objectionable content at cup@cafepress.com. "We review all requests for content review, measure user-uploaded images against our policies and determine a plan of action if any is appropriate."
Adrian Carrasquillo of NBC Latino contributed to this report.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
Leave a Comment:
I'm super Liberal, but I admit. I laughed at that bumper sticker.
How racist is it to assume that because someone is named Juan they must be Mexican? Juan Valdez is Columbian after all.
The "mexican rebels" and this author should be ashamed.
How can America be racist ?? The National Anthem was written for a mexican.......the first phrase is "Jose can you see???"
hahahahahahahahaha
Oh, Jeeeez, sounds like the race card is being drawn. My husband and I laughed very hard reading the bumper sticker and the article. After all, the illegal mexicans are stealing all the construction jobs, because they can work for next to nothing and take work from US workers. The mexicans rent a small apartment and all the workers live in that one iddy biddy apartment they squeeze into , and drive in the same escort they pile into going to and from work. They steal all kinds of stuff from the job sites, for example like barrels and lumber, to burn wood in to cook their burritos. They have to steal some metal or copper to fry their burritos on with stuff they stole from the honest tradesmen. I could go on with the stories, but I don't have time I have better things to do, like earn an honest living. Seems like they are drawn to job sites, or horse racing tracks.
Ps AZ Rancher.....HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Good post!
Is it possible to get one for "Anti Teabag" ? I sure could use a couple of those, an XL for me and 15XL for my horse big Tex
I didn't realize expressing distaste for any particular creed or nationality was now "racist". I've spent a lot of time in both Mexico and Canada, and as best I can see, they have Caucasians, Native Americans, and even a few folks of African ancestry.
Now had the merchandise said something derogatory concerning Spanish speaking Aztec Indians, THEN it would be racist.
I'm quite sure the XL size is for the horse and the 15XL size is for yourself there taco munchin crockholliday..... and if your horse's name is Big Tex.... tell me, Who rides Who??
Now where do I go to shop for the man who hates everyone ? Jonal11 it was all right to laugh. Everyone is so uptight. Both Left and Right. Every person tells and laughs at off color humor. From Conservatives faked anger at Bush jokes, to Liberals faked anger over any ethnic humor. The whole world (including the US) needs to lighten up. A person knows , or should know, that you can't take yourself, your group, or your cause to serious. I know gay people who tell gay jokes. (very raunchy I might ad). Blacks, browns, and Asians who do the same about there races. Women who tell women jokes. Cops, attorneys, doctors, and teachers who tell jokes about their professions.
Me too! Have a sense of humor people! There are plenty of blonde jokes out there too.
@blackhorse
What I think is funny is that it is AMERICANS create the problem that you complain of.
If you offer work to poor people, you guess what? They will come!
As for if that is true that the Mexicans steal - if you exploit a worker they will steal, any nationality.
But we are talking about the country that elected George W. Bush twice and I bet you are of the ones who voted for him!
AHAHAHAHAHA!
Racist merchandize is unacceptable.
There is a difference between jokes between friends and racist merchandize that perpetuates stereotypes.
Hope CafePress gets sued and sorted out soon.
Um....sued....no....that's why we have the first amendment.
DocHolliday...
Aww, i'm flattered :)
doesn't save you all the time does it ? people still get sued for racism.. ain't that the truth ?
Nope, not the truth. :) Being racist is dumb, but not illegal. Saying racist things is also dumb, but still not illegal. Seriously. Hate speech is protected by the first amendment. NO ONE has ever won a case against the first amendment because they were offended.
I have a protected right to speak my mind. You do not have a protected right to not be offended by it.
Just as we have the right to free speech, we also have the right to be offended or disagree. We don't however have the right to be compensated by those who offend us or who we disagree with.
It is not. People have won cases against harassment , hate comments etc.
Again be careful of hate speech in offices , universities and in general outside.
I am a minority and about as socially liberal as one can get. I laughed at that bumper sticker as well. Heartily, might I add. And yes, I have *gasp* laughed at jokes about my own and other races too.
you are clearly in denial. Jokes in certain contexts between friends may be acceptable but an online store distributing racist T shirts etc is creating stereotypes and should be sued.
Actually if you are watching one of the noteworthy things is that men and white people often laugh at themselves. How many comedians make their livings poking fun at those two groups and never get a complaint. Poke fun at women and there will be a response as well as making fun of any other race or ethnic group. Jellyfish!
So do black people on each other..and people of all kinds but we do realize that the KKK and similar groups are racist .. Similarly some things in a certain context can be racist. Distributing stereotypical T shirts or caps or other material that perpetuates stereotypes on race , religion , nationality etc is racist ..plain and simple.
Exactly , However there are parts of the law which can be violated and you can still be sued. so feel free to say what you want on the media or distribute racist stuff but remember others are free to sue as well to send a message :)
Have a sense of humor peeps!
As far as the Canadian one, I see redneck jokes everywhere, shirts, bumper stickers, greeting cards, books, all talking about the stupidity of someone from the South. Well I am one of those people but I don't get offended! Hell I DID some of the stuff they're joking about! : ) People need to lighten up! I have an aunt in Kentucky who dusts with an old bra. That would seem idiotic to some but hey, funny is funny! : )
Even though I am not mexican , I can say that racism is not humor.
Again that is racist stereotyping but if you are stereotyping minorities that is even more so.
Like I said , jokes in some context can be tolerated but again laws on racism are clear and strict. If you need to lighten up by cracking racial jokes then sooner or later it would get you in trouble.
key test for determining anything is racist = does it perpetuate stereotypes of a people or a group or region or nationality or religion or race ?
vikra~
thank you for proving my point
I'm taken back not only from the online store selling racial slurs, but by those who think it is even one bit funny! We are in the 21st Century. Don't people know that judging others, purely on the color of their skin or cultural preferences has ignorance written all over the place. God bless our nation with such great diversity.
While I find racist humor disgusting, I fully support people's right to engage in it. If they want to show what ignorant louts they are, let them.
People need to lighten up.
Tina : Racist jokes between friends or in some contexts may be ok if the other party is not offended but in most other cases it is condemnable and can cause harm ranging from physical , emotional , mental and of course financial.
Racism in media or online brands is worse as it creates stereotypes that become self fulfilling and this can be demeaning to some groups and cause polarization of society.
to Vikramjit Singh
I have found that for the most part, the reason for stereotypes is this:
THEY ARE USUALLY TRUE...
Then, all of the sudden, those who are 'stereotyped' change course, attributing the stereotyped behavior that they do, indeed engage in to, "This is a part of our 'culture', as though to somehow justify said behavior.
So get off your holier than thou high horse, and start devoting your obviously not valuable time to address the worst racism and discrimination in the entire world...your own country's CASTE system...
You can always tell the kid that was beat up daily in school
No stereotyping is actually just hostile behavior of people who are uncomfortable with change.
Actually stereotypes can be very damaging as they condemn a person to a specific classification and are mostly demeaning.
LOL. Sorry the worst racism tag goes to those who commit violence by engaging in racist wars but anyways that's my take. Please also read about caste on wikipedia.
BTW , you do realize there is no caste in my religion ? Oh that must be news to you..Now how about the stereotype of the "Ignorant American " ???
Would you like that label ? Let me know.
you can always tell how a majority population will resist accepting racist behavior and go to any extent to label the "others" .
Truly an interesting research topic if you ask me.
Maybe in India. Not in the States. Want to protest a dead soldier's funeral with all kinds of derogatory comments? Go for it. It's sick, but legal. Want to make documentaries busting on a specific ethnic group/ company/ gender/ whatever, go for it. It'll probably win an award at Sundance. Want to hold an overtly racist parade? Get a permit, and it's okay. The stupid KKK does it every year.
EVERYTHING (minus "fighting words") is legal to say. Cafepress will win if they are sued.
so it isn't only race that we can get our collective panties in a bunch about.
we get all PC over gay issues, race issues, women issues etc...who out there is going to stand up for the a-holes.
A-holes have rights too..I would be offended if I couldn't go buy a shirt that expresses how I feel. Not that I would. Language that causes direct harm or incites violence, that crosses the line. Wearing a tea shirt or rocking a bumper sticker, not so much
If you don't like my kind, I think I would prefer to know that. For instance I saw a guy having car trouble on the side of the road with a Bush/Cheaney04 bumper sticker, hope someone stopped to help him. If it had been a Bush/Cheaney00 I might have stopped.
fool me once...etc etc.
Actually, I don't believe ANY of the merchandise is "there" until someone places an order. Isn't everything on CafePress made on-demand?
to gone4now:
You are correct. They are made on-demand.
It isn't shocking that hatred, vulgarity, stupidity, etc is readily available to buy. But it is very sad how popular it is.
AAAAHAHAHAAH sorry... AAAAHAHAHAHA sorry.... AAAAHAHAHAHAH ya know what, not sorry!
Yeah, the site sells racist products. Oh well.
Seriously. Get over it. People are allowed to do that. We have too much censorship as it is, and no store should have to remove a product someone wants because someone else doesn't like it. If some people have enough free time and energy to get outraged over something like this, couldn't they devote it to improving the lives of minorities in some substantial, meaningful way?
If free speech were always nice and clean, it wouldn't need protecting.
Sorry please read California Penal Code and Federal Law and see which sections of the law this violates.
Hiding behind free speech to justify racist stereotypes cannot be tolerated by those who may face the brunt of racist attacks.
BTW , are you white by any chance ?
In what constitution is this against Mr. Singh? That's what we are governed by and not this Politically Correct BS that has been foisted on us. You don't like it then go back to your native country and send us updates on how you are treated there.
Like I said. Don't be racist. If I don't like something I or for that matter anyone has a right to sue.
Your free speech crap ends where it becomes racist.
BTW , are you white by any chance ? Just askin..
anyone from India with its caste system and blatant discrimination (yea, I know...it's not legal nowadays...but that doesn't mean it's still not existent and adhered to) has no business preaching to others about tolerance and understanding
Sorry that's kind of like me saying anyone from America who is white has no business preaching about racism since many whites discriminate against blacks and are racist and therefore by extension everyone white is guilty.
You need to learn to be rational and not let your emotions on nationality come in the way of objectivity .
Racism has to be challenged and curbed with law and education of society everywhere.
Mr. Singh, you DO realize that by asking the question "BTW, are you white by any chance?" you just pretty much indicated that YOU hold to a racist stereotype, do you not?
Yes I am aware of that and curious to know how many posters here are white and posting in favor of this "free speech" which is really nothing but the defence of racism.
so to that extent I am forced to ask the question even though I do know the answer in most cases just by looking at the english.
I'm white, 100% Irish, so I'm as white as they come, they could have anything up there from being a mick to cracker, honky, any of it, stop being so damn thin skinned and sue every chance you get. Also, saying that by looking at the English(that's right languages get capitalized) you can see we are white, is more racist than pretty much any shirt that's sold. So if you are going to come in here on your white horse trying to save the day, you have failed.
P.S. Mexican is not a Race, its an nationality, so therefore it cannot be racist, that is like saying that British is a race
Vikramjit...
You seem to be sue-happy. What are the grounds...your feelings were hurt? If i'm the judge and you come to my courtroom with that crap, i'm telling you to lose the panties, put your big boy pants on, wipe your nose and get the hell out oif my courtroom with this s!!t.
Lighten up.
Sorry Vikram - as a member of the California bar I can assure you that you have no grounds under state or federal law to successfully sue a t-shirt maker for printing a shirt that says "Every Juan Go Home." But feel free to give it a try - you'll be responsible for attorneys fees after the case is tossed as frivolous.
It is safe to assume that many posters here who are trying to dismiss racist behavior are white given that US is predominantly white. This is not in itself racist but obviously white folks have a different take on racism as they do not experience it in the manner that "people of color" do.
I am not splitting hair on what is a race and what is not a race. Racist stereotyping is wrong and should be curbed.
that's why they wouldn't make you a judge. stop living in fantasy land. and yes there are laws against racism. you try that in the workplace or anywhere else they'd kick you out at the minimum.
you can be a member of any bar doesn't mean you are the authority on anti racism laws.
Cafepress is being sued last time I checked and I am really glad that it is happening. A message needs to go out to those who try to be dismissive abour racism in general.
Laws are open to interpretation and you can't be too sure you are right.
I'm not a judge because i've never tried to be a judge. My co-workers and myself, mixed races, joke with each other daily. We don't wear panties.
Well like I said you CAN get into trouble if racial jokes go too far .. so just be careful. I have seen people get sued and act very surprised later.
Make sure you don't cry in front of the judge pleading for mercy if someone sues you because your bravado can come unstuck...
and what's with the panties comment ? Is that like demeaning way to refer to women in general ?
well...at least we know this is one case where Vikramjit cannot deny his affinity for things which come in white
I will keep you posted on the lawsuit against CafePress but I am really glad they are being sued.
I am sure many of you disagree but I think it is necessary to sue at some point to set the balance right and send out a message.
There is a lot of racism in mainstream media and it needs to be challenged and curbed so attitudes change over time.
Vikram, CafePress is being sued for Trademark infringement. The Trademark cases could be a problem for them, but I can assure you they have nothing to do with racism or "anti-racism laws," whatever those are.
And unless you are an attorney (which I highly doubt based on your comments) I'm pretty sure I know more about laws than you do.
Oreagano : They are being sued not just by mexicans this time. I know the inside story.
I hope they learn their lesson which I think they will.
Let's see what their attorneys can do for them. LOL
thanks, Vikram....and by the way...how's that lawsuit against Jay Leno going?
@Vikra,
quit while you're ahea...oh never mind
senseless jabber.
will let you know.
One thing's sure..Jay Leno has lost some of his racial overtones :))
we will make sure he too starts behaving and are keeping a close eye on many racist news reporting as well as sterotyping in mainstream media.
The fight will go on and there will be no relenting.. SAY NO TO RACISM :)
I understand your desire to go into denial.
Mr. Singh
While I agree with your basic premise, I also believe that you have to pick your battles, and this shouldn't be one of them.
Thank you Tina. There is a reason why I post under a real name and identity.
It is to let people attack me and argue clearly not just based on premise.
I post here on the vine to raise awareness and not really to fight as I understand that it may take some generations to have substantial change.
BTW I have lived in your country many years so I kind of have a real perspective of how things are over there.
Mr. Singh:
Go back to managing your motel. Your sanctimonious superiority complex is neither needed nor wanted here.
Here in the U.S., we have something called the First Amendment.
We may not like what you say, but we defend your right to say it.
I could buy a few motels and probably employ you as a cleaner.
Since when did first amendment make it ok to be racist ? sorry there are no fixed laws. laws are man made and need to be changed to accommodate a changing world. Racism is bad and must be curbed. Likewise Distribution of racist literature and material is condemnable.
You are not actually defending the 1st amendment but showing approval of racism with your frivolous defense.
This is getting old. One last time.... Racist speech is protected. We have decades, if not centuries, of precedence on this. This will not be changed. Period. Only an amendment can change the constitution. Do you really think anyone up for re-election would vote to change the constitution....? If so, I've got some beachfront property in Kansas I'll sell ya. :)
Racist speech is a pressure relief valve. Idiots go on their parades, hold their rallies, and wear their dumb shirts. Its offensive, but makes them feel better about their worthless lives. If we don't have free speech, we use other ways to express ourselves. Seen the Arabs light themselves on fire last spring? How about Tibet? Or Syria and Russia right now? They don't have free expression, and it's destroying them. That is why free speech will always defeat the offended. I'd rather have some people butt hurt than have a violent uprising.
Vik from India.. the tea shirt makers right to expression is protected by the same laws that protect your right to protest his rights....crazy I know.
The shirt did not say to hurt Juan...
Do you wear designer clothing...well as a black man, I understand that most jockeys in the early days where diminutive blacks...so anyone wearing Polo clothing just offended me... A polo shirt logo is nothing more than a black faced lawn jockey.....not ( that was sarcasm)
See the problem with trying to legislate my opinions....
If I find something being sold offensive, I don't buy it. If I find someone saying things I find offensive, I walk away. If someone is making a speech I find offensive, I ignore it. We all have the right to do these things and we all have the right to ignore these things.
I personally find Chevys offensive, but I don't go around trying to get them banned. I find the KKK and the Black Panthers offensive, but they are guaranteed the right to their free speech as well, we have the right to ignore them.
Now on the other hand, if people were being forced to wear these offensive shirts, that would not be protected. If people were being locked into auditoriums and being forced to listen to speeches from people we found offensive, that would not be protected. You have every right to walk away, use that right.
No one can make any kind of political speech without offending someone, those that are offended have the right to leave.
This reminds me of the two preachers in Houston a few years ago that went into an upscale topless club "Just to see what it was about." and left complaining about how totally disgusting it was after two and a half hours.
Upto a point. If someone links a hate attack to that T shirt or cafepress then are in deep s*** as they say.
Yes but you can't ignore everything.
Sorry we are talking about distribution of racist and or stereotyping material by cafe press not speech.
Yet all accross this great nation every year countless teachers hand out to their students a book named "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"- by Mark Twain for in class reading projects and every year every school district okays the use of this "racist" book for another school years syllabus wihtout complaints. I wonder why that is? must be because they know it is a peice of good teaching material and yet no body condemns those teachers or school administrators for allowing it.
There is increasing awareness of racist / sexist stereotyping in curriculum and syllabus of universities and schools too.
My opinion............ If ya don't like it............ DON'T LOOK AT IT!!!!!
by the same token, if you don't want to hear someone speaking in spanish . don't listen
Seems like you'd have to be looking for it to find it.
I Jaun one of those bumper stickers.
Me too! Thanks to this free advertising (from MSNBC no less), you and I now know exactly where to go get one! Thanks MSNBC!!! And to top it off...after we get them, we can go around singing a variation of that great line by Azrancher (#1.2 above). Come on, sing it with me...Jose can you see my bumper sticker???
HAHAHA...I love it!
Ummm... since when are Canadian and Mexican races? They are nationalities.
Haven't you received the memo from the liberal left high commander in chief yet........
Everything is a race and everyone who has any opinion is racist. Screw the actual definition. Racist is a new catch all word to use on anyone you dont get along with for any reason.
Azrancher,
Care to back that statement up with a link to that memo? Or a quote? Or an action? Or ... anything?
Borlock Guy - here's something for you. Just read the comments in about any newsvine blog related to any current political issue. Eventually, someone will refer to President Obama and "Obummer" or "Odumbo" or something similar and they will soon be called a racist, even though there was no mention of his race, only his policies. In contrast, when President Bush was in office, he was repeated referred to as "Bushy" or "Bush-league" or something similar, yet no-one was called a racist (or even dis-respectful, for that matter).
Glad I could help.
No, Step in What... You're wrong. When people said anything against Bush, they were called worse things than "racists", they were called 'unpatriotic, disrespectful to the president, anti-American.' and all sorts of similar things. Many were called treasonous for daring to criticize a president during wartime. One prominent entertainer was threatened with deportation and having her citizenship revoked for saying that she was 'embarrassed' to be from the same state as Bush. Remember Natalie Mains?
I know a guy who was beaten and had his car vandalized just because he had a Kerry sticker on the bumper. I know another guy who was forced to move out of his apartment complex because of the harassment and vandalism that happened because he put an "anyone but bush" sign in the window.
So you're really wrong. People were attacked for using cutesy nicknames for Bush. And sometimes violently. But, they demand their right to free speech to call the President whatever name they want, because he's not in their party. The right-wing republicons clearly want it both ways. They don't want their idiots criticized, but the other party's guy is targeted for the nicknames, "obummers" "odumbos" and all those other false, misleading, derogatory comments, like "socialist-in-chief" or what have you. They don't have a damn clue what "Socialism" really means. They just think it makes people think of the former Soviet Union, so they use it for a label, because it "sounds bad". Well, Thomas Jefferson was a Socialist. So was Jesus. Ha.
Doesn't have a thing to do with race. It has everything to do with the conservative dirtbags being the most hateful, anti-American, unpatriotic, disrespectful, treasonous lot of cowards on the planet.
to the evil tessmacher
You are SO full of it...the left are the most hypocritical beings on this earth...the never engage in any sort of meaningful dialogue with those of a different opinion. They instead attempt to shout them down. Members of the Tea Party are ridiculed and subjected to name calling. Not to mention being blatantly lied about...The left believes in free speech, but only when it is something they agree with...Tea Party rallies; peaceful and respectful...ANY liberal rally; riots, filth and near anarchy (see any occupy event)...Fox News; conservative and liberal media types battling it out...ANY other network; talking heads blathering about the "Tingling up my leg just thinking about Obama"...MSNBC reporters daring to state that they are unbiased, while at the same writing fawning biographies about our sitting President...liberals are the worse race-baiting, lying, narrow-minded, whiny, guilt-ridden group of useless flesh ever put on this earth...oh yeah, and I don't really care for them, either...ahh, all done.
the left the right the blacks the whites... the humans the Klingon
I wish I could post a scream..it is never so cut a dry.. so in your attempts to discredit or marginalize one group you have only exposed your limited ability to process emotion and maintain civility.
I said some pretty foul things about Bush to my like minded peer groups. And I have read some pretty disrespectful prose about my current President.
So what happens when everyone is both wrong and right (no pun intended).
This is stupid, freedom of speech, that's what we have, and as long as is not vulgar, so what? there is no racism in that! the only complaints is from the Latinos, because they know 30% are here illegal, so.............. if the shoe fits...................
Really, nothing wrong showing your feeling toward any race, I am Italian and I don't feel offended at sayngs about my race, as long there is no vulgarity
This country has it's ways and some liberties left, and IF anybody cant take the American way, no one is holding you here.
Too many in the media try to make stuff more than it is, if they assume the person saying it is not a minority. I don't know for sure, but is there any proof that the "owner" of cafepress.com is actually white, or even from American for that matter?
Liberals can't survive more than 24 hrs without attempting to spread hysterical drama.
@digtman1: On CafePress, even if it's vulgar it's ok unless someone complains.
You don't mind Italian jokes so long as there's no vulgarity? What sound do Italian helicopters make?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Dago Wop Wop Wop...
:D
I'm Italian, too. (Well, 1/2)
I have a better one than the helicopter. How does the Italian Army go on maneuvers? With there hands up!
A Jewish daughter calls home from college and tells her father she has a new guinea pig.
The father starts screaming at her and says he forbids her from dating anyone that is not Jewish!
The daughter says no daddy it's not my boyfriend it's a pet!
So cigarette companies can hide under free speech to protect themselves from the truth, but t-shirt companies can be monitored and restricted for what merchandise they carry. Let's put it this way - if it offends you then don't buy it!! So much for the First Ammendment. You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can never please all of the people all of the time.
Wait, what? Cig companies are bound by truth in advertising. That's why they ended up with huge $$$ judgments against them.
CafePress is a bad bad bad website because they have funny as hell t-shirts and bumper stickers. But we can condemn the entire country of France and have a motion on the floor of the Senate to change a French Fry to a Freedom Fry. Maybe it's just me, but isn't there, perhaps something a little more important than this to report?
This is as important as it gets for MSNBC.
I think that all the words are spelled correctly, too. Now THAT's news.
I wonder if anyone would complain if they had categories like "anti-Honky" or "anti-Cracker" or "anti-Gringo" or "anti-Trailer Trash"?
That would make INTERNATIONAL news and be on CNN, HLN and so on and so on...and now a days, it's EUROPEANS.
Yeah I never hear jokes about trailer parks or white people, not! The difference is that men laugh a lot at themselves and white people usually find jokes about them are funny, I guess that is due to a self confidence that allows some groups to actually enjoy humor at their expense. Does every member of those groups do so, of course not, but a majority do.
Nope, wouldn't care one damn bit in fact I wish they would... might make it easier to determine which of these low lifes really need & deserve a good ol' fashioned American ass whooping! Batter-up!
End Obamunism!
Anyone but "Barack the Buffoon" in 2012!
President Barack Obama
So who is the high judge on these issues???? A T-Shirt saying "canada sucks" is insensitive or offensive yet "South Park" poking fun and invading canada is freedom of speech and art????
Where is the line at???
This is America, people are free to express their stupidity and be racist and insensitive. You dont have to condone it or even like it, but your free to express it.
Personally I enjoy seeing people with their own messages like this. Lets me identify them right off the bat before they ever open their mouths, like a badge of who they are or want to be.
Its better than everyone hiding it and then you dont know what they harbor deep within until its to late.
Political Correctness is destroying America.
Political Correctness is just another way of saying 'civility'
However, I do think way too many folks are way too thin-skinned these days.
Ding, ding ding...congratulations, you just hit the nail on the head!!! It is really sad but all too true. I wish I had a prize for you. Hopefully, CafePress will immediately and continuously reap the benefits of this free advertising courtesy of the liberal bastion that is MSNBC. Oh how I love the irony!
Your astute observation is specifically why I make absolutely no effort to be politically correct and I apologize if I do accidently say anything that may be construed as being PC. If anyone tries to bust my chops for not being politically correct, I assure them that it is okay because I have not ever been, am not now, nor will I ever be a politician. After all, I'm not qualified...I like telling the truth too much! :-)
dsb
Political Correctness is just another way of saying 'civility'
You ever happen to notice that the folks claiming their "Outrage" over a statement not being PC are "Always Never" civil about it?? IN THE NAME OF CIVILITY.....I THINK NOT............
Azrancher
I think you missed the whole point of the "Blame Canada" thing from South Park... it was mostly making fun about some American's stupidity and willingness to blame things on others instead of taking responsibility for their actions, problems, etc.
"Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."
It's not right to make fun of people for who they are. We would be a lot better off if we lifted everyone up instead of putting people down and trying to make someone else feel less than we. What ever happened to "esteem others better than ourselves?"
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt, 'This Is My Story,' 1937
evidently alot of poeple give consent to perfect strangers
There is no violation of anyone's free speech rights. This is not governmental action, therefore no one's "rights" are being violated. Second, what this is, is the free market and consumer pressure at work.
You're absolutely correct. They got pressure from some groups and made a market based decision. They didn't quit selling it, just made it less obvious. That was their call. If somebody wants to complain they have every right to do so and the company can choose to respond however they feel appropriate. That is free speech and free market capitalism at work.
I would guess that they considered their customer base and concluded that they might be offending a particular segment of that base. This is one case where they might pretty easily be able to look at names of people who placed orders and draw some conclusions. Bottom line is that if they just considered the percentage of the population they might be offending, it was probably a reasonable decision.
But regardless, nobody was suggesting legal action of some sort, just exerting market pressure. In reality, it was probably a good marketing decision to make a story out of it. I'm sure they got a lot of people looking to see just how outlandish their stuff is and maybe it got them some customers for other products.
funny AND makes liberals poop their pants - gotta love it
I consider myself pretty liberal and I thought this was funny. Don't paint everyone with the same brush.
Fundamental difference is one is humor and one is hate, I too think its funny and I'm liberal too. PC/not thinks limbaugh is funny cause he hates everyone equally that doesn't look like him.
there you go Scotty
I agree with your post, nothing wrong with free speech and the free market reacting to it.
Additionally, I think the shirts are a great idea. They are certainly funny to read, but to actually wear in public? It is a great way to help the rest of us identify ignorant a-holes.
You nailed it. Most of them would not wear this @!$%# in Public; because they would get tired of getting their Asses kicked. It's one thing to be an Ignorant Racist around your buddies; but take that @!$%# out in Public, and see what happens.
Typical LIB...... Ready at the drop of a sombrero to turn "Words" Into "Physical Violence"
I personally support the idea of these unpolitically correct word abusers to be placed in "Time Out" until they learn to change their deadly use of adjectives... "Time Out" is still the acceptable form of enhanced terrogation isn't it?? Errrr....I apologize....I meant "Torture"...almost had to give myself a "Time Out"................. Liberally speaking of course.......
Frugal guy,
You sound like an angry Teabag jackass, withh consistency! Way to go...take a dump or something, you'll feel better...dont let anger ruin your day...your attempt at trailler park intellect's not working...it's irritating to say the least...
It's funny. I see MUCH more anger with the left than the right...A gathering to the right is but a gathering. A gathering for the left usually results in an angry mob and it's resulting rioting, filth, etc. Tell me I'm wrong...and btw, notice that, unlike you, I did not resort to name calling, a typical tactic of the insufferable left...
GMathews, if you don't see the irony in your own statement then you truly are stupid.
I think if they bash one then they can and should bash them all.......I always said @!$%# canada I think thats funny, maybe I have a lil more morbid sense of humor but I love freedom of speech!!
Where's all the "US Sucks" merchandise then?
considering we are the best country to ever be put on the planet earth, one of those shirts probably wouldn't sell. Everyone either loves us or is to poor to buy one.
Iran
Too poor
I bet Carlos Slim, Bernard Arnault, Amancio Ortega, Vladimir Lisin and others could afford to buy a few of those and give them away to their fellow country men/women!
i doubt it.
TBBW, so only people wth money love the USA?
Funny thing, I grew up without a lot of money and put myself through college - was pretty much without money for the first half of my life. Always loved the USA , though. How does that fit in to your tunnel vision?
You've already taken the job!
It fits into you being middle class scotty
Latinos are so godamn sensitive. Ugh
Big Bad Wolves are so goddamn good at stereotyping. Ugh.
They actually do have other auto-generated sections that go beyond Latinos:
Also, if you actually spent time researching CP's guidelines and policies, these examples and other examples on their site violate their own company policies. It is a free market, true, in the end the consumers will decide, but many have stopped buying their funny tees from CP.
That's because they figured out how to make their own.
And many more will now go buy their funny tees from CP, thanks to this free advertising. Personally, I just added the site to my Favorites!
Other sections that CP does are F-- Jews, F-- Blacks, F-- Whites, Spics, Wops, Arabs, etc. etc.
Cool...free speech for everyone. Dang, I just saw a 'cracker' t shirt there. I'm white. I feel so offended. I need a hug. Maybe counseling. Or maybe some federal money to salve my wounds...Now I'm depressed. I think I'm too depressed to work...I may have to file for social security, as I am sure that I have been rendered too mentally disabled by this incident to to continue working. Time to add myself to those sucking on the government teat for the rest of my miserable life...God, liberals just suck...
France Sux too, while we're at it.
Don't forget the Ruskies!
I'm going there to buy me some anti mexican wear now. Thanks for letting me know where to get it. F-Messico and it's piece of garbage society.
Who cares? Maybe it does mean they are racist, then again most of the time it is just meant as a joke, I wish people would quit complaining about every little thing. It's time to grow up, not everything is lilies and roses, censorship of any kind is a joke. Let me guess, if they have a confederate flag on a mug or bumper sticker, does that mean that is racist merchandise? What a joke, when does it end......
I have to side with Conservatives/ Republicans/ Constitutionalists or whatever.
If you can wear a T-Shirt saying "Canada sucks" you can wear a T-Shirt that says "The Tea Party Sucks" or "Texas Sucks"
If you get beat up by Canadians, Tea-Baggers or Texans you were asking for it.
Wearing statement crap like this only reinforces what you really are- an idiot and a attention whore.
If these idiots want to invite trouble and troll bored stay at home moms who spend their time blogging about the evils of the world, let me.
Let's be honest- T-Shirts and bumper stickers like that will be worn by Wal-Creatures and featured on peopleofwalmart.com.