Offensive commercial? Am I being too sensitive?

Is anyone else offended by Cheif Zee in the Eastern Motors ad? OK I know it's all in fun, but what if I were to dress in a zebra skin and dance around with a spear and big giraffe hide shield? I'm sure that would piss everyone off!!!

Anyway just a rant. Any comments? Am I crazy or does this commercial offend anyone else?

If you haven't seen it, it's on youtube. 

and why would that piss people off if you did it too?  People are so over sensative its great... i am just offence to get the best of people like that.... childish, yes.... fun, yes!

I guess it's just the idea that well.....

Ok about to piss someone off....

Apparently it's ok for a black man to dance around like an ass waving a tomahawk around wearing a cheap red suit with a dollar store headress on his head. But if I were to do the same I'd be called racist!!

Original Post by v850434:


But if I were to do the same I'd be called racist!!

 i think it because being black gives you an entitlement to make fun of someone your own race. EX: blacks say 'n****' in songs and no one looks down on them.

if me &my brothers make fun of parents, its all good. but whoa to anyone else who does....

Hey if he wants to dance around like a bushman fine but don't mock me. I'm extremely proud of my heritage and i see nothing wrong with having a sports team named after Native Americans (although Redskins is still a little offensive considering it was used as an insult) but I just can't stand the double standard.

Maybe I should make a commercial of my own and call myself Kunta Kinte.

No one was mocking you. Calm down.


People get their panties in a bunch too much on this site...

who was mocking you?

I'm talking about the commercial not anyone here.

ohhhh okay, lol. i was confused. cause i didnt think my post was mean at all. haha

I can see how a native american could get offended by a commercial like you described....

Haven't seen it - but if it's like that office supply store commercial where "it's a jungle" out there --- those crack me up -- with the people wearing like a notebook binder upside down on their head and using office supplies like survival supplies -- and I think they have people of all different ethnicities in them

I wish I could find that commercial - I LIKE to see them

:)

 

I can see how a native american could get offended by a commercial like you described

I agree, I haven't seen the commercial, but it seems like it could be offensive

lol nomoreexcuses that commercial is hilarious!! I'll have to try a binder helmet next time I ask my boss for something!! :D

EASTERN MOTORS COMMERCIAL 
JUNGLE COMMERCIAL (this might be a different one though)

I dont see it as mocking but I understand these portrayals are often deemed offensive.  The Village People Indian in daisy duke shorts I get.  This is equivilant to me to kids being offensive dressing up for Indians for Halloween.  Then Im not offended when seeing Italians characterised in TV commercials, even if theyre stereotyped.

I really don't think it's meant to be mocking of any First Nations people.  Chief Zee seems really passionate about the Redskins and Redskins fans.  The commercial is pretty stupid.

sun,

yes!  those careerbuilder commercials! I love them!  thanks for that! 

Original Post by v850434:

Hey if he wants to dance around like a bushman fine but don't mock me. I'm extremely proud of my heritage and i see nothing wrong with having a sports team named after Native Americans (although Redskins is still a little offensive considering it was used as an insult) but I just can't stand the double standard.

Maybe I should make a commercial of my own and call myself Kunta Kinte.

 Being a mix of African, Native American, and a healthy dose of Irish I sometimes fail to see what's funny or what the significance usually is of people's attempts to mimick any ethnic group in a commercial, but I've learned to ignore it. Stereotypical perceptions are not going away unfortunately, and it's rather hypocritical to complain about something that some people do and then stoop to the same level and insult people who might feel the same way you do about it.

 I don't think you are being overly sensitive v850434.  I don't know what state that commercial is from, but I don't think it would fly by the radar in this state.  I say it should be pulled from the air.  I think you should write to the stations that air it and ask them to remove it and ask their clients to prepare less controversial ads. 

I believe that you are being a little "childish." If you happen to look around you this day and age, Racism is everywhere. Whether we mean to say certain things or not. I make jokes about EVERYONEs race and it doesnt seem to bother any of my friends, because they know me. Now if I was a complete stranger and made a remark of some kind then I would be classified as a prejudice person. Which is why most people like the quote, " I hate everyone equally."  It doesn't mean anything other than....Grow up and get over it! For some reason, people are offended over the most irrational things, but you have to live.

I live in the DC area where they regularly air Eastern Motors TV commercials and it is clear that they absolutely love the Redskins.  I view this as nothing more than dressing as a team mascot.  The issue of whether the team should even be named the Redskins is a different issue. 

Regarding the commercial specifically, I am curious as to what everyone thinks is so offensive about wearing another culture's traditional garb?

Double posted accidently.