Long story short, a fraternity proposed an asian themed party where people dressed up in "asian" clothing and sent out an invitation with the words "Herro (Hello) Chank you (Thank you) etc". The university originally denied this proposition when they first heard about the party so the fraternity changed the name of the party from "Asia Prime" to "International Relations" -___-

After reading some comments on various websites, what bothered me is not so much the party itself
But there were people arguing that it was not racist and no one should be that offended by it.

Seriously, how are you possibly telling people that this is not racist when the party was clearly ridiculing Asian people, on top of that telling us not to be offended

Was it racist? Were people over reacting?
Was it not something Asians (anyone) should be offended by?

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Article: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/duke-racist-rager-141248540.html

Yeah, that's fucking racist.

Obviously 100% racist lol.

What a coincidence, Kappa Sigma is also a bunch of douchebags at my school.

it is a joke, but that doesnt mean its not racist. If i were asian i would probably be a tiny bit offended.

Reminds me of the Mexican Party...Haha.Btw I'm Hispanic with Mexican relatives...is it racist? I don't find it racist...however, the signs those two at the center held up...Are kind of offensive.

Freedom of speech, what are you gonna do, right?

Kimonos, language and sugegasa are not race, they are culture. Poor taste to be sure, but pretty mild considering. It's no more ridiculing asians than people celebrating St. Patrick's Day and Oktoberfest dressed in shamrocks and lederhosen are ridiculing the Irish and Germans.

Yeah it's racist, but the "don't be offended, it's only a joke" bit is the real hook.

You make a throw away comment designed to enrage, then let your opponents thrash around acting like a crazy person. You keep your calm and look like the aggrieved party to observers.

So I guess I'm saying go ahead and be offended, but keep your head about it.

That is why free speech needs to be limited, racism should be illegal.

Heard about this, of course it'd be K-Sig that did it.

It's pretty offensive, it's extremely stupid. If you're a part of a fraternity (or any organization for that matter) you represent not just yourselves but your entire organization, this certainly isn't going to be good for Kappa Sigma PR. They're fortunate they picked a minority without a huge population in the US. Can you imagine if they hosted a Black Person Party in which everyone dressed up as a gangsta, ate watermelon, and mixed purple food coloring into all their drinks? The shitstorm would be unfathomable.

The real problem isn't racism or not... sure some might find this to be offensive... but there are only about 2 things you can do with this, be offended or don't be.

Either way at the end of the day it's stupid kids who are well within their rights to throw a dumb party that without pictures no one would have remembered the next day, maybe that makes it an awesome party, I dunno. I do know however that if I was a hiring manager and I saw a picture of someone I was looking into hiring dressed up like a mexican holding a "will mow lawn for beer" sign, or dressed up like a stereotypical asian that I would be well within my rights to not hire the moron because they might do something equally dumb at work, and offend someone in a setting where they would actually have some legal recourse as a lot of companies have anti-racism, sexism, etc policies in place.

I think the real problem here is that we just had someone say that speech should be limited... and racist remarks should be a crime.... that's a slippery slope to head down, and why no speech should be limited... the second something you find offensive is made illegal, it gives some other asshole a platform to stand on to get, well, words like 'asshole' in the 'illegal' category. I think my above example sets a bit better idea of what should be done, where private companies, in which you enter a contract with when you work for them or attend their school, are the ones who should be setting up rules and punishment. If this party went against some kind of school rule I could certainly see the students being penalized for participation... but to make big daddy government step in and say "racism and racist remarks are illegal"... fuck no.

I'm inclined to agree. I absolutely hate racists and wish they'd all get Lou Gehrig's disease but once you start making things illegal because it offends you there's really no going back.

As for the party being against the rules...I don't know how the national rules of Kappa Sigma work but I know some fraternities would see this as a black eye on the organization and would almost certainly discipline the offending chapter. I don't know how big the Duke chapter is but if it's on the small side they could run the risk of getting axed, and there's almost certainly going to be some form of sensitivity training if not.

It doesn't need to be a slippery slope if it is agreed upon by society as a whole. If it is not allowed in a corporate setting, then why should it be allowed anywhere else? Don't we all agree that racism should not exist? Why should we give people a platform for bullying?

It was a joke....a racist joke..but still a joke. I don't think it came from a place of hate so I wouldn't be very offended if I was Asian. I mean frat boys have never been very concerned with being PC. I'm of Irish descent but I don't get upset on St. Patricks Day when frats dress up like leprachauns and drink green beer till they vomit and act like thats what my cultures about. People were just trying to have some fun.

Got to college. Become bigot.

It's always has been a slippery slope even with the best of intentions, more often than not it gets abuse and used to silence controversial opinions, the first targets of censorship and the most in need of protection.
Besides, making racist speech illegal will not erase hate and prejudice, and it almost certainly will not stop the speech.