NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't think it's racist but I don't really care if it gets pulled because people are offended by it. I read a post in some other stray forum on the internet where a Latin American was saying that it's mostly white people who feel the need to get offended on behalf of other races over cartoon characters selling things. There's probably truth in that.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1742621901085942804&q=speedy+volkswagen
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7248140646208572286&q=speedy+volkswagen
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9005147536430875267&q=speedy+volkswagen

hahaha...those are great.

some people need to grow a sense of humor/get a view of reality/grow up.

Um...does Speedy Gonzalez exploit a steretype of Mexicans? Yes. Is it offensive? I'll leave that to Mexican people to decide.

When Cartoon Network eliminated Speedy Gonzales from their programming, who complained? Mexicans, at least here in California..

Besides, it's not Speedy Gonzales who gives Mexicans a bad name, it's that lousy Slowpoke Rodriguez...

Um...does Speedy Gonzalez exploit a steretype of Mexicans? Yes. Is it offensive? I'll leave that to Mexican people to decide.
That's pretty much how I feel about it. Speedy is funny though. I can't help but like him.

I'm offended by the crappy ads. Car companies keep positioning cars completely wrong in the US.

The GTI is a serious car, it's the ideal combination of something that will murder most riceburners and musclecars on a normal road and that is still practical. They're f*cking marketing it to teenagers.

*punches air in fits of rage*

When Cartoon Network eliminated Speedy Gonzales from their programming, who complained? Mexicans, at least here in California..

Besides, it's not Speedy Gonzales who gives Mexicans a bad name, it's that lousy Slowpoke Rodriguez...
Jajajajajajjajaaaaa...true...Speedy Gonzlez wasn't the lazy, seemingly drunk, foolish one...he was like Murieta...

Hahahahahaa....did you know that Chevrolet tried to marked the Nova in Latin America? It flopped completely...because it 'no va' (doesn't go);)

That's pretty much how I feel about it. Speedy is funny though. I can't help but like him.
I think most people like him...he's cute, funny...all around nice guy...

It has been a long time since I saw any of his cartoons, but beyond the accent, I don't remember him exploiting any mexican stereotypes...
I could be wrong tho

Hahahahahaa....did you know that Chevrolet tried to marked the Nova in Latin America? It flopped completely...because it 'no va' (doesn't go);)
That's a UL. While "no va" does mean "it does not go", "nova" translates as, surprise, surprise, "nova".

Come on...the big hat, the sash...come to think of it, aside from the hat, that dress is also traditional in other Latin American countries...hmmm...but yeah, Speedy didn't really fit any 'negative' stereotypes...but still. I mean, I have serious issues with native-themes mascots, regardless of how 'nice' they are...so I would imagine that some hispanic people take offense to Speedy.

Hahahahahaa....did you know that Chevrolet tried to marked the Nova in Latin America? It flopped completely...because it 'no va' (doesn't go);)
May I direct you to this site, for your edification and enlightenment:
nova urban legend (http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.asp)

If we're going on about racist cartoon characters, I always found Pepe Le Pew hilarious. A stinky French skunk who'd try shagging anything that moved. Classic sterotypical stuff.

That's a UL. While "no va" does mean "it does not go", "nova" translates as, surprise, surprise, "nova".
UL (http://spanish.about.com/cs/culture/a/chevy_nova.htm)? So?? It's still funny!

It has been a long time since I saw any of his cartoons, but beyond the accent, I don't remember him exploiting any mexican stereotypes...
I could be wrong tho

I dunno, the one where Speedy wraps Sylvester up as a giant tamale and sets his ass on fire with hot sauce may have been a bit much.. (I'm actually kinda surprised I can remember details like that after 15 years or so.. :) )

When Cartoon Network eliminated Speedy Gonzales from their programming, who complained? Mexicans, at least here in California..

Besides, it's not Speedy Gonzales who gives Mexicans a bad name, it's that lousy Slowpoke Rodriguez...
They don't really show any Bugs Bunny anymore. I used to love getting stoned and watching Looney Tunes. They should really have an adult cartoon network, a little kid cartoon network and a retro cartoon network.

I like mice, and I like cheese... Cheese is great.

I like mice, and I like cheese... Cheese is great.
But would you eat a mouse stuffed with cheese?

Speedy Gonzalez Ruled.

They don't really show any Bugs Bunny anymore. I used to love getting stoned and watching Looney Tunes. They should really have an adult cartoon network, a little kid cartoon network and a retro cartoon network.
Looney tunes plays on Teletoon. I'd forgotten how...strange and violent it can get...

Come on...the big hat, the sash...come to think of it, aside from the hat, that dress is also traditional in other Latin American countries...hmmm...but yeah, Speedy didn't really fit any 'negative' stereotypes...but still. I mean, I have serious issues with native-themes mascots, regardless of how 'nice' they are...so I would imagine that some hispanic people take offense to Speedy.
ahh...forgot about his dress. I was thinking more personality-wise. My bad.

I'm trying to think of a counterexample, but I can't think of anything...haha...the best I can come up with is that he is supposed to be mexican, and so dressing in the fashion of where he is supposed to come from makes sense...it would be like having a character come from India and wearing a Sari. I look at that kinda thing more of a character development, where as a mascot is just kinda...there. I hope I'm not restricting what you mean by "mascot" too much. Out of curiosity, if there was a character that was supposed to be native american and took the same tone as speedy, would you be offended by it dressing in native garb?

They don't really show any Bugs Bunny anymore. I used to love getting stoned and watching Looney Tunes. They should really have an adult cartoon network, a little kid cartoon network and a retro cartoon network.
They do. Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, and Boomerang, respectively.

I dunno, the one where Speedy wraps Sylvester up as a giant tamale and sets his ass on fire with hot sauce may have been a bit much.. (I'm actually kinda surprised I can remember details like that after 15 years or so.. :) )
haha...I completely forgot about that one...

Out of curiosity, if there was a character that was supposed to be native american and took the same tone as speedy, would you be offended by it dressing in native garb?
If that character walked around saying things like 'how' and speaking in monosyllables and incomplete sentences...doing rain dances and gesturing with his hands, then yes, very much so.

If it was a character that was based on one of our heroes, say Tecumseh or Geronimo or Crazy Horse...and dressed as such...and was quick, intelligent and funny...probably not. But the community from which the representation was based (Crow, Cree or whatever) should be consulted first.

They do. Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, and Boomerang, respectively.
They should really give me free cable is what I meant after I learned this fact. I thought Adult Swim was just split with CN though?

Meh, stereotypes are funny. Never seen 'Allo, Allo'?

They should really give me free cable is what I meant after I learned this fact. I thought Adult Swim was just split with CN though?
Yeah, Adult Swim airs at nighttime on CN, but I think it's both to keep it on cable and for budget reasons. Adult Swim is however a wholly separate entity than Cartoon Network now.

If that character walked around saying things like 'how' and speaking in monosyllables and incomplete sentences...doing rain dances and gesturing with his hands, then yes, very much so.

I'm guessing you're not a big fan of the old Disney Peter Pan..

Yeah, Adult Swim airs at nighttime on CN, but I think it's both to keep it on cable and for budget reasons. Adult Swim is however a wholly separate entity than Cartoon Network now.
I had no idea. That's cool. I wish they'd get rid of the anime. I used to like anime but dubbed has always sucked.

I'm guessing you're not a big fan of the old Disney Peter Pan..
No. Emphatically no.

The live action version we have has an actual native girl in the role of Tiger Lilly, speaking in her language. Much better...

If that character walked around saying things like 'how' and speaking in monosyllables and incomplete sentences...doing rain dances and gesturing with his hands, then yes, very much so.

If it was a character that was based on one of our heroes, say Tecumseh or Geronimo or Crazy Horse...and dressed as such...and was quick, intelligent and funny...probably not. But the community from which the representation was based (Crow, Cree or whatever) should be consulted first.
ah yes...that second category was more of what I had in mind...not negative, but not flawless either...just funny in general.

People really do need to become less sensitive. That's why I suggest we pool our resource together and start a De-Sensitivation center! It's where you learn to be a little less politically correct.

Speedy never offended me. I am tired of self appointed moralists who tell me to be offended by things that are by their very nature inoffensive.

Americans are ready to be offended by anything...it is the very nature of the political correctness to stoke outrage and create offense. I must say it dismays me as a liberal and I think PC is the worst thing that ever came out of the political left.

Um...does Speedy Gonzalez exploit a steretype of Mexicans? Yes. Is it offensive? I'll leave that to Mexican people to decide.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speedy_Gonzales

Speedy's cartoons have come under fire in recent years for their alleged stereotypical depictions of Mexicans and Mexican life. Mice in the shorts are usually shown as lazy, womanizing and hard-drinking, while Speedy wears a huge sombrero and sometimes plays in a mariachi band (although Speedy's only real vice is implied to be a weakness for pretty girls; in one cartoon, other mice instigate a war between Speedy and Sylvester to keep Speedy from stealing all the girls in town). It was this criticism that prompted Cartoon Network to largely shelve Speedy's films when it gained exclusive rights to broadcast them in 1999. However, fan campaigns to put Speedy back on the air, as well as lobbying by The League of United Latin American Citizens, who argued that Speedy's cleverness and personality was a positive depiction of Mexicans, turned the tide in his favor, and in 2002, "the fastest mouse in all Mexico" was put back into rotation.