i dont see how this is viewed as racist. from i see it, a boy of oriental race finds out who murdered his friend and goes to do the same to them [perhaps after taking drugs/steroids?] when he gets there, the three white boys beat him up. it is suggested that mozz witnesses this but doesnt do anything to interfear [i take that from the last part] so mabe thats what made people think he was racist
Just to clarify, from what I understand, in the UK, 'Asian' doesn't refer to East Asians (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.), it refers to South Asians (eg. Indian, Pakistani, etc.), and East Asians are referred to as 'Oriental'.
Just to clarify, from what I understand, in the UK, 'Asian' doesn't refer to East Asians (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.), it refers to South Asians (eg. Indian, Pakistani, etc.), and East Asians are referred to as 'Oriental'.
Whereas in North America, 'Asian' commonly refers to East Asians, and 'Oriental' is considered a derogatory term when used to refer to people (although fine for objects, like 'Oriental Rug' or 'Oriental Food'). Maybe not derogatory per se, but very Anglocentric and old-fashioned, perhaps, in the idea that 'The Orient' means 'The East'. The east of what? East of the...
Whereas in North America, 'Asian' commonly refers to East Asians, and 'Oriental' is considered a derogatory term when used to refer to people (although fine for objects, like 'Oriental Rug' or 'Oriental Food'). Maybe not derogatory per se, but very Anglocentric and old-fashioned, perhaps, in the idea that 'The Orient' means 'The East'. The east of what? East of the British Empire, of course. ;P
So the song is not about 'Orientals'.
Personally, I think 'Bengali In Platforms' is much more offensive lyrically (in terms of racism), assuming Morrissey holds the same views as the narrator of the song does. And he apparently does, from every interview I've ever read regarding Morrissey's views on national identity, race, patriotism, immigration, etc.
I do think in this song, the South Asian lad is portrayed in a negative light, despite his friend (and presumably himself) being the victim of racist violence. There's virtually no description of the English boys who committed the racial murder, but the character of the South Asian boy is described as someone who might be on drugs, and who is carrying around a gun (even though who could blame him, if a bunch of racists murdered his best friend?).
I love the Smiths and a lot of Morrissey's solo work, but I have grave reservations about his personal views on things like racial identity politics and immigration. His idea of what it means to be British seems to preclude the possibility of a non-white being British, even though Jamaicans (the descendants of African slaves brought to the West Indies by the British), as members of the British West Indies Regiment, laid down their lives to fight for and defend Britain in various wars and in doing so earned the right to be called British, to be seen as equal citizens in their adopted home. Similarly, South Asians fought on the British side in the Second World War and earned the right to call Britain home as well. And then there are the East Asians who lived for a long time under British rule in Hong Kong and other former British colonies, and have been living and working in the British Isles since the 17th century. They too helped continue to shape and build what Britain is today. To deny them their rightful share of British identity is a slap in the face to every non-Anglo Brit who fought and even died for the right to call the United Kingdom home, and that is racist.
i dont see how this is viewed as racist. from i see it, a boy of oriental race finds out who murdered his friend and goes to do the same to them [perhaps after taking drugs/steroids?] when he gets there, the three white boys beat him up. it is suggested that mozz witnesses this but doesnt do anything to interfear [i take that from the last part] so mabe thats what made people think he was racist
Just to clarify, from what I understand, in the UK, 'Asian' doesn't refer to East Asians (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.), it refers to South Asians (eg. Indian, Pakistani, etc.), and East Asians are referred to as 'Oriental'.
Just to clarify, from what I understand, in the UK, 'Asian' doesn't refer to East Asians (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.), it refers to South Asians (eg. Indian, Pakistani, etc.), and East Asians are referred to as 'Oriental'.
Whereas in North America, 'Asian' commonly refers to East Asians, and 'Oriental' is considered a derogatory term when used to refer to people (although fine for objects, like 'Oriental Rug' or 'Oriental Food'). Maybe not derogatory per se, but very Anglocentric and old-fashioned, perhaps, in the idea that 'The Orient' means 'The East'. The east of what? East of the...
Whereas in North America, 'Asian' commonly refers to East Asians, and 'Oriental' is considered a derogatory term when used to refer to people (although fine for objects, like 'Oriental Rug' or 'Oriental Food'). Maybe not derogatory per se, but very Anglocentric and old-fashioned, perhaps, in the idea that 'The Orient' means 'The East'. The east of what? East of the British Empire, of course. ;P
So the song is not about 'Orientals'.
Personally, I think 'Bengali In Platforms' is much more offensive lyrically (in terms of racism), assuming Morrissey holds the same views as the narrator of the song does. And he apparently does, from every interview I've ever read regarding Morrissey's views on national identity, race, patriotism, immigration, etc.
I do think in this song, the South Asian lad is portrayed in a negative light, despite his friend (and presumably himself) being the victim of racist violence. There's virtually no description of the English boys who committed the racial murder, but the character of the South Asian boy is described as someone who might be on drugs, and who is carrying around a gun (even though who could blame him, if a bunch of racists murdered his best friend?).
I love the Smiths and a lot of Morrissey's solo work, but I have grave reservations about his personal views on things like racial identity politics and immigration. His idea of what it means to be British seems to preclude the possibility of a non-white being British, even though Jamaicans (the descendants of African slaves brought to the West Indies by the British), as members of the British West Indies Regiment, laid down their lives to fight for and defend Britain in various wars and in doing so earned the right to be called British, to be seen as equal citizens in their adopted home. Similarly, South Asians fought on the British side in the Second World War and earned the right to call Britain home as well. And then there are the East Asians who lived for a long time under British rule in Hong Kong and other former British colonies, and have been living and working in the British Isles since the 17th century. They too helped continue to shape and build what Britain is today. To deny them their rightful share of British identity is a slap in the face to every non-Anglo Brit who fought and even died for the right to call the United Kingdom home, and that is racist.