The Reality of the Message

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Wildalaska

Moderator
A self spoiled hollywood idiot pulls off a doozy:

AGUAS CALIENTES, Peru -

Actress Cameron Diaz appears to have committed a major fashion faux pas in Peru. The voice of Princess Fiona in the animated "Shrek" films may have inadvertently offended Peruvians who suffered decades of violence from a Maoist guerrilla insurgency by touring here Friday with a bag emblazoned with one of Mao Zedong's favorite political slogans.

While explored the Inca city of Machu Picchu high in Peru's Andes, Diaz wore over her shoulder an olive green messenger bag emblazoned with a red star and the words "Serve the People" printed in Chinese on the flap, perhaps Chinese Communist leader Mao's most famous political slogan.

While the bags are marketed as trendy fashion accessories in some world capitals, the phrase has particular resonance in Peru, where the Maoist Shining Path insurgency brought Peru to edge of chaos in the 1980s and early 1990s with a campaign of massacres, assassinations and bombings.

Nearly 70,000 people were killed during the insurgency.

A prominent Peruvian human rights activist said the star of "There's Something About Mary" should have been a little more aware of local sensitivities when picking her accessories.

"It alludes to a concept that did so much damage to Peru, that brought about so many victims," said Pablo Rojas about the bag's slogan. "I don't think she should have used that bag where the followers of that ideology" did so much damage.


Wildya'llthinaboutthatwithrespecttosomebelovedsymbolsAlaska

PS SWMBO read the bag differently...she insists it says "Im a spoiled white girl who cant read Chinese"

There is no way I can find out if shes joking :(
 
Local sensitivities existed long before the idiocy of Poilitical Correctness reared it's retarded head. Remember "when in Rome...."?

Perhaps a surge of "that's wrong" should echo world-wide about the many stupid phrases and statements that are allowed under the banner of PC. It sure wouldn't hurt for people to actually say, and be responsible, for their ideas.
 
Does it surprise anyone when a Hollywood personality flashes Maoist messages? I guess the hollywood mentality is so stunted that they don't realise that under a Maoist regime they woud be sent to a labor camp for "re-education". And all of the wealth they have garnered would wind up in the hands of the politicians.:eek:
 
A prominent Peruvian human rights activist said the star of "There's Something About Mary" should have been a little more aware of local sensitivities when picking her accessories.
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I hate to find myself on the side of a Hollywood person-type, but I find that unreasonable.
 
Wildalaska said:
ya'll thin[k] about that with respect to some beloved symbols
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What symbols do you have in mind? What symbols do we parade somewhat innocently, as Ms Diaz did, that offend with out our knowing?

I'm sure when someone begins pointing these things out I'll have a few of those slap-forehead moments... but I'm drawing some blanks at the moment.

The only gun-related item that came to mind for me was Savage Arms had offended with their symbolizing Native Americans.
 
So, I'm thinking that some of us would find nothing wrong with wearing authentic jewelry in the form of a swastika in Isreal? After all, the symbol pre-dates Nazi Germany.
 
I'm Buddhist; there's a swastika worn on my body nearly at all times.

But it's not like I go around yelling, "Juden! Haben Sie mein Hakenkreuz angesehen?"
 
So, I'm thinking that some of us would find nothing wrong with wearing authentic jewelry in the form of a swastika in Isreal?
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Kinda comparing apples and hand grenades, doncha think ?

Any of us would recognize the swastika symbol as being offensive in Israel ... and almost anywhere else.

What we're talking about here is examining everything we are preparing to bring into a foreign country and doing a through and painstaking research to try and anticipate whether any little minutia could be offensive in a country that we perhaps have never visited before.

I've been in foreign countries several times, but I don't recall going through that kind of drill. "Oooh ... maybe Canada is offended by the color red ! Gang colors type of thing. I'll spend the next four days searching Google ..."
 
"Oooh ... maybe Canada is offended by the color red ! Gang colors type of thing. I'll spend the next four days searching Google ..."
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The woman was wearing a pinko commie bag. Come on.

It's like all those trendy hipsters that walk around with Che Guevera shirts. It's cool. It's trendy. It's a statement against The Man.

And they'll be damned if they realize that these fashion statements come with a backstory.

It's one thing to be a full-blown Maoist, and wear a Maoist bag as a sign of your politics. It's another to walk into some boutique, like Ms. Diaz probably did, and say, "hey that looks pretty!" regarding that bag, put it on, and be totally oblivious to what it says or represents.

How did she react?
  1. Well screw you. I can wear whatever I want.
  2. Long live the People's Glorious Revolution!
  3. Say what? Oh silly me. Crap, I broke a nail.
 
The downside of the Communist Handbag of the People's Revolution is that even in a country that wasn't dominated by Maoist tyrants (like this one, for instance) it's still the equivalent of wearing a Stupid sign.
Like a Che t-shirt, but for people too old to pull that off.
 
While explored the Inca city of Machu Picchu high in Peru's Andes, Diaz wore over her shoulder an olive green messenger bag emblazoned with a red star and the words "Serve the People" printed in Chinese on the flap, perhaps Chinese Communist leader Mao's most famous political slogan.
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You mean these bags, from Cheaper than Dirt? $11 there, but much more in boutiques carrying ephemera:

BAG-191.jpg


With atrocious spelling and grammar from the catalog.
Chinese Militray style canvas bag for the 1960's era featuring Chairman Mao who insisted on his image being displayed on the bag and from his writings he added a phrase that translates to "Serve the People". Measures 15x11x3" with dual closures and adjustable shoulder strap, imported.
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Diaz wore over her shoulder an olive green messenger bag emblazoned with a red star and the words "Serve the People" printed in Chinese on the flap, perhaps Chinese Communist leader Mao's most famous political slogan.
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The woman was wearing a pinko commie bag. Come on.
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Oh ... okay. I guess I’m the only one here, and in Peru, who can’t read Chinese.
 
who can’t read Chinese.
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It doesn't matter. There's a stamped picture of Chairman Mao. Pop quiz: what's the most likely thing said by those Chinese characters (and the most likely thing everyone will assume), if it's preceded by a picture of Chairman Mao?

  • Something about going to the drycleaners
  • Something about having fiber in your diet
  • Something about ninjutsu training for mall security
  • Something about Maoism and/or Communism
  • Something about your cell phone bill

Don't defend stupidity.
 
I really don't see the issue, personally. It's sort of an ironic slap in the face to communism that the propaganda items of the regimes have become fashion icons to capitalists, just meaningless kitsch.

Even in Russia, there's apparently a diner called Joseph's that has a vast collection of Stalin memorabilia treated with utter irreverence. And a KGB-themed restaurant complete with a grey-coated doorman who eyes you "suspiciously" when you enter and menu items that are Russian puns on Soviet propaganda slogans. :)
 
applesanity,

My point is that I don't think the average American is familiar with Peruvian politics to the level of detail required to know about their issues with Maoist groups. Did you know they had Maoist issues prior to reading the first post ? And if you were travelling to Peru, would you really spend gobs of time researching their cultural minutia to that level of detail where you would discover that part of their history ?

The original post says these events happened in the 1980s/early 1990s. That's a lot of old newspapers to read through.

The responses here seem more political than factual to me, but maybe I'm the one who is too inconsiderate of other cultures.

By the way, I enjoy your posts I've read over the last few weeks. This issue aside, we're generally in complete agreement on most things.
 
Anytime something that seems to be political is used as a fashion accesory, its bound to rock the boat a little.

Sure, she may have been ignorant of the message, but Even she could tell that there was a communist leader's face on the bag, and the writing on it was probably either a slogan, or otherwise related to him.

In a country where 70,000 people were kiled because of those communist ideals, I'd hesitate to call it "obscure". Far fewer people died in the 911 attack, but we'd all react the same way to somone wearing a shirt making fun of the victims of those attacks, or even a shirt that said something as silly as I <3 (heart) Bin Laden.

When traveling, its just good sense and common courtsey to stick to normal, plain clothing, and avoid controversial or questionable things. I think some people take the "rockstar look" thing a little too far.
 
By the way, I enjoy your posts I've read over the last few weeks.
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Ah, trying to trump my arguments with politeness? Well dagnabbit, it's working.

I would like to think that the average american knows that the reality of communism = bad, and that crazy left wing groups had lots of fun in south america.

But more importantly, I would like to think that Americans have the better common sense not to wear or say anything politically motivated, of any stripe, when abroad. Say the right thing, and a fringe group will get you. Say the wrong thing, and everyone will get you. Better to keep your mouth shut; your rights aren't guarenteed until you're back on THIS side of the U.S. border.

If she was wearing that bag in this country, I'd say, "Whatever."
If she was wearing that bag anywhere else, I'd say, "So, um, are you familiar with extradition laws?"

"extra-whoda-what?"
 
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