# Pete Hoekstra **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 6, 2012, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939 "2012-02-06T05:00:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/322 "2012-02-28T15:35:08Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > So, you don’t think it is normal that someone in China might speak in broken english? :rolleyes: And plenty of black people actually do like fried chicken and watermelon. Doesn’t mean it’s not racist to portray them eating it if there’s no reason to. Stereotypes aren’t okay just because they’re occasionally true. ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/323 "2012-02-28T16:47:07Z")
Silly example, I’m sure magellan and crew would defend a watermelon thing as not really racist either. Possibly they already have, but I’m not looking up the “watermelons on the White House lawn” thing from a few years ago to prove it one way or the other. IT AIN’T RACIST UNLESS THERE’S A LYNCHING! No point in showing polls on specific reactions to the ad in order to demonstrate that “Sigh. Why must you cretins persist in conflating causation with correlation? What we geniuses must put up with from the liberal PC sheep, woe” is so much bullshit, either. They’ll just move the goalposts again. ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/324 "2012-02-28T17:56:33Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Uh, did you bother to read the OP, which raised the subject of racism? Evidently not. Typical left-wing stupidity. Oh this is beautiful. Yes, racism as the reason why this ad is so obnoxious and offensive. But all you guys can do is whine “bwah, it’s not racist!” Presumably because you can squabble about the semantics thereof until the cows come home, but you can’t argue against the fact that virtually every normal person in the country just plain thinks it’s gross, whether they think much on the why of it or they don’t. Look at WhyNot, with his, “well I could see how people might find it offensive, but do you have to call it racist”? Because that’s just mean, presumably. Surely a worse offense than the ad is. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/325 "2012-02-28T18:29:06Z")
> [@Normal\_Phase](#): > > Oh this is beautiful. Yes, racism as the reason why this ad is so obnoxious and offensive. But all you guys can do is whine “bwah, it’s not racist!” Presumably because you can squabble about the semantics thereof until the cows come home, but you can’t argue against the fact that virtually every normal person in the country just plain thinks it’s gross, whether they think much on the why of it or they don’t. > > Look at WhyNot, with his, “well I could see how people might find it offensive, but do you have to call it racist”? Because that’s just mean, presumably. Surely a worse offense than the ad is. Let’s make this very simple: just because race is involved, does not mean it is racist. Don’t mention it. Glad to help. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/326 "2012-02-28T18:42:45Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Let’s make this very simple: just because race is involved, does not mean it is racist. > > Don’t mention it. Glad to help. You’re quite correct. The stereotyping intended to invoke fear is what makes it racist (or bigoted, if you prefer, which isn’t any better). ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/327 "2012-02-28T22:42:27Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > You’re quite correct. > > The stereotyping intended to invoke fear is what makes it racist (or bigoted, if you prefer, which isn’t any better). This actually touches on a very good point. Let’s go with your “intended to invoke fear”. What it is creating fear of? I don’t think it’s making people afraid of Chinese people. I think the only fear it is invoking is “What the hell is wrong with us and when are we going to come to our sense?” The commercial certainly doesn’t make me afraid of the Chinese-American actress. Or even of China, really. The problem isn;t so much what they’re doing to us but what we’re doing to yourselves and the degree that we’re allowing them to take advantage of us. Do you really think that the commercial makes anyone afraid of that girl? Or of Chinese people in general? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/328 "2012-02-28T23:03:19Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > This actually touches on a very good point. Let’s go with your “intended to invoke fear”. What it is creating fear of? Yellow peril. It has been mentioned on the previous 6 pages and for the last 100 years. It’s a racist notion that has its very own term, Wikipedia page, and t-shirts. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/329 "2012-02-29T00:45:45Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Yellow peril. It has been mentioned on the previous 6 pages and for the last 100 years. It’s a racist notion that has its very own term, Wikipedia page, and t-shirts. Oh, I see the problem. Reset your time machine to 2012. Oh, and by referring the past 6 pages, do you mean the ones I haven’t read but posted in while cit9ing the things I was replying to? Feel free to get in touch when you arrive in 2012. ---
**Author:** ![Normal\_Phase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Normal\_Phase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Normal_Phase)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/330 "2012-02-29T01:33:00Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Let’s make this very simple: just because race is involved, does not mean it is racist. > > Don’t mention it. Glad to help. Goodness gracious that never occurred to me before. Thank you for enlightening me. Do you find the ad offensive? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/331 "2012-02-29T03:15:47Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > I don’t think it’s making people afraid of Chinese people. Yes, but remember, you _are_ dumb as a box of rocks. I rather like [this recent Cracked article](http://www.cracked.com/blog/4-things-jeremy-lin-story-reveals-about-modern-racism/). I doubt it’s going to be any more persuasive than the rest of us, but it does succinctly point out that you’re an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/332 "2012-02-29T03:23:44Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Nah. The tattoo line was a good one. This one, not so much. But thanks for realizing that I actually did read the Post addressed to me as was evidenced by my reply being directly under it and having a discussion about it, even though you claimed I didn’t. You don’t like my position, too bad. But why don’t you offer up a rebuttal to some of the points I’ve been making? Seriously? I mean, I just can’t tell if you’re being meta here, or if you really fail to understand this painfully. Have you not only forgotten the exchange you had two pages ago, but also forgotten how this very exchange began? I was kidding before about you having a condition, but now I’m really wondering. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/333 "2012-02-29T03:30:38Z")
Attic, leather straps, fish heads… ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/334 "2012-02-29T05:27:58Z")
> [@Normal\_Phase](#): > > Goodness gracious that never occurred to me before. Thank you for enlightening me. > > Do you find the ad offensive? Not in the least. I found it clever, in how they made the point from (supposedly) a Chinese person’s point of view. We’ve been hearing about the debt and outsourcing to China ad infinitum, so I appreciated the fresh take on it. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/335 "2012-02-29T05:32:07Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Seriously? I mean, I just can’t tell if you’re being meta here, or if you really fail to understand this painfully. Have you not only forgotten the exchange you had two pages ago, but also forgotten how this very exchange began? > > I was kidding before about you having a condition, but now I’m really wondering. Look, if you have a point you want to make about the ad on THIS page, or ask me about something I said earlier, just post it and ask your question and say what you have to say. Why do you find this so difficult? Yeesh. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/336 "2012-02-29T05:35:49Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Yes, but remember, you _are_ dumb as a box of rocks. > > I rather like [this recent Cracked article](http://www.cracked.com/blog/4-things-jeremy-lin-story-reveals-about-modern-racism/). I doubt it’s going to be any more persuasive than the rest of us, but it does succinctly point out that you’re an idiot. You’re an adult who reads Cracked, you offer virtually squat by way of an argument, and then feel to shroud yourself in “us”…and you call someone else dumb? Whew. I’d suggest you bring more, but more of lame wouldn’t be very helpful. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/337 "2012-02-29T05:47:28Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > The stereotyping What is the stereotyping? That someone in another country doesn’t speak perfect English? That she is in a setting that exists in China? That she was riding a bicycle? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/338 "2012-02-29T05:49:22Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > You’re an adult who reads Cracked, you offer virtually squat by way of an argument, and then feel to shroud yourself in “us”…and you call someone else dumb? Whew. I’d suggest you bring more, but more of lame wouldn’t be very helpful. If the last 7 pages did nothing to persuade you, another 70 of earnest argument isn’t going to do it. Arguing with you is unproductive. Making fun of you is way more enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/339 "2012-02-29T15:22:46Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > If the last 7 pages did nothing to persuade you, another 70 of earnest argument isn’t going to do it. Arguing with you is unproductive. Making fun of you is way more enjoyable. Way to embrace your failure as a poor debater. Way to _own it_. and just so you know, I’m sticking my tongue out at you. Take THAT! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/340 "2012-02-29T15:29:37Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > What is the stereotyping? That someone in another country doesn’t speak perfect English? That she is in a setting that exists in China? That she was riding a bicycle? Don’t you get it, man? It’s that all Chinese girls are very pretty. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939/341 "2012-02-29T16:17:57Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Way to embrace your failure as a poor debater. Way to _own it_. and just so you know, I’m sticking my tongue out at you. Take THAT! > > :rolleyes: Just so you know, “the last person in the thread to keep posting the same bullshit over and over again” is a masturbator, not a good debater. You do seem to have the two confused. I’m out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hoekstra/611939.md?page=18)