In today's Journal Gazette, Justin writes about a fan complaining about Bob Chase's use of the term ``A little Jap from behind that time.''
Here's my thought: If Bob had instead used the phrase ``He Al-Qaeda'd him'' no one would have said a word and everyone would have accepted it and understood exactly what he meant.
You need to understand that to Bob's generation, they are the exact same things. The statute of limitations has not run out for his generation who had to fight the Japanese as the result of Pearl Harbor. Some of the things they saw will never be forgiven.
The Journal Gazette proves it in their same edition with this story by Frank Gray.
That story includes the paragraphs: ``For decades, though, the date of the attack was burned into the American memory, just as 9/11 is today. The attack killed thousands, crippled America's Pacific fleet, and took people like Cook, who had joined the Navy at 17 to see the world, and showed them a world of fury and destruction that they could never have imagined.
``Marking the anniversary of the attack is still something that is done every year, and the media, fond of nice round numbers like 70, will probably pay a little more attention than it did, say, last year.
``The anniversary is worth remembering, but as time passes, and as Dec. 7, 1941, becomes more and more distant, fewer and fewer people even remember it.''
Just because it happened 70 years ago doesn't mean it's any less relevant today. The day it is forgotten would be the real tragedy. The people from that generation are totally entitled to their own memories and experiences from their lives, and that's a big one, the same as any Jewish person could naturally have doubts and be wary of those of German descent.
Now, if you want to debate Bob's use of dated terminology or the political correctness of refering to horrific acts to plays during a hockey game, that would be a different issue. Everyone brings their own experiences to their jobs, especially broadcasters. They are allowed and often encouraged to do that.
Comments
yes there is a mens Japanese national team! they have had leagues in Japan for many years!
Ok kids, listen up.... Lesson from all these defending comments is that if something has happened to you in a negative way perpetuated by a certain racial group it is ok to use slang words in a derogatory way towards that group of people...
On this day...I'm thankful for two things.
1) that people like Bob "Chase" had the honor and courage to fight for this nation after the cowardly sneak attacks against our forces in the Pacific...aka "Jap Attack."
and
2) That I have better things to do with my life than to be worried about minutae like this or get offended every 30 seconds.
What a bunch of thin-skinned weenies...but, it proves my point...if there's anthing in Fort Wayne that we do on a "World Class" level...it's "female dog" and moan and complain!
Did anyone burst into flames when they heard Bob's comment? Were there mass suicides? Did kids skip school? Are dogs and cats now living in harmony?
GET OVER IT!
Happy Pearl Harbor day everyone!
PS - how many of you who're "offended"...have ever stepped inside the "Memorial" part of the Coliseum? Try that next game!
JungleMonkey you are right I am attacking his story. I would give his story more credibility if this PERSON had complained to just him. Ask Blake how many times a week someone calls complaining about what was printed in the paper and they didn't like it.
I think what Justin did was a cheap shot taken for whatever reason. I could understand it if this person was so offended that they had contacted the CHL, KOMETS & WOWO to only be dismissed without response.
If I was a player Justin would not get a quote or anything else from me for fear he might write it in some fashion that it may offend one of his readers.
Boy, I've learned from this. I think I will look at this in a totally different light from here on out. I'm sure you mind readers know what is in my heart and my thoughts, you must...you have been putting your words in my mouth for two days!
I don't think what Justin did was a cheapshot in any fashion. He talked to Bob and let Bob go on record about it. How's it a "cheapshot"?
this movie has already been produced... gran torino produced by clint eastwood is a great example of this situation.. love bob.. appreciate his service to america. understand his reasoning but in todays world any ethnic slur, malice intended or not, is unacceptable. no excuses
Some of you just simply need to get a life.
I am the one that brought attention to this. The first thing I did was contact the Komets. If Bob was talking off air and used this term I wouldn't have said anything. He was representing himself. But when he says this in public as a representative of the Komets and the community then we all should have a problem with it. The reason I took the initiative is because my wife and children are Japanese. I was watching the game with my son. My wife and kids love following the Komets and watching the games. After the phrase was used my wife said she wouldn't feel comfortable going back to the Coliseum to see a game unless Mr. Chase and the Komets addressed the situation. Not to us personally but in public. The comment was made in public and needed to be addressed there.
By the way, I have never said that Bob needs to go because of this. I have loved listening to him for years. He has been a complete professional his entire career. That is why it was such a shock to hear those words come from his mouth. There needs to be an acknowledgement that making comments such as this is wrong.
is the word jap really an offensive word? i thought it was used by the press in ww2 so they didnt have to continually type japanese in headlines? it then just became short for japanese. thanks for comming forward okikibi and explaining.
Welcome, Okikibi
The word is offensive. Even during the war it was used to dehumanize the enemy. After the war it continued to be used not just against the Japanese military but civilians in Japan and America as well. There have been a number of times that I have heard the word thrown in the direction of my wife and I while out around town. How many of you wouldn't defend your wife and family from feeling degraded in this way? I don't believe Bob was trying to degrade any one. But he needs to know and acknowledge that it's no longer the 1940's and comments like this are no longer acceptable.
The bigger problem now is the lack of a public response from the Komets. What one man says can be written off but when the organization he represents doesn't respond then it's the same as saying they approve of the language he used.
I doubt seriously that it was written off as you say. From my experience, issues like this are not handled in public. They are handled behind closed doors. Public humiliation isn't a corporate policy. I am sure that Bob didn't mean to hurt feelings and quite possible is appalled by the response. No one is their right mind would intentionally hurt people.
People are discriminated against and referred to in an untrue light everyday in the news. Police officers, schools, and teachers take some of the biggest heat. It seems like whatever a parent says is the truth or whatever the criminal spits out is the truth. Have you ever heard of anyone apologizing to these people? I haven't. The point is that if you are looking for a public apology, I hope you get it, but don't count on it.
Is it right that people don't apologize? Absolutely not, but it's a reality.
I guess I don't understand why it was taken to the media before the Komets or Wowo had a chance to respond or deal with it. Afterall, Bob is employed by them, not the newspaper. Im not offended by what Bob said but I also understand why some are. I think Bob's service to our country, this community, and the Komet nation should have earned him better due process in dealing with this. I doubt it would have been swept under the rug. Once it hit the paper, he was already tried and convicted. I don't agree that it should have been a story in the JG. Should I send a tweet or an email to the media everytime I hear an offensive word while I am at a Komet game? As others have stated, I think we all need to have a little thicker skin. This is getting a bit ridiculous.
I totally agree BAM...once things go to the media. The ones involved are guilty....sad.
I've always had a lot of respect for you over the years, Blake, but in one post you have ruined that. I thought you were a Christian, what with all the talks you give at churches. So racism is a totally defendable Christian attitude in your opinion if someone is from a generation wronged by a certain ethnicity? What about the forgiveness all you church-types preach? Yes, Pearl Harbor was HORRIBLE but it's intensely stupid to compare a **WORLD WAR **with a **FREAKING HOCKEY GAME**. Also, by your rational, if a local journalist had a run-in with an African-American in the past & happened to call Leo a name during the course of a game, it'd be okay because he was bringing his own "experiences" to his job? Un-freaking-believable. Bob is only sorry he got caught saying it on the air & the fact that you/WOWO/the Komets all are so quick to gloss it over because he's the Almighty Bob Chase is disgusting.
Komets are not going to respond.
As you are a father and a husband, I understand that the protection of your family is your No. 1 concern, but would your wife feel uncomfortable going to a game because she felt threatened? If Rockford IceHogs, Indianapolis Ice and Toledo Goaldiggers fans can attend the most intense playoff games while wearing their teams' jerseys without incident, you and your family will have 100 percent safety because the passion for this is miniscule compared to that. For one thing, no one knows who you are, and truthfully, no one cares to that degree. I don't say that to insult you, but to put it into perspective.
I have a hard time believing you would have anything to worry about at a game.
Sorry you feel that way Darren. If you read my initial post on this, I said, ``Now, if you want to debate Bob
I guess I didnt realize there are acceptable loopholes that can be manipulated when using disparaging or offensive words that are connected to different races???
Look up the word in question and tell me if you can find a definition for the word used that is not derogatory, disparaging or offensive because I cant find one...
Funny thing is, I had many family members who fought in that war, grew up or lived during that time and I cant remember them ever once using this, or any other disparaging word for the people who were on the other side...
Society has moved along and progressed over the last 70 years. Minorities who served no longer have to sit in different areas when traveling home after wars/conflicts these days...
Thank goodness, too.
But I have talked to dozens of people over the past two days from all kinds of walks of life who say this is a whole lot of nothing. I have asked at least 10 people whom I highly respect their thoughts on this and not one of them was offended.
The way I know Bob, if he had intended it as a racial remark and not as a reference to Pearl Harbor, he'd be the first one to beg publicly for forgiveness. He is the most emotional man I have ever met. Give him a pat on the pack on anything and he'll shed a tear. He can also be crushed if he feels he did something wrong.
He's completely at peace with this. I take him at his word that he meant Pearl Harbor.
Did the Komets say why they were not going to respond? I'm Curious...
Is it they are not going to respond because they believe its not worthy of a response or they dont know how to respond???
I am curious because this would be a tough one to address, IMO, since there is a group that find this offensive and right up there with other no-no derogatory comments and some who dont... Plus, we're talking about a Komets icon who has given so much to this team and is approaching 60 years in the booth. Slippery slope...
I was told today the Komets would have no further comment on it.
Were any of those 10 people Japanese?
I'm not offended by it personally; but I'm not Japanese... I do know that living in Japan for 2 1/2 years while in the service that the reference in question was not liked at all and was considered by most to be as bad as the "N" word is to African Americans...
Yes, one was of Japanese descent. That person said there are many more words that have been used to describe the Japanese which are much more offensive in nature and they themself were not offended by this situation.
Doesn't in any way mean Okikibi does not have the right to consider this situation offensive if he chooses.
Curious....those in Japan that I talked to (or better yet who I was educated by in this area) thought this was one of the worst because of the way it is used.... To them, the way this word is used it attacks their honor which is very important to the Japanese...
Can anyone honestly tell me this word has EVER been used in anyway other than in a derogatory way?
I know several words that are more offensive then the word
Bob used. Some which have been used around me when I was in the military and when I heard them I told the individuals not to use them when I am around.
As for Bob's age, my father was the same generation as Bob. While my father was drafted at the end of the war and didn't have to serve, he never forgave the Japanese for what they did. Comparing a mugging to that attack is not even right. They are two entirely different animals.
People grow some thicker skin.
all this over one person / one word. i understand he was upset. in the world today, you need thicker skin. its also funny, that if you dont think this was ment to be racist, then your a racist yourself and you some how believe that racism is fine. go back and read some one your comments. nice try. i do not like racism, i do not think this was, and i dont feel like the komets have to say ANYTHING. half of you are just pissy cuz you dont like wowo. its obvious. you dont agree with certain people, so they are wrong and you are all right. and to complain about "sneaking up on me with their little catholic feet"? seriously? some whine and complain only because they can. unreal. this whole story makes me want to stay away. its has gotten disgusting
i understand that the word is offensive but those offended must remember that it was used by a person from the generation that was greatly impacted by the japanese during ww2. i am german and american indian and i have been called kraut many times and it is laughable and i take no offense as i take no offense in the cleveland indians or the north side redskins. i know those things arent racist attacks so i dont worry about them. most people today were not affected by ww2 so we look at japan as a trade partner and an allie. but people must remember that there are manny people still out there who hold a great grudge vs japan because of the horror and loss that they suffered. my father was forgiving but it didnt stop him from waking up in the middle of the night screaming becasue of a nightmare from the war. we will never understand what those people went thru so i think people need to be alittle more forgiving of that generation as they saved us for what we have today. to them the attack on dec 7 is a fresh in their minds as if it happened yesterday. i cant fault them . if they make an offensive comment then i forgive cause i didnt walk in their shoes and hope to god i never have to ................so lets end this here and get back to hockey.
Amen Chuckitt! Go Komets!