City Of LA Department Of Public Works Under Fire For Producing Controversial Video Mocking Asians

[Bonobo]

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/05/09/city-of-la-department-of-public-works-under-fire-for-producing-controversial-video-mocking-asians/

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works is under fire for producing a controversial video depicting the Asian community—all with taxpayer money, according to CBS2 investigative reporter David Goldstein.

The video, shot at the Japanese Garden at the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys, showed a non-Asian man dressed as a geisha girl who talked with a mock Japanese accent.

“The Japanese water park is a beautiful, beautiful site, with blooming, blooming lotus and water lilies,” the actor said.

The short was apparently meant to teach viewers about recycled water, which is what they use at the Japanese Garden.

[zappaman]

1. Duh.

Everyone knows offensive racial stereotypes are the best way to teach viewers about recycled water!

[Cirque du So-What]

2. Was Mickey Rooney unavailable

to reprise his role from Breakfast at Tiffany's? I still cringe - 52 years afterward - at the thought of a society that found such a blatantly racist depiction acceptable. Looks like some still haven't evolved.