BBC: Is this manga cartoon of a six-year-old Syrian girl racist?

[pampango]

"I want to live a safe and clean life, eat gourmet food, go out, wear pretty things,
and live a luxurious life… all at the expense of someone else," reads the text on the
illustration above. "I have an idea. I'll become a refugee."

The image and caption were posted by a right-wing Japanese artist last month. Now, more than 10,000 people have signed a Change.org petition in Japanese urging Facebook to take it down. The petition, posted by an account calling itself the "Don't Allow Racism Group", claims that several people have reported the illustration and demands that "Facebook must recognize an illustration insulting Syrian refugees as racism."

Although the Japan Times reported that Facebook did not take the picture down, saying it did not go against community guidelines, the artist herself removed the picture. But she remains defiant about her motivations for posting it in the first place. Toshiko Hasumi told BBC Trending that she believed the people signing the petition were left-wing activists. "I draw many political mangas [Japanese comics] which are not favourable to them," she said. "This is why they targeted me."

One group of immigrants that is sizeable in Japan is Koreans, and Toshiko, who identifies herself as a conservative, posts her cartoons on a Facebook page that includes anti-Korean messages, including material that casts doubt on the stories of "comfort women" - Koreans and women of other nationalities who were forced to become sex slaves for Japanese forces during World War Two. She claimed that her drawing and the associated captions "did not mention any specific race or nationals" - however she admits taking inspiration from a picture of a 6-year-old-girl in a refugee camp in Lebanon, taken by Jonathan Hyams, a photographer working for the charity Save the Children:



But despite removing the photo, Toshiko was unapologetic creating it: "I don't want European nations to be victimised and hard working people should not suffer by those fake immigrants," she told Trending. She admitted trying to be provocative by using an image of a young girl.

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-34460325

Yes.

[still_one]

1. I am not sure if racist is the right word, but it is a hate-filled rant against refugees

and immigrants.

Hate filled, prejudice, and perhaps racist.

The vermin who thought it fair game, must have no issues with the children that have been drown and killed during this crisis either.

[Brickbat]

2. Bigoted, anyway.

[still_one]

3. I think that is a more accurate description

[Glorfindel]

4. Yes, I agree. "Syrian" is not a race. It's a nationality.

[Lizzie Poppet]

7. I agree, as well.

"Racist" has a different meaning. The manga is insensitive and more than a little bigoted, but it's not racist.

[sub.theory]

5. Inflammatory: yes. Racist: no

I'm actually far more concerned that thousands of people are trying to censor this woman on her Facebook page than I am about people posting inflammatory cartoons. These people may think they are making the world a better place, but they are pursuing an extremely dangerous agenda. Have we become such wilting flowers that we can't stand to ever be exposed to views we find repulsive? Get a grip. Disagree. Criticize. Stop trying to silence.

[KittyWampus]

6. Yes, a variation on the Far Right's theme which Reagan elucidated as "welfare queen".

I'm sure all the Japanese people displaced by the tsunami weren't trying to live a luxury life at the expense of others.

[zazen]

8. maybe, but putting adult facial features with come hither eyes on child is creepy & sexist

[Quantess]

9. The word racist is so misused and overused it has lost some of its meaning.

It's such a knee-jerk term nowadays.

I don't like it, but these cartooons shouldn't be censored. It's her opinion, as hateful as her opinion may be.

[Art_from_Ark]

10. I took a look at the artist's Facebook page

She's a real right-winger, the Japanese version of a teapartier. She's a big fan of the right-wing prime minister, she's against any kind of mutual defense treaty (which can be interpreted to mean she is opposed to Article 9 of Japan's constitution prohibiting aggressive war), and she is even opposed to anti-whaling groups.

Bleah.

[newfie11]

11. Whoever wrote this needs to change places with the refugees

See how great life really is for them!
Yes he is a racist fool.

[stevenleser]

12. Definitely bigoted.

I love Japan and the Japanese, but they are known for being extremely ethnocentrist. Probably more so than 99% of other countries.

Almost every country has some, but they have a lot.

[eissa]

13. Fuck her. This is what REFUGEES are fleeing

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/08/isis-killed-three-christians-hostages-syria-assyrian-ransom

Three Assyrians, part of a group of over 200 kidnapped back in February, were just executed. There's a video, but I won't post it; not only because of its graphic nature, but not wanting to spread their filthy propaganda. They are threatening to execute the remaining -- most of whom are women and teens -- unless they're paid $10 million. Life of luxury? How about just LIFE. Fucking shit-eating asshole. I'm so fucking pissed right now.

[dembotoz]

14. artist --use the term loosely might be trying out for trump advance team

[joeybee12]

15. Whatever it is, it's wrong...the expressions are completely different...

The photo is an innocent, perhaps confused child...the drawing is of some evil Carly Fiorina type out to get what it wants...Phuck the artist.

[closeupready]

16. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Given the history of Japan, I think that familiar expression could help enlighten Toshiko as to the foolishness of lampooning the misfortune of innocent people (as opposed to those who are taken as comfort women, raped, and left to die/forced at gunpoint to march until they die/etc.).

[Comrade Grumpy]

17. Not racist, but still very ugly and reactionary. Fuck off, Toshiko.