Absurd Singularity

Living in New York, I often forget there is ugly racism in America. I recently came across something that reminded me.

There's a company in Florida making t-shirts with slogans like FUK MI NAO, LIK MAI BALLS, LIK MAI NUTS, and MI SAKE U NAO. Mall-zombie retailer Abercrombie and Fitch got in trouble a couple months back for making t-shirts like this, and eventually pulled the shirts.

I know, in this grand scheme of things, this is minor. And I can have a sense of humor about these things as much as anyone. But there's a huge double-standard when it comes to things like this. If the t-shirts had been mocking certain other minorities, you could be sure there would have been a firestorm of protest.

Just look at the recent hubbub over "Ghettopoly" -- and the press' unfailing mention that the creator is a Taiwanese American.

I know another reason why these things happen is that Asians really have a tendency to keep their heads down and let these things pass. I decided I wasn't going to do that, so I wrote the head of this company, if only to add my voice to the protest. Even though it wasn't likely to do anything, I consider it a civic responsibility -- like voting.

I heard back from the company. The owner basically blew me off. So I'm fulfilling another civic responsibility and spreading the word.

If you'd like to contact these SOBs, here's their contact info. even if you have nothing to say, tie up their phone lines, rack up their bills, spam up their mailboxes. Damn right I'm vindictive.

The owner's name is Todd Goldman.

Phone: 1-727-462-6205 or 1-877-633-2845 (Toll Free)
Fax: 1-727-462-6911
Email: dgoliath@tampabay.com; todd@davidandgoliathtees.com
Address: David & Goliath, Inc.
1230 South Myrtle Ave. #401
Clearwater, FL 33756