this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2026
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[–] Ostrakon@lemmy.world 240 points 1 month ago (7 children)

The people defending this as 'not racism'... way to miss the point. If this was some BBQ joint in Texas with a sign that says closed in Spanish but open in English you wouldn't be posting these comments

[–] baronvonj@piefed.social 54 points 1 month ago (2 children)

The odds of a Texas BBQ joint not having any Spanish speaking employees is exceedingly small.

[–] treesapx@lemmy.world 35 points 1 month ago (1 children)

And yet they are cheering for ICE to arrest them all. No matter the status or paperwork. If they're arrested then they are guilty. That's how it works down here.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 21 points 1 month ago

I mean, it's also racism. Those people are just stupid.

[–] SapphironZA@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 month ago

Its called Xenophobia.

Xenophobia and racism are distinct forms of prejudice: xenophobia is the fear or hatred of foreigners, while racism is the belief in racial superiority and systemic oppression based on race. Though they overlap, they target people for different reasons.

[–] Taldan@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It literally isn't racism though. You can disagree with it and think it should be banned, but there is no interpretation that it can realistically be called racism

I lived in Japan for a while. I've seen a couple places with a sign like this. In my experience every place like this is perfectly willing to have foreigners that speak Japanese. They simply don't want to deal with the hassle of a language barrier

I should also note these places were always in touristy areas. If they don't have a sign like that, they'll end up with majority English speaking customers, because Japanese customers prefer places without rowdy tourists that can't speak the local language. I did too. Going out for an after work beer, you want an entirely different atmosphere from tourists getting hammered

[–] asdfasdfasdf@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Why not just post the truth then? They could say "We're sorry, we're unable to accomodate non-Japanese speakers due to..."?

[–] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

Oh excellent, I have this translator app right here so they can accommodate me.

[–] rdri@lemmy.world -1 points 1 month ago

It doesn't say "if you are of that race we are open". It says you must understand the language. So learn it - you'll need it anyway to live there - or go elsewhere, where staff can serve you on your language, provide a menu on your language etc.

A hate system where you can upgrade your status by learning is not racism. Also not necessarily a hate system in the first place.

[–] atopi@piefed.blahaj.zone -1 points 1 month ago (2 children)

It would still not be racism

Xenophobia at worst, only hatred of tourists at best

[–] bold_omi@lemmy.today 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Xenophobia is inherently racist.

[–] atopi@piefed.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Arent they different things? Racism is about race, xenophobia is about country of origin

[–] mohammed_alibi@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

Probably a venn diagram but with a large overlap.

[–] bold_omi@lemmy.today 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Xenophobia is hatred of foreigners or aliens. I.e., those who are different, by one meaning of the word. It therefore encompasses racism.

[–] atopi@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Doesnt xenophobia only include people who were born in other countries?

[–] bold_omi@lemmy.today 1 points 1 month ago

Someone born in another country is one meaning of the word alien. Xenophobia is fear or hatred of aliens. Aliens can be people from other coubtries, strangers, or those different than one's self, depending on the definition of alien used. So the sum of all the definitions makes xenophobia encompass race-based discrimination.

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 4 points 1 month ago

Yeah let's start calling it racism when Barcelona locals spray tourists with water guns and see how quickly these same people scream "THAT'S DIFFERENT!"

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz -2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

If an American moves to Europe and doesn't attempt to learn the local language, then by a few months to a year in with zero effort people will say they're in the wrong for not making an effort to integrate and expecting everyone to speak English for them.

Clearly "Americans expecting foreigners to speak English" is different from "Other countries expecting Americans to speak the local language" from a moral point of view. So why is Japan then lumped in with America as the "Local people must accept and accommodate foreigners who can't communicate in the local language" bucket, when anywhere else it's "If you're traveling there and you didn't even try learning the language, then you're ignorant and entitled."?

[–] mkwt@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

If an American moves to Europe and doesn't attempt to learn the local language, then by a few months to a year in with zero effort people will say they're in the wrong for not making an effort to integrate and expecting everyone to speak English for them.

My American cousin lived and worked in France as an engineer for several years. This is absolutely not true. He did make an effort to learn some French, but it wasn't because of any pressure. He just wanted to.