Apparently my Rice vs Pasta has terrible racist overtones. When I drew it, it was just a piece of rice and a piece of pasta. Little did I know I was releasing the secret bigot within. After all, Italians vs Chinese is one of the foremost struggles in Britain and the world today. Every day on the streets I see these two diverse racial groups (and apparently, sworn enemies) engaged in toe-to-toe combat on our "mean streets".
OR
It is about dinner decisions.
Readers, I throw myself on your mercies. You decide!
My comics: Bad Machinery - Scary Go Round - Giant Days :: My Shop :: My Flickr Sketchblog :: My Last.fm
35 comments:
Oh for heaven's sake. Personally I find the assumption that pasta=Italy and rice=Asia to me more racist than this t-shirt could ever be interpreted as. You people need to get a grip.
I'm not even sure I understand how it's supposed to be racist.
I still love you Mr A, and so does baby F :)
i like pasta more than rice.
i don't think that makes me racist
As a long time member of both the italian and chinese communities, I would like to weigh in on this dispute and call on one and all to rally behind John A (not evil John)
Come on folks, I can't be the only one who sees that t-shirt and wonder which starchy food would work best with tonight's corned beef stew!
It's not like it was a noodles v. spaghetti t-shirt or anything.
as an italian who loves sushi, i am not sure where i stand on this debate. i am sure it is not racist. what is racist, though, is the assumption that yarn is angry. i personally have a few yarn friends and they are good natured and helpful.
perhaps you need to sit down with some community leaders (made of yarn, of course) and discuss.
I don't think you need to worry in the long term because the inevitable domination of the starchy dish universe will come about by the invincible potato, reaching out from the New World to smite these warring factions with its baked, mashed, and deep-fried armies.
The pasta maybe bigger, but you'll get far more rice than you bargained for.
Seriously, you have to be pretty stuck up to kick up a fuss about it, although I wouldn't wear it whilst walking around in China, just to be safe.
as long as you finally make a purple shirt i forgive you for your bigotry.
Thanks everyone! I don't feel like a secret racist any more.
Anik: the tshirt was almost MASH vs CHIPS, I think potatoes have enough internal struggles on their own!
Potatos!!!
So you have got something against the Irish then!!!
;O)
The irony is that Pasta originated in China. So It's Asia vs Asia!
I always knew you were a secret crazy racist Mr Allison. It was only a matter of time until the frothing bigotry that surged beneath your mild-mannered exterior spilled out into your t-shirt designs.
Plus the 'saddest wookie' t-shirt had an obvious pro-nazi subtext.
People read far too much into things.
(A 'friend Bat' t-shirt would be nice.)
: )
The pasta has slanty eyes...this makes no sense! But honestly, I just don't think it's good because of the confusion and my general lack of interest in grains.
But yaya John's still cool in my book.
I too am entertained that the pasta looks Asian and the rice is white and round eyed.
But as a big diet crazed American I hate all simple carbs. Fear not, we still love you John!
Can't we all just get along? (Maybe get along also with a little garlic, some peeled shrimp, peppers, onion, chorizo, paprika, parsley, tomato, dry white wine, thyme and some fish stock? A dry shiraz to accompany...)
Paella for Peace!
I'm for "Friend Bat" T-Shirt as well. Bats are cute ( and have superpowers )
Actually, not a bad idea. Friend Bat is the character besides Hugo guaranteed to cause smile-lines to form with his mere APPEARANCE.
I love that Friend Bat, and certainly would not object to him living on my chest.
I've tried a few Friend Bat designs over the years but didn't like any of them. I think I have a few more chops now and will look at the issue again when I have a spare morning.
I only said that stuff because someone was gonna... It wasn't an ill-will-driven thing or nothin'.
Anyways, Italians and Asians go fine together. Example: Mario
"I think I have a few more chops now and will look at the issue again when I have a spare morning."
This is excellent news. I have long needed a Friend Bat shirt.
If it doesn't work out you can always change it to enemy bat shirt.
I found both those shirts to be incredibly awesome, and I rather enjoy the design of the angry croquet creature.
Also, I did not come here to talk about how silly the bleating of racist intentions of rice v. pasta, but rather to join in the chorus of pleading for a Friend Bat shirt. He is a character I am always delighted to see, regardless of circumstance. I would be delighted to find him on my shirt, so please don't give up on it.
John A to me in an e-mail:
Nov 15, 2005 4:26 AM
Re: friend bat t-shirt!
he's too small and has too few details to be on a shirt. I've tried many different designs but none of them worked.
John A now:
I think I have a few more chops now and will look at the issue again when I have a spare morning.
me: HOORAY!
Oh rapturous joy! A friend/comrade bat t-shirt? John, you better not be messing with my emotions. I don't think I could handle it!
is it just me, or does long threads over the internet about pointless controversy create a general sense of malaise about the world in general and the internet in particular?
I think so, but I have tried to keep things acceptable on my webs. Tough love!
Anik: the tshirt was almost MASH vs CHIPS,
TV Korean War Doctors versus TV California Highway Patrol? What, sir do you have against them? Is it the anagrams?
Wait, that means something else outside the US? ;)
I'm pretty sure Freud said, "Sometimes a shirt design is just a shirt design."
And trolls should be ignored.
I have never wanted something more in my life than a tshirt that proclaims the eternal struggle between two types of food--"rice vs. pasta" gets my vote.
Yes, yes, but does it break his promise that at no point will he tell us what he had for dinner?
I'm pretty sure that a convention-smashing wonderman such as Mr. John A. would not have such foodstuffs for dinner but instead for breakfast - or at least that internationally-loved halfway-house, brunch.
What, sir do you have against them? Is it the anagrams?
um,acronyms, not anagrams....
Way to spoil an obscure joke....
Anyway, I'm sure you got the point, as you're smart in that and many other ways.
I am living in China right now, and I can assure you that shirt is Sichuan-street-safe. It might look nice on days I'm wearing my special "Rubber Back Print" shirt. As my pillows so frequently tell me, Life is Happy Dream.
I am half chinese and half italian, and I think I may NEED a shirt that says rice vs. pasta.
Post a Comment