MikeK
Gold Member
You're right. It really isn't an insult anymore than Brits is epithetic to Britishers or Aussies is to Australians. It is merely verbal abbreviation, as is Nips short for Nipponese. The negative connotation arose during WW-II from the hatred felt for a menacing enemy.
The insulting verbal reference to Japanese during WW-II was gooks and the propaganda machine depicted them on posters as angry, buck-toothed yellow monkeys in military uniform with fixed-bayonets.
The Japanese epithet for their caucasian enemy was gi jin, which means crude barbarian.
That was then, in the insanity of war.
Now we know them to be a decent, honorable people. They are our friends and they desperately need our help. A ten dollar contribution to the American Red Cross will help to deliver much needed food, water and medical supplies to them.
