The word 'Jap'

It's the same as saying "Brit" ... so I see no problem at all. It's just shorter version of the full word. Political correctness is often ridiculous - and this is just another example. People shouldn't take notice of PC bull, but it's difficult when so many people are sheep.

It seems quite simple to me: calling someone "jap" or *beep* in real life is clearly racism. Letting a movie character use those words is just depicting a racist scene, which is normal in a movie as, e.g., a murder scene, and might even reflect a historic reality. Trying to convince the audience that the opinions of that character have some factual value today would be an act of racism.

'Jap' is a rather polite alternative to the more common slang 'Nips' that was used by troops in WW2.'Nips' is mentioned about a dozen times in John Wayne's 'Sands of Iwo Jima'(1949). In this film you'll also hear the Duke himself refer to the 'Japs' as "those little lemon-colored characters".

If you have watched any of 'McHale's Navy' you will hear the word 'Nip' which was the other name that was used for the Japanese and I realized while watching it that (duh) it was short for 'Nippon' (ANA - All Nippon Airways). During WWII the Japanese were referred to - in short - as 'Nips' or 'Japs'. ...and the United States was at war with Japan. I certainly can think of a lot worse names, but people are more sensitive to people feelings now and will (usually) stop and think before they use a word. But, and this is a sticking point, you follow the standard for what was used during that time in History when you are making a movie. (I direct you to 'Driving Miss Daisy' and the two Sheriff Deputies that pulled over when they saw Miss Daisy and Hoke having lunch. Remember the two Deputies talking as Hoke and Miss Daisy drove away - stating, '...an old Jew Woman and ******' - both terms very derogatory... That was a time in History, thankfully past, but to keep from happening again, needs to be remembered.

And the dreaded "n-word" comes from a word that means "black." It's all in how you use it, as evidenced by the magical n-word that blacks can freely call each other in triumph but no one else may use it. You'll see similar magic in the homosexual community where there are many words they don't want to be called by others, but freely refer to each other by the very same words.

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It was very much a slur in WW!!. Younger people don't have that association. When flip-flops came to Calfornia in the 1950s they were first called "zorries". In the 1960s I heard them called "Jap Flaps" which was heard as a racist slur by older Americans.

In a historical context it wouldn't be surprising if the characters in the movie expressed racial hatred towards the Japanese.

But in days gone by you could actually talk about people from other countries and cultures without it being considered offensive.

It's a Jap sub! Not racist or offensive.

Those Japs are sneaky b*stards, check him for stilts. Racist and offensive.