Kansas recalls hundreds of license plates over ethnic slur complaint

NBC ^ | Nov. 28, 2018 | AP

[11th_VA]

WICHITA, Kan. — Kansas is recalling hundreds of vehicle license plates on the streets containing the “JAP” lettering in the wake of complaints that it is an ethnic slur offensive to Japanese Americans.

The Kansas Department of Revenue said there are 731 active registrations containing that random letter combination on standard license plates. Vehicle owners were sent a letter dated Tuesday asking them to return the plate to their county vehicle office within 30 days for replacement at no cost. Plates not replaced within that period will be identified in the state’s system and will be replaced at their annual renewal.

[headstamp 2]

I’d be offended by plates with the letter combination “DNC” on them.

“ASS-MAN”

[bgill]

That’s ok. The taxpayers will pay for it.

[metmom]

Oh, dear Lord.

[Charles Martel]

I've never understood how this can be construed as offensive - it's simply a contraction of the word "Japanese". Sure, combine it with salty WWII-era expletives and *then* it becomes an insult, but alone? Nonsense. It's like using "Brits" to refer to British people - nobody views that as offensive.

Spare us from the perpetually offended.

[shelterguy]

Good episode.

[Nateman]

I remember reading about some lady sueing her state because she had a plate that said ‘SOW331’. Apparently is was only a few pounds off from her actual weight.

[C210N]

I guess I’d be asking for trouble if I obtained a DUI plate.

[Constitution Day]

This is a great idea, because there are so many of Japanese ancestry or birth living in Kansas.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

My license plate, which I’ve had for the past decade, is a series of numbers followed by ‘DJT.’

I’m CERTAIN I’m triggering Anti-Trumpers when I venture into Enemy Territory - and I LOVE IT! :)

[Lion Den Dan]

Oh My! Thank God I no longer own my J.A.P. motorcycle. The horror.

[null and void]

Did you try to nip that one in the bud?

[null and void]

-/|?

[kenmcg]

Just another liberal slap at free speech.

[cherry]

only Polish people can be constantly derided without repercussions.

[Stevenc131]

Sorry, but Jap is just a contraction not a slur.

British = Brit
Swedish = Swede
Polish = Pole

The perpetually offended can find something offensive in anything.

[libertylover]

HCK, QER, FAG, NIG... No wait, HCK would be fine but the list is almost endless if you’re looking to be offended. Be curious to see their entire list of banned letter combinations.

Maybe they should ban the combinations of CA, NY, IL, MA, (D) ... These are offensive to me.

[jeffersondem]

“I've never understood how this can be construed as offensive - it's simply a contraction of the word “Japanese”.”

That's what I'm thinking. How is an abbreviation offensive?

It is not a dirty word.

Think how many times we read the word “Cop” used to describe law enforcement personnel . . . cop did this, cop did that, cop went there. Nobody in the fake news business says boo about that.

[Pearls Before Swine]

No Jews were offended?

LOL, that was my initial response. Maybe we can swap JAP jokes sometime.

[jeffersondem]

“only Polish people can be constantly derided without repercussions.”

White southerners and Christians are fair game.

[Drumbo]

Political correctness at the DMV is nothing new. In 1993 my vanity plate "DRUMBO" was denied as "Racist". I asked why and had to wait to speak with a "supervisor". She told me that "Drumbo" was "clearly racist". "Haven't you ever heard of Little Black Sambo"? ... I was stunned and replied "Haven't you ever heard of "Bozo the clown?" I ended up with "DRUMBOY" and I spray painted over the "Y".

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