UN Racism Poster

[DoubleT]

Because of the International day against racism on march 21st. The United Nations has released this poster.

With the Text

[gylman]

That's just weird.

Lego is an oasis of innocence and sanity in a world of evil and crazy people.

I vote for keeping the politics out of Lego, and Lego out of politics.

[snefroe]

to be honest, lego asked for this..; they've been getting themselves more and more involved in social/political projects in the last few years, for instance, their involvement in the concentration camp project...

here's the real crappy thing:

lego does no longer have the patent of those bricks (remember the court cases in Canada and Euope), so we may still associate this with lego and the company may feel they're being put in an impossible position, but this brick concept is free now for everyone to use... so you may think this is a lego brick, the UN will tell you it's not...

[xenologer]

Im not sure the poster makes sense to me....

'i dont get it'

whats it trying to say?

I see a puzzle piece, and a lego brick and some text... 'racism can take many forms'

What does a puzzle and a lego have to do with racism?

Sorry if im a little dense... can someone explain to me what the poster is trying to say?

[snefroe]

Im not sure the poster makes sense to me....

'i dont get it'

whats it trying to say?

I see a puzzle piece, and a lego brick and some text... 'racism can take many forms'

What does a puzzle and a lego have to do with racism?

Sorry if im a little dense... can someone explain to me what the poster is trying to say?

yeah it took me a while to figure it out as well.

it goes like this: the brick can't be part of the puzzle because it's different from the puzzle pieces

[Zane]

Well, yeah, cuz it's made by different people. It CAN'T fit in the puzzle, even if it wanted to. Translate that into human-terms, and basically we CAN'T visit alien planets because of whatever gases are there (to stop breathing) as much as we'd like to.

So not only is it stupid, but it makes no sense whatsoever. And the creators are being racist, by linking everyday things to racism.

TT

[ApophisV]

I think this poster has this one and only message:

"Is it possible that I have prejudices without of noticing it?"

In my opinion this is not against the Danes or Denmark or whatever. As I see this the LEGO brick is a symbol for prejudices hidden behind some sort of innocence where you'd never expect them to be hidden!

Denmark was never really involved in all those conflicts going on with Irac, Afghanistan and so far (At least not in the way e.g. the US was). If you thought about that problem there might have come states and countrys like USA, Great Britain, the problem countrys itself in your mind. But Denmark? I can't remember of reading or seeing anything involving them in the conflicts.

And then? - Kawoom - There comes this highly offending caricature from this country nobody had looked at before!

Sure, it was only one newspaper and not the whole Danish population, but how shall the world know this? How can a man in Afghanistan know about the situation in Denmark? At this point the next wave of prejudices rise!

Because of missing further knowledge almost EVERYBODY tends to take all people of any larger group (Iracis, Germans, footballplayers, AFOLs, barbers,...) and give them the attitudes ONE KNOWN INDIVIDUAL of this group has!

NOBODY is free of prejudices (which, in the most extrem case, are racism!) and nobody every will get rid of them, as wise he is and as much knowledge he has!

BUT we can work on them, decrease them, think more openly, try to learn about each other instead of giving everybody general attributes!

And this is where this advertisement steps in: How can I work on my own knowledge if I don't know that I AM thinking in prejudices? This ad shows us: EVERYWHERE prejudices can hide, even in places you would never expect them!

[xwingyoda]

Oh boy the UN does it again *wacko*

Please don't tell me that the discreminated Lego brick has NOTHING to do with some Danish "cartoon" not so long ago *sad* No this couldn't be, especially with a poster made in arabic *sad*

That cartoon "story" did piss me off big time because the author was only retracing the Prophet's life as an "honour" and was not intended at all to be some sort of blasphemy >:-(

Indeed Racism can take many forms: stupidity and fanaticsm being some of them.

I didn't mind the Lego Concentration camp at all for its historical/learning value but this just over the top for me >:-(

Hope Lego sues the UN big time ;-)

*yoda*

[gylman]

As I see this the LEGO brick is a symbol for prejudices hidden behind some sort of innocence where you'd never expect them to be hidden!

EVERYWHERE prejudices can hide, even in places you would never expect them!

Symbol for prejudice!!

Our poor innocent, playful, colourblind, non-violent, "play well", LEGO brick. Now a symbol for prejudice.

Thank you United Nations.

*n* :-X

(sorry, I could not add non-sexist to our Lego brick, since Lego clearly is sexist >:-( ). Maybe next time we can have some feminist poster using the brick :-X )

[xwingyoda]

Also what revolts me (and the term is not too strong, trust me on that) is that the brick used is red, colour of blood & passion >:-(

At least if it was a blue UN peace brick...

*yoda*

[Zane]

Oh well. It's Megabloks. XD

TT

[snefroe]

I think this poster has this one and only message:

"Is it possible that I have prejudices without of noticing it?"

In my opinion this is not against the Danes or Denmark or whatever. As I see this the LEGO brick is a symbol for prejudices hidden behind some sort of innocence where you'd never expect them to be hidden!

Denmark was never really involved in all those conflicts going on with Irac, Afghanistan and so far (At least not in the way e.g. the US was). If you thought about that problem there might have come states and countrys like USA, Great Britain, the problem countrys itself in your mind. But Denmark? I can't remember of reading or seeing anything involving them in the conflicts.

And then? - Kawoom - There comes this highly offending caricature from this country nobody had looked at before!

Sure, it was only one newspaper and not the whole Danish population, but how shall the world know this? How can a man in Afghanistan know about the situation in Denmark? At this point the next wave of prejudices rise!

Because of missing further knowledge almost EVERYBODY tends to take all people of any larger group (Iracis, Germans, footballplayers, AFOLs, barbers,...) and give them the attitudes ONE KNOWN INDIVIDUAL of this group has!

NOBODY is free of prejudices (which, in the most extrem case, are racism!) and nobody every will get rid of them, as wise he is and as much knowledge he has!

BUT we can work on them, decrease them, think more openly, try to learn about each other instead of giving everybody general attributes!

And this is where this advertisement steps in: How can I work on my own knowledge if I don't know that I AM thinking in prejudices? This ad shows us: EVERYWHERE prejudices can hide, even in places you would never expect them!

i think you're taking the wrong approach here. i don't think it mentions lego/denmark and i doubt if the arab world knows this brick is danish lego... But suppose the UN tried that association (danish lego brick-danish cartoons-racism) then i think they have a serious problem on their hands, cos in that case they are using the lego brand without lego's permission in a highly questionable context...

Toa isn't correct either. The fact that the brick cannot be part of the puzzle, even if it wanted to, is a wrong conclusion and is in fact the behavior this ad condemns. the ad says it's wrong to build a society based on discriminative criteria (in this case, the shape, color of the brick,...) that exclude individuals because of who they are. By saying the brick can't be part of the community because it's clearly different, you're saying a black guy doesn't belong in a community of white people because of his color, a visual element of the individual that is part of the individual's nature)

so what brings these pieces together into a community, is the fact that they all are pieces, it doesn't matter that one is a red construction toy and the other a piece of a puzzle.

[gylman]

Right. And all of the ranting raving hating masses of the world are going to look at this poster on whose meaning even we cannot agree, and come together in sweet harmony. Another UN triumph.

[snefroe]

Right. And all of the ranting raving hating masses of the world are going to look at this poster on whose meaning even we cannot agree, and come together in sweet harmony. Another UN triumph.

lol

the fact that several people on this community see different messages clearly indicates this ad sucks!

[The Hordesman]

"Its not that I like targeting someone with hatred, its just that humans need a target for hatred to work in a unity."

I dont really get it, what is the brick doing there? Have Lego done something? Hute?

I mean, taking the best bloody toy in the world and put it in a pic like that? Like Lego didnt have enough of problems! Now its "racist" for some reason too! >:-(

Just felt this pic came in topical:

I have idea what they were protesting against in the pic, but I cannot do anything else than agree with them!

[xwingyoda]

Well it clearly shows the message is unclear, way to go for the brilliant conceptor behind that lousy "propaganda" work ;-)

One can asks himself why is that ??

If you look closely at the black puzzle pieces (which suppose are creating a certain unity), they are NOT well assembled anyway, there goes their unity !! Even them could discreminate among themselves !! "you are different because not well assembled"

Now what evidence do we have that this red brick is a guenuine Lego part and not a Megablock part ?? In this case the message can be viewed in a totally different perspective: the puzzle parts representing the general world of construction toys clearly discreminates against a cheap ripp off ;-)

In conclusion, all we are saying is just pure mere interpretation on a "genious" work of art !! Maybe one day the clear message will strike us ;-)

*yoda*

[Zane]

Actually, those 11 puzzle pieces could be the victim, having been excluded from the rest of the puzzle, and the Lego block wants to make friends.

TT

[The Hordesman]

Now what evidence do we have that this red brick is a guenuine Lego part and not a Megablock part ??

Megabloks has "megabloks" written in the middle, while Lego has it written on the studs, and there is no other company that has a such fine style as Lego as written on the studs of the red brick. A red brick is also the logo for Lego... 8-

[DoubleT]

An UN spokesman said today: "The Poster will be taken down from the UN Website, and from the walls of UN buildings" and he added: "wich was the plan anyway".

Lego have now written a complaint to the UN...

[xenologer]

yeah it took me a while to figure it out as well.

it goes like this: the brick can't be part of the puzzle because it's different from the puzzle pieces

Okay, snefroe1's interpretation is the only one that sounds plausible to me...

But... I still don't really get it...

I don't believe that being different means people have to be separate. So, its almost like the people who made that poster believe racism is inevitable because people are different? Isn't that ... endorsing racism?

Bottom line, this poster is dumb because whatever message it may be trying to convey, is lost on me.

A message that cannot be conveyed to an audience (me) is useless.

[snefroe]

An UN spokesman said today: "The Poster will be taken down from the UN Website, and from the walls of UN buildings" and he added: "wich was the plan anyway".

Lego have now written a complaint to the UN...

what a weird story. first, they spend lots on money for this ad, and then, after 1 day they decide to get rid of it, and that's supposed to be planned? *wacko*

*wacko*

and then we say lego takes weird decisions *wacko*

[Beagle]

I interpreted it quite simply as "like" pieces (the puzzle pieces) banding together while excluding the one "unlike" piece (the Lego brick). I interpreted the brick as the "victim," if you will, being excluded from the community because it is physically different and, at least in a superficial sense, does not seem to fit with the other pieces.

I don't think they were picking on Lego specifically, I think they were just trying to find two very recognizable images of building pieces.... things that are tiny and simple on their own, but can be formed together to create a greater whole that is more than the sum of its parts: in other words, a community. They could just as easily have used Lincoln logs or actual stone bricks or something.... but I think they chose Lego and puzzle pieces because a) they're both very iconic and recognizable and b) the fact that they are "toys" evokes innocence and childhood (when most racist opinions take root).

Maybe I'm being naive, but I think the fact that both Lego and the recent international cartoon controversy (THERE'S a phrase I never thought I would use) are Danish in origin is just an unfortunate coincidence. I hope.

Ultimately, though, it's obvious from the varied interpretations even on this board that the poster is unclear, and the metaphor is muddled at best. It's probably smart that the UN is pulling this poster.... we've already had cartoon riots, we don't want to start any toy riots. *wacko*

[blueandwhite]

I think Beagle nailed the message, but the ad itself is rather weak. Comparing apples to oranges doesn't adequately describe the social injustices arising from racism. If anything, this ad promotes racism. It suggests that the two groups are too different to co-mingle. The separation between the puzzle pieces and the brick is not by choice, but by nature. The brick's incompatability with the inferior puzzle pieces suggests differences which are more than superficial.

In short, the UN supports racism *vader*!

Later.

[jonfett]

It suggests that the two groups are too different to co-mingle. The separation between the puzzle pieces and the brick is not by choice, but by nature. The brick's incompatability with the inferior puzzle pieces suggests differences which are more than superficial.

I was thinking along the same lines, but more like the pieces have similar functions but are forced, for whatever reason (in this example shape, size.. the whole idea of racism), to go different ways even if they dont want.

Of course, this posted can be interpreted many ways.. but I agree with the general opinion that it is a waste of money and is confusing as to the UN's views.

Jon.

[Deinonychus]

Just remember this is the same UN that thought bombing the living hell out of the Smurfs for a Unicef ad would help get their point across...

No better way to shame people into social awareness then by crappping all over our childhood icons |-/