Is this shirt offensive or funny?

[aporel#18]

Team America is funny, not offensive (although in the end it tends to justify this nonsense notion of the US as the World Police).

Is this shirt trying to make fun of people who agree with its message? I'd find that funny, but I guess a lot of people in the US would take offense on that.

Seriously, I still don't get the use of "America" as a synonym  to United States of America. It's not like the name didn't exist before 1776, right? My guess is people from the rest of the continent might find some disrespect in that.

Finally, CelticConcourse is right, there's nothing to brag about wars. Of course somebody wins, but common people always pay the price. It would take a lot of space to discuss this subject, so I'll leave it there.

Every country has its sterotypes, and it's good to make fun of them, we need more humor and less wars.

[bfrombleacher]

Team America is funny, not offensive (although in the end it tends to justify this nonsense notion of the US as the World Police).

Considering it's satire...maybe that part was satirical as well.

[dark_lord]

i dont think its funny or offensive....just dumb

[celticmaestro]

I think the shirt is highly insensitive and am surprised so many of you like it and find it funny. Fact is, millions died in those world wars. They're nothing to be proud of and to wear it on your t-shirt makes you none other than an ignorant and rude hooligan.

I heard about a guy once with an Al-Qaeda shirt that had a picture of the burning WTC and the slogan "best pilots in the world" and that was supposed to be funny. He was Spanish but got some pretty bad stick for it. How many of you that think the t-shirt at the heart of this thread is funny also find that Al-Qaeda shirt funny?

The t-shirt fairweatherfan posted is funny. I can look at that and laugh, mainly at the ridiculousness of it.

[Roy H.]

Fact is, millions died in those world wars. They're nothing to be proud of...

I think there's a lot to be proud of regarding America's role in the World Wars.  The shirt is over-the-top, and I think it's meant to be ironic and self-deprecating.  Offense is in the eye of the beholder, but from where I stand, the offense here (if there is any) isn't because there's nothing to be proud of regarding those wars. 

There was a ton of heroism by American and Allied soldiers that should be celebrated. I'd be more inclined to agree that this shirt cheapens the sacrifice of millions of soldiers for a quick laugh.

[Rondo2287]

i dont think its funny or offensive....just dumb

of course its dumb.. The question is whether or not you find that funny.

[angryguy77]

It's funny, who cares what some other person might think. I'd tell them if it wasn't for us, they would be reading the shirt in German.

I fail to see how that shirt is making fun or being insensitive about war. It's being funny about a historical fact. War isn't a good thing, but winning a just war brings good things.

What's next? Is it going to be now inconsiderate to wear a Celtics shirt naming all the titles one because it might offend a bobcats fan?

[indeedproceed]

It seems like everyone took this shirt a little differently.

I actually thought it was making fun of rednecks and their hyperactive jingoistic patriotism. I thought comparing 'Murica to a favorite sports team, or even more telling, a favorite wrestler, was meant to highlight just how superficial and unaware of themselves these guys are.

That's why I thought it was hilarious when Rondo said he'd wear it to Country Music concerts.

Maybe I went too deep. Maybe some of you guys went too shallow. Maybe we're all just giving the shirt makers what they want by talking about it.

[Donoghus]

It's pretty lame but I don't think its offensive.  I just see it as simple minded patriotism.  Tacky more than anything.  Not something I'd necessarily buy.

As someone mentioned earlier in this thread, some people just get offended way too easily. 

[fairweatherfan]

It seems like everyone took this shirt a little differently.

I actually thought it was making fun of rednecks and their hyperactive jingoistic patriotism. I thought comparing 'Murica to a favorite sports team, or even more telling, a favorite wrestler, was meant to highlight just how superficial and lacking of unaware of themselves these guys are.

That's why I thought it was hilarious when Rondo said he'd wear it to Country Music concerts.

Maybe I went too deep. Maybe some of you guys went too shallow. Maybe we're all just giving the shirt makers what they want by talking about it.

Well, meaning is subjective, but I'd say that's way too deep for most.  The vast majority of people would pretty much just accept it at face value, whether they liked that message or not.

This certainly is a lot of chatter about a t-shirt, though.  Rondo if you're looking for something attention grabbing I think you have a winner.

[dark_lord]

i dont think its funny or offensive....just dumb

of course its dumb.. The question is whether or not you find that funny.

i answered that in my post

i dont think its funny or offensive....just dumb

[Rondo2287]

i dont think its funny or offensive....just dumb

of course its dumb.. The question is whether or not you find that funny.

i answered that in my post

i dont think its funny or offensive....just dumb

I didnt mean you in particular, just commenting that I think its obvious that the shirt is dumb, which is the generation of the humor/offensive debate.  But neither is also an option.

[BballTim]

It's funny, who cares what some other person might think. I'd tell them if it wasn't for us, they would be reading the shirt in German.

  This. I don't think that many of the people lamenting the fact that we participated in the wars would necessarily be happy with the results if we'd refused to fight under any circumstances.

[Chief]

Where I live, somebody would probably buy you a beer for wearing it.

[clover]

I'd put it at mildly amusing and too obviously a joke to actually be offensive. 

If anything, it sadly could be seen as a joke on the US, considering some could argue that we've lost every war, other than maybe the overall Cold War, that we've been involved in since.