Here is my two-cents....even if it may only be worth that. I am half-japanese and half american/irish. I am a product of WWII, and born here is the US.....DesMoines, Iowa to be exact. My mother left Iowa when I was about 3 years old, to get away from the hatred. Although, my sisters and I, grew up in San Francisco, California.....a melting pot of the west coast, we still endured the racial slurs, ridicule, the shunning, and even being spit upon by people we didn't know, just because we were of Japanese decent. That was a long time ago, and I have tried to forgive and forget, but when something like this comes up.......Yes, it does bring back ugly memories. I really don't believe the person who said this, meant it as it was taken, but perhaps, if he/she had just placed a "period" at the end of the word "jap", no-one would have taken offense? To me, that would have meant that it was just an abbreviation for the word, Japanese....but as it stands.....obviously.........it offended someone. I have also heard Black people call each other the "N" word, but to be quite honest....in all my years, I have NEVER heard a Japanese person call another Japanese person, a "Jap" and I think that is because they/we do not like to be called that or want to be reminded of the time time that we were? Take care all....and I hope I Did'nt offend anyone. (: Genny