Japanese...is 'japs' a racist word?

Question

Here in this question I replied with my honest opinion.
I am a former US soldier that did time on the DMZ in Korea. I was there almost 2 years and got to know a bit about Koreans and thier varying attitudes.
It certainly does to the Koreans.
I honestly believe my answer has in its simplicity some insight into the situation in that area of Asia. Especially given my limited knowledge of history and direct experience. I think I raise a valid point.
Another respondent to this question 'Tiko' the last respodent to the question at hand has fashioned himself as a nemesis of sorts or so it appears and occaisionally haunts me on Yahoo Q&A. Thus, ignoring the point I am making and taking liberty to make jabs at my character.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=At39lUK8i8IUjw4M8.x_.2nsy6IX?qid=20061013015855AA

Answer 1

Yeah its a racist word!!!LOL

Answer 2

'Jap' is a perjorative term for Japanese and, as such, should not be used. As another answerer said, I usually hear it only coming from a bigot. People should pay attention to how the target of such language receives it, and then act in accordance with that. Help make the world a better place by being polite and helpful, rather than rude and nasty. Many white people use the "N" word to descibe African-americans and attempt to justify it by saying that blacks use it all the time. That is not correct. Some blacks use that term, perhaps out of ignorance, perhaps as a way of deflating the power of that word by overuse. Either way, there is no reason to join that club. When you find that certain terms for certain population groups are offensive then just remove them from your vocabulary. The world will heal a tiny bit and you will be percieved as a much wiser and likeable person,

Answer 3

Every time I heard 'Jap' it was rolling off the tongue of a bigot, a racist, so YES, I'd say so.

Answer 4

i dont think japs is a rasist word. if the person thinks so then yooh shouldnt say it