KilroyMcFadden said:
I'm in the Wato is anti-semitism camp.
From wikipedia
Allegations of antisemitismIt has been suggested that this character is offensive because he resembles a stereotypical Jewish caricature. He has a large nose, beady eyes, and speaks in a gravelly voice and is portrayed as greedy and covetous, another common stereotype of Jews. J. Hoberman of The Village Voice called him a blatant ethnic stereotype due to his hooked nose. Bruce Gottlieb of Slate magazine criticized him as well, comparing his character to the anti-Semitic notion that the Jewish race is "behind the slave trade."Patricia J. Williams of The Nation stated that Watto was also described as a stereotype of Arabs, but that he was "more comprehensively anti-Semitic -- both anti-Arab and anti-Jew." She added that Watto reminded her of an "anti-Semitic caricature published in Vienna at the turn of the 20th century."Jane Prettyman of the American Review noted that after leaving the theater, she heard two young boys describe him as "that weird little Jewish guy with wings". Prettyman described his depiction as "not at all subtle", and said that "it can be counted on to flush out already-formed Jew-haters among young audiences and give them permission to continue their hatred out loud."
Yet another Snake River Canyon sized leap of logic. Did any of these people call for a boycott of TPM, which must be the most racist movie since Song of the South? Didn't think so...
Two apocryphal little kids in a movie theater calling Watto a "weird little Jewish guy" doesn't mean they're going to grow up into Anti Semites.
Honestly, I thought Watto sounded Italian. ;)
Watto isn't even the only person on Tatooine who owns slaves. Remember that Jabba the Hutt fellow? Even Clieg Lars bought Ani's mom and then freed her.
I think Jar Jar is a weak and annoying character. I don't think he's a Stephin Fetchit. Lucas isn't that stupid.
I long for the good old days when people looking to start trouble complained there were no black people in Star Wars, and how dare the bad guy be all dressed in black!