LISP slower than JAVA?

SBCL, the fastest LISP, is slower than Java.

Why do people say Java is bad because it's slow, but say LISP is the best programming language ever?

I don't get it.

Better tell me, why Lisp uses these retarded symbols, instead of using something like fixword (akin to fixnum) to hold strings? Because 64-bit register can hold 12-char string - that is any english or chinese word.