Si82 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=3&...93B225&set_id=1 Diplomats take Izzue with swastika promotion August 09 2003 at 01:54PM By Helen Luk Hong Kong - German and Israeli diplomats have lashed out at a Hong Kong fashion company for using swastikas and other Nazi party symbols in a clothing line and to decorate its chain of stores. IZZUE produces a range of T-shirts and pants with Nazi symbols printed on them. One T-shirt has a portrait of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler standing on a laurel. Red banners with white swastikas on top of iron crosses hung Saturday from the ceilings of some of the firm's 14 stores. The banners also carried a sign that resembled the symbol of the Third Reich: an eagle above a swastika. One branch broadcast Nazi propaganda films on a wall with a projector. "It's totally inappropriate because these symbols of the Nazi regime stand for cruelty and crimes against humanity," a vice consul of the German Consulate General in Hong Kong said on condition of anonymity. "These symbols brought a lot of pain not only over Europe, but over the whole world. It's definitely not the way to promote clothes." The diplomat urged the public to boycott the shops. The company's marketing manager, Deborah Cheng, said the Nazi-themed decorations and clothes were not intended to cause an outcry and may be withdrawn. She said the company had received a few complaints from customers. "We're seriously considering removing the displays. But before we take them off, we have to find a replacement," she said. Cheng added that the designer wanted the clothes to have a military theme and did not realise that the Nazi symbols would be considered offensive. Staff at one of the stores tried to stop an Associated Press photographer from taking pictures of the shop and tied up the lower part of the banners to hide the Nazi symbols. Israeli Consul-General Eli Avidar said the consulate has received dozens of complaints about the displays in the past two days, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported on its front-page Saturday. "People were furious, hurt and shocked that such a thing could happen," Avidar was quoted as saying. "It is unbearable to think that anyone can design a marketing campaign that desecrates the deaths of millions of people." Phone calls to the Israeli Consulate General in Hong Kong went unanswered Saturday. In April, soft drink giant Coca-Cola pulled a promotional robot figurine adorned with what appeared to be Nazi swastikas following criticism from a Jewish leader in Hong Kong. - Sapa-AP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 What's the big deal? It's not like jews are people or anything. I liked this... "We're seriously considering removing the displays. But before we take them off, we have to find a replacement," she said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Highland 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 They should try this, it'll get a good reaction over there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest SP-1 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 If I'm not mistaken, the Swastika was in existence well before the Germans used it and it had a different meaning. It could be that, culturally, the Nazi use of the symbol just hasn't ever been recognized as valid and the original context remains. But I could be wrong on that. They could just be jerks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 http://www.manwoman.net/swastika/swastika.html Oh, those wacky Krishnas, with their Jew-bating and all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Metal Maniac 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 If I'm not mistaken, the Swastika was in existence well before the Germans used it and it had a different meaning. Yeah, but there's a slight difference between using a swastika as it was originally intended, and using it (quite obviously) in the Nazi sense. Iron crosses and eagles? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 Yes, and selling it after all that has happened, well, that's just in bad taste. The swastika has changed in what it means. But no one seems to bat an eyelid over the CCCP merch being sold... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Highland 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 If I'm not mistaken, the Swastika was in existence well before the Germans used it and it had a different meaning. It could be that, culturally, the Nazi use of the symbol just hasn't ever been recognized as valid and the original context remains. But I could be wrong on that. They could just be jerks. The swastika was originally a centuries old symbol of good, but the Nazis corrupted it and frankly few people today would equate the crooked cross with anything other than the Third Reich. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZGangsta 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 If I'm not mistaken, the Swastika was in existence well before the Germans used it and it had a different meaning. It could be that, culturally, the Nazi use of the symbol just hasn't ever been recognized as valid and the original context remains. But I could be wrong on that. They could just be jerks. Yeah that's true, but this is far beyond using the traditional swastika. I mean, look at the pictures from the news article. They're obviously using nazi imagry with the whole red/eagle/swastika/iron cross deal. Plus the whole part about how "One branch broadcast Nazi propaganda films on a wall with a projector." Yeah that's a pretty dumb move. Although hell, lots of North American shirts and hats are using stuff that's pretty damn close to an Iron Cross these days. (HHH's symbol anyone?) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nighthawk 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 The Japs had the Nazi's back in WWII. Conspiracy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted September 16, 2004 Were this line of clothing in america, someone would sue the manufacturer after getting their ass handed to them for wearing a swastika shirt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 Although hell, lots of North American shirts and hats are using stuff that's pretty damn close to an Iron Cross these days. (HHH's symbol anyone?) The iron cross in no way is as associated with the Nazis as the swastika ... thus, it's a lot more acceptable in normal society. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
caboose 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 Yeah the Swastika is an ancient Hindu symbol of unity and peace. Since it was adopted by the Nazis, the appearance of the Swastika has been severely toned down in Hindu culture. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest SP-1 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 Yeah the Swastika is an ancient Hindu symbol of unity and peace. Since it was adopted by the Nazis, the appearance of the Swastika has been severely toned down in Hindu culture. Which is unfortunate. To those that replied and pointed out exactly what they were doing, then it appears they're just jerks. Fair enough. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted September 16, 2004 What...there's no outcries about Roman Numerals Clearly the NFL uses the Super Bowl to show their approval of Romans killing christians...and they even have a team called the lions...heeelllooo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Highland 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 And ironically enough, if Emperor Constantine had not been converted to Christianity, then it is a very real possibility that it would not be the global religion it is today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
