I learned from this board that people don't have a right to not be offended. I wouldn't do it, but if he wants to do it, then good luck to him. Since the sentiment against it is strong, the free market should take care of it. Hitler-Brand Wines and Europe's Debate Over the Limits of Free Speech
I don't know how or why, but Native Americans used it as as a symbol (like you said, without the 45 degree shift), at least as late at the 1920s. I have a picture of a central texas 'all-native-american local baseball squad' circa 1911, and the logo on the front of their jerseys is a swastika. I'll scan and post the pic if I can.
I saw a clothing store with the name Obama in front on my recent overseas trip. The store has no customers, I spoke to the ill informed owner that Obama recently changed his name to B Kardashian and maybe that is why he has no customers. Last I heard he had changed the name of his store to B Kardashian and is doing much better.
Best I can tell the War was a contributing factor. Me mentioning it was that WWII impacted India, both in helping them rid themselves of Colonial control, and also that they were a part of the war. The Japanese and British fought over parts of India. I am by no means an expert on India or British history though. Also, it is hard to believe someone wouldn't Google their preferred name before spending $2,700 on branding.
Oh, I'm not doubting that he knew what he was doing, I'm just curious as to how many Indians would actually care- since the genocide was done far away and to an ethnic group not prevalent in India.
The impression I get isn't that he didn't know who Hitler was, but that he and many Indians only have a vague awareness of him and none of the abhorrence we have in the West. He obviously has some cultural context for Hitler and the Nazis because the branding got everything right -- the name, the swastika, the color, the type face, even the steampunk fans above the signage. And, he didn't do all this by himself -- he had a marketing person develop the logo, a sign guy install it, companies to make the swag and so on. If he was ignorant, someone would have told him along the way. But they must just think of him as another one of those European leaders who maybe did some bad stuff but also provided leadership, etc. Never learned much or internalized much about the Holocaust and the significance of the war. It'd be like an American clothing company using a giant portrait of Napoleon in their marketing (which I remember from a decade or two ago, though I can't remember the store), and someone saying, "Whoah! You know Napoleon usurped power from the first French Republic, made himself emperor, and went on a rampage trying to conquer all of Europe and killing millions of people!?!?!" All that stuff is true and Napoleon is like Hitler in a lot of ways, but he doesn't occupy the same place in our consciousness. It seems like these Indians think of Hitler much the same way we think of Napoleon.
This gets rep because it's damn ass funny side story i'm proud of that you provoked me to tell so it's your fault: I'm at the store with my son buying groceries. I'm looking at those easy to make skillet meals...and there's a crap load of Asian meals like that. I say: "What's with all the Asian ones??" My son nearly falls down laughing and says, "Dad you're the least racist person I know and that was hysterical to hear you say that!" Funny moment...but if that's all my kids get from me, that you should see everyone as equals, then I'm good with that. Hitler can kiss my butt, though.
Uh oh, new Clutchfans meme time? If only we had a workable photo of you to do some photoshop work. :grin:
MadMax, I demand 10 cases of St. Arnold's Christmas Ale delivered to my front door within 12 hours of it being released or I provide B-Bob with a picture.
