“Whenever Hitler shows up, the world shows an interest”
NYT: "
Cups With Hitler’s Image Are Investigated in Germany"
The kitschy, vintage-style cups were on sale for three days at the Zurbrüggen stores before anyone noticed the small stamp showing the profile of the Nazi dictator above the word “Reich,” complete with a swastika postmark.
“Our workers are dismayed and embarrassed, the producer has apologized for the error, and we have apologized to our customers for this terrible mistake that resulted from a chain of unfortunate circumstances,” Mr. Zurbrüggen said in a telephone interview.
Customers have been offered a 20-euro gift certificate in exchange for returning their Hitler cup, which originally sold for 1.99 euros.
So far, 16 of the 175 sold have been returned, reflecting a certain popularity of the cups that caught the attention of the German media and even stirred the interest of the country’s Museum of Contemporary History.
“It is our mission to collect objects that have a relevance to contemporary culture,” said Peter Hoffmann, a spokesman for the museum in Bonn. The museum’s interest does not lie in the uproar surrounding the cups, Mr. Hoffmann said.
“It’s the story that is behind the cup that is interesting,” he said. “But we don’t know right now how it came to be, whether it was intended as a joke, or was simply ignorance.”
Germans are highly sensitized to reproductions of Nazi symbols, which are banned in the country, and move swiftly to remove them or take action against anyone displaying them. Yet in spite, or perhaps because of this, every time an image of Hitler pops up somewhere, it still causes a sensation.
28 comments:
I felt that way about confederate flags even while I lived there.
One day, Garry Henigan, ever the teenage comedian, a truly funny person, took on a shaking voice and lifted his fist, "The North will r-i-i-i-i-s-e again!"
His mother called me a Yankee in jest and Gary somehow found being continuing a fake Southern loyalty vastly amusing, or at least an endless source of jokes and jibes.
But now I view it fondly. Partly because of that. The dummkopf-ery of it, the knucklehead redneck aspect to it. It is part of our history and Gary showed me his fondness for that. Gary would probably vote for it to be banned. He is loyal Democrat, or was. This is my observation.
As to flags though, to me it resembles British flag which I view harshly not tenderly. But British view their flag tenderly and view ours harsly. Once a woman said "The photo is nice were it not for the flag" another said, "They sure do like their flags" as if British do less so. They're remarkably unaware their country came here twice to kick our asses, burned down our capitol. Plus their flag is actually spiky and ours is soft with significant celestial element. So there.
They will notice when their flag is hung or printed backwards. The white is like a propeller spinning the wrong way. It's obvious to them. And to Hawaiians too, because backwards it matches theirs. It's a nautical thing having to do with signaling distress.
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"So far, 16 of the 175 sold have been returned"
The Krauts came a lot closer to winning than most know, so I don't doubt there's a certain nostalgia in these multi-culti, PC times.
Especially with a resurgent Russia.
I guess Hitler is the closest thing to certitude after God was declared dead... or something
I think it is hilarious. Contract with a Chinese firm to make tea cups for the German market. The Chinese designers.......go......hmmmmm?
"Ok. This is a German postage stamp. Probably Googled it and got a photo of Hitler on a stamp. All those round eyed German types look alike, doncha know. Especially when your knowledge of history is on the same level as our idiot public educated kids....which means zero knowledge. I guess this is as good as it gets. Let's use it to go with the smarmy love letter verbiage. and ...ooooh....look at these pretty roses. Lets use them too."
Quality control? In China. Don't make me laugh. Actually. I am laughing. Nevermind.
lol DBQ, I think you nailed it.
It took me about 15 years to reconcile with living in rural Virgina, and to acknowledge there were positive aspects of Southern culture, such as when someone you don't really care for, nor she for you, will have a pleasant, smiling conversation.
As far as the Confederate flag, that was a bitter, bitter war. Vicksburg, MS didn't celebrate the Fourth of July until 1945, due to WW II ending. Leave them their flag and heritage. I don't think it's too much to ask.
Big Talker
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Hitler's on stamps --
What about you?
Middle Kingdom Mokes
The Chinks put Hitler on a German Market cup.
Not Schiller or Holderin, not Goethe or Heine.
Buncha know nothings who think they're the top?
Yup.
Deborah said ...
Leave them their flag and heritage. I don't think it's too much to ask.
I do. 600,000+ soldiers died for that fruitless cause, instigated by wealthy planters but fought for by plain old country folks.
I am v-e-r-y familiar with Vicksburg. It is time they grew out of the 19th century. Their idiocy back then is what gives cause to the agitators who now claim America, in its entirety, was built on the backs of black folk. No white people, the damn Yankees up north, did diddly doncha know.
The Stars and Bars represents nothing but the worst of our nation, and has no place today, anywhere.
The Stars and Bars represents nothing but the worst of our nation, and has no place today, anywhere.
That's one opinion.
"That's one opinion."
The only valid opinion. Does the Stars and Bars represent anything but hostility toward our one nation under God, treason, tyranny, cruelty, racism, and slavery?
You might as well say, Leave them their burning crosses and klan heritage. I don't think it's too much to ask.
"I do note that we have forgiven the Japs for attacking Pearl Harbor and killing 2,500 Americans"
Japan has never been part of our nation.
I note you use a derogatory term for the Japanese. Why?
The only valid opinion.
There are many opinions and many of them valid. It isn't up to certain commentators to declare that "only" their opinions are valid. Just stomping your itty bitty feet and declaring the debate over, doesn't work.... never has. Not a winning debate strategy.
Does the Stars and Bars represent anything but hostility toward our one nation under God, treason, tyranny, cruelty, racism, and slavery?
The reasons for the War of Succession are many and varied. Not all of them have to do with racism or slavery. Perhaps a history lesson? So, yes....the Confederate States Flag represents more than a one dimensional view reasons for the war and what it represents. History is always written by the victor and the losing side doesn't get to have its tale told.
As to that "One Nation Under God" crappola. Fuck that noise. Our bloated, corrupt Federal government is the worst tyrant and threat to individual liberty that we have. Witness the actions of BLM in Nevada. The best thing that could happen would be a break up of the US into regional states areas that can be self governing and will govern in the best interests of its OWN citizenry.
It would be nice to see that happen without a war and deaths. But....que sera.
Aridog said...
Leave them their flag and heritage. I don't think it's too much to ask.
I do. 600,000+ soldiers died for that fruitless cause, instigated by wealthy planters but fought for by plain old country folks.
Not so much the Southern planters as the Northern industrialists and, especially, the Abolitionists, who were drooling for a fight - Beecher's Bibles and all.
Had the South not fired on Fort Sumter (an act of war, after all), most Northerners' attitude was, "Don't let the door hit ya...".
And it shouldn't be forgotten that nothing in the Constitution disallows secession, so the Johnny Rebs were within their rights.
Meade said...
The only valid opinion. Does the Stars and Bars represent anything but hostility toward our one nation under God, treason, tyranny, cruelty, racism, and slavery?
No Irish Need Apply, Jim Crow, or Korematsu ring a bell?
You might as well say, Leave them their burning crosses and klan heritage. I don't think it's too much to ask
Actually, that's more of a US Democrat Midwest thing, if you do a little reading. Invoking the Stars and Bars probably set people like Robert E Lee spinning.
The reasons for the War of Succession are many and varied. Not all of them have to do with racism or slavery.
In addition to the Ordinance of Secession, four states issued a declaration of their causes for seceding.
Read them and you'll see slavery looms above all, with Mississippi clearly stating: "Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery -- the greatest material interest of the world."
"I note you use a derogatory term for the Japanese. Why?"
Primarily to bug PC liberals like you.
Secondarily, because I don't think "Japs" is that derogatory - and much less than "Kraut" in referring to our enemies in WWII. After all, its nothing more than an abbreviated name. The Germans used to call us "Amis" since "Americans" is quite a mouthful, isn't it?
Micks, Krauts, I-ties, Spics, Limeys, Pollacks, Negroes, Rednecks, Japs, Chinks, Squareheads, and Bohunks - they've all made America great.
With Hindsight, its sad we couldn't have let the South go its own way. But once you start shooting at people, things usually spin out of control. And no one had a crystal ball in 1861.
I'm glad we got rid of slavery, but I don't think we needed 600,000 dead men to do it.
"With Hindsight, its sad we couldn't have let the South go its own way. But once you start shooting at people, things usually spin out of control. And no one had a crystal ball in 1861."
I have been so steeped in the notion that secession meant weakening the Union, and would have been a hole in the dike. How might France or Spain aided them to our disadvantage, etc.?
The Limeys and the Frawgs toyed with the idea of aiding the Rebs (although France was so bogged down in Mexico, it's doubtful they could have done much).
A third round of the US - Britain thing might have been interesting, since the Brits were still doing the Charge of the Light Brigade and we were doing blitzkrieg.
"I'm glad we got rid of slavery, but I don't think we needed 600,000 dead men to do it. "
I don't suppose that 600,000 includes the dead slaves, does it?
I have never delved in the topic of Civil War deaths, much less into specific demographics of those deaths. I say this upfront to clarify that I claim no expertise by posting the following link, which I found interesting for the questions it raises and the different picture it seems to paint from the one I've traditionally seen referenced. Perhaps others will find it interesting, too.
A discussion of estimates of deaths during the Civil War (which references demographics)
For me, from this vantage point (that is, in the 21st century raised in a country that did not split) it's hard to determine whether it would have been better to let the South go its own way. There are so many factors to take into account. It's not as if it's all that likely that the various regions of our country today would be as they are today, only as separate countries. How to untangle the threads of all that happened, all of which led to the evolution of our country and its regions as they are today strikes me as an overwhelming, perhaps impossible, task.
How does one go back and redo history?
As for the Klan, it's important, isn't it, to remember that there a different periods in its history? It certainly was originally active in the South, but its resurgence in the earlier part of the 20th century was such that, for example, the Indiana Klan was the largest in country for a number of years. (I say this not as a swipe at anyone--I myself am a native Hoosier, born of a native Hoosier mom, herself born of a two native Hoosiers--which is why the topic interests me: Both my mom and my grandmother talked about that bit of heritage with me when I was quite young, so I later spent some time looking into the history of it.) Then, of course, there was another resurgence during the Civil Rights era in the middle of 20th century.
All that said, in and of whatever era, the Klan and its symbols and actions are disgusting to me, so in that sense, none of the preceding matters, I suppose.
"All that said, in and of whatever era, the Klan and its symbols and actions are disgusting to me, so in that sense, none of the preceding matters, I suppose."
Exactly. As I'm sure you (and some others) are aware — racism, slavery, white supremacy, and the Klan exist(ed) in more places than just the Confederate States of America.
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