This is unbeileivable :

http://edition.cnn.com/20...?hpt=hp_t2

You know, when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or some other crazy anti-Zionist with an agenda to push diminishes the affects and facts behind the holocaust, that's to be expected. They have a bone to pick with US policy in supporting a Jewish state, yadda yadda yadda.

But, the Thais play with this simply as a 'fashion' exercise. The vast majorty of students here are ignorant of the true cost of the war campaign against the jews in Europe--hell, the vast majority of them don't even know Thailand's history with regards to WWII outside of what has been promoted in heroic texts and such regarding their 'proud' heritage.

But not understanding the context of the nazi symbols is no excuse for something like this. NONE.

There have been numerous criticism and firestorms over displays of this symbol in the country,

and the Thai people still seem to not get it.

A group of German expats in this country complained profusely about a Nazi-store in Siam Paragon

here a few years back, which made headlines in certain news papers. Most citizens simply, due

to very poor education or a detachment from German/Jewish history through both location and

the passing years, simply didn't understand what the fuss was all about over a symbol.

But there have ben numerous incidents. Numerous calls for education among westerners in this

country.

I'm sick and tired of seeing this stupid ass symbol in this country! Why can't they just get it?

It's offensive...it's hurtful...and ignorance of history is NOT an EXCUSE after all this time

and all these incidents.

~sigh~

Shit. Sacred heart in Chiang Mai? I think Phii Ta, Mon's sister, does some charity work with them. We've got some clothes in a box to send up there, but it's not Nazi uniforms.

Fauxie said:

Shit. Sacred heart in Chiang Mai? I think Phii Ta, Mon's sister, does some charity work with them. We've got some clothes in a box to send up there, but it's not Nazi uniforms.

My enthusiam for the excuse that "Thai's just don't know" or that "Thai students are lazy" is at a low ebb.

hitler was deeply into the occult and that so-called swastika actually originated centuries ago not far from where you are living. it was a sacred good luck symbol in several asian cultures long before hitler decided to defile it through association with the nazi party.

how deeply ironic that it should return to its place or origin so perverted from its original truth

The letter explained that the sports day activity involved groups being differentiated by colors -- the "Red" group having used Nazi symbols.

I'm not buying that.

Fauxie said:

The letter explained that the sports day activity involved groups being differentiated by colors -- the "Red" group having used Nazi symbols.

I'm not buying that.

That, I can totally see though. They do divide all their groups into colors (Even political ones); however, the students know what a nazi symbol is. It's everywhere here. They wear it as fashion completely unaware of the seriousness of the offense.

So the symbols and themes were deliberately chosen, while the students were probably largely ignorant of the symbolism's real offense.

HOWEVER, it's been years since the first news reports about this. Shouldn't the public education system have address this by now? I mean, seriously? Isn't it time to stop standing behind ignorance as an excuse for these types of insults?

imago said:

You know, when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or some other crazy anti-Zionist

Ahmadinejad is not a crazy "anti-Zionist"; he's a crazy anti-Semite (and homophobe).

The Z-word is thrown around like it's a synonym for "Jew" or "Israel" and it reeks of those loonies who believe in absolutely batshit-crazy conspiracy theories. Israel is not "Zionist" in the way ignorant people define that word (i.e. part of an evil scheme Jews are plotting to overthrow the world ).

But, the Thais play with this simply as a 'fashion' exercise.

Well, these Thais are what the less politically-correct amongst us would call "super fucking retarded". It's the equivalent of a bunch of idiots walking around in KKK robes, just for shits and giggles.

Nazis in Asia in the news today... http://news.blogs.cnn.com...?hpt=hp_c2

same "ignorance" excuse used too...

In 1999, a local company used an image of Hitler to advertise space heaters made in Germany. Additionally, in 2000, a restaurant in Taipei called The Jail displayed images of Nazi concentration camps, while a bar in Taipei operated under the name “Nazi Bar” during the 1990s. Both businesses later removed the references.

The nation’s fascination with Nazi lore could stem from the fact that the party has become a symbol of courage because of poor education, which explains why an association created to explore Hitler’s achievements was able to garner interest from 1,000 people in 2005.

“They’re not anti-Semitic, just ignorant,” Lin Chong-pin, a professor of strategic studies at Tamkang University in Taiwan, told the Christian Science Monitor after a photo surfaced on the Ministry of National Defense’s website of three students wearing Nazi uniforms at a military summer camp. “They think the Nazi uniforms look spirited, that the high hat looks very heroic,” he said. “Reading and understanding of history is very poor.”

Ace said:

imago said:

You know, when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or some other crazy anti-Zionist

Ahmadinejad is not a crazy "anti-Zionist"; he's a crazy anti-Semite (and homophobe).

The Z-word is thrown around like it's a synonym for "Jew" or "Israel" and it reeks of those loonies who believe in absolutely batshit-crazy conspiracy theories. Israel is not "Zionist" in the way ignorant people define that word (i.e. part of an evil scheme Jews are plotting to overthrow the world ).

But, the Thais play with this simply as a 'fashion' exercise.

Well, these Thais are what the less politically-correct amongst us would call "super fucking retarded". It's the equivalent of a bunch of idiots walking around in KKK robes, just for shits and giggles.

I am not an expert on this topic (partly by design) but yeah when someone talks about "Zionists" I immediately feel like they hate Jews

http://news.blogs.cnn.com...?hpt=hp_c2

Aparently you're not the only one not liking this. (For very good reason)