Averatu wrote
During the Anglo Boer war, a large portion of female ancestors of my family perished in British concentration camps, and one male ancestor spent much time on the island of Snt Helena. Should I be offended by the mention of concentration camps? My distant ancestors where 'Franse Hugenote', should take issue with catholics? Apparently in Indonesia they wear Hitler T shirts like we wear Che Guavara T shirts, Its all about perspective. Are we just becoming a PC over sensitive culture?
Well, you should be offended if people think that it isn't a big deal, or try to deny that it happened.
Wearing Hitler t-shirts in Indonesia? A matter of perspective? That constitutes an endorsement of his behaviour and policies. Same with Che - and I wouldn't wear a Che t-shirt, given his eagerness for vindictive, unilateral executions over court-room justice. Although, probably like with Che, most people wearing the image probably have only the most limited idea of what he stood for.
Favouring genocide and race-hatred may be a perspective, but it's an extremely dangerous one that is ethically and empirically wrong. In a democracy (which Indonesia is not, btw, and people would very likely get in a lot of trouble for wearing some other t-shirts), you may wear a Hitler t-shirt (and be despised for it) but in many, like ours, active advocacy of group-hatred and violence is illegal.
Wearing a funny Hitler t-shirt is subtly different. It will offend many, but doesn't constitute endorsement of Hitler's policies, although it may seem to to some - just like a Haibo t-shirt I have with Julius Malema on it doesn't constitute endorsement of his policies (in fact, if you see the joke, it does the opposite).
We are PC sensitive because messages shape thought - otherwise companies would put their ad budgets to better use. And then let's remember the effect of un-PC radio in Rwanda...
