Is this a case of cultural insensitivity? Sheer ignorance and/or stupidity? A deliberate "political" comment meant as an insult to the victims of the Holocaust (which, despite the Iranian President's polemics, is well documented historically)? Frankly, I have no idea - so I'm publishing the article without further comment.
From TotallyJewish.com
By Marc Shoffman
October 11, 2007
October 11, 2007
Holocaust Education Trust Chairman Lord Greville Janner has vowed to put pressure on Turkish officials after a TJ reader discovered Nazi chess pieces in an Istanbul market.
The figures of Third Reich soldiers, including Adolf Hitler as the king, were found in the Grand Bizarre of Istanbul, the Turkish capital, by the holidaymaker last week.
He told TJ: “I was shocked, angry and outraged.
“The Turkish people that we met were all very nice, we learnt how some of them managed to save a few Jews from the Nazis and they have good relations with Israel.
“One day Turkey may be welcomed into the Common Market but, before that happens, much more sensitivity to the realities of the Holocaust and the evil symbolism of the swastika should be appreciated. In my opinion, such material should not be put on public display.”
Lord Janner said: “These chess sets are revolting. They trivialise the Nazi murderers and show a total lack of sensitivity to the memories of their victims. I am contacting colleagues in Turkey and hope that pressure can be brought so that these so-called games will be taken off sale as soon as possible."
It comes as an Indian furnishing company agreed to withdraw a line of bedspreads called the Nazi collection after complaints from the Jewish community.
Although the owner Jagdish Todi insisted the name stood for New Arrival Zone for India and had nothing to do with the Third Reich, the logo for the line was a swastika. He has since issued an apology and scrapped the name.Meanwhile a Dubai property company has been criticised for using an image of Adolf Hitler to promote Real Estate.
The advert, which appeared in a daily newspaper in the United Arab Emirates contained a picture of the Nazi leader alongside the phrase “Conqueror, the world is yours.”
6 comments:
Was there in Istanbul at the same market and they had a 9/11 chess set with Twin Towers as the king and queen and airline jets as the rooks.
You find this offensive as well?
I don't and I'm about as right wing as you can get. It's a chess board for petes sake. Get over it. You don't seem to be upset that on the other side of the Nazi board there are Russians with the USSR flag which was responsible for much more death and hate over a much longer period of time than the Nazi's were.
Learn history before you pick a side you bigot.
Dear Conservative Anonymous - yes, I do find a set with the twin towers and jets as rooks offensive. Unfortunately, you missed my point - I did not express any opinion about the set in question, if you knew how to read you would have caught that in the very first paragraph. I fear for the future of conservatism in this country if YOU are what passes for one these days. Sigh.
This is a joke. What about Risk, Axis and Allies and pretty much any video game centered around WWII (e.g. Call of Duty, Wolfenstein, etc.)? The other things are more troubling, but I have to agree with the above author (despite his misplaced ranting)--it's a chess set for god's sake.
its just a chess set, im very dissapointed in you for being offended, i expect you to be a stronger person in the future, you are not doing anything for tolerance your just the little boy who cried wolf, next time a real genocide is on the horizon people like you will assure that we dont listen
Dear Anonymous on March 8, 2012,
If you feel that strongly about it, why didn't you use your real name and be up front about who you are?
My tolerance generally does not extend to bigotry and hatred, no matter the race, religion, creed or sex of the perpetrators of abhorrent acts and equally abhorrent beliefs. Using chess which, as you should know, is generally classified by chess historians as a "war" game - would tend to support my assumptions about using such symbols in a "mere game" rather than yours.
However, I suggest you re-read my original post, as I expressed no opinion one way or the other on the subject of using such figures in a chess game.
That being said, I find it extremely interesting that various anonymous posters over the past few years have felt it incumbent to defend the use of Nazis and Hitler in a game that is replete with symbolism, and yet claim that it means nothing.
Yeah, right.
I really want one of those chess sets anyone know how I can order one please email me Jasonmar.88@gmail.com
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