XX Olympic Winter Games

[Prudence]

I don't know that "Nazi Germany" is the best analogy. It was called Germany then and it's called Germany now and people who wear shirts with "Germany" across the front don't often offend the public.

Unless iSm's around, of course.

Similarly, CCCP was the name of the country. If they'd knocked off the gulag nonsense and become respectable world citizens and still wanted to call themselves CCCP would that be a problem? If the People's Republic of China embraces individual freedoms and renames itself will People's Republic of China shirts be socially forbidden?

I'm trying to think of a better analogy and of course I can't. Maybe "Soviet Gulag"?

Anyhow, I think any item has the potential to offend someone and one makes one's fashion decisions accordingly. I will probably hear in class yet again today about the ramifications of wearing a "fvck the draft" t-shirt in a court house, because we're up to 1st amendment issues. If I really really want to wear a fylfot on my shirt I can, but I should be prepared for the reaction. I think "Nazi Germany" on a shirt might rile a number of people - probably most people. Clearly some people here find CCCP offense. Others find it to be so much kitsch. I suspect that in a larger population the latter out number the former, so it's not solidly in the "poor taste" group.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Prudence

Similarly, CCCP was the name of the country. If they'd knocked off the gulag nonsense and become respectable world citizens and still wanted to call themselves CCCP would that be a problem?

But they didn't, they change the name. Thus, CCCP specifically represents an opressive, murderous regime, not the entire history of the region. That's why simply saying, "Germany" isn't a good analogy. "Nazi Germany" specifies a particular period of the history, just as CCCP does.

Like scaeagles, it's not the wearing of the sweater, it's the wearing of the sweater in a professional setting that bugs.

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

But they didn't, they change the name. Thus, CCCP specifically represents an opressive, murderous regime, not the entire history of the region. That's why simply saying, "Germany" isn't a good analogy. "Nazi Germany" specifies a particular period of the history, just as CCCP does.

I still disagree. "Nazi" is inherently evil. It's not a matter of individually objectionable leaders, it is a philosophy that is itself evil. Communism is not inherently evil. Stalin was about as oppressive and murderous as they come, but he's certainly not alone in history. He also doesn't represent the entire history of CCCP. There are plenty of Russians who'd like to go back to CCCP - and not because they favor gulags.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Prudence

I still disagree. "Nazi" is inherently evil. It's not a matter of individually objectionable leaders, it is a philosophy that is itself evil. Communism is not inherently evil. Stalin was about as oppressive and murderous as they come, but he's certainly not alone in history. He also doesn't represent the entire history of CCCP. There are plenty of Russians who'd like to go back to CCCP - and not because they favor gulags.

Stalin may not represent the entire history of the CCCP, but are you suggesting that the political oppression and human rights abuses under Brezhnev or Kruschev (please excuse my seplling if I'm getting them wrong) was OK? There were probably plenty of Germans who would have liked to back to Nazi Germany as well.

CCCP does represent political oppression and suppression of human freedom. What else does it represent?

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

CCCP does represent political oppression and suppression of human freedom. What else does it represent?

Cosmonauts!