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.

[innerSpaceman]

zapppop delights in wearing offensive t-shirts. Fortunately, he's not likely to become a posseur rebel Olympic athlete.


But I wonder what shirts posseur rebel Olympic athletes would wear to Gay Day?

[scaeagles]

As a court professional, would you wear a "Fvck the draft" t-shirt in a courthouse? I would guess not, because you are, well, a professional. There are places and times where certain things aren't appropriate.

Likewise, an athlete from the USA, representing the USA, while that person does indeed have an individual personality, bears a certain amount of responsibility. We fought a long cold war and a couple indirect hot wars with the Soviets. If you want to wear a CCCP sweatshirt, fine, but not as a representative of the USA.

It isn't an issue of offense.....it's an issue of decorum.

[MickeyLumbo]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

It isn't an issue of offense.....it's an issue of decorum.

precisely why i will refrain from a post about wearing a DCA t-shirt.

[innerSpaceman]

Eh, it always bugs me when they tout the medal count as being the medals of the USA. I know that the athletes are there via their nationality, but they are not playing as part of a "team." They are individual athletes competing for the most part quite individually.

I don't think the USA earns any gold medals. And, despite the trappings, I never think of the American athletes as belonging to "Team USA."


I'll concede, though, that - like it or not - they are representing the United States in some fashion (not meant to be a pun).

[Moonliner]

Bahh, it was a gift from a Russian skater. He respects the Russian skaters and wears it because a friend gave it to him. The fact that it's a bit "in your face" is just a bonus for him...

Nothing to see here, move along...

[Not Afraid]

Weir, who loves the country so much he taught himself to speak the language, seems awed by Russian style and excellence, but he admits most of his countrymen don't share his instinct to sit back and simply applaud.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...021300722.html

[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]

Guess it's just one more reason for me to burn in hell.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

The swastika is a terrible example. There was so much Hindu symbolism tied up in the swastika long before Hitler took it over. It's become taboo in Western cultures but, with the continual blending of East and West, I wonder how long that will remain the case.

Now correct me if I'm wrong but isn't a reverse swastika a Chinese symbol for good luck? I see it on Chinese lanterns a lot. If the symbol faces the way 2 letter S's face then it's SS for SwaStika (at least that's how I remember it). If it faces the other way it means good luck.
Has anyone else heard this?