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Thailand Hitler billboard draws controversy
A Hitler billboard in Thailand promoting a local wax museum has locals and foreign governments up in arms. The billboard campaign, which features photos of famous dead people, included a photo of Hitler making the infamous Nazi salute along with the tagline "Hitler is not dead." The ad was part of a promotion for Louis Tussaud's Waxworks, a wax museum based in Pattaya.Since the billboard's unveiling two weeks ago it has caused a firestorm of complaints, prompting museum officials to have it covered and to apologize for the offense. Both the German and Israeli embassies in Thailand filed formal complaints. Wax museum director Somporn Naksuetrong has emphasized the campaign was not meant to glorify the Nazi leader.
Not surprisingly, this isn't the first Adolf Hitler wax museum incident to draw controversy. In 2008 a German man rushed into the new Madame Tussaud's in Berlin, ripping the head off the museum's Hitler figurine and shouting "Never war again!"
The use of Hitler's likeness, whether as a wax dummy or in advertising, never fails to attract criticism. But that hasn't stopped museums and brands from capitalizing on Hitler to draw attention, a decision that almost always ends poorly. Anyone hoping to draw tourist dollars from Nazi imagery in the future would do well to keep this in mind.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Santo Equale Oct 20th 2009 8:11PM
It is a sad commentary on our values when commercial venues try to cash in on the reputation of the worst villain of the twentieth century. We all know what Hitler represents, the worst impulses of man. We need to remember him, only because future generations need not to repeat these criminal actions; but remembering him like this goes beyond the pale. And no, I am not a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, only an Italian Catholic trying desperately to raise my children with a sense of brotherhood and values that reflect the best man has to offer, not the worst.
ricardo Oct 20th 2009 9:05PM
Well said my friend, couldn't have said better without throwing a bunch of those 4 letters into it which would only lessen it.
marc Oct 20th 2009 11:17PM
Sir,
Isnt it great that I can reply to your post! American politics as usual has governments all ove rthe owrld swimming in political B.S. and its repugnant and distasteful for a country to be persuaded to have to do somthing like take down a marketing campaign billboard. One of these days sir you will not be able to post your opinion and I will not be able to relpy to your opinion because someone somewhere will make themselves offended........ kudos to your opinion...goodnight!
Rich Oct 20th 2009 11:25PM
Bravo Santo
K Oct 20th 2009 8:34PM
Hey, if Anita Dunne can say that Mao Tse Tung is one of her favorite people to turn to in times of need, why can't Thailand have a wax figure of Hitler?
JMARK51 Oct 21st 2009 11:37AM
Glenn Beck cropped the quote to make it sound that way. You can see her entire interview online. Fox News is really "Fixed News."
Denny Oct 20th 2009 8:52PM
I'd like a team of psychiatrists to explain, the human mind, and why even more than a depiction of Satan, does Adolf Hitler insight so much freight? I think the way a shrink would explain it, is that men from all corners of this planet see in him, what they know lurks in the depths of humanity, but not often rises it's head. It's the Evil within us all, that most do not act upon, but when one does conjure the power of the Angel of Darkness, and the Evil raises it's head, it seems unstoppable, so like a nightmare, or a scary story that breeds fear into the child like side of us all, we pray this would only be a bad dream, and not a possibility that someone would rise to power, and perpetrate so much evil on so many innocent people. Enough said!
Audrey, CA Oct 20th 2009 9:14PM
I am so dam sick and tired of being lured into reading an article that talks about something and infers that there will be a picture of it and then..... there is no picture! This stupid article is all about a billborard picture of Hitler, and then lo and behold ther is NO PICTURE!
Why am I surprised? They do this every dam day and I keep falling for it and keep getting aggravated.
Scott Carmichael Oct 20th 2009 9:31PM
The image can be seen here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8313249.stm
We can't display certain images because the copyright belongs to someone else (like in this case).
Thanks!
robert veilleux Oct 20th 2009 9:47PM
if you click on billboard campaign it will show the bilboard. i can see where it brings back bad memories of hitler killing 6 million jews, and it is not approaite to show him with his arm in the air. it would be better if it showed him dead after killing himself, bebore the coward got killed by the many relatives of the people he killed.
duffhessian1776 Oct 20th 2009 9:25PM
i understand that many are "offended" but seriously in the land of "freedom of speech" you guys are going way overboard. where were you when a supposed "artist" displayed a urine covered crucifix titled "Piss Christ" in new york? or when the dissected remains of cattle were displayed in new york as art? THAT crap is permitted in YOUR country while YOU sit silently by, but you get all up in arms over what someone depicts in a museum in a tiny country a world away!!! what a bunch of freaking hypocrites!!!!!! it is THEIR country. they can do what they want. it is bad enough we are now the police of the world. now are we to become the world's art critics? or better yet: why don't we just pretend it never happened. do you think by outlawing the image of evil that evil will go away? consider this: IDENTIFY EVIL SO IT WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
Bob Olson Oct 20th 2009 9:37PM
It is History. It happened, Get over it.
pdgrovebaskets Oct 20th 2009 9:42PM
A fantastic example of poor taste.
R O C K Y Oct 20th 2009 9:48PM
THEY SHOULD TAKE THE SCUPTURE & THE DIRECTOR ON TOUR TO THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS AND HAVE THEM LIVE THERE FOR A FEW WEEKS.!
Van Oct 20th 2009 9:50PM
Too bad they covered it up... I was thinking of becoming a Nazi the next time I saw a picture of Hitler. Sarcasm.
Jerry Oct 20th 2009 10:19PM
Okay I can see where this billboard can be offensive. The one thing I have to say to all the complaning is that - Sure Hitler was a evil person, yea he did a lot of very bad things, and he was a sadistic F$&%ER. BUT there is a lot more that can be learned from the maddness he created. He was doing what he thought was right for his people(at leaste the ones he favored) and no matter how bad of a man he was he did things that helped the medical profession to this very day. Every one that is complaning about his actions should take a trip to Washington D.C. and go through the Holocaust Musiem. There are many things that will make you sick, but when you look at the grand picture of how Hitler influenced the world you will see that he was a needed evil in a time of seperation of peoples.
diane h Oct 20th 2009 10:15PM
Nothing wrong with having a pic of hitler. Obortion docs kill millions move people every yr than Hilter ever did. It's history. If you don't like it,, don't look. It's not porn....get a life.
shanedieselblack Oct 23rd 2009 12:32AM
Go stick your religious preachiness up your @$$
bRUNK jOHNSON Oct 20th 2009 10:40PM
I LIKE TO EAT PIZZA BUT ONLY WHEN ITS COOKED TO PERFECTION THAT IS WHY I USE TO ORDER FROM DOMINOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
HITLER HAD A MUSTACHE THAT LOOKED LIKE IF SOMEBODY HAD A LITTLE POOP ON THE TIP OF THEIR PENIS AND SMEARED IT ON HIS UPPER LIP REAL QUICK-LIKE...
IN CONCLUSION I LOVE TO DRINK PIZZA I MEAN SODA AND EAT PIZZA. THANK YOU FOR LENDING YOUR EARS. FAREWELL.
John Fazio Oct 21st 2009 1:30AM
Most Random Comment of the Year award goes to this.hahaha.