Dressing up as Hitler

[Dogwatcher]

Going to be a tetchy subject this one, but interesting nonetheless.

A Central Coast Mariner player, a German no less, dressed up as Hitler for his team's Mad Monday following their GF loss on Sunday.

Various groups have rushed to criticise him for this act.

I'm curious to know as to why?

People dress up as Attilla the Hun or sundry Roman Caesers, all had murderous reigns.

In our own country people are happy to dress Ned Kelly, a murderous bushranger, without being condemned, while Aboriginal communities don't rush to criticise celebrities dressing up as Captain Cook.

Why is Hitler so different? Is it too soon - will dressing up as Hitler for fancy dress balls be different in some future age? When does it become appropriate?

This is not to make light of the damage caused to the Jewish community by Hitler's Final Solution, but more to question societal views.

[rogernumber10]

Going to be a tetchy subject this one, but interesting nonetheless.

A Central Coast Mariner player, a German no less, dressed up as Hitler for his team's Mad Monday following their GF loss on Sunday.

Various groups have rushed to criticise him for this act.

I'm curious to know as to why?

People dress up as Attilla the Hun or sundry Roman Caesers, all had murderous reigns.

In our own country people are happy to dress Ned Kelly, a murderous bushranger, without being condemned, while Aboriginal communities don't rush to criticise celebrities dressing up as Captain Cook.

Why is Hitler so different? Is it too soon - will dressing up as Hitler for fancy dress balls be different in some future age? When does it become appropriate?

This is not to make light of the damage caused to the Jewish community by Hitler's Final Solution, but more to question societal views.

I reckon that's the reason for many. Doesn't worry me, but it can really fire others up.

[Footy Chick]

I believe Prince Harry was once pulled up for wearing a Hitler costume as well.

I was more offended by the bloke wearing the Corey outfit

[Dogwatcher]

The Corey outfitted one, being the same fella charged with hitting the ref. Not a wise move to let him be seen out and about like that the day after.

[Wedgie]

Its a touchy one, someone could dress up as Hitler for their local footy show and noone would batter an eyelid but when its done by a player on the national stage its always asking for problem.
I personally don't see an issue with it as Im sure many SANFL players or many posters have dressed up as Hitlers at bad taste parties but if you know you're on a national stage and their might be camera people around you should probably use common sense.
I can't believe they're also having a go at Tony Vidmar for dressing up as god as played by Morgan Freeman though, FFS its his nickname.

[Punk Rooster]

I could easily launch into a tirade, but I won't...

[evans01]

just bad taste really.......................

it evokes alot of emotions and is best left alone.......

[Rik E Boy]

It could have been worse. Someone could have worn a Port Adelaide jumper.

regards,

REB

[southee]

I know Ace Frehley from KISS sometimes wear it to stir up band mates....

[JAS]

I believe Prince Harry was once pulled up for wearing a Hitler costume as well.

The press will never let him forget that one...still gets brought up occasionally. Was probably the worst Nazi outfit I've seen. I think some people have a problem with the fact that it's still within living memory which is fair enough if it's a party at an old folks home otherwise I think people are maybe a bit too over-sensitive.

Many years ago, at one of the best New Years Eve Do's that I ever went to, I had almost all my drinks paid for by a guy in an SS Officers uniform at the other end of the bar But then again I don't think there was a huge Jewish presence in North Yorkshire

Regards
JAS

[woodwt]

Steve Priest from THE SWEET dressed up like Hitler on top of the pops when they did blockbuster!

[cennals05]

I personally don't have a problem with it, but I can understand how it could upset some people. I'm going to Auschwitz on Saturday so maybe I'll have a different view after that.

[Dogwatcher]

Now that will interesting Cennals.

Good to see you again BTW mate.

[Dirko]

My Dad's family background is Dutch, and my Dad's parents we're avid anti Nazi people. They despised all things
to do with Hitler and co (understandable as they lost family, village, possessions etc etc in WW1 & 2).

Up until the day my Oma passed away she still carried those things in her mind which she talked about quite
openly to me. My Opa died when I was young so I didn't have the privilege of having the same conversation.

They we're not Jewish.

If they saw "Hitler" being used in such a manner I dare say they would feel disgusted and angry how someone could
do such thing. They lived and survived the German war and therefore it remained a livid part of there life's until they both
passed. Hitler and the Nazi regime is still much a part of lives of probably millions who had some sort of suffering from
the World Wars as such.

I think the time may come, when it is OK to dress as such, but when who knows. It takes a lot of time to heal the wrongs
of pasts.

Me myself, I wouldn't be offended as I was not indirectly involved, BUT I would feel for my Oma & Opa.

I have been to the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria and a it is truly terrible thing. So scary to think it was
only 50 - 60 years ago...

[Rucciangelo]

Why would you want to dress up as someone who allegedly had one testicle and an abnormally small penis, who hated inbreeding but enjoyed dropping faeces onto his lover who was his neice? Then there's the issue with the Jews!

If that's your fancy...

[JAS]

These things will always be relative to where you live, family background etc. Try going to a party in Eastern Europe dressed as Joseph Stalin and see what sort of reaction you get.

Wasn't a party but in '95 I went to the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Culloden at the battlefield. There were plenty of re-enactment groups there dressed in the costumes of Bonnie Prince Charlies' rebel army and one guy turned up in an English uniform. Most of the people and all the re-enactors welcomed him with open arms but he copped some loud and extreme abuse from people who were obviously too ignorant to know or accept that both armies were made up of Scots, English, Irish and a fair few from mainland Europe.

I guess no matter who you dressed up as you could probably find someone who would be upset by it although obviously some would be more appealling to the newspapers than others.

Regards
JAS

[mick]

Hitler was an evil human being, he was a fascist who killed millions of innocent people. Josef Stalin, Mao Zedong and Pol Pot were communists responsible for the death of millions and equally evil to Adolf Hitler IMHO. If anyone were to dress up as these (nominally leftist) historical figures would any comment be made? I think not. Is it because they didn't have a funny little mustache?

By the standards of the 21st century other highly regarded historical figures such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar also practiced genocide, they simply did not have the technology to score the runs that 20th century tyrants were able to achieve.

[Punk Rooster]

whilst we're expressing disgust at genocide from 50-60 years ago, & wondering how such an atrocity could be allowed to occur, let's take a recent look at Rwanda...

[Dogwatcher]

Where?

[Punk Rooster]

Where?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Genocide