?:reviewBody
|
-
Some cultural elements have become so tainted through association with hideous people and events that their use is now proscribed and considered highly inappropriate outside of anything but a scholarly or historical context. Symbols associated with Nazi-era Germany, such as swastikas, striped uniforms, and yellow Stars of David are examples of such elements: Example: [Collected via e-mail, August 2014] Zara responded to consumer complaints by asserting the pajama design was inspired by the sheriff's stars from the Classic Western films rather than concentration camp attire and was no longer available in its stores: Although a horizontal striped shirt design is more typically associated with prisoners than with law enforcement, the star featured on the Zara pajamas in question did bear a legend identifying it as a sheriff's badge: This incident replicated a similar brouhaha involving Zara from back in 2007. Although the swastika is of ancient origin and the swastika motif has been used by many different cultures over thousands of years, the Nazi Party's adoption of the symbol as their iconic emblem has so stigmatized it that its display is now anathema throughout most of the western world. (The swastika remains an accepted symbol in Indian and eastern religious cultures.) It was no surprise, then, that when some UK Zara outlets began to offer a handbag adorned with green swastikas at each corner in September 2007, consumers soon voiced vociferous complaints about the item: The company quickly withdrew the bag from its stores, saying they had not noticed the inclusion of the symbol and that its use was not a part of the design it had originally approved:
(en)
|