We Aren't Disposable

View large image Izzue continues to slap people in the face regarding its Nazi-inspired clothing line.

Proving that worldwide opinion means nothing in the face of making a buck, Deborah Cheng, the marketing manager, had this to say:

This is Hong Kong, and Chinese people are not sensitive about Nazism. If you grab 10 young people from the street and ask them if they know what Nazism is, I bet you none of them would answer 'yes'. People should not be too sensitive. It is simply the creative work of a very politically ignorant and insensitive designer. We're not sure that this issue is so serious that we have to have the whole thing pulled. It would cost millions of dollars to replace the line. Most of the complaints are from foreigners, but our customer base is local Chinese. Even the local [Chinese-language] papers didn't make a big deal out of this. Chinese do not have such strong feelings about these issues as the Germans and Jews.

Let's dissect her argument, shall we?

· Get it through your head, Deborah. The Nazis systematically murdered millions of people out of ignorance and fear. They had no respect for human life. Sensitive or not, the Chinese need to be made aware that glorifying the Nazi era by using its symbols to sell clothing is a moral offense. You ought to ask some of Hong Kong's senior citizens who lived through the Japanese occupation how they would feel if a clothing store marketed goods depicting a Japanese soldier about to decapitate a Chinese person with a katana. You'd get an earful.

· If kids don't know about Nazism, that's the fault of the educational system. Ignorance of the issue doesn't excuse it. Don't paint everyone with one brush; many Chinese understand and don't appreciate being lumped in with those who don't.

· How dare you scold people about their sensitivity? Don't try to fob off the blame. You're the manager; the buck stops with you. Your attempt to deflect indicates you don't give a damn what people think.

· Saying you're unsure, despite the outrage, is morally indefensible. What you've said is that profits outweigh all considerations. Would you feel the same way after talking with a few of the survivors of the Holocaust? Why not invite them to view your stores? Then you'd realise why people are upset.

· You believe foreigners' opinions are worthless. Other local newspapers didn't make a big deal of this because like you they're ignorant of world history. Since you don't care, you're hardly better than the Nazis.

Izzue had a golden opportunity to apologise and save face, but blew it. After these comments, even if the chain does yank the clothing and apologises, no one will come away with any good feelings. No one should be allowed to make money by promoting a regime that treated human beings as disposable waste.

Those that would continue to try need to evaluate their own lack of humanity.

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