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Well, Glice, I see why it is offensive and I do accept that Europe is different culturally and more tied to history etc. People are reminded of a historical group of people by an ice-cream flavor. And that offends them. But that is inavoidable, and the treatment of the past I think is very counterproductive. If we were to get upset about everything that reminded us of dark history, how could we live?
If I applied the reaction to the Ben and Jerry's to everyday life, I would be offended everywhere I go.
I could turn on the TV and see the Dukes of Hazzard, a TV show with a car named after a General who fought for the cause of slavery and black suppression, change the channel and I see Mr. Culkin on top of the WTC in Home Alone 2, so I change the channel again and see the spanish inquisition putting a woman on a dishrack. Then I could get in a car, turn on the radio, and hear one of the songs blacklisted by Clearchannel and think about September 11th. Then I'd drive by a Volkswagon and be reminded of Nazism. I could drive to Homestead and see that the waterfront where many protesting workers were brutally killed is now the home of a Lowe's cinema where someone was recently shot at the screening of 50 cent's movie. There, I could see a movie like Sin City where Miho cuts off a guys hand with a japanese swastika, and even though it is Japanese, I am still reminded of Nazism, because the horrors of Nazism has been engrained in all of our heads. We have all seen the pictures of concentration camps from after the liberation, we have all seen the images of lamp shades made from human skin. We as humans have all felt just as terrible about it, and now, I have to be reminded of it because it's symbol has other non-hateful meanings as well. And what did I pay for my movie and popcorn with? Why, the portrait of Andrew Jackson, who defied the Supreme court's ruling and forced Cherokee to embark on the Trail of Tears, I have several friends who are part Cherokee. Then I could go for icecream and be reminded of the Black and Tans, and also of General Custard and his campaign against Native Americans. Then I could listen to Fugazi "I'm In on the Killtaker" and listen to Smallpox Champion. Smallpox, Jackson, Custard, pretty much the main symbols of Native American oppression. My grandfather is native american! OH NO! Then I go hang out with someone and they put on an Agent Orange record. My other grandfather was exposed to agent orange and got lymph cancer, I should be really furious by now!
That was a bit of a ramble, but my point is, you have to live. You can't get upset about every little thing.
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