Nazi-themed sports march sparks outrage

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Nazi-themed sports march sparks outrage

Schoolkids dressed as Hitler, SS guards

Published: 28/09/2011 at 10:33 AM
Newspaper section: News

A Jewish human rights organisation has called on Thai Christian leaders to condemn the Nazi-themed parade at the Sacred Heart Preparatory School in Chiang Mai where students were seen dressed up as Adolf Hitler and SS guards doing "seig heil" salutes.

Students dressed as Nazi SS guards with swastika armbands walk in a parade to mark a sports day last Friday at the Sacred Heart Preparatory School in Chiang Mai’s Muang district. The parade drew an angry public response and the school has apologised.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights group based in Los Angeles, issued a statement on Monday denouncing an event it said was "glorifying Nazis".

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: Writer: Lamphai Intathep; Position: Reporter

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hawaiiman
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Discussion 70 : 04/10/2011 at 07:50 PM70
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A roman catholic school. Germany is and was a largely roman catholic and lutheran country. They didn't stand up when their own parishioners were feeding jews to the ovens. Come to think of it, they haven't gotten over denial yet. Not surprising, this "coincidence".
doglover
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Discussion 69 : 03/10/2011 at 04:05 PM69
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3 months ago I went to a high school in central Thailand. I wanted to know what they are teaching. All the teachers ran away from me, and I just inspected some classrooms. The classrooms just had some non working fans and were hot. They looked like pre war classrooms in the west. Nothing wrong with that as long as the teaching would be ok.
banmebkk
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Discussion 68 : 03/10/2011 at 02:56 PM68
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They are simply not educated about world history. Most Thais know nothing about Hitler and the Nazi, most just associate it with war, power, and strong soldiers believe it or not. They think the logo is cool. I've seen students in a mahidol university hang a nazi flag from his apartment window.

I bet most teachers at that school knows nothing about world history let alone Nazis as well, that is why this incident occurred.
doglover
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Discussion 67 : 03/10/2011 at 01:30 PM67
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for the record: Hitler was not German but Austrian

Germany should have had better border protection or work permits at the time I suppose.
heartie
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Discussion 66 : 03/10/2011 at 01:56 AM66
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"Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, insisted that from the visuals, it was clear that this Nazi celebration could not have taken place without the knowledge and cooperation of the school administration."
I totally agree! Maybe the teachers didn't know, but clearly someone in power knew and allowed it to happen. Even if it were a surprise, the admin. could have refused those students from participating in the parade right at the start. Since this isn't the first time Thai students have outraged an international community of farangs, they surely could have known that the repeat of such a staged event would again provoke outrage and that seems to be what their intent really was. This display proves a lack in morals, values, sensitivity and (above all else)a proper education. The school should be ashamed of themselves! If I were a teacher there, I would have quit instantly for this reason. Some things must be taken seriously and this is one of them - genocide!
christianl
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Discussion 65 : 02/10/2011 at 03:06 PM65
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Why is it that Hitler and the Nazis, bad as they were, are singled out? Stalin murdered much more people and just as cruelly than Hitler ever mangaged to do..And Mao Zedong starved 30 million chinese to death duriing his "great leap forward" and then went on to murder, torture to death, stone around 6 million people during the Cultural Revolution. One million Tibetans have also been killed, mostly during Maos time in power since 1959...But walking around wearing a Mao T-shirt bring no condemnation from anywhere. Its just weird.
josh
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Discussion 64 : 01/10/2011 at 11:55 PM64
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What is wrong with these people? Hitler is German and he did not like the other races, they are Thai and I am sure they are not like by Hitler either, wake up! Even today in America not all white people Like oriental and that include Thai, so be yourself don't pretend to be some one else.
lazar
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Discussion 63 : 01/10/2011 at 04:51 PM63
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@D52: No mate, only the truth.
jacksprat
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Discussion 62 : 01/10/2011 at 12:02 PM62
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It would be nice if the Thai education system decided one day to teach something about the rest of the world and maybe even something beside the super-nationalistic version of Thai history created by Luang Pibunsongkram and Luang Wichitwakarn 60 years ago. But I suppose that is too muchh to expect. If it was good enough back then, it is good enough today! Maybe next year the school's student will decide to wear black face and pretend to be slaves on ole Massa's plantation in the early 19th century US South. And for music they can have a minstrel show. Hey, who needs to be sensitive of the feelings of others? It's just kids having fun, right Wandee?
spiceman
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Discussion 61 : 30/09/2011 at 05:09 PM61
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As a Thai person, I am ashamed, and as a Christian, I am offended! What were they THINKING?