"This is Amerika!"

[alphaboi]

Walking into work what did I see? A bald white guy with a black tee-shirt with a swastika:pissed: on it! He was a f_cking Nazi! I felt rage (best way I can describe it). I understand that he has a right to free expression, but men like him slaughtered most of my grandmother's family. I told our SM as I came in. A few of cusomers started coming up to complain/alert us. We don't have a dress code for customers (other that shirth & shoes) per se, but managment has the power to eject people if they're wearing something obscene or offensive. As a took over the SCOs I saw him come out of an aisle and SM approach him;

SM: Sir, I have to ask you to put a jaket on or leave
FN: Uh, why?
SM: Sir, you're shirt is obscene. It's disturbing the other customers.
FN: So, this is America, I have my 1st amendment rights (ironic). I'm an American!
SM: You are on private property and we reserve the right to refuse to anyone. I have to ask you to leave.
FN: F_ck you! You f_cking k_ke! I have my rights!
SM: Leave now or I'll call the police!
FN: Fine, I'm leaving. I'm glad f_cking Israel is going to be destroyed! The war's coming!

He left. He does have a right to wear it, but I don't have to treat him like anything other that the walking excrement he is. Nine hours later and it still gets me mad.

[CherryB]

You should have told him that historically any nation or people that have stood against Israel or tried to destroy it have pretty much had their asses kicked sooner or later.

Now maybe that's not proof enough for everyone that the Jews are truly God's chosen people, but it's enough proof for me.

Don't mess with God's folks or you'll get yours...lol:lol:

[lazyguy]

SOme friends and I went to Wal-Mart last month and there was a guy dressed the same way. He looked to only be like 20 or so year old punk and just looking at him kinda pissed us off to. So we did the only thing we could think of laugh and point at him, for some reason I dont think he liked haveing 3 white guy do that because he kinda ran away.:lol: lol

[Worker-Intellectual]

Suddenly I'm reminded of an American Dad quote (from memory after a few beers, so probably not exactly correct):

Nazi: "This is America, I have freedom of speech! What is this, Nazi Germany? Oh, wait, that'd be sweet!"

Cop: "What should we do, Officer Goldberg?"

But seriously, if I saw that kind of crap I would refuse to serve him, no matter what management says. I will not serve hate. Nazis should be shot in the back of the head and thrown into a ditch, and I wouldn't shed a tear.

[CanadaGirl]

Just because he happens to have that symbol on his shirt doesn't make him a Nazi. With that theory then you must hate all German people, so that means you hate me. You shouldn't really generalize people like that, it's unfair to the majority. I have a friend in the States that is into Communism, as in, he likes to talk about it and read about it and stuff, but that doesn't make him a Red or a Commie.

"but men like him slaughtered most of my grandmother's family"
Doubtful. It's only a symbol. Now if it was tattooed on his arm, then you'd have an actual claim. And by the way, many of the men who became SS Officers in WWII did so because they didn't want themselves or their families to be killed for disobeying orders and/or being a "jew-lover" (read on Google). Only a select few actually took joy in watching those poor people being put to their deaths and such.

Yes, the First Amendment still applies here. He has a right to free speech and to believe what he wishes. As does everyone else in any civilized nation, as long as it doesn't interfer with the rights of others.

[alphaboi]

Just because he happens to have that symbol on his shirt doesn't make him a Nazi. With that theory then you must hate all German people, so that means you hate me. You shouldn't really generalize people like that, it's unfair to the majority. I have a friend in the States that is into Communism, as in, he likes to talk about it and read about it and stuff, but that doesn't make him a Red or a Commie...

EXCUSE ME! I am a German-American. The swastika is not a symbol of Germany! It's actually illegal in Germany. He didn't have the German flag or eagle. He had the swastika in a white circle, exactly like the Nazi flag. Care to explain why someone be wearing a Nazi symbol, using anti-semtic slurs, and expressing a desire for Israel to be destroyed if they weren't a Nazi (or at least shared their ideals) CanadaGirl? I stated that he had a right to wear it, but I also have a right to express my utter comtempt for him.

[ShockQueen]

I'm of German descent as well, and seeing something like that would have me reeling! :burnup: . Someone who idealizes them by displaying their symbol so prominently would definitely not put them on my "good boy" list by any means. It's a hated symbol, and people who wear it are just asking for trouble.

Yes, as it has been said, people do have the freedom of self-expression, but don't forget that if they piss the wrong people off, THEY have the freedom of expression to beat the crap out of that symbol and contents within. It goes along with just about any expressionism out there, really.

[blas]

I'm also of German descent, and I am also disgusted.

He's just one of those people who thinks it's still 1945........people like that need to get over it already.

[Yossarian]

Just because he happens to have that symbol on his shirt doesn't make him a Nazi.

Umm...yes it does. No one else would wear a t-shirt with a freakin' swastica on it. I wish to preface my statment by saying that I by no means think you, personally are dumb, but frankly that was the stupidest comment I have heard all week.

[LionMan]

FYI, the swastika has existed long before Adolf was ever born and is still a religious symbol in many religions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika Obligitory wikipedia article.

[KuzcoLlama]

Goodness. This is very much beginning to get out of hand. Play nice everyone. Don't make me let the fur fly (Fur, llama! And the bad jokes never cease.)

[Broomjockey]

FYI, the swastika has existed long before Adolf was ever born and is still a religious symbol in many religions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika Obligitory wikipedia article.

Yeah, I saw the DaVinci Code too! :D
But seriously, I doubt anyone using it in a non-nazi capacity would have it on a t-shirt. You don't see many Christians with crosses on t-shirts etc.

[Yossarian]

Yeah, I saw the DaVinci Code too! :D
But seriously, I doubt anyone using it in a non-nazi capacity would have it on a t-shirt. You don't see many Christians with crosses on t-shirts etc.

Obviously you never went to my high school.;)

But yeah, I know that the swastica is used in other capacities (I am Hindu, after all). Nevertheless, in Western society it's a pretty specific use. If some bald Asian guy wearing orange robes had one on, it would be quite different from this guy wearing it. Not to mention the *fabulous* comments made after...

[MadMike]

With that theory then you must hate all German people, so that means you hate me. You shouldn't really generalize people like that

I would point out the irony of your statement, but it would probably be lost on you anway.

Oh, and in case anyone is wondering, I am also of German descent, and I too find the whole idea offensive.

Regarding the original post -- yes, he does have the right to express himself. But as the OP pointed out, since the store is private property, they also have the right to allow or disallow said expression.

This reminds me of something I saw at one of the local malls a couple months ago. We were in the food court, when a guy walked past us with a... rather interesting T-shirt. On the back, in huge block letter, it said, "Jesus was a (slang for female sexual organ beginning with a "C.") A few minutes later, we saw him walk past us again, being escorted out by security.

it didn't really offend me. I'm not all that religious myself, and it takes a lot to offend me. But at the same time, I feel that it was highly inappropriate, and the line had to be drawn somewhere. I saw that same shirt at a King Diamond concert, which I had no problem with, even if I didn't agree with it. A mall, on the other hand, is a completely different story.

[Lehk]

if the swastika was used along with other eastern symbols it wouldn't be a problem

a skinhead with a swazi shirt looks nothing like that however, only a complete moron couldn't tell the difference.

[RhythmAngel]

New here, but just had to respond to this. I see muttonheads like this around my area from time to time and they always sicken me. They are usually young guys about 20ish, but it never fails that they usually end up proving themselves to be the stupidest creatures on the planet. Honestly, what went so wrong in their lives that made them want to embrace such hatred? It just blows my mind that some people can be so moronic.

*EDIT-No need to quote the entire post.

[ladodger34]

Yes, the First Amendment still applies here. He has a right to free speech and to believe what he wishes. As does everyone else in any civilized nation, as long as it doesn't interfer with the rights of others.

I know other people have posted what I am posting, but I figured it was important enough to repeat.

The only entity in the US that has to guarantee first amendment rights is the government. Private property owners do not have to abide by it. If I decide that I don't like people who wear "Vote for Pedro" shirts to shop in my store, so be it. I might lose a significant amount of bidness doing so, but it is well within my rights.

Now if a government official tells me that I can't wear a "Vote for Pedro" shirt or another shirt with a swastika, then there is going to be trouble.

[One-Fang]

I will not serve hate.
The very next breath...
Nazis should be shot in the back of the head and thrown into a ditch, and I wouldn't shed a tear.

Let's reflect:
I will not serve hate.
Darling, you just did.

[Araby]

This is turning into a socio-political/religious debate.:soapbox:

It seems to me that the SC was looking for negative attention. Who cares about the thought processes of a moron? Don't let it get to you, that idiot probably needs someone to wipe his bum. Maybe his helper has been using sandpaper lately, that might explain his irritability.

That being said, (and I don't think I really said anything, other than beer babbles) I might be lynched for this, but I've always thought that the Swastika was a really cool geometrical shape. Barring all its evil associations, of course. If Einstien had come up with it before Hitler....

I don't wish to offend anyone and I probably shouldn't have posted this. Mr. Beer #6 told me I should. How could I argue?:D

[Gopher]

Come on people, I'm aware of the right to free speech and all that, but taking a dislike to someone in a Swastika T-Shirt and professing his desire to see the destruction of Israel is hardly making a generalization about the German population as a whole is it?

That guy hardly seemed the type you would take round to your Grandmother's for tea and cucumber sandwiches?

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Symbols are just meaningless pictures...until they are given meaning by the people using it.

You're right, the swastika was used in several cultures, if I'm not mistaken. In some, it had good connectations.

However, it's use by the Nazis and other racist groups has turned it into something terrible and awful and brutally offensive. To deny that is pretend to be unbelievably clueless.

Do you think that guy was out trying to enlighten those he encountered on the older meaning of that symbol, or do you think he was trying to offend?

I'll give you hint: It's almost always the easy answer (Achems Razor). I seriously doubt the guy was history professor.

The sad part is, I'm sure he totally got off on the fact he got to curse at someone and then got thrown out of the store. Seriously, I bet it made his day.

[Rapscallion]

This thread veered badly off course. The object of the board is to vent about sucky customers. We're not here for in-depth socialogical debates and the like.

Rapscallion

[Ree]

This is customerssuck!
This is a forum to discuss the suckiness of customers.

This is not a forum for discussing whether the swastika is actually a Nazi symbol when worn on the T-shirt of some guy who started spouting anti-Israeli sentiments after being asked to cover it up.

It is not a forum for debating free speech and generalizations of hatred.

It is most definitely not a forum for making statements like:
Nazis should be shot in the back of the head and thrown into a ditch, and I wouldn't shed a tear.

This is not in the Off Topic area, but this is turning into an off topic debate. :ot: :respect:

Since this whole thread has not really revolved around a customer issue, and as far as I can see, will continue to result in nothing but division and anger on both sides, it needs to be closed.

I could move it to Off Topic for further debate, but since CS no longer has a forum for debating controversial issues, it has no place here.