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Sicilians See Red Over Pink Hitler Billboards

Ad offensive to our sensibilities: politicians

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted May 21, 2010 2:04 AM CDT

(Newser) – Giant billboards with Adolf Hitler wearing a pink uniform and a red heart in place of the swastika on his armband is driving Italians crazy. "Change Style—Don't Follow Your Leader," say the ads for a clothing line plastered in Palermo. A spokeswoman for the ad agency said the intent was to "ridicule Hitler in a way that invites young people to create their own style and not to be influenced by their peers." But locals are furious, reports the Telegraph.

"Having Hitler's face on a poster cannot be passed off as an innocent advertising message," said an angry politician. "The use of an image of a person responsible for the worst chapters of the last century is offensive to the sensitivities of citizens." The next campaign will feature Mao Tse Tung.

Latest pitchman for youth clothing line.
Latest pitchman for youth clothing line.   (?cliff1066™)
Not in the pink.
Not in the pink.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
sallythedoctor
May 21, 2010 6:04 PM CDT
Too soon, Italy, too soon. Choose an older dictator. It hasn't even been 100 years.
finkster
May 21, 2010 8:33 AM CDT
Now if they had a poster of Kim Jong of North Korea wearing one of his ridiculous outfits...that would work.
brawne
May 21, 2010 7:32 AM CDT
Pretty gross for Italy with Mussolini and his mistress--a relative of Sophia Loren-- hanging naked upside down next to him--it did give Hitler the impetus to suicide and not get captured. But Mao--yeah, he be wicked and killed almost as many people as Stalin--hey it's China who can keep track? As Khrushchev said, Mao is a nasty piece of work. But, to anyone who cares about WW II what do you think would have happened if Berlin had been renamed Hitlergrad? That's the kind of stuff that you should think about as you send your armed forces to kill in your name. Cause that is what they are doing. Think it doesn't touch you--get back to me in a year.
 

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