Hitler's Cross Restaurant

[Jenn! 918]

New restaurant bears Hitler's name

By Aijaz Ansari, Associated Press Writer | August 23, 2006

BOMBAY, India --When Hitler's Cross restaurant opened four days ago in a Bombay suburb, local politicians and movie industry types were on hand to celebrate beneath the posters of the Nazi leader and swastikas.

"It's really made people very upset that a person responsible for the massacre of 6 million Jews can be glorified," Elijah Jacob, one of the community's leaders, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

But owner Puneet Sablok has refused to back down, and apart from Bombay's 4,500 Jews, there's been little controversy in India, where Holocaust awareness is limited, Hitler is regarded as just another historical figure and swastikas are an ancient Hindu symbol, displayed all over to bring luck. There are just 5,500 Jews in all of India.

"It's just to attract people. There is no intention to hurt anyone," said Sablok about his spacious restaurant, which serves pastries, pizza and salad in Navi Mumbai, a northern suburb of Bombay, which is also known as Mumbai.

Those objecting to the restaurant plan to ask the local government to force a name change, said Daniel Zonshine, Israel's consul general in Bombay.

"Instead of Hitler's name being an example of extreme evil, this is like giving legitimacy to Hitler. It's not right to advertise his name in public," Zonshine said.

But while India is ordinarily sensitive to causing religious offense -- recently taking action to bar "The Da Vinci Code" movie and cartoon drawings of the prophet Muhammad -- at least one local leader said the name Hitler didn't bother him.

"People are unnecessarily making this into an issue," said Sudhir Jadhav, a local ruling party leader. "We have no plans to protest outside the restaurant or ask him to change the name."

Diners were also quite happy eating in Hitler's Cross.

"Hitler was a bad man, but what's wrong with having food here?" said Ashwini Phadnis, 22, a microbiology student as she tucked away a piece of chocolate cake.

Engineering student Anand Dhillon sat with friends, sipping soft drinks. "I think the name is quite interesting. Tomorrow if someone keeps a name like Saddam Mutton Shop or George Bush Footwear, there's nothing wrong with that, is there?" he shrugged.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/20...s_hitlers_name/

[Ban Hammer 12,863]

is this one better?

[Jenn! 918]

is this one better?

What do you mean better? Better than what?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'm not sure why but this article doesn't say something that is actually very important. And very relevant.

See, Bombay is many things. It is India's biggest city. It is India's financial center. India's most spoiled and Westernized people live there.

In addition to all that, Bombay is also home to a large number of Hindu extremists. It is also home to a thriving Muslim-controlled underground organized crime scene. This makes for a lot of Hindu-Muslim tension in the area.

What does this have to do with Hitler? Well, Hindu extremists idolize Hitler. Much the same way Ahmedinijad does. They idolize him because "he did what was right for his country". He symbolizes what they'd like to do to all those pesky Mussalmans.

This is why Hindu extremists from the Bombay region assassinated Gandhi. Because he had the nerve to say all religions deserved equal respect. They saw him as anti-Hindu for this, and other similar, reasons. Tack on the historical fact that Hindu leaders who had, at that time, cavorted with Fascist leaders like Hitler and Toto, were opposed by Gandhi.

In India, especially in Bombay, there is no way to separate Hitler from the Hindu right wing.

Edited August 23, 2006 by Gupt

[almaty 19]

hmmm..sounds like india has it's share of chopf##ks

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

is this one better?

Is the one on the right single? Those glasses are turning me on.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

hmmm..sounds like india has it's share of chopf##ks

Yes. The man who is considered the gold standard of Hindu extremism in Bombay is someone called Bal Thackeray, leader of a group called the Shiv Sena (the Army of Shiva).

He is on the record saying "I am a great admirer of Hitler, and I am not ashamed to say so!" during a media interview.

The original posted article makes no mention of the Shiv Sena or Thackeray, but I find it extremely difficult to believe that this being in Bombay, that they have no role to play in this.

Edited August 23, 2006 by Gupt

[pedroh 21]

mhh i think it's to exaggerate to think that just because someone says 'hitler' some other guy think it means 'lets kill the jews!'..

besides.. there's a beaners coffee in michigan and seems the amigos don't care either lollerzkates

[almaty 19]

hmmm..sounds like india has it's share of chopf##ks

Yes. The man who is considered the gold standard of Hindu extremism in Bombay is someone called Bal Thackeray, leader of a group called the Shiv Sena (the Army of Shiva).

He is on the record saying "I am a great admirer of Hitler, and I am not ashamed to say so!" during a media interview.

The original posted article makes no mention of the Shiv Sena or Thackeray, but I find it extremely difficult to believe that this being in Bombay, that they have no role to play in this.

that chopf##k, with the harry caray glassess..looks like a ###### geek

Edited August 23, 2006 by almaty

[iceyspots 0]

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

that chopf#3k, with the harry caray glassess..looks like a ###### geek

That he does. A geek with lots of blood on his hands.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I'm not sure why but this article doesn't say something that is actually very important. And very relevant.

See, Bombay is many things. It is India's biggest city. It is India's financial center. India's most spoiled and Westernized people live there.

The bolded part is now somewhat out-of-date, according to Suketu Mehta (Maximum City); you can substitute THE or "world's" for "India's" there.

In addition to all that, Bombay is also home to a large number of Hindu extremists. It is also home to a thriving Muslim-controlled underground organized crime scene. This makes for a lot of Hindu-Muslim tension in the area.

What does this have to do with Hitler? Well, Hindu extremists idolize Hitler. Much the same way Ahmedinijad does. They idolize him because "he did what was right for his country". He symbolizes what they'd like to do to all those pesky Mussalmans.

This is why Hindu extremists from the Bombay region assassinated Gandhi. Because he had the nerve to say all religions deserved equal respect. They saw him as anti-Hindu for this, and other similar, reasons. Tack on the historical fact that Hindu leaders who had, at that time, cavorted with Fascist leaders like Hitler and Toto, were opposed by Gandhi.

Bolded part wrong on a technicality--Pune, where the Godse brothers hailed from, is NOT part of the Bombay region, being about 200 km away; also, the orders to murder Gandhi were from Nagpur, which is closer to 800 km away. Also, was Netaji a fascist (he really didn't seem to have any vision for ruling).

Otherwise, ok, except for the numbers of Jews (maximum number ever in India was around 30,000 in 1941, including 8,000 refugees permitted by Wavell; I don't think you'd get a four-figure number today) in the article Jenn posted

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

also, the orders to murder Gandhi were from Nagpur, which is closer to 800 km away.

Notice that Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur are all in Maharashtra. Notice that the antipathy towards Gandhi for his so-called "betrayal" of Hindus was extremely strong in that state. Also note that in contemporary India, the Shiv Sena is primarily a MH-based party. Yes, I am using the term 'region' loosely, but I believe my point regarding the deep link between Hindu extremists in Maharasthra, the Shiv Sena and the 'coincidence' that Gandhi's assassins were Marathi Hindus, is valid.

Also, was Netaji a fascist (he really didn't seem to have any vision for ruling).

First of all, I said he cavorted with fascists. I don't think there is any denying that.

As for whether he was a fascist himself, the jury is out (and missing). But I found this quote via Wikipedia, which should be interesting:

"The Fundamental Problems of India" (An address to the Faculty and students of Tokyo University, November 1944): "You cannot have a so-called democratic system, if that system has to put through economic reforms on a socialistic basis. Therefore we must have a political system - a State - of an authoritarian character. We have had some experience of democratic institutions in India and we have also studied the working of democratic institutions in countries like France, England and United States of America. And we have come to the conclusion that with a democratic system we cannot solve the problems of Free India. Therefore, modern progressive thought in India is in favour of a State of an authoritarian character" The Essential Writings of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Edited by Sisir K. Bose & Sugata Bose (Delhi: Oxford University Press) 1997 pp319-20

Edited August 23, 2006 by Gupt

[Saddle Bronc 124]

also, the orders to murder Gandhi were from Nagpur, which is closer to 800 km away.

Notice that Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur are all in Maharashtra. Notice that the antipathy towards Gandhi for his so-called "betrayal" of Hindus was extremely strong in that state. Also note that in contemporary India, the Shiv Sena is primarily a MH-based party. Yes, I am using the term 'region' loosely, but I believe my point regarding the deep link between Hindu extremists in Maharasthra, the Shiv Sena and the 'coincidence' that Gandhi's assassins were Marathi Hindus, is valid.

Primarily? I thought Shiv Sena to be EXCLUSIVELY in MH. Of course, they jumped on the religious bandwagon in 1984 12 years after the "Maharashtra for Maharashtrians" (I lived through it when my dad worked for TIFR) basically proved poor for electability.

Also, was Netaji a fascist (he really didn't seem to have any vision for ruling).

First of all, I said he cavorted with fascists. I don't think there is any denying that.

As for whether he was a fascist himself, the jury is out (and missing). But I found this quote via Wikipedia, which should be interesting:

"The Fundamental Problems of India" (An address to the Faculty and students of Tokyo University, November 1944): "You cannot have a so-called democratic system, if that system has to put through economic reforms on a socialistic basis. Therefore we must have a political system - a State - of an authoritarian character. We have had some experience of democratic institutions in India and we have also studied the working of democratic institutions in countries like France, England and United States of America. And we have come to the conclusion that with a democratic system we cannot solve the problems of Free India. Therefore, modern progressive thought in India is in favour of a State of an authoritarian character" The Essential Writings of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Edited by Sisir K. Bose & Sugata Bose (Delhi: Oxford University Press) 1997 pp319-20

No argument on his cavorting with them--nor that he would have been a disaster for the country had he not disappeared.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I thought Shiv Sena to be EXCLUSIVELY in MH.

They have won a few elections here and there in other states as well, IIRC. Mostly due to 'arrangements' with other regional parties.