Quebec tourist arrested after giving Nazi salute before German parliament

[The Northerner]

BERLIN — European media reports say a Quebec tourist has been arrested in Berlin after making a Nazi salute in front of Germany's parliament.

Britain's Daily Mail newspaper reports a 30-year-old man from Quebec was standing on the steps of the Reichstag with his right arm raised in Hitler's infamous salute as his girlfriend photographed him.

The newspaper says police arrived within seconds, handcuffed the man and took the memory card of the camera.

The Canadian tourist risks being formally charged with making a forbidden gesture, which could result in him being jailed for up to six months.

Read more: http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110227/mtl_salute_110227/20110227/?hub=MontrealHome

[bluestateguy]

1. Uh yeah, they have laws against that there

If you don't like it, you can take your tourism dollars elsewhere.

[Ferret Annica]

2. What a dumb shit

He sounds like the sort of idiot who invites a "kick me" sign to be put on his back.

[marmar]

3. What a jackass.....A Lonely Planet guide would have done him a world of good.

nt

[Cirque du So-What]

4. Their nation, their laws

Considering their not-too-distant history, I can understand why they have such laws.

[Canuckistanian]

5. Dumb move

Hey people, LEARN about the history and laws of the countries you visit.

[WatsonT]

6. I don't like the ideas of 'forbidden gestures'

or speech or anything of the like. I doubt he's a neo-nazi or anything and was likely just going for an ironic picture.

But it's their country their laws.

This guy should have realized that was a bad idea.

[DavidDvorkin]

12. Their history legitimizes their fears

of what allowing certain gestures and speech might lead to.

My emotional reaction to such laws is also negative, but I do understand why the Germans feel that way.

[WatsonT]

20. Yeah they have their reasons

and I don't begrudge them that. No doubt that don't find that period very humorous and have no desire to see it return.

So I don't dispute their reasoning. It just makes me uncomfortable.

[markpkessinger]

16. He thought it was cute to parody Nazism in front of the German Parliament

He deserves whatever he gets.

[provis99]

7. how ironic. A Nazi-like law banning Nazi gestures.

[customerserviceguy]

11. Well said

I guess that's what happens when you put a Hitler into power, for the next several generations, you lose freedom of speech.

[HEyHEY]

15. I think it's a sensitive and potentially dangerous situation

Which is why they do it. I know iot's hard to grasp, believe me I have trouble with that too. I worry if these laws weren't in place what would happen.

[markpkessinger]

18. Easy to say when you haven't lived their history n/t

[steve2470]

19. +1 nt

[JVS]

8. Yup. Not allowed to do that. Maybe there should be a pamphlet at customs.

[NuclearDem]

9. Dumb move on his part...

I mean, I don't particularly like the law, since it's essentially Germany closing their eyes and covering their ears and going LALALALALALALALALALALALAICANTSEENAZISICANTHEARNAZIS, but still...their country, their laws.

[BreweryYardRat]

10. Stupid jackass got what he deserved.

Some things aren't funny.

[steve2470]

13. Neo-Nazis Seek Foothold in Kindergartens (yes in Germany !)

09/07/2010

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,716006,00.html

An eastern German state is so worried about neo-Nazis trying to take over kindergartens that it has ordered teachers to vow allegiance to democracy. But that won't tackle the underlying problem -- the racist youths who assaulted immigrants in the 1990s are now parents intent on rearing little skinheads.

The government of the eastern German state of Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania took the unusual step last month of ordering anyone setting up a children's day-care center to pledge their support for Germany's democratic constitution. The move followed a number of cases in which neo-Nazis had tried to take over the running of a kindergarten, influence teaching in nurseries or get recruited as teachers.

"I am concerned that right-wing extremists could become managers of kindergartens," said Manuela Schleswig, the state's social affairs minister. Effective August 1, all managers setting up new nurseries or taking over existing ones in the state have been required to declare that they and their staff subscribe to the principles of democracy.


The announcement conjured up dark visions of neo-Nazi pied pipers teaching toddlers the Hitler salute. While such fears are exaggerated, and incidents have been isolated, anti-Nazi campaigners say they have indeed detected a new and disturbing phenomenon: the attempted indoctrination of young children by teachers and parents in the former communist east, which continues to grapple with a strong neo-Nazi presence even after more than a decade of government policies to counter the problem.

Granted, this article is from 2010, but it helps explain why this law is still in effect.

[steve2470]

17. Jamel, Neo-Nazi Village, Shocks Germany

02/ 6/11 07:49 AM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/07/jamal-neo-nazi-village-shocks-_n_819454.html

JAMEL, Germany — This is a town taken over by neo-Nazis.

Wooden signposts by the main road point to Vienna, Paris, and Braunau am Inn – the birthplace of Adolf Hitler. A far-right leader runs his demolition company from home, its logo featuring a man smashing a Star of David with a sledgehammer.

Every few months, townsfolk host outdoor parties where guests sing "Hitler is my Fuehrer" to chants of "Heil" around a massive bonfire.

Jamel is the most extreme manifestation of a chilling phenomenon in the former communist East Germany: a creeping encroachment of neo-Nazism that makes Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania one of only two states where Germany's biggest far-right party, the National Democratic Party, or NPD, sits in parliament.

This article is only 21 days old. So, yea, I get why those laws are in place.

[HEyHEY]

14. Is there a Conservative party envoy in Germany this week?

[xchrom]

21. the nazis had all the say so they'll ever need -- it's called ww2 --

they had their chance -- now they can just shut the fuck up -- or go to jail.