Predictable reaction misses the crucial point
Tuesday 13 November 2012
Printable
EmailI was disappointed by Tony Simpson's predictable response (M Star November 6) to the cartoon by Bluelou showing Iain Duncan Smith outside the Auschwitz death camp gates on top of which the familiar words "Arbeit Macht Frei" had been replaced by "Atos will set you free" (M Star November 3-4).
I feel no apology is due from Bluelou.
The message I take from her cartoon is one of the dangers of a lurch to the right.
This is a pertinent point, given that it was the conservative and nationalist politicians who facilitated Hitler's rise to power.
Duncan Smith was not presented in the cartoon as "an SS type figure" as Tony Simpson claims.
He was dressed as a modern Conservative politician, in a sober dark suit and blue tie.
We need to get past the stock reactions to references to the nazis in commentary on modern politics and understand the lessons from history that the commentator is perhaps trying to point us to.
Peter Tajasque
London SW19
If you appreciated this article then please consider donating to the Morning Star's Fighting Fund to ensure we can keep developing your paper.
