Those of us that have been to the expo center's gun show probably know who I am talking about. The older guy in the ugly hat that sells almost exclusively Nazi memorabilia. I don't want to make assumptions, after all, not everyone who owns a "Nazi item" is a Nazi. There are people who find that particular time and part of the world a fascinating part of history. And of course it's possible and logical in some cases to separate an inanimate object from the ideas of the nation that produced the object. For example, certainly those of us that own AK's, Mosins, 9x18 pistols, etc aren't communists ( in fact bugeye hates Mosins ).
But this guy, I dunno. Not only does he sell what appear to genuine articles, but also a lot of Nazi-themed, modern-made stuff that has nothing to do with the history. For example, various knick-knacks like Zippo lighters which are neither historically accurate, nor even really mimicking genuine articles but decorated with Nazi insignia, and there's also a ton of pro-Nazi literature. So the question that it begs is, if he's selling modern-made Nazi-themed paraphernalia, who exactly is buying it and why? Are there people other than neo-Nazis and Nazi sympathizers that would actually want modern-day, modern-made knick-knacks decorated swastikas, SS symbols, and the like?
Not that I'm saying he shouldn't have the right to any of that, freedom of expression shouldn't be applied selectively after all, but as someone who is an enthusiast of militaria, I guess I was wondering if I am right to deprive the guy of any profit from me because he promotes an ideology that (decades before I was even born) my country sacrificed a great deal to defeat? Or am I completely misjudging the guy?
But this guy, I dunno. Not only does he sell what appear to genuine articles, but also a lot of Nazi-themed, modern-made stuff that has nothing to do with the history. For example, various knick-knacks like Zippo lighters which are neither historically accurate, nor even really mimicking genuine articles but decorated with Nazi insignia, and there's also a ton of pro-Nazi literature. So the question that it begs is, if he's selling modern-made Nazi-themed paraphernalia, who exactly is buying it and why? Are there people other than neo-Nazis and Nazi sympathizers that would actually want modern-day, modern-made knick-knacks decorated swastikas, SS symbols, and the like?
Not that I'm saying he shouldn't have the right to any of that, freedom of expression shouldn't be applied selectively after all, but as someone who is an enthusiast of militaria, I guess I was wondering if I am right to deprive the guy of any profit from me because he promotes an ideology that (decades before I was even born) my country sacrificed a great deal to defeat? Or am I completely misjudging the guy?