Sowing the Seeds of Loathe
December 16, 2004 | Aussie Dave | Comments
Yet another appalling manifestation of anti-Semitism from the land down under.
A FLORAL foul-up has left a city street lined with swastika shapes in a week of major Jewish celebrations.Gardeners hired by Melbourne City Council intended to arrange the purple and white pot plants into neat geometric shapes.
But they left six 3m garden beds along Swanston St displaying large Nazi symbols.
Here’s a picture of the arrangement. There’s no mistaking it – it’s a swastika – one of the most recognizable symbols of the past century.
Yet, the Melbourne City Council would have us believe that this was not an intentional affront to Jewish sensibilities. It was just an innocent mistake.
“The arrangements, even if done inadvertently, are in appalling taste,” Lord Mayor John So said. “I have asked that they be changed immediately.”Vandals were initially believed to have rearranged the plants as a racist slur. But closer investigation showed gardeners had inadvertently used the pattern.
Still not convinced (as I’m not)? When faced with charges of anti-Semitism, invoke the “But-I-know-a-Jew-who-agrees-with-me” defence:
Jewish-born councillor Carl Jetter at first said he was appalled by the arrangements, which he thought were vandalism.“It’s sad and it’s unnecessary. It makes us, as an international destination, more uncomfortable,” he said.“I disagree with and don’t want to see any racist activity in our city.”When told the swastikas appeared to be unintentional, Cr Jetter dismissed concerns.“It just sounds like an accident,” he said.
I just don’t buy it . Firstly, what you have to realize is that Melbourne is home to a large number of Holocaust survivors. There is generally a great awareness of the Holocaust there, and I find it hard to believe that anyone would not know what the swastika represents.
Even if there are some people who are unaware, bear in mind that there was more than one gardener involved. The chances that none of them were aware of the symbolism is slim.
By the way, I am not at all surprised that the Melbourne City Council would deny that this is anti-Semitism. It’s in their nature.
Update: Mike also believes that this was deliberate, but uses a different line of reasoning.
Filed Under: General
About the Author: An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.
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