'Hitler' Restaurant to Change Name

I guess I will have to change the name of my future seafood restaurant, I suspect people won't want to eat at "Mussolini's Mussels" either.

First step, restaurant re-naming. Next step, World Domination!

I'm willing to bet you won't find a single "Hitler" in Germany today. I'd change my name, too. It's not hiding from anything, it's common sense as well as a sense of decency and respect. Go have a kid and name him Adolf Hitler if you think the name is just fine. See how well he does in life.

It's not so much the name, but the owner's reasoning that doesn't sit well with me. His justification was expressed in this article:

The owner insisted then—and still does—that the name and theme of his new eatery is only meant to attract attention.

I'm a bit unsettled that anyone would intentionally use Hitler's name just to get attention. The plan certainly worked, I'll give him that, and I'm not alleging that it was illegal or that he should have been forced to change it, but it definitely was in poor taste and wasn't the right or prudent thing to do.

The desire to make money is often at odds with "mere" inconveniences such as ethics, morality and decency, but those aren't the foundations of business, which simply is to make money. For a new business, getting your name out can be critical. From the Capitalist perspective, the man's a genius; from the humanitarian one, he's insensitive at best. Supporters of Capitalism should applaud him and aspire to think like him.

Oh please. You can be capitalistic without being offensive.

While this doesn't exactly apply, because it happened during the first World War, the house of Windsor exchanged their German name and titles for English sounding ones due to anti-German sentiment. If a royal family such as the Windsors will change their name, saying farewell to a large part of history along with it, I'm sure that a few lowly Hitlers are likely to do the same.

You can be capitalistic without being offensive.

I didn't say you couldn't; you can, but it isn't required, and in fact, this gentlemen proves that being offensive helped get his name out. On the other hand, being offensive is at odds with being a good person or a humanitarian; as such I submit that Capitalism and humanitarianism can (and often do) have competing priorities and goals.

engima, you did say

Supporters of Capitalism should applaud him and aspire to think like him.

Which I take issue with.

Ok, take issue.

Ron Popiel Hugh Hefner Henry Ford Lee Iaccoca Warren Buffet Larry Flynt Sam Walton

Some supporters of Capitalism could applaud him and aspire to think like him. Others can find ways to build a successful brand without resorting to controversy.

joulesbeef,

this has nothing to do with fear.

this has to do with anti semitism. I know people are sick of hearing that word, but I am also sick of people casually tossing around their hate when it is specifically meant to hurt but if a Jew says something, we are told to stop whining.

anti-Semitism is considered to be hatred toward Jews/individually and as a group that can be attributed to the Jewish religion and/or ethnicity. An important issue is the distinction between legitimate criticism of policies and practices of the State of Israel, and commentary that assumes an anti-Semitic character. The demonization of Israel, or vilification of Israeli leaders, sometimes through comparisons with Nazi leaders, and through the use of Nazi symbols to caricature them, indicates an anti-Semitic bias rather than a valid criticism of policy concerning a controversial issue.

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/40258.htm

I am just curious, when moslems protest with signs, "death to Israel" and "death to America" because they are angry about unflattering cartoons of mohammed, do you tell them it's just silly, forget about it???!

Probably something like "Lucky Cross". Since to controversy was more over the connection to Hitler with a symbol that is still considered beneficial in that part of the world.

Amin's House of Meat.

Jeffrey Dahmer's Snackatorium? It can't be considered offensive if they don't get the joke, right?

He got the publicity. But what was the alternative? Should the public have ignored it? That would be sanctioning the name.

So he got his 15 minutes, now his restaurant has to live up to the hype or it's (pardon the pun) *toast*.

A total stunt. He never meant to keep that name. He knew he'd have to change it after people got angry. He got twice the publicity.

Wow! Are you a mind reader? Cool. Tell me what I'm thinking RIGHT NOW.

Tell me what I'm thinking RIGHT NOW.

hmm..that you didn't like my comment?

hmm..that you didn't like my comment?

Bwwwwaaammp! Wrong answer. I was thinking that I needed to stop messing around on the Internet and get the rest of the checks written for my agents. Sorry. How disappointing.