Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Behind the Aegis

(53,833 posts)
Sat Aug 25, 2012, 02:08 AM Aug 2012

Austria investigates alleged anti-Jewish cartoon

VIENNA (AP) — Austrian authorities are investigating a cartoon on a rightist political leader's Facebook page that critics say smacked of anti-Semitism by showing a repulsive fat banker with a large hooked nose and what appeared to be Star of David patterns on his cufflinks, an official said Tuesday.

The rightist Freedom Party has called criticism of the caricature politically motivated and said its leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, denies the cartoon posted on his Facebook page Sunday was directed against Jews.

Strache accused his detractors of "trying to link me to something insidious" and said they were seeing Stars of David where there were none. He also said that anyone who automatically assigns ethnicity or religion to a hooked nose is a racist.

Still, the investigation could lead to legal action against those who were responsible for the cartoon.

Thomas Vecsey of the Austrian Prosecutor's office said Tuesday that legal experts will decide in the next few days whether to charge those responsible for the posting with incitement to religious or ethnic hatred, a criminal offense in Austria.

more...

For the real 'good read', read the comment section.

3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Austria investigates alleged anti-Jewish cartoon (Original Post) Behind the Aegis Aug 2012 OP
An image of the cartoon in question; Scootaloo Aug 2012 #1
He's a horrible man LeftishBrit Aug 2012 #2
There was still lots of anti-semitism in Austria back in the first half of the 1980s. I can JDPriestly Aug 2012 #3
 

Scootaloo

(25,699 posts)
1. An image of the cartoon in question;
Sat Aug 25, 2012, 02:17 AM
Aug 2012

Source: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/rights/europes-summer-fascism-5-countries-watch

Yeah, this one's about as subtle as a punch to the face.

Just on the basis that I'm not a mind reader and can't say for certain what Strache's intent was, it's possible he wasn't trying to be anti-Jewish. However, the cartoon very obviously draws on the traditional, antisemitic images of the "Jewish banker." And yes, those certainly are stars of David. Strache should have known better, even if he's as innocent as he claims.

Edit: Reading the article, I think I'm going to go with he absolutely meant to be anti-Jewish.
But it gets worse. Strache also posted a picture of himself on his Facebook page standing next to a roast pig with the caption, "Isst du Schwein, darfst du rein," which translates to "If you eat pork, you can come in.



What a turd.

LeftishBrit

(41,192 posts)
2. He's a horrible man
Sat Aug 25, 2012, 03:28 AM
Aug 2012

Far right, hates anyone who isn't native Austrian.

As for that cartoon, the caricature of the banker could indeed have been lifted from antisemitic Nazi propaganda. From an artistic point of view it is bizarre, as the other characters look relatively modern while the banker is an almost unaltered version of early 20th century caricatures. From a human point of view ... just uggggghhhhhhhhh!

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)
3. There was still lots of anti-semitism in Austria back in the first half of the 1980s. I can
Sat Aug 25, 2012, 05:23 AM
Aug 2012

vouch for that. It would not surprise me if it has not changed.

The majority of people are not anti-semitic, but a large enough minority is.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Editorials & Other Articles»Austria investigates alle...