The "octopus" claim is rather lame - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Bloomberg Anti-Gun Campaign To Air Ads

Submitted by David Hardy, Apr 19, 2007 15:55

It is based on a rather obvious flaw. The theme of the NRA magazine cover would only be significant if a cartoon of an octopus taking over the world was something uniquely nazi or anti-Semitic. Actually, it has been a frequent theme in propaganda and editorial cartoons. A brief Google search turns up a British WWII cartoon depicting fascists as an octopus, an American cartoon with the same, not to mention octopus cartoons featuring the World Trade Organization, the USSR, and (at the turn of the last century), the Southern Pacific Railroad, British capitalists, and the "Liquor Lobby." Not to mention Frank Norris' 1901 book, "The Octopus," directed at the railroads. NRA's cover took a theme that has been widespread in political cartoons for a century, and more often used against the Nazis than by them. Given the duration and vehemence of anti-Semitism over time, I'd have little doubt that ANY symbol used by a political cartoonist today has at some point been appropriated for anti-Semitic purposes.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Finally somebody got courage to look into the root of the schools shootings. It is absolutely obvious that nobody would... [MORE]	Rhea	Apr 20, 2007 14:28
Rhea, if you think that gun control saves lives I think you need to take a long vacation to Darfur... [MORE]	Doug Postlewait	Apr 22, 2007 16:15
Society is safer when the criminals do not know who is armed. That mayor and his freedom hating morons are... [MORE]	Dave	Apr 20, 2007 12:19
Now that the Bloomberg ads will be aired, I am sure that the same stations will be more than happy... [MORE]	ED Knights	Apr 20, 2007 11:02
What Bloomberg is doing is taken from the left's playbook,exploit a tragedy to further their political agenda. The left could... [MORE]	RBadenhop	Apr 20, 2007 06:24
It is unfortunate that such an intellect such as Michael Bloomberg is so ignorent on this topic. The second ammendment... [MORE]	George G	Apr 20, 2007 09:57
It is unfortunate that such an intellect such as Michael Bloomberg is so ignorent on this topic. The second ammendment... [MORE]	George G	Apr 20, 2007 10:03
It is unfortunate that such an intellect such as Michael Bloomberg is so ignorent on this topic. The second ammendment... [MORE]	George G	Apr 20, 2007 10:06
If it is immoral to own, possess or control firearms for the purpose of defending one's self, family and property,... [MORE]	R. Goelzer	Apr 20, 2007 03:28
The signs that say "Gun Free Zone" should be reworded to read "Free Fire Zone". New York City is one... [MORE]	Ralph Warner	Apr 20, 2007 00:44
Dear Mayor: Please fix your own city and stop blaming the rest of the country for your failed policies. Where I... [MORE]	David Nelson	Apr 19, 2007 22:35
Amen to FIX YOUR OWN CITY. My feelings exactly. [MORE]	Gilbert Owens	Apr 20, 2007 09:55
Bloomberg must be sniffing glue to think that more Gun laws is what would have prevented the Vtech tragedy, why... [MORE]	william Patrick	Apr 19, 2007 21:28
Living in N.Y.C. all my life , why does the City Restrict our Constitutional Right to defend ourselves on the... [MORE]	Mark Ralin	Apr 19, 2007 20:46
There are too many places in this country where your security is your resposibility. According to court rulings the police... [MORE]	Frank Chapman	Apr 19, 2007 19:40
If bloomberg put his efforts into pro gun lobby, NYC would be a much safer place. I am an ex... [MORE]	Ed Maloney	Apr 19, 2007 19:33
It is based on a rather obvious flaw. The theme of the NRA magazine cover would only be significant if a...	David Hardy	Apr 19, 2007 15:55
A large number of people are pretending that a gun ban would have stopped the shootings in Virginia. They are... [MORE]	Charles P.	Apr 19, 2007 15:38
In & around the early '90s, Diane Sawyer shocked many conservatives when, on a segment of ABC"s "Primetime", she reported... [MORE]	Bob Ellis	Apr 19, 2007 13:51
As Mayor Bloomberg well knows, this is not about legitimate access to firearms trace data, which law enforcement already has.... [MORE]	K. A. Reis	Apr 19, 2007 12:50
The Tiahrt Amendment is endorsed by the National Fraternal Order of Police and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and... [MORE]	William	Apr 19, 2007 12:22
Why can't the anti-gun lobby see how their rules cost lives at VT? The campus at VT is a "gun... [MORE]	Michael E. Landon	Apr 19, 2007 12:08
Exactly, the anti's are the ones to blame, this tragedy would have been stopped in it's tracks had a student... [MORE]	william p	Apr 19, 2007 21:31

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