I saw it. It has a visual of Nazi Swastica on a crushed cigarette.

Due to my poor french, I didn't really the article's main message tho. Could anyone explain it in 2 lines?
Nir Ofek, Jun 28, 2008 @ 15:39

[quote]I saw it. It has a visual ofNazi Swastica on a crushed cigarette.



Due to my poor french, I didn't really the article's main message tho. Could anyone explain it in 2 lines?[/quote]



It's commenting on the fact that the Nazis also prohibited smoking in numerous public places 70 years ago. My understanding is that, by making such a comparison, it is not supporting the state's right to prohibit smoking in public.



I read with interest the reference in the article to "nutritionnistes nazis" (i.e. nazis who were nutritionists) who advised against eating food containing additives, consuming excessive amounts of meat, sugar and fats and support increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. I feel that this is the sort of good advice you'd expect to get from any modern-day nutritionist. There was also reference to the fact that "food isn't a private issue". With the current talk of a food crisis and rising food prices, my thought is that it is clear that our individual food choices have a knock-on effect. Any comments?
lentil, Jun 28, 2008 @ 19:34

Lentil: thanks for the summary.

Comments: I'm assuming the article's main gist is indeed that the nazi's made it illigal to smoke in public places, similar to today's new law. A few quick thoughts on this:

1. I imagine the GHI chooe to use this comparison for 2 potential reasons:

• It creates talk about GHI. Look at us - we're talking about it...
• The GHI guys ain't crazy about the new law. Even if they don' say it in the article (I don't know if they do or they don't), just by saying that something is like the Nazis very clearly puts it in a negative light.

2. I think it's a stupid comparison, done by a stupid editor. If indeed the GHI's idea is to say the new law is bad, there are 1001 other ways to do it. And if the GHI's idea is to get more talk about the GHI, there's also many more positive ways than to show a Swastica on its cover.
Nir Ofek, Jun 28, 2008 @ 20:51

The GHI (Geneva Home Information) is mainly a listing of private advertisements, which is the paper's income. Hence it is offered free to the public every Wednesday. By the way, it is fantastic for finding apartments, cars, various and sundry things.

At what point the owners decided to add the other sections, I do not know but  the silly editorials are nothing more than amateur rantings of the local pessimists, probably a group of old hippies who have no access to (or ability to use) modern science and information. You know the type. They hate the government, they hate Americans, they hate the British, they hate people with large families (especially immigrants), they hate teenagers, they hate, well you fill in the blanks. Basically anything that a blue-collar worker person living in Geneva would hate, out of stupid, uninformed hatred, that's what they hate. And they rake the coals of hatred amongst the uninformed (and sadly lacking in curiosity) locals. The GHI liked Blocher and his ads, for example. A few months back, they published an article with the title (paraphrased here) "Let's not forget to hate George W. Bush." They couldn't remember why - but just wanted to remind us to keep hating him.

Prior to the cantonal vote to ban smoking in public places, their front cover touted the face of an unattractive woman blowing smoke at the camera. "Ah, anti-tobacco campaigning from the GHI! How unusual!" I thought. But no. The "clever" journalists (who could have used a young sexy sporty person for the front cover) were actually saying that  - get this! NO ONE was going to vote in favor of the new law!!!!  Trouble is, they forgot to ASK anyone, besides the pizzeria next door. And we all know that the vote passed by 80%.

So, what else can the avid yet impoverished reader, for want of a cereal box, find in the GHI?

There are the obituaries, the cinema listings and the meteo suisse. Of course, in the ads section, there is love, sex or perversity for rent. There are vacation homes, musical instruments, cars and motorbikes as well as various collectors' items such as stamps, porcelaine, vintage household items...

Then you have the saga of the slutty "Cheeky DD", a cartoon girl in a short red dress who proves just how stupid women really are, for the male readers to feel justified in their mysogynist jokes.

There is a sexologist named Doria who publishes both your sexual woes and her advice on how to live happily ever after with your zizi or clito.

Therefore Gillaume and company, I would merely suppress a chuckle at the peasantry of those people who read and support the opinions of the paper.                            Obviously, someone must agree with them, just as some people purchase and agree with what is written in the Cosmopolitan (lose 10 kg in one week! My boyfriend brings me flowers every day because I wear Sexypants Perfume! Are you a good friend? Take this quiz and find out! Don't have mutual orgasms? Find out how to on page 24!)  

People with brains use the GHI to line their bird cages, to protect their floors when painting and to start fires at picnics. If you don't have internet access (your neighbour finally put a code on their wireless...), you can use the GHI to find out what's on at the cinema or if your Aunt Gertrude finally died.

Gillaume, promise me you'll read The Economist next time. It's the news magazine on the kiosk shelf the farthest possible from the Paris Match.
MarmarK, Jun 29, 2008 @ 11:48

I responded to this, but somehow somebody thinks that I should be providing a translation. geez![/quote]

The translation is: Vous habitez Genève - Apprenez donc le français!
MarmarK, Jun 30, 2008 @ 13:00

<<<Vous habitez Genève - Apprenez donc le français![/quote]>>>

 

What a pleasant thing for you to say to someone.....?
intlrep1, Jul 1, 2008 @ 22:45