Free speech is a vitally important concept, and in general, I am against anything that endorses the "nanny state" approach. Institutions and companies have an obligation to be as open-minded as possible in most areas. However, the recent comments and approach adopted by Madame Tussauds with one of its exhibits does seem to display (no pun intended) a lack of awareness and common sense.
A wax statue of Adolf Hitler is on display in such a position that it allows tourists access to it. In the paper today is a picture of two people standing next to the figure, giving a 'Heil Hitler' salute. I think it's a step too far, as unsurprisingly there are high visitor numbers and every chance that offence will be caused. Let's face it, if yobs in the street give such salutes to the police in certain circumstances, they would be done for either anti-social behaviour or incitement or disturbance of the peace (a low-level equivalent of some of the things Hitler was guilty of!) and their actions would not be defended by anyone. However, inside a visitor attraction, apparently it's all okay, according to the management at Madame Tussauds:
"We proactively encourage our visitors to interact with the waxworks should they so choose."
I suggest that a misjudgement has been made here. A simple repositioning of the figure would remove the chance of tourists posing for pictures while giving the 'Heil Hitler' salute. I do not go as far as those claiming the figure has no place in the exhibition - that is too much censorship of course. Recognition of people past and present is one thing; inviting unnecessary grief is silly, when an attraction in London is bound to mean an international mix of cultures and histories for those paying the entrance fee.
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