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Aldi takes 'Australia Est 1788' T-shirts off shelves after racism complaints
The Guardian ^ | 1/7/14 | Bridie Jabour

Posted on 01/08/2014 5:24:22 PM PST by Impala64ssa

...Supermarket chain says decision to remove the design followed tweets 'by a limited number of concerned customers'

Aldi has removed T-shirts from its Australia Day range after the supermarket chain was accused of racism.

Aldi advertised shirts which said “Australia Est 1788” to go on sale as part of its Australia Day range.

The shirts drew criticism on Twitter where the supermarket was accused of racism for seeming to say Australia was only established after it was colonised in 1788, despite the existence of an Indigenous population before then.

In a statement Aldi Australia said it had decided to remove the T-shirts from retail and they would not go on sale on Saturday as planned.

“The decision to remove the Australia Est 1788 design from the range was taken following comments by a limited number of concerned customers,” the statement said.

“Aldi Australia wants its customers to know it puts the community and their wishes first.”

One Twitter user suggested the “est” be changed to “invaded” while others urged people to complain to Aldi directly.

The announcement was welcomed by some but angered others who did not believe the T-shirt was offensive.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aldi; australia; pc; pcnonsense; twitter
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Politial Correctness from Down Under. From the same company that sold horsemeat-tainted meat in the US.
1 posted on 01/08/2014 5:24:22 PM PST by Impala64ssa
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To: Impala64ssa

Lewis and Clark, et. al. et plenty of dog.


2 posted on 01/08/2014 5:26:42 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: Impala64ssa

I don’t think it was called “Australia” before that


3 posted on 01/08/2014 5:28:20 PM PST by GeronL (Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
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To: Impala64ssa

Someday someone will stand up to this and just say “Shut up, only a racist would even think of such a thing”


4 posted on 01/08/2014 5:29:24 PM PST by McGavin999
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To: Impala64ssa

Wow. Instant collectors item. I wonder what they are going for on eBay?
I’d want one, except they’re ugly.


5 posted on 01/08/2014 5:29:44 PM PST by Little Ray (How did I end up in this hand-basket, and why is it getting so hot?)
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To: Impala64ssa

Did the indigenous people call it Australia? If not it would be no more racist than proclaiming the USA est. 1776. (Although I feel quite sure there are those who would call that racism as well) face it. They are going to call racism no matter what you do, so why let it bother you?


6 posted on 01/08/2014 5:29:48 PM PST by bk1000 (A clear conscience is a sure sign of a poor memory)
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To: Impala64ssa
“Australia Est 1788”

But Australia was established then. Before then, it wasn't Australia. It was a bunch of unaffiliated tribes, probably headhunters like the chaps next door in New Guinea, with names like Billabong and Didgeridoo.

Are the "more aboriginal than thou" whiners now claiming to be Australian? I'm so confused. I thought they rejected the European colonization and name because of their superior mud culture.

7 posted on 01/08/2014 5:34:24 PM PST by SamuraiScot
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To: bk1000
Did the indigenous people call it Australia? If not it would be no more racist than proclaiming the USA est. 1776. (Although I feel quite sure there are those who would call that racism as well) face it.

This is more like saying "America, est. 1492" (or 1607 or 1620).

As we see every Columbus Day or Thanksgiving, yes, there are people who would call that racist.

1776? Maybe we're headed to the point where that will be seen as racist as well, but we're not quite there yet.

8 posted on 01/08/2014 5:37:28 PM PST by x
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To: Impala64ssa

Much like our own Indians, if the “indigenous population” had better border controls and a bigger defense budget they’d still be in charge!


9 posted on 01/08/2014 5:44:34 PM PST by JimRed (Excise the cancer before it kills us; feed & water the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS NOW & FOREVER!)
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To: Paladin2

If I remember right when the Wintered on or near the Pacific Coast, they had an unlimited supply of salmon but preferred dog meat.

Strikes me as strange but probably true.


10 posted on 01/08/2014 5:45:04 PM PST by yarddog (Romans 8: verses 38 and 39. "For I am persuaded".)
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To: GeronL
I don’t think it was called “Australia” before that

Actually, Australia is Latin for "Southern" (Terra Australias Icognitio). It was referred as such by the Europeans as early as the 1400s.

11 posted on 01/08/2014 5:45:06 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Obama is very angry and will get to the bottom of it.)
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To: x
1776? Maybe we're headed to the point where that will be seen as racist as well, but we're not quite there yet.

Is it 1776 yet? Reds instead of Redcoats this time!

12 posted on 01/08/2014 5:46:33 PM PST by JimRed (Excise the cancer before it kills us; feed & water the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS NOW & FOREVER!)
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Australia Est 1788

Australia Castrated 1996


13 posted on 01/08/2014 5:49:46 PM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: Impala64ssa

“The shirts drew criticism on Twitter where the supermarket was accused of racism for seeming to say Australia was only established after it was colonised in 1788, despite the existence of an Indigenous population before then.”

Sorry, Society for the Perpetually Offended, it wasn’t Australia before 1788. Maybe it was the “Land of an Indigenous Population Living in the Stone Age Who Would Later Scream Racism” before 1788, but it was not Australia.


14 posted on 01/08/2014 5:52:39 PM PST by SharpRightTurn (White, black, and red all over--America's affirmative action, metrosexual president.)
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To: Impala64ssa

For a country founded by a buncha crooks, they did well until they let the Muzzies in.


15 posted on 01/08/2014 5:52:42 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: Impala64ssa

As an Australian I don’t really count Captain Cook arriving as the establishment of the nation. A far better date at least in terms of political union of the nation is January 1st 1901 (the first day of the twentieth century).


16 posted on 01/08/2014 5:59:28 PM PST by xp38
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To: GeronL

Does that also mean that Aldi will take down any American flag? After all, we claim we were established in 1776, but according to Aldi’s thought process, that is patently false.
Before 1776 we, too, were a collection of colonies and a large unhappy native population.
What flag will Aldi fly next week, if any.
The reality is virtually EVERY country in this world was one known by another name.


17 posted on 01/08/2014 6:06:17 PM PST by CaptainAmiigaf (NY TIMES: We print the news as it fits our views.)
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To: Impala64ssa

I have a dream. I dream of a time when we can get back to history being written by the winners instead of it being re-written by a bunch of losers...


18 posted on 01/08/2014 6:14:53 PM PST by Hegemony Cricket (The emperor < still > has no pedigree.)
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To: Impala64ssa
“The decision to remove the Australia Est 1788 design from the range was taken following comments by a limited number of concerned customers,”

"A limited number of concerned customers", eh? So all it takes is a few strongly worded emails from some irate liberals, and the board of directors of Aldi's rolls over.

This is a prime example of yet another major retailer who doesn't 'get it'. I have no doubt that their bottom line will be hurt by such an ignorant, politically correct decision.

19 posted on 01/08/2014 6:18:39 PM PST by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: SamuraiScot
superior mud culture

Man, I've completely had it with tie dyed liberals celebrating all things backward and primitive. If they really believe those cultures are so superior to their own, let them put their money where their big fat mouths are, and go live there.

20 posted on 01/08/2014 6:21:17 PM PST by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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