I hope they take the shirts off of the shelves so you guys will let this asinine story die once and for all.

Please...enough.

Don't stop. This is great. Regardless of whether they should or should not sell the shirts they stated that they would remove them. This shows a quantum failure by Wal-Mart to control their inventory. This is a major logistical failure by the world formost distribution company.

The back of the Consumerist shirt should have read, "A shirt that DOESN'T use Nazi graphics."

@Mojosan:
It will be enough when Walmart cowboys up and takes the shirts off the shelves LIKE THE PROMISED IN WRITING.

Until then, if you see a post with the words nazi and shirt in the title - ignore it.

Yup... keep it coming. Walmart's feet need to be held to the fire on this, and no one's going to take notice unless Nazi shirt sightings get posted. Also interesting to highlight the fact that the only way a directive can really operate from high above inside the mammoth Walton-universe is to just take the SKU out of the register computer. Obviously there aren't adequate systems in place to direct individual managers to just remove the damn things from the shelf.

Coming next week to a Wal-Mart near you: Joe "The angel of death" Mengele ROCKS the HOUSE CD's. Get a "I wish he'd flayed off MY skin" T-shirt FREE with purchase of the DVD...

I think it is commendable to let Walmart know that it is NOT acceptable to sell Nazi gear. However, I believe this is missing the forest for the trees and the effort should be broader than just foccussing on Walmart. (Also, many people apparently think Walmart is more evil than Hitler.) The real issue is the significant growth of the skinhead and other movements that use Nazi symbology in the last couple of decades, which as created a mass market for such Nazi gear. This has been driven by bands such as Marilynn Manson and Rammstein that use allusions to Nazism to atract young people and have become acceptable to the mainstream.

When people belittle you for speaking out about Nazism, you can point them the play by Max Frisch entitled "Biedermann and the Fireflys", which is about middle class complacency in the face of Nazism. First you will be belittled for speaking out. If that doesn't work, and when they are powerful enough, they will silence critics with threats and/or actual violence. It is better to criticize Nazis when they are still relatively weak than to wait until it is obvious to everyone that it is a problem. I think it should be a concern, though, that mass marketers like Walmart are now catering to Nazis. That gives you an idea what the numbers are. The 1978 date by the way apparently refers to the founding of the Nazi Punk/Skinhead movement.

Really, why doesn't Wal Mart hire Consumerist readers to go out to their stores and find these t shirts and remove them? They obviously can't do the job themselves.

@Tristan921:

Marilyn manson and Rammstein are spreading nazism? Thats ridiculous. What are you gonna say next, video games are responsible for all school shootings? I dont really feel like getting into a whole lengthy discussion on this topic, but lemme just say this, Marilyn Manson married a JEW!

@Tristan921: /This has been driven by bands such as Marilynn Manson and Rammstein that use allusions to Nazism to atract young people and have become acceptable to the mainstream./

What allusions would that be?

@Codis: And Rammstein has some pretty homoerotic pictures of themselves floating around.

Marilynn Manson uses Nazi symbolism such as the Nazi colors and Nazi style clothing. Not to mention the sadisistic and harsh style of the music. The band is named after Charlie Manson, who was an admirer of Adolf Hitler, no? I havn't looked at Marilynn Manson so much yet. But here is some info on Rammstein:

http://raumfahrer.wordpress.com

@Tristan921: bands such as Marilynn Manson and Rammstein that use allusions to Nazism to atract young people

Never mind Marilyn Manson (who, as someone already said, married a Jew); he uses Nazi imagery purely for shock/schlock value. The fact that Rammstein is a German band is pretty much the only thing that even remotely connects them to Nazism. Congratulations. It's only 11:30am and you're already in the lead for "Most Ridiculous Thing I've Read All Day."

Back to the topic at hand. I think these ongoing Walmart/Nazi items are great and Consumerist should continue to follow this story. It's important for precisely the reason that Ben gave in the article:

the company doesn't always do what they said they were gonna do

29 weeks is unacceptable. I hope everyone remembers this next time they hear a Walmart executive touting their "world-class supply chain and logistics model."

@Tristan921:

As this is YOUR site, I kind of have a problem with POV issues...

@Tristan921: http://raumfahrer.wordpress.com

Ah, the definitive analysis from an amateur symbologist with an axe to grind. News flash: a symbologist would argue that the Christian Coalition's logo includes a Muslim crescent: http://www.cc.org

Your source is a kook.

"This has been driven by bands such as Marilynn Manson and Rammstein ..."

Mom, turn off the intarweb and go watch Dateline.

For what it's worth, I actually had the chance to meet some of the guys in Manson's band several years ago. Nicest folks you could hope to meet. It was in Europe at a touristy flamenco guitar concert, and one of the guys--it totally ruined my assumptions--kept talking about how he was homesick and just wanted to get back to North Carolina to spend time with his wife and kid.

Speaking of missing the forest for the trees, the big implication in this story is, how good is Walmart at removing items that have been recalled (by Walmart or the CPSC)? Apparently not very. What does that mean for the food, medicine, and auto parts Walmart carries? If it can't purge its inventory of offensive t-shirts, how can consumers be sure it can purge tainted beef or tampered Tylenol?

@Ted's Famous Kickin Chicken: If it can't purge its inventory of offensive t-shirts, how can consumers be sure it can purge tainted beef or tampered Tylenol?

An excellent point.

Oh no, here come the smoke screens and talking points from people that think criticizing people for promoting Nazism among kids is somehow a violation of their constitutional rights. Said nazi-promoters are always the darned nicest folks you would ever care to meet have married a jew is homosexual, is a homosexual married to a jew, blah, blah, blah... Hehehe. :-)

Rammstein goose-steps on stage and has a webpage dedicated to Adolf Hitler, including Hitler's baby pictures, not to mention the more subtle illusions to Hitlerism. I gues it doesn't take a Ph.D. in Symbology Interpretation to figure that one out, eh?

If anyone has an ax to grind, I would assume it's those people who act like criticizing the promotion of Nazism among young adults is unconstitutional.

I found one in Suwanee, GA. I sent them an E-Mail with pictures. Hopefully they will post it soon.

Again, who cares.

Who said anything about the constitution?

When I see Manson or Rammstein promoting Nazism rather than lampooning it for shock value, I'll be sure to criticize them. Loudly. Unfortunately for you, to date it hasn't happened.

It is indeed your constitutional right to be a nut with a kooky theory. It's also my constitutional right to think you're wrong.

Now get back on topic.

@Tristan921: Wow, you have taken being a douche to a whole new level.....

Paul, no you haven't mentioned the constitution, but people usually get to that point and you and others (see roche's douche comment) seem sometimes terribly upset that I would even criticize them for that. Also, I have 30+ pages of material with their videos on my website. You respond negatively, before you even had time to look at what I have there. I am not sure why people get their panties in a bunch that I criticize people for making allusions to Nazism in order to attact fans. Is it because you sympathsize with those who promote Nazism, or what is exactly the reason that you don't like it when people criticize the promotion of Nazism?

Lampooning means to redicule and if you look at my website they are clearly not lampooning Nazism. If they are lampooning anything they are lampooning the people that criticize them for promoting Nazism. The ADL and British Anti-Fascist league have both cited them for their use of Nazi symbols. The ADL does not normally cite people for rediculing Nazism. They rather appove of that. :-) Apparently you don't.

@Tristan921: It has nothing to do with being "terribly upset." I called you a douche for pushing your own anti Rammstein agenda when it has nothing to do with T-Shirts at Walmart.

I could care less about that band. You on the other hand seem quite obsessed with them considering you have taken the time to assemble thirty plus pages of propaganda against them.

Go outside, take a walk and lighten the F up.....

@Tristan921: "Paul, no you haven't mentioned the constitution, but people usually get to that point..."

So, you're condemning people for what you think they might do?

Why isn't there a "block user" button on this site?

Ok, time to stop feeding the troll.

>>So, you're condemning people for what you think they might do?<<

No. Some have already done it enough times that I know the routine. I'm not condemming anyone. Just wondering why so many people can't accept criticizing the use of Nazi symbols for commercial reasons? Do you have an idea?

I forgot to mention personal attacks and trying to divert attention to other subjects as part of the usual strategies against anyone that has the audacity to criticise the use of Nazi symbols for promoting Nazism and/or commercial reasons.

That people are promoting a mass market for Nazi gear seems also to be a consumer concern. I was in Mexico recently and a tourist store had Nazi and KKK banners, a Totenkopf ashtray and other Nazi gear for sale. They said the Rammstein and Manson fans were demanding the stuff. A Rammstein poster all in the colors of the Third Reich was in their display window, with them posing in black leather and and wearing the ersatz Nazi Cross that they use and a British "hostage" in a submissive pose before them wearing only a british flag wrapped around his private parts.

I hear Manson is actually sneaking these shirts back into Walmart stores.

Roch, why do you care what I do in my spare time? I suspect pointing these things out is better use of my time than what you do in you spare time. :-)

My Aunts friend saw Rammstein making the shirts and give them to Manson. He makes Pogo drive the van.

@Tristan921:

Who cares? When will watchdogs like you just go away? It's a T-shirt.

Your aforementioned claim at mass market promotion of Nazi gear insinuates that it is done so for the promotion of the Nazi ideology, and principles - it's not, you're just being a watchdog over sensitive moron.

Hey, trolls gotta eat, too!

I bought a half-dozen Wal-Mart Nazi shirts back when y'all broke this story. *I* want Wal-Mart to stop selling them so I can unload mine on eBay.

@evilrobot:

Manson also ensures that the little children making the T-shirts also have blue eyes and blond hair.

@mbrutsch:

"Hey, trolls gotta eat, too!"

This is Consumerist, not Checkers! ;)

Seriously, there is no debate -- Tristan doesn't care what anyone else thinks. So why are we bothering to go off-topic with him? The issue is that Wallymart corporate are big fat liars.

forget about the nazi imagery, what about the gay and sexual references used by rammstein and manson?! holly fuck, do you also realize that marilyn manson's name makes reference to a murderer?!... the horror... omg we need more laws immediately to ban anything that may be obscene.

@Tristan921: "... I was in Mexico recently and a tourist store had Nazi and KKK banners, a Totenkopf ashtray and other Nazi gear for sale. They said the Rammstein and Manson fans were demanding the stuff."

you are basing your whole point on what some random guy, in a tourist store in mexico said to you?

Isn't it interesting how many people always rush to attack the person that brings up this subject of Nazism, instead of discussing the details of the use of such symbols by these groups. Maybe they don't want the details to be widely understood, so they attack the messenger? I've gotten quite a few death threats from the Rammstein fans. Some of them I posted on the website.

I just think there is a much broader problem than whether Walmart is selling these t-shirts, or not. Not that I am against putting public pressure on Walmart to stop.

Okay there goes Royal72 with the anti-constitutional thing as if I want to legally ban it. I just think people should inform themselves about how Nazism is being marketed and make their personal opinion known. In my opinion that would be enough to stop it.

@Tristan921:

Unfortunately, you fail to understand why your vain attempts decrying the "marketing of nazism" (That last nazi commericial was a hoot!) are so moronic...

There is no one marketing nazism. The use of symbols in no way equates to the the mentality derivative of their original depiction. Furthermore, when some artist such as Manson uses said symbols in the public forum; it is done so in an ironic matter (the same way he depicts Christ), it's always the watchdog groups with no interest in the music or art in the first place that mount their high horse and charge in to protect us.

We don't need your help.

@Tristan921: "Isn't it interesting how many people always rush to attack the person that brings up this subject of Nazism, instead of discussing the details of the use of such symbols by these groups."

That's because we think your point is irrelevant, misguided, and out of place, and we just want you to shut up already. To us, there's nothing to discuss, but you insist on discussing it anyway.

When I say "we", by the way, I'm not making anything up or putting words in anyone's mouth. Several people here have quite directly asked you to go away. You seem to miss the point, though. You think they're doing it as an attack on your argument. They're not. They're "rushing to attack the person" because it's the person, not the viewpoint, that we don't like. We think you're insane, and we want you to go away.

@Indecision:
Huzzah!

Bedornails, why do people like you feel that you need to make personal attacks? Just because someone brings up a subject that you would rather keep in the dark?

Walmart is without doubt mass-marketing a Nazi-Symbol. If you read the comments from Rammstein-Fans that I post on my website it is clear that many of them think in exactly the same way as the original Nazis. The shop in Mexico did not make the Nazi and KKK banners themselves. There are companies somewhere that make the Nazi Gear and distributes it.

If you study the symbology a little you will start seeing people regularly in the street that are displaying the Nazi colors and Nazi symbology of some type. I was explaining this to my friend and within a few minutes I pointed out one Guy wearing a shirt with the Iron Cross and the Nazi colors. Another store had a cap in the Nazi colors with "Skins" (for Nazi Skinheads) written on it. Some people can wear this stuff innocently, but a lot are not. They are displaying their political beliefs.

People that think there are no more Nazis or other similar groups or any promotion of these groups are living in a dream world or are perhaps apologists/promoters of these idealogies themselves.

@Indecision - I am only responding to your attacks. All I did was state what I thought the reasons are that Nazi symbals are being mass-marketed. I know who you mean by "we". "We" are those who defend attacks on Nazis, for whatever reason they may have for passionately defending Nazis. :-)

@Tristan921:

For the love all things non-nazi, ENOUGH!

Ben or Meghann, can this end?

Risking the ire of many, I would like to thank Tristan921 for his comments, if I might.

I haven't listened to Rammstein's Sehnsucht in a really long time, and because of his posts I'm now listening to it and remembering what a great album I thought it was. So, thanks for that.