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Should this councillor resign over such a petty matter?

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anotheoldgit | 14:50 Thu 26th Feb 2009 | News
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-115604 5/Lib-Dem-councillor-facing-calls-resign-dress ing-Nazi-storm-trooper.html

After all the party was 'Allo Allo' themed, and it was not as if he had chose a Nazi SS uniform.

The uniform he is wearing was of an officer of the German Wehrmacht the ordinary German national army at the time.
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Being in the public eye carries a level of responsibility that includes standards of behaviour expected by the circles in which you move.

Appearing at a private party - fine, no problem. Being stupid and self-aggrandaising enough to post pictures and 'jokes' on a public-access website is asking for trouble.

It is never enough to defend yourself by saying you have a 'great sense of humour' - which judging by the jokes he tells is an entirely debatable point - that simply adds insult to injury by advising people you have offended that they are humourless and do not share your own deathless wit and joi de vivre.

I would say that 'Allo 'Allo is equally humourless and far too close to historic events which for a large number of people do not evoke humourous memories of any kind - but as I say, people are entitlted to be tasteless and witless behind closed doors for the benefit of like-minded individuals.

Put yourself on public display, and you are open to offending strangers and undermining your position - in this case a Councillor - and he shows sufficient lack of judgement, and petty arrogance that does not sit well with the people he is supposed to represent.

Resign for dressing up and telling nasty jokes at a private party? No.

Resign for being pompous enough to think that everyone secept a load of PC killjoys shares your sense of 'fun' and be unable to accept that your behaviour was ill-judged and deserves an apology - yes.
No he should not resign.

Andy Hughes: I would say that 'Allo 'Allo is equally humourless and far too close to historic events which for a large number of people do not evoke humourous memories of any kind - but as I say, people are entitlted to be tasteless and witless behind closed doors for the benefit of like-minded individuals.

You are of course entitled to your views (and I can't say that I particularly enjoyed the series), however it was rated as the thirteenth best sitcom of all time in a 2004 vote, was nominated for several Baftas and had several million viewers - and was on main stream tv.
Oneyedvic - I believe we have to take stock of society as we live in it now - not as it was twenty-five plus years ago.

On the logic you use, it's perfectly OK for people to black up and ape minstresl singers because 'The Black And White Minstrel Show' was mainstream BBC entertainment once upon a time.

If popularity is the yardstick of acceptability, the Ant & Dec should ship out and make room for Roy Chubby Brown who'se concert audiences would make the average TV scheduler weep into his ratings lists.

We live in hopefully more enlightened times, and I would stress once again that this man should not resign for dresssing in a German uniform in private - AOG's distinction, although valid, is too fine to escape the offence register - he should resign for assuming that his antics merit publication on a public website, and then blustering about PC'ism when people exercise their equal right to be offended by his action - which is the posting and lack of sensitivity required to admit fault and apologise.

That shows sufficient lack of judgement to merit his resignation - or at the very leasy acknowldgement and contrition.

We all make mistakes - only arrogant fools blame others for lacking their own 'sense of humour'.

I certainly lack Mr Aspey's sense of humour - and I'm seriously glad to say so!
and making Sick jokes about Fred West and Harold Shipman

seems to be mysteriously missing from the headline.

Personally I think that's a bit more serious for someone in public life

I think I'd want to see the material before making a decision.

But if he were my councillor and I'd lost a parent to Shipman I don't think I'd be very impressed would you?
Oneyedvic - I believe we have to take stock of society as we live in it now - not as it was twenty-five plus years ago.

On the logic you use, it's perfectly OK for people to black up and ape minstresl singers because 'The Black And White Minstrel Show' was mainstream BBC entertainment once upon a time.


Allo Allo is currently being repeated on BBC1 - hardly 25 years ago stuff. When was the last time the B & W Minstrel show was aired?

Indeed a German TV channel have actually bought the rights to this show last year: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/72864 59.stm
Should they not have been allowed to?


From the article: . I have not been approached by anyone or received any complaints.'

So who should he apologise to? The other councillors of opposing parties who think he should step down (and incidentally there will be a by election - do you think they will contest it)?
Reading the article, there's more to this than simply dressing in a German uniform. However, iff that had been his only 'crime', then no, he shouldn't resign. To suggest that dressing up in such a way for a themed fancy dress party is cause for resignation is politically correct nonsense.
I've honestly never heard anyone suggest that 'Allo 'Allo is offensive. I don't see why it would be. Who does it offend?

Are you sure you're not thinking of 'Heil, Honey, I'm Home' from 1990? Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun living next door to a Jewish family. Crikey.
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andy-hughes

I believe we have to take stock of society as we live in it now - not as it was twenty-five plus years ago.

If this is true I despair, I shudder at what it will be like in another twenty-five years.

But then I most likely won't be around, but what a legacy to leave for the young. But then I don't suppose they will know any difference, because they cannot remember what it was once like.
Oneyedvic - the thrust of my point is not the humour - or otherwise of any one TV sitcom.

My point is that this man has held his party with an 'Allo 'Allo' theme and then posted pictures and links to 'jokes' on a public website, which not surprisingly has attracted adverse attention.

So for lacking sufficient judgement and modesty to simply show his pictures to his family and friends - but posting his 'humour' where the people he represents and works with can see it, and then lacking enough common sense to be aware of his position, and simply apologise for poor judgement in posting his pictures and links, he should resign.

Freedom of speech does not allow you to shout 'Fire!' in a crowded theatre. Offending people and then accusing them of lacking your own 'great sense of humour' is not really the actions of a councillor of any denomination.
Quinlad, I don't see who it would offend either. The thing is 'Allo Allo' very cleverly ridiculed everyone - German, English, French, Italian - no one was exempt. Personally I thought it was very well written and extremely funny. It was far too daft for anyone with any sense to take seriously.
As I said, Andy, this hasn't arisen simply from this man dressing in a German uniform for a party. There's more to it - and I think therein lies the real issue.
So, to those of you who think this guy should be hung out to dry, I pose this question:
Should the shop or wherever he hired his Nazi cozzie be forced to close?
Agreed naomi24 - he can dress how he likes at his own party, but anyone who posts themselves on a public website must take the consequences of the public viewing that post - and this he has failed to do - adding to his foolish action by trying to infer that anyone who is upset simply lacks his own 'rather great sinse of humour'.

Being foolish, insensitive and tasteless is not a bar to public life.

Being unable to see that positions of authority come with responsibility, and refusing to face up to failure to accept that responsibility - that is a bar.

Resign, and try to recoup whatever shreds of dignity you may have left.
Had he simply dressed in the uniform, I don�t think it would have been an issue. This is the real problem.

��..he is also a member of another called 'Harold Shipman - join my new surgery', which says: 'It's a great surgery, free jabs for the over-65s.'
On his Facebook site, Mr Aspey describes himself as an 'extreme Right-wing Liberal Democrat'.

He has joined a group called 'Fred West was a good builder', which says: 'Great builder, bit of a drinker, he often told me he could murder some Tenants.'

And he is also a member of another called 'Harold Shipman - join my new surgery', which says: 'It's a great surgery, free jabs for the over-65s.'


Looking at the above, maybe he should resign - not for wearing the uniform - I have no problem with that - but for being unfit for public office. The man is clearly an idiot.
Was Prince Harry considered unfit to be a member of our Royal Family after he dressed in Nazi uniform at a fancy dress party a few years ago?
Was he also similarly deemed for his racist comments about his Army colleague which received extensive media coverage recently?
Has Prince Philip ever been held to account over the years for his countless misdemeanours?
Move into the real world, people!
No right-thinking person could suggest that this councillor was wise to do what he did, but, hey! S..t happens!!!
For a 40 year old bloke, he certainly seems to be acting in a very juvenile way. I can see my nieces and nephews, and some junior colleagues (19 y/o and less) thinking this would be hilarious, and equally likely to think it is funny to join such Facebook groups, but honestly, councillor, a grown man�� ?

I agree with naomi24 on two counts:

1. This man is an idiot
2. �Allo �Allo! was fab, Vicky Michelle saying �Oooh Ren� still gives me goosebumps!
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�Allo �Allo! was fab, Vicky Michelle saying �Oooh Ren� still gives me goosebumps!

And you a grown man?????
Just because he's at an age when he still get it up.... ;-)
Well it reminds me of when I was younger man, and all that that entails.

I doubt you remember that far back AOG, but some of us do.
Do you actually have to be part of the "clique" or "in crowd" (which clearly exists here) before anyone answers your point(s)???

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