Target Stores issues a nationwide alert to recall clothing with insignia 88 on the grounds that some neo-Nazis use the 88 in logos to represent Heil Hitler (because H is the 8th letter of the alphabet). Maybe so, but 88 is certainly not the exclusive property of neo-Nazis. 88 is also:
The frequency and symbol of WCBS, newsradio 88
The jersey number of Green Bay Packer Bubba Franks
The number of Astronomical Constellations
The number of a middle school in Brooklyn
The local of the Canadian Auto Workers Union in Ingersoll, Ontario
An Interstate Highway in Upstate New York
A gift store
An online casino
A Burmese human rights group
A classic Oldsmobile
and driver Dale Jarrett's NASCAR number
Even more problematic is the number 18, which some wackos use to represent Hitler's initials AH, but has also been considered the most auspicious number in the Jewish tradition for centuries.
So really folks, nobody has a monopoly on any two-digit number (except maybe Douglas Adams with the number 42 and Barbara Feldon with 99). So why don't we all focus our efforts on something more important than numeric logos on outerwear.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at August 29, 2002 04:42 PMMy favorite: 69
Posted by: fred lapides on August 29, 2002 06:53 PMActually 99 is Wayne Gretzky's number, forever. The NHL says so, see: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2000/nhl_allstar/news/2000/02/06/gretzky_99/
Posted by: David Betz on August 30, 2002 07:06 AM88 is also the number of a trans-Sierra highway that goes from Stockton to Minden, NV.
"So why don't we all focus our efforts on something more important than numeric logos on outerwear."
True, there are a lot of 88s in the world, including this one:
www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/type-88-mbt.htm
"Type 88 K1 Main Battle Tank" (North Korea).
But, just do a google search for "hitler 88" and see what you come up with.
I can cut the Italian shoe company some slack for their "Zyklon" shoes (maybe), but this one is deliberate.
Weighing in late on this, but the Target flap involved more than just the *numerals* "88." It would be idiotic to read much into the appearance of those digits on team jerseys and the like. But the merchandise in question also featured patterns that included the words "eight eight" and/or "eighty-eight" -- and no other numbers.
No one has suggested Target did this on purpose, or has any kind of agenda, but it's hard to dismiss the code connection outright. Maybe some marketeers trying to spot youth trends inadvertently invited neo-nazis to their focus groups...
Posted by: Jim on September 5, 2002 09:03 AM88 is also a footwear company. and a rad one at that. www.88footwear.com
Posted by: wes on December 3, 2002 07:15 PM