Barclays Eagle Causing A Flap

[0iD]

Barclays eagle is causing a flap after 317 years...

Barclays is poised to drop its 317-year-old eagle logo in response to concerns from ABN Amro, its Dutch merger partner, that the design has Nazi connotations.

Sources close to the British bank said that it had come under pressure to scrap the logo. “It is rather a Teutonic looking eagle and has unfortunate connotations,” one insider said.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle1951558.ece

Is it me, or are they being a tad over sensitive after all these years?

[BigFatCat]

Or why not just keep the AMRO branding in certain regions? You spend years building brand awareness and loyalty, then change it all when it makes little operational difference after merging.

The sensitivity issue is a different matter, I think some people are still very mindful of what that image might bring to mind, others less so. The eagle and other symbols used during that period have a usage that far pre-dates the 30s and 40s so they're not purely a representation of that regime.

[autopilot]

Originally Posted by 0iD

Is it me, or are they being a tad over sensitive after all these years?

No, i don't think we are. I think problem is that people take too much notice of the small amount of busy-bodies that are. Unfortunately that's often the press, with no motives apart from being desperate for a story, and it then just rolls on from there.

That said, it's does not surprise me in a way. It has always reminded me a little of the old German Nazi Eagle. I thought everyone thought that a bit? But then lots of things remind me of lots of things, i don't think they need to be banned or changed. It's a BIRD FFS!

The saddest thing about this story for me is the continuing trend of bland, faceless, deliberately inoffensive, image-less branding, depressingly dull corporate logo-ism culture that businesses seem so obsessed with these days.

"Right, we need a need image. How about we go crazy and go for that wayout Arial Font. Maybe a day-glo green background?".
"Brilliant! We will really stand out from the crowd!"
"What about making it italic?"
"Steady now! we don't want no hippy ****!".

Walking down my local high street makes me feel depressed sometimes. The London Olympics Logo is a fine example of an utterly forgettable image, apart from the fact that it will be remembered for being forgettable

Many in the Netherlands, which was occupied for five years during the Second World War, are deeply sensitive to Nazi imagery.

Well if a simple picture of a Bird constitutes Nazi imagery and scares them that much, god help them if the ever holiday in the USA. The Eagle is there national bird and one of their national emblems. It's freaking everywhere. In fact they still use it in Germany too.


EDIT: Anyone think the London Olympics Logo slightly resembles a Swastika? I'm going to write to my local MP...

EDIT2: Could these be the same Dutch people that printed those Mohamed cartoons?

[MadduckUK]

the barclays "run over eagle"

eagle raised from the wreck of the graff spree

an example of a patriotic yank eagle badge

Originally Posted by autopilot

EDIT: Anyone think the London Olympics Logo slightly resembles a Swastika? I'm going to write to my local MP...

it has been mentioned yes... better start a online petition!

[Butuz]

These people just need to be slapped good and hard FFS.

Eagles were around before the Nazis - and theyre will be around for a long time to come - does that mean that we should all go and get big guns and go shoot all the eagles in the world just incase they remind some people of a Nazi image? FFS get a grip

Butuz

[nichomach]

Well, personally, I'm more concerned about the Roman associations; they occupied us for CENTURIES, and I know I feel personally aggrieved by the inherited memory of legions rampaging across our green and pleasant land under the eagle banner of oppression. Come on Barclays, get rid of this neo-Caesarian obscenity!

Damn...forgot the IRONY /IRONY tags...

[autopilot]

Originally Posted by nichomach

Well, personally, I'm more concerned about the Roman associations; they occupied us for CENTURIES, and I know I feel personally aggrieved by the inherited memory of legions rampaging across our green and pleasant land under the eagle banner of oppression. Come on Barclays, get rid of this neo-Caesarian obscenity!

Damn...forgot the IRONY /IRONY tags...

No, but that's a good case for banning leather sandals.

[autopilot]

Is this an Eagle?



If not, it sure resembles the Nazi eagle emblem. Ban the German football team!

[htid]

Originally Posted by Butuz

These people just need to be slapped good and hard FFS.

Eagles were around before the Nazis - and theyre will be around for a long time to come - does that mean that we should all go and get big guns and go shoot all the eagles in the world just incase they remind some people of a Nazi image? FFS get a grip

Butuz

Ahh but the Swastika was around before the Nazis too, so would you use that as a corporate ID on the premise that it was around as a symbol of peace before the Nazis used it?

[g8ina]

Isn't Barclay's thing a Gryffon anyway ?

[IBM]

Whatever you do, DON'T MENTION THE WAR!!

[MadduckUK]

Originally Posted by ibm

Whatever you do, DON'T MENTION THE WAR!!

dont do what?

[DavidM]

Originally Posted by g8ina

Isn't Barclay's thing a Gryffon anyway ?

AFAIK - yes

[MadduckUK]

barclays seem to think its an eagle
http://www.wealth.barclays.com/BRC1/...e=212&menu=223

[DavidM]

fairynuff

[Clunk]

So, all Eagles and Gryffons are racist now?.

And if Barclays have had this emblem for 317 years, which was before the Nazis even existed, then why should they change it?

What if some terrorist group adopts some kind of bastardisation of the Union Jack (Union Flag ), and they go on to commit attrocities all round the world, under the guise of that very flag, then should we have to change our flag because of it? I don't think so.