Yesterday Cameron Diaz was apologizing for toting a Maoist slogan printed bag. I'm not deeply familiar as to the Peruvian Maoist's, Nepalese Maoist's, or Indian Naxalite's political and philosophical ideologies, but I do know all of them are responsible for mass violence towards civilians.

As for the eponymous Mao Zedong himself, this architect of the PRC's Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward, caused famine and the death of 70 million Chinese. So why would someone responsible for millions of deaths, ruined lives, and mass misery be the inspiration of a Sydney furniture and decor store? Mao and More in Sydney's Surry Hills suburb is cashing in on 'Communist collectibles' and Asian inspired kitsch.

So Cameron Diaz is apologizing for making an uninformed purchase. What about the manufacturers , distributors, and vendors? Is it acceptable for manufacturers to commoditise authoritarian regime slogans, or a furniture store to trend-ify a sometimes termed 'mass murderer.' Are Nazi, Stalinist, and Pol Pot terms, images, and propaganda ready for artsy-cutesy T-shirt prints?

I couldn't stop the Mao and More bashing there, I have to take one last pot shot. Check out their website invitation:

Here in your global playroom, the adventure is so much more than simply Mao.
Africa ? Imperial India ? Shanghai deco? Old Tangiers? Fez up. You'll love it.

Thats right, its now yummy eclectic to decorate your place with remnants of Subcontinental subjugation. Let those jokers rename every city, street, and man-hole cover, history and imperialism will be glorified in these General Dwyer dining chairs.