Bit of a kerfuffle in Germany involving gnomes and Nazis.

German artist Ottmar Hörl has a piece on display at the Weigl Gallery in Nuremberg. A few dozen garden gnomes are usually pretty adorable. However, these little buggers are are giving a Nazi salute. Bad gnomes. To be fair to Hörl, there is an inscription at the base of the statues that says "Poisoned." The intent was supposed to be a satirical message. That anyone, including cheeky garden gnomes, can be poisoned with bad ideology.

The problem? German anti-Nazi laws prohibit anyone from making a "heil Hitler" salute or using any Nazi symbols. Offenders can spend up to 3 years in the clink for violating the law.

Prosecutors are now investigating to see if the gnome art breaks the law. One of the lawyers is named Wolfgang Träg. How awesome/German is that name? He says "We're investigating whether this is a violation of German criminal law, which forbids the use of symbols from unconstitutional organizations."

So, a clever use of satire that parodies how good people can be persuaded toward evil? (Like the Nazi monkey in Raiders of the Lost Ark. It wasn't his fault he was a Nazi.) Or, a clear violation of anti-Nazi laws? You make the call.

Extra Tidbit: In the vast stacks of the J-Dub Memorial Library, I have a copy of a book called "Gnomes" that I found at the Strand Bookstore for 2 bucks. It's hilarious.