I might get slammed for this, but I think this is stretching it a bit much.
The hands from Antwerp go back centuries as it’s part of the myth of the giant Antigoon. Brabo, a young Roman soldier, was tasked with defeating the giant, who was guarding a bridge to cross the Schelde river. He extracted a fee and people that refused got their hand chopped off. Eventually Brabo defeated him and chopped of Antigoon’s hand and threw it in the river. According to the myth, this is where Antwerpen got it’s name (Hand, meaning hand, and werpen, meaning to throw).
Maybe, maybe it’s in bad taste. But given the history these hands have for this city, and that chocolate is a very popular Belgian thing, you might think it could be a coincidence.
Belgium did some fucked up things, I know that. But I don’t think making some treats (which come in different colours) like this are part of it.
I don’t mean this as a ‘we can’t discuss this’ type of comment by the way. I can see why it can be a controversial thing. But I truly don’t think this is what they had in mind when making these chocolates. But it can function as a conversation starter about actual compensation for Congo victims.
I might get slammed for this, but I think this is stretching it a bit much.
The hands from Antwerp go back centuries as it’s part of the myth of the giant Antigoon. Brabo, a young Roman soldier, was tasked with defeating the giant, who was guarding a bridge to cross the Schelde river. He extracted a fee and people that refused got their hand chopped off. Eventually Brabo defeated him and chopped of Antigoon’s hand and threw it in the river. According to the myth, this is where Antwerpen got it’s name (Hand, meaning hand, and werpen, meaning to throw).
Maybe, maybe it’s in bad taste. But given the history these hands have for this city, and that chocolate is a very popular Belgian thing, you might think it could be a coincidence.
Belgium did some fucked up things, I know that. But I don’t think making some treats (which come in different colours) like this are part of it.
I don’t mean this as a ‘we can’t discuss this’ type of comment by the way. I can see why it can be a controversial thing. But I truly don’t think this is what they had in mind when making these chocolates. But it can function as a conversation starter about actual compensation for Congo victims.