Ohio store covers Nazi gingerbread men

OBERLIN, Ohio, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- An Oberlin, Ohio, storeowner has covered a window display designed by a local artist that features gingerbread men dressed as Nazis.

Charlie Palmer, owner of Watson Hardware, said the display created by artist Keith McGuckin crossed a line, the Elyria (Ohio) Chronicle-Telegram reported Tuesday.

"He's gone way overboard this time," Palmer said. "A few of his other displays were on the edge, but never that crazy."

McGuckin, who has a history of designing controversial window displays, told the newspaper he chose the subject matter to show what gingerbread men do when no one is watching.

"I can differentiate between real Nazis and that the atrocities they performed compared to these little gingerbread men but I guess some people can't," McGuckin said. "When I look at it, I don't think about the Holocaust."

Another McGuckin display that was left uncovered at the store featured a snowman attempting suicide with a hair dryer after an ex-lover came out with a tell-all book.

"I want people to say 'Oh, my gosh,'" McGuckin said. "And once they look at it, say, 'It is kind of pretty.'"