Showman Hitler

Think of some of the planet's most successful products and you will realise the branding is indelibly imprinted in your mind. Coca-Cola, the four joined-up rings of the Audi car, KitKat, Virgin, BBC, a cross, the swastika! They're all instantly recognisable.

Remember the double arrowed lines that were the symbol of British Rail? You knew it would point you to a railway station where there was - sometimes - a train and usually a toilet.

See a cross on a building and it will lead you to a church.

So poor, old crooner Bryan Ferry has got himself embroiled in a Nazi outcry because he had the temerity to say he admired Nazi symbolism and style. He's had to apologise.

What for? He didn't say he admired the Nazis and what they did. Ferry is the epitome of style and cool. So, he reckons, were the Nazis.

Now read this very carefully because I don't want misquoting. Hitler was a vile, insane creature in whose name some of the worst atrocities in history were committed. But he was a hell of a showman with a fantastic public relations machine.

He was a hypnotic, passionate orator whose speeches mesmerised a nation - suffering degradation and shame from the First World War - into believing they could be great once more. On the other hand, Winston Churchill (my all-time hero, possibly because he was always drunk on the job), delivered his brilliant speeches in a resigned, dull monotone.

When the Nazis organised a Nuremberg rally, it was like the circus coming to town. And they had the symbolism to back it up - the Iron Cross, the panzer tanks, the stark red and black banners with a swastika as centrepiece. Hitler merely took an ancient religious symbol which represented good fortune, turned its legs the other way and adopted it as his branding.

He also equipped his army - especially his generals - with stylish, well-cut uniforms. That is what Mr Ferry seemed to be admiring. And after the war, that style was embellished by Hollywood in a rash of war films. In comparison, British generals looked like a bag of brown, serge washing.

Okay. What does it matter what they wore as long as they got the job done? But Mr Ferry is a style icon who achieved success as much for his suits as for his singing.

Cleopatra had her eye make-up and breasts adorned with asps; the Roman Empire had their Imperial Eagle. Great branding. But the Romans - today held up in glory as the ultimate civilisation - were among the most cruel, warlike, vicious people in history who made stabbing each other in the back an art form. They are the ones who introduced "decimation". No, it is not a currency which took over from good, old British pounds, shillings and pence, it was the killing of one-in-ten of a vanquished enemy, or even their own army to maintain discipline. As for crucifixion Our other favourite obsession today is political correctness. Anyone who is well-known - locally or globally - has only to open his mouth and someone, somewhere, will scream "shame on you".

Wake up to the birds singing and the sun shining, say "what a lovely day" and someone will demand an apology because there are people dying all around the globe.

We are afraid to utter our opinions - however reasonable and well-meant - in case someone shouts "racism, sexism, baldism, smallism, harassment, off with his head".

You may have loathed the Japanese for their wartime atrocities, but it doesn't stop you from buying a Toyota. And you may have hated everything Margaret Thatcher stood for, but you could still admire her handbag.