Some parents are complaining about English obscenities printed on their children's clothes in Shanghai.

Words such as "F**king" and "F*** It" have appeared on young people's clothes, parents told Xinmin Evening Newspaper.

A mother called the newspaper yesterday to complain that her son was wearing trousers with the image of wanted terrorist Osama Bin Laden and a jacket with the word "F**king" on it.

"I can't accept such clothes, but he thinks it's cool," the mother surnamed Lu told the newspaper.

Another mother said she found the word "Hustler" printed on her daughter's coat. The mother was angry after checking a dictionary and finding the word is slang for prostitute, the report said.

"I never allow her to use such rude words, let alone wear such a coat with dirty words," the mother told Xinmin. She asked her daughter to throw out the coat.

A historical teacher told the newspaper he has noticed the phenomenon and found a student wearing a jacket with the slogan of the Japanese Blossoms in the Wind. It refers to a team of men who sacrificed their lives in suicide attacks to defend their homeland in the last days of World War II.

After learning the story behind the slogan, the student, surnamed Chen, voluntarily took off the jacket.

Liu Shan, a professor at the College of Communication & Art at Tongji University, told the newspaper that most young people don't know what the obscene or violent words mean.

But some purposefully choose such clothes to rebel, the report said.

According to information from readers, the newspaper found a vendor selling clothes with obscene words in Hongkou District.

The vendor said it's a kind of "alternative culture" that some young people like. He sells more than 30 pieces everyday, the report said.

(Shanghai Daily November 6, 2008)