By Arturo Mora, Kansas City Star Midwest Voices columnist 2009

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is in trouble for saying good things about Adolf Hitler, which begs the question, why does anyone even go there, no matter what their point? Unless you’re a raving anti-Semite such as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, there has to be a better way to state your case.

British Jewish leaders are up in arms—actually more puzzled—as to why he found it necessary to make these remarks. Public figures often get in trouble when they try to dress up some obscure point by using Hitler as an example. It never works.

What he said, in trying to talk about strong leaders, was, “In a lot of ways, terrible to say this I suppose, but apart from the fact that Hitler got taken away and persuaded to do things that I have no idea whether he wanted to do or not, he was in the way that he could command a lot of people, able to get things done."

Seeing as Ecclestone is an obvious lunatic, I will not debate his points. But, herewith, three simple rules when you are considering making any comments about Hitler.

One, try to avoid talking about Hitler at all, it always ends badly. Even if you’re comparing someone you think is really bad to Hitler, you’re likely to offend someone.

Two, never ever under any circumstances say anything good about Hitler. You may have a deep, complex, esoteric point that may even be logical (that was not the case here). But that will be lost because it will always pale besides the fact Hitler was pure evil incarnate.

Three, though not strictly a Hitler rule, if your quote starts something like this: “terrible to say this I suppose…”, well then stop yourself right there. That’s a big clue from the logic part of your brain: this thing I’m about to say is trouble, maybe I’d better not say it!