Liberation of the Swastika

[Wedlock49]

Hello! I'm curious about what peoples opinion of the Swastika is as a symbol. Have you been taught the Swastika is a symbol of hatred and nothing more? Have you been educated as to its previous uses?

I ask this because I see the Swastika as a symbol of beauty and peace, of a universal whole and it makes me sad that it's been sullied by Nazi Germany's evil. I owe my realisation of the Swastika as a powerful religious symbol to Man-Woman, someone who's been fighting to clear the swastika's name for a very long time.

So what do you know of the Swastika? Will it always be a symbol of fear and hatred amount people or do you see us eventually accepting it? I mean the Ku Klux Klan use the Crucifix as their symbol and yet its reputation remains mainly unsullied.

I'l link some sources here for anyone interested in learning about the origins of the Swastika:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika#Hinduism
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4188141.stm
http://www.manwoman.net/

I don't want this to turn into a flame war, please if you do feel strongly about this then post calmly and respectfully if you can't then please don't reply at all, the symbol invokes strong emotions in everyone.

 

[Macgyvercas]

All I know is that is was originally a Hindu symbol for good luck, and Hitler stole it along with Charlie Chaplin's moustache

 

[Cherry Cola]

I see it as the symbol for the Nazi party during World War 2.

I already know about all the other meanings it has, but I'm comfortable with seeing it as a Nazi symbol and therefore I shall keep seeing it as a Nazi symbol.

 

[Wedlock49]

All I know is that is was originally a Hindu symbol for good luck, and Hitler stole it along with Charlie Chaplin's moustache

Wouldn't say stole it. It's also an ancient germanic symbol representing Strength and military might in it's right facing form.

I see it as the symbol for the Nazi party during World War 2.

I already know about all the other meanings it has, but I'm comfortable with seeing it as a Nazi symbol and therefore I shall keep seeing it as a Nazi symbol.

But what if it's a religious symbol for other people? I would say it's unfair to stick the label of nazisim to someone who believes in the Swastika as a symbol of beauty?

 

[TheRundownRabbit]

The Nazi's ruined it. Alot like Hitler killed Chaplin's moustache.

I second that

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

It may be a religious symbol but the actions of Hitler and the Nazi's have turned that design into a pariah and ire and disdain.

 

[Venatio]

Any good that the swastika might have had were pretty much tainted by its heavy associations with the Nazi party.

Then again, symbols are an odd thing.

Take the cross in Christianity; it's basically a torture implement that Jesus was "supposedly" killed on. With that in mind it's possible that if he had been killed some 30 years ago Christians would instead be venerating an electric chair.


Then theres the Fasces, which was a symbol of fascism and yet retains it's appeal into our era by manifesting on the back of the U.S. dime.


Odd indeed.

 

[Woodsey]

As far as I'm aware, the Swastika is actually the Hindu symbol reversed.

 

[Wedlock49]

Only the nazi representation of the swastika should be shunned when it is made undoubtably a nazi symbol.

as to the Swastika only becoming popular in the west after the nazi usage, it was very popular before WW2, it was a symbol of luck and prosperity, the Finnish airforce still use it as their symbol and plenty of British pilots in WW1 donned the symbol.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

The Swaskita is usally associated with evil because the most recent use of it was under an evil dictator. True, it traditional meaning was for good fortune in some ancient religions, but most people from henceforth will proably remeber it as the flag of the Nazi party.

 

[Exterminas]

A symbol has no inherend meaning on it's own. It symbolizes, what you see in it.
I am aware of the fact that the symbol ist of relevance in some religions, but I also believe these swastikas are horizontal, not turned on one Spike and not on white/red ground.

So The whole problem is really simple to me: If you are a buddhist, you can use it if you want, but you can't deny the fact that for most people it will symbolize nothin good.

 

[Aurora219]

It's been completely subverted now. I believe the common idea was that a (Jewish?) dentist invented the flag for the 3rd Reich.

But I've heard of it's history, so I don't get offended or anything stupid by it. It's only a symbol.

 

[Wedlock49]

A symbol has no inherend meaning on it's own. It symbolizes, what you see in it.
I am aware of the fact that the symbol ist of relevance in some religions, but I also believe these swastikas are horizontal, not turned on one Spike and not on white/red ground.

So The whole problem is really simple to me: If you are a buddhist, you can use it if you want, but you can't deny the fact that for most people it will symbolize nothin good.

A very good way of viewing it!

Most of the people I know who share my beliefs don't want to force people to accept the Swastika in all its forms but at least to be educated enough not to scream nazi every time they see one. I expressed previously that I am a body modification enthusiast and would very much like to have Swastikas worked into tattoos without having to worry about being persecuted by people by being a perseved "neo-nazi".

 

[Lunar Shadow]

As far as I'm aware, the Swastika is actually the Hindu symbol reversed.

Not reversed, but aligned to a diamond. Aligned to a square it means Peace and Mercy, reversed and set to a square it is Strength and Intelligence.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

Yeah, the Nazis ruined it along with the name Adolf. It kind of sucks that people don't understand that, but whatever. We'll grow out of it and realize soon enough.

 

[ItsAChiaotzu]

I only see it as a Nazi symbol when it is facing the way the Nazi's used it. In other cases it is a Hindu symbol, either way I find symbols rather pointless.

 

[Wedlock49]

as a reference, these are Nazi Swastikas;

These are not:

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

It was first used as an Indian symbol of some sort, meaing iminence or greatness... can't remember.

Then Hitler used it for his Nazi Party, but altered it a bit. So, something to say:

This is the original swastika:

Spoiler

And this is Nazi swastika:

Spoiler

Or, for those of you who don't get it: Indian is not tilted, Nazi is tilted.