Swastika Research Paper
The Swastika The swastika (from Sanskrit svástika) is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing (卐) form or its mirrored left-facing (卍) form. Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the Neolithic period and was first found in the Indus Valley Civilization of the Indian Subcontinent. It occurs today in the modern day culture of India, sometimes as a geometrical motif and sometimes as a religious symbol; it remains widely used in Eastern and Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Uses in the East Hinduism The swastika is found all over Hindu temples, signs, altars, pictures and iconography where it is sacred. It is used in Hindu weddings, festivals, ceremonies, houses and doorways, clothing and jewellery, motor transport and even decorations on food items such as cakes and pastries. The Swastika is one of the 108 symbols of Hindu deity Vishnu and represents the sun's rays, upon which life depends. Buddhism The symbol is used in Buddhist art and scripture and represents dharma, universal harmony, and the
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balance of opposites. One can see swastika on the Pillars of Ashoka where the swastika is a symbol of the cosmic dance around a fixed centre and guards against evil. The swastika (in either orientation) appears on the chest of some statues of Gautama Buddha and is often incised on the soles of the feet of the Buddha in statuary. Jainism It is a symbol of the seventh Jina (Saint), the Tirthankara Suparsva. It is considered to be one of the 24 auspicious marks and the emblem of the seventh arhat of the present age. All Jain temples and holy books must contain the swastika and ceremonies typically begin and end with creating a swastika mark several times with rice around the altar. Use in different countries Mongolia The swastika has been and still is an important symbol in Mongolian culture, meaning good luck. It may be found in many places including monasteries. Japan In Japan, the swastika is called manji. Since the Middle Ages, it has been used as a family coat of arms. On Japanese maps, a swastika (left-facing and horizontal) is used to mark the location of a Buddhist temple. The right-facing manji is often referred as the gyaku manji (逆卍, lit. "reverse manji"), and can also be called kagi jūji, literally "hook cross" China Tang Dynasty decreed that the swastika would be used as an alternative symbol of the sun. As part of the Chinese script Indian Subcontinent The swastika remains ubiquitous as a symbol of wealth and good fortune. In India and Nepal, electoral ballot papers are stamped with a round swastika-like pattern. Many businesses and other organisations, such as the Ahmadabad Stock Exchange and the Nepal Chamber of Commerce.[84], use the swastika in their logos. The red swastika was suggested as an emblem of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in India and Sri Lanka. Taiwan In Taiwan, maps use the swastika symbol to denote a temple. Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmonov declared the swastika an Aryan symbol and 2006 to be "the year of Aryan culture," which would be a time to “study and popularize Aryan contributions to the history of the world civilization, raise a new generation (of Tajiks) with the spirit of national self-determination, and develop deeper ties with other ethnicities and cultures.” SWASTIKA IN THE WEST GREECE {draw:a} {draw:a} Greek swastika was known as the Gammadion or the Tetra Gammadion, as it was made of 4 interlinking Greek Gamma letters. Ancient Greek priestesses would tattoo the symbol, along with the tetraskelion, on their bodies. In alchemy the Gammadion was used to symbolize the 4 cardinal corners of the world and the Guardianship of this world. Ancient Greek architecture and clothing are full of single or interlinking Swastika Motifs. A swastika border is one form of meander, and the individual swastikas in such a border are sometimes called Greek keys. ROME {draw:a} In Greco- Roman architecture, and in Romanesque and Gothic art, isolated swastikas were rare; they were mostly used in an interlinking way as seen above in the picture. The swastika represented perpetual motion reflecting the design of a windmill or watermill. A border of linked swastikas was a common Roman architectural motif and can be seen in more recent buildings as a neoclassical element. BRONZE AGE EUROPE {draw:a} The sun cross, a cross inside a circle, is a common symbol in artifacts of Prehistoric Europe, particularly during the Neolithic to Bronze Age periods. Combining the cross and the circle, it is the simplest conceivable representation of the union of opposed polarities in the Western world. It was also said to be representative of the Sun and the tree of life. The sun cross was also used by the Norwegian party, Nasjonal Samling as its official symbol from 1933- 1945. The cross within the circle was ascribed to Saint Olaf, the patron saint of Norway. {draw:a} BALTIC {draw:a} Ungunkrust- The fire cross (Rotating counter clock wise) {draw:a} Perkonkrust – Rotating clockwise the thunder cross, associated with Perkons the God of Thunder and also to Dievs: The god of creation and Laima: the Goddess of destiny and Fate. The Fire and thunder cross were used on a variety of art, like dowry chests and woven belts etc. CELTIC CROSS {draw:a} Celtic Crosses often seen are similar to the Sun Cross mentioned above. It was introduced in Ireland by Saint Patrick. It is believed that Saint Patrick combined the symbol of Christianity with the sun cross, to give pagan followers an idea of the importance of the cross by linking it with the idea of the life-giving properties of the sun FINNISH {draw:a} Was used in traditional folk art products, as a decoration or magical symbol on textiles and wood. Certain types of symbols which incorporated the swastika were used to decorate wood; such symbols are called tursaansydän and mursunsydän in Finnish. These were believed to bring good luck and protect people from curses. GERMANIC Hilda Ellis Davidson theorized that the swastika symbol was associated with Thor, possibly representing his hammer Mjolnir - symbolic of thunder - and possibly being connected to the Bronze Age sun wheel. Davidson cites "many examples" of the swastika symbol from Anglo-Saxon graves of the pagan period, with particular prominence on cremation urns from the cemeteries of East Anglia. Some of the swastikas on the items, on display at the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, are depicted with such care and art that, according to Davidson, it must have possessed special significance as a funerary symbol. CHRISTIANITY In Christianity, the swastika is used as a hooked version of the Christian cross, as a symbol of Christ’s victory over death. TRISKELION {draw:a} {draw:a} The triskelion or the triskele is a symbol consisting of 3 interlocked spirals or 3 interlocked legs conjoined at the crotch area. The triskelion symbol appears in many early cultures, including on Mycenaean vessels, on coinage in Lycia, and on staters of Pamphylia. It is the symbol of the isle of man and as well as the symbol of Brittany. Also popular as an ancient symbol of Sicily, The symbol dates back to when Sicily was part of Magna Graecia, the colonial extension of Greece beyond the Aegean. Pliny the Elder attributes the origin of the triskelion of Sicily to the triangular form of the island, the ancient Trinacria, which consists of three large capes equidistant from each other, pointing in their respective directions, the names of which were Pelorus, Pachynus, and Lilybæum. Recently used as a fashion accessory and to promote tourism in Brittany. It is also the basis of the roundel of the Irish Air Corps. LAUBURU {draw:a} The lauburu or Basque cross has four comma-shaped head, which historians say signify “4 heads or regions”. The symbol in its positive form (right-facing) can symbolize life, and in its negative form (left-facing) death. This is the reason why many Basque tombstones display left-facing lauburus. Western use of the Swastika in the early 20th century {draw:a} Postcard sent in June 1910 The discovery of the Indo-European language group in the 1790s led to a great effort by archaeologists to link the pre-history of European peoples to the ancient "Aryans" (variously referring to the Indo-Iranians or the Proto-Indo-Europeans). Following his discovery of objects bearing the swastika in the ruins of Troy, Heinrich Schliemann consulted two leading Sanskrit scholars of the day, Emile Burnouf and Max Müller. Schliemann concluded that the Swastika was a specifically Indo-European symbol, and associated it with the ancient migrations of Proto-Indo-Europeans. He connected it with similar shapes found on ancient pots in Germany, and theorized that the swastika was a "significant religious symbol of our remote ancestors", linking Germanic, Greek and Indo-Iranian cultures. Later discoveries of the motif among the remains of the Hittites and of ancient Iran seemed to confirm this theory. This idea was taken up by many other writers, and the swastika quickly became popular in the West, appearing in many designs from the 1880s to the 1920s, with occasional use continuing into the 1930s. As the symbol of Nazism These discoveries, and the new popularity of the swastika symbol, led to a widespread desire to ascribe symbolic significance to every example of the motif. In Germanic countries examples of identical shapes in ancient European artifacts and in folk art were interpreted as emblems of good-luck linked to the Indo-Iranian meaning. By the early 20th century it was widely used worldwide and was regarded as a symbol of good luck. Western use of the motif, along with the religious and cultural meanings attached to it, was subverted in the early twentieth century after it was adopted as the emblem of the Nazi Party (German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei). This association occurred because Nazism stated that the historical Aryans were the forefathers of modern Germans and then proposed that, because of this, the subjugation of the world by Germany was desirable, and even predestined. The swastika was used as a conveniently geometrical and eye-catching symbol to emphasize the so-called Aryan-German correspondence and instill racial pride. Since World War II, most Westerners have known the swastika as solely a Nazi symbol, leading to incorrect assumptions about its pre-Nazi use in the West and confusion about its sacred religious and historical status in other cultures. In the wake of widespread popular usage, the Nazi Party (_Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei_ or NSDAP) formally adopted the swastika (in German: Hakenkreuz (hook-cross)) in 1920. This was used on the party's flag (_right_), badge, and armband. It had also been used unofficially by its predecessor, the German Workers Party, Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (_DAP_). In his 1925 work Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler wrote that: I myself, meanwhile, after innumerable attempts, had laid down a final form; a flag with a red background, a white disk, and a black swastika in the middle. After long trials I also found a definite proportion between the size of the flag and the size of the white disk, as well as the shape and thickness of the swastika. The swastika was also understood as "the symbol of the creating, acting life" (das Symbol des schaffenden, wirkenden Lebens) and as "race emblem of Germanism" (Rasseabzeichen des Germanentums). José Manuel Erbez says: The first time the swastika was used with an "Aryan" meaning was on December 25, 1907, when the self-named Order of the New Templars, a secret society founded by [Adolf Joseph] Lanz von Liebenfels, hoisted at Werfenstein Castle (Austria) a yellow flag with a swastika and four fleurs-de-lys. However, Liebenfels was drawing on an already established use of the symbol. On March 14, 1933, shortly after Hitler's appointment as Chancellor of Germany, the NSDAP flag was hoisted alongside Germany's national colors. It was adopted as the sole national flag on September 15, 1935 (see Nazi Germany). The swastika was used for badges and flags throughout Nazi Germany, particularly for government and military organizations, but also for "popular" organizations such as the Reichsbund Deutsche Jägerschaft (German Hunting Society). While the DAP and the NSDAP had used both right-facing and left-facing swastikas, the right-facing swastika was used consistently from 1920 onwards. However, Ralf Stelter notes that the swastika flag used on land had a right-facing swastika on both sides, while the ensign (naval flag) had it printed through so that a left-facing swastika would be seen when looking at the ensign with the flagpole to the right. Several variants are found: A 45° black swastika on a white disc as in the NSDAP and national flags; A 45° black swastika on a white lozenge (e.g., Hitler Youth); A 45° black swastika with a white outline was painted on the tail of aircraft of the Luftwaffe; A 45° black swastika outlined by thin white and black lines on a white disc (e.g., the German War Ensign); An upright black swastika outlined by thin white and black lines on a white disc (e.g., Personal standard of Adolf Hitler in which a gold wreath encircles the swastika; the Schutzstaffel; and the Reichsdienstflagge, in which a black circle encircles the swastika); Small gold, silver, black, or white 45° swastikas, often lying on or being held by an eagle, on many badges and flags. A swastika with curved outer arms forming a broken circle, as worn by the SS Nordland Division. There were attempts to amalgamate Nazi and Hindu use of the swastika, notably by the French writer Savitri Devi who declared Hitler an avatar of Vishnu The swastika is seen on binders of pre-Nazi era publications of works by Rudyard Kipling. Both left and right orientations were used. Post-WWII stigmatization in Western countries Because of its use by Hitler and the Nazis and, in modern times, by neo-Nazis and other hate groups, the swastika is largely associated with Nazism and white supremacy in most of the Western countries. As a result, all of its use, or its use as a Nazi or hate symbol is prohibited in some jurisdictions. Because of the stigma attached to the symbol, many buildings that have contained the symbol as decoration have had the symbol removed. Steven Heller, of the School of Visual Arts, has argued that from the moment it was "misappropriated" by the Nazis, it became a mark and weapon of hate, and could not be redeemed. European Union The European Union's Executive Commission proposed a European Union-wide anti-racism law in 2001, but European Union states failed to agree on the balance between prohibiting racism and freedom of expression. An attempt to ban the swastika across the EU in early 2005 failed after objections from the British Government and others. In early 2007, while Germany held the European Union presidency, Berlin proposed that the European Union should follow German Criminal Law and criminalize the denial of the Holocaust and the display of Nazi symbols including the swastika, which is based on the Ban on the Symbols of Unconstitutional Organisations Act. This led to an opposition campaign by Hindu groups across Europe against a ban on the swastika. They pointed out that the swastika has been around for 5,000 years as a symbol of peace. The proposal to ban the swastika was dropped by Berlin from the proposed European Union wide anti-racism laws on January 29, 2007. Germany The German (and Austrian) postwar criminal code makes the public showing of the Hakenkreuz (the swastika) and other Nazi symbols illegal and punishable, except for scholarly reasons. It is even censored from the lithographs on boxes of model kits, and the decals that come in the box. It is also censored from the reprints of 1930s railway timetables published by the Reichsbahn. The eagle remains, but appears to be holding a solid black circle between its talons. The swastikas on Hindu and Jain temples are exempt, as religious symbols cannot be banned in Germany. A German fashion company was investigated for using traditional British-made folded leather buttons after complaints that they resembled swastikas. In response, Esprit destroyed two hundred thousand catalogues. Controversy over Asian products In recent years, controversy has erupted when consumer goods bearing the symbol have been exported (often unintentionally) to North America. When a ten-year-old boy in Lynbrook, New York bought a set of Pokémon cards imported from Japan in 1999, his parents complained after finding that two of the cards contained the Manji symbol which is the mirror image of the Nazi swastika. This also caused a lot of concern amongst fans from Jewish communities. Nintendo of America announced that the cards would be discontinued, explaining that what was acceptable in one culture was not necessarily so in another; their action was welcomed by the Anti-Defamation League who recognised that there was no intention to be offensive but said that international commerce meant that "isolating [the Swastika] in Asia would just create more problems." In 2002, Christmas crackers containing plastic toy pandas sporting swastikas were pulled from shelves after complaints from consumers in Canada. The manufacturer, based in China, explained the symbol was presented in a traditional sense and not as a reference to the Nazis, and apologized to the customers for the cross-cultural mixup. In 2007, Spanish fashion chain Zara has withdrawn a handbag from its stores after a customer in Britain complained swastikas were embroidered on it. The bags were made by a supplier in India and inspired by commonly used Hindu symbols, which include the swastika. In 2003, the Anti-Defamation League expressed outrage when a Hong Kong fashion chain, Izzue, released a range of clothes featuring swastikas. Conclusion So we can see that since the association of the symbol with Hitler and the Nazi movement; world-over the symbol which was a good-luck charm, a symbol of love and well-being has changed over the years into a symbol of hatred and misplaced ideologies. The symbol has come to be banned and even though it is still used in the eastern world as a religious and good luck symbol; the west still doesn’t find the idea of having the symbol in their homes and in front of their eyes. This shows that even though the west is touted to be the more tolerant and open cultures; when it comes to reality the east has always been the better one. Here the people know the atrocities of the war and the Nazi movement; but still they would like to see the symbol in its goodness and nice forms. In your opinion, is the proposed ban on swastika on commercial products in the European Union justified? Discuss your views with your colleagues in class The discussion with the class gave insights and different views as to whether it should be banned or not. Most of them agreed that it should not be banned while some are strong on the point that marketing should consider the cultural sensitivity and religious sentiments. Detailed report on the discussion The swastika is the most auspicious symbol of the Hindu religion, symbolizing the four right angle arms of the ancient sun sign, with its attendant inner significance.
The Swastika symbol is worshiped in the Hindu religion in order to bring well-being and peace from the four corners of the universe. Indeed, the Sanskrit meaning of swastika is "well-being." On the contrary, the Nazis had used the Swastika to usher in havoc, destruction and mayhem. To think of banning its use would render law-abiding Hindus as criminals. The Nazis used it for evil purpose and, as ordained, this powerful symbol of wisdom representing Lord Ganesha destroyed its abusers. It is ironic that the same country now wishes to pass punishment upon a people who use it rightly to pray for the welfare of all mankind. Banning an auspicious sign would be to inflict abuse on the Swastika once
again. In the class certain example were taken where swastika was commercially used such as : In Downtown Historic District in Raton, New Mexico, Swastika Coal office and Swastika Hotel buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places The mining town of Lakeview Idaho featured a "Swastika Hotel" in 1910, owned and operated by the Swastika Mining Company K-R-I-T Motor Car Company, Detroit, Michigan built cars from 1909 to 1915 with a radiator badge that featured a right-facing white swastika on a blue background. The Crane Valve Company manufactured steel valves in the 1920s and 30's in the U.S. with swastika markings, using a symbol with the arms pointed to the right. The Buffum Tool Company of Louisiana, Missouri manufactured "High Grade Tools for High Grade Workmen" from about 1909 to The Buffum company's trademark was a swastika with right facing arms. During World War I it made bayonets and airplane parts. The company's logo was the "Good Luck/Blessing/Swastika Cross" and many of the products, sold nationwide, had "the good luck cross on them." The Washington Charcrete Company manufactured "laundry trays" (concrete utility sinks) with an imprinted logo bearing a swastika. Swastika is found in the soles of feet of the Buddha, symbolizing his footsteps. ) On Buddha’s chest and palms the Swastika is probably trying to convey the kindness and good actions of the Buddha. The use of religious symbols in marketing almost always arouses strong emotions, and showing respect for people's sensitivities is even more important in a multicultural society. Religious symbols have rarely been used in advertising in Finland. Religion has traditionally been a subject and part of life that people want to keep separate from commercial goals. Whenever religious references are made in advertising, one can well ask whether it is right to use religion to promote sales. The fundamental question is whether everything in our world of experience can be exploited for commercial purposes. This question cannot be answered by guardians of the law but requires public debate. Sensitivity should be shown in the use of symbols. One essential thing in evaluating religious references in advertising if whether there is a natural connection to the product. If there is no connection at all, advertising may be irreverent or sacrilegious towards holy symbols. Using religious experience for commercial purposes can easily offend people and cause distress. Nevertheless, advertising that does so is not necessarily contrary to good practice, even if many people may find it in poor taste or say it creates negative images. The successful businesses of tomorrow will not be the ones that mimic the monolithic religious institutions and businesses of the previous generations with a pure top-down approach. The way moving forward is to incorporate ideas from all your stakeholders into the mix – include everyone, especially your customers and front-line workers. In the West, the swastika remains to this day an irredeemable symbol of the evil of Nazism. However, much of the East has merely shrugged off the Nazi association. After all, the word "swastika" is derived from a Sanskrit term meaning "being good" or "wellbeing". Even new Buddhist and Hindu temples are decorated with swastikas. Trade is increasingly global in scope today. There are several reasons for this. One significant reason is technological—because of improved transportation and communication opportunities today, trade is now more practical. Thus, consumers and businesses now have access to the very best products from many different countries. Increasingly rapid technology lifecycles also increases the competition among countries as to who can produce the newest in technology. A ban on the swastika would not in itself remove racism or silence those who wish to express such views. For many in the world a ban on the swastika would be quite bewildering - the equivalent of banning the cross or the crescent. And, in ignoring the sensitivities of people in the East, such a ban would itself be an act of Western arrogance - the very kind of attitude Hitler encouraged. The Article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/ 4178643.stm) It shows people’s opinion and outrage The vice-president of the parliamentary Social Democratic group, Michael Mueller, said a study was needed to find out how a German-style anti-Nazi law could be applied to the rest of Europe. But Liberty director, Shami Chakrabarti, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she felt banning the swastika would not solve "a serious social problem". THE HOLOCAUST The Nazis' final assault on the Jews from 1933-1945 Estimated 15m civilians killed by regime 6m Jews murdered 1942: Gas chambers built at Birkenau concentration camp, mass transports begin Majority who arrive gassed immediately About 900,000 gassed at Birkenau 1.1m died at Auschwitz-Birkenau and its sub-camps 1m of them were Jewish Every generation should be taught the full meaning of the symbols and the "horrors of the Holocaust", she said. Ms Chakrabarti added: "I have a strong emotional response when I see a swastika, it makes my stomach turn." But she said the last couple of weeks have shown her a whole generation of "decent, intelligent people" did not share this response and it was everyone's obligation to teach them the symbol's meaning. "I don't think we should, in this country, sweep the swastika under the carpet. I think we should understand its full significance," Ms Chakrabarti said. Banning Nazi symbols in Germany had not eradicated racism and the far right there, she added. But German ambassador to Britain, Thomas Matussek, told Today the ban had helped put Germany among countries in Europe "with the least number of people subscribing to Nazi ideas". He also pointed out that the Nazi symbols were not completely banned in Germany and were still used in education and arts. A cartoonist view {draw:frame} What few of my friends think on Swastika Ban (Responses are as explained by them on phone) Rakeh, HAL,Bangalore The Swastika was used extensively as a symbol of good luck and good will in Germany and Europe before the Second World War. There are existing greeting cards with this symbol on it. In fact, this is the reason why the German Nationalist party adopted it in the first place as their emblem (similar reasons, I guess to the current dove for the Liberal Democrats may the dove never come to represent such hatred!!!). It was Hitler’s misuse of his power and control of the Nazi party which has led to all the negative associations of the symbol. But I think it is important to separate a symbol which dates back at least 10000 years (please see the earliest artifacts in the British Museum from Mohendajaro with swastika engraved….) with a fascist who Devastated europe for a few decades. If we want to learn from History, we should look at the whole spectrum of history, not just the last century Raghavendra,IIT Roorkee It was not just that Hitler suddenly came into power and used the swastika as a symbol for his evil ends, the swastika had allready become extensively associated with German nationalism prior to the 1920’s, as the following quote” A Change in Meaning In the 1800s Countries round Germany were growing much larger, forming Empires; yet Germany was not a unified country until 1871. To counter the feeling of vulnerability and the stigma of youth, German nationalists in the mid-nineteenth century began to use the swastika, because it had ancient Aryan/Indian origins, to represent a long Germanic/Aryan history.
By the end of the nineteenth century, the swastika could be found on nationalist German volkisch periodicals and was the official emblem of the German gymnasts’ League.
In the beginning of the twentieth century, the swastika was a common symbol of German nationalism and could be found in a multitude of places such as the emblem for the Wandervogel, a German youth movement; on Joerg Lanz von Liebenfels’ antisemitic periodical Ostara; on various Freikorps units; and as an emblem of the Thule Society. HITLER and the NAZIS
In 1920, Adolf Hitler decided that the Nazi Party needed its own insignia and flag. For Hitler, the new flag had to be “a symbol of our own struggle” as well as “highly effective as a poster.”
On August 7, 1920, at the Salzburg Congress, this flag became the official emblem of the Nazi Party.
In Mein Kampf, Hitler described the Nazis’ new flag: “In red we see the social idea of the movement, in white the nationalistic idea, in the swastika the mission of the struggle for the victory of the Aryan man, and, by the same token, the victory of the idea of creative work, which as such always has been and always will be anti-Semitic.” (pg. 496-497).
Because of the Nazis’ flag, the swastika soon became a symbol of hate, antisemitism, violence, death, and murder. ” The real evil here is nationalISM and antisemitISM, both taken to their disgusting end. Hitler was just the vehicle for these narrow human sentiments and the scapegoat for all their horrible consequences. Any “Ism” that separates human from human and sets up superiority or inferiority complexes in the mind of any particular group is the real evil we must fight. I just like to say that im a buddhist and a peacelover aight? Then Havin a pretty large Swastika (positive) tattoo on my back and my arm, I live in hell here in Denmark. These people dont have the guts to open the history book read to see what the difference is. I dont care what they think, sure many people has been killed in Holocoaust, my friends you know how many people has been killed by Ashoka, Before he was a buddhist? And am I not aloud to walk with a symbols that displays: Peace and good fortune, the somethin is really wrong with the world. Just be in my shoes, i have swastika “printed” into my skin so I can remove it really. what the EU gonna do to me? Ban me? rip my skin off? am I not aloud to respect my beflief? I hope I didnt sound to harsh, it was just questions. I wanna reclaim my culture. Its funny that everything what the people in the vest ban is a connection with what be going on in the East for centuries. Puttin buddha statues in a lingerie model shop? Seriously how many in here have seen this? without even knowin the teachings by Lord Buddha,, they put the satue on a underwear shop? Sharansh,IIM Bangalore I am from a very old Brahmin family, and am myself a buddhist, the swastika has always been part of our symbolic beleive, if Moslems, and jews are aload to use their symbols then equally all faiths, be it Hindu, Buddhist, jew, moslems, christians, shaman whatever it is should be allowed to use there symbols. Also very important that the public understand the value of the swastika. Ratn,Aricent tech. Gurgaon I’m educated and informed. I agree the Swastika has gotten a bad wrap thanks to Hitler. Hitler liked black Mercedes and VW Beetles and really liked the color ‘red’ in his image propaganda materiels, yet those things aren’t considered racist or evil. But I guess that’s what make the Swastika surpass those things, it’s a ’symbol’. A symbol is the one thing that stands in front of, and above, everything else – after all isn’t that what a great ’symbol’ is supposed to do? It takes on all it stands for….good and bad. However, if your heritage is based in Western or European or Middle-eastern civilizations, then you can’t deny the fact that a Swastika, regardless of rotation, direction, etc.. make a helluva lot of people uncomfortable, angry and sad. It’s a symbol I can get by in life without out of the respect of those around me that have a real connection in life to the horrors that it once was associtated with even years ago. Educate the ignorant but respect the experienced. Rather than making negative comments about the misuse of the swastikana I think it behooves us to put away the anger at the wrong and focus positive energy on the right and the informing people of the symbol’s true meaning. As an Anglo Hindu I did a great deal of soul-searching when I found an Om pendant that I fell in love with – a white gold diamond Om on a yellow gold Swastikana. As an Anglo woman in Georgia I am sure that it is bound to raise questions, but no matter what else I looked at my conscience drew me back to this piece. God will direct and guide me when I wear it, I will simply do what I am meant to do, which hopefully will be to let people know that it is a sign of peace and good fortune. To “other side of the coin” – If you knew anything at all about Hinduism you would know that there is no race of gods, there is one God, Brahman, and there are avatar representations of Brahman – much like Moses and the burning bush or Ezekiel and the wheel. One does not look on the face of God, nor hear the voice of God, though God may show himself in other forms. Most importantly, not everyone here is Indian, but you appear to be far too narrow-minded to see past your own intolerance. I must say this though – correct grammar, punctuation and spelling will make people take your posts more seriously, they show that you appreciate the education you have received and have taken the time to proofread your post to be sure that even when posting in anger, hostility or frustration you still take some pride in how you present yourself.
balance of opposites. One can see swastika on the Pillars of Ashoka where the swastika is a symbol of the cosmic dance around a fixed centre and guards against evil. The swastika (in either orientation) appears on the chest of some statues of Gautama Buddha and is often incised on the soles of the feet of the Buddha in statuary. Jainism It is a symbol of the seventh Jina (Saint), the Tirthankara Suparsva. It is considered to be one of the 24 auspicious marks and the emblem of the seventh arhat of the present age. All Jain temples and holy books must contain the swastika and ceremonies typically begin and end with creating a swastika mark several times with rice around the altar. Use in different countries Mongolia The swastika has been and still is an important symbol in Mongolian culture, meaning good luck. It may be found in many places including monasteries. Japan In Japan, the swastika is called manji. Since the Middle Ages, it has been used as a family coat of arms. On Japanese maps, a swastika (left-facing and horizontal) is used to mark the location of a Buddhist temple. The right-facing manji is often referred as the gyaku manji (逆卍, lit. "reverse manji"), and can also be called kagi jūji, literally "hook cross" China Tang Dynasty decreed that the swastika would be used as an alternative symbol of the sun. As part of the Chinese script Indian Subcontinent The swastika remains ubiquitous as a symbol of wealth and good fortune. In India and Nepal, electoral ballot papers are stamped with a round swastika-like pattern. Many businesses and other organisations, such as the Ahmadabad Stock Exchange and the Nepal Chamber of Commerce.[84], use the swastika in their logos. The red swastika was suggested as an emblem of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in India and Sri Lanka. Taiwan In Taiwan, maps use the swastika symbol to denote a temple. Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmonov declared the swastika an Aryan symbol and 2006 to be "the year of Aryan culture," which would be a time to “study and popularize Aryan contributions to the history of the world civilization, raise a new generation (of Tajiks) with the spirit of national self-determination, and develop deeper ties with other ethnicities and cultures.” SWASTIKA IN THE WEST GREECE {draw:a} {draw:a} Greek swastika was known as the Gammadion or the Tetra Gammadion, as it was made of 4 interlinking Greek Gamma letters. Ancient Greek priestesses would tattoo the symbol, along with the tetraskelion, on their bodies. In alchemy the Gammadion was used to symbolize the 4 cardinal corners of the world and the Guardianship of this world. Ancient Greek architecture and clothing are full of single or interlinking Swastika Motifs. A swastika border is one form of meander, and the individual swastikas in such a border are sometimes called Greek keys. ROME {draw:a} In Greco- Roman architecture, and in Romanesque and Gothic art, isolated swastikas were rare; they were mostly used in an interlinking way as seen above in the picture. The swastika represented perpetual motion reflecting the design of a windmill or watermill. A border of linked swastikas was a common Roman architectural motif and can be seen in more recent buildings as a neoclassical element. BRONZE AGE EUROPE {draw:a} The sun cross, a cross inside a circle, is a common symbol in artifacts of Prehistoric Europe, particularly during the Neolithic to Bronze Age periods. Combining the cross and the circle, it is the simplest conceivable representation of the union of opposed polarities in the Western world. It was also said to be representative of the Sun and the tree of life. The sun cross was also used by the Norwegian party, Nasjonal Samling as its official symbol from 1933- 1945. The cross within the circle was ascribed to Saint Olaf, the patron saint of Norway. {draw:a} BALTIC {draw:a} Ungunkrust- The fire cross (Rotating counter clock wise) {draw:a} Perkonkrust – Rotating clockwise the thunder cross, associated with Perkons the God of Thunder and also to Dievs: The god of creation and Laima: the Goddess of destiny and Fate. The Fire and thunder cross were used on a variety of art, like dowry chests and woven belts etc. CELTIC CROSS {draw:a} Celtic Crosses often seen are similar to the Sun Cross mentioned above. It was introduced in Ireland by Saint Patrick. It is believed that Saint Patrick combined the symbol of Christianity with the sun cross, to give pagan followers an idea of the importance of the cross by linking it with the idea of the life-giving properties of the sun FINNISH {draw:a} Was used in traditional folk art products, as a decoration or magical symbol on textiles and wood. Certain types of symbols which incorporated the swastika were used to decorate wood; such symbols are called tursaansydän and mursunsydän in Finnish. These were believed to bring good luck and protect people from curses. GERMANIC Hilda Ellis Davidson theorized that the swastika symbol was associated with Thor, possibly representing his hammer Mjolnir - symbolic of thunder - and possibly being connected to the Bronze Age sun wheel. Davidson cites "many examples" of the swastika symbol from Anglo-Saxon graves of the pagan period, with particular prominence on cremation urns from the cemeteries of East Anglia. Some of the swastikas on the items, on display at the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, are depicted with such care and art that, according to Davidson, it must have possessed special significance as a funerary symbol. CHRISTIANITY In Christianity, the swastika is used as a hooked version of the Christian cross, as a symbol of Christ’s victory over death. TRISKELION {draw:a} {draw:a} The triskelion or the triskele is a symbol consisting of 3 interlocked spirals or 3 interlocked legs conjoined at the crotch area. The triskelion symbol appears in many early cultures, including on Mycenaean vessels, on coinage in Lycia, and on staters of Pamphylia. It is the symbol of the isle of man and as well as the symbol of Brittany. Also popular as an ancient symbol of Sicily, The symbol dates back to when Sicily was part of Magna Graecia, the colonial extension of Greece beyond the Aegean. Pliny the Elder attributes the origin of the triskelion of Sicily to the triangular form of the island, the ancient Trinacria, which consists of three large capes equidistant from each other, pointing in their respective directions, the names of which were Pelorus, Pachynus, and Lilybæum. Recently used as a fashion accessory and to promote tourism in Brittany. It is also the basis of the roundel of the Irish Air Corps. LAUBURU {draw:a} The lauburu or Basque cross has four comma-shaped head, which historians say signify “4 heads or regions”. The symbol in its positive form (right-facing) can symbolize life, and in its negative form (left-facing) death. This is the reason why many Basque tombstones display left-facing lauburus. Western use of the Swastika in the early 20th century {draw:a} Postcard sent in June 1910 The discovery of the Indo-European language group in the 1790s led to a great effort by archaeologists to link the pre-history of European peoples to the ancient "Aryans" (variously referring to the Indo-Iranians or the Proto-Indo-Europeans). Following his discovery of objects bearing the swastika in the ruins of Troy, Heinrich Schliemann consulted two leading Sanskrit scholars of the day, Emile Burnouf and Max Müller. Schliemann concluded that the Swastika was a specifically Indo-European symbol, and associated it with the ancient migrations of Proto-Indo-Europeans. He connected it with similar shapes found on ancient pots in Germany, and theorized that the swastika was a "significant religious symbol of our remote ancestors", linking Germanic, Greek and Indo-Iranian cultures. Later discoveries of the motif among the remains of the Hittites and of ancient Iran seemed to confirm this theory. This idea was taken up by many other writers, and the swastika quickly became popular in the West, appearing in many designs from the 1880s to the 1920s, with occasional use continuing into the 1930s. As the symbol of Nazism These discoveries, and the new popularity of the swastika symbol, led to a widespread desire to ascribe symbolic significance to every example of the motif. In Germanic countries examples of identical shapes in ancient European artifacts and in folk art were interpreted as emblems of good-luck linked to the Indo-Iranian meaning. By the early 20th century it was widely used worldwide and was regarded as a symbol of good luck. Western use of the motif, along with the religious and cultural meanings attached to it, was subverted in the early twentieth century after it was adopted as the emblem of the Nazi Party (German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei). This association occurred because Nazism stated that the historical Aryans were the forefathers of modern Germans and then proposed that, because of this, the subjugation of the world by Germany was desirable, and even predestined. The swastika was used as a conveniently geometrical and eye-catching symbol to emphasize the so-called Aryan-German correspondence and instill racial pride. Since World War II, most Westerners have known the swastika as solely a Nazi symbol, leading to incorrect assumptions about its pre-Nazi use in the West and confusion about its sacred religious and historical status in other cultures. In the wake of widespread popular usage, the Nazi Party (_Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei_ or NSDAP) formally adopted the swastika (in German: Hakenkreuz (hook-cross)) in 1920. This was used on the party's flag (_right_), badge, and armband. It had also been used unofficially by its predecessor, the German Workers Party, Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (_DAP_). In his 1925 work Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler wrote that: I myself, meanwhile, after innumerable attempts, had laid down a final form; a flag with a red background, a white disk, and a black swastika in the middle. After long trials I also found a definite proportion between the size of the flag and the size of the white disk, as well as the shape and thickness of the swastika. The swastika was also understood as "the symbol of the creating, acting life" (das Symbol des schaffenden, wirkenden Lebens) and as "race emblem of Germanism" (Rasseabzeichen des Germanentums). José Manuel Erbez says: The first time the swastika was used with an "Aryan" meaning was on December 25, 1907, when the self-named Order of the New Templars, a secret society founded by [Adolf Joseph] Lanz von Liebenfels, hoisted at Werfenstein Castle (Austria) a yellow flag with a swastika and four fleurs-de-lys. However, Liebenfels was drawing on an already established use of the symbol. On March 14, 1933, shortly after Hitler's appointment as Chancellor of Germany, the NSDAP flag was hoisted alongside Germany's national colors. It was adopted as the sole national flag on September 15, 1935 (see Nazi Germany). The swastika was used for badges and flags throughout Nazi Germany, particularly for government and military organizations, but also for "popular" organizations such as the Reichsbund Deutsche Jägerschaft (German Hunting Society). While the DAP and the NSDAP had used both right-facing and left-facing swastikas, the right-facing swastika was used consistently from 1920 onwards. However, Ralf Stelter notes that the swastika flag used on land had a right-facing swastika on both sides, while the ensign (naval flag) had it printed through so that a left-facing swastika would be seen when looking at the ensign with the flagpole to the right. Several variants are found: A 45° black swastika on a white disc as in the NSDAP and national flags; A 45° black swastika on a white lozenge (e.g., Hitler Youth); A 45° black swastika with a white outline was painted on the tail of aircraft of the Luftwaffe; A 45° black swastika outlined by thin white and black lines on a white disc (e.g., the German War Ensign); An upright black swastika outlined by thin white and black lines on a white disc (e.g., Personal standard of Adolf Hitler in which a gold wreath encircles the swastika; the Schutzstaffel; and the Reichsdienstflagge, in which a black circle encircles the swastika); Small gold, silver, black, or white 45° swastikas, often lying on or being held by an eagle, on many badges and flags. A swastika with curved outer arms forming a broken circle, as worn by the SS Nordland Division. There were attempts to amalgamate Nazi and Hindu use of the swastika, notably by the French writer Savitri Devi who declared Hitler an avatar of Vishnu The swastika is seen on binders of pre-Nazi era publications of works by Rudyard Kipling. Both left and right orientations were used. Post-WWII stigmatization in Western countries Because of its use by Hitler and the Nazis and, in modern times, by neo-Nazis and other hate groups, the swastika is largely associated with Nazism and white supremacy in most of the Western countries. As a result, all of its use, or its use as a Nazi or hate symbol is prohibited in some jurisdictions. Because of the stigma attached to the symbol, many buildings that have contained the symbol as decoration have had the symbol removed. Steven Heller, of the School of Visual Arts, has argued that from the moment it was "misappropriated" by the Nazis, it became a mark and weapon of hate, and could not be redeemed. European Union The European Union's Executive Commission proposed a European Union-wide anti-racism law in 2001, but European Union states failed to agree on the balance between prohibiting racism and freedom of expression. An attempt to ban the swastika across the EU in early 2005 failed after objections from the British Government and others. In early 2007, while Germany held the European Union presidency, Berlin proposed that the European Union should follow German Criminal Law and criminalize the denial of the Holocaust and the display of Nazi symbols including the swastika, which is based on the Ban on the Symbols of Unconstitutional Organisations Act. This led to an opposition campaign by Hindu groups across Europe against a ban on the swastika. They pointed out that the swastika has been around for 5,000 years as a symbol of peace. The proposal to ban the swastika was dropped by Berlin from the proposed European Union wide anti-racism laws on January 29, 2007. Germany The German (and Austrian) postwar criminal code makes the public showing of the Hakenkreuz (the swastika) and other Nazi symbols illegal and punishable, except for scholarly reasons. It is even censored from the lithographs on boxes of model kits, and the decals that come in the box. It is also censored from the reprints of 1930s railway timetables published by the Reichsbahn. The eagle remains, but appears to be holding a solid black circle between its talons. The swastikas on Hindu and Jain temples are exempt, as religious symbols cannot be banned in Germany. A German fashion company was investigated for using traditional British-made folded leather buttons after complaints that they resembled swastikas. In response, Esprit destroyed two hundred thousand catalogues. Controversy over Asian products In recent years, controversy has erupted when consumer goods bearing the symbol have been exported (often unintentionally) to North America. When a ten-year-old boy in Lynbrook, New York bought a set of Pokémon cards imported from Japan in 1999, his parents complained after finding that two of the cards contained the Manji symbol which is the mirror image of the Nazi swastika. This also caused a lot of concern amongst fans from Jewish communities. Nintendo of America announced that the cards would be discontinued, explaining that what was acceptable in one culture was not necessarily so in another; their action was welcomed by the Anti-Defamation League who recognised that there was no intention to be offensive but said that international commerce meant that "isolating [the Swastika] in Asia would just create more problems." In 2002, Christmas crackers containing plastic toy pandas sporting swastikas were pulled from shelves after complaints from consumers in Canada. The manufacturer, based in China, explained the symbol was presented in a traditional sense and not as a reference to the Nazis, and apologized to the customers for the cross-cultural mixup. In 2007, Spanish fashion chain Zara has withdrawn a handbag from its stores after a customer in Britain complained swastikas were embroidered on it. The bags were made by a supplier in India and inspired by commonly used Hindu symbols, which include the swastika. In 2003, the Anti-Defamation League expressed outrage when a Hong Kong fashion chain, Izzue, released a range of clothes featuring swastikas. Conclusion So we can see that since the association of the symbol with Hitler and the Nazi movement; world-over the symbol which was a good-luck charm, a symbol of love and well-being has changed over the years into a symbol of hatred and misplaced ideologies. The symbol has come to be banned and even though it is still used in the eastern world as a religious and good luck symbol; the west still doesn’t find the idea of having the symbol in their homes and in front of their eyes. This shows that even though the west is touted to be the more tolerant and open cultures; when it comes to reality the east has always been the better one. Here the people know the atrocities of the war and the Nazi movement; but still they would like to see the symbol in its goodness and nice forms. In your opinion, is the proposed ban on swastika on commercial products in the European Union justified? Discuss your views with your colleagues in class The discussion with the class gave insights and different views as to whether it should be banned or not. Most of them agreed that it should not be banned while some are strong on the point that marketing should consider the cultural sensitivity and religious sentiments. Detailed report on the discussion The swastika is the most auspicious symbol of the Hindu religion, symbolizing the four right angle arms of the ancient sun sign, with its attendant inner significance.
The Swastika symbol is worshiped in the Hindu religion in order to bring well-being and peace from the four corners of the universe. Indeed, the Sanskrit meaning of swastika is "well-being." On the contrary, the Nazis had used the Swastika to usher in havoc, destruction and mayhem. To think of banning its use would render law-abiding Hindus as criminals. The Nazis used it for evil purpose and, as ordained, this powerful symbol of wisdom representing Lord Ganesha destroyed its abusers. It is ironic that the same country now wishes to pass punishment upon a people who use it rightly to pray for the welfare of all mankind. Banning an auspicious sign would be to inflict abuse on the Swastika once
again. In the class certain example were taken where swastika was commercially used such as : In Downtown Historic District in Raton, New Mexico, Swastika Coal office and Swastika Hotel buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places The mining town of Lakeview Idaho featured a "Swastika Hotel" in 1910, owned and operated by the Swastika Mining Company K-R-I-T Motor Car Company, Detroit, Michigan built cars from 1909 to 1915 with a radiator badge that featured a right-facing white swastika on a blue background. The Crane Valve Company manufactured steel valves in the 1920s and 30's in the U.S. with swastika markings, using a symbol with the arms pointed to the right. The Buffum Tool Company of Louisiana, Missouri manufactured "High Grade Tools for High Grade Workmen" from about 1909 to The Buffum company's trademark was a swastika with right facing arms. During World War I it made bayonets and airplane parts. The company's logo was the "Good Luck/Blessing/Swastika Cross" and many of the products, sold nationwide, had "the good luck cross on them." The Washington Charcrete Company manufactured "laundry trays" (concrete utility sinks) with an imprinted logo bearing a swastika. Swastika is found in the soles of feet of the Buddha, symbolizing his footsteps. ) On Buddha’s chest and palms the Swastika is probably trying to convey the kindness and good actions of the Buddha. The use of religious symbols in marketing almost always arouses strong emotions, and showing respect for people's sensitivities is even more important in a multicultural society. Religious symbols have rarely been used in advertising in Finland. Religion has traditionally been a subject and part of life that people want to keep separate from commercial goals. Whenever religious references are made in advertising, one can well ask whether it is right to use religion to promote sales. The fundamental question is whether everything in our world of experience can be exploited for commercial purposes. This question cannot be answered by guardians of the law but requires public debate. Sensitivity should be shown in the use of symbols. One essential thing in evaluating religious references in advertising if whether there is a natural connection to the product. If there is no connection at all, advertising may be irreverent or sacrilegious towards holy symbols. Using religious experience for commercial purposes can easily offend people and cause distress. Nevertheless, advertising that does so is not necessarily contrary to good practice, even if many people may find it in poor taste or say it creates negative images. The successful businesses of tomorrow will not be the ones that mimic the monolithic religious institutions and businesses of the previous generations with a pure top-down approach. The way moving forward is to incorporate ideas from all your stakeholders into the mix – include everyone, especially your customers and front-line workers. In the West, the swastika remains to this day an irredeemable symbol of the evil of Nazism. However, much of the East has merely shrugged off the Nazi association. After all, the word "swastika" is derived from a Sanskrit term meaning "being good" or "wellbeing". Even new Buddhist and Hindu temples are decorated with swastikas. Trade is increasingly global in scope today. There are several reasons for this. One significant reason is technological—because of improved transportation and communication opportunities today, trade is now more practical. Thus, consumers and businesses now have access to the very best products from many different countries. Increasingly rapid technology lifecycles also increases the competition among countries as to who can produce the newest in technology. A ban on the swastika would not in itself remove racism or silence those who wish to express such views. For many in the world a ban on the swastika would be quite bewildering - the equivalent of banning the cross or the crescent. And, in ignoring the sensitivities of people in the East, such a ban would itself be an act of Western arrogance - the very kind of attitude Hitler encouraged. The Article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/ 4178643.stm) It shows people’s opinion and outrage The vice-president of the parliamentary Social Democratic group, Michael Mueller, said a study was needed to find out how a German-style anti-Nazi law could be applied to the rest of Europe. But Liberty director, Shami Chakrabarti, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she felt banning the swastika would not solve "a serious social problem". THE HOLOCAUST The Nazis' final assault on the Jews from 1933-1945 Estimated 15m civilians killed by regime 6m Jews murdered 1942: Gas chambers built at Birkenau concentration camp, mass transports begin Majority who arrive gassed immediately About 900,000 gassed at Birkenau 1.1m died at Auschwitz-Birkenau and its sub-camps 1m of them were Jewish Every generation should be taught the full meaning of the symbols and the "horrors of the Holocaust", she said. Ms Chakrabarti added: "I have a strong emotional response when I see a swastika, it makes my stomach turn." But she said the last couple of weeks have shown her a whole generation of "decent, intelligent people" did not share this response and it was everyone's obligation to teach them the symbol's meaning. "I don't think we should, in this country, sweep the swastika under the carpet. I think we should understand its full significance," Ms Chakrabarti said. Banning Nazi symbols in Germany had not eradicated racism and the far right there, she added. But German ambassador to Britain, Thomas Matussek, told Today the ban had helped put Germany among countries in Europe "with the least number of people subscribing to Nazi ideas". He also pointed out that the Nazi symbols were not completely banned in Germany and were still used in education and arts. A cartoonist view {draw:frame} What few of my friends think on Swastika Ban (Responses are as explained by them on phone) Rakeh, HAL,Bangalore The Swastika was used extensively as a symbol of good luck and good will in Germany and Europe before the Second World War. There are existing greeting cards with this symbol on it. In fact, this is the reason why the German Nationalist party adopted it in the first place as their emblem (similar reasons, I guess to the current dove for the Liberal Democrats may the dove never come to represent such hatred!!!). It was Hitler’s misuse of his power and control of the Nazi party which has led to all the negative associations of the symbol. But I think it is important to separate a symbol which dates back at least 10000 years (please see the earliest artifacts in the British Museum from Mohendajaro with swastika engraved….) with a fascist who Devastated europe for a few decades. If we want to learn from History, we should look at the whole spectrum of history, not just the last century Raghavendra,IIT Roorkee It was not just that Hitler suddenly came into power and used the swastika as a symbol for his evil ends, the swastika had allready become extensively associated with German nationalism prior to the 1920’s, as the following quote” A Change in Meaning In the 1800s Countries round Germany were growing much larger, forming Empires; yet Germany was not a unified country until 1871. To counter the feeling of vulnerability and the stigma of youth, German nationalists in the mid-nineteenth century began to use the swastika, because it had ancient Aryan/Indian origins, to represent a long Germanic/Aryan history.
By the end of the nineteenth century, the swastika could be found on nationalist German volkisch periodicals and was the official emblem of the German gymnasts’ League.
In the beginning of the twentieth century, the swastika was a common symbol of German nationalism and could be found in a multitude of places such as the emblem for the Wandervogel, a German youth movement; on Joerg Lanz von Liebenfels’ antisemitic periodical Ostara; on various Freikorps units; and as an emblem of the Thule Society. HITLER and the NAZIS
In 1920, Adolf Hitler decided that the Nazi Party needed its own insignia and flag. For Hitler, the new flag had to be “a symbol of our own struggle” as well as “highly effective as a poster.”
On August 7, 1920, at the Salzburg Congress, this flag became the official emblem of the Nazi Party.
In Mein Kampf, Hitler described the Nazis’ new flag: “In red we see the social idea of the movement, in white the nationalistic idea, in the swastika the mission of the struggle for the victory of the Aryan man, and, by the same token, the victory of the idea of creative work, which as such always has been and always will be anti-Semitic.” (pg. 496-497).
Because of the Nazis’ flag, the swastika soon became a symbol of hate, antisemitism, violence, death, and murder. ” The real evil here is nationalISM and antisemitISM, both taken to their disgusting end. Hitler was just the vehicle for these narrow human sentiments and the scapegoat for all their horrible consequences. Any “Ism” that separates human from human and sets up superiority or inferiority complexes in the mind of any particular group is the real evil we must fight. I just like to say that im a buddhist and a peacelover aight? Then Havin a pretty large Swastika (positive) tattoo on my back and my arm, I live in hell here in Denmark. These people dont have the guts to open the history book read to see what the difference is. I dont care what they think, sure many people has been killed in Holocoaust, my friends you know how many people has been killed by Ashoka, Before he was a buddhist? And am I not aloud to walk with a symbols that displays: Peace and good fortune, the somethin is really wrong with the world. Just be in my shoes, i have swastika “printed” into my skin so I can remove it really. what the EU gonna do to me? Ban me? rip my skin off? am I not aloud to respect my beflief? I hope I didnt sound to harsh, it was just questions. I wanna reclaim my culture. Its funny that everything what the people in the vest ban is a connection with what be going on in the East for centuries. Puttin buddha statues in a lingerie model shop? Seriously how many in here have seen this? without even knowin the teachings by Lord Buddha,, they put the satue on a underwear shop? Sharansh,IIM Bangalore I am from a very old Brahmin family, and am myself a buddhist, the swastika has always been part of our symbolic beleive, if Moslems, and jews are aload to use their symbols then equally all faiths, be it Hindu, Buddhist, jew, moslems, christians, shaman whatever it is should be allowed to use there symbols. Also very important that the public understand the value of the swastika. Ratn,Aricent tech. Gurgaon I’m educated and informed. I agree the Swastika has gotten a bad wrap thanks to Hitler. Hitler liked black Mercedes and VW Beetles and really liked the color ‘red’ in his image propaganda materiels, yet those things aren’t considered racist or evil. But I guess that’s what make the Swastika surpass those things, it’s a ’symbol’. A symbol is the one thing that stands in front of, and above, everything else – after all isn’t that what a great ’symbol’ is supposed to do? It takes on all it stands for….good and bad. However, if your heritage is based in Western or European or Middle-eastern civilizations, then you can’t deny the fact that a Swastika, regardless of rotation, direction, etc.. make a helluva lot of people uncomfortable, angry and sad. It’s a symbol I can get by in life without out of the respect of those around me that have a real connection in life to the horrors that it once was associtated with even years ago. Educate the ignorant but respect the experienced. Rather than making negative comments about the misuse of the swastikana I think it behooves us to put away the anger at the wrong and focus positive energy on the right and the informing people of the symbol’s true meaning. As an Anglo Hindu I did a great deal of soul-searching when I found an Om pendant that I fell in love with – a white gold diamond Om on a yellow gold Swastikana. As an Anglo woman in Georgia I am sure that it is bound to raise questions, but no matter what else I looked at my conscience drew me back to this piece. God will direct and guide me when I wear it, I will simply do what I am meant to do, which hopefully will be to let people know that it is a sign of peace and good fortune. To “other side of the coin” – If you knew anything at all about Hinduism you would know that there is no race of gods, there is one God, Brahman, and there are avatar representations of Brahman – much like Moses and the burning bush or Ezekiel and the wheel. One does not look on the face of God, nor hear the voice of God, though God may show himself in other forms. Most importantly, not everyone here is Indian, but you appear to be far too narrow-minded to see past your own intolerance. I must say this though – correct grammar, punctuation and spelling will make people take your posts more seriously, they show that you appreciate the education you have received and have taken the time to proofread your post to be sure that even when posting in anger, hostility or frustration you still take some pride in how you present yourself.