EU Considers Ban on "Nazi Symbol"
1/17/2005
While I agree in principle with their desire to 'smash out' symbols of hate, after a brief intellectual mulling I have come to the conclusion that banning the swastika is no less a crime than using the symbol to represent the nazi regime. Both uses of the symbol are a disgrace to the thousands of years of tradition and meaning this symbol represents to many faiths and cultures.
The symbol was not invented by the Nazi party. They 'lifted' its use, just in the same way that the Christians 'lift' the use of many pagan symbols. It has been connected with many major world religions, as well as native american traditions, in times much earlier than the 20th Century. Some of its uses have been to promote good luck, rebirth, resignation, etc.
Here's a good thread over at Chamber of Secrets that discusses the 10,000-year history of this symbol.
Wikipedia on the Swastika
The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit स्वस्तिक, svastika, meaning any lucky or auspicious object, and in particular a mark made on persons and things to denote good luck. It is composed of su- (cognate with Greek ευ-), meaning "good, well" and asti a verbal abstract to the root as "to be"; svasti thus means "well-being". The suffix -ka forms a diminutive, and svastika might thus be translated literally as "little thing associated with well-being", corresponding roughly to "lucky charm".
The swastika appears in art and design throughout human history, symbolising many different things — luck, Surya (the sun), Brahma, or the Hindu concept of samsara. In fact, the swastika is used primarily as a religious symbol by Hindus – it was first mentioned in the Vedas, the holy texts of Hinduism – but transferred to other Indic religions like Buddhism and Jainism. It also occurs in other Asian, European, and Native American cultures – sometimes as a simple geometrical motif, sometimes as a religious symbol. The almost universally positive meanings of the swastika were subverted in the early twentieth century when it was adopted as the emblem of the National Socialist German Workers Party. Since World War II, most Westerners see it as solely a fascist symbol, leading to incorrect assumptions about its pre-Nazi use and its use in other cultures.
History is always more complicated and rich than what most can see on the surface. What the Nazis did was horrible, and may it never be repeated. While the Nazis executed millions of jews, artists, freethinkers, homosexuals and gypsies, they were doing this under the moniker of an ancient symbol that had nothing at all to do with their agenda. If they used a Christian cross instead (and they did - the iron cross), we would not ban its use.
As a relic of thousands of years of human culture and religion, the svastika should not be 'banned.' Not only does it remain a reminder of what can happen when governments become too powerful, oppressive, and dangerous, but also it provides an educational opportunity to reveal the roots of the symbol and its true meanings. If we hide it, we dishonour ourselves by giving it away freely to the Nazis. Let's not do that.
posted by Edward Svengali @ Monday, January 17, 2005,
