Is The Swastika Reclaimable?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40848372
I think it is, the problem is ignorance about the early origin of the symbol. Most seem to overreact on sight. I applaud the attempt.

[Old_Geezer]

Too soon ?

[jno]

they could try the anti-clockwise one, which had slightly different significance in other cultures, but it'll probably get the same opposition.

A warning against cultural appropriation, I suppose (so was all the stuff aboUt Germans being "Aryans").

[bookbinder]

Anybody who sees a swastika being openly displayed in public, particularly in Germany, won't see it as an ancient of love.

[vulcan42]

Perhaps if they had chosen the original design and not the Nazi emblem it might have been more acceptable, but then again, how many people know the difference.
http://www.llewellyn.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Swastika-300x128.gif

[Bazile]

Irrespective of what it symbolised previously , i really don't see the swastika being associated in the public conciousness , for the forseable future ; ( apart from a small minority ) as anything but negative bad connotations

[bookbinder]

Anybody who is desperate to have a swastika on their shirt (but doesn't want to have stones thrown at them) might like to have this version:
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/95/swastika_stone.html

[naomi24]

I don't see a future for that.

[ichkeria]

Utterly daft: how is it going to be "reclaimed" as a "symbol of love" just because it appears on a few shirts, when for one thing it is seen everywhere in film footage of Nazi Germany as well as in neo-Nazi graffiti and propaganda, and for another, who honestly remembers or even knows the original significance of the symbol

[AlfStewart]

I was just wondering where have i heard that "reclaim" word again and thought i'm pretty sure it was the gay movement for the word "queer" and then i came across this

"The eight-colour rainbow design, originally created in 1978 by the late San Francisco-based artist Gilbert Baker as a symbol for the gay community, is aimed at anyone who supports the LGBT movement."

Well surprise surprise!

What's next shaving their handlebar mustaches into a "Hitlers"?

Personally i wouldn't cross the border into israel wearing a reclaimed swastika on my t shirt that's for sure.

[jno]

Alf, Gilbert Baker designed the rainbow pattern. Adding a swastika to it is new.

[AlfStewart]

I'm pretty sure that it still gives people nightmares

[mikey4444]

I can't see any reason to bring back the swastika into public use again....no reason at all.

[AlfStewart]

but like gays reclaiming the word queers and blacks reclaiming the n word I think that the only people who could reclaim would have to be a jew, to empower themselves and take it away from the nazis. anyone else wearing it would just be an insult to them

[sp1814]

Is the swastika reclaimable?

Almost certainly not in our lifetimes.

Perhaps because it really doesn't need to be reclaimed. Who would it benefit?

[tonyav]

Hitler stole it !.

swastika means "well-being". The symbol has been used by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains for millennia and is commonly assumed to be an Indian sign.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29644591

[AlfStewart]

From your link tonyav

"One of the supporters of the Learn to Love the Swastika movement"

Well you wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alleway would you!

[youngmafbog]

I cant see it happening. As said above far too many reminders of Hitler around on films books etc, plus still people living who remember it all.

[anotheoldgit]

bookbinder
/// Anybody who sees a swastika being openly displayed in public, particularly in Germany, won't see it as an ancient of love. ///

The whole lot of the German people did during the 30s and 40s. enough to vote Hitler in power, and greet him en mass waving their little swastika flags and hanging them from their windows.

No the German people should never be allowed to forgot what atrocities took place in their names, after all are the 'big bad' British ever allowed to forget the creation of our Empire along with slavery etc, etc.

https://alfonsopozacienciassociales.wikispaces.com/file/view/Anschluss-People.jpg/583334083/Anschluss-People.jpg

[naomi24]

aog, //The whole lot of the German people did during the 30s and 40s. enough to vote Hitler in power, and greet him en mass waving their little swastika flags and hanging them from their windows. //

But it didn't represent then what it subsequently came to represent.