Isn't it about time the Swastika was reclaimed from the Nazis?

Question

Ever since world war two, what was once a widespread religious symbol indicating fortune and wellbeing has been associated with a heavily elitist ideology (or as most would put it: a hate-regime) and as such has been made heavily taboo across the known world.

Honestly though... is there no hope for the humble Swastika, effectively abused by the Nazis as it is?

What do you think it would take to clear it of this taint and restore it to its original context?

Answer 1

At the end of the day it is just a symbol. It is a communicatory shortcut, and if the meaning is lost then it isn't much good for communication any more. Perhaps what is needed is a new symbol rather than a reformation of an old one.

Answer 2

It would be very difficult to reclaim it as it's been used for so long as a symbol of hate and destruction... and still is being used that way among the neo-nazi's. The first step would be to educate people about the original meaning of it... which I see some here do know what it is... But then you would have to get people to listen and understand and that's the step that is the hardest to take, since so many are willing to stuff their fingers in their ears and walk away saying "I can't hear you". I know it makes it very hard for those Asatruar who use the symbol within it's original context as they are normally called Racists because of it - which isn't true at all.

Hopefully one day it can be turned around, but I don't see that happening in the near future.

Answer 3

Well, for now it is still being used by the new Nazis, the white supreme group. So until many generations pass away, and this symbol is long forgotten, only to be found again with only it's original meaning, then will it be restored, but the second someone remembers the Nazis Order in Germany, it will be down the tubes again. I guess it may never happen.

Answer 4

The swastika (from Sanskrit svástika) is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing or left-facing forms. The term is derived from Sanskrit svasti, meaning well-being. The Thai greeting sawasdee is from the same root and carries the same implication.

Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the Neolithic period. It has long been widely-used in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Hindus often decorate the swastika with a dot in each quadrant. In India, it is common enough to be a part of several Devanagari fonts. It is also a symbol in the modern Unicode and is often imprinted on religious texts, marriage invitations, and decorations. It is used to mark religious flags in Jainism and Buddhist temples in Asia.

In 1920, the right-facing swastika was appropriated as a Nazi symbol, and since then has become a controversial motif. In the Western world, this usage is the most familiar.

The symbol occurs in other Asian, European, African and Native American cultures – sometimes as a geometrical motif and sometimes as a religious symbol.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika

Answer 5

Well I believe this was a starter for me. Why don't I remember any mention of this in any of my history classes, including my art history class?

"The swastika was widely utilized in ancient Mesopotamian coinage as well as appearing in early Christian and Byzantium art, where it was known as the gammadion cross. The swastika also appeared in South and Central America, widely used in Mayan art during that time period.

In North America, the swastika was a symbol used by the Navajos. The swastika still continues today to be an extensively used sign in Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism."
From:
http://history1900s.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iearn.org%2Fhgp%2Faeti%2Faeti-1997%2Fswastika.html

So apparently people are still using it and not for the purpose that the Nazis used it for. But I sure do think it could be a trigger for people and bring up painful memories.

Answer 6

In Europe and the west the swastika will always be associated with evil Nazism: it is ingrained in our history, we can't get rid of that. On the other hand for Jains and Buddhists it is another story.
The symbol might be innocent, but the association we make in the west is strong and impossible to delete.

Answer 7

I don't think it should be in any way reclaimed. The religious symbol is reversed, and is definately not tabboo in countries which use it commonly as a religious symbol. I recently went to Japan with some friends from school, and we all slightly stunned by what we recognised as the swastika being on many buildings. It took us a while to realise it was in fact back to front, and a symbol of hope.

I then spoke to my Japanese teacher about this, and she laughed. Apparently it doesn't bother many of the Buddhists (possible Shintoists :S) of Japan at all.

I think its good to have a symbol that people assosciate with evil, as long as it is not confused with the symbol with religious connotations. It means that it is harder for us to forget, and more emotionally evocative when it stands out to us.

Answer 8

I think it will forever been remembered as the Nazi emblem. History classes always will teach WWII, and thus we'll always teach the next generation what they symbol represented. Aside from that there are those thug kids who run around embracing the counter culture of Neo-Nazism.

Otherwise it traditionally takes three generations for a society to forget something or someone.

Answer 9

I would say that the only way that the original context would be able to be restored would be if the ORIGINAL meaning was emphasized.....

Of course, this will be difficult, as neo-nazis still misuse the symbol....

Answer 10

The dixie flag hasn't had the taint of slavery removed from it in 150 years, it might be a while before the swastika loses it's taint.