When Swastikas were paraded through the streets of Edinburgh

[Nearly Sane]

Odd little story

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/retro/battle-river-forth-when-swastikas-were-paraded-through-streets-edinburgh-815607?fbclid=IwAR3u6estLa9EvGW1gD7IoWq6kY2LnkcGnUuB-Z_u2bsZYZy7Lng0bHo5jWA

[Robbie]

I've read something about that before. Quite moving.

The swastika was a originally an Eastern religious symbol. Sririam will know more about it. Nazi's gave it a bad image.

[Sriram]

Yes...the swastika symbol is considered a holy sign by Hindus and can be found in almost every Hindu household. It dates back more than 4000 years to the Indus valley days of 2000 BCE and earlier.

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/bce_500back/indusvalley/swastika/swastika.html

[ad_orientem]

It's a symbol which is used in the Finnish military as well to this date, especially the air force. It started being used around the time of the First World War (I have no clue as to what it's meant to symbolise or where it comes from).

[Roses]

Yes...the swastika symbol is considered a holy sign by Hindus and can be found in almost every Hindu household. It dates back more than 4000 years to the Indus valley days of 2000 BCE and earlier.

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/bce_500back/indusvalley/swastika/swastika.html

It is a bit strange that Hindus still that symbol as it is associated with the Nazis, and could be misinterpreted by others.

[Nearly Sane]

It is a bit strange that Hindus still that symbol as it is associated with the Nazis, and could be misinterpreted by others.

Don't get this at all - there's no reason for Hindus to give up their cultural history because of the Nazis.

[Roses]

Don't get this at all - there's no reason for Hindus to give up their cultural history because of the Nazis.

When one sees a swastika it is natural to have a feeling of revulsion as I do.

[Nearly Sane]

When one sees a swastika it is natural to have a feeling of revulsion as I do.

Context matters - Hindus have had it as a cultural symbol for thousands of years.

[Sriram]

I have a feeling of peace every time I see a swastika.....

Why would 1 billion Hindus give up their centuries old tradition just because of a few Nazis in Europe??!!

[Roses]

I have a feeling of peace every time I see a swastika.....

Why would 1 billion Hindus give up their centuries old tradition just because of a few Nazis in Europe??!!

Think of the terrible atrocities committed by those 'few' Nazis, like the Holocaust, one of the worst crimes in history. 

[Sriram]

What has that got to do with the swastika??!!

[Nearly Sane]

Think of the terrible atrocities committed by those 'few' Nazis, like the Holocaust, one of the worst crimes in history. 

By the Nazis - not by the Swastika. In comparison to the billion Hindus, there really were just a few Nazis.

[jeremyp]

When one sees a swastika it is natural to have a feeling of revulsion as I do.

By "one" you mean a European or perhaps an American.

[Roses]

By the Nazis - not by the Swastika. In comparison to the billion Hindus, there really were just a few Nazis.

A topic on which we will have to agree to differ. My  home island was taken over by the Germans during the war, we had 13 of them living in my family home. Even though I was born five years after the war was over, it was part of my childhood as the evidence of their invasion was very much in evidence.

[Nearly Sane]

A topic on which we will have to agree to differ. My  home island was taken over by the Germans during the war, we had 13 of them living in my family home. Even though I was born five years after the war was over, it was part of my childhood as the evidence of their invasion was very much in evidence.

And the history of the swastika in Hindu culture is very much in evidence

[Sriram]

A topic on which we will have to agree to differ. My  home island was taken over by the Germans during the war, we had 13 of them living in my family home. Even though I was born five years after the war was over, it was part of my childhood as the evidence of their invasion was very much in evidence.

I still don't understand what all this has to do with the Swastika.  It is an ancient religious symbol also used by the Nazis in recent years...that is all.

People use the crucifix or the bible or the Koran as symbols to commit atrocities. Does that mean these symbols by themselves are  to be condemned or rejected?

 

[Nearly Sane]

I still don't understand what all this has to do with the Swastika.  It is an ancient religious symbol also used by the Nazis in recent years...that is all.

People use the crucifix or the bible or the Koran as symbols to commit atrocities. Does that mean these symbols by themselves are  to be condemned or rejected?

  Though to quote Bill Hicks "I think it's interesting how people act on their beliefs. A lot of Christians, for instance, wear crosses around their necks. Nice sentiment, but do you think when Jesus comes back, he's really going to want to look at a cross?"


 

[Sriram]

  Though to quote Bill Hicks "I think it's interesting how people act on their beliefs. A lot of Christians, for instance, wear crosses around their necks. Nice sentiment, but do you think when Jesus comes back, he's really going to want to look at a cross?"

  But they wear it not for Jesus to see....but to remind themselves of Jesus and his sacrifice surely...

[Robbie]

Yes sririam, you're right about that.

There is nothing wrong with swastikas.
Nazis hijacked the symbol; mud sticks unfortunately but there should be more known about the real meaning so that people don't immediately shy away when they see one.

These articles are quite good:-

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

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/history-of-the-swastika

https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/symbol-swastika-and-its-12000-year-old-history-001312

[jeremyp]

  But they wear it not for Jesus to see....but to remind themselves of Jesus and his sacrifice surely...

Yes but you can understand how a man who was killed by by being nailed to a cross might be triggered at the sight of them (if there . It's the same with the swastika: a lot of people died and a lot of others suffered terribly because of a group of people that is symbolised by the swastika.

As NS said upthread: context matters

[Robbie]

It is understandable. I know a little about swastikas but couldn't see myself wearing one or drawing one. That's conditioning I suppose. I just wish people were better educated about what is a joyful, ancient religious symbol.