The Swastika is an interesting and neat geometric pattern; it's a shame that Hitler had to ruin it for everyone.

I think it's very pretty

My claim is different enough that I don't feel bad about having made it.

"I haven't yet met a person who didn't know that it was also a Buddhist symbol."

What is your secret for only meeting smart, well-informed people?

TELL ME!

I will use force if I have to. Don't make me get out that old waterboard gathering dust in my crawlspace.

It's not ruined for me.

I certainly do, though I feel that I have just cause.

(never said or meant to say you shouldn't have made it. I agree that "interesting" and "geometric pattern" are both distinct from "pretty". I jsut like linking related claims.)

please tag "swastika"

Hitler and white supremicists in general have adopted the symbol and because the educated majority view these people as deviant and 'evil', the swastika has come to symbolise these feelings in modern times.

Which is sad since it is one of, if not THE most ancient symbols for 'good'. I don't see educated people wearing swastika pendants! Whether we like it or not, it is now associted with all things evil and Hitler started the rot. I agree.

You said it, Packers.

It's also on boy scout belt buckles from about 1908 or so...

I've always felt that there was something sinister about boy scouts

Please diferentiate between swastika and reverse-swastika.

why?

(and which is which, from your PoV?)

There have been many uses and names for this symbol long before the Nazi regime took hold of it to wipe their asses. The whole reason it was picked was for it's original purpose. The direct definition for the word swastika in ancient sanskrit is 'well being'. Not only was it a symbol of Buddha's law and of good fortune, but the Native Americans have used it as a symbol of Earth and it's reverse as a symbol of the Sun. The Freemasons had their own name for it; the Fylfoot, or Jaina Cross is one of the symbols of the degrees in the Scottish Rite system. Many Pagans still believe it to be a potent symbol of good luck, using it in the less threatening interlocking s formation. I can't see any reason in the world to let the Nazis have the swastika as their own, haven't they taken enough already? It's been around far longer than they have .......and it's prettier :)

chrisbroadfoot: It appears going both ways in Buddhist art, AFAIK. If you can point me to a source that says otherwise I would be appreciative.

flamigore: That was my point. Thanks.

You are very welcome.

"The whole reason it was picked was for it's [sic] original purpose." -- not true, of course, but "whole reasons" almost never are. It was also picked because it was recognizable and different and, turned diagonally, quite dynamic and inspiring.

well ok then. ya got me on the 'whole' point issue but i think you know what i was getting at. the meaning of the symbol was intentional.

I agree it's a shame that the Nazi's ruined it. (Though, compared to the other things they did, it's not high on their list of crimes.)

However, I also take the view that they HAVE ruined it, and wouldn't use it now.

For the record - we have a few in the house - on the sleeves of books about India published before the Second World War - in the days when it was a symbol of good luck :-(

... covers, not sleeves.

Books of that era didn't have sleeves :-)