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...to wear a swastika, and try to explain you're just waving an old Christian symbol about.

Imagine a new line of German schnaps being promoted with those crossed symbolic fasces. It would -- understandibly -- cause an outrage.

Understandably. And stupidly. The delusional mass hysteria facing the swastika (and indeed all things supposedly-Nazi) is one of the more disheartening symptoms of the prevailing hypocrisy and idiocy of the hoi polloi in western society.

But new Russian vodkas continue to proudly display the murderous Red Star, and the above mentioned tools.

What about whiskies with American flags on them, then?

Your example is absurd, as you know. My assumption about this person would be based on the subject matter itself, not on the fact that they have a tattooed forehead.

On the other hand, I would argue that Manwoman is neither a bigot nor a sociopath, but that's a bit outside the scope of the conversation.

Their feeling of uncomfortability is just as valid as your feeling of indignation, but you haven't given them the choice to not be uncomfortable (by not having a piercing/tatoo).

Both their feelings of discomfort and my feeling of indignation are due to their prejudices. My getting a tattoo or body piercing does not affect them in any real way. Their prejudice very well may very well directly affect me (by, for example, causing a potential employer not not hire me because he may lose the money he might otherwise get from said people).

The symbol you're looking for is, in fact, the swastika. It's not a Nazi invention; prior to their use of it it was a fairly universal symbol for luck and propsperity. The word 'swastika' is sanskrit for "it is good," generally interpreted as "good luck" or "well-being."

Some links:

• http://www.manwoman.net/swastika/swastika.html
• http://www.intelinet.org/swastika/swastika_intro.h tm
• And, of course: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika

Do they ban only Nazi related items, or anything with a swastika on it? As you may know, the swastika was an ancient symbol with positive connotations before the 3rd reich.

There are people trying to rehabilitate the swastika as a symbol.

Here we are over 50 years after the war, and the swastika is still taboo. With France's action to stifle commerce in the US, will this help rehabilitate the swastika? Will a symbol of oppression be turned into a symbol of freedom?

Maybe, maybe not. People still have a hard time separating the symbol from nazism. Case in point: A neighborhood "family" restaurant near where I live has old WWII and WWI posters on the walls (mostly WWI). One of the US WWI posters actually had a small swastika on it (about half an inch accross, so you almost had to look for it). I would occasionaly point this out when eating there and tell people that the swastika was not always bad. Some people are still surprised to hear that.

Well, after a few years, somebody magic-markered over it, which was OK because they only magic-markered the plastic cover over the poster, not the actual poster. Later, the poster was removed. It was a World War I poster. Obviously there was no connection to the nazis, but try explaining that to people who get upset.

I don't condone what the nazis did, and you are a troll if you suggest so. The whole point of this post is to raise awareness that Swastika!=nazi. However, I also believe that people have a right (subject to IP constraints) to post what they want on the net. Remember, if they yank Aryan Nations stuff off the web, they can yank your stuff too. That's the price we pay for free speech, and it's a pretty small price since I can easily ignore that crap.

I have posted this elsewhere in other threads, but it bears repeating: the direction of the arms means nothing with swastika. The Greek swastikas look nothing like the German ones because they are not only inverted, but they take two turns instead of one. Here are most of the common swastikas of the world. You'll note that the Jewish, Hindu, Tibetan, and Christian face the same way as the German. You'll also notice none are at the signature 45 degree angle of the German.

Not for sale, but used as example. These are crown type silver coins from the 1700's-1800's, counterstamped with swastikas, among other chinese characters. To see more info on other meanings to the symbol Mr. Hitler degraded follow this link.

Vote Naked 2000

You should go to The Friends of the Swastika page. It includes some preliminary history, and there is also a book by the owner of this page: Gentle Swastika as well as some politically incorrect (presumably) Clothes for sale.

ManWoman (yes, that's his legal name, Manny for short) is a very nice person who is quite open and understanding after putting up with people calling him a Nazi for many years. He gently explains the history of the swastika, and people walk away much better than when they came.

You should go to The Friends of the Swastika page. It includes some preliminary history, and there is also a book by the owner of this page: Gentle Swastika as well as some politically incorrect (presumably) Clothes for sale.

ManWoman (yes, that's his legal name, Manny for short) is a very nice person who is quite open and understanding after putting up with people calling him a Nazi for many years. He gently explains the history of the swastika, and people walk away much better than when they came.