Growing up one of my best friend’s parents had some wall hangings that included “swastikas” that were very obviously not Nazi. I think it’s pretty damn easy to discern which is which:
The later was obviously derived from the former but is a wholly different thing.
Furthermore, in the original english translation of mein kampf, the tanslator (a catholic priest) deliberately translated “Hakenkreuz” as “Swastika”. There have been forms of such angular spiral icons going back thousands of years.
Here is a rug from a Roman villa in what is now spain from the 1st-4th century:
This is actually closer to the Nazi symbol in orientation than the actual Buddhist or Hindu versions.
Now I feel like I need to be clear, this is by no means an argument to “reclaim” anything especially not when white people try to pull that argument. Just context for OP’s point.
I get you but I also get the other argument. The obvious difference with the fins here is that the arms are oriented like the Nazis, and that specific version served as inspiration for the Nazi symbol. The basic shape though is not just in buddhist or hindu or nazi symbols but dozens of examples from cultures across history and the fact the statue in the OP was clearly the bhuddist variety as it was ON A STATUE OF THE BHUDDA makes it pretty clear this was just some overzealous lib at best that vandalized it.
It’s sure dumb, but imagine some idiot knowing about German history but not about Buddhism. I’d take such an idiot vandalize the Buddha accidentally over any idiot thinking “Nice swastika bro”.
Growing up one of my best friend’s parents had some wall hangings that included “swastikas” that were very obviously not Nazi. I think it’s pretty damn easy to discern which is which:
The later was obviously derived from the former but is a wholly different thing.
Furthermore, in the original english translation of mein kampf, the tanslator (a catholic priest) deliberately translated “Hakenkreuz” as “Swastika”. There have been forms of such angular spiral icons going back thousands of years.
Here is a rug from a Roman villa in what is now spain from the 1st-4th century:
This is actually closer to the Nazi symbol in orientation than the actual Buddhist or Hindu versions.
Now I feel like I need to be clear, this is by no means an argument to “reclaim” anything especially not when white people try to pull that argument. Just context for OP’s point.
this is the former symbol of the finnish air force, as you can see it’s not the same that german nazis used, but it was still used by fascists.
as i said, it’s just not worth the effort for me, personally.
I get you but I also get the other argument. The obvious difference with the fins here is that the arms are oriented like the Nazis, and that specific version served as inspiration for the Nazi symbol. The basic shape though is not just in buddhist or hindu or nazi symbols but dozens of examples from cultures across history and the fact the statue in the OP was clearly the bhuddist variety as it was ON A STATUE OF THE BHUDDA makes it pretty clear this was just some overzealous lib at best that vandalized it.
from @Foofighter@discuss.tchncs.de and i tend to agree.