I think it is extremely unfortunate that Hitler adopted the swastika for his hostile campaign. Thanks to him, if anyone uses the swastika for its original meaning they will be most likely causing a problem.
After reading those pieces it's not surprising that Hitler chose the swastika as a symbol for the Nazi party.
Here are the reasons:
First Schliemann connected the ancient symbol with German pottery and speculated that the swastika was a "significant religious symbol of our remote ancestors."
Secondly with the work in the beginning of the twentieth century by the volkisch to relate it to "Aryan Identity"
Thirdly for Hitler it seems like a great symbol for his party. It can range from good luck to aryan identity. It is uniform and powerful.
It is unfortunate that Hitler decided to go with the swastika as the symbol for his party but I also think that if it wasn't the swastika it would have been some other symbol that we might be looking at today and saying that it has a dark history.
I find it particularly fascinating that something that has had a certain meaning for many years, can be associated with something else positive or negative and then its meaning becomes altered. The fact that a symbol that once meant "good fortune" can be related to a group that committed the single biggest act of human callous and is incredible, because now it is a symbol of hatred.
I think it's interesting how one leader can change a connotation on a symbol that has lasted 5000 years. And it is sad that a symbol designed to represent peace and good fortune is now represents hate and death. I agree with braden's reasons for Hitler adopting the symbol. But it wasn't the only symbol he adopted that people now avoid like it has the plague. Remember his salute, the right arm extended? We called it the Bellamy salute and used it widely in America before Hitler made it infamous. Even the eagle, which has been adopted by nations from Ancient Rome to America, was made a bit more infamous as it was a key symbol in Naziism. Symbols are important, but how easily can they be changed?
I think it is extremely unfortunate that Hitler adopted the swastika for his hostile campaign. Thanks to him, if anyone uses the swastika for its original meaning they will be most likely causing a problem.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading those pieces it's not surprising that Hitler chose the swastika as a symbol for the Nazi party.
ReplyDeleteHere are the reasons:
First Schliemann connected the ancient symbol with German pottery and speculated that the swastika was a "significant religious symbol of our remote ancestors."
Secondly with the work in the beginning of the twentieth century by the volkisch to relate it to "Aryan Identity"
Thirdly for Hitler it seems like a great symbol for his party. It can range from good luck to aryan identity. It is uniform and powerful.
It is unfortunate that Hitler decided to go with the swastika as the symbol for his party but I also think that if it wasn't the swastika it would have been some other symbol that we might be looking at today and saying that it has a dark history.
I find it particularly fascinating that something that has had a certain meaning for many years, can be associated with something else positive or negative and then its meaning becomes altered. The fact that a symbol that once meant "good fortune" can be related to a group that committed the single biggest act of human callous and is incredible, because now it is a symbol of hatred.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting how one leader can change a connotation on a symbol that has lasted 5000 years. And it is sad that a symbol designed to represent peace and good fortune is now represents hate and death. I agree with braden's reasons for Hitler adopting the symbol. But it wasn't the only symbol he adopted that people now avoid like it has the plague. Remember his salute, the right arm extended? We called it the Bellamy salute and used it widely in America before Hitler made it infamous. Even the eagle, which has been adopted by nations from Ancient Rome to America, was made a bit more infamous as it was a key symbol in Naziism. Symbols are important, but how easily can they be changed?
ReplyDelete