Confederate Memorial

[OC Richard]

The true significance of the CS Battle Flag was allowed to be corrupted by supremacist groups...

Yes it sure happens sometimes: a group with a political agenda will highjack a long-established symbol, and it becomes impossible for people to see back in time past the current political meaning.

There's a building in Redlands California that has a huge swastika moulded into the plaster at the top of the front of the building. This has been hidden by putting a sign over it. The swastika is original to the building, which was built c1890. Of course this swastika has absolutely nothing to do with Nazism but is an ancient Native American symbol and was often used on rugs etc.

Hawai'i was the "rainbow state" and used the rainbow as a state symbol long before it aquired its current political meaning. The rainbow was used on Hawai'ian car licence plates, on shirts, etc etc. A gay coworker of mine returned once from a vacation in Hawai'i. He was showing us his vacation snapshots, one of which was him and his partner posing in front of a helicopter which was painted in rainbow hues and had the words "Rainbow Tours" painted on it. He said something like "it was so cool, a gay helicopter!"

The answer to the Confedate Battle Flag problem is to use the Stars and Bars instead! It was the original flag anyway, and nobody associates it with anything.

[macwilkin]

Yes it sure happens sometimes: a group with a political agenda will highjack a long-established symbol, and it becomes impossible for people to see back in time past the current political meaning.

There's a building in Redlands California that has a huge swastika moulded into the plaster at the top of the front of the building. This has been hidden by putting a sign over it. The swastika is original to the building, which was built c1890. Of course this swastika has absolutely nothing to do with Nazism but is an ancient Native American symbol and was often used on rugs etc.

Hawai'i was the "rainbow state" and used the rainbow as a state symbol long before it aquired its current political meaning. The rainbow was used on Hawai'ian car licence plates, on shirts, etc etc. A gay coworker of mine returned once from a vacation in Hawai'i. He was showing us his vacation snapshots, one of which was him and his partner posing in front of a helicopter which was painted in rainbow hues and had the words "Rainbow Tours" painted on it. He said something like "it was so cool, a gay helicopter!"

The answer to the Confedate Battle Flag problem is to use the Stars and Bars instead! It was the original flag anyway, and nobody associates it with anything.

To further Richard's comments, copies of the works of Rudyard Kipling always contained a swastika, as the ancient symbol may also be found throughout India, where Kipling was born.

The Finnish Air Force also used an inverted swastika as a roundel on its aircraft during the Russo-Finnish & Continuation Wars (1939-40, 1941-44) against the Soviet Union.

And props to Richard for actually knowing that "The Stars & Bars" is NOT the Battle flag. We used to deal with that misconception on a daily basis.

T.

[jForrester]

Yes it sure happens sometimes: a group with a political agenda will highjack a long-established symbol, and it becomes impossible for people to see back in time past the current political meaning.

There's a building in Redlands California that has a huge swastika moulded into the plaster at the top of the front of the building. This has been hidden by putting a sign over it. The swastika is original to the building, which was built c1890. Of course this swastika has absolutely nothing to do with Nazism but is an ancient Native American symbol and was often used on rugs etc.

.......

On a cross-country trip with my son, we were delighted by the Kimo Theater in Alberquerque. Absolutely amazing, beautiful decorations inside, (Pueblo Art Deco) including many swastikas. They educate people on the original meaning of the symbol and keep it on display. Good for them!!

The answer to the Confedate Battle Flag problem is to use the Stars and Bars instead! It was the original flag anyway, and nobody associates it with anything.

Well, that's one answer, and I fly the Stars and Bars. But it has been hijacked by Georgia for their state flag!

However, in my opinion if it were to become widely used, it would be derided as well, as their beef is not with the flag, but with the country.

[gilmore]

Yes it sure happens sometimes: a group with a political agenda will highjack a long-established symbol, and it becomes impossible for people to see back in time past the current political meaning.

There's a building in Redlands California that has a huge swastika moulded into the plaster at the top of the front of the building. This has been hidden by putting a sign over it. The swastika is original to the building, which was built c1890. Of course this swastika has absolutely nothing to do with Nazism but is an ancient Native American symbol and was often used on rugs etc. ...

A few weeks ago in Kathmandu I rode past a temple that displayed on its front wall a swastika, and below it were two interlocking triangles that most of us know as the mogen david, a Star of David, which here represents several meanings, union of Shiva and Shakti, of male and female principles of enlightenment, etc. One sees both everywhere here, on government and private buildings, temples, stores, on money, and so on. The swastika is even used as a logo by the company that makes most manhole covers.

It's funny how the meanings of symbols evolve. I have read that the fiery cross of the Ku Klux Klan originated with a Scottish call to arms, when a rider would carry a burning cross through the countryside at night to summon able-bodied men who hade a duty to fight for their lord or chief.