Confederate Memorial

[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.