In case anyone's wondering, I haven't become a nazi. It's a picture of a Hindu celebration, and I got the user icon to annoy people on anarchists who think that using symbolism that got co-opted by fascists is fascist.
A symbol means what it is commonly understood to mean. Blame the Nazis for co-opting the swastika if you like, but in the post-Nazi era one cannot use it in the Hindu sense innocent of its dual meaning. It carries baggage which you are aware of - baggage which outweighs the previous meaning by quite a bit. It ain't their fault that you choose to use a symbol whose more prevalent and recent meaning is one of fascism, and in the West almost exclusively so. No, using a swastika doesn't necessarily mean that one is fascist, but by far the more common western use is that and it's not their job to make sure they don't misunderstand another westerner somewhat disingenuously using it just to tweak people. If you got a swastika tattoo, you know what people would assume, and though it might be wrong in this case it would be a perfectly valid assumption and not a sign of their idiocy.
So, by your logic, it is safe and acceptable for me to assume that you are a supporter of the Soviet Union, of Lenin, or Stalin, the crushing of the Kronstadt revolt, the Secret Trials and pogroms in the Ukraine in the '30s, etc.? All the voluminous crimes committed in the Soviet Union in the name of Stalinism, yes? Because, after all, you sport the symbol, and it is acceptable for me to interpret the symbol in the manner I did, and from that interpretation, assume you support such horrors.
There's an artist named ManWoman who has been trying to reform the swastika's image for years now. He has been trying to bring back the original spiritual significance of this symbol, and try to get people to look past the co-opted nazi message. He has scores of swastikas tattooed all over his body.
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So, by your logic, it is safe and acceptable for me to assume that you are a supporter of the Soviet Union, of Lenin, or Stalin, the crushing of the Kronstadt revolt, the Secret Trials and pogroms in the Ukraine in the '30s, etc.? All the voluminous crimes committed in the Soviet Union in the name of Stalinism, yes? Because, after all, you sport the symbol, and it is acceptable for me to interpret the symbol in the manner I did, and from that interpretation, assume you support such horrors.
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That's a really pretty icon, actually. I look forward to it causing many flamewars.
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Check it out:
http://www.manwoman.net/
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