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The swastika (from Sanskrit '''' ) is an Equilateral Cross with its arms bent at Right Angles , in either right-facing () or left-facing () forms. The term is derived from Sanskrit ''svasti'', meaning well-being. The Thai greeting Sawasdee is from the same root and carries the same implication. It is a widely-used symbol in Dharmic Religions ( Hinduism , Buddhism , and Jainism ). Hindus often decorate the swastika with a dot in each quadrant. In India, it is common enough to be a part of several Devanagari fonts. It is also a symbol in the modern Unicode and is often imprinted on religious texts, marriage invitations, and decorations. It is used to mark religious flags in Jainism and Buddhist temples in Asia. Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the Neolithic period. In 1920, the swastika was appropriated as a Nazi symbol, and since then has become a controversial motif. In the Western World , it is this usage as a symbol of Nazism that is most familiar, and this political association has largely eclipsed its historical use in the East. The symbol occurs in other Asian, European, African and Native American cultures – sometimes as a geometrical motif and sometimes as a religious symbol. ETYMOLOGY AND ALTERNATIVE NAMES The word ''swastika'' is derived from the and Mahabharata epics). The Sanskrit term has been in use in English since 1871, replacing '' Gammadion '' (from Greek ). Alternative historical English spellings of the Sanskrit word include ''suastika'' and ''svastica''. Alternative names for the shape are:
HISTORY The swastika has an extensive history. The motif seems to have first been used in Neolithic Eurasia . The symbol has an ancient history in Europe, appearing on artifacts from pre-Christian European cultures. In antiquity, the swastika was used extensively by the Indo-Aryans , Hittites , Celt s and Greeks , among others. In particular, the swastika is a sacred symbol in Hinduism , Buddhism and Jainism — religions with over a billion adherents worldwide, making the swastika ubiquitous in both historical and contemporary society. The symbol was introduced to Southeast Asia by Hindu kings and remains an integral part of Balinese Hinduism to this day, and it is a common sight in Indonesia . It also was adopted independently by several Native American cultures. - 325 BC from Taranto , found at Herculanum . Cabinet Des Médailles , Paris .]] In the Western world, the symbol experienced a resurgence following the archaeological work in the late 19th century of '', July 29 , 2000 . By the early 20th century, it was widely used worldwide and was regarded as a symbol of good luck and success. The work of Schliemann soon became intertwined with the '' Völkisch '' movements, for which the swastika was a symbol of "Aryan" identity, a concept that came to be equated by theorists such as Alfred Rosenberg with a Nordic Master Race originating in northern Europe. Since its adoption by the Nazi Party of Adolf Hitler , the swastika has been associated with Fascism , Racism ( White Supremacy ), World War II , and The Holocaust in much of the West. The swastika remains a core symbol of Neo-Nazi groups, and is used regularly by Activist groups to signify the supposed Nazi-like behavior of organizations and individuals they oppose. showing a swastika, based on the Kuna flag.]] Origin hypotheses The ubiquity of the swastika symbol is easily explained by it being a very simple symbol that will arise independently in any Basket-weaving society. The swastika is a repeating design, created by the edges of the reeds in a square basket-weave. Other theories attempt to establish a connection via Cultural Diffusion or an explanation along the lines of Carl Jung 's Collective Unconscious . While the existence of the swastika symbol in the Americas may be explained by the basket-weave theory, its American presence weakens the cultural diffusion theory. While some have proposed that the swastika was transferred to North America by an early seafaring civilization on Eurasia, a separate but parallel development is considered the most likely explanation. The genesis of the swastika symbol is often treated in conjunction with Cross Symbol s in general, such as the " Sun Wheel " of Bronze Age Religion . ]] Another explanation is suggested by could have approached so close to Earth that the jets of gas streaming from it, bent by the comet's rotation, became visible, leading to the adoption of the swastika as a symbol across the world.1 See Also: Comets and the swastika motif Archaeological record The earliest swastika symbols of the archaeological record date to the Neolithic . The symbol was found on a number of shards in the Khuzestan province of Iran and as part of the " Vinca Script " of Neolithic Europe of the 5th millennium BC. In the Early Bronze Age , it appears on pottery found in Sintashta , Russia. Swastika-like symbols also appear in Bronze and Iron Age designs of the northern Caucasus ( Koban Culture ), and Azerbaijan , as well as of Scythian s and Sarmatian s {Link without Title} . In all these cultures, the swastika symbol does not appear to occupy any marked position or significance, but appears as just one form of a series of similar symbols of varying complexity. , first millennium BC, National Museum Of Iran .]] Historical use The symbol rose to importance in Buddhism in the Mauryan Empire and in Hinduism with the Decline Of Buddhism In India in the Gupta Period India. With the Spread Of Buddhism , the Buddhist swastika reached Tibet and China. The use of the swastika by the indigenous Bön faith of Tibet , as well as Syncretic religions, such as Cao Dai of Vietnam and Falun Gong of China, is thought to be borrowed from Buddhism as well. Reintroduction of the swastika in the West See Also: Western use of the Swastika in the early 20th century (1878–1964) wearing a swastika medallion in 1912. The symbol was popular as a good luck charm with early aviators. A swastika was also painted on the inside of the ]]The discovery of the Indo-European Language group in the 1790s led to a great effort by archaeologists to link the pre-history of European peoples to the ancient " Aryan s" (variously referring to the Indo-Iranians or the Proto-Indo-Europeans ). Following his discovery of objects bearing the swastika in the ruins of Troy , Heinrich Schliemann consulted two leading Sanskrit scholars of the day, Emile Burnouf and Max Müller . Schliemann concluded that the Swastika was a specifically Indo-European symbol. Later discoveries of the motif among the remains of the Hittites and of ancient Iran seemed to confirm this theory. This idea was taken up by many other writers, and the swastika quickly became popular in the West, appearing in many designs from the 1880s to the 1920s. These discoveries, and the new popularity of the swastika symbol, led to a widespread desire to ascribe symbolic significance to every example of the motif. In Germanic countries, examples of identical shapes in ancient European artifacts and in folk art were interpreted as emblems of good-luck linked to the Indo-Iranian meaning. Western use of the motif, along with the religious and cultural meanings attached to it, was subverted in the early 20th century after it was adopted as the emblem of the were the forefathers of modern Germans and then proposed that, because of this, the subjugation of the world by Germany was desirable, and even predestined. The swastika was used as a conveniently-geometrical and eye-catching symbol to emphasize the so-called Aryan-German correspondence and instill racial pride. Since World War II, most Westerners have known the swastika as solely a Nazi symbol, leading to incorrect assumptions about its pre-Nazi use in the West and confusion about its sacred religious and historical status in other cultures. The swastikas on the Order Of The White Rose designed in 1918 by Akseli Gallen-Kallela remained in use until 1963. GEOMETRY AND SYMBOLISM ''. Characteristic is the 90° Rotational Symmetry (that is, the symmetry of the Cyclic Group ''C4h'') and Chirality , hence the absence of reflectional Symmetry , and the existence of two versions that are each other's Mirror Image . The mirror-image forms are often described as:
"Left-facing" and "right-facing" are used mostly consistently. In an upright swastika, the upper arm faces either ''the viewer's'' left (卍) or right (卐). The other two descriptions are ambiguous as it is unclear whether they refer to the direction of the bend in each arm or to the implied rotation of the symbol. If the latter, whether the arms lead or trail remains unclear. However, "clockwise" usually refers to the "right-facing" swastika. The terms are used inconsistently (sometimes even by the same writer), which is confusing and may obfuscate an important point, that the rotation of the swastika may have symbolic relevance, although little is known about this symbolic relevance. Nazi Ensign s had a Through And Through image, so each version was present on one side, but the Nazi Flag on land was right-facing on both sides and generally at a 45° rotation( {Link without Title} , at the bottom). Seen as a cross, the four lines emanate from the center to the four Cardinal Directions . The most common association is with the Sun. Other proposed correspondences are to the visible rotation of the night sky in the Northern Hemisphere around the Pole Star . The name " Sauwastika " is sometimes given to the left-facing form of the swastika (卍), based on D'Alviella (1894), D'Alviella, ''The Migration of Symbols'' (1894) though the term is merely an alternate spelling of "swastika." Indians of all faiths sometimes use the symbol in both orientations, mostly for symmetry. Buddhists outside India generally use the left-facing swastika rather than the right-facing swastika, although both can be used. Claims to the effect that the left-facing swastika has inauspicious or "evil" connotations are without substance. In particular, the left-facing swastika is often carved in a see-through lattice in entrance doors of Buddhist temples in China. When exiting the temple, one sees the reverse side of this lattice on the same door, which looks like a right-facing swastika. ART AND ARCHITECTURE .]] The swastika is common as a design motif in current Hindu architecture and Indian artwork as well as in ancient Western Architecture , frequently appearing in Mosaic s, Frieze s, and other works across the Ancient world. Ancient Greek architectural designs are replete with interlinking swastika motifs. Related symbols in classical Western architecture include the Cross , the three-legged triskele or Triskelion and the rounded Lauburu . The swastika symbol is also known in these contexts by a number of names, especially ''gammadion''. In Chinese , Korea n, and Japan ese art, the swastika is often found as part of a repeating pattern. One common pattern, called ''sayagata'' in Japanese, comprises left and right facing swastikas joined by lines."Sayagata 紗綾形". '' Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System ''. As the negative space between the lines has a distinctive shape, the sayagata pattern is sometimes called the "key fret" motif in English. The swastika symbol was found extensively in the ruins of the ancient city of Troy and can also be found in some of the mosaics in the ruins of Pompeii . In 1997–98. Swastikas have also been found on pottery in archaeological digs in the area of ancient Kush . Swastikas were found on pottery at the Gebel Barkal temples as well as in digs corresponding to the later X-Group peoples. Dunham, Dows "A Collection of 'Pot-Marks' from Kush and Nubia," Kush, 13, 131-147, 1965 The Laguna Bridge in , September 25 , 2005 .Walter Smoter Frank, "Swastika on the Colorado" , 2004 Metal Typeface Swastika borders were used by U.S. printers in the early 1900s. Steven Heller , Jeff Roth, The Swastika, Symbol Beyond Redemption?, Allworth Press, 2000, page 87. Controversy arose in 1937 when they appeared on Passaic, New Jersey sample election ballots. The printer responded "I've used the swastika emblems for ballot borders long before the world ever knew Hitler".''The New York Times'', September 16 , 1937 , quoted in Heller , page 80 Ceramic tiles with a swastika design have appeared in many parts of the world including the United States in the early 20th century. The tiles typically are, however, a minor decorative element. Some of the pre-World War II swastikas have become controversial after Jewish groups demanded they be removed. A number of the buildings are listed on the National Register Of Historic Places or as Unesco World Heritage Sites , and are considered worthy of historical preservation. See Western Use Of The Swastika In The Early 20th Century for specific examples. The RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY , India .]] Hinduism In of the universe (''Pravritti''), facing left it represents the Involution of the universe (''Nivritti''). It is also seen as pointing in all four directions (north, east, south and west) and thus signifies stability and groundedness. Its use as a sun symbol can first be seen in its representation of the god Surya . The swastika is considered extremely holy and auspicious by all Hindus, and is regularly used to decorate items related to Hindu culture. It is used in all Hindu Yantra s and religious designs. Throughout the subcontinent of India, it can be seen on the sides of temples, religious scriptures, gift items, and letterheads. The Hindu god Ganesh is often shown sitting on a lotus flower on a bed of swastikas. The swastika is found all over Hindu temples, signs, altars, pictures and iconography where it is sacred. It is used in Hindu weddings, festivals, ceremonies, houses and doorways, clothing and jewelry, motor transport and even decorations on food items such as cakes and pastries. Among the Hindus of (Calcutta) is called the ''Swastika''. The Aum symbol is also sacred in Hinduism. While Aum is representative of a single primordial tone of creation, the Swastika is a pure geometrical mark and has no syllabic tone associated with it. The Swastika is one of the 108 symbols of Lord Vishnu and represents the sun's rays, without which there would be no life. temple in Korea .]] Buddhism The symbol as it is used in Buddhist art and scripture is known in Japanese as a ''manji'' (literally, "the Chinese character for eternality" 萬字), and represents Dharma , universal harmony, and the balance of opposites. When facing left, it is the ''omote'' (front) ''manji'', representing love and mercy. Facing right, it represents strength and intelligence, and is called the ''ura'' (rear) ''manji''. Balanced ''manji'' are often found at the beginning and end of Buddhist scriptures (outside India). subway system a manji is employed to indicate a temple, next to a Cross indicating a Christian church.]] and can be consumed by strict Buddhists. It is often sewn into the collars of Chinese children's clothing to protect them from evil spirits. In 1922, the Chinese syncretist movement Daoyuan founded the philanthropic association Red Swastika Society in imitation of the Red Cross . The association was very active in China during the 1920s and the 1930s. Jainism Jainism gives even more prominence to the swastika than does Hinduism. It is a symbol of the seventh Jina (Saint), the ''Tirthankara Suparsva''. In the Svetambar Jain tradition, it is also one of the symbols of the Ashta-mangalas . It is considered to be one of the 24 auspicious marks and the emblem of the seventh Arhat of the present age. All Jain temples and holy books must contain the swastika and ceremonies typically begin and end with creating a swastika mark several times with rice around the altar. Jains use rice to make a swastika (also known as "Sathiyo" in the state of Gujarat, India) in front of idols in a temple. Jains then put an offering on this swastika, usually a ripe or dried fruit, a sweet (mithai), or a coin or currency note. In 2001, India issued a 100-''. Abrahamic religions ) by Roger Van Der Weyden . The crosses on the priest's stole are alternately in swastika and in "patent" form.]] The swastika was not widely utilized by followers of the , 1999 . In Christianity, the swastika is sometimes used as a hooked version of the Christian Cross , the symbol of Christ's victory over death. Some Christian churches built in the Romanesque and Gothic eras are decorated with swastikas, carrying over earlier Roman designs. Swastikas are prominently displayed in a Mosaic in the St. Sophia church of Kiev , Ukraine dating from the 12th century. They also appear as a repeating ornamental motif on a tomb in the Basilica of St. Ambrose in Milan . A proposed direct link between it and a swastika floor mosaic in the Cathedral Of Our Lady Of Amiens , which was built on top of a pagan site at Amiens , France in the 1200s, is considered unlikely. The Stole worn by a priest in the 1445 painting of the Seven Sacraments by Roger Van Der Weyden presents the swastika form simply as one way of depicting the cross. The Benedictine monastery school at Lambach , Upper Austria, that Hitler attended as a boy, had a swastika chiseled into the monastery portal and also the wall above the spring grotto in the courtyard by 1868. Their origin was the personal Coat Of Arms of Abbot Theoderich Hagn of the monastery in Lambach, which bore a golden swastika with slanted points on a blue field. {Link without Title} {Link without Title} The Muslim "Friday" mosque of Isfahan , Iran and the Taynal Mosque in Tripoli , Lebanon both have swastika motifs. Other Asian traditions Some sources indicate that the Chinese :wàn); (left-facing) and U+5350 卐 (right-facing)., ''The Unicode Standard, Version 4.1''. Unicode, Inc. 2005. The Mandarin "Wan" is a homophone for "10,000" and is commonly used to represent the whole of creation, e.g. 'the myriad things' in the Dao De Jing . of the Samurai Hasekura Tsunenaga in the early 17th century.]] In Japan , the swastika is called ''manji''. Since the Middle Ages, it is used as a Family Coat Of Arms . On Japanese Maps , a swastika (left-facing and horizontal) is used to mark the location of a Buddhist temple. The right-facing ''manji'' is often referred as the ''gyaku manji'' (, lit. "reverse ''manji''"), and can also be called ''kagi jūji'', literally "hook cross." The left-facing Buddhist swastika also appears on the emblem of Falun Gong . This has generated considerable controversy, particularly in Germany, where the police have reportedly confiscated several banners featuring the emblem. A court ruling subsequently allowed Falun Gong followers in Germany to continue the use of the emblem. Native American traditions The swastika shape was used by some Native Americans. It has been found in excavations of Museum .]] A swastika shape is an ancient symbol in the culture of the , 2006 . In February, 1925, the Kuna revolted against Panamanian suppression of their culture, and were granted autonomy in 1930; the flag they adopted at this time is based on the swastika shape, and remains the official flag of Kuna Yala. A number of variations on the flag have been used over the years: red top and bottom bands instead of orange were previously used, and in 1942 a ring (representing the traditional Kuna nose-ring) was added to the center of the flag to distance it from the symbol of the Nazi party. ''Panama - Native Peoples'' , from Flags of the World. Retrieved February 20 , 2006 . Pre-Christian Europe or ).]] In Bronze Age Europe , the " Sun Cross " (a cross in a circle) appears frequently, often interpreted as a solar symbol. Occasional swastika shapes are known from artifacts of Iron Age Europe ( Greco-Roman , Illyrian, Etruscan , Balt ic, Celt ic, Germanic and Slavic ), and are sometimes interpreted as a variant of the "Sun cross." Baltic The swastika is one of the most common symbols used throughout Baltic art. The symbol was related to the Sun, as well as ''Dievas'' (the god of creation), ''Perkūnas'' (the god of thunder) and ''Laima'' (the goddess of joy and destiny). It is featured on distaffs, dowry chests, cloths and other items. Celtic The bronze frontspiece of a ritual pre-Christian (ca 350-50 BC) shield found in the River Thames near Battersea Bridge (hence " An Ogham stone found in Anglish, Co Kerry ( CIIC 141) was modified into an early Christian gravestone, and was decorated with a Cross Pattée and two swastikas. CISP entry At the Northern edge of Ilkley Moor in West Yorkshire , there is a swastika-shaped pattern engraved in a stone known as the Swastika Stone . IMAGE In the figure in the foreground of the picture is a 20th century replica; the original carving can be seen a little farther away, at left center. [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mjpowell/Photo_Archive/England/England_3.htm] Germanic , ca. AD 800.]] The swastika shape (also called a '' Fylfot '', a term coined in the 19th century from a 1500 reference to a figure used to ''fill'' empty space at the ''foot'' of stained-glass windows in medieval churches), appears occasionally in Germanic Migration Period and Viking Age artifacts, such as the Gothic spearhead found at Brest-Litovsk , Russia, or the Younger Futhark Snoldelev Stone , in Ramsø , Denmark, drawn left-facing or right-facing. Swastika shapes glossed as '' Þórshamar '' "Thor's hammer" appear in some Icelandic grimoires.'' Gods And Myths Of Northern Europe '' by H.R. Ellis Davidson , ca. AD 300.]] There are many examples of the Swastika symbol from Anglo-Saxon graves of the pagan period, and it is particularly prominent on cremation urns from the cemeteries of East Anglia. On some of these, on display at the Cambridge Museum Of Archaeology And Ethnology , are depicted with such care and art that it must have possessed special significance as a funeral symbol. The Swastika is clearly marked on a hilt and sword belt found at Bifrons in Kent , in a grave of about the sixth century. The pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon Ship Burial at Sutton Hoo , England, contains gold cups and shields adorned with swastika-like shapes. Sami An object very much like a hammer or a double axe is depicted among the magical symbols on the drums of Sami shamans, used in their religious ceremonies before Christianity was established. The name of the Lappish thunder god was Horagalles , thought to be derived from old man thor (''Þórr karl'''). Sometimes on the drums, a male figure with a hammer-like object in either hand is shown, and sometimes it is more like a cross with crooked ends, or a swastika. Slavic ]] The swastika shape was also present in pre-Christian Slavic Mythology . It was dedicated to the sun god Svarog and called Kolovrat , ( Polish ''kołowrót''). In the Polish first Republic the symbol of the swastika was also popular with the nobility. , Poland)]] According to chronicles, Rus' prince Oleg, who in the 9th century had captured Constantinople, had nailed his shield (which had a large red swastika painted on it) to the city's gates. Several Polish noble houses, e.g. Boreyko, Borzym, and Radziechowski from Ruthenia, also had Swastikas as their coat of arms. The family had reached its greatness in the 14th and 15th centuries and its crest can be seen in many heraldry books produced at that time. NAZI GERMANY and the Nazi Party . Prior to this association, swastikas were used throughout the western world.]] used for acrobatic shows held during the 1936 Summer Olympics on display in the Polish Aviation Museum .]] In the wake of Widespread Popular Usage , the Nazi Party (''Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei'' or ''NSDAP'') formally adopted the swastika (in German: ''Hakenkreuz'' (hooked cross)) in 1920. This was used on the party's flag (''right''), badge, and armband. It had also been used unofficially by the NSDAP and its predecessor, the German Workers Party, ''Deutsche Arbeiterpartei'' (''DAP''). In '' Mein Kampf '', Adolf Hitler wrote: When Hitler created a flag for the Nazi party, he sought to incorporate both the swastika and "those revered colors expressive of our homage to the glorious past and which once brought so much honor to the German nation" (red, white, and black were the colors of the , 2006 The use of the swastika was associated by Nazi theorists with their conjecture of Aryan cultural descent of the German people. Following the Nordicist version of the Aryan Invasion Theory , the Nazis claimed that the early Aryans of India , from whose Vedic tradition the swastika sprang, were the prototypical white invaders. It was also widely believed that the Indian Caste System had originated as a means to avoid racial mixing. The concept of Racial Purity was an ideology central to Nazism though it is now considered Unscientific . For Rosenberg, the Aryans of India were both a model to be imitated and a warning of the dangers of the spiritual and racial "confusion" that, he believed, arose from the close proximity of races. Thus, they saw fit to co-opt the sign as a symbol of the Aryan Master Race . The use of the swastika as a symbol of the Aryan Race dates back to writings of Emile Burnouf . Following many other writers, the German nationalist poet Guido Von List believed it to be a uniquely Aryan symbol. Before Nazis, the swastika was already in use as a symbol of German ''völkisch'' nationalists movements ('', a very active member of the ''Thule-Gesellschaft'', … Dr. Krohn was also the dentist from Sternberg who was named by Hitler in ''Mein Kampf'' as the designer of a flag very similar to one that Hitler designed in 1920 … during the summer of 1920, the first party flag was shown at Lake Tegernsee … these home-made … early flags were not preserved, the ''Ortsgruppe München'' flag was generally regarded as the first flag of the Party. }} José Manuel Erbez says:
However, Liebenfels was drawing on an already established use of the symbol. On 14 March 1933 , shortly after Hitler's appointment as Chancellor of Germany, the NSDAP flag was hoisted alongside Germany's national colors. It was adopted as the sole national flag on 15 September 1935 . The swastika was used for badges and flags throughout Nazi Germany, particularly for government and military organizations, but also for "popular" organizations such as the ''Reichsbund Deutsche Jägerschaft''.Santiago Dotor and Norman Martin. "German Hunting Society 1934–1945 (Third Reich, Germany)" '' Flags Of The World ''. March 15 , 2003 . The flag of the ''Reichsbund Deutsche Jägerschaft'' While the DAP and the NSDAP had used both right-facing and left-facing swastikas, the right-facing swastika is used consistently from 1920 onwards. However, Ralf Stelter notes that the swastika flag used on land had a right-facing swastika on both sides, while the ensign (naval flag) had it printed through so that you would see a left-facing swastika when looking at the ensign with the flagpole to the right.Mark Sensen, António Martins, Norman Martin, and Ralf Stelter. " Centred vs. Offset Disc and Swastika 1933–1945 (Germany) ". '' Flags Of The World ''. December 29 , 2004 . Several variants are found:
There were attempts to amalgamate Nazi and Hindu use of the swastika. Notably by Savitri Devi Mukherji who declared Hitler an Avatar of Vishnu (see Nazi Mysticism ). TABOO IN WESTERN COUNTRIES Because of its use by Hitler and the Nazis and, in modern times, by neo-Nazis and other Hate Group s, for many people in the West, the swastika is associated primarily with Nazism and White Supremacy . Hence, outside historical contexts, it has become Taboo in Western Countries . The historical context of architectural decorations has sometimes been ignored in local efforts to remove swastikas from pre-World War II buildings. On the other hand, millions of people of Indian origin live in the West, e.g. including over two million Indian-Americans in the United States, and Jain, Hindu and other Indian religions, festivals, marriages and ceremonies continue to use the swastika as their main religious and cultural symbol. Germany The German (and Austrian) postwar , 2007 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4188141.stm A German fashion company was investigated for using traditional British-made folded leather buttons after complaints that they resembled swastikas. In response, , 2006 . A controversy was stirred by the decision of several police departments to begin inquiries against anti-fascists. ''Le Journal Chrétien'', "Stuttgart Seeks to Ban Anti-Fascist Symbols" In late 2005 police raided the offices of the punklabel and mailorder "Nix Gut Records" and confiscated merchandise depicting crossed-out swastikas and fists smashing swastikas. In 2006 the 2006 On Friday, March 17 , 2006 , a member of the Bundestag Claudia Roth reported herself to the German police for displaying a crossed-out swastika in multiple demonstrations against Neo-Nazis, and subsequently got the Bundestag to suspend her immunity from prosecution. She intended to show the absurdity of charging anti-fascists with using fascist symbols: "We don't need prosecution of non-violent young people engaging against right-wing extremism." The relevant excerpt IUSCOMP The Comparative Law Society of the German criminal code reads:
Brazil The use of the swastika in conjunction with any other Nazi allusion, and also its manufacture, distribution or broadcasting, is a crime as dictated by law 7.716/89 from 1989. The penalty is a fine and two to five years in prison. Satirical use The powerful symbolism acquired by the swastika has often been used in graphic design and propaganda as a means of ''. February 21 , 2002 . and a billboard that was erected opposite the U.S. Interests Section in Havana , Cuba, in 2004, which juxtaposed images of the Abu Ghraib Torture And Prisoner Abuse pictures with a swastika. Bona-fide use causing controversy In recent years, controversy has erupted when consumer goods bearing the symbol have been exported (often unintentionally) to North America. In 2002, Christmas Cracker s containing plastic toy Panda s sporting swastikas were pulled from shelves after complaints from consumers in Canada . The manufacturer, based in China, explained the symbol was presented in a traditional sense and not as a reference to the Nazis, and apologised to the customers for the cross-cultural mixup. CBC News December 30 , 2002 : Toy pandas bearing swastikas a cultural mix-up symbol, before 1991 and from 1991 to 2007.]] Founded in the 1970s, the and swastika. In 1991, the symbol was changed to remove the swastika and deflect public criticism. The symbol was restored to its original form in 2007. {Link without Title} CONTEMPORARY USAGE Finland The swastika was adopted by the planes at 18 March 1918 . The roundel was used until late 1944 when a blue circle on white was substituted. Existing decorations and unit flags of the Finnish Air Force were not altered, and still feature the traditional blue swastika within a white circle. The president of Finland is the grand master of the Order Of The White Rose . According to protocol, the president shall wear the Cross of Liberty with Chains on formal occasions. The original design of the chains, decorated with swastikas, dates from 1918 when it was produced by the artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela. The Grand Cross with Chains has been awarded 11 times to foreign heads of state. To avoid misunderstanding, the swastika decorations were replaced by Fir -crosses at the request of President Kekkonen in 1963. Also a design by Gallen-Kallela in 1918, the Cross Of Liberty has a swastika pattern in the arms of the cross. The Cross of Liberty is depicted in the upper left corner of the flag of the President Of Finland .http://www.presidentti.fi/netcomm/news/ShowArticle.asp?intNWSAID=34703&LAN=FI South Asia electoral banner, 1994. The complete lack of any far-right connotations of the swastika in Asia is best illustrated by its use as a generic electoral symbol even by parties of the far-left.]] In South Asia , the swastika remains ubiquitous as a symbol of wealth and good fortune. Electoral ballot papers have been stamped with a round swastika-like pattern (to ensure that the accidental ink imprint on the other side of a folded ballot paper can be correctly identified as such), so that this variant of the symbol is connected with political elections. Many businesses and other organisations, such as the Ahmedabad Stock Exchange , use the swastika in their logos. The red swastika was suggested as an emblem of International Red Cross And Red Crescent Movement in India and Sri Lanka , but the idea was not implemented {Link without Title} . Swastikas can be found practically everywhere in Indian cities, on buses, buildings, auto-rickshaws, and clothing. Tajikistan In 2005, authorities in Tajikistan called for the widespread adoption of the swastika as a national Symbol . President Emomali Rahmonov declared the swastika an " Aryan " symbol and 2006 to be "the year of Aryan culture," which would be a time to “study and popularize Aryan contributions to the history of the world civilization, raise a new generation (of Tajiks) with the spirit of national self-determination, and develop deeper ties with other ethnicities and cultures.” {Link without Title} Neopaganism Odinic Rite claims the " Fylfot " as a "holy symbol of Odinism ", citing the pre-Christian Germanic use of the symbol. SEE ALSO
MULTIMEDIA
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NOTES EXTERNAL LINKS ;general www.swastik.org All About Swastik
;Dharmic religions
;early Western use
;Nazi use
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