Hindus seek to reclaim the swastika
The Times reported yesterday :
HINDUS in Britain have started a campaign to “redeem� the swastika from its Nazi past and reclaim it as the symbol of life and fortune it once was.
The swastika is a 5,000-year-old symbol that has been used for centuries by Hindus, Buddhists and many other traditions to denote good luck, but because of the Nazis it has come to symbolise hate, anti-Semitism, violence, death and murder. The campaign, announced today, comes after members of the European Parliament called for a Europe-wide ban on the symbol after Prince Harry wore a swastika armband to a fancy dress party.
I have supported a call for a review of the public display of the swastika, as suggested by my colleague Alun Pugh AM. This has been inaccurately reported by one blogger as a call for a ban. In my view, a review would entail some examination of the context of where and how it might be appropriate for the swastika to be used. Clearly, the Hindu initiative is a good one and draws attention to the almost hidden pre-Nazi history of the swastika.
Prince Harry wearing a Nazi swastika is of course a different issue entirely.
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1 comment:
What might be a better reading of 'I have supported a call for a review of the public display of the swastika'? Presumably you'd only be asking for a review of the law if you thought it needed amending - that is, if you support a limited or total ban.
Of course, if I'm reading you incorrectly, you could stop beating around the bush an say what you think.
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