ON TUESDAY, the Australian state of Victoria banned any public display of the Nazi swastika. When the law takes effect at the end of the year, anybody who displays a swastika could face a year behind bars and a fine of around £12,500. With other states due to follow in Victoria’s path, it seems likely that the swastika will soon be banned all across the country, which will mean Australia joining the likes of Austria, Germany, Brazil, Ukraine, Russia, Belgium, Poland, and Hungary in having a nationwide ban on the Nazi symbol.
A fascinating addendum. Big event at my railway today. Tall youngish chap in an M&S sports jacket and a ‘history’ boom under arm arrives and hangs about talking to people. I spot a shiny modern lapel badge. About the size of a 10p piece. Red white and blue concentric circles with a white lightening flash through the middle. Sound familiar?
Walked up and enquired what the lapel badge was
Shuffling of feet and vague comment of “oh, it’s an old fashioned political badge, controversial for some.”
I say “ah, right, so you know it’s the British Union of Fascists badge then, take it off now and leave my railway. You’re entitled to your political beliefs however repugnant I find them, but the founder of this railway fought fascists, and you sir, are not welcome.”
My point is that on the one hand I was fascinated to see it in use and I imagined myself in the 30s seeing it. Mostly though, I was aghast to see it worn; however removed from the meaning he thought it was. Essentially I think he thought he was being smug and provocative, really he was a charity shop nazi.
It is a symbol of hatred, the easier these brainwashed idiots make it to identify themselves the better. No-one is born hating other peoples, it takes some sort of determined effort, and if waving a symbol which tells others that you filled your mind with stupidity and evil then that's okay by me.
Hi Walt. Your excellently written post talks of the banning of "the Nazi Swastika". It is one of many symbols of hate in the world. But it's a very specific thing, in my view. The "Nazi Swastika" as "designed" by Hitler (allegedly) is very specific. A black Swastika, tilted 45 degrees off centre, on a circle of white surrounded by a field of red. But, there are other "non-Nazi" Swastikas in the world used as religious symbols (mainly of good fortune or peace) in India, China, Japan and other countries. And so many "classical" buildings built in the late 1800s and early 1900s feature extended "Swastika' designs, based on ancient Greek buildings. So, the state government of Victoria (who are looked upon as a bit of a joke by some of my Australian connexions of all political colours) have just guaranteed some lovely income for lawyers by banning "Nazi Swastikas", instead of Swastikas. Many a repeat fee will be earned in the State and Federal courts as defendents argue that their Swastika is not "Nazi". The Victorian Government has clearly shown that a little learning is a dangerous thing. Now, there is no doubt that racist groups in Australia and who exploited Nazi symbolism are a real problem. Violence against immigrants, and even Indigenous Australians, breaks out regularly, and racist language is wide spread (as I know from having lived there). I'm white, protestant and Scots, and even I experienced forms of racism because I was not an Australian. There is a horrid minority there who actively try to poison the paradise that is Australia. A country I love. I hate all forms of extremism. And this extremist and wooly minded response by the Victorian government is well meaning, but totally stupid. Sorry to go in and repeat myself. But the Nazi's will be loving this.
Your point is well made. It’s the vile ideas that lie behind that symbol that must be challenged. I believe it’s illegal to use it in Germany, happy to be corrected.
The swastika symbol does indeed "glorify one of the most hateful ideologies in history". But if we wish to embrace our democratic heritage individual freedom must be maintained. Also, by displaying this odious symbol openly, those of us who do not share the ideology to which it applies will know who to avoid. Closet Nazis are far worse.
A fascinating addendum. Big event at my railway today. Tall youngish chap in an M&S sports jacket and a ‘history’ boom under arm arrives and hangs about talking to people. I spot a shiny modern lapel badge. About the size of a 10p piece. Red white and blue concentric circles with a white lightening flash through the middle. Sound familiar?
Walked up and enquired what the lapel badge was
Shuffling of feet and vague comment of “oh, it’s an old fashioned political badge, controversial for some.”
I say “ah, right, so you know it’s the British Union of Fascists badge then, take it off now and leave my railway. You’re entitled to your political beliefs however repugnant I find them, but the founder of this railway fought fascists, and you sir, are not welcome.”
My point is that on the one hand I was fascinated to see it in use and I imagined myself in the 30s seeing it. Mostly though, I was aghast to see it worn; however removed from the meaning he thought it was. Essentially I think he thought he was being smug and provocative, really he was a charity shop nazi.
It is a symbol of hatred, the easier these brainwashed idiots make it to identify themselves the better. No-one is born hating other peoples, it takes some sort of determined effort, and if waving a symbol which tells others that you filled your mind with stupidity and evil then that's okay by me.
Hi Walt. Your excellently written post talks of the banning of "the Nazi Swastika". It is one of many symbols of hate in the world. But it's a very specific thing, in my view. The "Nazi Swastika" as "designed" by Hitler (allegedly) is very specific. A black Swastika, tilted 45 degrees off centre, on a circle of white surrounded by a field of red. But, there are other "non-Nazi" Swastikas in the world used as religious symbols (mainly of good fortune or peace) in India, China, Japan and other countries. And so many "classical" buildings built in the late 1800s and early 1900s feature extended "Swastika' designs, based on ancient Greek buildings. So, the state government of Victoria (who are looked upon as a bit of a joke by some of my Australian connexions of all political colours) have just guaranteed some lovely income for lawyers by banning "Nazi Swastikas", instead of Swastikas. Many a repeat fee will be earned in the State and Federal courts as defendents argue that their Swastika is not "Nazi". The Victorian Government has clearly shown that a little learning is a dangerous thing. Now, there is no doubt that racist groups in Australia and who exploited Nazi symbolism are a real problem. Violence against immigrants, and even Indigenous Australians, breaks out regularly, and racist language is wide spread (as I know from having lived there). I'm white, protestant and Scots, and even I experienced forms of racism because I was not an Australian. There is a horrid minority there who actively try to poison the paradise that is Australia. A country I love. I hate all forms of extremism. And this extremist and wooly minded response by the Victorian government is well meaning, but totally stupid. Sorry to go in and repeat myself. But the Nazi's will be loving this.
"Censoring the symbols of hate does not even begin to eradicate the source of that hate." Yas, king! 🔥
Your point is well made. It’s the vile ideas that lie behind that symbol that must be challenged. I believe it’s illegal to use it in Germany, happy to be corrected.
The swastika symbol does indeed "glorify one of the most hateful ideologies in history". But if we wish to embrace our democratic heritage individual freedom must be maintained. Also, by displaying this odious symbol openly, those of us who do not share the ideology to which it applies will know who to avoid. Closet Nazis are far worse.