planetdan

Wednesday, August 03, 2005 :::

Swasticomedy

It's too bad that those damn nazis had to go and claim the swastika as the official symbol of their evil deeds, because it's actually a pretty cool shape, design-wise. They've gone and sullied its image. You could never ever use it in a design without offending 95% of the planet. (The non-offended 5% would have to include neo-nazis and those no-bra jungle tribes). So that cool swastika shape is lost, to be forever associated with the grand pooh-bahs of evil. But if you look around, you can still see swastikas everywhere. I don't know if it's actually true, but read about the legend of the Swastika forest:

[from Cynical-C blog, one of my favorites]

Other places you might not expect to find swastikas:

• Your birthday party.
• Your gramma's house.
• Your mailbox on valentine's day.

::: posted by dan at 9:06 PM :: [ link ] :: (17) comments

Comments are Closed On this Post

17 previous comments:

Yeah, saw those in an old church once. It was the original tile floor. My dad gave me the whole history lesson. But I dunno...catholic and luck symbols just don't add up.

By

Monkey, at 10:14 PM

you know the shit is fucked up if San Diegans are designing buildings shaped like it...

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=san+diego&ll=32.676505,-117.157559&spn=0.004739,0.009917&t=k&hl=en

By

ismateo, at 4:18 AM

My Hindu brother-in-law (and non Hindu sister-in-law) have them throughout the house. I had no idea of the history of the Swastika then and was appauled to think they were Nazis, but in the Hinduism it represents the two forms of the creator god Brahma: facing right it represents the evolution of the universe (Pravritti), facing left it represents the involution of the universe (Nivritti). Who knew? (Not me!)

By

fizzy a.k.a. fifi, at 8:40 AM

Who doesn't love a swastika--wasn't it a Hopi symbol originally symbolizing eternity?
Anyhoo, I know you like Augusten Burroughs, wondered if you'd heard about this:
http://towleroad.typepad.com/towleroad/2005/08/augusten_burrou.html

By

jeremy, at 10:46 AM

Yup, you'll find swastikas all over Japan on Buddhist temples and altars. It's called a Manji (which means whirlwind) and represents harmony and the balance of opposites. But yeah, I was pretty surprised when I first saw one, and took this picture to ask people about it.

By

Dan McCormack, at 10:52 AM

There's a house I used to live near that had a swastika design in the chimney. If it was me, I'd plant a bush in front of it because you know they owners get hassled for it!

By

Anonymous, at 12:45 PM

Man, I love that one with the grandma and her cookies. I'm no fan of Nazi propagandi of any sort, but she just looks so serious and determined that not only will her liebchen love those cookies, they'll actually make a political difference in their lives. Grandmas of the world unite!

By

Elle Marie, at 1:24 PM

Heh, the San Diego one is, I BELIEVE on one of the Miltary bases out here, either Coronado or Pt Loma. WHOOPSIE!

By

elcynic, at 2:30 PM

But can you all identify the KINDS of trees in the picture?

That's right, it's "The Larch"

By

elcynic, at 2:32 PM

I'm even more irked that the Charlie Chaplin moustache has also been sullied. Damn Nazis.

By

Anonymous, at 5:29 PM

Wasn't a swastika an indian symbol?(for luck)? I found the swastika symbol on a metal coin from the Rexall Drug Stores. Thinking it would bring good luck, since I inherited some $$ from a Rexall relative, (DUH!) -- Played in a Texas Hold 'Em tourn.and was out in about 1 minute- the coin is probably still rolling down the street. If I didn't have BAD luck--I wouldn't have any luck at all. I do know some "lucky" people who could crap in a swingin' bucket.

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DWART, at 6:14 PM

Actually I wouldn't be surprized to find those cookies at my Omi's house... though I don't know why I'd be at her house in the first place.
And elcynic, you totally made my whole day... I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that.

By

Jay, at 12:06 PM

Jay, at 2:33 PM

LOVE the Monty Python reference!!!

By

Anonymous, at 1:38 AM

Can everyone else read the new posts normally or am I the only one who has to come into the "post a comment" page to read them?
(oh and sorry about the double post.)

By

Jay, at 9:48 AM

jay, I've had no other complaints, but let me know your browser/operating system so that I can test it out pretty please, if you ever read this again. Thanks!

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dan, at 10:34 PM

The story is true about the larch trees. I live in Berlin. The trees were located in former East Germany just outside Berlin and were sometimes visible by landing airplanes. The German govt was so embarrassed by the tabloid pics that the trees were cut within a week.

By

Anonymous, at 1:34 AM

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