BBC News : Europe diary: German might
This clearly demonstrate how emotions can take over reason. I have disappointed in the German government, given the Germans' reputation for "cold logic". It is all the more aberrant that the swastika is a major Hindu and Buddhist, Jainist and neo-pagan symbol, signifying good fortune. Contrarily to what some think, a Hindu/Buddhist swastika can either be clockwise (like the Nazi version) or anti-clockwise.
If that is what modern Germany has become, then it is no wonder that the country's economy is shuffling its feet. When are the Germans going to let their sense of guilt go away ? It's been 60 years since the end of the war, and anybody old enough to have been in charge of the Holocaust is either dead or over 80 years old. Young people should move forward. They haven't experienced the war personally and thus shouldn't feel more uncomfortable at the sight of a swastika than at that of a Jewish star, Christian cross or Muslim crescent. If they want to ban the swastika, they should ban all other religious symbols then. However, if the law is as rigid as it is now for the swastika, this could eventually result in banning croissants from bakeries ! Germany wake up !
BBC said:Ever since 1945, the swastika has been banned in Germany. Even on children's model aeroplanes. Last week a court in Stuttgart went a stage further. A man was fined more than 7,000 euros for selling anti-Nazi badges that showed a swastika with a line through it, as in a traffic sign.
He is going to appeal and the government is considering whether to amend the law. The Greens hope to provoke a debate but some Germans strongly argue that the symbol is still too uncomfortable to be seen, whatever the meaning or context.
This clearly demonstrate how emotions can take over reason. I have disappointed in the German government, given the Germans' reputation for "cold logic". It is all the more aberrant that the swastika is a major Hindu and Buddhist, Jainist and neo-pagan symbol, signifying good fortune. Contrarily to what some think, a Hindu/Buddhist swastika can either be clockwise (like the Nazi version) or anti-clockwise.
If that is what modern Germany has become, then it is no wonder that the country's economy is shuffling its feet. When are the Germans going to let their sense of guilt go away ? It's been 60 years since the end of the war, and anybody old enough to have been in charge of the Holocaust is either dead or over 80 years old. Young people should move forward. They haven't experienced the war personally and thus shouldn't feel more uncomfortable at the sight of a swastika than at that of a Jewish star, Christian cross or Muslim crescent. If they want to ban the swastika, they should ban all other religious symbols then. However, if the law is as rigid as it is now for the swastika, this could eventually result in banning croissants from bakeries ! Germany wake up !