[Azred]

Originally posted by shamrock_uk: Would you say that a Jewish person seeing the swastika being worn who gets upset also has issues? I'm not sure that we can link getting upset to the legality of the symbol involved...

Unfortunately yes, I would. The point I am trying to make is that worrying about a symbol, getting upset about it, and trying to pass a law to ban it only gives that symbol more power than it would have if it were simply ignored. Naturally, history must be told and retold to prevent such things from happening in the future, but the most powerful tool to battle human cruelty is to take away power from the symbols used by those who would be cruel.

How many of you have watched the Blues Brothers? Remember the scene with the "Illinois Nazis"? The Nazis were marching and the crowd of people were shouting and protesting, but the Nazis were loving all the attention. Jake and Elwood drive up, roll their eyes, and drive through the Nazis (who jump into the river)--thus immediately cancelling out the emotional power they had been generating.

To point out a similar example, think how Fundamental Christians react to the inverted pentagram used by the Church of Satan. Rather than ignoring the symbol, they decry the devil and all his works. By creating a fury they give the symbol its power.

The symbol of the inverted swastika is a focal point for Neo-Nazis. Take away their symbol's power by ignoring it--although keeping a wary eye on its followers--and the movement will dwindle. That is the logic I follow. Don't give them power by wailing about it.