When deception is right under your nose, or is it confusion? A lack of knowledge, or perhaps willful ignorance. Let us delve into this topic a bit more. Hindu's, Buddhist, the Navajo have all included this symbol (a swastika) within their customs, and yet its become synonymous with the Nazis. A symbol of tradition, spirituality, prosperity, and good fortune within many of the cultures stated above yet flipped 90 degrees to the right and the symbol inherits an atrocious history. A history filled with murder, lack of empathy, and a complete illusion of vindication. A moral compass was nowhere to be found during the grueling years of Hitlers reign. How did the two find one another? Were the Nazi's minds so warped that they thought eradicating a whole sect of people would bring them good fortune? Did they believe so deeply the four goals in life according to Hinduism which were Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha (right action, worldly prosperity, worldly enjoyment, and spiritual liberation) was there for the taking? Did they believe they were taking the proper actions that would lead to attaining worldly prosperity, enjoyment, and spiritual liberation by eliminating every jew from the picture? Unfortunately we will never know what went on in the minds of these perverted men and woman. The connection raises more than a few questions. Was it a trick? Did the Nazi's want people to believe that their mission was to liberate them. In the palms of tyranny the people rest, a feeling of security, more like a well placed perfectly timed mirage. A country, a people, a world liberated yet no so liberated. Information did not travel as quickly as it does today. Even so, with censorship at an all time high would it matter (the speed of information)? Working in the pawnshop industry for over 15 years now has presented myself with the opportunity to dance with history time and time again. Had a silver spoon with a swastika attached to its top not found its way to my store I would have never knew that it stood for something completely different. I learned that the spoon was of Navajo decent, which has nothing to do with the despicable acts of the Nazi regime and that perspective is carried within the eye of the beholder as well as some good old fashioned digging. Knowledge is truly power, and remember anything can be learned.
