Religious Groups Aim to Redefine Symbol Linked to War, Hatred

Religious Groups Aim to Redefine Symbol Linked to War, Hatred¹

When Dr. Sheetal Deo celebrated² the Hindu festival of lights called Diwali recently, she did not think it would be considered offensive. But she got a letter from officials at her building in New York City telling her to remove her Diwali decorations because it "had a swastika on it."

The swastika is a cross with right angles at the ends. It is believed to have long been used as a symbol of peace and good luck in the Hindu, Buddhist³, and Jainist religions and several cultures.

In the West and Russia, however, the swastika, also called hakenkreuz, is linked to Adolf Hitler's Nazi⁴ Germany. The symbol is also linked to the Holocaust⁵ in which millions of Jews and other people were killed during World War II. Groups tied to acts of hate have continued to use the swastika.

However, the Associated Press (AP) reports that there has been a movement to reclaim⁶ the earlier meaning of the swastika in the past 10 years among Asian immigrants and Native Americans.

Deo said she believes these communities should not apologize for using their symbol because of its misuse⁷ in the past.

"To me, that's intolerable," Deo said.

But to many others, especially in the Jewish communities, giving the swastika a second chance is not possible.

Shelley Rood Wernick is a director of the Jewish Federations⁸ of North America's Center on Holocaust Survivor⁹ Care. Wernick said Holocaust survivors¹⁰ could feel the horrors again when they see the symbol. She went on to say, "I recognize the swastika as a symbol of hate."

Steven Heller wrote a book called Swastika: Symbol Beyond Redemption? He said the swastika is an emotional symbol for so many whose loved ones were murdered. Heller's great-grandfather died during the Holocaust.

"A rose by any other name is a rose. In the end, it's how a symbol affects you visually and emotionally," Heller said.

The swastika's meaning in other cultures

The swastika has been used since prehistoric¹¹ times. The word itself has roots in Sanskrit, an ancient language, and means "the mark of well being."

In the religion of Jainism found in India, the swastika represents four kinds of births. In Buddhism¹², it is called "manji." It is often used to mark the place of Buddhist temples. And in China, it is called "Wàn."

The symbol is common in India. It is seen in doorways¹³, on cars, and in other places. It is usually drawn¹⁴ with red and yellow colors.

Vikas Jain is a doctor in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. He and his wife have had to hide images in their home with the symbol because when their children's friends visit "they wouldn't know the difference."

The swastika was also an important symbol to many indigenous¹⁵ communities around the world. They can be found on objects dating back more than 10,000 years which now can be seen in the National Museum of the History of Ukraine.

In the early 1900s, Native American artists used it in their crafts, including silver work, clothes, and pottery¹⁶. But after the Nazis¹⁷ used it, leaders of the Hopi, Navajo, Apache, and other tribes approved an agreement in 1940 to ban the symbol from use.

Patricia Anne Davis is a member of the Choctaw and Dineh nations. She said it was a symbol of peace, healing, and goodness until the Nazis changed its meaning. She added that it is time to bring back the first meaning of the symbol.

Difference between swastika and hakenkreuz

The Coalition¹⁸ of Hindus of North America is one of the groups aiming to separate the swastika from the Nazi's "cross" called hakenkreuz.

The group supports a new law in the state of California that makes it illegal to show the hakenkreuz in public. The law does not criminalize the swastika as a sacred symbol. However, it says both symbols are "swastikas."

Jeff Kelman is a Holocaust historian based in the state of New Hampshire. He believes the hakenkreuz and swastika can be separated. Kelman is presenting this idea to Jewish communities.

He is hopeful that the symbol can be redefined as a good thing because he sees his message being understood by so many people, including Holocaust survivors.

"When they learn an Indian girl could be named Swastika and she could be harassed¹⁹ in school, they understand how they should see these as two separate symbols," Kelman said.

Greta Elbogen is an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor. Members of her family were killed at - Auschwitz-Birkenau during World War II. She said that she was surprised to learn of the swastika's history.

Elbogen said this new information about the symbol means she does not fear the symbol that was used to frighten her.

"Hearing that the swastika is beautiful and sacred to so many people is a blessing²⁰. It's time to let go of the past and look to the future," Elbogen said.

Words in This Story

decoration – n. something that decorates or beautifies

symbol – n. a place, action, object, or event, that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality

faith – n. strong religious belief or strong belief in someone or something

intolerable – adj. too bad, harsh, or severe to be accepted

horror – n. an experience or thing that causes great fear or dread²¹

indigenous – n. native to a place

harassed – v. to annoy or bother (someone) in a constant or repeated way

legacy²² – n. something that comes from someone in the past that affects the present

sacred — adj. greatly honored by a religion

1 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

2 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

3 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

4 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。

5 holocaust   

n.大破坏；大屠杀

参考例句：

• The Auschwitz concentration camp always remind the world of the holocaust.奥辛威茨集中营总是让世人想起大屠杀。
• Ahmadinejad is denying the holocaust because he's as brutal as Hitler was.内贾德否认大屠杀，因为他像希特勒一样残忍。

6 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

7 misuse   

n.误用，滥用；vt.误用，滥用

参考例句：

• It disturbs me profoundly that you so misuse your talents.你如此滥用自己的才能，使我深感不安。
• He was sacked for computer misuse.他因滥用计算机而被解雇了。

8 federations   

n.联邦( federation的名词复数 )；同盟；联盟；联合会

参考例句：

• These problems are women's special problems and special work of women's federations. 这样的问题，就是妇女的特殊问题，就是妇联的特殊工作。 来自互联网
• The Bridge Federate is a feasible solution to achieve multi-federations interconnection. 基于桥接成员实现多联邦互连是目前较为通用和可行的方法。 来自互联网

9 survivor   

n.生存者，残存者，幸存者

参考例句：

• The sole survivor of the crash was an infant.这次撞车的惟一幸存者是一个婴儿。
• There was only one survivor of the plane crash.这次飞机失事中只有一名幸存者。

10 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

11 prehistoric   

adj.（有记载的）历史以前的，史前的，古老的

参考例句：

• They have found prehistoric remains.他们发现了史前遗迹。
• It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment.这儿倒像是在展览古老的电子设备。

12 Buddhism   

n.佛教（教义）

参考例句：

• Buddhism was introduced into China about 67 AD.佛教是在公元67年左右传入中国的。
• Many people willingly converted to Buddhism.很多人情愿皈依佛教。

13 doorways   

n.门口，门道( doorway的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The houses belched people; the doorways spewed out children. 从各家茅屋里涌出一堆一堆的人群，从门口蹦出一群一群小孩。 来自辞典例句
• He rambled under the walls and doorways. 他就顺着墙根和门楼遛跶。 来自辞典例句

14 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

15 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

16 pottery   

n.陶器，陶器场

参考例句：

• My sister likes to learn art pottery in her spare time.我妹妹喜欢在空余时间学习陶艺。
• The pottery was left to bake in the hot sun.陶器放在外面让炎热的太阳烘晒焙干。

17 Nazis   

n.（德国的）纳粹党员( Nazi的名词复数 )；纳粹主义

参考例句：

• The Nazis worked them over with gun butts. 纳粹分子用枪托毒打他们。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Nazis were responsible for the mass murder of Jews during World War Ⅱ. 纳粹必须为第二次世界大战中对犹太人的大屠杀负责。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

19 harassed   

adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He has complained of being harassed by the police. 他投诉受到警方侵扰。
• harassed mothers with their children 带着孩子的疲惫不堪的母亲们

20 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

21 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

22 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。