Student Draws Controversy with American Flags

[Addendum]

So a symbol means a particular thing, despite thousands of years of evidence and history that proves it meant and means something else, because most of the people in this country are f'ing stupid.

 

[SentinelMind]

^again....the black swastika on a white circle inside a red flag means one thing to not only Americans , but millions of people on this planet. Fascist, racist, evil, hatred.

 

[Addendum]

And they're just as stupid

 

[Cosmic]

So a symbol means a particular thing, despite thousands of years of evidence and history that proves it meant and means something else, because most of the people in this country are f'ing stupid.

No, either you're not understanding what he's trying to explain to you, which I doubt, or you're playing dumb just to twist his argument. The swastika has different meanings, depending on how it is displayed. Yes, every symbol is ultimately just a marking that can mean anything or nothing at all. But there is a very specific historical significance that separates the meanings of the Nazi's use of that symbol, and the traditional cultural uses that have been referred to.

 

[Addendum]

I was just trying to piss him off. It made me laugh

 

[Cosmic]

Right, I thought so. I've seen people saying the same thing in all seriousness, though.

 

[Addendum]

Although I was serious when I said most of the people in the US are stupid

 

[Cosmic]

Of course, and I agree 100%.

 

[SentinelMind]

^I disagree with both of you.......

 

[Addendum]

This country has yet to prove to me that most of it's citizens aren't stupid.

 

[The Senator]

And they're just as stupid

I'll be sure to tell that to the Jews

 

[Addendum]

I can tell them if they call 382-5633

 

[bell110]

No, either you're not understanding what he's trying to explain to you, which I doubt, or you're playing dumb just to twist his argument. The swastika has different meanings, depending on how it is displayed. Yes, every symbol is ultimately just a marking that can mean anything or nothing at all. But there is a very specific historical significance that separates the meanings of the Nazi's use of that symbol, and the traditional cultural uses that have been referred to.

Exactly, the American flag can also be seen as a symbol of evil, hatred and bigotry.

 

[Cosmic]

That's true, although that's not quite what I was getting at in that post. Maybe I'll try to explain it better after lunch...

 

[The Senator]

I can tell them if they call 382-5633

And what, pray tell, are you going to say?

"Hey, Jews, sorry those Nazis killed six million of your fellow men. But, the Swastika is just a symbol. You really should ignore all those neo-Nazis who march into the streets carrying flags with Swastikas on them because, you know, it's just a flag and means absolutely nothing."

 

[Addendum]

And what, pray tell, are you going to say?

Look at the letters that correspond to the number I gave, and you'll have my message spelled out

http://www.phonespell.org/

 

[The Senator]

Look at the letters that correspond to the number I gave, and you'll have my message spelled out

http://www.phonespell.org/

I'm sure the Jews would love being told to **** off. Because it's not like the Nazis told them that when they dragged millions of them into prison camps and forced them to endure back-breaking labor, only to get shot in the head or gassed... at the hands of those who wore the Swastika proudly on their uniform...

 

[Addendum]

I don't play favorites with any group. My message applies to all

 

[bell110]

Look at the letters that correspond to the number I gave, and you'll have my message spelled out

http://www.phonespell.org/

Duck-med? What the **** is that supposed to mean?

 

[Addendum]

Duck-med? What the **** is that supposed to mean?

The number can also be used for **** off

 

[fifthfiend]

And yet there's no penalty for not complying with the "flag code"

You clearly missed the entire point of my comment.

 

[fifthfiend]

So a symbol means a particular thing, despite thousands of years of evidence and history that proves it meant and means something else, because most of the people in this country are f'ing stupid.

The usage of symbols changes the meaning of said symbols.

 

[Addendum]

But it doesn't invalidate the original meaning nor does it erase the history and evidence of said symbols.

 

[The Senator]

I don't play favorites with any group. My message applies to all

Yep. I guess that proves you have no sympathy to those who have suffered tremendous plights such as cultural genocide. What a fine example you set to the rest of the human race

 

[The Senator]

But it doesn't invalidate the original meaning nor does it erase the history and evidence of said symbols.

No, but history can change the meaning of a symbol, can't it?

Take, for instance, this symbol: >

Mathematically, it has been used to refer to something as "greater than" something else. So, 6 > 5 indicates that "six is greater than five."

Now, say a radical dictator in Africa slaps that sign on a flag as the symbol for his army, which goes around killing folks of a different cultural heritage than he. It is used to represent his army. Does that not change the meaning?

The Swastika has a long, strange history. But you cannot deny that it has been used, for the past seventy years, as a symbol of the Nazi army and the genocidal movement towards the Jews. You're basically under the assumption of "well this had a different meaning beforehand so it doesn't matter what the Jews think." Which is totally and utterly asinine, considering it was the symbol of the army which eradicated a significant portion of their race. And if you believe that people today do not associate the Swastika with the Nazi movement, you're completely oblivious to how the world works.