As Stuff correctly pointed out, the swastika was and continues to be a symbol of divinity and spirituality in Indian religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism.
But aside from that, even if it was a Nazi relic, owning it as a curio is perfectly understandable.
The German nazi period and in particular the holocaust, was one of the worst episodes in human history of mankind’s inhumanity to their fellow humans.
Owning relics of it is thus understandable and no different than possessing a maori patu club for which there’s a continuing market.
The Patu’s sole function was to kill an enemy. They continue to be manufactured to this day, as being highly ornamental they have an aesthetic value over and above their historic purpose and are thus attractive to tourists.
I own one which is over 200 years old. I also have a small Second World War German army compass enclosed in a round metal case, with a swastika on its top.
Being a sucker for historic curios, among other things, my homes are filled with historic ornamental weaponry I’ve acquired over the years, notably old blunderbusses, ornamental daggers, swords and the like. That’s not inconsistent with my life-long anti-military position nor is my possession of religious relics such as icons with my atheism.
But mostly, ornamental wise, my homes are filled with art and also oriental porcelain. In both cases I’ve been a collector for nigh on six decades. I also own numerous sporting relics, most notably the mouthguard Muhamed Ali used in the Thrilla in Manilla 1975 historic fight. Ali’s trainer, Angelo Dundee was a close mate and allocated me a ringside seat alongside Norman Mailer just below his corner.
When Frasier’s corner pulled him out after 14 torrid rounds the Ali camp in it’s usual chaotic manner came tumbling down the steps alongside me. Angelo, spotting me and still holding Ali’s mouthguard he’d just removed from his mouth, thrust it at me saying “You want this Bob”.
The following morning I had Angelo and Ali sign on each side of it with a thick black pen.
So back to the swastika which caused the Wellington street festival organisers such distress.
Their shock horror response suggests they’re not very worldly-wise.
Throughout the western world antique and bric a brac shops are filled with such relics. They’re part of our history regardless of whether they reflect good or evil.
But most of all consider this.
One of Europe’s most pleasant cities is Poland’s Krakow. It pulls tourists in vast numbers, mostly sitting in the numerous cafes which line its city squares.
But significantly it draws tens of thousands of Jews from all over the world, solely to visit the worst Nazi death camp, Auschwitz, an hour and a half’s drive, or train ride away.
If I was Jewish, I would definitely visit Auschwitz. But I’m not so have no wish to see the gas ovens etc, in the flesh. But I can readily understand why Jews feel otherwise.
Sir Bob Jones is a renowned author, columnist , property investor, and former politician, who blogs at No Punches Pulled HERE - where this article was sourced.
The German nazi period and in particular the holocaust, was one of the worst episodes in human history of mankind’s inhumanity to their fellow humans.
Owning relics of it is thus understandable and no different than possessing a maori patu club for which there’s a continuing market.
The Patu’s sole function was to kill an enemy. They continue to be manufactured to this day, as being highly ornamental they have an aesthetic value over and above their historic purpose and are thus attractive to tourists.
I own one which is over 200 years old. I also have a small Second World War German army compass enclosed in a round metal case, with a swastika on its top.
Being a sucker for historic curios, among other things, my homes are filled with historic ornamental weaponry I’ve acquired over the years, notably old blunderbusses, ornamental daggers, swords and the like. That’s not inconsistent with my life-long anti-military position nor is my possession of religious relics such as icons with my atheism.
But mostly, ornamental wise, my homes are filled with art and also oriental porcelain. In both cases I’ve been a collector for nigh on six decades. I also own numerous sporting relics, most notably the mouthguard Muhamed Ali used in the Thrilla in Manilla 1975 historic fight. Ali’s trainer, Angelo Dundee was a close mate and allocated me a ringside seat alongside Norman Mailer just below his corner.
When Frasier’s corner pulled him out after 14 torrid rounds the Ali camp in it’s usual chaotic manner came tumbling down the steps alongside me. Angelo, spotting me and still holding Ali’s mouthguard he’d just removed from his mouth, thrust it at me saying “You want this Bob”.
The following morning I had Angelo and Ali sign on each side of it with a thick black pen.
So back to the swastika which caused the Wellington street festival organisers such distress.
Their shock horror response suggests they’re not very worldly-wise.
Throughout the western world antique and bric a brac shops are filled with such relics. They’re part of our history regardless of whether they reflect good or evil.
But most of all consider this.
One of Europe’s most pleasant cities is Poland’s Krakow. It pulls tourists in vast numbers, mostly sitting in the numerous cafes which line its city squares.
But significantly it draws tens of thousands of Jews from all over the world, solely to visit the worst Nazi death camp, Auschwitz, an hour and a half’s drive, or train ride away.
If I was Jewish, I would definitely visit Auschwitz. But I’m not so have no wish to see the gas ovens etc, in the flesh. But I can readily understand why Jews feel otherwise.
Sir Bob Jones is a renowned author, columnist , property investor, and former politician, who blogs at No Punches Pulled HERE - where this article was sourced.
8 comments:
Bob, fantastic piece, love the story about Ali s mouth guard. I'm in agreement with you, it's very odd that the far left seem to have issues with certain historical things that don't fit their narrative but when highlighted to them really just shows their hypocrisy.
Apparently Hitler was inspired by the swastika (or its reverse) when as a youth he saw one as part of the altar surround in a catholic church he was attending...
Patu were not reserved for despatch of enemies. Slaves often provisioned the hangi. And doubtless it resolved the now much more complex problem of an intransigent and/or otherwise no longer attractive wife.
I have a number of books about some of the Nazi leaders and shock horror, they have swastikas plastered all through them including on the front cover. Most of them came from open display in a bookshop.
Mein Kampf on the bookshelf doesn't make people murderous despots.
Some months ago I wrote a column on here about the targetting of auction houses and others selling memorabilia ( Nazi and or otherwise) for genuine collectors. Persons of self-annointed virtue troll stalls, online sites and auction houses seeking to remove items ...or else it off to the media like Stuff who do their bidding. I had a Luftwaffe mug of 1936, a nice genuine one given to my long gone Dad by a German after the war. It had a Lufwaffe eagle flying holding a tiny swastika on the base. A certain most prominent auction house in Wellington that is a leader in major auctions declined that item in case it got a protest if someone looked at the base. I was told they just did not want any bad publicity. I have collected ( and sold as I am 69 and downsizing material goods) items of historical interest of everything from facism to communism and tend to do so privately through like-minded circles now. Subjective witch-hunting bordering on the burning of the books must be resisted. It comes from zealots who get publicity in their allied media.
A " tongue in cheek " advisement to any potential Home Burglar, you should take note that Sir Robert Jones has stated, that -
" my homes are filled with historic ornamental weaponry I’ve acquired over the years, notably old blunderbusses, ornamental daggers, swords and the like".
Therefore to "said burglar's", beware of the aged ' Jackie Chan ' chasing you with either blunderbuss, dagger, sword or Maori Patu club - and keep in mind he might call upon his former boxing skills as well. If he has Muhammed Ali's ' mouth guard ' in place -you are in trouble.
Sir Robert, it might interest you, that those American Servicemen who came back from Europe, from 1945 on - many brought not only Nazi Curios, but also firearms. Many Years ago, I happened upon an Auction House in New York and at that time had many of these items for sale, as the Families of those Servicemen no longer needed or related to them. There was no "angst" from anyone over the curios, many had the Nazi Swastika clearly defined on each and every of them.
Strange of recent times these emblems have arisen, and are being demonized, but you have to look at who is displaying them and where!
It’s a great irony that so many of our men and women fought (and sacrificed) against the facism of Germany, Japan and Italy in order to preserve our freedom, yet today that very freedom is under threat on all sides; especially from within.
As a boy visiting one of the US Marine Corps stores in Petone I noticed a preserving jar displayed in the entrance foyer that looked full of oysters in vinegar. Enquiries revealed they were ears cut from Japanese marines who had staged a banzai charge in the Solomons. Do you have one in your collection Bob?
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