Plane tows swastika banner in New Jersey...

[cynatnite]

[IMG][/IMG]

LONG BEACH, N.J. (CBS/AP) — New Jersey beachgoers were startled over the weekend to see a small plane flying overhead pulling a swastika banner.

Twitter was abuzz with tweets from people who saw the plane fly over Long Beach Island on Saturday afternoon.

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/06/25/plane-tows-swastika-banner-startles-new-jersey-beachgoers/

[FarLeftFist]

1. OFFS!

[petronius]

2. The International Raelian Movement apparently wants to rehabilitate the swastika

A little more info here: http://online.wsj.com/article/APce7c3bef22e34f92a0730659e4980329.html

The movement said on its website that the flyover was part of its third annual Swastika Rehabilitation Day. In a statement posted Sunday, the group reiterated its belief that the swastika is actually a symbol of peace and beauty that was corrupted by Nazis in 20th century Germany.

"Any negative emotions regarding the swastika by people under the age of 70 years old are obviously linked to their education and not to their experiences," the statement read in part. "It's about time people were re-educated to understand the original meaning of the oldest and most recurrent symbol in the world."

Etzion Neuer, acting head of the Anti-Defamation League in New Jersey, also noted that the swastika predates Hitler by hundreds, if not thousands, of years. He said that the group is not racist and that towing the swastika was a "misguided, but not malicious, act."

"They use the swastika in the traditional Eastern context, not the Nazi context," he said. "But to us it's incredibly insensitive because it's dismissive of the pain it causes to the Jewish community. It's an egocentric attitude, completely unconcerned about the way it's viewed by others."

[freshwest]

28. Wooh. I will meditate on this sacred symbol and find peace, joy and love. And astigmatism. OM...

[Brickbat]

3. Not really the best way to get their message across.

[struggle4progress]

9. I think their basic message is "Look at us! Look at us!"

[reseru]

38. the raelians

Of course the Raelian Movement wants the attention but not for the sake of it, you know? The Ku Klux Klan used the Christian cross as their symbol but there's no taboo against showing a cross, so why the double standard? They want the attention to share that perspective, to share the history of the swastika as an image of peace and unity, and to share the injustice European Buddhists and Hindus faced when the EU banned any public displaying of the swastika

[struggle4progress]

41. res ipsa loquitur. they chose a swastika superimposed on a star of david as their symbol.

the bottom line is these folk are assholes. it doesn't matter whether or not they might be very very sincere assholes: lots of assholes are very very sincere. we really don't need to discuss whether or not there's a double standard here, or whether or not these people should be allowed to open an embassy for visiting extraterrestrials in israel or lebanon, or whether mr vorilhon ever traveled to other planets to hear important messages. they're just assholes

[sufrommich]

4. swastika rehabilitation day"

Of all the battles to choose, "swastika rehabilitation day" doesn't seem like a particularly well thought out one.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

25. Take a pedophile to brunch is next month.

[jberryhill]

5. Raelism symbol

UFO Cult.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Thanks, I learned something new

I saw it in the first one and was seriously scratching my head. It is at the back by the way... bad, bad photo... but it gives it a whole different context.

[Ian David]

6. And I thought the Raelians were weird BEFORE. n/t

[cthulu2016]

7. Much more a Star of David than a Swastika

This is fake news at its worst.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. I had to maginify it, look at the end of the tail

it is there... mostly worst photo I have seen in a while.

[HiPointDem]

34. a star of david & a swastika. a right-facing swastika (hindu symbol of good), and a star of david

with designs in it.

put up by a cia front group.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

8. 'Any negative emotions ... by people under age 70 ... are linked to education not to experiences ...

'Any negative emotions ... by people under age 70 ... are linked to education not to experiences ...

It's about time people were re-educated ..."

(From petronius' Reply $2 link at http://online.wsj.com/article/APce7c3bef22e34f92a0730659e4980329.html )

IMO the people who need to be re-educated are the ones behind "Swastika Rehabilitation Day". I would sentence each of the leaders to 2000 hours of community service at the Holocaust Museum and each of the followers to at least 200 hours.

[Johnny Rico]

10. Sentence them for what crime? Stupidity?

[ProgressiveEconomist]

11. Disorderly conduct or any other misdemeanor that might apply.

Any group parading around with swastikas is IMO daring other people to tear them down.

I realize that, unlike most other countries, the US severely limits prosecution of hate speech. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech .

So I would prosecute them on some other charge and let them sue.

[Art_from_Ark]

12. There are many types of swastikas

For example, swastikas (also known as fylfots) are commonly used in Buddhist literature, and in Japan, the "reverse swastika", or "omote manji", is used to designate Buddhist temples on maps. The swastika at the end of the banner does not appear to be a Nazi swastika, which was in a baseball diamond-like configuration like the one depicted on this coin:

[ProgressiveEconomist]

13. In terms of connoting the holocaust, IMO a swastika is a swastika is a swastika

even for post-1945 Buddhists

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. So a swastika in ancient buildings

or chinese texts of oh Comets... is about Nazis?

WOW.

I am left speechless.

So we should go with hammers and destroy them?

I should also add, are you seriously suggesting that the Navajo cannot display their tribal symbols either? Upside down swastikas by the way...

[ProgressiveEconomist]

24. I said "post 1945" quite clearly. Please re-read my post.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. So you are asking the Navajo

And Bhudhist to abandont symbols that go back thousands of years...

I'm a child of a holocaust survivor, while jarring the first time, I have since learned the spiritual significance of these symbols for the navajo. Try broadening your horizons, it's good for the spirit.

We call this context by the way. it's good to understand it. Also pay close attention, as to the forms.

But damn it, on a blood flag flying in Michigan it has one meaning, on a Navajo blanket very different meaning.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

32. I don't think the Navajo are pushing "Swastika Rehabilitation Day" or

demanding that people like you be "re-educated".

Read the WSJ article link and look at the photo--these folks are openly flaunting swastikas fully aware of their cultural meaning in 21st-century societies with millions of Jews and their allies. In many Western democracies , such as Belgium, these folks would be considered Holocaust deniers subject to the criminal provisions of Holocaust Denial legislation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

42. Read above what you said about

Bhudist use of it.

Your intent is to ban it's use, period.

Raelians are right in one sense, the nazis did indeed use it in a way that is significant. Alas they're not denying the holocaust

But I guess you got me, I seem to deny the death of fifty of my relatives at Treblynka, which was a summer canp?

Take a good look at that particular use of a swastika, I mean it mixes it with a star of David...gets worst, the direction is wrong for the prongs.

Context my friend, would do you some good.

Oh and one more thing European laws banning it's use do not pass muster in the US and have had significant effects in the production of entertainment. Yes my dear, more than one game set in WWIi simply does not even mention the Holocaust to be sold in the European market. You chew on that one.

[Scootaloo]

27. What's the statute of limitations on this?

And does it apply just to the Swastika? 'Cause hey, people waving the cross around have killed a whole hell of a lot more people than people who were waving the Swastika...

[ProgressiveEconomist]

33. Careful. Are you "playing down" the significance of the Holocaust?

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Holocaust_denial_law

"The Belgian Holocaust denial law, passed on March 23, 1995, bans public Holocaust denial. Specifically, the law makes it illegal to publicly "deny, play down, justify or approve of the genocide committed by the German National Socialist regime during the Second World War". Prosecution is led by the Belgian Centre for Equal Opportunities. The offense is punishable by imprisonment of up to one year and fines of up to 2,500 EUR."

[Scootaloo]

36. Drat, you got me.

Yes, that's exactly what i'm doing. How clever of you to lift my ruse. Here I thought no one would catch on, since I used my ultra-secret shit-I-didn't-say code! But you sir, you have read between my lines to see the shit I never said, and have successfully called me on it



No, I'm asking you if we should also ban the cross as a symbol. it's got a longer, much bloodier history than the swastika, after all, and unlike the swastika, it's still going. If you don't think we should, then is it because of some statute of limitations?

[Johnny Rico]

15. "Unlike most other countries, the US severely limits prosecution of hate speech."

Good.

The 1st Amendment trumps any wish you have to charge someone with a crime for displaying a swastika.

[jtuck004]

30. There are people in other places that feel like that about the U.S. flag.

Though they don't rely so much on criminal attorneys...

[cthulu2016]

14. The irony pours off in waves

[EastTennesseeDem]

16. Probably because most of the people with any "experience" were murdered.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Ever read the first amendment?

I know it is wiki, but hell, you could also look it up in a copy of the Bill of Rights

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

Try to read it.

Oh and before you say it, dad fought the nazis and lost family to the Nazis...

For me it is kind of personal, but that is also personal.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Recruiting folks to the next tea party meeting?

[HiPointDem]

22. my eyes are going bad, but that looks like a six-pointed star to me.

[Go Vols]

23. .

http://www.sharenator.com/All_the_world_loved_Swastika_before_WWII/

[limpyhobbler]

29. Too soon...

Check back in 150 years.

[jtuck004]

31. Got that whole Jetson's thing goin' on...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ra%C3%ABlism



Adam, Eve, and extraterrestrial Elohim (according to Raëlism - http://www.raelafrica.org/news.php?extend.69)

On reflection, it would have been SO much cooler if they could have flown that with a flying saucer.

[xfundy]

35. Republicans should just go ahead and adopt it as their symbol.

Elephants never forget, but repigs are required to do so.

[Scootaloo]

37. No, no, that's not how it goes

Elephants never forget, but Republicans never know in the first place

[leftynyc]

39. Way too soon

Perhaps when everyone who had anything to do with the holocaust (victims, survivors and perpertrators) are dead a couple of generations - but not now.

[Blue_Tires]

40. jesus...those site comments are even worse than that asshole pilot