Re: Ansible 455 -- June 2025

On 5/31/25 2:56 PM, Dorothy J Heydt wrote:

In article <101fi0n$1chis$1@dont-email.me>,
Gary McGath  <garym@mcgath.com> wrote:

On 5/31/25 10:33 AM, Keith F. Lynch wrote:

I'm surprised they didn't ask if they had a reputation as Nazis.
That's the most common random accusation.

>
There is a way to avoid being called a Nazi. Applaud the October 7
massacre of Jews, harass Jewish student organizations, invade subways
asking if anyone on the train is a Zionist, and put up graffiti with
swastikas, and no one will call you one.

 [Hal Heydt]
I'm pretty sure that last one would get the name applied.

Someone did that at Harvard. I called the unidentified vandal a Nazi, but I didn't hear of anyone else applying the term. Some Tesla owners have also been targeted by the symbol.
Digressing a bit: The term "swastika" for the Nazi symbol is an odd one. It comes from Sanskrit, and in Indian use it was a benign symbol. The Nazis called it Hakenkreuz or "hooked cross," which is more descriptive. The best explanation I've heard is that the British were familiar with the Indian term as a result of imperial connections.
--
Gary McGath    http://www.mcgath.com