The analysis of symbols is currently one of the noteworthy interests in anthropology. Yet, one of the most important symbols of mankind is largely ignored. One explanation for that may be that the Nazi connotations brought up by he swastika are so strong that most researchers and scholars feel this infamous symbol either does not deserve to be studied at all or that any effort in that direction will only serve to arouse suspicions of Nazi sympathy on the part of its author.
It seems that, after the Nazis appropriated the swastika and put it to their evil use, they contaminated this symbol forever. They have held the swastika hostage for more than 60 years. The swastika, most people believe, symbolizes Nazism and evil.
But ripping off swastikas from buildings, purging art and history books of swastikas, or simply ignoring them, is neither a scientific, nor a rational way to deal with this subject. As graphic designer Henry Dreyfuss put it, "The fact that an ignominious fanatic placed a swastika on his battle flag is insufficient reason for ignoring this symbol's historic significance."
Still, the swastika had a long life before Hitler and the Nazis. It has been for centuries a symbol of peace, laughter, joy and good luck. It is one of the oldest symbols of mankind. Its Nazi links are only a minor speck in its very long existence. It is a symbol that deserves a better treatment from history. Moreover, leaving the swastika in Nazi hands is the worst disservice we can do to the Indians of North, Central and South America. Moreover, it is a disservice to the peoples of Tibet, India and China. It is a disservice to the Basque, the French, the Greeks, the Swiss, the Japanese and to the Irish. It is a disservice to the Ashanti of Africa and to the Tlingit of Alaska;to the Cuna in Panama and to the Navajo, the Hopi, the Apache, the Pima, the Wolpi and other tribes in the United States.
The Nazis and neo-Nazis have no registered copyrights on the use of the swastika. They stole this symbol from mankind and used it for their evil purposes. Allowing the Nazis an exclusive privilege of using this symbol is equivalent to an act of moral cowardice.
The time is ripe to redeem this beautiful and enigmatic symbol and take it from under Nazi control. We must bring it back to the illustrious place it deserves among other similar symbols in the long history of mankind.