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HelpDylann, James Earl and ...
Sighting yesterday; on the nametag of a South African Indian woman with an emphatically Indian ln. Her fn is Swastika.
And though it has a very long and positive cultural history on the subcontinent, it must surely be unfortunate in the West.
And though it has a very long and positive cultural history on the subcontinent, it must surely be unfortunate in the West.
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I went to high school with an Indian girl named Swastika; she was a couple years below me so I didn't know her personally, but she won a couple awards so her picture was up in the hallway. I had a couple friends who knew her and the impression I got was that she was fairly well-liked and didn't get much guff about her name (at least to her face, idk about behind her back).
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Being named Swastika probably would make job hunting difficult since ethnicity generally does not appear on a job application. If they met her in person, they would understand that her parents were Hindi and not Neo-Nazis.
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Yeah, but the Nazi image is so strong for many places that it wouldn't matter. I think the only place where I've heard of swastika being a positive image for any culture is here. I doubt that enough people know about Asian religions to know it's good luck for them.
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Very true, Jennifer, and if they can't get through the application process to meet potential employers, it wouldn't matter if people were aware of the Indian connection. Outside of India, it would definitely would hold them back. Can you imagine scheduling an appointment with a Dr. Swastika for the first time?
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Ouch...
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Honestly I didn't get it at first. I thought it was like some sort of ethnic name.
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Hmm, not sure I'd put lone wolf murderers with generally normal names in that same category!
Anyway, yeah Swastika is an unfortunate name in the west, but it's more unfortunate that it even has to be a negative symbol in the west. As you've mentioned, it's very important in Hinduism. Either way, as far as I know, it's not usually a given name in India.
Anyway, yeah Swastika is an unfortunate name in the west, but it's more unfortunate that it even has to be a negative symbol in the west. As you've mentioned, it's very important in Hinduism. Either way, as far as I know, it's not usually a given name in India.
This message was edited 6/21/2015, 9:04 AM
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I don't think I'm as shocked as I should be. It took half a second for me to go, "Oh, yeah, Hitler," but before that, I think because you'd mentioned her ethnicity, I just thought, "Yeah, that makes sense, if she's Indian." I wonder if it's too terrible a name for her to live with (I imagine it can't be too bad, as she is continuing to do so), since the fact Hitler appropriated the swastika is pretty well known.
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pg13
That is pretty bad.
I hear there's even a town in Canada called Swastika. (Also one called Dildo.)
That is pretty bad.
I hear there's even a town in Canada called Swastika. (Also one called Dildo.)
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There is indeed a town called Swastika in Ontario, it is a mining town and many of the mines around the area were named for symbols of good luck.
During WWII the government tried to rename the town, but the citizens protested.
Prior to WWII there were three proffessional hockey teams in Canada called the Swastika's, the Windsor Swastikas (1905-1916), the Fernie Swastikas (an all female team 1922-1926) and the Edmonton Swastikas (also an all female team 1915).
During WWII the government tried to rename the town, but the citizens protested.
Prior to WWII there were three proffessional hockey teams in Canada called the Swastika's, the Windsor Swastikas (1905-1916), the Fernie Swastikas (an all female team 1922-1926) and the Edmonton Swastikas (also an all female team 1915).
This message was edited 6/21/2015, 9:26 AM
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