Secrets and Lies Shroud Origins of Giant Swastika

[NJCher]

ASH-BASHAT, Kyrgyzstan — The forest stands overhead in the dusty mountain air, a dense composition of fir trees on a slope, planted by labor gangs decades ago.
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The New York Times

An arboreal enigma above the Kyrgyz village of Tash-Bashat.

Its right angles are sharp and clear, forming a square cross with an upraised arm on one side and a turned-down arm on the other. Viewed from this remote village, the effect strongly suggests a living swastika, a huge and chilling symbol, out of place and time.

This is the so-called Eki Naryn swastika, a man-made arrangement of trees near the edge of the Himalayas. It is at least 60 years old, according to the region’s forestry service, and roughly 600 feet across.

Legend has it that German prisoners of war, pressed into forestry duty after World War II, duped their Soviet guards and planted rows of seedlings in the shape of the emblem Hitler had chosen as his own.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/16/world/asia/16swastika.html?ei=5094&en=c5ba2dc82edf81cc&hp=&ex=1158465600&partner=homepage&pagewanted=all




Cher

[cornermouse]

1. Nothing like the sound of a bunch of chainsaws being put to

a good cause. In general I dislike cutting trees but I believe this qualifies as a good reason.

[Waya]

2. To Native Americans, the swastika is a symbol of the sun.....

...and the four seasons......

More:

http://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/symbols/bldefsswastika.htm

[cornermouse]

3. A lot of people from this country died fighting that symbol.

including Native Americans. Considering its location and how they think it probably came into existence as well as the things they (Native Americans) suffered in WWII, I tend to believe Native Americans would also be revving up chainsaws.

[GCP]

4. It's also an ancient Hindu symbol

And as it's near the Himalayas, maybe its origin is Indian.

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

[cornermouse]

5. Where's that chainsaw, Gert?

Or alternatively, never leave anything around for cockroaches to hide behind or under.

See above. I don't care what excuse you use, if its a swastika it should be gone.

[Waya]

6. So, the Swastika has been a symbol for who knows how many .....

.....centuries - Hindu, Buddhism, Native American, and others, yet one idiot comes along and chooses it for his own symbol, without knowing the true meaning I would imagine, does horrible things to millions of people - and therefore the symbol should be destroyed, once and for all.

By that logic, the American Flag must go - just look at what has been done by idiots who wrapped themselves in it, the atrocities committed under 'her protection'.......

[cornermouse]

7. When it comes to the swastika?

In a word...

YES!

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. There is no "true meaning"

That would be the point.

[Toots]

13. Rush Limbaugh used to denigrate environmentalist

called them environmental-whackos and when he would talk about them he would play a soundtrack of a chainsaw and cackle mindlessly. A true preacher of hatred and a grand figure in the GOP. They seem to idolize hate. That they wish to torture people should come as no surprise to anyone. Rush's radio show is in itself a form of gleeful torture and IMO people who enjoy listening to him are themselves immoral people.

[cornermouse]

15. I never listen to Rush.

And I have refused to allow my trees to be cut down. I would cut down trees to obliterate the shape of a swastika however.

[soothsayer]

8. Don't cut it down---plant MORE trees around it to change it

Pines grow quickly, don't they?

[cornermouse]

11. You wouldn't have to cut them all down.

Just enough to change the shape. As far as surrounding with new growth, I think the difference is size would be noticeable for quite a few years, at least a decade or two. I see no reason to give comfort to those who still embrace the nazi beliefs in the meantime.

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. That was a symbol to ward off evil in some European cultures, it may be

no freakier than the Long Man Chalk drawing in England.

Still if it bothers people I agree with the poster who said plant more trees around it.

[rock]

12. It's not a swastika

1) doesn't have four broken arms;
2) one arm is curved, not broken;
3) it swirls in the wrong direction;
4) it's straight up and down (not canted);
5) it has no enclosing circle.

It's closer to a Vigin Mary than it is to a swastika.

[rasputin1952]

14. The nazi swastika had it's corners facing counterclockwise, and this is

the reverse, perhaps it was planted as a symbol of defiance.

Many cultures have used the swastika for various reasons, but AFAIK, only the nazis used it with the counterclockwise aspect. I'm sure that more research may change that notion, but in any case, just mowing them down is not the answer IMO. It is indeed a symbol that has become synonymous w/evil, and it could be surrounded with symbols of hope and justice. It is a reminder of just how low humanity can go. The swastika should be a symbol that shows us we should never allow humanity to reach those depths again.