NationStates Jolt Archive

I really think this ban should be re-considered. The Swastika is as dear to the Hindus and Buddhists, as the Cross is to Christians, the Star of David to Jews and the Crescent Moon to the Muslims.

I myself have a Swastika on my national flag, and have been advised already by a fellow nation to remove the swastika. I disagree, I should not be compelled to change this.

Why don't you make a distinction between Nazi swastikas and Hindu/Buddhist swastikas? The Nazis are black on red background, and always facing the right. The Hindu one is of all colours, and can face either direction, might or might not have the four dots around it.

Those that are users of the Hindu Swastika are usually on the opposite spectrum of anti-Semite. We are actually very pro-Israeli in modern politics. Just saying you know. Again, my national flag for my nation-state identifies the state as a Hindu state, and I would hate to have to remove it.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=275081

Regardless of what you think the rules should be, you must abide by what the rules actually are right now. You disagree with a rule? Fine, but that does not allow you to disobey the rule.

Since you brought yourself to our attention, I'm willing to be lenient and not issue an official warning against you. However, your flag has now been removed.

That said, there has already been a very long discussion on this subject (http://www.forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=275081). You may want to read it.

--The Modified Democratic States of Cogitation
NationStates Game Moderator

5000 years of history erased because of a freakshow using it for 12 years? It is instilled in the "public conscience" to associate the swastika with the Holocaust? What public are we talking about? Obviously not the MAJORITY OF THE WORLD, that lives in Asia and Third World, where they have not even heard of what the Holocaust was, and have no idea how their religious symbol can be in any way associated to a mass murder.

And there is also the thing that the swastika is supposedly used by neo-nazis mostly. Go to a Hindu temple TODAY, you will see the swastika in every corner. I want to speak to violet about this. While I have never met a neo-nazi (wouldn't like to either), I would like to point out that more swastikas are used by devout Hindus and Buddhists, than by neo-nazis (whose numbers are miniscule).

The only people that should have objection to the Swastika are the Jewish people, and in my experience from other forums, Jewish people are very knowledgeable of these aspects. India is also the only nation of the 125 nations where the Jewish diaspora reached, where Jews have no history of persecution.

Can't you protest the rule either?

email admin?

We are very aware of the history of the swastika, including the etymology of the word, which (if I recall correctly) is from Sanscrit. Most of us are rather educated and numerous players have lectured us at length regarding the history and the other meanings such as: Hindu, Buddhist, and Bon (you missed them). However, the owner of the site (having also heard all of these arguments) has decided that this symbol is banned from flags. There is no appeal beyond there. The ban will stay.

Here is where I see your own racism. It is not simply in the meaning. Let's say Hitler had used the Egyptian goddess Anubis, which is no longer worshipped any more. I would still understand that. But this? Must I remind you that there are more Indians than all Western nations combined? Why are you applying your Western standards to the whole world?

What is the admin's email? And stop acting like that once a rule is reached, it is God. Everything is questionable, especially something as unfair as this.

admin@nationstates.net

actually, on this site, max's word is law

also, i think if you look at this game, most players are americans...

What is the admin's email? And stop acting like that once a rule is reached, it is God. Everything is questionable, especially something as unfair as this.

This particular rule has been questioned rather frequently since it came into force around about 2 years ago and so far it hasn't been changed.
If you really must indulge yourself, admin@nationstates.net is the way to go.

Here is where I see your own racism. It is not simply in the meaning. Let's say Hitler had used the Egyptian goddess Anubis, which is no longer worshipped any more. I would still understand that. But this? Must I remind you that there are more Indians than all Western nations combined? Why are you applying your Western standards to the whole world?

What is the admin's email? And stop acting like that once a rule is reached, it is God. Everything is questionable, especially something as unfair as this.

*Sigh* I truly hate it when conversations like this degrade into accusations of racism. It's not a good way to make friends.

Let's address your questions in order:
"But this?" -- Yes, this.
"Must I remind you that there are more Indians than all Western nation's combined?" -- No you don't need to remind me, so please don't.
"Why are you applying your Western standards to the whole world?" - Because the majority of our players are Western, the owner is Australian, and because we choose to.

Finally:
"What is the admin's email?" - Well, there are two (one for each admin). There is my own (salusa@nationstates.net), however, I'll simply uphold the ruling through email. You could email the head admin [violet] (admin@nationstates.net), however, they have made it abundantly clear that they consider the discussion closed and don't want to receive any more emails about it.