The Town of Swastika

Tex929rr
Tex929rr
3419
 

I found this article very interesting. Cliffs notes version: unincorporated upstate NY town is named Swastika in the early 20th century. Town keeps name after Nazis adopt swastika, recognizing the ancient use of the swastika as a good luck symbol. NYC bicyclist sees sign and asks to have the name changed. City council (Swastika comes under a nearby town’s government) and the council reject the idea in five minutes.

A few observations:

  1.  Having had to at some point learn the origin of the town name, why persist? Rank ignorance?
  2. “But Alcamo was disappointed in the board’s decision. He said leaving ‘Swastika’ behind would show respect for those who died during the war and would be seen as a denouncing of hate.” Does anyone, anywhere believe that he actually cares about respect for WWII veterans?
  3. Why let the fact that some group adopts a symbol redefine that symbol in perpetuity?  This reminds me of the notion that the “OK” sign now must signify white supremacy.  (By the way, it means something different in parts of Latin America; I have a very funny story about its interpretation at a firefighting school with some Chilean students).
  4. In general, why has the left uniformly become a group of humorless scolds?
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There are 34 comments.

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  1. Michael Brehm Lincoln
    Michael Brehm
    @MichaelBrehm
    6:08 AM EDT ⋅ Sep 28, 2020

    In my neck of the woods, there’s a town that was known as Bismark up until WWI. After we joined the war, the name was changed to Quentin (after Teddy Roosevelt’s son) and it has remained Quentin ever since. 

    • #31
  2. Dotorimuk Coolidge
    Dotorimuk
    @Dotorimuk
    7:13 AM EDT ⋅ Sep 28, 2020

    Michael Brehm (View Comment):

    In my neck of the woods, there’s a town that was known as Bismark up until WWI. After we joined the war, the name was changed to Quentin (after Teddy Roosevelt’s son) and it has remained Quentin ever since.

    The syllabic stress on BerLIN, Oklahoma became BERlin, after WWI.

    • #32
  3. Seawriter Contributor
    Seawriter
    @Seawriter
    7:20 AM EDT ⋅ Sep 28, 2020

    Dotorimuk (View Comment):

    Michael Brehm (View Comment):

    In my neck of the woods, there’s a town that was known as Bismark up until WWI. After we joined the war, the name was changed to Quentin (after Teddy Roosevelt’s son) and it has remained Quentin ever since.

    The syllabic stress on BerLIN, Oklahoma became BERlin, after WWI.

    There was a western set in the mining town of Molybdenum, so named for what they were mining there. The residents called the town “Molly-be-DEE” because “Molly-be-Damn” was simply something one did not say in polite company.

    • #33
  4. DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow
    @DrewInWisconsin
    7:36 AM EDT ⋅ Sep 28, 2020

    Dotorimuk (View Comment):

    Michael Brehm (View Comment):

    In my neck of the woods, there’s a town that was known as Bismark up until WWI. After we joined the war, the name was changed to Quentin (after Teddy Roosevelt’s son) and it has remained Quentin ever since.

    The syllabic stress on BerLIN, Oklahoma became BERlin, after WWI.

    Huh. It’s “New BERlin” in Wisconsin, too. Not sure if it’s for the same reason.

    • #34
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