I didn’t know that until I went to Germany last spring when I went to an air musem in Speyr. They had a Junkers something on display with the original swastika on the tail. I was informed that they could only display it that way because it was the original marking (not even repainted).
Ever notice that Revell/AG kits do not come with swastikas in the decal sheet?
Shame how people react to something that was once good that was corrupted. The swatzika has a very different meaning before the nazis.
Courtney, you are so right.
As I understand it, the swastika is a Tibetan (or something like that) peace symbol. The difference between the original and Hitlers version is that the legs faced counter-clockwise and not rotated to the 45 degree angle as he changed it to.
When you think about it, a symbol really isn’t anything more than a shape. Its what meaning that you attach to it (conscienciously or not) that can bring about an emotional response. Different people attach different meanings to symbols and representations. It is unfortunate when you are instructed as to what meaning you attach to an object.
Here’s a story that I hope everyone will relate to.
I run the NJ State Aviation Museum. One of the more famous and tragic events in New Jersey’s history was the loss of the Hindenburg in May of 1937 at Lakehurst.
The original company that insured the Hindenburg, USAIG, is still thriving in NYC, right across the river from us. USAIG contacted us and asked if wanted a large (8ft) model of the Hindenburg they had commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the disaster.
We received the model and it’s on display in the museum. Last year, we had a Yashiva group visit from Brooklyn. We get a large percentage of visitors from the Orthodox Jewish community. One of the chaperones, a mother, started making a scene, yelling, and tearing me apart because of the swastikas on the stabilizer of the model.
Before I had chance to reply, the rabbi interjected and addressed the group. His comments were that the markings on the tail had a significant meaning because of the terrible things (and people) associated with it. Removing the markings because they offend you is not the proper thing to do, especially in a historical context such as this. He closed by saying that if we make everyone remove the symbols of history, however bad it might be, then we are in effect ‘sweeping it under the rug’, and trying to deny that it ever happened. That is were we are wrong, because eventually, it will be forgotten, and all of the suffering that image caused will have been done in vain.
Now, I’m not Jewish, I’m not even religious, but it was very noble words from a wise man.
The models we build represent machines, not politics, or people. Historically, we can at look at just about anything and find someone or some cultural group that could take offense to it. Native Americans aren’t fond of the US Cavalry. I was born and raised on an Indian reservation. No one wanted to be the cowboys when we played cowboys and Indians…kinda ironic, huh?
Please remember something…fighter planes, tanks, bombs, rockets, warships, and guns don’t kill people. People kill people. Therein lies the irony. We model weapons of destruction, yet we, as decent humans, should abhor war. As soldiers, we train for war, yet all real soldiers despise war and pray for peace.
Sorry, had to rant.
Jeff Herne
Director, NJ Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum
www.njahof.org
If only more people had the common sense to think that way…
Fade to Black…
BZ Jeff!!
nice post…
Rant away!! [soapbox]
Jeff - Thank you for sharing that. We all go through hardships in our lives, and if there were no reminders from time to time, we may indeed forget, not only that they happened, but how we have recovered from them. Some have yet to recover, but time heals (as cliche as that is, it is true), as long as we move forward by way of learning from the past.
Funny, I was thinking this afternoon how this thread got a bit off topic, but here we are again…
Deltadagger…are you still following this???
i would like this opportunity to apologize about the gun in my sig, it’s a 88mm mounted on a Kingtiger
Why should he remove a picture of a soldier holding a M16 with a M203 ?? when most of the planes on here have more guns and bombs than a man could carry, plus he might like to model figures of soldiers holding weapons
i agree about the animation
I know what you mean. From now on, everytime I see the word “PIX”, I’ll image a Schwalbe in my mind, or, vise versa. [;)]
Just kidding, bud. couldn’t help but bust on ya…
i didnt actually see the item which caused the offence, but from what i’ve seen here, i dont think delta dagger should be kicked off. Everyone makes mistakes, and he obviously did in this case and it has been made very clear it was not acceptable. Time to give the guy a chance. Of course, if he’s stupid enough to do the same thing again, well thats a different matter entirely, but until then i reckon give the guy the benefit of the doubt
I’am 15 and I got my brother in this hobby too. I don’t want to see any garbage like this!
Also my brother is 12.
Shouldn’t this topic be put in a different category?? Or are we going to start roasting everyone in the Armor forum next?! The kid made a mistake, let him live, the editors took care of it. Personally, I could care less about his signature pic, or anyone elses for that matter!!! The minute you make people stop posting pics of guns, is the minute that none of us would be able to post pics of our builds.
I don’t think it was the sig. pic. that got this thing going Kik… I think it was the graphic animation. As I read this thread I’m inclined to think that the reason this lights a fuse for most is because we all feel this is a special place. Everyone on this sight feels, and rightly so, that they make a large contribution to the popularity of the site. This is true and I think that it makes us all want to stick up for it and make sure no one comes in and makes it just another site for foul language, violent cartoons, nudity what have you. I for one enjoy the fact that this sight doesn’t have those things, is that to say that in my day to day life I don’t cuss. No, I probably cuss more than I should from day to day, but I wouldn’t think of doing it on this sight because I’m a guest here. I’ve always been made to feel like this is a very special sight where modeling is the prime interest. I think that everyone just wants to keep it that way. I think that this is shown by the fact that the members of this forum are governing the sight themselves, not complaining that the staff would let something of that nature on the sight while not doing anything about it. Anyway sorry to go long.
Bravo Zulu…well said.
J
I totally agree Adam…I was just kinda responding to a few previous posts with ideas of banning the kid. I saw the cartoon last night (though I missed the special post), and I knew right away that it was going to cause trouble. I just thought it would be more appropriate in the “Off-Topic Section” where I go to read these kinds of things…rather than the “A/C” section, where I prefer to read about our USMC Groupbuild!! Speaking of which…[;)]
Good point Heath.
I agree with Jeff that people kill people. It’s kind of ironic that I am totally against war, and yet i build weapons of distruction. it’s not that i’m advocating war, or glorifying it, but i believe in the saying that “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it”.
To add some perspective to Delta’s picture/animation, here in the Philippines, counterstrike is played everywhere. That’s okay, i suppose, but the real trouble is that the local game cafes install a sound pack that has voice overs in Filipino, actually, it’s just foul language that happens to be in Filipino.
Every game starts with a phrase that would send old church going biddies into cardiac arrest, and bashes gays everytime you throw a grenade (I’m sure Dwight, Allan or nkm know the stuff i’m talking about)… It warps what kids view as socially acceptible, and now i know of kids that are barely into adolescence that swear more than me or do drugs or… …other things (if you get my meaning).
Call me conservative, but i don’t want my cousins/nieces/nephews to grow up in a world like that. However, I don’t think we should get rid of the guy. I think he just made a mistake. I think he deserves a second chance.
Appologies in advance for the Filipino with out translation, and for the horrible Filipino gramar (i grew up in NY)! [:)]
Delta Dagger: Pare, kaunting tino naman sa mga pinopost natin! May mga bata na din dito! Disenteng lugar to para sa mga taong mahilig gumawa ng mga model. Alalahanin din natin na parang embasador tayo ng Pilipinas sa mga lugar na ganito.
sorry guys i didn’t mean to offend all of you. once again sorry. pls forgive me for what i have done.
Group hug?[:I]