Should the "swastika" be outlawed or banned in the USA?
Throughout history, a number of groups have petitioned the Federal Government to outlaw images attached to Hitler, the Third Reich, Nazi Germany, and the Holocaust. These images, such as the swastika, the "SS" logo, etc. are said to be painful reminders of a horrifying time in history, and some groups believe that these images should be disallowed by law in the United States.
What do you think?
"Best Answer" will go to the person that presents the best argument, regardless of what approach you take (sorry, but you're going to have to earn these ten points . this one isn't a popularity contest!).
Answers:
Though I detest what the symbol has come to stand for, to ban it would violate the first amendment. The first amendment does not just apply to what society agrees is right, it is supposed to allow everyone to express themselves and believe what they want to believe, even if is against part of society itself.
If we allow symbols, even despicable ones to be banned, what will be banned next? Are we going to denigrate to every other symbol that someone finds offensive? If we do that, we are no better than the Nazi Germany that persecuted the Jews in WWII for their religious beliefs.
no, for two reasons.
Most importantly:
1. the first amendment.
2. for thousands of years the swastika was a symbol of peace why let that go away because of 10 years of hate associated with it.
the swastika has more than one meaning. the Nazis actually borrowed it from an eastern religion (Hinduism?). to ban a symbol like this means that you ban all meanings of said symbol and that would violate freedom of religion
The Swastika wasn't used by just the Nazis, as it has religious merit in other cultures around the world. If it were outlawed here, then what of such religious artifacts? What of historical artifacts kept in museums and private collections, some of which are Nazi in origin, for that matter?
Honestly, if such a ban is made, I would consider it a grave error. Not because I agree with the Nazis and what they did, but rather in that such a move would become a violation of our 1st amendment rights, as it would oppress free speech. Indeed, banning the Swastika would be an act similar to what the Nazis themselves were capable of.
The problem with banning what we believe to be an evil symbol is that before it was widely known as a Nazi symbol, it was more commonly associated as a holy symbol within eastern religions. Therefore banning the symbol would be the equivalent of banning say the star of David or the crucifix, which of course is unlawful because congress shall make no law respecting religion and such.
I'm not denying the fact that to many the "swastika" represents evil and oppression, however we must realize that we are not helping anything by encouraging that stereotype. This isn't the first time that holy symbols have been perverted, and the best thing we can do is to make sure that nobody is ignorant of that.
By outlawing a symbol you give it power it would not have had otherwise, like making a martyr of a political dissident.
Forbidden fruit is always the sweetest.
I do not feel that reminders of the horrible things that man has inflicted upon others should ever be banned. It should be manditory in schools to teach about what happens when people are complacent. You know what they say. "Those that are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it". And also the notion of banning anything of historical value is completely repugnant to me.
The German war is over. Many Loyal Germans still like to use the swastika and I have seen it in the United States. During war time, it would be suicide to wave the swastika around in America. But now our Country is at PEACE with Germany, so we don't really worry about it and it is not as offensive as it was during the war. The thought of Hitler using that swastika as his symbol, still remains disgusting to Americans who remember what he did. To many Americans it is a sign, of terror, horrible crimes against the Jewish People, and against his own country. I agree that the swastika should not be used in this country. Nor should it be allowed to increase in size. The swastika needs to go home to Germany. To Americans the swastika means Hitler. America won , so that is one reason why the swastika should not be shown on American soil. When I see someone wearing or having a tattoo, of swastika, it is like they are kicking America in the ***.
I don't think the swastika should be banned just because Hitler decided to use it for evil. Long before Hitler used it, the symbol was had a positive meaning. I can understand how it might be painful for some people to see that symbol. I also think its disgusting that some neo-nazi groups use it in a negative way. The swastika is a symbol, an image and shouldn't have the power to harm, although to some its a reminder of pain. There have been very few times in my lifetime that I have "seen" the swastika besides the History Channel.
Banning a symbol because of a negative connotation to me, just gives that symbol more power. It also won't make people stop using it, for good or bad. Drugs are illegal, but people still use them.
No, it should not be banned.
I hate everything the swastika stands for, but I don't believe that banning hateful images is right, nor is it the best remedy for the hate they represent.
Display of a swastika is fundamentally an expression of political speach and such expression is guaranteed by the first amendment. If you banned that, it would set the groundwork for banning other symbols and you just don't know how far that will go.
But more than a legalistic argument like that, I do not think that banning expression is the best remedy to any damage done by that political expression. Since our society is based on freedom of expression, we should remedy hurtful expression with more expression, not less. That is, if someone expresses something hurtful, we should combat it by allowing others to freely express their opposition to it. Use it as a teaching opportunity to inform people of the history of the damage and death caused by the people who created that symbol. Teach them about how it hurts more people than the ones it is intended to threaten.
If you value something like freedom of express, use freedom of expression to its fullest extent.
The answers post by the user, for information only, FreeLawAnswer.com does not guarantee the right.
Answer question:
More Law Questions and Answers: