Tony Sidaway wrote:
Quite. But it is the case (and I don't condone this) that the symbol is banned in Germany and seen as extremely insensitive in most of Europe. Thugs don't generally daub the hammer and sickle on people's gravestones. If my son went out wearing a hammer and sickle t-shirt his friends might think, at most, that it was either rather stylish or a bit old school; if he went out wearing a swastika they probably wouldn't even talk to him. I'm simply describing a situation that pertains in my country and in most European countries. I didn't invent it.
I'm not saying you (or anyone else on this list) did. I'm just saying that there's a bit of logical self-contradiction to personally object to the swastika and not to the hammer and sickle. I don't personally think there's anything wrong with using either for historical or satirical purposes (for instance), and though I do think there's something wrong with using it to push a political agenda that involves murderous intent I do not begrudge others the right to express themselves in that fashion.
-- Chad