Why does the word swastika have such a bad meaning to it?

Question

Its such a cool word and i don't like the symbol or anything like that. Its just a very interesting word and is fun to say. Does anyone else notice this? About how words dont literally define an object but an object defines the word and bring physical imagery to mind? I guess it's just simple recognition right? Our brain perceiving images adressed with words? Why the h**l do I think about weird things like this so much..

Answer 1

Swastika is associated with Nazism.

Answer 2

You answered your own question, yet you still posted it...

Answer 3

Actually, you people would do well to do a bit of research before you start ragging on some guy who really asks a very good question.  Jaes, your instincts are good.

Before it was defiled by the n***s, the swastika was a sacred symbol of life and spirit, a symbol of good luck. If you are drawn to the symbol, it may be for similar reasons as to why Hitler was (which is not to assume it is a bad reason--Even the most Evil man in the history of the world had to have had a sensible thought in his head on more than one occasion in his life, or he never could have achieved such transcendent evil.)

Anyway, good question.  I hope my answer was helpful. The rest of you, I hope you will try looking for the seed of meaning that may often be less visible in the more shocking questions around here.  I think they are capable of starting some of the most interesting discussions.

Answer 4

Partly it is because there is a "K" in it. Words with K are always good. Like tickle and kangaroo (but not like knowledge, because the K is silent).

Mostly it is the almost poetic contrast between the two halves of the word.

Swas ... Swas ... a soft gentle sound, got a swinging feeling to it like you are gently swishing a stick in a cornfield or using one of those long thin doofahs to knock the dew off a golf green. Swas ...

Tika ... two sharp quick little little syllables Ti Ka. If there was only one of them, like Swasti it would be like hitting the head off a daisy, Or maybe swatting a fly. But with two it is more like the cymbal rhythm in a big band tshhhh ts ts tshhhh ts ts. Feels like it is leading somewhere.

You're right - wonderful word (or was that a song by Louis Armstrong? ...) - and it has the same rhythm as 'wonderful' too.

Answer 5

Forget the rest of the answers.

You are correct.  In German swastika sounds magnificent.

Swastika.  Just say it with the proper accent and accept how beautiful it sounds.

The problem, of course, comes from ancient chinese times.

Lao Tzu.  The Buddha.

Now that we are aware of how beautiful the swastika is we have to understand how horribly it was used.

It is wrong to kill in the name of beauty.

Herr Hitler killed in the name of beauty and that is why, still today, the swastika is abhored.

Answer 6

it may be fun to say, but once your mouth has had a split second of fun, all of the terrible things it stands for comes to mind. the only difference between the word and the symbol is which sense you use to remind you of the Holocaust.

and i just thought i'd let you know, this post was not clever or funny.

Answer 7

This 'cool' word evokes different images in different people...due to their exposure!

If you say 'Swastika' to me,  I will feel good.  Because in INDIA,  it is considered Sacred symbol denoting good luck and prosperity.  People make this sign on their account books and ledgers in the hope that it would bring them profits.  This is an auspicious sign,  made before dieties in temples and homes.  So for me there's nothing odious in the name or symbol.

Its the Western World that has come to associate it with all things horrible because of One person and his misuse of the sacred sign...knowingly or unknowingly!

See the difference!?!?!  The reaction is NOT UNIFORM everywhere!!!

Answer 8

totally agree with the guy above...find another funny word to think about and imagine things, like yourself dropping down of the Petrona Towers in Kuala Lumpur...

Answer 9

WHY?

what a moron

BECAUSE IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOLOCAUST

idiotttt

Answer 10

The ironic thing is the Swastika used to be a good luck symbol and that's why Hitler used it as the n**i symbol because he thought it brought luck , so even though now most people are appaled when they see the symbol, it really had nothing to do with Hitler or the n**i army it was basically Germany's 4 leaf clover.