The swastika

[Father Heathen]

The thing is, most people who state the above have no clue why Hindus abstain from eating beef. It isn't a random decision.

Is it because cows symbolize motherhood, and milk sustenance?

 

[Madhuri]

Is it because cows symbolize motherhood, and milk sustenance?

Party. It's a fair bit more complicated than that.

 

[jeager106]

Indians consume milk on a daily basis, and the cow as a provider of milk, is equated to one's mother (hence the expression Gomäta = mother cow). Traditionally, Indians had cows in every household. They were part of the family, with names and personalities. Just like one would not hurt/eat their pets, the Indians did not hurt the cows and respected them. The cow has a special role in the Hindu mythologies; Kamadhenu is a wish-fulfilling cow. A cow is also depicted as vehicle of several deities.

From Wiki
Farmers don't eat milking cows either.
Those usually die of old age and aren't much fit for beef food but might be ground into burger.
LOTS of things are ground into burger.
Pepperoni is mostly ground goat.
Enjoy.
http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/everythingyouwan.html

^^ Everything you never wanted to know about raising meat goats.

 

[columbus]

As a USian it won't come naturally to you to respect other nations, and as an unbeliever it won't come naturally to you to respect religious believers,

I rather resent that.
I am not the one telling Hindus what to do or think in their home.
I don't have any problem with people having their own culture. I would not go to India and demand to have a beef dinner.
The problem I am having is people telling me how to feel while exempting their own "sacred cows".
Tom

 

[Madhuri]

I rather resent that.
I am not the one telling Hindus what to do or think in their home.
I don't have any problem with people having their own culture. I would not go to India and demand to have a beef dinner.
The problem I am having is people telling me how to feel while exempting their own "sacred cows".
Tom

I'm still really not understanding the connection.
We're arguing that Hindus shouldn't have to hide or feel ashamed of their sacred symbols. And you're arguing... that Hindus should stop seeing cows as sacred.
Help me out here.

 

[columbus]

We're arguing that Hindus shouldn't have to hide or feel ashamed of their sacred symbols.

I'm not arguing differently. Feel free. I don't have a problem with it.
But recognize that lots of people do.

And I do, under most circumstances here in the USA. It is still predominantly a symbol of white racism of an ugly sort. Sorry, but that's how it is.
Tom

 

[Madhuri]

I'm not arguing differently. Feel free. I don't have a problem with it.
But recognize that lots of people do.

And I do, under most circumstances here in the USA. It is still predominantly a symbol of white racism of an ugly sort. Sorry, but that's how it is.
Tom

Of course they do. I don't think anyone is advocating that they fly swastika flags through the streets. Nobody wants to invite conflict. This can be managed in a reasonable way. My argument is simply that Hindus should not feel ashamed of their ancient symbol and if they wish to include the symbol in reasonable contexts, there isn't any problem with that. In fact, in certain contexts it's positive if it helps to educate people. Such as on a religious education forum, where most people are intelligent enough to get past certain conditionings.

 

[columbus]

And you're arguing... that Hindus should stop seeing cows as sacred.

I am not saying that. I'm saying that both are emotional responses to symbols and we white westerners deserve the same respect other people expect.
Don't fly a flag symbolizing one of the worst human disasters in European history (which is a very high bar!) in my town and I won't expect prime rib in Delhi.
Tom

 

[Madhuri]

I am not saying that. I'm saying that both are emotional responses to symbols and we white westerners deserve the same respect other people expect.
Don't fly a flag symbolizing one of the worst human disasters in European history (which is a very high bar!) in my town and I won't expect prime rib in Delhi.
Tom

That's fine. I don't think anyone is expecting to be able to freely fly a swastika flags around westerns.

 

[columbus]

That's fine. I don't think anyone is expecting to be able to freely fly a swastika flags around westerns.

Thank you. Then we are 90% or more in agreement.
To me, the problem is the irrational responses to the symbol. Here in the west, they vary wildly.
Some people are viscerally incited to violence. It is still that powerful. And it goes in both directions, some people see it as a symbol of the regime who killed their friends, family and destroyed their homes and country. Other people see it as a symbol of hope that white people will regain their rightful place as masters of the world.

It is a big problem here, so keeping it private around here is best.
Tom

 

[Madhuri]

Thank you. Then we are 90% or more in agreement.
To me, the problem is the irrational responses to the symbol. Here in the west, they vary wildly.
Some people are viscerally incited to violence. It is still that powerful. And it goes in both directions, some people see it as a symbol of the regime who killed their friends, family and destroyed their homes and country. Other people see it as a symbol of hope that white people will regain their rightful place as masters of the world.

It is a big problem here, so keeping it private around here is best.
Tom

I see. Context is clearly important.

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

Thank you. Then we are 90% or more in agreement.
To me, the problem is the irrational responses to the symbol. Here in the west, they vary wildly.
Some people are viscerally incited to violence. It is still that powerful. And it goes in both directions, some people see it as a symbol of the regime who killed their friends, family and destroyed their homes and country. Other people see it as a symbol of hope that white people will regain their rightful place as masters of the world.

It is a big problem here, so keeping it private around here is best.
Tom

Namaste,

Would you agree that the "West", should also be offended by other Nazi symbols, such as the Cross and Eagle, or only limit it to the Swastika which is largely a non western, non Abrahamic symbol?

And why instead of educating the "west", about the Hindu Swastika (which is a Sanskrit word not even German/ European) do the practitioners of Hinduism/Buddhism ect who had nothing to do with the Nazis conceal their symbols to the privacy of our homes, when Many Christians can flaunt the cross as necklaces/bracelets/Church tops ect without keeping their Nazi symbol private?

Why the double standard?