I’d only think this was stupid if MS announced they were removing the font from future versions of their software. As it is, they have only acknowledged its potential to offend and are offering downloadable tools to remove the symbol. Those who find it harmless aren’t affected at all.
I figure for PR, u$oft had no choice. Comprehensive dingbat fonts or no, who needs a bunch of vapid soccer-moms-and-dads class-action-suing your ass because your software turned their precious babies into skinheads.
As a minor hijack, an ex-girlfriend of partial German extraction had in her posession a 100+ year-old quilt sewn by her great-grandmother, who was a woman of exceeding skill at such crafts. The quilt was beautiful. It should have been a priceless antique, but it shall languish forever in a chest out of sight because it is heavily accented with swastikas. And why wouldn’t it be? The swastika was once a wholesome Indo-European sun-symbol and had all kinds of good feelings associated with it. It’s like somebody took a representation of a heart, co-opted it, and left it as a symbol of infant buggery instead of love.
I kind of wish the swastika could be rescued and rehabilitated, because it is an ancient, archetypical figure that goes way back to the roots of many cultures. It’s something many of us would have gladly shared in a better world, a symbol of benevolent power. Alas, I doubt that will ever happen.
I know what you mean. It’s just a symbol, but because it was adopted by a hateful, monstrous group it’s probably been made evil by association forever now. Now any time a person uses one for any other purpose they have to go out of their way to point out that it is an ancient symbol that has nothing to do with nazism inherently.
Looks like the “fix” is on the Microsoft Update site now:
It’s listed as a critical update… :rolleyes:
AIUI, the clockwise and anticlockwise swastika were equally common in ancient art. You would see both of them on Roman mosaics, for instance. However, the Romans always uised them square on, that is the lines ran horizontal and vertical. The difference in the Nazi swastika is the Natzis tilted it, so the lines are at 45 degrees. I’ve never seen that on a Roman design, I don’t know about Indian.
Here’s a fun, infomative site:
Here’s a fun, informative site:
I am reminded of the town of Swastika, Ontario whose residents, to the best of my recollection, have vehemently resisted attempts to change their name.
This is a thesis project: how many different cultures have used the swastika and for what purposes?
I have to admit before I read Cecil’s column and all you guys’ responses, I thought it was Hindu and descended from Sanskrit.
From the screen shots featured on The Register’s article on the font update the Star of David has also been removed. Another unacceptable symbol? 