Key West Lou / THE SWASTIKA

Another live and learn. This one big!

The swastika.

I know, as most of you did, it was Nazi Germany’s symbol. Hitler adopted it as the emblem for the Aryan race. As a result of World War II and the Holocaust, in the West it will continue to be associated with Nazism, anti-Semitism, white supremacism, and unadulterated evil. The symbol has been regurgitated and is again being used by many.

Its use today in most countries, including Germany, is prohibited by law.

That is what I knew, what many of us know. Some however did and do know more.

The history of the swastika as I recently discovered follows.

An ancient religious and cultural symbol. “Ancient” means going back some 7,000 years. Predominantly found in various Eurasian cultures, as well as some African and American ones. The swastika has never stopped being used as a symbol of divinity and spirituality in Indian religion, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

The swastika was used for the first time as a symbol of intentional anti-Semitism by far right Romanian politician A. Z. Cuza prior to World War I. Prior thereto and into the 1930’s when Hitler adopted the swastika for his Nazi Party use, the swastika was a symbol of auspiciousness and good luck for most of the Western World.

The swastika remains a symbol of good luck and prosperity in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain countries such as Nepal, India, Thailand, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, China and Japan, and by some peoples such as the Navajos in the southwest United States. It is also commonly used in Hindu marriage ceremonies and Deepavali celebrations.

Again, I never knew.

Helene will be forever recalled.

North Carolina’s devastation described as “Biblical.”

Towns in several states flooded beyond belief.

Deaths up to 64.

Republican politics remain gutter type. Trump yesterday attacked Harris as “mentally impaired” and “mentally disabled.” Claims she “was born that way.”

Bombing is a common war tactic. Has been for many years. When was aerial bombardment utilized as a “weapon of war” for the first time? In the Italo-Turkish War in 1911. Italian airships bombed Turkish positions.

Amazing how swiftly the airplane was utilized as a weapon of war and death. Keep in mind the Wright brothers flew a plane for the first time 8 years earlier in 1903.

The first time a train carried passengers was September 27, 1825 in England. The train carried commercial goods, but had one passenger car attached. The passenger car was called “The Experiment.”

The trains average speed was 8 mph. However when going downhill on one occasion it reached a speed of 15 mph which scared the hell out of everyone.

Strange Key West weather last night and this morning. Everything fine. Normal, except for one thing. Absolutely no wind/breeze. Calmer than calm.

Enjoy your Monday!

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]