Both of these symbols are everywhere here. But this is the first time I have seen them right next to each other. It certainly caught me off guard.
The swastika is a Hindu symbol of peace and has been for centuries. Hitler took it and made it a symbol of the Nazi party and hate. The Star of David (as we call it) is a symbol for Nepal. Here in Nepal, the two images are good images. They are images representing their religion, beliefs, and culture. For the Western world, however, they are symbols of one hating another. They are symbols of murder and such atrocities we cannot imagine. When one puts these two images together one has quite the irony, to say the least.
It is truly amazing how symbols can change. What once stood for peace now stands for hate. Hitler did not intend it to mean hate. He used it to mean peace. But in his deranged mind, what he thought was peace was carried out through hate.
I'm sure if we all take a step back we can think of a time where we took something good and pure and turned it into something hateful. Certainly not to the extent of Hitler (at least I hope not!), but I'm sure at some point we've taken good and made it bad. And I think not using the good we have is almost as wrong as using it for bad. See where I'm going with this?
We have God's love. Let's use it.
1 comment:
I know we've talked about this. But an example that I've been thinking about is how I squander my wealth as if I earned it. Too often I forget that it's God's provision...and it's up to me what I choose to do with it. By I, of course I mean we (Rachel and I) :).
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