The swastika has gotten a bum rap because of Hitler. Most people look at the swastika as a symbol of hate; however, this could not be more from the truth. The swastika symbol has been used by most of the major religions throughout history, even Jewish sects. How did Hitler adopt the swastika as the symbol of the Nazi party you may ask? Let me attempt to explain his oxymoron actions.
The swastika has been around for roughly 3,000 years, centuries before Hitler was even born. Countries, such as China and England, used the swastika to symbolize power, good, and life. It was not until the 1800s that the swastika's meaning change somewhat. Germany itself was not a unified country until 1871. Since many countries that bordered Germany were rapidly growing, the German federation used to the symbol to convey strength and a sense of pride in the country's long history. It was not officially an insignia of the Nazi party until 1920. Like other symbols throughout history, it only takes one bad seed to ruin its meaning. The next time you see a swastika, ignore the hatred that it symbolized in twentieth century Germany.
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