If you saw a photo of someone holding a Nazi flag, would you assume that they are a racist?

[Anonymous]

[Lost_in_the_Woods]

In 2021, yes I would.

But, I have to say, I am really angry about the fact that swastikas are still seen and used as a symbol of hate.

Before Hitler, it was a symbol of strength through working together. But, because of the stigma, I can't even use that shape to build stronger frames in building/engineering games like besiege because people will assume I did it to hurt black people. Regards of the fact thst Hitler didn't invent the symbol, and he mostly hated Jewish people anyways.

Personally, I understand that regardless of what the shape physically represents, it's original symbolic meaning, or the engineering properties of building frames that way... People see it as a Nazi flag and probably always will.

If I saw someone holding a Nazi Flag, I would absolutely have a problem with that. That actually is a symbol of racism and (white) supremacist ideologies.

But I think we need to come together to take the swastika back as a symbol of strength and power through togeatheness and mutual support. Or, at the very least, not assume it's racist to use that shape to build better buildings and virtual seige engines.

I think there should be a separation between the Nazi flag and the shape. In the same way that stars aren't seen as a bad thing just because North Korea put one on their flag.

[ChrisMaster69]

Nope not at all.

there needs to be context.

Ignorance tends to be when people decide things without knowing the context.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/netflix-show-dark-tourist-features-war-and-peace-revival-show-in-paddock-wood-kent-complete-with-reenactors-next-to-nazi-banner-bm0k25cws

[Anonymous]

Thinking a rank-and-file Nazi is racist is the same exact thing as thinking a modern Democrat is racist, because the only reason they did those things and believed those things was they were told to by their leadership, who were evil. It was wrong but they didn't know that because their leaders told them it was right. The same way Democrats believe everything Biden and Harris and Pelosi and Schumer and CNN and Hollywood tell them to believe. Everyday Democrats are stupid, not evil.

[Lost_in_the_Woods]

That is a good point.

But, I think mindlessly supporting racist opressors because you are too selfish, lazy and wilfully ignorant to know better is honestly even worse than doing it because you agree with them.

At least most racists know deep down that they are the bad guys, and they are wrong.

Sheep who fly the flag actually go home and pat themselves on the back for doing the right thing.

I'd rather be friends with an actual racist than someone in 2021 who has internet access and still thinks taking money from one person to give it to another based exclusively on skin color is a good thing.

Racists know they do bad things, so at least there is a chance they will try to change. Leftists support racism, opresion, and the removal of free speech and then pat themselves on the back and call anyone who disagrees a bigot. (I've seen many go so far as to say anyone who disagrees should be put to death)

Even the real racists don't usually go that far in 2021. Most openly racist people I know don't support genocide or ethnic cleansing, and don't think they are they are doing the right thing. Most of them know it's wrong, they just want separation because they feel unsafe.

I can understand that and cut them some slack. I can't cut people slack for mindlessly supporting opresion or supporting genocide just because CNN said the other guys were bad.

If you have internet access, there is no excuse for being that ignorant. It's just pure selfishness, and in my opinion that is worse than being openly racist.

[ShadowMaster451]

Hitler made the nazis corrupt. Being proud of the nazi flag, is not specifically a good thing. And also I do believe a modern democrat is racist because of how they are biased towards races, and anyone that is attracted to different genders. For example: "All black people should protest for their rights" even though they already have rights. "White old rich men" is a big stereotype, not as bad as the racists against black people and that sorta thing but could get worst. "All people that are gay, bi, lesbian, etc. should be in Lgbtq+ community." sounds like a cult to me. Sorry went on a bit of a rant

[Lost_in_the_Woods]

You're good with me bro.

[ayari]

From a modern perspective, they may become discriminators. But things change with the times and perspectives

[DJB72]

If the photo - like the one you used - was of soldiers at the end of WW2 who captured German positions or liberated concentration camps and the flag is therefore being held as "spoils of war", no.

If it was taken in more recent times being waved by fascist sympathisers then the context speaks for itself.

[Curmudgeon]

Context is everything. The troops there had a war souvenir. I can think of numerous protests where the point is often made (rightly or wrongly) that the opponents position is Naziesque as well, using the symbol.

[InfobotLives]

I would consider the context. If there was no reasonable explanation, given the context, then I might assume the worst.

[Agape93]

Yeap. Nazis were aryan supremacists, aryans being white, blond haired and blue eyed. By default they were racist.

[menina]

Of course I would! It's obvious to me and I wouldn't want anything to do with that person.

[TommyMountainFigure]

I don't make assumptions about people. If I want to know something, I'd ask them

[victoria5475]

Yes, unless the person holding it happens to be a museum curator or Allied soldier after victory.

[FunkyMonkee]

I would assume they are either doing it as a joke or, if they weren't, I'd assume they were incredible assholes!!

[OddBeMe]

There’s a guy near me that has one pinned up in his window. Everyone in our neighborhood stays away from him. Either fright, or disgust. Does it matter which?

[rcljr]

No, what if they are with a war reenactment group? Museum curator? War memorabilia collector?

[Snakeyes7]

Not necessarily, I would assume that they operate under an authoritarian ideology (whether willingly or under threat of their life).

[Maria99_]

I do the Aryan brotherhood , people who have the same ideology fly the flags.

[Still-alive]

Unless its in a history class then yes I would assume this

[JesseJayNeak]

Not necessarily. A picture doesn't tell the whole story

[Tamera952]

Hard to say without context.

[AmandaYVR]

Absolutely. Even worse. They want White Supremacy.

[lola333]

I'd just assume I don't want to be near them...

[Wise4myage]

Well yeah, but not the GI holding up a souvenir.

[ShadowMaster451]

Uh no. Nazis are more biased to jews than races.

[TheOracle10]

Ambiguous and stupid question.