The swastika is a story of symbolic corruption. While it is still strongly associated with good meanings in eastern countries and cultures, it is the symbol of ultimate evil in many western cultures. Like a lot of things, the Nazi’s of World War II have done a good job reminding humanity why we can’t have nice things. They rotated this peaceful symbol 45 degrees and then flipped it, a small difference that led to genocide. Despite the thousands of years it has spent in Buddhism and Hinduism as symbol of good luck, it is within the last 100 years that many people look at it with disgust. Thanks Nazis.
It has sparked some controversy. Many in the east still consider it under it’s traditional context while many western people, especially those who are directly affected by the Holocaust, treat it as a great insult. With two drastically different views, how can there be solidarity. After all, both of these perspectives have their points. Both believe in their arguments. I believe that the talks between Jewish historian, Steven Heller, and Japanese Buddhist Priest, T.K. Nakagaki, are important because despite the fact that they have very different views, they are both fighting on the same side of good against evil.
So it was interesting to learn that a similar yet opposite evolution happened to another symbol, one that is more rooted in the modern context of the internet. Pepe the Frog was originally created as a non-political meme that was eventually made into a alt-right symbol in 2016 during the height of the Trump presidential campaign. Yet, in 2020, the same symbol was made into one of democracy by the people of Hong Kong.
I don’t think poor Pepe or the creators had ever thought they would be in the middle of a political and philosophical tug-of-war. Even though the creators have denounced the western alt-right and have stood in solidarity with the protestors of Hong Kong, I can remember when a friend of mine showed me his entire folder of Pepe memes while high off his mind. It seems that the more open a symbol can be to interpretation, the more room there is for serious association.
It is strange to compare Pepe to the swastika. The frog is a silly internet meme meant to appeal to a generation of silly, bizarre humor. The swastika is an old, historied symbol rooted in both spiritual importance and one of the most important wars in modern history.
Yet, perhaps Pepe is that important and I am simply unable to see it through the lens of the contemporary. Perhaps, in a thousand years, when our memes become folklore, mythology, and legend, they will tell tales of Pepe. Maybe, they will tell of a God that humans fought over, trying to convince him to either join the fight for good or evil.
It’s a bit much to think about. Again, from this contemporary lens, it is absolutely absurd. However, time has a way of glorifying or de-emphasizing the importance of things. The intense emotions that we feel for the swastika may become nothing more than casual attitude and Pepe might rise as the most contentious of political and philosophical debates. Much like I am forced to simulate this future reality, these future people will have to do their best to recreate their past, our current present.
In the grand scheme, where a higher dimensional being views our life like a comic book, all of our thoughts and actions available to them all at once—do they view our actions as meaningful? Is our fight over these symbols and their meanings a reflection of the constant human struggle? Is this a part of the eternal spiritual warfare over the fate of humanity’s soul?
I don’t have the answers to that question. I just wish that people would stop trying to convince me that racism is cool.
Danger Wonka 