16 THURSDAY, February 24, 2022 • New West Record
City RACISM
Councillor asks MP to amend anti-hate bill Theresa McManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca
A symbol that’s widely associated with white supremacy has a far different meaning for many people who consider it a symbol of well-being. On Feb. 14, New West city council considered a request from New Westminster-Burnaby MP Peter Julian to support his private member’s bill, which would prevent anyone from selling and displaying symbols that promote hatred and violence. Under Bill C-229, symbols that would be banned include swastikas and other Nazi emblems, Ku Klux Klan symbols and Confederate flags. Coun. Chinu Das said she supports the bill but recommended council ask
Julian to tweak the bill to ensure the word “Nazi” appears before “swastika” each time it’s used in the bill. Das noted Julian’s motion is being put forward with the goal of being respectful and welcoming to all and addressing the increasing number of racist incidents that have occurred during the pandemic. “The fact is, the swastika was co-opted by Hitler and made into a hatred symbol,” she said. “But if you really look at the word, the word swastika comes from the Sanskrit word svastika. Svastika means well-being. So there is two sides to this word – there is one that is interpreted as a hatred symbol, and swastika, in three major religions – Hinduism, Buddhism
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and Jainism – looks at it in terms of well-being.” If the goal is to be inclusive and respectful, Das said consideration needs to be given to the fact that many people still use this symbol in a positive way and interpret the word in a different way than the Nazis. She noted the swastika symbol is sometimes seen in doorways and entranceways to homes and is displayed on auspicious days such as birthdays and weddings as a way of welcoming people and hoping for their well-being. “I know I talked about Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, but it’s not just the eastern cultures. If you really look into the origins of the swastika symbol, it goes back into the western culture as well.
said. “It does not mean There’s a lot of documenhatred to them.” tation around it. In fact, Das said she doesn’t the oldest artifact found shows the swastika symbol want the original intent of what a swastika was or still is 15,000 years old,” Das means to some people to said. “So, for someone in be lost. history to corrupt it and “I know it use it for a short may seem trivial period and then it to all of you who gets synonymous probably don’t with hatred is a have the history sad commentary that I have, but on our society.” it does mean a Das said she lot to me that fully supports Juthis term is also lian’s bill but both respected asked that it be for what it was slightly changed originally and to ensure that the Chinu Das motion references Councillor what it needs to “Nazi swastika” be,” she said. instead of “swastika.” Mayor Jonathan Cote “We are trying to do the suggested the city’s letter right thing here, but also to Julian include an explato do the right thing by nation of the reason for members of this commucouncil’s request to add nity who may be Hindus, “Nazi” before “swastika” Buddhists or Jains,” she in his bill.
“I wasn’t actually aware myself personally of that history with that term,” he said. “I do appreciate you raising that. I do think it is important to add to this discussion.” Coun. Jaimie McEvoy said there’s been a habit of people appropriating and using existing symbols in ways that are different than their original meanings. He said it’s been difficult to see images of people flying of Nazi and Confederate flags on the lawns of Parliament in Ottawa in recent weeks. “There is no place in Canada for bringing your Nazi flag to Parliament and flying it on the lawn,” he said. “So, I think that given what’s happened in the last couple of weeks, this is especially timely.”
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