Letters to the Editor
Editor's note
To bring closure to what has been ongoing dialogue in "Letters to the Editor," the following letters will be the last we print regarding the issue of the swastika. We have tried to print a representative sample from writers with differing and interesting points of view. Our intent has never been to offend anyone or to take an official position on this topic.
The sport of aeromodeling should welcome all people, regardless of color, culture, religious, and/or political beliefs. This magazine seeks to include, rather than exclude, people with an interest in model aviation.
Whether you agree or disagree with the points raised about this issue, it is hoped that all of us can agree that model aviation is a source of satisfaction, camaraderie, and, most of all, enjoyment to all.
Swastika Debate, Continued
Don Roden — Huntsville, Alabama
I have a 1-cent postcard that was sent to my future grandmother by my grandfather dated May 12, 1900, 1906, or 1908 (postmark illegible).
The front is a multicolor picture with several scenes, one showing two hearts pierced by an arrow with the inscription "love." The three other scenes are "light," "luck," and "life." There is a large yellowish-red swastika in the center of the card.
The back of the card says "Good Luck Emblem," and under that says, "'The Swastika' is the oldest cross and emblem in the world. It forms a combination of four Ls, standing for Luck, Light, Love, and Life. It has been found in ancient Rome, excavations of Grecian cities, on Buddhist idols, on Chinese coins dated 915 B.C., and our own Southwest Indians use it as an amulet. It is claimed that the Mound Builders and cliff dwellers of Mexico and Central America consider the swastika a charm to drive away evil and bring good luck, long life, and prosperity to the possessor."
So the swastika has been around for a long time and was used by many cultures well before the Germans adopted it for their standard.
Paul Saratowski — Port Kent, New York
The cross was a national symbol. The swastika was a party symbol. The only countries to use the swastika were those like Romania, Finland, and other Balkan countries.
Had no choice, I would be glad to debate this subject with anyone. I am 65 and a Jew on my mother's side. Try waving that swastika in some neighborhoods and it might get some attention. I noticed since last year the ARFs of German aircraft do not have a swastika on the tail. I don't think political correctness is the case here.
"Chief" Anthony Nero — Hudson, New York
Many moons ago the white man came to this great free land of ours. White man say he come in peace and meant no harm. He said that all our gods were all false gods and that only his God was real. When they saw all the riches of our land, they began taking it away from us. They said we were savages and started to kill us and our women and children to get our land, which they did.
They put my people in concentration camps they called reservation camps, where many of my people starved and died.
So please, Mr. Van Vechten, do not show the American insignia on your model airplanes because it offends us very much.
Alan C. Welling — San Marcos, Texas
In reference to the letter from Mr. John W. Rawlings in the March 2001 MA, can you think of anything that you like that someone else does not—even as to using salt on your food? To say you dislike the name on a Mitsubishi car is childish.
What about Honda? Maybe you should try a Schwinn, as I doubt you will find any American car that doesn't have Japanese parts in it. Next, throw away your cameras, your appliances, TV, and even switch to TUMS® for your bellyache, as Prevacid® was invented in Japan.
I spent some time in Japan and, just like you, the people there didn't want war, but fought because they were forced to by their leaders. I worked in a machine shop in Tokyo with about 30 Japanese workers, and their training and accuracy of their work is to be commended.
Now that you have discarded anything and everything from Japan, all you will have left is yourself. Good luck.
Ed Clayman — NASA webmaster
Mr. Van Vechten and associates need not rewrite the AMA Scale rules to "enjoy" their dislike for Axis emblems and national insignia. To satisfy their need for isolationism, they need only develop accurate documentation to duplicate any Axis aircraft captured during WWII.
Competitive Scale modeling is supposed to be accurate and fun. It appears here we see a definite need for both. If you need assistance developing accurate and "fun-to-use" documentation, visit www.scaleaero.com/amascale.htm — the National Association of Scale Aeromodellers' Virtual FBO (Fixed Base Operation).
We'll see you guys at the Scale National Championships in Muncie the first week in July.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
