Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: dweinste@wookumz.gnu.ai.mit.edu (David Weinstein) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Swastika Message-ID: Date: 22 Apr 91 08:08:58 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Chaos under Glass Lines: 26 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article mls@sfsup.att.com (Mike Siemon) writes: #In article , #sandrock@aries.scs.uiuc.edu (Mark Sandrock) writes: # #> in the "natural" direction of rotation, i.e., clockwise, the American Indian #> symbol has a "stroking" effect, whereas the swastika has a "tearing" effect. # #This has only the most tangential relevance to soc.religion.christian, but #I wonder WHAT the ??? you mean by "natural" direction of rotation? The #way our (analogue!) clocks turn is essentially an arbitrary choice of one #of two possibilities. If you turn fylfot & swastika the OTHER way, then #which one is "stroking" and which "tearing" is suddenly different. It isn't nearly so "arbitrary" as you make it out to be. "Clockwise" in analogue clocks is the direction it is because that is the direction of the shadows on a sundial in the northern hemisphere. Since (if I am not mistaken) both the fylfot and the swastika are sun symols, assigned a sunwise rotation isn't a terribly "arbitrary" decision... --Dave -- Dave Weinstein Internet: dweinste@isis.cs.du.edu Disclaimer: You aren't serious, are you? dweinste@gnu.ai.mit.edu In the beginning, there was nothing. And God said, "Let there be Light." And there was still nothing. But, you could see it.