Forum

Nesta wrote:
You guys have written a lot. I can't wait to read it later tonight. 

absintjente wrote:
im gona elaborate some more:

i dont really like how pop sciency history makes it seem like the christenization was some brutal and barbaric process where olav den hellige walked around and killed anyone who disagreed in the span of one year. it was a slow progress, and a lot of kings and jarls converted without having to be threatened. they just saw god, or whatever.
besides the point, but i had to say it! 

the thing about symbols and language, which symbols fall under, is that the language users have the power of definition. if we want to disassociate with (b), we just... have to. we have to use language the way we want it to be seen. furthermore, i dont think we should abstain from practicing our own culture to please americans who may view in a different light than we do. in fact, using the symbols correctly and innocently, is the very way we disassociate them wit (neo)nazism.

all that said, i dont deny that right wing groups/white supremacists even in the nordics use the symbols, but at least there are people here who can say "what on earth are you doing to gunnalug ormstunge" because they have the knowledge to recognize the appropriation - and more often than not, that knowledge is dispersed through the entire population

Sylvan wrote:

Is there academic effort and programs to teach the 'true' history and culture that includes source criticism (is that the word in English idk). History as a modern academic discipline is very much interested in being critical about sources and putting them into perspective, considering the the time of creation, etc. 

I think it would be a promising alliance to combine historical research and the people trying to connect with their heritage. 

Those are just my thoughts as an outsider so I may be wrong

DUCKBOY wrote:
surely, it sucks bc people tend to see certain symbols as owned by hateful groups. lets say the swastika, that its actually an old symbol that has been historically part of many ancient religions but taken in the 20s by nazis- its usage by them shouldnt really change the fact that it was born as a symbol that literally means "well-being". its hard, though, to use it because we all agree that whenever we see an swastika we think of nazis, and thats sad cause it basically erases the whole history behind it. i think that as long as people actually learn about the origins of symbols, i think everyone should be ok with using symbols that have been used by these groups. 
in conclusion -n bc i may have lots of grammatical mistakes-, learn about the history behind symbols and use them correctly