[ssf] Comic interlude on the subject of the Swastika

[Chris Malins]

Baden-Powell really did have an instinct for the right wing in life.


http://www.pinetreeweb.com/bp-can3.htm

The Swastika
 From Baden-Powell, What Scouts Can Do: More Yarns, 1921

On the stole of an ancient bishop of Winchester, Edyndon, who died in 
1366, is the Swastika or Scouts' Thanks Badge. It was at that time 
called the " Fylfot," and was said to represent Obedience or Submission, 
the different arms of the cross being in reality legs in the attitude of 
kneeling.

But as you know from the account of the Swastika Thanks Badge which I 
have given you in Scouting for Boys, this symbol was used in almost 
every part of the world in ancient days, and therefore has various 
meanings given to it.

It has been found engraved on weapons belonging to the Norsemen. It was 
also engraved on the spindles used by the ancient Greeks in their- 
weaving at Troy.

In India rice is spread on the ground in the form of the Swastika at the 
baptism of a baby boy to bring him luck.

The Indians in North America use it as an ornament, and it has been 
found engraved on ancient pottery in Peru.

How it got from one country to another, separated as they are by oceans, 
it is difficult to guess, but some people who say they know all about 
these things, affirm that there was once a great continent where now 
there is the Atlantic Ocean, but it went under the sea in an earthquake.

This continent was called Atlantis, and joined up Europe with America.

It was supposed to have four vast rivers running from a central mountain 
in different directions—North, East, South, and West—and the Swastika is 
merely a map of Atlantis showing those four rivers rising from the same 
center.
The Thanks Badge

Anyway, whatever its origin was the Swastika now stands for the Badge of 
Fellowship among Scouts all over the world, and when anyone has done a 
kindness to a Scout it is their privilege to present him—or her—with 
this token of their gratitude, which makes him a sort of member of the 
Brotherhood, and entitles him to the help of any other Scout at any time 
and at any place.

I want specially to remind Scouts to keep their eyes open and never fail 
to spot anyone wearing this badge. It is their duty then to go up to 
such person, make the Scout sign, and ask if they can be of any service 
to the wearer.

I have heard of several instances where Scouts have done this, and it 
has greatly increased the value of the Thanks Badge to the persons who 
were wearing it when they found that Scouts recognized it and were 
anxious to do a Good Turn to them.