the funny thing is that in the UK at various times hanging a UK flag on your wall would have people thinking you were some sort of rabid right wing neo nazi nutter.
I don't usually show people, or display it.
I don't display it, but will show people I know will understand. and find it interesting
I display it, but only in an office or back room.
I display my stuff proudly for all to see.
the funny thing is that in the UK at various times hanging a UK flag on your wall would have people thinking you were some sort of rabid right wing neo nazi nutter.
Regards,
Jerry
Whatever its just an opinion.
Even in Australia, the national flag has been decried as a symbol of racism. Apparantly, displaying the national flag seems to imply you are a nationalist, with the next logical (to the bleeding heart, PC brigade) step being that you are a national socialist.
"When it comes to collecting Third Reich material, many people automatically equal "interest" with "identification": That guy is interested in Nazi stuff, so he must be a Nazi."
This can be oh so true, a friend of my daughter was visiting and spotted my collection, she became irate and called me a nazi straight to my face, i tried reasoning with her telling her a nazi would not have a part Jewish wife but she was having none of it and i ended up asking her to leave.
I'm too old to care what people think of me but now i only show my collection to people who show a genuine interest!...
My collection is hidden away as having a German Frau there are often varied and assorted Germans staying (presently we have 4 German ladies with us). My current University module is 1914 -1989 War, peace and Modernity. Therefore my bookcase is full of books on such varied topics as Wiemar, The suffragettes, Stalin, Weltpolitik, Freikorp, Liberal democracy etc, etc and what book do they unfailingly pick out and ask why are you interested in HIM, you've guessed it Ian Kershaws biography of 'Hitler'. Trying to have a a balanced and open minded conversation regarding Hitler or the 3rd Reich is just impossible. To even suggest that some of the reforms introduced in the 1930's such as social care and social housing were in some way enlightened generally brings a look of horror to their faces.
IMO, when people are in your home they should respect your interests and belongings.
A flag is as previously said a strong symbol, no matter what flag. Flags should only be displayed on a wall if it's a part of a larger collection with other items close to it (same room), or people can easily give you a weird look and start to wonder.
I display my items in the open, not many have seen my collection, but no negative comments have been received, at least not yet.
There is NO bastard will EVER stop me proudly flying our flag in OUR country. I don't care who thinks I'm a racist, I am proud of my country, my family have fought for it and it is my right to do so. (not having a go at you Glenn or anyone else)
On the original thread though, I think a lot of it comes down to how you display your pieces, if you hang these flags and banners in such a way that it looks to the outsider that you are embracing the ideology then you're asking for trouble. I only have one nazi flag, it is a small pennant, it is stained, torn and I have it draped through the rubble of my display in a beaten, defeated way. I'm happy with the way it looks and I'd be pretty surprised if anyone thought I supported the ideology because I have it. I also proudly have a full sized WW2 Australian flag hanging in the same room, along with an Australian uniform.
Nationalism can be be a positive position to take. Nationalism doesn't equal extremism in my book.
I collect, therefore I am.
Nothing in science can explain how consciousness arose from matter.
I don't know about the communist symbolism in Eastern Europe, but the bit about the Imperial Japanese iconography is very true. The rising sun flag is seen as very offensive in east Asia, especially in places like China, where the swastika is incidentally not viewed negatively due to its centuries old associations with Buddhism.
It's a sad truth but there are collectors out there who collect this stuff for the sole reason of the ideology the items represent. That said, most in our hobby, I think, don't and aren't in anyways radical racist. This thread is a great example of that and it makes me proud to be a member here.
Ade also recently banned a member who was obviously a rasict, which I thank him for. Many of the other fora could careless as so long said members pay their dues.
Well on the topic of the poll, I have told very few people outside of my family about it. I could probably count the people on one hand actually. I think probably only two people actually. I have never even gotten around to telling my best friend. I guess it's very much a private passion with me. I have alot of Jewish friends and I don't think most of them would take lightly to my collecting. Maybe one day I will be more open about it, but for now I shall enjoy my hobby in private.
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