Swastika quilt donated to Greeley Museums is quirk of history

Denver Post ^ | 06/28/2010 | Monte Whaley

[Lancey Howard]

I can hardly believe my eyeballs. ‘The Trail of the Ragged Fox’ was one of my Dad’s favorite books as a young man. A few years before he died in 2006 (at age 78) he asked me to try to find him a copy of that book.

[Daffynition]

I hope it’s not a painful memory for you. Were you able to find the book for him?

[Defiant]

Is that the one in South Dakota? If so, I’ve been there. Is there still a swastika on it? I don’t remember that.

[Clemenza]

They change the design/theme every year, once the birds pick off all of the corn.

[Yaelle]

This is interesting. I know somewhere else where there is a partial quilt, framed, from at least 100 years ago, that has various patterns stitched into it including a swastika. I had always wondered about that, but I knew it had been a symbol in some American Indian art.

[Lancey Howard]

No, I never found it. I even requested help from the local librarian but got nowhere. This was actually about ten years ago that Dad asked me to try to find that book and I was not at all computer/internet savvy. Today I’m sure I could find that book - - and nearly anything else - - quite quickly. I still have the piece of paper on which he wrote the book title.

No painful memories at all - - nothing but great memories, although I sure do miss him.

Thanks for asking, and FRegards,
LH

[thecodont]

I've had good luck with Alibris. They have this book.

http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?binding=&mtype=B&keyword=Trail+of+the+Ragged+Fox&hs.x=0&hs.y=0&hs=Submit

[Lancey Howard]

Thanks for the link!

[drew]

You sucker punched me with that one! I’m, literally, laughing out loud.

[stlnative]

fylfot cross (fylfot meaning ‘four feet’)

http://www.google.com/images?q=fylfot+cross&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=mbQpTPDHE5P9nQfg4_ygAQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CCYQsAQwAw

[stlnative]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/starycat/3317576632/

The swastika is an ancient symbol of good luck and was converted by early pioneers into a quilt pattern. Other names for this pattern are Rolling Cross, Broken Cross and Flyfoot. It was done by the owners grandmother around 1890. It was made in East Salem, PA. This quilt is in very good condition. The swastika symbol became the hated symbol of Hitler’s Nazi Germany. From the time of the Second World War...this quilt has been tucked away in a cedar chest.

[Daffynition]

Interesting how the icon has *found* its way into pop culture ... turning up unexpectedly...

[Daffynition]

Excellent images! Thanks.

[Brugmansian]

"Oh, my God," said University of Colorado history professor David Shneer

Civilization is dead. History professors are at the intellectual level of reality TV.

[Daffynition]

Good finds!

[uglybiker]

Yet Hitler's use of the swastika changed people's perception of it, Quinn said.

That is the 'quirk of history'. Not the quilt.

It's not their fault a bunch of dipsh*ts over in Germany corrupted its meaning for generations to come.

[Daffynition]

Perhaps it is deemed that we not notice such things...

[Daffynition]

Smoke 'em if ya got 'em.

[Daffynition]

The *eyes* on that guy are amazing! LOL

Another surprise...

[Habibi]

“Hopefully, it will educate in the positive way you describe. ;)”

Indeed. But if the opportunity is not offered, the education will not happen. It is a pretty quilt, and our family has a few, though nothing as confusing as that one.

Frankly, I’m rather surprised that folks are making as big a deal about it. The swastika is a pervasive historical/political/religious symbol, as evidenced by all of the pictures in this thread. I dare say, most people don’t know that. Being part Irish, part indian, and part human (as my German father told me) I suppose I should be pretty well imprinted on the swastika. It’s just a symbol though, with a complex history.