Etsy Bans All Redskins Items, Allows 456 Swastika Items

written by Jeanine Martin September 10, 2014

Etsy.com sells handmade craft and vintage items from thousands of small businesses. Yesterday the Etsy blog posted this statement, [read_more]

Our vision at Etsy is that business can be used for good, and that thinking about our impact on people and values can go hand in hand with thinking about profits. As we grow, our commitment to that vision remains at the core of our identity and is woven into the decisions we make in running our business, from the sourcing of our office supplies to the benefits we provide to our employees to what kind of content we allow to be sold through our website.

Today we seek to balance two principles that are critically important to us: freedom of speech and protection from discrimination. Freedom of speech and expression is important to us because we are a community of artists, artisans, and curators of all backgrounds, aesthetics, and viewpoints. If you search our site, you will see a wide variety of items testifying to our diversity and our seemingly limitless creativity.

This freedom, however, is not without limits. In the past, we have taken actions to protect our community and to preserve our integrity as both a creative and an ethical space. We want Etsy to be safe, welcoming, and respectful for everyone, including artists, women, and minorities. For this reason, it has long been against our policies to allow content on our site that demeans people based upon race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, or sexual orientation.

You may have been following the struggle of one ethnic group that has made a lot of headlines lately: Native Americans and their fight against the Washington, D.C. professional football team name and mascot, which they have long considered offensive, disparaging, and racist. This very poignant ad was followed by a decision by the US Patent and Trademark Office to cancel the team’s trademarks. Following this decision, an increasing number of public figures, politicians, schools, news publications, and private companies have spoken out in protest of the name and mascot.

Like the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, we at Etsy find the opinion of the minority group itself to carry most weight in determining whether the mascot is disparaging. In no uncertain terms, Native American groups have consistently advocated and litigated that the term “redskin(s)” is disparaging and damaging to Native Americans. Therefore, it will no longer be permitted in our marketplace.

Etsy will no longer permit people to buy and sell Redskins items on their site but will allow the sale of items in Redskins’ colors and those items that pertain to Washington DC. How very generous of them.

They are very concerned about the feelings of Native Americans but have no concern about the feelings of Jews and the majority of Americans who are offended by Nazi items. Etsy currently offers 456 different items featuring swastikas., including 63 swastika pendants and necklaces. So, I can’t buy a Redskins’ pendant on Etsy but I have my choice of swastika pendants. Wonderful. Political Correctness hypocrisy at its finest. Needless to say, I will no longer visit the Etsy site or purchase any items sold on the site.

Jeanine Martin

Also known as Lovettsville Lady, I am a Republican activist in the wilds of western Loudoun County.

qxe

So let me get this straight: you’re going to boycott Etsy because they banned RedSkin stuff but allow swastikas, but you’re a Republican activist who (if you back your party) agrees that the Citizens United decision was a peachy-keen idea that should be preserved?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/senate-republicans-filibuster-constitutional-amendment-citizens-united

I can provide links if you wish, but the same Republican party you embrace is also widely known for denying climate change, evolution, the rights of same sex couples, affordable healthcare for the poor and middle class, planned parenthood, minimum wage increases and cutting funding for school lunches to protect tax cuts for millionaires and you’re telling me you’re morally outraged?

That’s just perfect.
- TecumsehHolmes
  
  So let me get this straight: Rather then comment on the content of the article you attack the writer of it? *clap* ….. *clap* …… *clap ……
  - SmokeyBehr
    
    It’s what’s to be expected of Liberals when they have no real argument: Attack the messenger, and not the message.
    - allrollingwolf
      
      It’s what to be expected of idiots who group everyone into two categories (Liberal, and Republican)… to completely miss the point… And anyways, the first paragraph of his/her comment is a direct comment about the content of the article… It’s not even an argument, it’s plain fact… Right in front of your eyes.
      
      Just. Stop.
    - qxe
      
      Oh, there’s plenty wrong with her silly diatribe, but it’s seriously not worth wasting keystrokes over. As it relates to her “Republican Activism” on the other hand, is worth calling out with a bit of text.
  - qxe
    
    The content of the article is just silly. Plenty of others here have mentioned that the swastika has deeper origins than its misappropriation by the Nazi party, but I found the more interesting story was that the writer was a Republican “activist” and she was so incensed by Etsy’s seemingly inexcusable mistake of not banning the “wrong” items according to her taste.
    - Jeanine Martin
      
      I don’t want them to ban anything. I’m pointing out their hypocrisy.
      - qxe
        
        Why exactly? Why spend the time getting your dander up and proclaiming that you’ll “no longer visit the Etsy site or purchase any items sold on the site”? Was it your beloved and much maligned Redskins that you were compelled to defend so vehemently?
        
        Help me understand.
        
        Personally, I think it’s just to drive traffic to your blog and have something to brag about to your friends and family, but I’m sure you have a much more altruistic explanation like… “It needed to be said!!” or “I’m an American and this has to staaawwwp!”
      - Kit Love
        
        Please, save my hop ein humanity… do a google search… educate yourself… and grow from this instead of slipping further into denial. Hitler loved crosses too, do you think etsy its a hypocrite for not banning them?
  - qxe
    
    Again, see my comment below: “The content of the article is just silly. Plenty of others here have mentioned that the swastika has deeper origins than its misappropriation by the Nazi party, but I found the more interesting story was that the writer was a Republican “activist” and she was so incensed by Etsy’s seemingly inexcusable mistake of not banning the “wrong” items according to her taste.”
- Ekwinoks
  
  your attacking the republican party in general as opposed to commenting on anything relating to the actual article
  - qxe
    
    See my comments above: “The content of the article is just silly. Plenty of others here have mentioned that the swastika has deeper origins than its misappropriation by the Nazi party, but I found the more interesting story was that the writer was a Republican “activist” and she was so incensed by Etsy’s seemingly inexcusable mistake of not banning the “wrong” items according to her taste.”
- SmokeyBehr
  
  You obviously don’t understand the Citizens United decision, and you obviously have been brainwashed by the Left-wing media by what you think of Republicans. Talking to you is going to be an exercise in futility, because you’ll obviously fail to see the lies you’ve been fed, and the truth known as facts.
  - allrollingwolf
    
    You talk about brainwashing? You attack this person for bringing up completely factual and legitimate concerns… “denying climate change, evolution, the rights of same sex couples, affordable healthcare for the poor and middle class, planned parenthood, minimum wage increases and cutting funding for school lunches to protect tax cuts for millionaires”… on what basis??? Seriously, call those all lies.
    - qxe
      
      He can’t, allrollingwolf. He knows those are the positions of his steaming pil… I mean party, and they’ve been expounded and defended by everyone in the GOP for years. Sure, they try to walk it back when they’ve gone so deep into crazytown even they can’t look in the mirror, but essentially I hit the broad strokes of all their pet planks.
      
      He’ll just keep resorting to calling me ignorant of the truth (or the Gospel according to Saints Hannity, Beck, Malkin, Colter and Limbaugh). He’s all bark and no valid links to back up his claims. 😉
  - qxe
    
    Really? I don’t understand Citizens United? Please enlighten me (and 80% of the rest of America http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2010/02/in-supreme-court-ruling-on-campaign-finance-the-public-dissents/) and tell me how I’m grossly misunderstood this highly nuanced and complicated decision.
    
    Also, please help me see the lies I’ve been fed, and what the “true facts” are. I feel I’m fairly well versed in the details of the positions and talking points of the Republican party in regards to the main issues I listed earlier, so I’d be very interested in seeing any links to these truths to which I’ve been so blinded.
    
    Go ahead, I’ll wait while you gather your links.
John Lee

It honestly reminds me of the things listed at Rub Maps
- qxe
  
  What are you talking about exactly? When I google “rub maps” it’s some app for the locations of massage parlors. What does that have to do with this discussion?
  - panchizzy
    
    Ie “jerk off”
    - qxe
      
      You’re right. John Lee certainly sounds like a “jerk off”
Kimberly Love

Swastikas are not just a Nazi symbol. It is upsetting that the Nazi’s were the ones to make it become widely known and is now associated with them but if you research a little it becomes known that is religious and used in Southeast Asia commonly.
- Jeanine Martin
  
  Yes, most Americans, and the rest of the world, associate swastikas with Nazis because it was the symbol Hitler chose. Yes, others have used the symbol. Is that your point?
  - panchizzy
    
    Point is those items have nothing to do with racism or stereotypes and to claim so is wildly ignorant and laughable.
    - Jeanine Martin
      
      Oh my. Swastikas aren’t associated with Hitler and the deaths of millions of Jews? That is wildly ignorant and absurd.
      - Knowledge
        
        Although hitler used the swastika in his propaganda, take note that most of the items on etsy aren’t referring to that use. I actually just learned something new just now by visiting etsy. I found that many of the items, such as this spoon have native american historical origins: https://www.etsy.com/listing/184223307/sterling-silver-grand-canyon-whirling
        Wikipedia mentions that the swastika motif is also found in native american art and iconography. “To the Hopi it represents the wandering Hopi clan; to the Navajo it is one symbol for the whirling log (tsil no’oli), a sacred image representing a legend that is used in healing rituals”
        
        The swastika has many other meanings and historical origins dating back to 2500BC, the redskins symbol on the other hand does not. This is why it is appropriate for etsy to ban the redskins logo as opposed to the swastika.
      - Stanley
        
        Racist
      - fishaddict
        
        So you are ok with using redskin artifacts just not the name huh?
      - Knowledge
        
        That being said, I agree that if indeed racist and hate-filled merchandise was being sold on etsy, it should be immediately taken down. However, it doesn’t seem that that is the case.
      - someone
        
        Not the ones on Etsy — but you already know that. You’re just being a troll.
      - Jeanine Martin
        
        I’m a troll on my own blog? Whatever. Glad you stopped by.
      - panchizzy
        
        yeah come on someone. she’s clearly not clever enough for that
      - Tonvanderliet
        
        American, check.
        Republican, check
        Ignorant, check.
        
        The Swastika has been abused by the nazis, in which it became a symbol for death for a part of humanity for about 70 years now. Compared to the thousands of years that the symbol exists and is actively used by about a billion people to reflect wishes for prosperity, peace and good luck.
        
        So yeah, good thing Etsy didn’t ban it,
      - Someone
        
        Foreign elitist, check.
        
        Didn’t do the research, check.
        
        http://www.etsy.com/market/nazi_germany
        
        Now what?
      - Someone Else
        
        Now what? What do you even mean? What does selling real historical items have to do with a corporation’s offensive logo? The Nazi’s for better or worse are a huge part of our recent past. The Redskin is as important as Ronald McDonald. Also why do you want to place restrictions and rules on businesses?
      - Someone
        
        And there you go.
        
        The nazis are a part of our history. So is racism, and the United States epanding west, slaughtering Apache, Blackfoot, Mohegan, Iroquois, Crow, Pequot, Pawnee, the list goes on – these people and nations that you refer to as “Native American” because you don’t have the respect for them to know their names.
        
        Yet to discount this portion of our history is bad ; discounting another portion of our history is good, because. When you demand a world in black and white, you can not have grey.
        
        I have no problem with history, but hypocrites have problems with history. They choose to ignore the steps – good, and bad – which have brought us to where we are today.
        
        Our over-sensitivity will be our downfall.
        
        As for me – how do I feel about this Redskins thing? We named our sports teams for things we think are strong – Warriors, Braves, Chiefs, Cowboys, Vikings, Patriots, Raiders, Blackhawks, Indians, and, gasp – Redskins. If they were the Washington Braves ; would there still be a problem? Naming your sports team for the strongest warriors of an indigenous tribe?
      - M.Land89
        
        Washington Braves, can’t you just look to the Atlanta Braves and get your answer there? They actually use to wear a symbol like the Redskins back when they were in Milwaukee but changed it later.
      - fishaddict
        
        That could be because there isn’t much in Wisconsin that isn’t named using indian words, landmarks, and so on. The Indians treat the state like sh*t and the libtards, like the beaten wife, go back over and over to beg forgiveness.
      - N0STromos
        
        Well there isn’t anything idolizing the Nazi’s on there. It’s all vintage historical items assumably from Nazi-era Germany. LOADS of people, (WW2 veterans included) collect Nazi artifacts.
      - Someone
        
        Neither is the redskins logo idolizing the slaughter, rape, and mistreatment of indigenous peoples.
        
        I’d be more inclined to say a picture of General Custer would be more of that nature.
      - Steve Albertson
        
        “Neither is the redskins logo idolizing the slaughter, rape, and mistreatment of indigenous peoples. I’d be more inclined to say a picture of General Custer would be more of that nature.” Precisely. Thank you. The Redskins name and logo are a veneration, not a debasement. If someone wants to choose to be offended by that, well, that’s their problem.
      - Ryan Dewey
        
        What kind of people currently use this for religious purposes if you don’t mind me asking? I am highly ignorant apparently.
      - Max
        
        God the ignorance on this blog… I’ve had enough internet for today!
        
        What religious group still used this symbol?! NONE!!
      - James Bond
        
        Tonvanderliet I have copied and pasted my reply to your ignorant cohort above, you too are ignorant of the difference between a Nazi Swastika and the symbol used by the billion people you speak so ignorantly of.
        
        ” the swastika “looking” symbol you are referring to in SE Asia is
        different from the Nazi Swastika. I am pretty confident you do not know
        that and will not figure it out but when you do, maybe you will have
        learned to do the research first rather than just show people how stupid
        you are.”
      - fishaddict
        
        And the native American is the only red skinned race in existence? Please. Lets go and not only ban the name from everywhere but in doing so cut ties with any and all social services to them as well. They tend to be a net drain on society at least in my part of the state while living high on the hog at the state’s expense. They claim to be their own autonomous nation so they need to start acting like it.
      - qxe
        
        Yes, actually, you ARE a troll on your own blog. You’re trolling Etsy and using the Holocaust to serve your aims.
      - ThoseApples
        
        No, you are a troll for continuing to argue a point that you are clearly wrong about.
      - Fat Woman With a Blog
        
        Yes, yes you are. The parent poster just is pointing out that to many people the swastika has a meaning that is completely separate from what you think it means. And that symbol is many many years older than the Nazi’s use of it. You wont cede that point, because it invalidates your argument though. The “Redskins” name as it has been used has always had a racist implication to it, unlike the swastika.
        
        I had to come back to your site to post this. And I looked at the “Bull Elephant” with the American flag. I can only assume this is just some conservative bull-headed fat woman’s blog trying to justify her need to keep racist symbols alive in America.
        
        Your argument fails. Because the swastika as used by the Nazi’s means something vile to you, does not mean it is the same for everyone else (although I suppose you don’t think Indians deserve to have their opinions respected). Whereas the “Redskin” phrase is, and always has been, a racist and derogatory symbol.
        
        Honestly woman, you sicken me.
      - tdpwells
        
        By all means, hang a swastika flag outside your front door and have fun convincing neighbors that you’re not a Nazi. You’ve nothing to fear from it, yeah?
        
        Because after all, to make that correlation is just ignorant. Right? How ignorant of those people to assume you’re a Nazi because of a simple swastika symbol at your door.
        
        Take pics and let us know how it goes.
      - teapartydoc
        
        2nd best comment I’ve seen today.
      - Someone
        
        Did you even search Etsy?
      - Max
        
        And you’re an idiot…
      - Eli
        
        Your argument had already been proven to be biased and offensive to another religion and culture. Stop defending it. When you find yourself at the bottom of a hole, you stop digging. Let the article speak for itself, and stop trying to suppress others’ opinions while expressing your own. Not everyone is going to agree. Just let it go and don’t respond to everyone who posts. Not trying to be rude, just stating what others are thinking and giving some advice to consider.
      - reddit
        
        What is wildly ubsurd is that you actually have followers…. Heheh….
      - panchizzy
        
        they’re also in every religion including christianity and judaism you silly goose http://x3.cdn03.imgwykop.pl/c3201142/comment_9XK2F3IT82OitrBiKdloCX0De1jBnaO5.jpg
      - Peggy Woods
        
        None of those symbols is exactly like the Nazi Swastika, which makes the argument invalid. The Swastika symbol represents alot of pain to generations of people so it is highly offensive. The Redskin graphic was designed with the help of Native Americans, the majority of whom do not find it in the least bit offensive. This whole ridiculous suit was brought by a few radical Native Americans who are taking advantage of the atmosphere of hate and division that is taking over the country. Etsy has no right discriminating against one group while allowing more offensive items to be sold.
      - An Hero
        
        No you stupid cow, Swastikas were around before Shitler misappropriated the symbol and modified it for use under his regime. You’re being racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic by choosing to mainly associate it with that scar in German history. It’s like that episode of South Park where the boys change the word “fag” to define loud, annoying Harley Riders instead of being a derogatory term toward homosexuals.
        
        Like the word “fag” the swastika has had many meanings, all of them peaceful save for one. We don’t call the Brits homophobes and they use the term “fag” in reference to cigarettes. If we don’t allow ourselves to see the proper meaning of this ancient symbol, then we have learned nothing from our mistakes in the past.
        
        You white trash, single minded, bigoted cow, get your uneducated ass out of my internets.
      - Youranidiot
        
        Seriously, how stupid are you Jeanine? Just in case your ignorance has blinded you – the nazi symbol faces the other way. Dumbass.
      - JD
        
        “Swastikas aren’t associated with Hitler and the deaths of millions of Jews?” This is a terribly ignorant statement. The swastika has been used for centuries before the Nazis by some of the oldest civilizations in the world. Please stop making a non-issue about something that clearly isn’t, and focus your time on more fruitful things.
      - CheckYourself
        
        This is extremely childish of you. The millions of Polish and Slavic and European peoples (after all, the war began on Polish soil and killed Polish citizens of Polish and Jewish descent) that were killed by Hitler’s armies had been using the symbol for thousands of years in their religion to represent multiple things. It has been used by Asian cultures as well to symbolize luck.
        
        No one can ruin anything for you without you letting them. I follow the Native European religion, and this symbol is an ancient part of that. If it has been debased in your eyes, don’t buy it. It is still a relevant part of my life.
        
        I’d rather wear a swastika around my neck with people like you analyzing it, than a representation of the genocides the British and French waged (and still wage culturally) on the Native Americans.
      - fishaddict
        
        The native Americans have it pretty good in America. They even have more rights then the “invaders” who curiously seem to be their main bread and butter.
      - Jens Hansen
        
        The only one that is wildly ignorant here is you
      - ThoseApples
        
        Your claim is wildly ignorant and absurd. The Nazi party hijacked a symbol that had been used as a religious symbol for thousands of years – and the items you are referencing are indeed religious symbols. You are simply wrong, and you did not do your research. You can either issue a retraction or continue to look like a horses arse that did not do her research before writing her blog post.
      - fishaddict
        
        So tell how many druids, Hopis, Aztecs, and jews do you suppose are going to be trolling the intertubes for religious relics? I have a relic with a swastika on it. Trouble is it throws a 8mm slug and most wierd websites will showcase because the swastika coupled with the item itself is deemed evil. Hmmm how can that be? It is merely a religious icon of a bygone age.
      - ThoseApples
        
        So, you have to be a druid, Hopi, Aztec, or jew to collect historic artifacts? I guess historians, museums, and collectors better find something else to do…
        idiot
      - fishaddict
        
        No you don’t, so I have to ask what about all those poor Indians that want a nice baseball cap or blanket those collectors that would like a perfectly inoccuous trinket? This is a private site that reserves the right to say what they would like to put on their page for sale. This idea libtards have that one groups offence is more important than any others is absurd. That is the crux of the discussion or should be. We have a case here in the states of a guy sawing the head off of a co- worker. The response is that we are not to worry because this guy while moslem, is not a terrorist, he is just a black guy who hates white people. It makes me think how low we have sunk to say look no moslem terrorism to see here just another black racist killing white folk.
      - Kit Love
        
        You have this many comment of people telling you you are very very wrong and you still refuse to do a simple google search and an edit to your blog showing you are wrong? (you are for the record)….Pretty sure that makes you the only wildly ignorant and absurd thing on here.
      - Someone
        
        Now hang on a second, you’re insulting this lady up, down, left, right, and around the block – but she’s an uneducated ass?
        
        You’re the one who clearly can’t have an educated argument. So stop making educated people look bad by hijacking the word educated.
        
        “But I went to college!”
        
        Then use your real name – and have your absolute base comment attached to your name – if you’re so proud of it. Maybe your professors can take a look at what their instruction created. Clearly, a shining example of higher education.
      - letscount
        
        How many internets do you have?
      - Peggy Woods
        
        You are no hero with a vicious verbal attack like that on someone you don’t even know. If you find her blog offensive then don’t read it, any halfway intelligent person is wise enough to do that. You just troll looking for opportunities to attack. Hero? Thanks for the laugh, you are nothing but an anonymous bully hiding behind a false identity because you are too cowardly to let people see who you really are.
      - teapartydoc
        
        You are now officially despicable.
      - fishaddict
        
        So you have effectively made the argument.
        
        You said:
        
        Like the word “fag” the swastika has had many meanings, all of them peaceful save for one. We don’t call the Brits homophobes and they use the term “fag” in reference to cigarettes. If we don’t allow ourselves to see the proper meaning of this ancient symbol, then we have learned nothing from our mistakes in the past.
        
        And lets change some of the words:
        
        Like the word “indian” the redskin has had many meanings, all of them peaceful save for one. We don’t call the Brits anti native american and they use the term “indian” in reference to people from india. If we don’t allow ourselves to see the proper meaning of this ancient symbol, then we have learned nothing from our mistakes in the past.
        
        So pray tell how is that any different save for wording? Seems to me that once again the libtards not only find a nook in which to wedge their convoluted argument deep enough to not be exposed to too much light and then follow that argument with the because shutup logic they are famous for. Sort of how the libtard “feels” that the average university is a hotbed of antiwomyn rape factories while forgetting the whole honor killing, genital mutilating, stoning women for not having enough men present for their rapes, hajis pretty much anywhere you see a group of moslems. One is easy because we have a tendency to have lives, jobs, and children to take care of while the other is aggrieved and worthy of someone else’s support and money. No the libtard is above that they wouldn’t soil themselves with going to a res and seeing what happens to the millions of dollars that flow there if the tribe has casinos. It is pretty much the ghetto in the woods.
    - Someone
      
      Have you even looked up the items that the author mentioned?
      
      Search Etsy for “Nazi” – you’ll find pictures of Hitler and turned swatstikas – on Nazi German themes. Now, will you say that those are symbols of love and buddhist peace?
      
      I know the Japanese character “Ban” for example – and it’s not turned 45 degrees. It’s got 90 degree angles on the outside. The turned cross is the swatstika – which is a symbol of hate.
      - panchizzy
        
        Fair enough but the author didn’t link to those Nazi articles… And the appropriate response would be to report them to etsy who would surely take them down, not boycott etsy…
      - Someone
        
        That’s the way everything works these days. Everyone is knee-jerk act out of anger, jump to conclusions ; which is really sad.
        
        Part right, part wrong ; but the point was overall in the right. I can see what she was thinking, but she missed the mark by being too general.
      - Someone Else
        
        Yes I have but what you are referring to are things that are historical significant. While the Nazi’s were wrong and did things of great horror they also started a World War the pretty much changed the course of this entire planet. The Redskin should not be compared to this, it’s a corporate logo that uses an offensive stereotype.
  - Knowledge
    
    The swastika is an ancient symbol that has been found worldwide, but it is especially common in India. Its name comes the Sanskrit word svasti (sv = well;asti = is), meaning good fortune, luck and well-being. This original meaning of the swastika is a far cry from Western associations of the symbol, which are largely negative. It is still largely used as a symbol of good luck in india and many articles on etsy are either historical artifacts from WWII Germany or hindu symbols of good luck and prosperity.
    - Knowledge
      
      You can learn more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika
    - Jeanine Martin
      
      Yes, I am aware that other countries have used the symbol but most people in America, Etsy’s customers, associate the symbol with the death of millions of Jews, gays, children, the elderly and handicapped during WWII.
      - knowledge
        
        If you visit etsy and search for “swastika” you will come to realize that most of the items fall into one of two categories. Either they are (1) WWII artifacts or (2) hindu/buddhist good luck charms. Hindus, Jains, and buddhists (millions of whom live in the united states as your friends and neighbors and want to purchase these items on etsy) post swastikas on their doors as a symbol of good luck. If you actually take a look at the items posted on etsy, you’ll come to realize that you are seeing religious symbols of peace that represent god in his universal manifestation which are not offensive in the same way as the redskins mascot. Please do not take offense at our religion, the swastika is a symbol of peace and eternity, and many of the pieces etsy sells are hand crafted swastikas for religious and decorative purposes. I cannot however, comment on etsy and the ethics of selling historical artifacts.
      - Terrell
        
        Are you seriously defending swastikas? I’d love to know if Mr. Knowledge proudly flies a swastika flag in front of his house. If not, why not? Afraid people might think you’re a RACIST???? Hmmm…..
      - knowledge
        
        Tarrell, yes. I am trying to bring awareness to the fact that this symbol is an important part of our culture. Here is an example of a hindu swastika. https://www.etsy.com/listing/181711556/swastika-lakshmi-legs-stickable-laxmi They are used by hindus everywhere. You’ll notice from the description that this one is not a racist symbol. Hindus both in the united states and abroad adorn their homes with these.
        
        “They are best used for gifting in any auspicious occasion like wedding favor, baby shower and other rituals. Goddess Laxmi is the god of Wealth Sticking this in your house gives you prosperity and Peace in your Life.It has lot of Importance in Hindu Tradition.”
        
        You’ll notice some differences between this and the nazi swastika, the first of which is that it is not hoisted on a flag with a 45 degree rotation. Please take the time to understand that this is not a symbol of hate or racism.
      - google
        
        Lol… Just lol… Read a book. Seriously. Educate yourself. Hitler poisoned the swastika trying to turn it into a symbol of racial inequality. It may have fooled you but to folks with a brain it still is a symbol of luck, protection and positivity.
      - yurtlePower
        
        I know exactly where swastikas came from and how they were appropriated by Hitler but I still wouldn’t display one given that I am a white man living in a western culture. They have no religious significance to myself. Would you display one openly in my circumstances? Perhaps draw one on the front of your house? If not then why not?
        
        In Hinduism it means one thing, in the western world it means something else. You can try and spin it any way you want but that’s the way it is. It doesn’t mean people are ignorant, it means that symbols are capable of having more than one meaning or can have separate meanings to different people based on a number of factors. That isn’t people being ignorant, that is simply semiotics at work. If you were as smart as you like to think you are you would understand that.
      - Georgie Abashvilli
        
        Etsy is an international company with international customers, not to mention selling to people in the western world who do find religious and cultural significance in it. Demonising the company as a whole is a moot point.
      - ThoseApples
        
        Read more. Seriously. Your ignorance is showing.
      - hussar
        
        Of course you are correct about the history of the “swastika” however “…most of the items…” (1) WWII artifacts…you mean Nazi…people murdering…WWII artifacts yes ?? which can ONLY be tied to “THAT” swastika Yes ? and yet no Etsy has no problems with that yes ? How about the confederate flag, is that offensive since it’s history runs long before what it’s been now turned into ?
      - Anand Singh
        
        Jeanine, while it’s true that most people today associate the swastika with Nazism, it has has profound significance to the Hindu religion. For you to claim that ‘most people in America’ comprise Etsy’s customers, may be true, but it is also patently ethnocentric. Redskin is a derogatory term, plain and simple. Native Americans didn’t have that term co-opted by white European settlers, white European settlers created it. An analogy would be like me taking offense to ramen, a Japanese dish, because of Pearl Harbor.
      - ColterSisler
        
        I like how you changed your story from “and the rest of the world” to that you are “aware that other countries have used the symbol” . Keep backpedaling, don’t push your hate propaganda on everyone else.
      - qxe
        
        The problem is she’s a typically ignorant, reactionary, surface scratching conservative just looking to gin up controversy. Judging by the amount of commenters on this article, I’d say she’s succeeded. All the rest of her blog is crickets and tumbleweeds.
        
        I can hear her creaky brainwheels turning… “hmm, no visitors… I need a good firey topic with popular keywords to really bring in the traffic! I know, let’s see… Nazi’s… check. Etsy… check. Football… check. Alright! Let’s write this piece of crap and run it up the Reddit flagpole!!”
        
        I feel sorry for her because in a day or two… crickets and tumbleweeds again.
      - Kenna
        
        I am Jewish and I have relatives that died in the holocaust. I find your comment to be very ethnocentric. Looking through the things posted on etsy it was very clear that the styles I saw posted were tastefully done and looked very different then nazi symbolism. I understand the concern about the banning of redskins merchandise but I think the swastika analogy weakens your argument.
      - panchizzy
        
        but worrying about the feelings of Jews, gays, children, the elderly, and handicapped is just the white man’s AND woman’s burden. as is ignoring and demonizing the histories of non judeo-christian theologies
      - qxe
        
        What argument? Oh, you mean this ginned up fake outrage designed to boost traffic on her pitiful blog? 😉
      - Jon
        
        Are you aware that the swastika is religious symbol to literally a billion Hindus? A symbol that has been used in their religion for thousands of years? Meaning for every single man woman and child in the US, Europe, and Israel, there is another person who views the swastika as a holy symbol of their religion. Which is to say nothing of its use by Buddhists, American Indians, Zoroastrians, or Janists.
        
        If a group were to usurp the Christian cross and use it as their symbol (under which they carried out brutal ethnic cleansing and genocide) would you demand that all Christians abandon the symbol? Would you denounce etsy for allowing items featuring the Christian cross to be sold on its site? Or does it not count when its your own religious symbols?
      - Georg
        
        If it was such a problem for americans to be reminded of WW2, I wonder why it is so often picked as a movie theme. Further – whats bad about remembering bad things? Mistakes need to be remembered and to be learned from. Just locking them away and never ever talk about them is probably the worst thing one can do.
      - Matthew Langston
        
        I think there is a large group of people in a America that would associate it only with Nazism, but right now I’m in a history course on South Asian Culture and one of the first things we learn is that the swastika is an ancient symbol of good luck that long predates Hitler’s use of it in his iconography. The representations being sold on Etsy don’t use any of Hitler’s iconography and don’t use the colors of the Third Reich so it’s safe to assume that these pieces of art are decorative pieces of good will. There is no need to cry out for decency police because someone might get offended. Sometimes it’s ok to get offended if your offense results in a broadening of your perspective. I had a similar reaction when I read a book that featured the swastika as an ancient symbol.
      - qxe
        
        Half of America and ALL the rest of the world associate the U.S. Republican party with willful ignorance, insatiable greed, vindictiveness, power grabbing, lies, pollution, obstructionism, cronyism and goofy, religious nuttery.
        
        We find it extremely offensive by its daily acts of sheer, raw meanness, guile and spite, and fervently wish it would fade away and die so that America and the world can get on with the business of finding progressive solutions to global warming, alternative energy and the betterment of ALL mankind.
        
        Whaddaya say, Jeanine? Would you like to help make the world a better, cleaner place for the next generation or are you going to stick to trying to gin up a boycott of a craft sales site by trading on the Holocaust?
        
        It’s ok to change your mind in light of new information (regardless of your GOP upbringing). You can do it. I see you’ve already changed this article to make yourself seem less douchey and ill-informed about the history of the swastika.
        
        It’s a great first step. 😀
      - DC4Lyfe
        
        Aymen
      - Georgie Abashvilli
        
        This just in: Etsy is an international company.
        This just in: Obviously a lot of people in America think differently.
        
        What you meant to say was “Myself and my peers (people like myself – right wing, republican, “american ideology only” to be read “willfully ignorant”) associate swastikas with their abused symbolism and not its intended purpose and I find its intended use offensive”.
        
        Americans sure can hold a grudge.
      - Sandy Fischer
        
        you care about Gays and the Elderly- yet repeal medicare, social security and I’m sure as a mouse pisses on cotton that you don’t support gay marriage.
      - BullshitBog
        
        well clearly you are the nazi here since you are trying to ban symbols used in RELIGIONS only because they were used for another purpose many years ago, ofc tipical american
      - ThoseApples
        
        No, no they don’t. Looking through the comments, it is clear that only you were ignorant as to the use of the swastika as a religious symbol long before the Nazi party hijacked it. It is OK to be wrong Jeanine – and it is ok to admit that you were.
      - Kit Love
        
        DO NOT speak for all americans. I’m american and I would NEVER demand my ignorance be catered to rather than simply educating myself.
      - allrollingwolf
        
        What about the deaths of tens and potentially hundreds of millions of Native Americans… Should we take all American flags off of etsy too?
      - qxe
        
        Is your 15 minutes of Reddit fame over already, Jeanine? I want to thank you for the entertainment; it was so funny watching you get schooled in your ignorance of the swastika in other cultures and watching so many people detail what a silly and insincere job you did of writing such a hate-mongering, controversy-ginning diatribe.
        
        Unfortunately, this is typical of the Republican party. It has no ideas, much less good ones. Just a bunch of hateful hot air that only attempts to be divisive and crass. You’ll never change, though. It matters not how your outlook is materially demonstrated to be outdated and ignorant, you’ll cling to your Bible and guns ’till the last breath. It’s clear your views are utterly predictable and worthless, but you can’t see that, can you? Of course not.
    - Sally
      
      Therefore Jewish people should not take offense? Really? That’s your logic? So if you can dig deep enough to find another meaning for “redskins” doesn’t that mean you shouldn’t take offense to the team’s name?
      - Rebecca
        
        I am Jewish and I do not take offense at swastikas being used by Hindus/Jains/Buddhists and other east and south Asian religions. I take offense when it’s a western-based store (like Zara) doing so; I am not an Etsy customer so I don’t really know in what ways the swastikas are being used here.
      - allrollingwolf
        
        Don’t tell Jewish people what they should and should not take offense to.
        
        By your logic we should get rid of the american flag because it probably offends Native Americans (many more were killed than Jews is WWII)…
        
        While we’re at it, we should get rid of everything… because anything could be perceived as a negative symbol and deeply offend someone.
      - fishaddict
        
        I do believe that rather than get rid of everything, we need to, as a race, develop skin thicker than that of a soap bubble. Why do Indians get to be offended by the term redskin but the scadis are not offended by the Vikings? Why is it that we cannot use wetback but redneck is perfectly acceptable? Why does the term n*gger get gasps of shock and lifetime bans yet whitey, cracker, trailer trash, and various other slurs get used in music and even on national news almost daily. Are the wallflowers so tender that they cannot see a gifthorse when they are looking it in the mouth? Redskins were fierce fighters as were the Vikings, bears…Hell how do you think the irish should feel because they are depicted as drunken brawlers.
        Seems there are more important things to argue about racially than the names of sports teams. Indians, at least in the upper Midwest have it pretty good. The state has it’s own medical corp for the res. The casinos bring in a profit of $1million/per day which is significantly better than any business in the area and they are allowed to run mostly unchecked and without competition because of the laws in the state they have worked out. They also in the last couple years have been able to shut down fishing on lakes near their res by over fishing what every non indian pays for with license fees. huge swaths of the state has been shut down to business because of an impact veto of a tribe miles away. They hold veto power in the dept of natural resource that they do not pay to support, They are the only ones in the state allowed gambling, They have the power and have shut down state owned and maintained roads through the res, and if you go to a casino on a res, you will see that you could take the core of any city with it’s blight and move it into the woods and you would have an indian city. For all of the hardship claimed, they are inordinately wealthy, well cared for, and catered to, and with most minority groups, they do nothing but complain mostly for the sake of complaining.
    - ocsibrm
      
      And the Toothbrush moustache was used by Charlie Chaplin way before Hitler used it, that doesn’t mean peeps won’t call you a nazi if you use it in this day and age.
    - Joe
      
      Hey Jeanine Martin – next thing you will say is that Jesus is real! Haha – this is lazy trolling at it’s best. This topic is about EDUCATION. Those who are educated, would not be offended. But the majority of people do not read actual books or have a different opinion then their pastors. So – we are fighting a HIVE mind. One that refuses to educate itself, so that it can point at the moon and say “God Did It!” Good luck with that America.
  - Swag_
    
    Many people also associate the “redskins” symbol as one that reflects the hardships and pain the new white settlers of America caused the Native Americans. Also, the swastika is not only associated with the Nazi symbol–it has a very positive meaning in the Hindu culture which preceded the Nazi adoption of the symbol and is still a widely used in South Asia and by people that believe in Hinduism all over the world, including the USA where most of Etsy’s customers reside.
  - You’reanIdiot
    
    Did you even bother to look at the page you linked to. If you thought about it with any effort you’d see the very clear non-Germanic vein running through the items pictured. They’re depictions of an ancient symbol you reactionary dolt.
  - adams
    
    No. The point is, it is a holy symbol, created thousands of years before hitlers time… Its not the rest of the worlds problem that many americans are not so bright in areas like history….
  - Carlos Hernandez
    
    Can you imagine when Jesus comes back and everyone is wearing his execution method around their necks. The nazis may have killed many people but its still an important religious symbol. Banning it would be like banning the crucifix
  - Dr. J
    
    Great point here Jeanine! These liberal idiots have no idea what they are talking about. It’s amazing how many RACIST EVILDOERS there are in the world. Do you know Etsy also sells lots of stuff with crosses on them? You know who also loved crosses you dumb bigots? HITLER. Yeah, the bad famous Hitler. He would give his best soldiers The Iron Cross which was his highest honor. Yet I’m not allowed to sell a drink coaster with a racial slur against Native Americans? Fascism. Will you please link to my blog to ban the sale of all crosses in the United States? Also isn’t it amazing how racist everyone is when I simply want to wear Redskins stuff? I mean they have red skin. How is that racist? Nice try Obama but you lose again. (I’m pretty sure all these so called reddit folk are really Obama posting from multiple accounts.)
    - Kit Love
      
      this is my favorite reply 🙂
  - Rachel St. John
    
    Most people, including yourself, are idiots.
    
    I live in Asia, this is a common symbol on temples and religious places here. The “swastika” is an ancient symbol that was co-opted by the Nazis. It is found throughout many cultures. I myself wear a necklace that looks like a swastika but is actually gammadion cross (one of the names for the swastika like symbol).
  - elyse
    
    You’re a fucking idiot. The swastika by “most people” is NOT associated with Nazis. Apparently just bad journalists who don’t know how to do proper research. Find a new career.
  - Starberrywishes
    
    You’re going to be famous for the person who didn’t do their research.
  - Jo Sh
    
    the point was to get over yourself and the opinions you hold/feel are righteous enough that everyone else should feel the same way. That or the fact there are billions of people on the planet, billions more have already existed, and you should get over whatever meaning you “think” this symbol holds.
  - whirlpool138
    
    Wow, you couldn’t be more of an ignorant fear mongerer. I just want to leave this here:
    
    http://www.reddit.com/r/nottheonion/comments/2g53ev/etsy_bans_all_redskins_items_allows_456_swastika/
  - gunboat
    
    no only ignorant Americans make that conclusions. Please do not include us in your ignorance.
- Ryan Dewey
  
  But everyone thinks Nazi when they see one so it doesn’t even matter, kiddo. You’re using a double standard to get rid of one thing people “find offensive” and allowing another that most people will find highly offensive, disregarding the outdated use/meaning/origins of a swastika? Yay, /golfclap, you can wiki a swastika and be like ermergherd ertz nert offenserve. Guess what? A terrible and radical regime used it as it’s symbol and it will always be associated with the Third Reich, an administration known for murder and genocide. So try to justify wearing a swastika all you like, homey, you’re just as bad as someone calling a Native a savage.
- James Bond
  
  ButtonsAndLove, the swastika “looking” symbol you are referring to in SE Asia is different from the Nazi Swastika. I am pretty confident you do not know that and will not figure it out but when you do, maybe you will have learned to do the research first rather than just show people how stupid you are.
Addiary

You are correct, Swastikas are not just a Nazi symbol, but you have Nazi memorabilia on Etsy. If there is no Redskin items on Etsy, shouldn’t Altanta Braves be off of there too? What about the Florida Seminols? The Cleveland Indians?
Scott

Following the mature logic of “ButtonsAndLove”, it is noteworthy that redskins are also the name of a harmless potato, therefore there should be no offense taken.
- Mikey
  
  I believe if I read into this correctly, the term was actually coined by an Indian to help differentiate between the two races “White and Indian” when speaking about both parties in the same story. There was the white skins and then there was the red skins. Read the WHOLE article as I did and it is actually pretty insightful. I just wish they had linked some of the sources instead of just talking about them. As far as the Nazi symbol, I was aware that it had been used as far back as something like 2k years ago. That being said if the Native Americans think it is offensive then let them have their day and get rid of it. It is the least we can do for them seeing what was done to them. Americans sure do forget their past when it suits them. But so do a lot of Nations, just ask the Brits about the Irish and Indians.
  
  http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_valley/2013/12/18/redskins_the_debate_over_the_washington_football_team_s_name_incorrectly.html
  
  http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/09/09/220654611/are-you-ready-for-some-controversy-the-history-of-redskin
  
  http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/11/13/redskins-not-so-black-and-white
Bill

Cry more.
jeefray

There are collectors of every stripe that possess many items not commonly found in most people’s homes. People buy and sell collectible items all the time. Many of these items were brought home by Veterans of WW II. While persons collecting objects like this may not be pleasing to others, it’s still a free country. Etsy banned something from their website and they are free to do that in a free country. So what’s the beef, other than you not liking their business decision. I don’t like the contributions that the billionaire Koch brothers are making, under the guise of many front organizations that didn’t even exist until our right wing supreme court ruled that unlimited money was a good idea, free speech that ‘s paid for.Where do I go to stop that?
Adi

Swastikas offend me, thank you for this article.
- a-loof shmifler
  
  Adi, you are in need of a history lesson… Much like your friend who wrote this article (that I just wiped my ass with)…. Now I must go wash my phone….
Erick Francisco Torres Gonzále

I think it’s time to dissociate the swastikas from the Nazis’s ideology. Swastikas were around much more before the Nazis.

What happened in Europe almost 60 years ago was terrible, and makes me sad to just think about the thousands of families that were destroyed. However the Nazi ideology and the swastika are different things. What we should be against is the nazi’s ideology, (something which we are not against in practice, not even Israel) not the symbol they used for their flag.
Guest

hey jeanine. what rhymes with compass?
Sanctis

Its an eastern traditional religious and spiritual symbol for peace well being and the occult and esoteric symbol for the rising sun. don’t be ignorant or look for 15 mins of political correctness fame on the internet. Research before you post.
Dan McGuire

I don’t get what you people are babbling on about. This post is about hypocrisy, not whether or not the swastika always means racism. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of the redskins items are not paraded around as a racist symbol. It’s just a sports team and many people, myself included, had no idea it was somehow racist to portray indians in a cartoon. I don’t get offended by Dilbert, after all. Nor do I get offended by leprechauns just because I have irish ancestry. So anyways, MOST (not all) of these things on etsy aren’t racist for either symbol, yet only one symbol was removed. That’s an inconsistency that could be labeled as hypocrisy.

Now, you could make the argument that the swastika is actively trying to be used to fight racism, to which I would reply, I could just as easily use indians pictures to make a positive message and who am I to judge these people aren’t trying to use them for a positive message?
- Dayvinho
  
  Just because you have an Irish ancestral background doesn’t in any way, shape or form mean your are even 1% Irish, so why would you get offended by a fictional character, the leprechaun. You are AMERICAN. 1 in every 9 Americans who think they are of Irish ancestry actually are, making the other 8 ass holes. Giving you a 89-90% certainty, that you are an ass hole.
  - Dan McGuire
    
    Remove everything I said about anything Irish. It was a tangential point to drive home a message. Your reply doesn’t even address the point I was trying to make. I don’t care to even respond to someone who thinks they know more about my heritage than I do…
freethemind

It is SO depressing to find someone as uneducated as you are writing articles like this. You’re being extremely rude to ancient religions!! None of these have anything to do with nazis besides the historical coins and whatnot. There’s religious temples covered in svastis . They have a wonderful and loving meaning. If people aren’t educated enough to know this then GO BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL. whoever wrote this article is pathetic and needs to not be a close minded bigot educate yourself woman
- yurtlePower
  
  Wrote this for someone else but you need to recognise a few things too:
  
  I know exactly where swastikas came from and how they were appropriated by Hitler but I still wouldn’t display one given that I am a white man living in a western culture. They have no religious significance to myself. Would you display one openly in my circumstances? Perhaps draw one on the front of your house? If not then why not?
  
  In Hinduism it means one thing, in the western world it means something else. You can try and spin it any way you want but that’s the way it is. It doesn’t mean people are ignorant, it means that symbols are capable of having more than one meaning or can have separate meanings to different people based on a number of factors. That isn’t people being ignorant, that is simply semiotics at work. If you were as smart as you like to think you are you would understand that.
  - Zaoldyeck
    
    The page is advocating for a boycott of a website for selling swastika, that’s different from an individual not buying the symbol because they don’t believe it is appropriate and don’t belong to the religion/culture.
    
    “Your company sells symbols that have long historic pre-Nazi meanings, how dare you, we should all boycott you” is pretty silly.
    
    You aren’t forced to buy swastika from etsy just because they sell it, but they’re certainly don’t seem to be promoting any Nazi symbols themselves. ‘Redskins’ doesn’t exactly have the same kind of non-discriminatory history.
    
    If they seemed to be fine promoting Nazi flags and making money off that, you have a much stronger case. But this doesn’t appear to be what the website actually has. If Hitler had liked the cross rather than the swastika, would we fault any website that sells a cross as well?
Reason

Hey, the nazi flag was red! The soviet flag was also red! The soviets killed millions of people. So did the nazis! Lets just ban the color red! From now on lets boycott anything red irregardless of how the color red has existed since basically the beginning of time because those nasty nazis and commies used the color red.
- Reason
  
  *regardless
Aldesso

WOW this is clickbait. Pretty much every swastika you can buy there is pre Nazi-Germany. Stop writing or start researching
Bob Smith

Boycotting swatstika items would be a stupid business tactic. They weren’t just used for religion in the past, they *still are* an important religious symbol among eastern religions. And guess what? People practice those religions in the U.S. too. Saying the swastikas on Etsy, which are all for religious purpose, goes against the very spirit of religious tolerance that the United States prides itself in.
- Tallulah
  
  Many conservatives believe religious tolerance/freedom of religion means unfettered Christianity. It is a way of defending their point of view and they will rationalize this by bringing up the founding father’s ‘Christian roots’.
  
  I would hope the OP is not one of these, but there is a good chance she does not consider the religious freedom of Hindus, Buddhists, and others as relevant.
KD

This article is terribly written and it’s unfortunate to see that the author refuses to acknowledge or defend her ethnocentric and biased view in any sensible way..
Guest

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductio_ad_Hitlerum
Blake Ellis Johnston

The smallest bit of research yields that this article is complete bullshit.
hussar

Frankly I think in here both the pro and anti camps are wrong…especially etsy. There is NOTHING wrong with swastikas, it’s all about context. Equally there is NOTHING wrong with the Redskins team name. All of you bitching about the HISTORY of the swastika but are offended by “Redskins” why don’t you acknowledge the HISTORY of the football team ? Why don’t you acknowledge that all this nonsense about the “name” being offensive if drummed up drivel propagated by PC idiocy overwhelmingly NOT supported by the Native American community.
“In the only recent poll to ask native people about the subject, 90 percent of respondents did not consider the term offensive…”
So the whitey knows what’s offensive to the Native American better then the Native America…hmmm.
Is it just me or does that seem patronizing and offensive ??

To quote knowledge some post below; If you visit etsy and search for “swastika” you will come to realize
that most of the items fall into one of two categories. Either they are
(1) WWII artifacts or (2) hindu/buddhist good luck charms.
By WWII artifacts this means Nazi…people
murdering…WWII artifacts yes ?? which can ONLY be tied to “THAT”
swastika Yes ? and yet no Etsy has no problems with that yes ? How about
the confederate flag, is that offensive since it’s history runs long
before what it’s been now turned into ?
DC4Lyfe

Obamas folt: erry1 noes he be dee deerect deesendent of heetler hisself. he jess geeving dee moanies ta hees injun brethren
Gunderson…Bob Gunderson

Reddit users. They love political correctness and just can’t help themselves when they can jump on a Republican and ‘you’re ignorant – not surprising since you’re a Republican’. The fact is that SOME people find the Redskins name offensive. Guess what? SOME people find the swastika offensive as well. This is very simple logic people.
- N0STromos
  
  I think the issue is that it’s a pejorative term for a minority group and the minority group feels offended. Doesn’t really matter that a white person isn’t offended by the use of the word redskins because it isn’t referring to them.
Sandy Fischer

Did you just do a slippery slope argument from Redskins to Nazi’s? By golly-god I think you did.
- Loose Goose
  
  by loosey goose she has been made to be quite the douche
DF44

Search for “Nazi” is overwhelmingly Anti-Nazi symbols, or coins from the era.

Search for “Swastika”, for me, is a majority of religious symbols (These are notably different in shape), some designs that use the reverse of the Nazi Swastika.

Last two potentially suspect items are a Guitar Pick, aiming to use the original word (Which is a perfectly noble goal), and a Navajo Blanket which is incredbibly rare (And features the symbol in both directions).

I’m genuinely impressed by the level of dishonesty in this “journalism”. But what can you do?
Horizon585 .

If you think items with Swastikas is bad come to CoD: Black Ops 2 and look at all the Swastika Emblems.
ThoseApples

Hey Jeanine – before writing an article, it would behoove you to do a little research. This prevents you from looking like a horses arse when you make statements that demonstrate your complete lack of knowledge about the topic you are writing about. All those swastikas you are soapboxing about have nothing to do with the Nazi’s. The Swastika is a religious symbol that was hijacked by the Nazi party. The swastikas that appear on ETSY are not associated with the Nazi party – they are religious symbols – predating the Nazi party. How about writing a retraction and admitting you were incorrect?
Dave

What if its made by an Indian artest?
redditarmy

The images you have on your search are clearly not Nazi images except for one. it would have been more intelegent to highlight the 956 items that come up when you actually search “Nazi”.
Fat Woman With A Blog

I’d like to make a new NFL team, and call them the Fatcows. Their logo will look like a silhouette of this woman’s picture. This isn’t meant to be mean or derogatory though, so please don’t be offended. Consider it a tribute to the mentally handicapped obese middle-aged women who keep this country … stagnant.
Chris

If someone used the Christian like cross symbol to emblazon their uniforms and invade other countries and persecute minorities for their race/religion/other, we would not ban the Christian cross. Right?

The crooked cross is an ancient religious symbol first and a symbol hijacked by the nazi second.

The “swasticka” is a protected religious symbol like the Star of David and the Christian Cross. It’s unfortunate that some of the etsy products are nazi symbols but hiding behind the religious symbology.

There is nothing to be done about this without opening up attacks on other religious symbols.
HAHAHAHAHA

So ETSY loves NAZIS, kewl!. Funny how the democraps come on here to defend the nazi symbol, they have to get used to it anyway, its going to be the new symbol for the DNC.

Now go away democrats, go stand in line for your next government handout, its extra food stamp day, aren’t you excited!

Go now democrats, go beg the government for food, democrats are too stupid and lazy to figure out how to work for it.
- LOLcats
  
  Now you go cry about wanting fewer rules until someone does something you don’t like, then start crying and whining about how they shouldn’t be allowed to do that.
Libs are just stupid.

Lib ‘logic’ =

Redskin logo : Racist.
Confederate Flag: Racist!
Swastika: This is just an indian symbol and those stupid jews need to get over it. So what if 6 million of them died?
- You are a moron
  
  And your logic: I have been a Republican activist for 20 years with many areas of interest including smaller government, fewer laws restricting our freedoms.
  What a business is making a decision I don’t agree how can we restrict their freedom?
knowledge>words>stones>sticks

when I first read the title I thought I would probably have to correct someone about the historical significance and usage of the swastika, but it looks like you guys took care of that. bravo.
I have 2 comments. 1. do we know what problem Jeanine Martin has with Native Americans? or does she just like to see groups of historically heinously maltreated individuals and cultures be further subjugated while everyone stands around and cheers? 2. it is awesome that she was trolling her own board defending her ignorance even after it’s brought to the attention of everyone.
Okay, I am leaving this website now before it rubs off on me.
Seanatronic

Wow! A conservative who doesn’t know history! I’m so shocked! and on a blog no less!
Someone

You know what, Jeanine – I think it’s time to revise your article. There are 4 pages of nazi items including pictures of hitler, nazi stamps, nazi memorabilia, nazi flags, and nazi swastikas.

You’re right ; but there are other uses for the symbol. The twisted version of it – is the symbol of hate.

Just like in South Africa – the number 7 – is one, but it’s 3 7’s – within a circle, and at angles – the symbol of
Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging. In any other instance, it’s just a number. But when presented in such a way, it’s nothing to be respected.
Cherry Blush

The swastika is one of the oldest symbols used in EVERY culture throughout history, The Jewish soldiers actually wore them on the Uniform in WW1. People who only associate the Swastika with Hitler are Pig ignorant,
I have MANY Tattooed on me I as I know and embrace the real meaning behind them, And I intended to Educate the Ill-informed, Close minded people of the world.
Open your eyes people
Dale

What is your point even? You say you want fewer restrictions on our freedom, so why do you care what Etsy decides to sell? You should just let them run their business and allow the free market to decide whether or not it was a good decision. Also comparing a for profit business that uses an offensive stereotype as their corporate logo to a real political movement that cause a World War and had a huge impact on the entire planet is absolutely ridiculous. It’s important that we do not cover up or forget what the Nazi’s did.
On and I went through those swastikas I’d say about one in nine even remotely looked like a Nazi symbol.
smarish

While on the topic of Nazis, you should mention the connection George Dumbya Bush’s grandfather had with them, in that, the bank he was associated with favored Hitler.
Cherry blush

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/198873026/the-golden-ohm-t-shirt-filled-with-a?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=swastika+om+t+shirt&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

I have My very Own Swastika T shirt listed on Etsy, My design… and guess what, Its selling really Well x
Really

Wow, what an ignorant cunt you are.
jackassletters

You know, if you want, I am sure you could put some of your time into engaging with Etsy, and perhaps even affecting some change. The swastika offends you. Great! It does most right thinking people. The term “redskin” also offends right thinking people. I see it as one offensive symbol eliminated from their shop, one to go. You don’t have to solve all problems before solving one. Baby steps.

Do something about it and maybe you’ll get it removed. Or, you know, just whine about how they are such hypocrites! You’d have a fairly good argument if you were deciding to not shop there because they sold items you objected to. Instead you come off as butthurt because they called your football team’s name racist.
Ducky

There is no consensus among the Native American community regarding the term “Redskin”. If they banned Redskins merchandise because it’s offensive I sure hope they also banned Cleveland Indian merchandise as that is just caricature of exaggerated stereotypes.
- mr.mr
  
  The National Congress of American Indians has come out against the term. Here is a video they made about it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR-tbOxlhvE . I’ll be honest I don’t know who this group is or if they really represent the majority of Indians. I lived and worked on a reservation for about 8 years and they did seem equally bothered by the name redskin and the picture of the Cleveland Indian.
Matthieu Dubois

The swastika has been around way before the Nazi’s desecrated it. It’s garbage like you that tries to exploit a situation like this and called it “journalism” go fuck yourself
Jeremy

If they were called, and please excuse the use of this word to prove a point, the Washington Ni**ers would there even be a discussion? How is it different?
Steve Albertson

You people defending Etsy on the basis that swastikas aren’t offensive to some people’s traditions are missing the point entirely. The point here is that Etsy apparently views Nazi memorabilia as somehow less offensive than Washington Redskins gear. That is ridiculous, and is emblematic of leftist political correctness run amok.
- whirlpool138
  
  No, you are missing the point. People are getting upset and mad because she is trying to make a correlation between the ancient swastika and the tilted National Socialist Party’s swastika that is associated with anti-semitism. It is fear mongering at it’s worst and really weakens any kind of point that she is making. This is coming from someone who’s family (that lived in Eastern Europe during WWII) that was torn apart by the Nazi’s. It’s ignorant and very naive to think that the image of the swastika automatically equals racism or anti-semitism. For instance, the Finnish airforce still uses a swastika on it’s Flag, the City of Buffalo’s city hall has swastikas located all through out it’s building, traditional Hindu’s still use the symbol under it’s original meaning, the list goes on and on. Historical context is very important here and altough you may not see that, other smarter and more knowledgeable do. It has nothing to do with “leftist political correctness run amok” and has everything to do with ignorant commentators trying to make a controversy out of a non-issue. This is why people hate Fox News and cannot take things like this serious. This article and people like you are pushing this issue, not because you care about the swastika offending people who were affected by the Nazi’s regime, it’s because you are using it to make a political point which is far much worse.
Awestruckbyherstupidity

This lady lives in the richest area (Loudoun county) in one of the richest and most powerful areas on earth (Washington DC.) How can one person be so old, have access to the world she has access to, and be this uninformed? It boggles my mind.
- qxe
  
  She’s a self-proclaimed Republican. The very definition of the word these days is “reactionary, ignorant, uninformed, clueless, angry, small-minded.”
  
  She fits all these descriptions. It’s funny she lists her husband as “tolerant”. She might mean he’s tolerant of her idiotic behavior, but I suspect it’s a typical Conservative double-speak at work: it really means he “thinks” he’s tolerant because he has to exist in a world breathing the same air as “Libtards” when in reality he’s about as intolerant as one can imagine.
Ian Hicks

I genuinely can’t tell if this article is satire or if its author is truly this blissfully unaware.
- qxe
  
  No satire. Republican. They are genetically incapable of satire, which is why so many of their facebook posts think anything from “The Onion” is absolutely true.
- rocknrideaz
  
  It’s true. Check for yorself on the Etsy website. Type swastikas in the search field.
Peacemaker

my daughter is 1/2 Cherokee. My ex is 100% Cherokee. They are both Redskins fans. GO STEELERS!
garyf34

Do most people realize that the Redskin logo was designed by an Indian – I’m a Redskin fan and also part American Indian, and part of the 72%, will Etsy come out with a tee shirt with ISIS beheading a person! Only in Americfa
J Paris

Hey Etsy you have a right to not Sell Redskins items. But remeber people have the right to boycott your site, which I will do and will suggest that other do to. As far as selling Swastika items to me that is offencive as my wife had family that were interned in POW camps by those that wore a Swastika.
Jason

I’m a Lakota and redskin does not offend us we are proud and have more important things to worry about than team nicknames go REDSKINS
Jenny

Jeanine, did you look at the details of all those swastika pendants that etsy sells??? Not ONE of them is a Nazi item. They are all form other cultures and countries (I.e. Buddhist, Indian, Tibetan.) This symbol was around about 10,000 years before the Nazis adopted it. It seems to me you jumped to this conclusion and wrote an article about your ‘outrage’ before even looking at the details. Apparently they don’t teach journalists how to actually do research before they run their mouth.
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rocknrideaz

Jeanine, you didn’t jump the gun. I contacted Etsy and was told the Redskin’s trademark has been banned by the government and sited a whole lot of other b.s.. The email said they would not allow disparaging and racist items on their website. No mention of the swastika except I could click on the item individually and have it reviewed. Are you f###ing kidding me? I realize more and more people seem to be anti-semitic than ever before but I still feel this is outrageous. It doesn’t any get more racist and disparaging than the swastika symbol to Jewish people and other minorities.
rocknrideaz

By the way the argument the swastika has been a symbol of whatever for hundreds of years is ridiculous.
In modern times it only symbolizes one thing, it represents the Nazi party. People that are selling their cute little swastika things know exactly what it means and it’s not innocent.
zj sky

I am Jewish and the swatstika deeply offends me in all forms. It is now the symbol of genocide and evil. As some Native Americans are offended by the word “redskin”, i am offended by this and you should all quiet down and respect my people as you seem to respect native americans.
Douchenozzle Hipsterfail

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the swastika, period.
Chili FiveRavens Chill

You lie too much, girl! Shame on you! https://www.etsy.com/uk/search?q=redskins
Hockey

Anyone reading these comments have to come to the same conclusion as I have – I am so glad I came out of my liberal progressive funk and now have clearer vision. You idiots who are trying to remove the Redskins name are doing so as a game – to see how much power you have. You aren’t smart enough to think long term to see how such a “win” for your “cause” might effect you personally in the future.

The idiotic liberal arguments regarding the swastica and it’s origins are just that – idiotic and nonsensical. In fact, there is no logic in those arguments – it’s just a game to the dumb liberals commenting.

The swastica a should be removed. All of them. But then, the poor, idiotic, hateful, intolerant, anti Semitic commenters on here will have no where to buy their swasticas for their Neo Nazi party meetings and parades.
Dave

These comments are hysterical. The pro-etsy crowd is so lost in their tribal vitriol they don’t even see they are making the author’s point for her. They think it is unfair that a large group of people find the swastika offensive when the symbol was not solely Nazi. Yet they can’t understand that the majority of people do not find naming of a football team redskins is not pejorative as it is actually honoring a fierce peoples.
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Peggy

Please sign our petition to have Phil Simms replaced for our Sept 25th game against the Giants. If he cant say our name then he shouldn’t work our game https://www.change.org/p/cbs-remove-phil-simms-from-any-future-redskins-broadcasts
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rocknrideaz

In modern times people view the swastika as a symbol of Nazism. Can you imagine how a Jewish person feels? Many of those items for sale have nothing to do with religion and the people selling them know damn well they aren’t. A swastika guitar pick for sale? Can’t get anymore religious than that right? Give me an f-ing break. Etsy and their response about the Redskins is so idiotic but it’s ok to walk around with Nazi memorabilia because that surely doesn’t effect Jews and isn’t insensitive. When I emailed Etsy about this they said I could take a picture of the item and send it to them for review. B.S Etsy. You should investigate. No more Etsy for me.

Etsy Bans All Redskins Items, Allows 456 Swastika Items

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