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When my oldest nibling was in high school, we went to the mall together once and he saw a belt with an Iron Cross buckle. He went up to it and expressed interest in buying it. I leaned down and asked him if he knew what that symbol stood for. He said no, he just liked how it looked and he's seen other people wear it. I quietly told him that he ought to research the history of that symbol before he wears it.
He asked why. I told him that, although that symbol has other associations, the one that most people know it for is its association with Nazis, so that's what people will assume if they see him wearing it. Did he really want people to think that of him? I said that if he goes home and looks up the history of the symbol, and then still wants to wear it, then at least he will be making an informed decision and can defend his choice to everyone who challenges him about his belt.
He never did buy that belt buckle.
The things we wear tell people about ourselves. Sometimes, those things are lies, propaganda purposely spread to discriminate against people, such as "hoodies = thugs". Most of us wear hoodies, but when young black men wear them, especially with the hood up, people who aren't young black men automatically assume they are participating in criminal activity. Even when it's cold outside.
Other times, those things are truth, a shining beacon telling the whole world your inner most beliefs about those around you.
Like how I wear an infinity-heart symbol so that everyone who sees it and knows its meaning will know that I'm polyamorous. I might still have to clear up some misconceptions, but there wasn't a deliberate smear campaign to associate an infinity-heart with, say, puppy-kicking or something.
Know what you are saying about yourself when you choose your symbols. If you think the assumptions about your symbols are wrong, then you can go out into the world prepared to defend yourself but only if you know what those assumptions are.
If you're OK with the assumptions your symbols say about you, then you don't really get to whine when people who don't like the message call you out on it.
He asked why. I told him that, although that symbol has other associations, the one that most people know it for is its association with Nazis, so that's what people will assume if they see him wearing it. Did he really want people to think that of him? I said that if he goes home and looks up the history of the symbol, and then still wants to wear it, then at least he will be making an informed decision and can defend his choice to everyone who challenges him about his belt.
He never did buy that belt buckle.
The things we wear tell people about ourselves. Sometimes, those things are lies, propaganda purposely spread to discriminate against people, such as "hoodies = thugs". Most of us wear hoodies, but when young black men wear them, especially with the hood up, people who aren't young black men automatically assume they are participating in criminal activity. Even when it's cold outside.
Other times, those things are truth, a shining beacon telling the whole world your inner most beliefs about those around you.
Like how I wear an infinity-heart symbol so that everyone who sees it and knows its meaning will know that I'm polyamorous. I might still have to clear up some misconceptions, but there wasn't a deliberate smear campaign to associate an infinity-heart with, say, puppy-kicking or something.
Know what you are saying about yourself when you choose your symbols. If you think the assumptions about your symbols are wrong, then you can go out into the world prepared to defend yourself but only if you know what those assumptions are.
If you're OK with the assumptions your symbols say about you, then you don't really get to whine when people who don't like the message call you out on it.
