Buddhist Symbol

When I first saw the photo with the feature “Clashing Symbols” (April 27), I thought, that isn’t the Nazi swastika. Being Jewish and the child of Holocaust survivors, I’ve become very conversant with Nazi symbols. As I read the feature my anger and resentment grew, for I know that in many other cultures the “reverse” swastika, as used by Buddhists, is a symbol of joy and good fortune.

Looks like the Nazis did more than cause the deaths of millions of people--they have so perverted an ancient, honorable symbol that we react with fear when we see it. I hope the Buddhists will keep their swastika, and not let the Nazis have the final victory.

HAL HORNE

Culver City

The act of vandalism described in your article was not caused by a tangle of cultures. It was a pure and simple act of disrespect toward other people’s religion and private property.

I sympathized with the relatives of those millions of Jews who died in the Holocaust and hate the swastika. But the Buddhist symbol was a sign of peace in Asia thousands of years ago, way before the Holocaust happened. Let’s not mix apples and oranges. Our country is a melting pot; trying to impose one culture to another will not create harmony.

CHOEN T. TCHENG

Paramount