April 30, 2009
In Maggie Malone’s book, Quilters Shortcuts, there is a “Swastika” block. I can’t believe anyone would dare to name such a block. It’s deplorable!
I will never purchase any of her books or information.
There are millions of families that are affected by (what) the symbol represents. People whose families are either dead or fought to defeat such hate and evil. What was this woman thinking?
Did you know? How can you represent such a person?
I am sorry for you if I have upset you with this. Nothing is that good or important that they have to identify with that awful symbol.
Sarah L. Smith
PS: Yes, I dare to use my real name.
I wrote back to Sarah:
Dear Sarah L. Smith,
I am not sure what you mean when you say that I “support” Maggie Malone, but before I get ahead of myself, let me say this: My great grandmother was Jewish. She left Austria, due to persecution, and arrived in America in the 1880s. What Hitler did to the Jews in Eastern Europe during World War II is reprehensible, inexcusable, and horrendous. If any of your relatives were affected, I am terribly sorry.
As far as the quilt block itself, that geometric configuration was not created to honor Nazi Germany. It is an ancient art symbol that had sweet meanings before Hitler turned the graphic into something else. I have never heard of anyone making the Swastika block to honor Hitler or his actions. Some early quilts have this block, before there was any association with anything bad.
As quilt historians, we all, including Maggie Malone (in her quilt block identification book), and even Barbara Brackman in her Blockbase computer software program and Encyclopedia of Pieced Patterns, acknowledge the existence of the block, as well as one of its many names, “Swastika.” It is not a value judgment on anyone’s part. It is recording history. History is History. History is what happened. We may not like it, but it happened.
I hope this helps you to better understand the background of the quilt block configuration, as well as the role of quilt historians to record the various names for quilt blocks, AS PUBLISHED.
Thank you for your concern. If we tried to get rid of every reminder of World War II, it would not be possible. It would be along the same lines as shooting Ken Burns for making a documentary film about WWII. I hope you can understand, now that I have carefully explained. Thanks again for writing. I always like the chance to set someone’s mind at ease. I don’t imagine that either you or I will be making a quilt with Swastika blocks, any time soon.
Pat
After writing this letter, I could see the need for a more involved explanation. Tonight, I have put together a new file on my website:
The Swastika Quilt Block and the History of the Symbol.
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
http://www.quiltersmuse.com
Of course, I agree, Gayle.
We can’t shoot the messengers who bring us history. What is most interesting to me is that the swastika is still used in India, as the symbol for good that it always has been.
I keep adding tidbits of information to my online file, including the thought shared with me that a Basque cemetery in France has tombstones with this symbol … for “good luck.”
Writing about history necessarily entails addressing the unhappiest parts of it. As a quilter and quilt historian, I am well aware of the implications and associations with the swastika symbol. However, pick up any book on symbols in your library, and you will find it there. It’s not the history of the symbol that is deplorable; rather, it is what the Nazi’s did with it that ruined it forever. I have seen antique Amish quilts and others which utilized the symbol. I don’t think we can blame Maggie for writing about it.
Thanks for addressing this issue, I know it isn’t the first time Maggie has had this problem and it is important to educate the public about the block’s history. History shouldn’t be whitewashed or edited for political correctness. The swastika has long been a powerful symbol which is why the Nazi’s appropriated it. Quilts made using that block pattern before the 1930′s should not be denigrated or hidden as they have nothing to do with Nazis.