Police Investigating Giant Swastika Carved Into New Jersey Cornfield

Nathan Poe · Sep 25, 2007

So, assuming that this was some sort of neo-Nazi message -- who were they trying to offend? Jewish pilots?

"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Captian Rosenberg speaking. You can see some beautiful cornfields out the left side of the cabin, and out the right side, there's --WHAT THE...?"

Harpuia · Sep 25, 2007

KomissarSteve said:
*shrugs* Meh...to be fair, the Luftwaffe was a pretty darn good air force for its time, actually. Its leaders just mismanaged it.

But yes, you're quite right - the swastika didn't really bring the Nazis luck as far as formulating strategy is concerned after '42-ish. Which is probably just as well.

I think that's doubtful. The Royal Air Force took them to the compost heap... and they had a far larger quantity of men to dispose of.

Vylo · Sep 25, 2007

vipertaja said:
Yeah yeah...I thought to mention it but seems I didn't.

Indeed can't say I recall the church case, though I know our
airforce used the symbol before the nazis did. Supposedly someone I
fail to remember the name of adopted it from a trip to India.

As bonus trivia, I recall it's still used in Asia as well to some
extent...with some controversy stemming from a manga character that
wears it on the back of his clothing. Can't remember the name of the
manga.

Neji from Naruto has a swastika on his forehead that was changed to an "X".

KomissarSteve · Sep 25, 2007

Harpuia said:
I think that's doubtful. The Royal Air Force took them to the compost heap... and they had a far larger quantity of men to dispose of.

Nonsense; the Luftwaffe achieved virtual air supremacy over Britain early in the war. That's what the Battle of Britain was. Unfortunately for the Reich, and fortunately for the rest of humanity, Hitler's strategy was to continue bombing London when the RAF had moved its facilities up north and was quickly able to reconstitute its strength.

vipertaja · Sep 26, 2007

Vylo said:
Neji from Naruto has a swastika on his forehead that was changed to an "X".

The one I saw mentioned was something else...some dude dressed
somewhat like a samurai and he had the sign on his back. This
one I think wasn't changed.

I don't read a lot of manga though, so I wouldn't know the character.
So far have only been reading Trigun, Hellsing and Ghost in the shell...
Ironically, Hellsing also has nazis in it...and quite a lot at that.

Billnew · Sep 26, 2007

KomissarSteve said:
I think threat of violence definitely counts as a crime.

A symbol is not a threat. So this would be protected as free speech. If accompanied by fliers or handouts threatening then it would be criminal. I still believe this is in bad taste, not a crime.

Harpuia said:
I think that's doubtful. The Royal Air Force took them to the compost heap... and they had a far larger quantity of men to dispose of.

The Germans had the best Airplanes, England had to rush to catch up, while the Germans were to busy fightng to keep up with technology in the air.
So England was able to catch up and hold their own.
The defenders always have the advantage over attackers, because of more fuel and less fatigue. Also the emotional aspect, of killing innocent people versus
defending the homeland. (not all the Germans were heartless)

Scribbler · Sep 26, 2007

vipertaja said:
Indeed can't say I recall the church case, though I know our
airforce used the symbol before the nazis did. Supposedly someone I
fail to remember the name of adopted it from a trip to India..

It's still used in India, and on Indian businesses outside of India (but not so much on Indian businesses in the west). We have a large one on an Indian shop here in Liberia.

KomissarSteve · Sep 26, 2007

Billnew said:
A symbol is not a threat.

I disagree. When it's burned into someone else's field, and it's a symbol that's universally recognized (at least throughout the Western World) as an emblem of violent racial bigotry in general and murderous anti-Semitism in particular, it definitely carries violent and threatening connotations.

praying · Sep 26, 2007

Billnew said:
This does seem to be a hate crime. Prejudice tells us this. This symbol has been hate in the past, so we assume its hate now.
I don't see any situation that this wouldn't be against the Jewish people, but it could be something different.

Then again, is it illegal to cut this into your field?(it is illegal to cut it into someone elses field without their permission.)
Prejudice isn't always bad. But sometimes it is wrong.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,297933,00.html

Ohh Bill it's just a prank, no hate intended, Jewish never entered into the maker(s) mind.

praying · Sep 26, 2007

Why no pics, bummer.

Avatar · Sep 26, 2007

praying said:
Why no pics, bummer.

praying · Sep 26, 2007

Well if that is the worst they do I guess we are ahead of the game, especially considering like someone stated you have to be in a plane to even see it.

Thanks Avatar!!

Avatar · Sep 26, 2007

No problem. Yeah, its pretty amateurish.

Conspiracy Theory · Sep 26, 2007

It depends on who cut it into the corn field.

If it was vandals, punish them. If it was the farmer, he vandalized his own crops, and that's dumb, but hopefully isn't a crime.

If this was already covered, I apologize.

KomissarSteve · Sep 26, 2007

Avatar said:
No problem. Yeah, its pretty amateurish.

White supremacists have never struck me as being terribly professional, to be fair.

Nathan Poe · Sep 27, 2007

Radio Free America said:
It depends on who cut it into the corn field.

If it was vandals, punish them. If it was the farmer, he vandalized his own crops, and that's dumb, but hopefully isn't a crime.

If this was already covered, I apologize.

Agreed. It's not a crime to "vandalize" your own property -- unless, I suppose, the design was obscene or something. A swastika doesn't count.

Billnew · Sep 27, 2007

Nathan Poe said:
Agreed. It's not a crime to "vandalize" your own property -- unless, I suppose, the design was obscene or something. A swastika doesn't count.

In your own crops, I can't think of anything that could fall in this category, but I try never to say never.

Free speech, protects symbols, speech, gestures, etc.

So unless they commit a crime(vandilism), this isn't criminal.
Again, I say, I don't like what they say, but I firmly stand behind their right to say it.

Ryal Kane · Sep 27, 2007

Worst. Crop Circle. Ever

Conspiracy Theory · Sep 27, 2007

Ryal Kane said:
Worst. Crop Circle. Ever

For some reason, that made me think of the Hitler lives nutters from 'Contact.'

AirPo · Sep 28, 2007

Avatar said:
No problem. Yeah, its pretty amateurish.

A very uncreative corn maze maker with a short attention span.

Police Investigating Giant Swastika Carved Into New Jersey Cornfield

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