To be read as a direct continuation of Part 5; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-2022-winter-olympics-closing.html
This sequence was a direct reference to a section in the Closing Ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympic Closing Ceremony. The "Athletes Arrive" section.
In covering that Closing Ceremony I compared the section to a sequence in the 1981 movie; "Raiders of the Lost Ark." In which the Nazis open the Ark of the Covenant. Only for ghost or demon-like spirits to emerge killing them all.
I still do not think that Japan was intentionally referencing the movie. It was just something of a jumping-off point I thought of to help explain what was a very immersive visual experience. However it certainly wouldn't be an insult to Japan making the comparison.
Nazism is/was so much more than a political ideology. It also has this deep cult-like, quasi-religious element to it. With its basis in the occult and the supernatural.
The paramilitary wing of the German Nazi Party, the Schutstaffel (SS), had its own dedicated Occultist. Karl Maria Wiligut. A diagnosed but untreated Schizophrenic. So you'll excuse me if this doesn't make a lot of sense.
Nazi ideology really had two occult strands to it. Theozoology and Arisophy.
Theozoology was advanced by Jorg Lands-Liebenfels. It proposed that the Aryan race was an alien master race known as the; "Theozoa." The Theozoa emerged from stars and reproduced through electricity.
Here on Earth the Theozoa were subjected to forcible interbreeding, rape essentially, with the inferior race of Ape-Men known as; "Anthropozoa." Causing them to lose their supernatural powers.
In that sense Theozoology is rather similar to the ideology of the Nation of Islam (NoI) cult. Which now seems to be accepted as mainstream within US society.
It is from Theozoology that the Nazis took their desire to restore the purity of the Aryan or Theozoa race. Through the sterilization, imprisonment and eventual extermination of the inferior Ape-Man or Anthropozoa race.
Although the Black population of Europe was not seen by the Nazis as significant enough to warrant a specific policy during their Holocaust. Members of the Black race, particularly the men, were seen as the most Ape-Men like and therefore the biggest threat.
One of Nazi Germany's first eugenics programs was the sterilisation of the so-called; "Rhineland Bastards." Mixed raced children who'd been fathered by French troops of African descent following the First World War. According to Nazi propaganda these Ape-Men could only have raped pure-blood Aryan women.
Arisophy was advanced by Guido von List. It draws from ancient Europe Animist or; "Pagan" belief systems. As with ancient Asian Animist belief systems it has at its core that the Universe, God, Humans and Nature are one and the same. All imbued with the same magical spirit.
Arisophy holds that these ancient Pagan beliefs and festivals were appropriated by the Roman invaders as a form of enslavement.
Something which isn't an entirely unreasonable belief. Halloween being a Christian appropriation of Samhain. A Celtic festival marking the mid-point between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice. Christmas being a Christian appropriation of the Celtic celebration of the Winter Solstice. Easter being a Christian appropriation of the Germanic Pagan festival of Eostre. Welcoming the arrival of the Spring goddess.
However Ariosphy believes that the ancient Germanic Runic Alphabet, the "F-U-T-H-A-R-K" alphabet is a magical cipher to unlock this hidden ancient knowledge. With each letter or; "Rune" of the alphabet being imbued with magical powers.
The human population could be divided into two groups. Those anointed with knowledge "Gnosis" who controlled the lesser peoples through; "Wotan." Only though studying the Runic cipher could the lesser people develop Gnosis.
In that sense Ariosphy is rather similar to the ideology of the Christian Protestant Puritans. Along with the Nation of Islam (NoI) cult. Which now seems to be accepted as mainstream with US society.
This is why the Nazi military, particularly the Waffen SS, adopted these runes as their insigna. "Doppeite Siegrune" supposedly imbuing the wearer with Victory. "Hagal" imbuing the wearer with Faith (in Nazism). "Odal" imbuing the wearer with Blood (racial) Purity.
These runes are also used as the insignia of the modern Ukrainian Armed Forces. Particularly the Odal rune for the Svoboda Battalion. "Leben" for Life, "Tod" for Death, "Wolfsangel" for Liberty and "Heilzeichen" for Prosperity all also being extremely popular. In proud reference to the Ukrainian Armed Forces origins as part of the Waffen SS.
Due to this obsession with the occult and the supernatural Nazi Germany did actually carry out operations searching for lost relics. Such as the Ark of the Covenant. Thinking that possessing them would imbue them with supernatural powers with which to defeat their enemies.
It is also this obsession, particularly Guido von List's interest in Asian Animist beliefs that saw the Nazis appropriate their most famous symbol. The Swastika.
Throughout this near decade long stay in Asia we have looked at things which are common between different cultures. Both things which have started in one place then spread. Along with things with have spontaneously emerged in different cultures, independently of each other.
The Swastika symbol is something which has emerged spontaneously in almost every culture. There is hardly a part of the World where you can't find examples. The only thing that all of these different cultures have in common is the planet and the sky that they all share.
The Swastika (卐) or technically; "Sauwastika" (卍) shows the perceived movement of the Chariot constellation (Plough, Big Dipper) around the Celestial North Pole. The stars are only visible at night so the Swastika being the reverse of the Sauwastika represents the reverse of night, day. The Sun.
Nazi Ariosphy was built around the notion of Sun Gods. Particularly inspired by the Norse goddess; "Sol." A life-giving entity that anointed Earthly Priests as leaders.
Guido von List was also deeply interested in Hinduism. In which the Swastika is seen as a symbol of good fortune and prosperity. It is particularly used to bring good luck to new ventures.
So the Nazis appropriated the Swastika from Hinduism as their main symbol. Thinking it would imbue them with good fortune.
The 2012 Summer Games were held in London, UK. Essentially at my mothers' house. That's just how far the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have to go for talent to even notice they exist.
Shortly before the 2012 Summer Games one of my mothers retired from her job at the local hospital. As I'm sure everyone involved in the security operation remembers. The main trauma centre closest to the 2012 Olympic/Para-Olympic Park is in an area with a very large South Asian community. Including Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Jainists.
When my mother retired many of her colleagues and patients gave her cards and gifts. Wishing her good fortune in the next chapter of her life.
So one day I found myself. White, shaven-headed and somewhat muscular. Sitting in a room surrounded by just all the Swastikas thinking;
"If someone takes a photograph now."
"Without the proper context. This is going to look really bad."
My momentary concern must be nothing though. Compared to the frustration felt by the millions of followers of these Asian belief systems.
Who are suddenly no longer able to use a key symbol they've been using for tens of thousands of years. Simply because it was misused by a small group of lunatics in Europe for less than two decades in the mid-20th Century.
Within Chinese Animist beliefs the Sauwastika/Swastika is considered the; "Heavens Gate" or; "Tianmen." The portal by which it is possible to travel between this dimension and the dimension of the gods.
The Swastika is actually a character or letter in both the Chinese and Japanese written languages. So to them this post-Nazi taboo on using the Swastika. Must seem like users of the Latin/Roman alphabet suddenly being told they can no longer use the letter; "H."
However, to be fair. Both the Chinese and Japanese written languages do have quite a few other letters to choose from.
Although as with Blackface. I don't think I'm really the right person to be leading the campaign to bring back the Swastika.
At around 18:00 on 4/2/23 (UK date) I'll try and finish this up on Monday now.
Edited at around 17:20 on 6/2/23 (UK date) to tidy the above and copy & paste;
In heavily referencing the "Athletes Arrive" section of Japan's 2020 Olympic Closing Ceremony. China was trying to show the similarities between Japanese and Chinese interpretations of Animist beliefs.
So Japanese Shinto has the elemental forces of the Kami. Particularly the first two generations of Kami. The Kotomatukami (Distinguished Heavenly Kami) and the Kamiyo-nanayo (Seven Generations of the Age of Gods).
While Chinese mythology has Tayi (the Supreme God of High Heaven) along with the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Alongside Lung (Dragons). Which are elemental forces similar to Kami which can manifest themselves as really anything they like. Not just snakes with legs and scales.
China was also trying to highlight its technological inferiority to Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK/South). The Athletes Arrive section of the 2020 Closing Ceremony was Japan showing itself to be that little bit more technologically advanced than its great rival South Korea.
China is not ashamed of acknowledging that it is less technologically advanced as either Japan or South Korea. China knows that it is still very much an Economically Developing Country. It is the Workshop of the World, building the designs of nations like Japan and South Korea.
However China sees itself as and is a rapidly Economically Developing Country. Starting to move away from simply building other people's designs to building its own designs. In doing this China has faced a lot of, sometimes legitimate, criticism over Intellectual Property Theft. Its designs looking very much like other people's designs.
One area where China has particularly tried to move to building its own designs is through household appliances and white goods. Washing machines, tumble dryers, fridges, freezers, vacuum cleaners, even TVs.
Through companies like Hisense their business model is built around doing it cheaper than the established brands. Targeting consumers in the developing world. A category into which most Chinese consumers fit. People who would otherwise only be able to buy secondhand or not be able to buy at all.
Back in January 2022 I was still covering the 2020 Olympic Closing Ceremony while everyone was preparing for the 2022 Olympic Opening Ceremony. When my washing machine broke. Plunging me right into the middle of this issue. As I decided whether to buy new and if so which brand. Along with whether to get the old one repaired so it could be sold second hand.
After considering all of the important criteria. Things like price, size, load capacity and energy usage. I ended up buying a new Hoover (Ohio, US) washing machine with Bluetooth connectivity.
Bluetooth technology being named after Harald "Bluetooth" Gromsson. King of Denmark and Norway. A user of the ancient Germanic Runic alphabet.
To this day I do not know why my washing machine has Bluetooth.
In all my years of doing laundry. Never once have I put all the laundry into the basket, carried it down to the machine. Loaded it into the machine along with the detergent and found myself thinking;
"What I really need to do now is to go back upstairs to get my cellphone."
"Rather than using all of these buttons, right here in front of me."
I was very tempted not to buy it in protest of the fact they'd added Bluetooth to it. Although that seemed a bit self-defeating as it met all of the other, more important, criteria.
Of course when a leading US, Japanese or South Korean manufacturer is being forced to add Bluetooth to a washing machine as a marketing gimmick. In order to make it stand out from all the other washing machines.
You should know that there are only so many ways in which the designs of white goods like washing machines can vary.
In much the same way that there are only so many ways in which Chinese and Japanese interpretations of Animist beliefs can vary. Dealing as they do with the same elemental design of the Universe.
To be continued in Part 7.
18:00 on 6/2/23 (UK date).
