There’s a handful of stars that are very very far from each other, but when you look from a certain place we call earth, they make the shape of a cross.
It’s the most identifiable constellation in the Southern sky. It’s a nice symbol. Australia’s indigenous people navigated by it. It’s on our flag, as well as the Kiwis’ and half the states in the Pacific.
I kind of liked the idea of a Southern Cross tattoo about five years ago.
But recently, it’s started appearing on bumper stickers and tattoos that make me feel a bit queasy.
(What is it about that font that so effectively implies a threat?)
Now this fella called Warwick is in the paper saying that we shouldn’t let the Southern Cross become a Swastika:
My first thought was: Over-reaction!
But I guess the Swastika was a neutral symbol before it was associated with National Socialism and their expansionist-genocidal agenda.
Maybe the man has a point. The Southern Cross is on our flag, but it’s a steep slippery staircase from the Lookout at National Pride down to the Valley of Nationalism.
How can you take a symbol back? Maybe I should take a deep breath and get inked…. If enough people like me (skinny nerdy, not-racist) got the southern cross tatt, would its power decline? Indicate below if you think I should ink!
Meanwhile, some further reading: Check out this article from the peeps at things bogans like…
Thomas the Think Engine 
get the tat mate! the reactions you’d get would make a very interesting case study, even if it didn’t catch on. it’d have to be visible though- no hiding it under you shirt. I suggest your forearm.
I was actually considering getting one (of a different, much geekier design), if you need moral support
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you would just look like a nerd, with a bogan tattoo, which would make everyone think you were racist
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Let them. People will think what they want about you, about others, and about themselves. Why care?
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maybe a henna or one that comes in your packet of chips?
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you can join a whole bunch of people like manwoman – http://www.freewebs.com/manwomans/savetheswastika.htm – and i who have made it our divine mission in life to rehabilitate the swastika from the evil that has been foisted upon it during the last century…
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Get the tatt of the southern cross, but add a crescent moon next to each star.
Harmony.
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Nice, I like it. Bogan, and homophobia.
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