The columnist, Kevin Rennie, recently highlighted the deranged death threats against Danbury’s mayor marked by swastikas, an iconic symbol of hate that “changes the narrative,” as the mayor noted. Rennie added in strong language, “the deepest malice for mankind causes one to venerate Hitler.”This story raised to mind a different swastika-related controversy in Thomaston, where the historic and otherwise beautiful Thomaston Opera House has chosen to retain 32 swastikas on its ceiling despite ongoing renova...
The columnist, Kevin Rennie, recently highlighted the deranged death threats against Danbury’s mayor marked by swastikas, an iconic symbol of hate that “changes the narrative,” as the mayor noted. Rennie added in strong language, “the deepest malice for mankind causes one to venerate Hitler.”
This story raised to mind a different swastika-related controversy in Thomaston, where the historic and otherwise beautiful Thomaston Opera House has chosen to retain 32 swastikas on its ceiling despite ongoing renovations.
The arguments presented by the Thomaston Opera House for keeping the 32 swastikas are case examples in specious rhetoric.
Thomaston Opera House argues that the theater was built in 1884, swastikas are ancient symbols, and these swastikas predate the Nazis. Unfortunately, the swastika’s modern association with Nazism overshadows any prior meaning, and they are now synonymous with hatred and violence.
Thomaston Opera House points to other theaters or buildings around the country with swastikas. There are also PFAS chemicals in the Ohio River, but Connecticut banned those to end the poisoning of the local water supply.
Thomaston Opera House cites swastikas on buildings in Washington, DC. Since when do local leaders point to DC as model behavior?
If there were pornography incorporated into the design pattern on the Thomaston Opera House’s ceiling, would they keep it? Where does the Thomaston Opera House draw the line? Apparently, these swastikas are in “good taste.” Effectively, Make Swastikas Great Again?
Why is the state of Connecticut providing money for swastika rehab? Because that’s effectively what it is participating in. The state’s $3.5 million grant is allocated to extensive renovations. It is not flip but basic accounting to ask: how much is the state chipping in per swastika? Why not allocate a small portion of that budget to remove the swastikas and end the controversy?
The essential reason for any theater’s existence is to serve as a welcome space. It is therefore utterly baffling that the Thomaston Opera House refuses to take the simple step of removing 32 swastikas from its ceiling and, with it, remove all controversy.
How many more abrupt illustrations are necessary to break through the groupthink that has brought this issue this far?
During a show, children will glance up and admire the beauty of the theater’s architecture — and intermingled among its florals and flourishes on the ceiling will be 32 swastikas. What impression will that impart? Mind you, some adults are nearly as impressionable.
It doesn’t seem like it should be a debate for a theater that is a special gathering place for the community and otherwise a beautiful work of historic architecture.
The Thomaston Opera House should take down the 32 swastikas and preserve its beauty without the blemish of the apex modern hate symbol.
Rob Rex, West Hartford